THE BETH HAMEDROSH HAGODOLKESSER MAARIV ANSHE LUKNIK NEWSLETTER

CHESHVAN / KISLEV 5773NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

www.KesserMaariv.org

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Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff

Scholar-in-Residence

Shabbat November 16-17

Friday Night, November 16 at the shul at 7:00 pmth

Shabbat Dinner before Shiur - Reservations required, $15 per person

Motzei Shabbat, November 17 , Dairy Melave Malka at 7:30 pmth

$25/person

4341 W. Golf, Skokie

Sponsorships available:

Silver $54, Gold $100, Platinum $180, Diamond $360 (all per person)

Advance Reservations to Kesser Maariv, (847) 679-9800 or bhhkmal@yahoo.com

Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff is Professor of Rabbinic Literature at Yeshiva

University's Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Institute in Jerusalem. He is a noted scholar, author and

teacher who has taught thousands of students in his over 50 years of teaching. His lectures on

Halacha, History and Contemporary Orthodoxy are heard by thousands of people over the internet

at www.yutorah.org.

He is the author of Bernard Revel: Builder of American Jewish Orthodoxy; Silver Era in

American Jewish Orthodoxy: Rabbi Eliezer and His Generation; The Rav: The World of Rabbi

Joseph B. Soloveitchik; Rakafot Aharon: A Collection of Published Scholorship in the Realms of

Halakah, Hashkafah, and Jewish History, and most recently his memoirs, From Washington

Avenue to Washington Street, in which he describes his travels to the Soviet Union on behalf of

Israel's Mossad.

UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES TO REMEMBER

Send-A-Kid-To-Israel Partnership (S.K.I.P.)Kesser Maariv is proud to be a participating Congregationin S.K.I.P. The program allows parents to contributemoney annually in partnership with the synagogue and theJewish Federation for an Israel trip for their children.Students in grades 3-6, enrolled in a day or afternoonschool, who have finished paying their annualmembership to the shul are eligible to participate. Foradditional details, a registration kit or to enroll yourchild(ren) for the first time, please contact Ben ZionLazovsky at (847) 679-9800.

Visit Hospital Patients on ChanukahBring Chanukah cheer to patients at Skokie Hospital! Exact dates will be announced shortly. Please call Sarettaat 847-204-0556 or email lazovsky@juno.com tovolunteer.

Misheberach ListIf you have names for a misheberach, please send them tothe shul office or e-mail to bhhkmal@yahoo.com.

Happy Day Cards & StandingsThank you to the “Standings” for the past year. It is nowtime to re-register! If you haven’t registered yet, it’s timeto join the Kesser Maariv Cards standing list! For only$50 a year, your name will automatically be includedwhenever a card is sent from our shul to fellow membersfor a refua shlayma, condolence or mazal tov. To join thestandings, please contact the office at (847) 679-9800 orbhhkmal@yahoo.com or Wendy Hartz at (708) 205-5109. Also, cards are available for purchase from the office for$1.50 each or 13 cards for $18. If you would like us tosend a card for you for $2, please contact Wendy Hartz.

Rabbi Meyer Juzint’s The Chain of MiraclesThis amazing Holocaust memoir written by a teacher ofRabbi Louis Lazovsky and a friend of Kesser Maariv, isavailable for purchase from the office, and fromwww.kessermaariv.org for $20. Final preparations forNechamas Meyer, Mussar on Parsha, Breishis andShemos, are almost complete, and will be ready, with G-d’s help, within the next few months."The Chain of Miracles" will be on sale at the AMITBoutique on Sunday November 18 at Or Torah and at theth

Antonia Spitzer Library Boutique on Sunday December2 at K.I.N.S.nd

Daily MinyanWe have daily 6:00 am Shacharit. Please note that theminyan will begin after 6:00 am through November 2 ,nd

with sunrise being so late.Sunday, Mincha-Maariv 10 minutes before sunset.Monday–Thursday, Maariv only at 7:00 pm.! Pick up a Kesser Maariv Pushke (Tzedaka Box).! Members may borrow books from our Lending

Library, located on the south side of the SocialHall. Check out our new titles!

PAST EVENTSRabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky spoke before Selichot on “TheChazzan of Selichot.”Thanks to Sheryl & Bob Greenstein for organizing theHigh Holiday Greeting Card...Yasher Koach to Dr. Ed Kaplan, Rabbi Dr. PinchasEisenbach, and Rabbis Louis, Ben Zion and Eli Lazovskyfor leading the beautiful tefillot and making the HighHolidays very meaningful. Thank you to all our membersfor your generous response at the Aliya auctions, yizkorappeal and Kol Nidrei Appeal, and to those whocontributed toward Rabbi Louis Lazovsky’s honor ofMaftir Yonah...Thanks to the sponsor of the Simchat Torah Luncheon...Thanks to the anonymous donors of the ArtScroll SukkotMachzorim.

ADELE GOLDBLUM WOMEN’S COUNCILUPCOMING EVENTS

KMnitters – Stay tuned for upcoming knitting meetings. Call Wendy Hartz at (708) 205-5109 for emergency fiberentanglements or slipped stitches.Simcha Dancing – Monday night October 29 at 8:00 pm(Please note change of date and time) at the Shul withinstructor Malkie Goldberg. $5 donation. Have fun anda good workout! Chicago Women Charity Players will be presenting anall women's presentation of "The Wizard of Oz" at thePerforming Arts Center on Monday evening November26 at 7 pm. The Women's Council will go as a group. th

Stay tuned for more details.A Chanukah program is in the works! Stay tuned fordetails.Serve dinner at Cafe Ark. Wed. night January 16th. Call Cookie Goldrich at 847-673-8149 to reserve yourspace for this wonderful Chesed opportunity.

Past EventThanks to Dotty Chakiris for sponsoring delightfulevening of music featuring Kol Shira - A Women's Trio,featuring Gail Mangurten, Devorah Yael Silvert and ShiraMalka Walder, who performed a broad spectrum ofJewish music. It was a wonderful membership event.

College Scholarship opportunities See www.jvschicago.org/scholarship or call the JVSScholarship Secretary at (312) 673-3444 or e-mail:jvsscholarship@jvschicago.org. The application deadlineis February 15, 2013.

GOOD & WELFAREMazel Tov to: Jeff & Sandy Cagan on the birth of agrandson...Yoni & Dr. Aliza Blumofe on the engagementof their son Calev to Elisheva Klein...Herb & RitaLowenstein on the engagement of their son David Max toShoshana Esther McConnell...Debbie & Brian Alexanderon the birth of twin grandsons...Gene and Dorie Chez onthe birth of a great-granddaughter...Cookie and ArtGoldrich on the birth of a great-grandson...Cara Frazin onher Aliya to Israel.Refua Shleima to: Anne Elovic and Herb LowensteinCondolences to: Yitzchok & Dottie Chakiris on thepassing of Yitzchok’s father...Lysee & Dr. Henry Dankoon the passing of Lysee’s mother, Sarita Kolom...Dr.David & Guila Zuckerman on the passing of David’s

mother, Shirlee Zuckerman.Thank you to our recent Kiddush Sponsors: NasrinKheradyar, Rabbi Louis & Saretta Lazovsky andanonymous sponsors.Thanks to the Simchat Torah Luncheon sponsor!Thank you to our recent Seudat Shlisheet Sponsors: RabbiLouis & Saretta Lazovsky, Harvey & MiriamSchiller...Alan & Heather Busch, Gilda Allswang andLarry & Judy Weinger.

DVAR TORAHChanukah - Saturday night December 8 – December 16.

This year we light the first Chanukah candle onSaturday, December 8 . We add one candle each nightth

through Saturday evening, December 15 . Remember, onth

Friday December 14 the Chanukah candles are lit beforeth

lighting Shabbat Candles. We make certain that night’scandle will burn until at least 75 minutes after sundown,which is about 5:35 pm.

What does Chanukah commemorate? TheSyrian-Greeks, in about 150 BCE, tried to make the Jewsadopt some of their pagan practices. They also tried tointroduce the sacrifice of unclean animals in the Temple. The Maccabees, a family of Jewish priests-turned-warriors, managed to vanquish the marauding Syrian-Greek armies. However, the Syrian-Greeks tried to defileall the pure oil for the Menorah by breaking the seals onthe bottles. The Maccabees found one vial of pure oil,enough to kindle the Menorah for one day. The Sanhedrin,the Jewish Religious high court, decided to light all of theoil and fulfill the mitzvah (commandment) as required,and a miracle occurred. The Menorah burned for eightdays, allowing the Maccabees the requisite time tosanctify themselves and prepare more oil. It was decidedto light candles in areas visible to passers-by to publicizethis great miracle. We light one candle the first night, andadd one every night until the end of the holiday.

There are many special Mitzvot, Commandments,and customs that are observed on Chanukah. In additionto lighting the candles, we eat latkes (potato pancakes),and sufganiyot (jelly rolls), to recall the miracle that tookplace with the oil. We also add the prayer of Hallel, aprayer of praise and thanks to G-d as well as the AlHanisim, a prayer thanking G-d for His miracles, which isadded to the Amidah and Grace after meals.

Children play with dreidels to remind us how wedeceived the Syrian-Greeks, whose plan called for theassimilation of those that they conquered to Syrian-Greekculture. Their laws prohibited Jews from learning Torah. They had regular patrols to all Jewish schools to assurethat no Torah was being taught. The Jews were dedicatedto the Torah and devised a plan to trick them. Theylearned Torah, but each school had a sentry. When thesentry announced the imminent arrival of the Syrian-Greek patrol, all the children hid their books and took outdreidels, which were simple gambling implements. TheSyrian-Greeks were always quite happy to see the“progress” being made by the Jewish students who hadseemingly abandoned the road of Torah and had embraced

Congregation B.H.H. Kesser Maariv A.L.4341 W. GolfSkokie, IL 60076(847) 679-9800fax (847) 679-5041e-mail: bhhkmal@yahoo.com www.KesserMaariv.org

Rabbi Louis A. LazovskySteven D. Goldrich, PresidentRabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky,

Associate Rabbi & Executive DirectorNasrin Kheradyar & Saretta Lazovsky, Co-Presidents,

Adele Goldblum Women’s Council

Committee Contact Information:

Bricks SarettaLazovsky

(847) 676-0556

Chesed Fund Anne Elovic (847) 673-2904

Donate Books& Siddurim

Office (847) 679-9800

Endowment Michael Hartz (708) 366-7662

Happy DayCards

Wendy Hartz (708) 205-5109

Kiddush Judy Whisler (847) 677-2281

Membership Bob GreensteinJudy Whisler

(847) 967-7408(847) 677-2281

Social HallRental

Office (847) 679-9800

Tree of Life Office (847) 679-9800

YahrzeitPlaques

Office (847) 679-9800

gambling. Chanukah calls upon us to fight assimilationand assume Jewish continuity, a task as valid today as itwas in 150 BCE.Asarah B'Tevet - Sunday, December 23 .rd

Asarah B'Tevet, which means the 10th day of theHebrew month of Tevet, is a fast day. It was on this dayin 586 BCE that the Babylonians began the siege ofJerusalem that eventually led to the destruction of the first

Temple. Today, on this solemn occasion, we repent andreturn to our heritage and observance of thecommandments and act with ahavat chinam, love of ourfellow Jew, because it was our departure from thesetraditions that caused the Almighty to allow thedestruction of both Temples. May the Almighty havemercy on His children and speedily redeem us on themerit of the good deeds we all perform every day.

SHABBAT SCHEDULE

Date Candle Lighting Friday Mincha Shacharit Shiur Mincha

Vayeira 11/2-11/3 5:23 pm 5:25 pm 8:45 am 4:10 pm 5:10 pm

Chayei Sara 11/9-11/10 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:45 am 3:05 pm 4:05 pm

Toldot 11/16-11/17 4:09 pm 4:10 pm 8:45 am 3:00 pm 4:00 pm

Vayeitzei 11/23-11/24 4:04 pm 4:05 pm 8:45 am 2:55 pm 3:55 pm

Vayishlach 11/30-12/1 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 8:45 am 2:50 pm 3:50 pm

Vayeishev 12/7-12/8 3:59 pm 4:00 pm 8:45 am 2:50 pm 3:50 pm

Mikeitz (Chanukah) 12/14-12/15 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 8:45 am 2:50 pm 3:50 pm

Vayigash 12/21-12/22 4:03 pm 4:05 pm 8:45 am 2:55 pm 3:55 pm

Vayechi 12/28-12/29 4:07 pm 4:10 pm 8:45 am 3:00 pm 4:00 pm

Shemot 1/4-1/5 4:13 pm 4:15 pm 8:45 am 3:05 pm 4:05 pm

Va’eira 1/11-1/12 4:20 pm 4:20 pm 8:45 am 3:10 pm 4:10 pm

Bo 1/18-1/19 4:29 pm 4:30 pm 8:45 am 3:20 pm 4:20 pm

If you have a chiyuv - obligation to daven or require an Aliya, please inform Rabbi Lazovsky before Shabbat.To sponsor a kiddush or shalashudos, please call Judy Whisler at (847) 677-2281.

WEEKDAY SCHEDULE

Minyan TimesMinyanim meet in the Kaufman Bais Midrash

ShacharitSunday: 8:00 amMonday-Friday: 6:10 am due to late sunriseReverting to 6:00 on November 5Mincha-MaarivSunday: 10 minutes before sundownMonday-Thursday Maariv at 7:00 pm

Classes

Sunday M orn ing at 9 :45 am : Parsha Class in theWeekly Sedra.Given by Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik

T u e s d a y s a t 7 : 1 5 p m ( a f t e r M a a r i v ) : D r u s h O rHaChayim by the Tiferes Yisrael on the Immortalityof the Soul, given by Rabbi Ben Zion.

For more learning opportunities, contact Rabbis B. or E. Lazovsky

Malamud Reference LibraryCome and Learn from any of the hundreds of titles in our library.Lending LibraryMembers may borrow books from our Lending Library, located on the south side of the Social Hall.Tape Lending LibraryWe have tapes and digital audio files on many topics including Chumash, Talmud and Mussar.