Parshat Terumah February 5, 2011 1 Adar, 5771

Rabbi Frand on Parshat Terumah

TORAH to throw the block of gold Menorah. The Ribono
ARTSCROLL, 444
The Torah's narration
HERTZ, 325 of the construction of into the fire and the shel Olam said to him
the Menorah includes: Menorah would emerge "This is what it looks
HAFTORAH "You shall make a miraculously by itself. like. Here is the
ARTSCROLL, 1157 diagram. Go do
HERTZ, 336
Menorah of pure gold,
beaten out, shall the Several pasukim [verses] it." (Shmos 25:40),
Menorah be made (tei- later, at the conclusion of However, after Moshe
a-seh the instructions regarding tried to construct the
haMenora), its base, its the Menorah the pasuk Menorah from the
Bar Mitzvah branch, its goblets, its [verse] says: "See, and diagram, he returned to
Netanel Kohn construct, according to their the Almighty and said: "I
knobs, and its flowers
shall be hammered form that you are shown on can't do it." At that point
from it." [Shmos 25:31]. the mountain." [Shmos Hashem said, "Okay,
Times Rashi comments on the 25:40] Rashi comments: fine. Take the gold,
passive conjugation "Moshe was perplexed by throw it in the fire, and
Candle Lighting 4:58 pm
(niph'al) of the word the construction of the out will come the
Friday Mincha 5:00 pm "tei-a-seh". By other Menorah until the Holy One, Menorah."
Hashkama 8:00 am Mishkan utensils, the Blessed is He, showed him
Torah uses the more a Menorah of fire." But that raises the
Youth 8:30 am
expected conjugation question, why didn't
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am "t-a-she" (you shall These two Rashis seem to Hashem just help
Main Minyan 9:00 am make). Why in the case contradict one another. Moshe complete the
Beit Midrash 9:15 am of the Menorah does What in fact happened? task the first time?
the Torah use the How was the Menorah When He saw that
Gemorah Shiur 4:00 pm made? Did Moshe see it, Moshe Rabbeinu was
passive form, "tei-a-
Mincha 4:50 pm seh"? get the blueprint and make having difficulty with the
Shabbat Ends 6:07 pm it himself, as the latter Rashi concept of how to
Sunday Feb. 6 7:30/8:30 am
Rashi says this teaches says -- or did it miraculously construct the Menorah,
that the Menorah was emerge from the fire by why didn't HaShem
Mon. Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am made "by itself" (i.e. – itself? Was it "ta'a'seh" or immediately have him
not by human hand). was it "tei-a-seh"? throw the gold in the
Tues.Wed.Fri. 6:45/7:45 am Moshe had difficulty fire? Why did HaShem
Late Maariv 8:15 pm envisioning exactly how The Sefas Emes resolves frustrate him further
it was to be the apparent contradiction. going through a process
Mincha Sun./Fri. 5:10 pm
constructed. Therefore, Both teachings are correct. that proved in the end to
Hashem instructed him Moshe Rabbeinu could not be futile?
Latest times for
figure out how to make the
Shema/Shmoneh Esrei
February 5 9:35/10:26 am Kiddush Is Sponsored by Seudah Shlishit is
sponsored in memory of
February 12 9:31/10:23 am Iris Kohn Wiener and Family Andor Jack Birnbaum, z”l,
Next Shabbat in honor of the grandfather of
Tetzaveh
the Bar Mitzvah the Birnbaum children,
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Mincha 5:10 pm and Solomon.
26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Parshat Terumah 5771

People would get a third of the way up the ladder,

The Sefas Emes explains that this is the paradigm
for spirituality and acquisition of all Torah knowledge.
Torah and ruchniyus [spirituality] is all about the
process of acquisition. The process of trying at first
and perhaps not succeeding is an essential part of
the end result of acquiring Torah and ruchniyus.
Success –- when it comes at the end -– is always
"miraculous".
The Menorah is the symbol of Torah. Sometimes it
seems overwhelming. How does a person master it?
A person has no idea how he will ever accomplish
what he has set out to accomplish. The answer is
that we must try to put it all together. After we make
the effort, the end result often "emerges by itself".
About this it is stated: "If you make the effort and
achieve, believe it!" After working, and sweating, and
making the maximum effort then what comes is a
"find" (metziah).
half way up, look up and ask themselves "What am
I doing even trying? It is hopeless." One after
another, they would give up trying.
One determined fellow decided that he was going
to give it a shot. He climbed higher and higher and
higher. He sweated and toiled endlessly until he
got to the top rung of the ladder. When he got
there, he realized why everyone had to wear the
helmet. The top of the helmet was magnetized. On
the top floor was a powerful magnet. As soon as he
reached the top rung, the magnet pulled him up
"magically" the rest of the way.

Regarding Torah learning and matters of the spirit,

we first need to engage in the "ta-a-seh". We need to
make the effort. After showing sincere effort, as
Moshe did with the Menorah, it will be achieved, as it
were, via a "tei-a-seh" process.

If a person fails to make the effort, there will never

be an end result -– miraculous or otherwise.

I believe I once heard the following parable from Rav

Gifter. A King promised great reward to anyone who
would climb a ladder and reach the top of a certain
tower. The problem was that the ladder was at a 90
degree angle, and the top of the ladder was still
several feet away from the top floor to which the
climber had to ascend. There was no way that a
person could climb the ladder, get to the top rung
and then get up to the floor at the top of the tower.

The King insisted that people wear a certain helmet

while climbing the ladder. The climb was difficult.

Great Neck Synagogue

Shabbat Activities Program
Great Neck Synagogue
Shabbat Activities Program

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi

Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi
Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,z”l, Rabbi Emeritus
Michael Bleicher, Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Interns
Zeev Kron, Cantor
Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus
Mark Twersky, Executive Director
Joseph Hecht, President
Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
PESACH SCOPE DEADLINE
The deadline for the Pesach edition of Scope magazine is
Monday, March 7th. Please submit all articles, photos,
sponsorships and advertisements by that date to Diane Rein
at drein@verizon.net . Thank you very much!
SUNDAY BREAKFAST is sponsored by Lisa & Oded Daskal
in memory of his parents Dov & Leah Daskal, z”l.
HASHKAMA MINYAN KIDDUSH is sponsored by Sonia &
Sam Movsas in memory of his father Harav Yehuda Leib
ben Harav Dovid.
SISTERHOOD MEETING
On Wednesday, February 2nd at 8:00pm in the Braun Youth
Center there will be a Sisterhood meeting to discuss and plan
upcoming events. We would also like to discuss additional
outreach programs to assist those in need within our
community and beyond. We look forward to seeing you there.
PARENT CHILD LEARNING ON MOTZAI SHABBAT
Every Saturday evening, there will be a new program at
Great Neck Synagogue, parent-child(ren) learning. From
6:30–7:30pm, parents of middle school age children are
invited to come to GNS for this special program.
WOMEN’S TUESDAY LEARNING
The Tuesday class with Amit Yagoubi will begin at 10:30 am.
The class will focus on “Tomer Devorah” How to tap into the
13 attributes of G-D. Five weeks cost $50. Individual
classes $12.
NEW MEMBER DESSERT RECEPTION
We welcome new and prospective members of Great Neck
Synagogue to a Dessert Reception on Saturday evening,
February 12th at 8:30pm at the home of Debbie and Hal
Chadow, 50 Dickenson Place. Rabbi Dale Polakoff will offer
welcoming remarks. Please join us!
WANTED DONATION OF A USED CAR
The synagogue is looking for someone to donate a car for use
as a deterrent for security measures. It will be painted to
look official and a beacon will be installed on the roof. The car
does not have to run well, it just has to be able to be driven
in and around the shul. The body needs to be in decent condi-
tion. Please contact Scott Danoff if you have such a vehicle,
and would like to make a tax deductible donation to the shul.
Call Scott at 516-606-4922.
KOL HANEORIM PROJECT
This year in conjunction with our 59th Annual Journal Dinner we are
launching a new and exciting project in honor of our children. We
are very blessed to have a shul with so many families, young and
old, with numerous children and grandchildren. Each Simchas
Torah our children and grandchildren gather together under a
special tallis for Kol Haneorim, an aliyah dedicated to the children.
Our project is to dedicate a new tallis that will be a true piece of
art that will be used each Simchas Torah as well as displayed
throughout the year. We have commissioned an experienced artist
to design this tallis exclusively for the families of GNS. We know
that you will want to be a part of this unique and historical GNS
opportunity. There are a limited number of dedication opportunities
so we ask that you to please respond quickly and generously. We
encourage all families to participate in the project; together we can
create a beautiful tallis to cover our children as they receive their
bracha. Please go to the website www.gns.org and see the
rendering of this tallis and the list of donation possibilities.
Within Our Family
Mazal Tov to Debbie & Tom Furst on the birth of a grand-
daughter, born to their children Rina & Zack Kestenbaum.
Mazal Tov to Iris Kohn Weiner on the Bar Mitzvah of her
son Netanel.
Mazal Tov to Jane & Yosi Tuvia on the engagement of
their son Guy to Hillary Lewin, daughter of Cindy & Alan
Lewin of Miami Florida.
Mazal Tov to Renee & Abe Krieger on the birth of a
granddaughter born to their children Anna & Dan Klein.
RABBI REISMAN
The Rabbi Reisman simulcast takes place every Saturday
evening in the Weinstein Torah & Tech. Center. The time for
February is 8:00 pm.
SUPER BOWL PARTY Come join the GNS Youth for our
Super Bowl Party Sunday, February 6th starting at 6 pm at
Braun Youth Center. Sign up at www.gnsyouth.org/superbowl.
SAVE THE DATE
A Cabaret Night in Great Neck starring Adina Dicker Feldman will
be held on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 7 pm at the home of Elana &
Herschel Flax. Proceed from the evening will support Ulpanat
Dolev, a school in Israel for at risk girls. To be a sponsor or
make a reservation, please contact Marilyn Freedman at
marilpriv55@gmail.com or call 516-829-0960.
Saturday, 1 Adar
Pnina Aronowitz for Rafael Asor
Ronald Braun for Emil Braun
Harvey Brenner for Joseph Brenner
Paul Brody for Rabbi Abraham Brown
Paul Brody for David Brody
Hindi Lunzer for Ruchel Mermelstein
Lilli Weiss for Zeev Krendel
Sunday, 2 Adar
Y Michele Wolf for Philip Berman
A Monday, 3 Adar
Henry Dicker for Max Dicker
H Leon Schwechter for Israel Schwechter
R William Wolff for Rebecca Wolff
Z Tuesday, 4 Adar
Donna Hecht for David Gad
E Malka Gad for David Gad
I Burton Mandelbaum for Pauline Mandelbaum
Milton Mitzner for Anne Shapiro
T Thursday, 6 Adar
Phyllis Kirsch for Charles Zuckerman
Hannah Kleinberg for Kenneth Kleinberg
Ina Lax for Ethel Schoenfeld
Gerda Weissfeld for Max Weissfeld
Friday, 7 Adar
Gilbert Aronowitz for Fannie Aronowitz
Ian Gavronsky for Jack Gavronsky
Sam Movsas for Yehuda Movsas
Mitchell Siegel for Rachel Siegel
Murray Weiss for Anna Weiss