Rabbi’s Corner - Parshat Ki Tisa/Parah March 6, 2010

This past week was quite a strange mix of emotions celebrating Purim and mourning the loss of Dr. Rutstein’s mother all in the same day.  I was truly touched by how much everyone pulled together to do shemira all night in the hospital, to do the tahara, and to attend the funeral in miserable weather right in the middle of Purim celebrations.  It is a testament to the strength of our community and I am really proud.

I was so impressed with the costumes that I saw over the course of Purim.  It made the holiday so much fun and was very much an indication about how dedicated people are to making Purim a special day.

I would like to thank everyone for the many donations and mishloach manot that we received over Purim - both personal ones as well as those who sent to us via the Hebrew Academy mishloach manot program.  Elana and I really appreciate the gesture and of course the delicious foods…! We apologize to those of you who we did not reach with our mishloach manot. Elana and I had prepared one mishloach manot package per family in YIWH but with the hectic schedule of the day did not make it to everyone.  G-d willing we will try again next year!

We are honored this week at YIWH to be joined by Rabbi Yosef and Dr. Rivkah Blau for shabbos.  It is a unique privilege to be able to have such accomplished Jewish leaders in our shul to share their thoughts and experiences with us.  They have each written articles and books on various topics, have lectured around the country, and have been a part of so many important Jewish organizations, schools, and institutions.  It is very exciting for me to have them with us and I hope that you will enjoy both their company and their words of wisdom.  Please join us for any or all of the lectures they will give.  You can find the full schedule of events on the next page of the bulletin, on the flyers in the lobby, or on the bulletin board in the lobby.  We hope that the torah that we learn and the inspiration that we feel over the weekend will be a zechut for the neshama of Mr. Abraham Leichtberg z”l in whose memory this weekend is being sponsored.

Next shabbos we will be hosting some students from YU (not the same ones as last time) who will be holding a special teen program as well as leading various parts of the davening and speaking to us on shabbos afternoon.

As you may have seen, Steve Luger has sent out a flyer to order shmura matzah for Pesach.  It is a fundraiser for the shul.  You will not get the matzah much cheaper anywhere else but because of the special price we were give at YIWH it enables us to make some money for the shul.  Please send in your orders soon.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Weinberg