NO MINYAN THIS WEEK at Saranac: Shabbos Balak (July 11-12, 2025 / 15-16 Tammuz, 5785), and Fast of 17 Tammuz
David K
Shalom Aleichem!
Unfortunately, we did not get enough people to ensure a
minyan this week.
Please attend services at the synagogue of your choice.
Friday: candle lighting 8:36. Shabbos begins: 8:54 PM. ALERT: Shabbos is now coming in EARLIER.
Saturday: Shabbos davening at Starin starts at 10 AM.
Zeman Shema: before 9:34 AM; Zeman Tefilah: before 10:49 AM. (To avoid fasting on Shabbos, some choose to have a cup of coffee and/or a small snack before davening.)
Chatzos is 1:21 PM. Mincha Gedolah is 1:58 PM. Pirkei Avos chapter 6.
Announcements:
• We will try for minyan again next week.
• Sunday is the fast day of 17 Tammuz. Fast begins 4:36 AM and ends 9:43 PM (Saranac minhag: 50 mins). Details below.
Balak
Numbers 22:2–25:9
Balak, the king of Moab, summons the prophet Balaam to curse the people of Israel. On the way, Balaam is berated by his donkey, who sees, before Balaam does, the angel that G‑d sends to block their way. Three times, from three different vantage points, Balaam attempts to pronounce his curses; each time, blessings issue forth instead. Balaam also prophesies on the end of the days and the coming of Moshiach.
The people fall prey to the charms of the daughters of Moab, and are enticed to worship the idol Peor. When a high-ranking Israelite official publicly takes a Midianite princess into a tent, Pinchas kills them both, stopping the plague raging among the people.
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The fast of the 17th of Tammuz is the start of a three-week mourning period for the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Holy Temples.
The fast commemorates five tragic events that occurred on this date:
· Moses broke the tablets when he saw the Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf.
· During the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, the Jews were forced to cease offering the daily sacrifices due to the lack of sheep.
· Apostomos burned the holy Torah.
· An idol was placed in the Holy Temple.
· The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans, in 69 CE, after a lengthy siege. (Three weeks later, after the Jews put up a valiant struggle, the Romans destroyed the second Holy Temple on the 9th of Av.)
The Jerusalem Talmud maintains that this is also the date when the Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem on their way to destroying the first Temple.
Conduct during the Three Weeks
During this period, we lessen the extent of our rejoicing. We don't:
· Conduct weddings. (Engagement parties – without music – are allowed until Rosh Chodesh Av.)
· Play musical instruments or listen to music.
· Recite the Shehecheyanu blessing. Thus, we do not wear new clothing or eat fruit which we have not yet eaten this season so that we will not be required to recite Shehecheyanu.
· Take a haircut or shave. Many Sephardic communities permit haircuts and shaving until the week of Tisha b'Av.
(Speak to your rabbi if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from observing any of the above customs.)
All the laws of mourning are suspended on Shabbat.
Regards,
David Kunkel, Media Coordinator / Webmaster / Gabbai, for
Shmuel Rashkin, President • Bob Alt, Vice President
Mendel Gurary, Rabbinical Advisor
The Saranac Synagogue
Congregation Achei Tmimim • 85 Saranac Ave • Buffalo, NY 14216
www.saranacsynagogue.org • www.facebook.com/saranacsynagogue
Donate to the Shul (NOT ON SHABBOS OR HOLIDAYS PLEASE!) • http://tinyurl.com/donate2saranac