Community Magazine May 2021

18 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE C afe R enaissance Fine Dining Under Hashgacha Rabbi Yisroel P Gornish Come see our newly expanded and new decor with a fresh modern twist . Private party room can accommodate up to 100 people Sheva Brochos, Engagements, Bris, Bridal shower, Weddings, Bar/bas mitzvah Online ordering caferenaissancebk.com Open sun-thurs and Motsei Shabbos 802 Kings Highway Brooklyn, NY 11223 718-382-1900 לעילוי נשמתם של משה בן עליזה, יצחק הלל בן עליזה, והנרייט לאה בת עליזה, דוד בן גילה, רבקה בת גילה, יהושע בן גילה, משה בן גילה, שרה בת גילה, יעקב בן גילה, ואליאנה בת גילה. ולרפואה שלמה ליוסף בן אהובה מסעודה, שילת אהובה בת עליזה, ודניאל בן עליזה. Delivery available locally and anywhere in the USa. These Designer folding chairs are built with strong steel frames & elegantly upholstered seat & backs. They fold flat taking up minimu space and are easy & light to c rry around. Frame Color: Vinyl Color: (seat & back) Gold Almond, Black, Burgundy, Navy Silver Almond, Black, White, Grey • Matching Card Tables Available Perfect for: • Parties • Sheva Berachos • Accommodating Guests • Any Occasion Now AvAilAble! GreAt weddiNG Gift! This Chanuka, ignite someone’s light & suggest a shidduch! KEEP UPDATED ON NEW RESOURCES AND INSPIRATION WHATSAPP “JOIN” TO 516.855.7327 | EMAIL “JOIN” TO 10KBATAYYISROEL@GMAIL.COM FOLLOW @10KBATAYYISROEL ON INSTAGRAM graphics.naomi@gmail.com Mount Sinai is known also by a different name – “ Har Horev .” The root “ h.r.v. ” means “destroy.” Sinai is so named because the event that transpired there – Gd’s revelation and our receiving the Torah – marked the complete “destruction” of the yetzer hara , the evil inclination. The Talmud states that at that time, “ paseka zuhamatan ” – the nation’s “filth” was eliminated. Over the course of the seven weeks of purification, culminating with Matan Torah , Beneh Yisrael succeeded in fully cleansing themselves, and triumphing over the yetzer hara. This might be the meaning of the term “ Har Horev .” The Gemara in Masechet Sukkah says that the yetzer hara is likened to a mountain: just as it demands immense effort to scale a mountain, so does it require immense effort to overcome lures and temptations. “ Har Horev ,” then, could mean, “destroying the evil inclination.” At the time of Matan Torah , our ancestors completed their rise from the spiritual depths to which they had sunk in Egypt, to the point where they eliminated their sinful impulses altogether, and the yetzer hara was completely destroyed. Taking “Egypt” Out of the Jew In light of this, we may arrive at a new understanding of the expression .זכר ליציאת מצרים The Satmar Rebbe (Rav Yoel Teitelbaum, 1887-1979) suggested that when we speak of Shavuot celebrating יציאת מצרים , we refer not to our departure from Egypt, but rather Egypt’s departure from us. The term יציאת מצרים literally means, “Egypt’s departure” – the expulsion from Egyptian beliefs and values from the people’s hearts and minds. Shavuot celebrates the completion of the process of “ Har Horev ,” of destroying the negative spiritual forces which our ancestors had absorbed in Egypt, driving Egyptian influence out of their souls. On Pesach, we celebrate our having left Egypt. On Shavuot, we celebrate Egypt having left us. Reflecting on our ancestors’ remarkable accomplishment – rising from the depths of impurity to the heights of spiritual greatness – should be a great source of encouragement for us in our generation, when we face enormous religious challenges. We are, on the one hand, blessed to live in a country which guarantees all citizens the freedom to live as they wish, and this freedom is what has enabled our nation to thrive on these shores and to practice our religion without fear or intimidation. On the other hand, this freedom has allowed for the emergence of a culture which, in many ways, is antithetical to our values. And technology has enabled this culture to infiltrate Jewish life, and to have a profound – and, oftentimes, devastating – impact upon our souls. If our ancestors were able to climb this “mountain,” and reach the peak of holiness after having fallen to the lowest depths, then we, too, can climb. As difficult and challenging as religious commitment is in the modern era, we must remember that it is possible. Our ancestors were able to scale their mountain; we can scale ours. Our celebration of Shavuot should encourage and inspire us to redouble our efforts to “climb,” to persist in our struggle against the strong cultural currents that we face, and continually strive for great spiritual heights, undeterred by the unique challenges that we face. Y A M H A T O R A H DAY camp Under the leadership of Rabbi Yitzchak Mohadeb, shlita Mrs. Lea Mohadeb. Pre-Nursery Hours: 9am to 3:15pm • Nursery Hours: 9am to 3:15pm After camp program available 1573 E 10th Street • Messages at 7 8-376-3022 ext. 1 In the Heart of Flatbush Ages 2-4 T H E G A B R I E L A N D S A L L Y S A F D I E S C H O O L Ride Through A Summer Filled With Amusements With Yam Hatorah! Sephardic Mesorah Outd or play and swimming! Diversified Play Stations, such as arts & craft, music, etc Professional, patient and experienced staff