Parshat Lech-Lecha

TORAH Artscroll, 54 Hertz, 45 HAFTORAH Artscroll, 1133 Hertz, 60

The call to Abraham, with which Lech Lecha begins, seems to come from nowhere: "Leave your land, your birthplace, and your father's house, and go to a land which I will show you." Nothing has prepared us for this radical departure. We have not had a description of Abraham as we had in the case of Noah: "Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with G-d." Nor have we been given a series of glimpses into his childhood, as in the case of Moses. It is as if Abraham's call is a sudden break with all that went before. There seems to be no prelude, no context, no background. Added to this is a curious verse in the last speech delivered by Moses' successor Joshua: "And Joshua said to all the people, 'Thus says the Lord, the G-d of Israel: Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the river (Euphrates), Terach, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.'" (Joshua 24:2) The implication seems to be that Abraham's father

October 12, 2013 8 Cheshvan, 5774

Rabbi Sacks on Parshat Lech Lecha

was an idolater. Hence the famous midrashic tradition that as a child, Abraham broke his father's idols. When Terach asked him who had done the damage, he replied, "The largest of the idols took a stick and broke the rest". "Why are you deceiving me?" Terach asked, "Do idols have understanding?" "Let your ears hear what your mouth is saying", replied the child. On this reading, Abraham was an iconoclast, a breaker of images, one who rebelled against his father's faith (Bereishith Rabbah 38:8). Maimonides, the philosopher, put it somewhat differently. Originally, human beings believed in one G-d. Later, they began to offer sacrifices to the sun, the planets and stars, and other forces of nature, as creations or servants of the one G-d. Later still, they worshipped them as entities- gods-in their own right. It took Abraham, using logic alone, to realize the incoherence of polytheism: "After he was weaned, while still an infant, his mind began to reflect. Day and night, he thought and wondered how is it possible that this celestial sphere should be continuously guiding the world, without something to guide it and cause it to revolve? For it cannot move of its own accord. He had no teacher or mentor, because he was immersed in Ur of the Chaldees among foolish idolaters. His father and mother and the entire population worshipped idols, and he worshipped with them. He continued to speculate and reflect until he achieved the way of truth, understanding what was right through his own efforts. It was then that he knew that there is one G-d who guides the heavenly bodies, who created everything, and besides whom there is no other god." (Laws of Idolatry, 1:2) What is common to Maimonides and the midrash is discontinuity. Abraham represents a radical break with all that went before. Remarkably however, the previous chapter gives us a quite different perspective: "These are the generations of Terach. Terach fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot...Terach took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in law, his son Abram's wife, and they went forth together

Times

Candle Lighting Friday Mincha Hashkama Parsha Shiur Youth Minyan Main Minyan Beit Midrash Gemorah Shiur Mincha Shabbat Ends Sunday Oct. 13 Mon., Thurs. Tues., Wed., Fri. Mincha

6:04 am 6:05 am 8:00 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:15 am 4:55 am 5:55 pm 7:10 pm 7:30/8:30 am 6:35/7:45 am 6:45/7:45 am 5:55 pm

Latest Times for Shema/Shmoneh Esrei Oct. 12 Oct. 19

9:53/10:49 am 9:56/10:51 am

Next Shabbat Va-Yera Candle Lighting Mincha 5:53 pm 5:55 pm

Kiddush is sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue

26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100

Shaabbat Announcements Parshat Lech-Lecha 5774

from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. The days of Terach were 205 years, and Terach died in Haran." (Gen 11:31) The implication seems to be that far from breaking with his father, Abraham was continuing a journey Terach had already begun. How are we to reconcile these two passages? The simplest way, taken by most commentators, is that they are not in chronological sequence. The call to Abraham (in Gen. 12) happened first. Abraham heard the Divine summons, and communicated it to his father. The family set out together, but Terach stopped halfway, in Haran. The passage recording Terach's death is placed before Abraham's call, though it happened later, to guard Abraham from the accusation that he failed to honor his father by leaving him in his old age (Rashi, Midrash). Yet there is another obvious possibility. Abraham's spiritual insight did not come from nowhere. Terach had already made the first tentative move toward monotheism. Children complete what their parents begin. Significantly, both the Bible and rabbinic tradition understood divine parenthood in this way. They contrasted the description of Noah ("Noah walked with G-d") and that of Abraham ("The G-d before whom I have walked", 24:40). G-d himself says to Abraham "Walk ahead of Me and be perfect" (17:1). G-d signals the way, then challenges His children to walk on ahead. In one of the most famous of all Talmudic passages, the Babylonian Talmud (Baba Metzia 59b) describes how the sages outvoted Rabbi Eliezer despite the fact that his view was supported by a heavenly voice. It continues by describing an encounter between Rabbi Natan and the prophet Elijah. Rabbi Natan asks the prophet: What was Gd's reaction to that moment, when the law was decided by majority vote rather than heavenly voice? Elijah replies, "He smiled and said, 'My children have defeated me! My children have defeated me!'" To be a parent in Judaism is to make space within which a child can grow. Astonishingly, this applies even when the parent is G-d (avinu, "our Father") himself. In the words of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, "The Creator of the world diminished the image and stature of creation in order to leave something for man, the work of His hands, to do, in order to adorn man with the crown of creator and maker" (Halakhic Man, p 107). This idea finds expression in halakhah, Jewish law. Despite the emphasis in the Torah on

honoring and revering parents, Maimonides rules: "Although children are commanded to go to great lengths [in honoring parents], a father is forbidden to impose too heavy a yoke on them, or to be too exacting with them in matters relating to his honor, lest he cause them to stumble. He should forgive them and close his eyes, for a father has the right to forgo the honor due to him." (Hilkhot Mamrim 6:8) The story of Abraham can be read in two ways, depending on how we reconcile the end of chapter 11 with the beginning of chapter 12. One reading emphasizes discontinuity. Abraham broke with all that went before. The other emphasizes continuity. Terach, his father, had already begun to wrestle with idolatry. He had set out on the long walk to the land which would eventually become holy, but stopped half way. Abraham completed the journey his father began. Perhaps childhood itself has the same ambiguity. There are times, especially in adolescence, when we tell ourselves that we are breaking with our parents, charting a path that is completely new. Only in retrospect, many years later, do we realize how much we owe our parents; how, even at those moments when we felt most strongly that we were setting out on a journey uniquely our own, we were, in fact, living out the ideals and aspirations that we learned from them. And it began with G-d himself, who left, and continues to leave, space for us, His children, to walk on ahead.

Monday evening Sefer Melachim with Rabbi Lichter Begins in one week on October 14 at 8:30 pm Monday evening Gemorah with Rabbi Polakoff continues at 9:00 pm Wednesday evening Gemorah with Rabbi Singer continues at 8:30 pm Wednesday, Pizza and Parsha with Rabbi Lichter continues at 7:00 pm in the Chalfin Room Thursday Womens Chumash with Rabbi Polakoff continues at 9:15 am Thursday Power Chumash continues at 8:30 pm Motzei Shabbat Navi with Rabbi Reisman continues.

Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck , NY 11023 516-487-6100 Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Zehava & Dr. Michael Atlas, Youth Directors Mark Twersky, Executive Director Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Dr. Scott Danoff, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board Dena Block, Yoetzet Halacha 516-320-9818

Great Neck Synagogue Sisterhood Please Join Us at Our Annual Sisterhood Dinner Tuesday, October 22nd 2013 at 6 PM at the Great Neck Synagogue Presenting Fashions for Everyone! A Childrens Fashion show starring our precious little ones! Featuring clothes by RUUM as presented by Mindy Leventhal Designer lingerie, sleepwear and loungewear From A Brief Affair as presented by Jessica Smooha and lots and lots of raffle prizes!!!! Member cost : $40 Non Member cost: $45 Sponsorships available: Gold $72 Silver $36 Bronze $18 INVITATION TO FOLLOW, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS RESERVE YOUR SPOTS NOW!!!! Call the Synagogue office 516-487-6100

TheGNSMensClubFallBloodDrive Sunday,October13 between8:15a.m.and12:30p.m. intheGymatGreatNeckSynagogue.

Alifesavingbloodtransfusionisneededevery3secondsinthe UnitedStates..

Ifyoudonateorvolunteertohelp,youwillhavethechoiceofa fantasticgifttothankyouforyourselflessgenerosity: Winesommelierset,Worldtravelalarmclock,Plushstuffed animal,LEDbooklight

Inaddition,alldonorsbetweennowandJanuary17willalsobe enteredintoadrawtowinticketstoSuperbowlXLVIII.Acom plimentarybreakfastisavailableand,wewillalsohaveachil drensactivitytableavailablefortheirenjoymentwhileyou makeyourdonation.

Wehavemadeimportantimprovementsforthisblooddrive, includingaddingextratechniciansandextradonationstations, allofwhichareintendedtospeedupyourdonationtimeand getyouinandoutasquicklyaspossible.

Whilewalkinginonthemorningiswelcome,ifyouschedulean appointmentinadvancewellholdaslotforyousothatwecan getyouinandoutquickly.Itssimpletobookana appointment.Youcanbookthroughthiswebsite:

GNSOCTOBERCHESEDCOLLECTION
OurOctobercollectionisforbabyclothesandbabyitems. AlldonationswillbenefitOnegShabbos. Babyclothesshouldbeneworgentlyworn.Babyitems shouldbecleanandingoodcondition. Snowsuitsandblanketsarealsoneeded. PleasedropoffdonationsatthehomeofMichelleandPhilip Berman11MargaretCourt. Allitemscanbeleftonthefrontporch.

https://drm.nybloodcenter.org/PublicScheduler/ GroupLanding.aspx?s=03872

Youcanalsobookanappointmentbyemailto reind@sullcrom.comorbytelephoneon212558 3035.(Whenyoudoso,pleaseprovideapreferredtimeon any15minuteincrement).Pleasealsofeelfreetocalloremail ifyouhaveanyquestions.

Weencourageyoutojoinusandtosignupassoonaspossi ble.Thankyouinadvanceforyourgenerosity.Welook forwardtoseeingyouonSundaymorning.

FAMILY SHABBAT DINNER & GUEST SPEAKER SERIES Friday evening, October 18 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 | 516-487-6100 | www.gns.org SPONSORSHIP & DEDICATION OPPORTUNITIES Dinner Series Dedication - $5,000 | Single Dinner Dedication - $1,800 Dinner Sponsor - $1,000 | Dinner Patron - $500 Dinner Supporter - $360 For more information, please contact the synagogue office Guest Speaker

AMBASSADOR YEHUDA AVNER

Reservations Required ~ Limited Seating $36/adult | $24/teen | $10/child | $125 family maximum RSVP: 516.487.6100 or mtwersky@gns.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUNDAY BREAKFAST Breakfast is sponsored by Marcia & Jacob Toledano in memory of her mother Julia Karten,zl. HASHKAMA MINYAN Kiddush is sponsored by the Joan & Henry Katz and Family. SISTERHOOD NEWS THE ANNUAL SISTERHOOD DINNER is Tuesday, Oct 22nd at GNS!!! See Page 2 On Wednesday night, Oct 30th, Aksana Jensen will be presenting a spa facial demonstration!

Within Our Family

Mazal Tov to Jamie & Michael Katz on the engagement of their son Brian to Naomi Ackerman of Miami, Florida.
IN THE COMMUNITY WELCOMING NEW FACES We encourage all of our members to welcome the new faces they see during the week and Shabbat with a warm and friendly approach, indicative of the wonderful community we live in. Please consider inviting the following for a meal. Welcome to our Community David & Dahlia Shabbatian Joseph & Randi Cohen Ben & Rachel Feintuch Welcome New members Nima & Bracha Dayani Josh & Kathleen Gold Howard Goldstein Aryeh & Jessica Hauptman Arik & Sarah Hirschfeld Michael & Leslie Kule Bijan & Elda Niknam Jeremy & Tania Orenstein Peter & Pamela Shrock SAVE THE DATE Thursday, Nov. 7, 7 PM at the Great Neck Library, Main Branch, Community Room. Andrew G. Bostom, noted author and lecturer, will speak on "Islam and The Jews". Sponsored by the Jewish Political Education Foundation. All Welcome. No charge for admission. HONORING GLORIA & HARVEY KAYLIE American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro will be honoring Gloria and Harvey Kaylie at its Inaugural Humanitarian Award Celebration Dinner on Thursday, October 17, 2013, at 6:30 PM at The Essex House, 160 Central Park South. For more information or to make a contribution, please e-mail Gala@afobis.org or call 212-586-2464. SAVE THE DATES Our member Anna Hakakian will be honored by Larger Than Life at its dinner on Oct., 22 at Temple Israel. Call 773-1050 for information. Vocapeople from Broadway will be featured. The Iranian Jewish federation will be holding its 12th Annual Gala Thur., Nov. 7 at Alice Tully Hall.

CHESED COLLECTION Our Oct. Chesed Collection is for baby clothes and baby items. All donations will benefit Oneg Shabbos. Baby clothes should be new or gently used and Baby items should be clean and in good condition. Snowsuits and blankets are also needed. Please drop off donations at the home of Michelle and Philip Berman 11 Margaret Court. All items can be left on the front porch-Sun., Fri., until Oct.25th. BI-ANNUAL OHEL SHABBATON Our bi-annual Ohel Shabbaton will be taking place on Oct.25-26th. If you are interested in hosting OHEL members for that Shabbos, please contact Rabbi Lichter at ilichter @gns.org. The program will include dinner Friday night at the shul for OHEL and their hosts, an Oneg following dinner open to the entire community and a Saturday night activity joining our Youth department and the OHEL members. NEW PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS A new program for Middle School students begins Sunday Oct. 13th with davening at 8:30, followed by breakfast and class. After breakfast, girls will meet with Dani Bronstein and boys with Rabbi Bronstein and Rabbi Lichter. All children ages 11-14 are invited to join us. FAMILY SHABBAT DINNER & GUEST SPEAKER SERIES Guest Speaker AMBASSADOR YEHUDA AVNER Friday Evening, October 18 SPONSORSHIP & DEDICATION OPPORTUNITIES Dinner Series Dedication - $5,000 | Single Dinner Dedication - $1,800 Dinner Sponsor - $1,000 | Dinner Patron - $500 Dinner Supporter - $360 For more information, please contact the synagogue office Reservations Required ~ Limited Seating $36/adult | $24/teen | $10/child | $125 family maximum RSVP: 516.487.6100 or mtwersky@gns.org

The family of Jack Lemonik wishes to convey their sincere appreciation to Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Lichter, Cantor Kron, the Great Neck Synagogue Staff the "minyan men" and the many, many members of the Great Neck Community for their outpouring of support and kindness during the period of shiva for his mother, Anne Lemonik.
Saturday, 8 Cheshvan Harold Domnitch for Alice Smoklow Leo R. Mindick for Hyman Rubinstein Sunday, 9 Cheshvan Felix Glaubach for Cyrilie Glaubach Sarita Greszes for Hersh Rosenberg Monday, 10 Cheshvan Nadine Eckstein for Herbert Eckstein Sharon Janovic for Joseph Janovic Albert Miller for Israel Miller Milton Rabinowitz for Avraham Rabinowitz Tuesday, 11 Cheshvan Evelyn Henis for Harry Noah Roslyn Korman for Charles Wasserman Charles Mandelbaum for Jack Mandelbaum Wednesday, 12 Cheshvan Frank Buchsbaum for Josephine Buchsbaum Roslyn Dicker for Miriam Gottlieb Sydelle Knepper for Rosalie Marin Tricia Moslin for Nycha Solomon Thursday, 13 Cheshvan Eva Bachrach for Joseph Grunfarb Abigail Epstein for H. Howard Ostrin Pauline Loewenstein for David Rutta Friday, 14 Cheshvan Ellen Siegel for Shirley Crair

MENS CLUB UPCOMING EVENTS SUN., OCT 13: Semi-Annual Blood Drive. SUN., OCT 27, 10:00 am: The diplomatic correspondent for The Jerusalem Post, Herb Keinon, will be talking on the political and diplomatic situation in Israel, and present his view on the current Peace talks. SUN., NOV 10, 10:00am: We are thrilled that Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, an elected member of the South African parliament and a staunch supporter of Israel will be speaking at our breakfast that morning. SUN., NOV 17, 2:00PM : A trip to NYC, together with Dos Yiddish Vort , to the Yiddish Theater to see " Lies My Father Told Me ", a musical in English with Yiddish. Cost is $65 per person, which includes the bus, theater tickets and a light dinner.

YOETZET HALACHA Join us to welcome Great Neck Synagogue's new Yoetzet Halacha Dena Block, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 9:30-11:00 a.m. Her topic that morning will be What to Expect When You're Not Expecting! together with Dr. Valerie Altman, ob/gyn. This will be a "women only" brunch sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue at the home of Ilana Wallenstein, 32 Arrandale Avenue.To reach Dena with your questions please call 516-320-9818 or reach her by email at gnsyoetzet@gmail.com.

Y A H R Z E I T