Shabbat Matot-Masei 5786 e-Bulletin

[OrMenorah Congregation]



Kehilat
Or Menorah
www.ormenorah.com
Rabbi Doug Zelden – Rav
Dov Steinberg - Shul President
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
7006 N. California Ave. Chicago, IL 60645

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Shabbat Parshat Matot-Masei 5786
Friday Erev Shabbat Candle lighting 8:07pm
Friday – Mincha/Kabalat Shabbat:  8:17pm
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Birkat Hatorah, Kriat Shma, & Brachot 9:05am
Zman Kriat Shma:(Say Shma by) 9:10am

Shabbat Morning: 9:15am
Shabbat Mevarchim – Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av Yih’yeh B’yom R’vi’ee

We do not have a Shabbat Kiddush sponsor yet this week. If you are able to contribute for any occasion or to take a turn hosting, please contact the Rabbi.
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Shabbat Afternoon:
Pirke Avot Shiur 15 Minutes before Shabbat Mincha
Shabbat Afternoon Mincha: 7:57pm
Followed by Divre Torah and Shiur
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SHABBAT SHALOM!
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Saturday Night:
Motz’ei Shabbat Maariv: 9:01pm   followed by Havdallah after 9:18pm
(Maariv begins no earlier than 33 minutes after sunset)


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(If you are able to sponsor a future Shabbat please contact the Rabbi.


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SIMCHA NEWS
Mazel Tov this week to:
Chedva (Maryles) & Meir Ritvo and families on the birth of a daughter.

Dr. Elana (Zelden) & Menachem Segel and families on the birth of a daughter.

Kalman Verson and Carmi i(Fleischer) Verson and families on the birth of a daughter. 

Eliana & Yamin Semer and families on the birth of a daughter,

Amanda & Eli Siebzener and families on the birth of a daughter.

Tiferet & Donny Aaron and families on the birth of a daughter.

Jamie & Michael Rosenbaum and families on the birth of a son.

Ariella Allen & Avi Elkaim and families on their engagement.
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Happy Birthday to:    
Brooke Mandrea
Kari Gutstein
Avital Kaszovitz
Sara Levin-Kohan
Ed Stopek
Alison Slovin
Zach Weiss
Chana Chroman
Paul Bromberg
Jeff Altschul
Jerry Schwartz
Penina Gaffen
Shalom Klein
Linda Forman
Dave Seiler
Carol Barnett
Eileen Shapiro
Hershel Chroman
Sharon Matten
Yoni Ray
Avi Ray
Zoe Gavalis
Josh Dorovitch
Cary Wolovick
Michelle Weinberg
Jocelyn Chilson
Meyer Ebert
Sara Coven
Yom Huledet Samayach!

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CONDOLENCE NEWS:
BARUCH DAYAN EMET!
Condolences to the families of:
-Shloime Melzer z“l
-Myron Haft z“l
-Dr. Edward Sachs z’l
Matvey Militsakh z”l
-Miriam Barinholtz a“h
-Frances Schatz a”h
 Hamakom Yenachem Etchem B'Toch Sh'ar Avele Tzion Virushalayim!
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Torah Thoughts from Rabbi Doug…
Parshat Matot-Masei
The Almighty commands Moshe to avenge for the Children of Israel for the crimes that the Midianites committed (enticing  the men  into illicit relationships  and idol  worship).  
Yet, the Torah tells us that,
"Moshe sent forth, a thousand from each tribe to the army 
and they massed against  the Midian..."  (Numbers 31:5-7).  
If G-d commanded Moshe, why did Moshe delegate the task to others and not go himself? The Midrash explains that Moshe had lived amongst the Midianites from  the  time  he  fled  Egypt (after  killing an  Egyptian who  was oppressing  a  Jew)  until  he  returned  to  Egypt  following   G-d's appearance in the Burning Bush.  Though the Midianites did not go  out of their way to aid Moshe, he felt a sense of  gratitude. Therefore, he did not join his army in battle out of gratitude. Our lesson:  if Moshe was grateful even to an unintended benefactor, all the more so must we be grateful to someone who has gone out of his way to help us. 

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Or Menorah - Weekday Schedule of Services
Weekday Minyanim with Rabbi Doug
*Or Menorah is only holding Minyaim in our building on Erev Shabbat, Shabbat, and Motz’ei Shabbat (also Yom Tov)
and special days, since Covid, and all other weekday davening will temporarily be together
as scheduled below:
~ Sunday-Friday Shacharit: 8:30am together at Poalei Zedek 
~ S-TH Mincha/Maariv : 15  minutes before sunset together at Poalei Zedek 
~Friday Mincha: 10 min. after Candle Lighting at Or Menorah
~ Motz'ei Shabbat Maariv: 33 minutes after Sunset 
at Or Menorah

*(Poalei Zedek in 4 blocks South of Or Menorah at 2801 W. Albion Ave. in Chicago)
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See the only weekly Jewish TV show in the midwest!

"Taped With... Rabbi Doug"
See www.tvrabbi.com to watch on-line 24/6
and for more info and schedules!

This week's show with Rabbi Doug:

Chicago Jewish Festival 5785 - Part 2

On-Line Link to watch this episode on the web: http://www.tvrabbi.com/
Chicago - Channel 19 Mondays at 8:30pm and Tuesdays at 3:30pm.
(see http://www.tvrabbi.com_for more TV schedules and stations.)
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If you have a birthday, a Yahrtzeit, a simcha,
a baby coming, or you are a chiuv....
PLEASE inform Rabbi Doug and one of the Gabbayim when you come into shul so that the appropriate honors can be handed out and the appropriate announcements made.
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Be sure to check the
WRP Eruv Hotline
every Erev-Shabbat at
1-773-74-ERUV-2
or on-line by clicking below: http://chicagoeruv.tripod.com
Also:
A green sign on the window of Or Menorah indicates the Eruv is Up & Kosher to use.
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(A RED SIGN MEANS THE ERUV IS PUSUL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED)
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Please make sure Rabbi Doug has your email address,
and if you are not in the Achenu, please make your home address and phone number available also.
PLEASE EMAIL US TO GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES.
Shul Email: orme...@ormenorah.com
Rabbi’s Email: rabb...@ormenorah.com
Dov Steinberg’s email: pres...@ormenorah.com
Website: http://www.ormenorah.com
(Shul phone: 773-299-8022)
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Please take care of your 5787 membership, and any outstanding kiddush sponsoring, yizkor pledges, or past due donations.
To donate with a credit card, go to:
http://donate.ormenorah.com
Please be up to date! We need your support!
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Or Menorah
www.ormenorah.com

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-HALACHA CORNER-
Halachot of The 9 Days not including Tisha B’Av

Restrictions of the “Nine Days” With Rosh Chodesh Av the more intense period of mourning for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, known as the Nine Days, begins. Rosh Chodesh begins at sunset Tuesday night, 8:25pm, July 14th, 2026 and all of the restrictions of the “Nine Days” begin immediately with Rosh Chodesh. "As Av enters, we diminish our joy". This statement of the Mishna is manifest in many laws & customs observed during the first nine days of the month of Av. There is a dispute among authorities as to whether this means that one ceases all joy during this period, or whether one is only required to diminish joy. One way or the other, some of the manifestations of this concept are the reduction of business, the prohibition of pleasurable building, and other similar things. 1. Home Repairs. Building for beauty or pleasure not required for dwelling should be suspended. Therefore, painting, wallpapering and general home decoration should not be done. Similarly, one should not plant for pleasure. Functional home repairs can be made. 2. Purchases and Clothing Repairs. New clothing may not be worn. One may not buy new clothes or shoes even for use after Tisha B’Av, except in a case of great necessity for example for one’s wedding. One may also buy things - even "items of joy" – during the Nine Days, if they will be difficult to find after Tisha b'Av, or even it they will be more expensive then. If one forgot or was unable to buy special shoes needed for Tisha B’Av, he may do so during the nine days. Repairing torn garments or shoes is permitted. 3. Meat and Wine. The custom is to refrain from eating meat and poultry or drinking wine and grape juice during the nine days. This also pertains to young children. The prohibition of meat includes foods cooked with meat or meat fat.  However, foods cooked in a clean Fleshig vessel (used for meat) may be eaten. Eating meat and drinking wine is permitted for Shabbat. Even one who has ushered in the Shabbat on Friday afternoon before sunset, or extends the third meal of Shabbat into Saturday night may also eat meat and drink wine at those times. A child who eats early Shabbat dinner every Friday afternoon may continue to do so. Similarly, one may drink the wine of Havdalah. However, grape juice or Beer is preferable according to some. Meat and wine are also permitted at a seudat mitzvah such as a brit milah, Pidyon Haben, and a siyum on Shas. (One should not, however, intentionally schedule a siyum for the nine days. Even if a siyum falls out naturally during this time, one should consult the rabbi before preparing a meat meal.)   à ………. (Laws of the 9 Days continued)  4. Laundering. Laundering is prohibited even for use after Tisha b’Av. One may not even give clothing to a non-Jewish cleaner. (Although one may give it to him before the 1st of Av, even though he’ll wash during the nine days.) The prohibition of laundering includes linens, tablecloths, and towels. A person who has no clean clothes may wash what he needs until the Shabbat before Tisha b’Av. Children’s clothing that constantly gets dirty may be washed by need even during the week of Tisha b’Av, in private. One may polish shoes with liquid or wax polish, but should avoid shining shoes. 5. Wearing Freshly Laundered Clothing. It is forbidden to wear freshly laundered clothing during the nine days. However, this does not apply to undergarments and shirts or socks that are changed when one perspires. One can prepare before the nine days by wearing freshly laundered suits, pants, dresses and the like for a short time so that they may be worn during the nine days. Here too, the prohibition of using freshly laundered items applies to linens, tablecloths, and towels. One may wear freshly laundered Shabbat clothing, as well as use clean tablecloths and towels. Changing bed linen, in general though, is prohibited. Try on your clorthes for the week and then they are not freshly laundered. Some step on their clothes on the floor to change the category from freshly laundered, also. 6. Bathing and Swimming. The custom is not to bathe for pleasure even in cold water. Showering is permitted when necessary but should be done quickly in warm water and not in hot water. One may bathe on Friday in honor of Shabbat with hot water. Women may immerse in the mikveh until Tisha B’Av, and may prepare in their normal manner. Swimming is permitted until Rosh Chodesh Av. From Rosh Chodesh on, only instructional swim for young children is permitted. 7. Hair cutting and Shaving. Hair cutting and shaving are prohibited. Even those who shave during the Three Weeks should avoid shaving during the Nine Days or at least during the week of Tisha b’Av. One may also cut fingernails until the week in which Tisha b’Av occurs starting Saturday night. 8. Trips. Pleasure trips are forbidden only on Tish'a b'Av itself. However, one should refrain from purely pleasurable major trips from Rosh Chodesh. Trips abroad should specifically be avoided. Trips to Israel, on the other hand, are allowed because of the mitzvah aspect involved. 10. Business. It is generally agreed that in today's economy, the factors of financial loss - rent, salaries, utilities, etc. - would permit business as usual during the Nine Days. Depending upon the type of business and the possible effects of "closing shop" for more than a week, the applications of the halacha may vary. Call Rabbi Zelden if you have any questions. The Laws of Tisha b’Av will follow next week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summary of Matot – Masei    By,  Rabbi Doug Zelden

Numbers 30:2                                             Page 702 in the Hertz Chumash

 

The Jewish year is 2448 and the 40 years in the desert are drawing to a close.  Miriam and Aharon have passed on, and Yehoshua has been appointed as the successor. In these last two portions of Sefer Bamidbar, Mattos - Massei, Hashem begins to wrap things up.  Interesting are the laws selected to end Sefer Bemidbar.

 

1st Aliya: The laws of personal vows are detailed and Moshe is instructed to "take revenge" against Midian. In the battle, both Balak and Bilaam are killed.  Pg. 702 Ch.30:2

2nd Aliya: In the aftermath of the war, Moshe instructs the soldiers regarding the applicable laws of Tumah - impurity, and deals with the division of the booty between the soldiers, community, and the Mishkan. In appreciation for the fact that not a single soldier was lost in battle, the Generals and Captains donate their personal percentage of the captured gold to the Mishkan. The total weight of the donated gold weighed 837.5 lbs.!  (according to Rabbi Areyeh Kaplan)
Note Chapter 31, verses 22 and 23, which teach us the laws of how to make kosher our vessels, and the Torah requirement for metal vessels made by a non-Jew or purchased from a non-Jew to be immersed in a mikvah before being used. (the Rabbis extended this law to included glassware)  Pg. 705 Ch.31:13

3rd Aliya: Moshe is approached by the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and half of the tribe of Menashe to acquire the Trans-Jordan territories captured from Sichon and Og. Moshe first treats their petition with suspicion; however, he comes up with a plan that is acceptable to all. Pg.707 Ch.32:1

4th Aliya: (The Revi’ee Aliya always connects the double Parsha) An agreement is reached at the end of Mattos between the 2 1/2 tribes and Moshe: Trans-Jordan in exchange for manning the front lines in the campaign to take Eretz Yisroel.  Masei begins with a review of all the journeys of Bnai Yisroel since leaving Egypt.  Pg.709 Ch.32:20  (we go from pg.710 to pg. 714)

5th Aliya: Moshe instructs the Bnai Yisroel to clear out the Land from all negative influences,
and the Torah then sets the Biblical boundaries of the Holy Land.  Pg.716 Ch.33:50

6th Aliya: New leaders are appointed to oversee the division of the Land, and the 48 Levitical cities, including the six Cites of Refuge, are mandated. Pg.718 Ch.34:16

7th Aliya: The laws regarding the inadvertent murderer are detailed, and the prohibition against marrying outside one's tribe is established. This prohibition was only for the generation that occupied the Land. (We stand for the final verse of this Aliya, as we complete the fourth book of the Torah) Pg.720 Ch.35:9

Maftir Aliya: We repeat the last three verses of Masei. Pg.724 Ch.36:11

Haftorah Matot – Masei          Page 725 in the Hertz Chumash

Jeremiah 2:4 - 2:28, 3:4          (Second of the three  “Tlas Diparanusa” – “Haftoras of  Ill Tidings”) 

This week's Haftorah is the second Haftorah forewarning the impending destruction of Yerushalayim. In the 2nd chapter of Yirmiyahu, the Navi detailed the extent of the nations infidelity that ad led up to the Churban - destruction. The leaders, the Kohanim, and the common man had all betrayed G- d's love. Whereas last week the Prophet left us with a vision of G-d's love for His children, this week his words relentlessly assault our consciousness.

 "As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their priests, and their prophets, who say to a piece of wood: "you are my father," and to a stone: "You gave birth to me. ...But in the time of their trouble they will say: Arise and save us. Where are your g-ds that you made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble... (Yirmiyahu. 2:26)

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