Adult Jewish Education Opens Hearts and Minds

                                                                                                ב"ה                                 

12 Tevet 5772                                                                                                                       January 7, 2012

                                                Spiritually Soaring at Shiur's Siyum

Shiur (Hebrew: שעור‎, pronounced "shee-ur", pl. shiurim, שעורים) is a lesson on any Torah topic and, for years, meeting weekly at the home of Drs. Mark and Naomi Ramer, and for an extensive period under the guidance of Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz (related to the distinguished Rabbi Benjamin Kamenetzky, via  marriage to his daughter Shoshana), more than a score men and women, at various levels of ritualistic observance, but all eager to taste the fruit of the Tree of Life, have more knowledge and insight into Gemara, Mishnah, halakha, Tanakh.

Spiritual leader of Congregation Anshei Chessed in Hewlett, Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz also holds Monday shiurim at his home, while some of our number, congregants of Atlantic Beach Jewish Center, on a rotating basis have volunteered to host their Rabbi E. Samuel Klibanoff's Wednesday evenings as the Shabbat's Parasha, portion, is analyzed. When the definitive study is published of how the Five Towns eventually evolved and raised from its malaise to become the all-embracing community, especially welcoming all Jews, it will be through the tenacious efforts of rabbis like our teacher, whose countenance and learning naturally commend our attention and respect as we seek to improve our souls. Emblematic of the graciousness and accepting mien that characterizes Rabbi Lefkowitz, he enthusiastically states: "We invite all men or women of all levels of Jewish knowledge and religiosity to join with us.  If someone would like to be included in the Shiur please Email me at rsl@lifetech.org."

And so, persevering to complete the final passages of the Book of Joshua, Rabbi Lefkowitz energetically crossed the finish line, discussing the deaths of both the successor of Moses, an archetype of the statesman-general, mentioning the demise of Eleazar, Aaron the High Priest's son, and the re-internment of Joseph's remains in Shechem. We recall that upon his death as a viceroy of Egypt, Joseph had entreated his brothers, extracting from them their solemn vow to take his bones to a final resting place in the soon-to-be-reached, after a 40-year sojourn in the desert, Promised Land!

The conclusion of remarks is followed by the Rabbis' Kaddish, extolling and  affirming Almighty's glory, recited with the emotion one attains when a special milestone is achieved, truly a cause for celebration, making it a siyum (Hebrew: סיום‎) (“completion”). This evening, nearly an intergenerational crowd of 70 did so in style, enjoying a sumptuous seudat mitzvah prepared by Abe Fuchs of New Star Caterers, and served in the grand ballroom of Congregation Ohr Torah, 410 Hungry Harbor Road, North Woodmere, NY.

Blessed are we to be among those whose lives are enhanced through an ever-growing Jewish adult continuing education program; and may we have the zahut, merit, to come together for other grand occasions, for Torah, for Hupa, and for Maasim Tovim. Amen. Hazak U'Varuch! 

Sincerely, and with fraternal affection,

                Asher

Prof. Asher J. Matathias

312 Longacre Avenue, Woodmere, NY 11598-2530

516-374-2958 Mobile: 369-5799 AsherJmat@Aol.com 

*Beautifully done! Mazel tov. Love, Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz, Congregation Anshei Chessed, Hewlett, NY

**Kudos! R' M.K., Hewlett, NY
*Glad you like my cousins. I.J.K., North Woodmere, NY

**Thank you., G.F., Teaneck, NJ

*How wonderful to hear classes such as these will restore the People Israel. Anytime Jews gather to hear words of Torah, I believe the Mashiach is closer. Thank you so much for sharing! You are wonderful! Fondly, Marcia H-E., Lawrence, NY

Joshua and Hebrews crossing Jordan River]

Tim Dolan Rises in Hierarchy

                                                                                    ב"ה                                                                                 

12 Tevet 5772                                                                                                                               January 7, 2012                            

                                  Vatican Decision Widely Welcomed And Applauded

                Shabbat Parasha Vayechi had Anna and me, along with our Sara's family --- husband Lee-Lev and daughter Jacqueline-Hannah --- joined a sparse group attending services at the Sephardic Temple. The venue has long been associated with our family, and in its glory days Anna presided over the Sisterhood for eight years, still a record, which might have been augmented had she not decided to step down!

                Apart from the worship highlight of having our dear friend Aaron Zacharia recited the Bendicho Su Nombre, upon the opening of the Ark, and our son-in-law's ascent to the teva, pulpit, to read the blessings prior and after hearing his Torah segment read, it was the positive remarks of Rabbi Arnold B. Marans on the imminent elevation of New York City's Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan to Cardinal, in a Vatican ceremony, on February 18. He is among 22 proposed new Cardinals, but, with Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, the only other American.

                Cardinals constitute the privileged class of the Pope's advisers who are called upon to enter a secret conclave to deliberate and fill the highest office in Catholicism whenever a vacancy occurs. Most are of advanced age, but Dolan, 61, is among 18 of newly-appointed leaders under the age of 80. While no American has ever been selected for the papacy, the privilege seemed to be reserved for Italian-born candidates, bending to the reality of changed demographics, and in an effort to make the Church fall in line with its universal appeal, a Pole (John Paul II) and a German, the current Benedict XVI, have served to good effect --- the former, for being a transformative prelate, more so than the latter.

                However, relations of Popes and Jews have always been fraught, with a subliminal anti-Semitism, not as overt as found traditionally in the Eastern Orthodox Rite, which has markedly ebbed since the historic Vatican Councils of the 1960's  absolving Jews of the pernicious charge of deicide, the crucifixion of Jesus; eventually ceasing the proselytizing of Jews as errant brothers, and references to the "perfidis Judaeis", the "unfaithful Jews" on Good Friday were excised. The benefits of reconciliation are self-evident in the superior relations between Catholics and Jews, alas, a level yet to be achieved between the Greek Orthodox and world Jewry, for such reforms in the former remain wanting. (Islam is also late to begin the process to embrace necessary and desirable overdue changes.)

After all, the Byzantine Empire, of which the Greek Orthodox Church provided the spiritual undergirding, grew historically isolated, intolerant, and oppressive, unable to experience the West's Reformation and Counter Reformation, albeit much of it bloody. Living in our glorious American republic, we need to be cognizant, that this polity represents the evolving distillation of ideas from such torrential waves as the Renaissance and Enlightenment culminating in the epochal Glorious Revolution of 1688.

But I am diverting. The celebration of good relations between Catholics and Jews, even to the extend that Bishop William Murphy of the Archdiocese of Rockville Centre, NY, sending warm Rosh HaShana, Jewish New Year, greetings to area rabbis, addressing them as brothers, has not always been a given, nor has a tension-free existence been achieved. The question of whether to canonize Pope Pius XII a saint, having served during World War II and while the Holocaust was being prosecuted festers. Sometimes identified as Hitler's Pope, for affecting cooperation, some would say collaboration with the Third Reich, one Gary Krupp, resident of Long Beach, and founder of The Pave the Way Foundation to promote interfaith harmony through mutual respect, demurs as he asserts that efforts were exerted by Pope Pius XII to "save Jews from Nazi tyranny."

                This pope's inability or unwillingness to raise his voice during the direst period in our People's history was dramatically presented by playwright Rolf Hochhuth in his controversial work, The Deputy, suggesting that political interests and religious prejudices converged to make the saving of Jewish lives a secondary manner. These thoughts cascaded through my mind, as I heard the rabbi weave a more positive working partnership that awaits this soon-to-be-elevated churchman. Aware that Archbishop Dolan is well-known, and appreciated, in the Jewish community --- he has participated in programs with Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Park East Synagogue --- I join the growing throng to wish him G-d's speed, and may the coming years be ever-fruitful, and in every respect satisfactory. Amen.

Sincerely, and with fraternal affection,                                                                               

Asher                                                                                                                                                 

Prof. Asher J. Matathias                                                                                                        

312

Longacre Avenue, Woodmere, NY 11598-2530

                                                                  

516-374-2958 Mobile: 369-5799 AsherJmat@Aol.com

*Thank you for sending me this. I appreciate your erudite pieces for their beautiful use of language and their deep analysis of current events. I am enjoying the professional service of your son in law, Brad Herman. He really does a wonderful job of educating the children in my new school, Shaare Torah Boys HS. Secondly I wanted wish you a mazal tov on the honor your daughter received this past mozei Shabbat at the JEP dinner. JEP is an important organization in our community and your support of its work is most gratefully appreciated by all. May Hashem continue to bless your wonderful family! All the best! Richard Altabe, Far Rockaway, NY                                                                                                    
**D. B. Asher gracias!!! Azak U Baruch!!! Emilio S., Mexico City, Mexico            
**Amen, Asher. However, I don't share your warm feeling for the pedophile protector from Boston. P.K., Baldwin, NY

        

Our Daughter Joy's Triumph