October 15th-17th 2010 at Ohev Shalom, Richboro PA

LTI Application (PDF)

Code of Conduct Form (PDF)

Housing and Prayer Form (PDF)

Co-Chairs– Jenna Beck, Louis Sacks, Courtney DeYoung

Candle Lighting: 8:14 PM
Havdallah: 9:22 PM

This week’s D’var was written by the amazing SATO, Becca Richman.

This week’s Torah portion, Chukat, begins with laws regarding the Parah Adumah, the red heifer. Then, in the last of 40 years, Miriam dies. As a result, her famous well dries up, and refuses to produce more water. After G-d speaks to Moses and tells his to gently ask a rock for the water necessary for the people to survive, Moses instead hits it, so Moses and Aaron were forbidden from entering Eretz Yisrael. After Aaron dies, and B’nei Yisrael mourns for 30 days, the people begin to complain about Moses, so G-d sends poisonous snakes against them, killing many people. 

The many different aspects of this parasha bring up an interesting subject: human nature, and the consequences of our actions. In the beginning of this parasha, we learn about the laws concerning the red heifer. The red heifer goes through a complicated process before finally being turned into ashes, mixed with water, and consumed by a person who is impure in order for him to become pure. This law is distinctly classified as one of the “chukot”, or the laws whose purpose is concealed from man. It is said that these types of laws are not meant to be understood, they are G-d’s way of testing the loyalty of the people. It’s not human nature to blindly do things that we do not understand. However, rabbis spanning back to (according to Midrash) King Solomon admitted that they could not find a way for the ashes of a red heifer to be purifying! Obeying this law defies human nature. 

A second example of the mysteries of human nature arises when Moses strikes the rock, as opposed to gently speaking to it, as G-d instructed. Though there are many examples of people doing this, defying G-d is probably not a wise thing to do, as demonstrated by His punishment. Why would Moses hit the rock when he G-d specifically ordered him to speak to it? Disobeying a higher authority, a way higher authority, when we know that there can be great consequences, once again defies human nature. 

These examples of people going against their natural inclination call for some purpose, some incentive to drive them to disregard their gut. From the time we are very young, we understand the concept of reward and punishment, a reason behind our actions. We learn that the consequences for obeying are good, the consequences for disobeying are bad. Good consequences would come from obeying G-d, presenting the perfect driving force behind the people’s actions for doing what they do not understand. As for Moses, it is believed that he struck the rock because he thought the good consequence would be water,, as it was in Shmot: Chapter 17.  

Hagesher, as your regional SA/TO, I want you to see the consequences behind your actions. True, it is not human nature to give what you earned to a stranger. And many people think it would be more beneficial to use your time making money than helping those who need your time. However, the consequences are enough to make you want to defy your nature. Seeing that you helped a family in need, or knowing that children with disabilities will be able to attend a summer camp because of you, or hearing a “thank you” from a child who just needed some help causes one of the greatest consequences of all time: it causes you to be proud of yourself and of your actions. I sincerely hope that each of you will remember these amazing consequences when faced with a decision, and choose to do something that helps another human being, because the consequences of your actions for the person you help may be far beyond your understanding. 

Shabbat Shalom.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!!!

This week’s parashah is קרח (korach)
Numbers 16:1-18:32

Candle Lighting: 8:11 PM
Havdallah: 9:19 PM

In this parashah:

א)     Korach, Dathan and Aviram lead a rebellion against Moses.

ב)     They are swallowed up along with their 120 followers by the earth.

ג)      Aaron is divinely chosen as the Kohen Gadol (high priest).

ד)     God orders gifts of food are to be given to the Kohanim.

This week’s Dvar Torah was written by the new Religion/Education RGB member, Franckie Echeverria!

This week’s Torah portion is Korach. Although there are many important events I would like to focus on one specific part. Korach and many of his followers make a decision to confront Moses and challenge his leadership. “You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the Lord is in their midst. So why do raise yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” (Chapter 16, Verse 3) Korach is specifically upset because he does not understand why Moses has to lead the Israelites. He feels there is a need for equality among the community. Ironically, although Korach professed the desire for equality, the way he approached Moses said the opposite. G-d in turn punished Korach and his followers by opening up the ground and swallowing everyone and their possessions because they had provoked G-d. Although this seems like an unfair punishment for someone who tried to speak their mind, it was in reality well deserved. One interpretation of this event shows that Korach and his followers were punished, not for what they did, but rather for the way that they made their remark to Moses. This teaches us that the way you say something can make all of the difference. Another famous figure in Jewish history, the Baal Shem Tov, was widely known for his views on equality in specific aspects of Judaism. He felt that even if one did not have the same opportunity or fortune to study in a Beit Midrash all day, one was still able to maintain a heightened level of spirituality through prayers, and acts of kindness. When we speak to people we must treat them with the utmost respect regardless of their position in life. You are only cheating yourself out of important connections in life if you chose to treat people differently. Judaism always encourages people to be respectful to one another. By doing so we are able to create and maintain strong communities where people can thrive.
Shabbat Shalom!

An amazing week spent at Camp Ramah in the Poconos with Hagesher, Hanefesh, EPA, and Tzafon!

You won’t want to miss Encampment this year, send in your deposit ASAP:

Encampment Application (Word)

Dont forget to download the important medication card here (Word)

On Sunday night, violence ensued between Israeli navy ships, and a fleet of Turkish ships that tried to enter Israeli waters and enter a closed Gaza seaport. The fleet of ships was said have been carrying activists of the Free Gaza Movement and Turkish-based Insani Yardim Vakfl, and humanitarian aid that was to be delivered to the citizens of Gaza. Although the Israeli navy requested that the ships enter an Israeli port in Ashdod so that the humanitarian supplies could be inspected and then delivered to Gaza through land border-crossings, the fleet of ships ignored this request. Israel inspects all entering aid because Hamas frequently steals many aid items, such as cement, to construct Qassam rockets that they launch against Israeli civilians. As a result, the Israeli navy and air forces boarded the ships to divert them to the Ashdod port.  With most of the ships this happened peacefully and without any resistance. When the Israeli soldiers boarded the “Mavi Marmara”, the passengers on board began attacking them with live fire, knives and metal rods. At one point, one of the soldiers was thrown overboard and his gun was used against other Israeli soldiers. At this point, (40 minutes into the operation) the Israeli troops were forced to respond with fire in self-defense. In the process, nine activists on the ship where killed, and several injured from both sides, including members of the Israeli Defense Forces.

While we are saddened by any loss of life, it’s important to understand that the Israeli soldiers acted in self-defense. If the soul goal of the activists on the ships was to aid the people of Gaza, they would have followed Israeli instruction, and peacefully delivered their aid supplies trough the Israeli boarders.  The “Mavi Marmara”, if none of the other ships, was clearly prepared to act in violence only with the goal of depleting support for Israel in the international media.

Your support for Israel is more important than ever now that this unfortunate event has taken place. I urge you all to read up on this story, so that you can be educated on Israeli current events and defend Israel wherever possible.  For a more detailed account of this story, and a video of the Israeli navy, check out this link to theJerusalem Post:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177019

Let’s be heard. Scroll to the bottom where it says “Do you think Israel has gone too far with the raid on the aid convoy?”

http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/

Links to Video Footage Detailing the incident:

http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/05/3101.htm

(article with video footage of soldiers boarding the ship being lynched by the passengers, who were armed with stun grenades, knives, clubs, and guns and waiting for a fight)

http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/05/3105.htm

(article with video footage of eyewitness, soldier who was injured while on board the Mavi Marama ship)

http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/05/3103.htm

(Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi explaining why there was use of fire as a means of defence)

Sarah B. Raff
2010-2011 Hagesher Israel Affairs Vice President
ia@hagesher.org

This week’s parshah is…

Naso!

In this parashah:

א) The census counting the Israelites is completed.

ב) The laws of a Sotah, an adulterous woman.

ג) The laws of the Nizirim, the nazirites.

ד) Birkat HaKohanim, the priestly blessing, is bestowed upon the Israelites!

ה) The list of the offerings that each tribal leader brought in honor of the completion of the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle.

This week’s D’var Torah was written with the help of the fantabulous Rel/Ed RGB member, Adena Feitelson!!!

The rules of dealing with a Sotah have always interested me because it sort of reminds me of the trial by drowning method used against witches to see if they were actually witches. In order to prove that a witch was guilty, she was thrown into a lake and if she drowned then she was innocent and if she was able to float, then she was obviously a witch and would be hanged or burned. With the Sotah, if a man has suspicions that his wife is adulterous, he would bring her to a cohen who would prepare a type of “bitter water” for her to drink. This is called mei-sotah, literally, Sotah water. This mei-sotah is made up of a mixture of holy water and dirt from the floor of the Mishkan. The Sotah would drink the mei-sotah and if she was guilty of adultery, her stomach would expand and her thigh would collapse, thereby killing her. Just like an innocent witch would have to go through the process of drowning, sometimes they were able to be saved, the Sotah also had to go through the process of drinking what was basically holy mud. Though I have personally never tried either, I think that both would be rather unpleasant.

One of the few differences that I find in these trials is that in the case of the Sotah, she is always given the chance to plead guilty without having to go through the mei-sotah process. This would result in a divorce instead of death. If a witch were to plead guilty prior to her being drowned, she would still suffer the same punishment: death.

This shows us how in Judaism we value human life. Since the cohen was required to offer the Sotah a chance to live we should take this into consideration today when issuing punishments ourselves.

Also, did you know that this week, Israeli Jews are reading a different parashah than Diaspora Jews are?  Because they had one day of Yom Tov last week versus our two, they read Parashat Naso last week. We will get back when they read Chukat and Balak separately; we will read them together.

Parashah questions (email your answers to Ariana.Berlin@jbha.org in order to win points! =)

a)     What is an example of a time that we use the blessing from Birkat HaKohanim? (1 point)

b)    What is an example of something that a Nazir is prohibited from doing? (2 points)

c)     Who is a famous Nazir that is read about in the Tanach? (3 points)

Want to see a funny video about this week’s parashah? Watch this: www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=610708.

Also, please remember the RGB Applications are due next week to president@hagesher.org. If you have any questions, email Miriam at president@hagesher.org.

Shabbat Shalom!

This week’s parsha: Bamidar

In this week’s Parsha:

א) Moshe counted all of men above the age of twenty.

ב) One tribal leader was appointed from each tribe except the tribe of Levi.

ג) The Levites were not included in the counting and instead were given the task of working in the tabernacle.

ד) Each tribe was given their section of land where they were to live.

This Week’s D’var Torah was written by the immediate past International Religion/Education Vice President, Judah Kerbel!

Parashat B’midbar gives the book a somewhat slow start. The main focus of the parasha is the census of B’nei Yisrael for the Israelite army, which is measured to be 603,550. This count does not include descendents of Levi, children under the age of 20, or women. Commenting on the first half of the first verse of the parasha, Rashi says:
“מתוך חיבתן לפניו מונה אותם כל שעה. כשיצאו ממצרים מנאן וכשנפלו בעגל מנאן לידע הנותרים, וכשבא להשרות שכינתו עליהם מנאם..”
“Because of Israel’s dearness before Him [God], He counts them at all times. When they departed from Egypt, He counted them. And when they fell at the sin of the Golden Calf, He counted them to determine {the number of} those who remained. And here, when He came to rest His Divine Presence upon them, He counted them…” (Saperstein Edition Translation)
Recently I’ve developed a newfound appreciation for the importance of seemingly redundant lists in the Torah. For example, the Torah goes to painful lengths to describe the exact construction of the Mishkan and the measurements and such. Here, the Torah lists the counts of every tribe, and uses the same mechanical formula each time it gives the numbers of a tribe! It then describes the location of each tribe, which tribe is primary, who leads, the number of each tribe once again, and exactly how the camps travel. Then the Torah gives us the lineage of the Levi tribe! Redundant/boring much?!
I believe that with the census here, we learn the importance of each and every Jew. Rashi explains that God counted the Israelites all the time, as when one takes account for any one person at all times, let alone a whole nation, one demonstrates his or her love and affection for whomever he/she accounts. Likewise, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev, commenting on the connection between the same number of Israelites in this parasha as words in the Torah, relates that just as the blemish of just one letter of a Torah scroll renders it unfit for use, the loss of one Jew undermines the unity of the nation.
“Kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh” – all of Israel is responsible for one another. In a world where anti-Semitism still exists, where we are a small nation in our numbers, and where the State of Israel is vulnerable in its existence, we must show care and share responsibility for Klal Yisrael – the collective nation of Israel – as well as for each individual that comprises of Klal Yisrael. If we fail to do so, the consequences will be grave. As we prepare to receive the Torah on Shavuot next week with Klal Yisrael, let our hearts open and chesed pour out, and let’s leave no Jew behind.

Shabbat Shalom and Todah Rabah!

Looking for a way to get more involved with the region? Do you want to help make this year in USY more successful and fun? Look no furthur, because the Hagesher USY Regional General Board is for you!

The Regional General Board is comprised of various committees that work with the Regional Executive Board to complete tasks for the region throughout the year. Regional General Board (RGB) members help to run programs, create publications, advocate Israel, organize and plan conventions, and much, much more. Becoming a member of the RGB is a great way to develop your leadership skills, so don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!

Applications are due by May 27th!

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email Miriam Smerling at president@hagesher.org or (267)-495-7542.

Sincerely,

The 2010-2011 Regional Executive Board

Becca, Sarah, Dann, Ben (BBG), Julian, and Miriam

Download the RGB Application NOW!

On May 12, the 28th of Iyar, we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim (יום ירושלים). This day commemorates the day when the IDF paratroopers reunified Yerushalayim after the 6 Day War in 1967. The day is marked with reciting hallel, parades through Yerushalayim, singing and dancing, and special television programming.

History:

In 1947 the UN proposed the Partition Plan with a Jewish State and Palestinian State in the area of modern day Israel and Yerushalayim was to be a International city controlled by the UN. This plan was accepted by the Jewish leadership but refused by the Palestinians. The Palestinians responded with war, sparking the War of Independence.While most of modern day Israel was claimed as Israel during this war Yerushalayim was split in 2 with Jordan controlling all of the Old City and East Yerushalayim including Mt Olives (an important and old Jewish cemetary and Hebrew University Har HaTzofim Campus). While under Jordanian control practically all the synagogues in the Old City were destroyed or plundered, the Kotel (כותל) was turned into a public dump and all traces of Judaism were wiped out of the city. In 1967, 5 Arab countries attacked Israel and the 6 Day War broke out. Along with the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula and most of the West Bank, Yerushalayim was reunified by Moshe Dayan and the IDF paratroopers.

TRIVIA!!!

• Jerusalem has over 2,000 archeological sites.
• A lion is the emblam of the municipality of Jerusalem.
• In the days of Abraham, Jerusalem was called Shalem (שלם) meaning complete or peace
• There are 7 open gates to the Old City of Jerusalem, New Gate (שער חדש), Damascus Gate (שער שכם), Herod’s Gate (שער הפרחים), Lion’s Gate (שער אריות), Dung Gate (שער האשפות), Zion Gate (שער ציון) and Jaffa Gate (שער יפו).
  

בשלום! B’Shalom!

Sarah Raff

2010-2011 Hagesher Israel Affairs VP

ia@hagesher.org

Click here for more information about IC2010,
request an application, or reserve your spot!
Deposits are being accepted now!
www.USY.org/IC • usyconvention@uscj.org