Congregation Ahavas Sholom

Ahavas Sholom News

Rabbi's High Holiday Message:

We live in an era when end of life issues occupy a significant place in our dialogue. Living wills are very much in vogue, along with their attendant queries and debates of quality of life vs. sanctity of life.

Our Rabbis of blessed memory were actually ahead of the curve when they dealt with this topic hundreds of years ago. For example the Ramban (Nachmanides) writes that a person who is on the verge of death should make a legal disclaimer. The basic gist of the declaration should be that if the patient commits blasphemy as he leaves this world, those words are pre-determined to be meaningless.

The question is obvious: At such a delicate moment when the Holy Zohar tells us that one actually beholds G-d Himself, why would blasphemy come into play?

The Kabbalists answer that at the exact moment before death a person is faced with one choice. The inescapable realization is that the corporeal existence is over. Whatever accomplishments, pleasures, physical moments were to be had are now a part of the past. The overwhelming choice is now to decide whether the soul will cling to G-d Who is now before it, or rather (G-d forbid), to deny it and fight for physicality up to the point of blasphemy. In other less graphic terms, the choice is to attempt repentance or stubbornly fight against it until the bitter end.

It is really quite an amazing thing. Life as we know it is full of choices. Many of them ultimately don't matter that much. Which outfit or suit to wear, or what to make for dinner. Those decisions we take for granted. Decisions such as whom to marry or whether or not to take the job offer, tend to generate anxiety and hours of deliberation. Even so, those choices are not irrevocable. However the choice of adhering to G-d for all eternity or the opposite (G-d forbid), is one that cannot be matched.

By definition that deathbed scenario happens only once in a lifetime. Or does it? Many of us assume that the judgment on Rosh Hashanah revolves around the basic staples of life. Will there be good health, livelihood, and a general sense of well being and prosperity? Our typical response to those questions is to focus on the little choices. We bargain with G-d and say, To ensure good profits I will give more charity. To enjoy good health I will take more heed of what I eat and how I recite the blessings. To guarantee well being, I will be more cognizant of others and their needs .

While all of the above are gestures in the right direction, they unfortunately skew what the essence of Divine judgment is all about. It all really comes down to the same question, which is reserved for the end of life. Where do you ultimately want to be? Do you want to attach to G-d and infuse your existence with holiness and meaning? Or, do you want to live in denial, in a constant state of pursuit of the ever-elusive harmony that never quite seems to take hold? That is really the essence of the judgment of Rosh Hashanah. If the correct choice is made, and we choose G-d, all the rest will naturally fall into place. The ultimate good choice will naturally breed other good choices, such as Sabbath observance, kashruth, and a life of Torah values. On the other hand, if the ultimate question of where one wishes to be is deflected, then even if mitzvos and rituals are done sporadically, they won't offer their true profits as long as the ultimate decision is not first put to rest.

We also happen to live in an era when our choices matter more than ever. This past summer proved the line between prosperity and pain, peace and war, life and death is about as tenuous as can be. The state of affairs in the world today begs us to consider the choice that is looming before us. May we all merit the Divine assistance to choose wisely.

Best Wishes for a happy and healthy New Year; a year of peace, good health, success, and most importantly, redemption for the Jewish People.

Ke'siva V'chasima Tova,

Personals:
Mazel Tov to:
Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg on the birth of twins: Liba Nechama and Michoel Reuven Yehoshua. Mazel tov to the grandparents, Mrs. Esther Entin, Mrs. Sylvia Rosenberg, Dr. Harvey Rosenberg and to the entire family
Dorothy Kaufman on the birth of her great-grandsons: Yisrael Dov Shalom, son of Lisa & Yitzy Frishman of Far Rockaway, NY and Yisroel Dov Shalom, son of Lori & Zvi Ebert of Far Rockaway, NY. They are the grandsons of Beverly Landau.
Rabbi Joel & Janice Keil Epstein on the birth of their grandson, Shlomo Zalman, son of David & Miriam Epstein of Boston
Shelley & Jack Levey on the birth of their granddaughter, Ahuva; daughter of Rachael Leah & Aaron Harris of Israel
Penny Wenger & Charlie Libicki on the birth of their grandson, Uriel Yirmiyahu Reiss, son of Naomi Libicki & Alter Reiss of Israel
Faye & Ed Mellman on the birth of their granddaughter, Hannah Ilisa, daughter of Nate & Nicola Mellman
Rabbi Henoch & Chaya Morris on the 8th grade graduation of their daughter, Rella Yehudis
Lea & Tuvya Schottenstein on the high school graduation of their daughter Miriam
Drs. Phil & Julie Weinerman on the engagement of their daughter Rebecca to Ranan Lefkowitz
Faye & Ed Mellman on the engagement of their granddaughter, Chaya Mellman, daughter of Rabbi Ben-Zion & Miriam Mellman to Zalman Frager, son of Dr. & Mrs. David Frager
Rabbi Joel & Janice Keil Epstein on the engagement of their daughter, Sarah to Amitai Barth, of Great Neck, NY
Dr. David & Cheryl Lever on the marriage of their son, Nathan to Nechama Heimowitz
Lily & Eddie Friedman on the marriage of their son, Steven to Allison Sherman
Anne & Steve Shulman on the marriage of their son, Adam to Ellie Shimanovich

Condolences to:
Jack & Shelley Levey on loss of Jack's father, Julian A. Levey
Rabbi Elie & Devora Millen on the loss of Devora's father, Moshe Samber
Rabbi Avie & Shelly Shapiro on the loss of Shelly's father, Rabbi Ernest E. Greenfield

Donations:
Kiddush:
Eddie & Lily Friedman & Family in honor of the auf ruf for their son, Steven in honor of his upcoming marriage to Allison Sherman
Jack & Shelley Levey in gratitude to the Ribono Shel Olam for Jack's good health and for the birth of our granddaughter, Ahuva Harris, daughter of Rachael Leah and Aaron Harris of Jerusalem

Shalosh Se'udos:
Dina, Eli and Julia Cieplinski with gratitude to Hashem and also in honor of Eli's parents, Bill and Feigue Cieplinski's 40th wedding anniversary
Michael Berenstein commemorating the recent Yahrzeit for his mother
Dr. Richard & Liba Shakarchi in Hoda'ah to Hakodesh Baruch Hu for ten wonderful years of marriage
Dr. Bruce & Nancy Kay commemorating the Yahrzeit of their brother and brother-in-law, Steven Kay
Gary & Lana Covel commemorating the Yahrzeit of beloved mother, Bettie Rich Covel
Marc Shar, Reva Shar, Robert Shar, Sevie Shar Samuels and families commemorating the Yahrzeit of Farrel Shar
Mrs. Esther Entin and Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg in honor of the first Yahrzeit of Mr. Robert Entin, Reuven Michoel ben Yitzchak, a'h
Michael Berenstein in honor of his children and his grandchildren
The friends of Ari & Esther Braun
Ruth & Buddy Adler in loving memory of Buddy's mother, Irene Adler in commemoration of her Yahrzeit
Sanford Lefkowitz in memory of his father, Martin Lefkowitz, Meir ben Moshe
The Sobol Family in memory of Warren's grandfather, Shmuel ben Efraim and in honor of the siyum of Mesechta Yuma

Prayer Book Fund:
Ruth & Melissa Gross in memory of beloved mother and grandmother, Mary (Chaya Meryl) Gross
Ruth Gross in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Ruth Gross in honor of the birth of a granddaughter to Shelley & Jack Levey
Ruth Gross wishing a refuah shelaimah to her daughter, Melissa Gross

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund:
Susie & Jon Diamond

Torah Repair Fund:
Ruth Gross in memory of brother-in-law, Israel Gross who was shot down in WWII over the English Channel
Ruth Gross in memory of father-in-law, Max Gross

Youth Programming Fund:
Larry Pollak in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Teen Minyan: Dr. Bruce & Nancy Kay in honor of Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol and the eye mission
Dr. Matt & Betty Goldish
Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg
Rabbi Baruch & Shoshana Weil

Aliyah Fund:
Buddy Adler
Irving Baker
Rabbi Avrohom Berenstein
Yehudah Bitton
Gary Covel
Murray Ebner
Jonathan Hartstein
Rabbi Yosef Hauser
Rudolf Katz
Dr. Bruce Kay
Yhezkel Levi
Aaron Mellman
Rabbi Ben-Zion Mellman
Rabbi Meir Minster
Tuvia Perlman
Jerry Regosin
Binyomin Romanoff
Rabbi Jonathan Rosenberg
Boris Ryabinky
Tuvya Schottenstein
Rabbi David Seff
Elliot Shakarchi
Baruch Shifman
Harold Shindel
Stanley Tanzer
Uzi
Marvin Vinar
Patrick Wiesel
Ken Winiarz
Steven Zaidman

Shul Fund:
Marcia & Irving Baker in memory of Saul Levy
The Hayman Company - Plunkett & Cooney in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Thea & Pearson Press in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Penny Wenger & Charlie Libicki in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Rabbi Chaim & Chani Capland in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Faye & Ed Mellman in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Amelia Bower and Plunkett & Cooney in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Sanford Lefkowitz in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family in memory of Jack Levey's father, Julian A. Levey
Samuel Katz in memory of Esther bas Yehoshua Falik
Charlotte & Harold Nathans commemorating the Yahrzeit of Sarah Swartz
Phyllis Zierler commemorating the Yahrzeit of grandfather, Barnett Swissman
Shirley & Aaron Yablok commemorating the Yahrzeit of Lillian Yablok
Ruth Quinn commemorating the Yahrzeits of loved ones
Judie & Irving Modes commemorating the Yahrzeit of beloved mother, Rose Modes
Anonymous
Yehudah & Alegria Bitton
Sylvia Rosenberg
George Glauberman
Rabbi David & Shulamit Ginsburg
Aaron Berkovich & Elena Kuchik
Dr. Victor & Susan Schmelzer
Rabbi Simcha Baer
Lana & Gary Covel in honor of Dani Rosenberg's Bar Mitzvah
Amy & Josh Greenberg in honor of Murray Ebner receiving the Kesser Shem Tov Award
Elliot Shakarchi for yizkor
Sarah & Emil Braun for yizkor
Elaine & Harold Shindel for yizkor
Dr. Bill & Feigue Cieplinski in honor of Eli, Dina & Julia Cieplinski and thanking the congregation for making them feel welcome each visit
Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family in honor of Miriam Schottenstein's 12th grade graduation
Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family in honor of Aryeh & Raizy Schottenstein's marriage
Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family in honor of the birth of Shelley & Jack Levey's granddaughter
Faye & Ed Mellman in honor of the birth of Shelley & Jack Levey's granddaughter
Dr. Tricia & Andrew Rosenstein in honor of Eric Schramm for helping Andrew with his Haftarah
Lillian & Julius Silberg in honor of Garret Sobol's 12th
grade graduation and Emily Sobol's 8th grade graduation
Dr. Tricia & Andrew Rosenstein in honor of the birth of Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg's twins, Liba Nechama and Michoel Reuven Yehoshua
Dr. Paul & Kathy Pollack in honor of the birth of Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg's twins, Liba Nechama and Michoel Reuven Yehoshua
Sarah & Emil Braun in honor of the birth of Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg's twins, Liba Nechama and Michoel Reuven Yehoshua
Sandra & Franklin Furman in honor of the birth of Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg's twins, Liba Nechama and Michoel Reuven Yehoshua
Sofiya & Edgar Karpovich in honor of the birth of Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg's twins, Liba Nechama and Michoel Reuven Yehoshua
Drs. Dan & Leslie Chase in honor of the birth of Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg's twins, Liba Nechama and Michoel Reuven Yehoshua
Sofiya & Edgar Karpovich in honor of the birth of Levi Yitzchok Fedorovsky, son of Moshe Leib & Tanya Fedorovsky and grandson of Irina Fedorovsky
Elaine & Harold Shindel in gratitude to Hashem for the safety of their nephews who fought in the Lebanon War
Rabbi Avrohom & Elisheva Berenstein & family in appreciation to the Burr Family