Shaul Robinson Rabbi

Sherwood Goffin

Senior Cantor

Yanky Lemmer Cantor

Lloyd Epstein

President

Ben Keil Executive Director

2 IYYAR 5774 • PARSHAT EMOR 2 IYYAR 5774 • PARSHAT EMOR 2 IYYAR 5774 • PARSHAT EMOR MAY 2MAY 2MAY 2---3, 2014 • OMER DAY 18 • CANDLE LIGHTING: 7:35PM3, 2014 • OMER DAY 18 • CANDLE LIGHTING: 7:35PM3, 2014 • OMER DAY 18 • CANDLE LIGHTING: 7:35PM

ECHODECHOD

Friday Evening Friday Evening

Lincoln Square Synagogue • 180 Amsterdam Ave. at 68th Street New York, NY 10023 • 212-874-6100 • lss.org

Shabbat Afternoon Shabbat Afternoon

Shabbat Morning Shabbat Morning

Thank You To Our Kiddush SponsorsThank You To Our Kiddush Sponsors Hashkama KiddushHashkama Kiddush Sponsored by Miryam and Amos Alter in honor of their new granddaughter, Rivka Alter, born to their children, Rabbi Yoel and Chana Baila Alter.

Main KiddushMain Kiddush Sponsored by Janice and Stuart Shorenstein, and Marissa Shorenstein and Karl Anderson on the occasion of the naming of their granddaughter and daughter, Malina Linea. CoSponsored by Gale and Steven Spira, in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Steven's father, Bernhard Spira, z"l; by Aviva and Marvin Sussman and Judy and Moshe Sokolow in commemoration of the yahrtzeits of their parents, Sol Sussman, z"l (1 Iyar), Roslyn Sussman, a"h (25 Iyar), and Charles Bendheim, z"l (today, 3 Iyar); and by Ann Crane in memory of her parents, Basha and Shmuel Crane, z"l.

Beginners Minyan KiddushBeginners Minyan Kiddush Sponsored anonymously in loving memory of Shmuel Shoshani z”l, and in honor of Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald.

Seudah ShlishitSeudah Shlishit Sponsored by Joe Verschleisser in commemoration of the yahrtzeits of his wife, Sandra Verschleisser, a"h, and her mother, Carol Nussbaum, a"h.

Join our community. Go to Join our community. Go to Join our community. Go to lss.org/becomelss.org/becomelss.org/become---aaa---member.htmlmember.htmlmember.html

Mazal Tov to our MembersMazal Tov to our Members

Mazal Tov to Dr. Robert and Ruth Riemer upon the graduation of their grandson, Joshua Levine, from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He will, with the help of Ha-Shem, be attending Northwestern in Chicago for his Internship and Residency.

Mazal Tov to Great Grandparents Linda and Morris Shamah on the birth of a baby boy, to their grandchildren Penina and Chanan Sand of Neve Daniel, grandson of their children Naomi and Steven Esses of Efrat.

Weekday Prayer Schedule Weekday Prayer Schedule Sunday, May 4Sunday, May 4-- Friday, May 9 Friday, May 9

Mincha/Ma’ariv: Sun-Thurs at 7:45pm

Sunday Shacharit: 7:10am Daf Yomi: 7:45am Shacharit: 8:30am

Monday & Thurs Daf Yomi: 6:15am Shacharit: 7:00am Shacharit: 7:50am

Tues, Wed & Fri Daf Yomi: 6:20am Shacharit: 7:10am Shacharit: 7:50am

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY DINNER - JUNE 1, 2014

LSS.ORG/DINNER

6:26pm: Earliest Candle Lighting 6:45pm: Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat in the Nathaniel Richman Cohen

Main Sanctuary led by Rabbi Robinson and Chazzan Goffin. 7:35pm: Candle Lighting 7:40pm: Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat in the Belfer Beit Midrash

7:45am: Hashkama Minyan in the Belfer Beit Midrash followed by Kiddush and shiur with Rabbi Moshe Sokolow

9:00am: Services in the Nathaniel Richman Cohen Main Sanctuary led by Rabbi Robinson and Chazzan Goffin. Post-Musaf Drasha by Ms. Lisa Septimus: “Counting Our Way Towards Kedusha.”

9:15am: Beginners Service led by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald in room LL201 (Lower Level)

9:21am: Latest Shema 9:45am: Rabbi Herschel Cohen Memorial Minyan in the Belfer Beit

Midrash. Drasha by Rabbi Josh Rosenfeld 12:30pm: Beginners Shabbat Luncheon in rooms 206/207

4:00pm: Bikur Cholim Meet in front of LSS. New volunteers are needed.

5:50pm: Beginners Mishna Chavura with Moshe Sheinwexler in the Belfer Beit Midrash

6:20pm: Louis Lazar Memorial Pre-Mincha Shiur by Rabbi Jeremy Stern: “Breaking the Chain: A Roadmap to Resolving the Agunah Crisis.”

6:20pm: Bible Class with Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald in room 211

7:20pm: Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit

Seudah Shlishit talk by Rabbi Jeremy Stern: “Hearing the Cry: The Role of the Community in Combating Abuse.”

8:37pm: Ma'ariv/Shabbat Ends

Rabbi Jeremy Stern is the Executive Director for The Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA). ORA is the only nonprofit organization addressing the agunah crisis on a case-by-case basis worldwide.

A Warm Welcome to our Scholars in Residence:

Ms. Lisa Septimus, Manhattan Yoetzet Halacha Ms. Lisa Septimus, Manhattan Yoetzet Halacha

& Rabbi Jeremy Stern, Executive Director of ORA& Rabbi Jeremy Stern, Executive Director of ORA

Lisa Septimus is the Manhattan Yoetzet Halacha trained by Nishmat. Ms. Septimus is a Torah scholar who services communities of several NYC shuls -- addressing issues of taharat hamishpacha and related topics.

Yom Ha’atzmaut will be on Tuesday, May 6th!Yom Ha’atzmaut will be on Tuesday, May 6th!

Youth Announcements Youth Announcements –– lss.org/youthlss.org/youth

Beginners AnnouncementsBeginners Announcements

Welcome to those who are attending the Beginners Luncheon.

THIS Monday, May 5th, 8:15-9:30PM, there will be a Beginners Schmooze. No charge, complimentary refreshments. Please call 212-874-6100 to confirm

EXTENDED! Hebrew Reading Crash Course Level II, will meet for 3 more weeks, Mondays, May 5th, 12th and 19th, 6:30pm-8:00pm.

The next session of the Jewish Living Workshop led by Dassa and Bill Greenbaum will meet this Tuesday, May 6th, 7pm-8pm (Please note new time). The Jewish Living Workshop, a 10 ses-sion series, is a "hands-on" experience, we learn by doing. The workshop is free; register at JLworkshop@yahoo.com or www.lss.org. Topic: Weekday prayers starting out. Building blocks.

Save the date! Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald will be teaching a free Crash Course in Basic Judaism at East Hill Synagogue in Eng-lewood, NJ at 255 Walnut Street, for 3 consecutive Thursday nights, starting on May 15th at 7:00pm. To register, please visit www.njop.org/get-involved/events/crashcourse or call 646-871-4444.

Save the date! Tuesday night, June 3rd, 11:30pm-7:00am – All Night Shavuot Learn-A-Thon. Details to follow.

Save the date! The FINAL Beginners Luncheon of the sea-son will be Shabbat, June 7th, 2014. The cost is still only $20. Please make your reservations by Friday, June 6th, 12 noon. You can register online at www.beginners.lss.org or call 212-874-6100.

Youth Groups Shabbat Schedule Youth Breakfast at 9:30

PrePrePre---K: K: K: 10:00 am — Room 206

K and 1K and 1stst grade: grade: 10:00 am — Room 207

2nd- 4th Grade (girls) : 10:00 am — Room 217

2nd- 4th Grade (boys) : 10:00 am — Room 208

Tween Minyan: 10:00am– Ballroom

Math Circle will continue to meet on Monday nights from 6-8pm in room 208. Open to children in 4th grade and up. Contact hjstein@gmail.com

Singing with Sivan- Fridays (May 2nd-June 6th) Room 206/207, 11am-11:45am, babies/toddlers. $15 per session.

Singing with Sivan is an interactive music and movement class for children ages four months to four years and their caregivers. Each class includes instrument playing, balls, scarves, story time, puppets, parachute, bubbles, Shabbat & holiday songs.

SHAVUOT: ANNUAL MISHNAYOT LEARNINGSHAVUOT: ANNUAL MISHNAYOT LEARNING

By now, it is a tradition. In the weeks leading up to Shavuot,

the LSS community comes together to learn mishnayot; all six

orders and all 66 tractates. Then, on the second day of

Shavuot we get together to celebrate our accom-

plishment at a luncheon. Look for information as to

how to enroll, and then please sign up.

Featured Upcoming EventsFeatured Upcoming Events——lss.org/eventslss.org/events Young Professional Yom Hazikaron Memorial/Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration Monday, May 5th 7:15pm Lincoln Square Synagogue is proud to join with other UWS shuls for a special young professionals Yom HaZikaron Memorial and Yom Haatzmaut Celebration. The evening will begin with a special Yom HaZikaron tekes (ceremony) and musical davening, followed by a Moshav Band concert. Israeli food will also be on sale from Grill 212. This event is FREE but advance registration is required. Please visit www.jccmanhattan.org/uwsisrael/ for more information.

Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Baruch Lau, following Musaf (approx. 11:15am) Shabbat, May 10th, 2014 Son of former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Rabbi David Lau studied at Yeshivat Yishuv HaHadash, and later at Yeshivat Beit Matityahu. He is a reserve major in the IDF Intelligence Corps. He was the first rabbi of the town of Shoham and the Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Modi'in. Rabbi Lau was the first rabbi in Israel to teach responsa over the internet. He appears regularly on radio programs, publishes journal articles, and has edited a book of his father's responsa. He published a book in memory of his grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchak Yedidya Frankel and his own book, Maskil LeDavid on issues of genealogy, conversion, military law, and other matters in 2008. He was elected Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel in July 2013, for a ten-year term.

Guided Museum Tour at the Neue Galerie (Fifth Ave. & 86th St.) Sunday, May 18th Meet in the Museum lobby at 10:15am. The Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer and Viennese Jewish Culture. $30. Limited to 25 people. Reserve at lss.org

Book Club Meeting: “The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Blochbaur” by Anne-Marie O’Connor. Monday, May 19th 7:30pm Steven Spira will lead the discussion as he has done so many times and so wonderfully since the very beginning of the LSS Book Club. In the last few years, Steven has focused on books which intersect art and the Shoah, as this one does.

Annual Dinner, Golden Jubilee – RSVP and place an ad in the virtual journal by visiting lss.org/dinner Sunday, June 1, 2014 The Annual Dinner will take place in the shul and we will be honoring Richard Kestenbaum, Guest of Honor; Moshe Sukenik, Community Service Award; Jenna Statfeld Harris & Aaron Harris, Young Leadership Award. For more information, to learn more about the honorees, to sign up, to place an ad in virtual journal or join the dinner committee please visit www.lss.org/dinner. Or email the Dinner Chairs, Robyn and Alan Samuels at dinner@lss.org.

**The Faith Discussion Group continues on Tuesday nights 7pm- 8pm. We are reading God, Man and History by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Berkovits. Please email Rabbi Elton at belton@lss.org to register and receive the weekly readings. As before, this is a chance to have a free and open conversation about matters many of us find challenging and difficult but central to our lives. This series will be hosted by members, this week we will meet at the home of Suzanne Bernstein, 185 West End Avenue, apartment 5L (69th St).

Weekly Learning Opportunities Weekly Learning Opportunities –– lss.org/classeslss.org/classes

SUNDAY Midrash on the Upcoming Parsha

Rabbi Ben Elton • 9:15am TUESDAY

Parsha Class w/ Rabbi Shaul Robinson • 10:30 am Faith Discussion Group w/ Rabbi Ben Elton • 7:00pm

**See the box below for details

Tuesday Beit Midrash Night

8:15-9:15pm • Chavurot led by LSS members Tanach Survey: The Books of Samuel and Kings.

Led by Marcy Zwecker and Robyn Mitchnick.

The First Book of Samuel: Politics and Kingship. Led by Ron Platzer.

The Subversive Religious Poetry of Yehuda Amichai. Led by Sara Brzowsky.

Jewish Living Workshop (7-8pm) See beginners announcements Led by Dassa & Bill Greenbaum. Email jlworkshop@yahoo.com

WEDNESDAY Talmudic Methodology w/ Rabbi Dennis Weiss • 7:30pm (NEW SEMESTER) Nach B’Iyun, Sefer Shumel with Rabbi Angel

7:15pm-8:15pm (**See the box bellow for details) Wednesday Beit Midrash Night

8:15-9:15pm • Chavurot led by LSS members Yiddish Writings of the Rav. (7pm)

Led by Moshe Sheinwexler.

THURSDAY Jacob Adler Parsha Class

Rabbi Shaul Robinson • 7:00pm

**The Spring Semester of Nach B’Iyun Sefer Shmuel Aleph, Beginning Chapter 16 (The David Story) Begins Wednesday, May 7th 7:15-8:15pm

The popular Navi class with Rabbi Hayyim Angel returns for its Spring Semester. New participants are welcome! The class is appropriate for all learning backgrounds. The series is co-sponsored by The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals (Jewishideas.org). The class will meet beginning Wednesday, May 7th and will meet every Wednesday for 7 sessions, concluding on Wednesday, June 25th. (The class will not meet on Wednesday, June 4th because of Shavuot.) The cost is $100 for the entire series or $20 per class. Sign up in advance at lss.org/RabbiAngel

D’var Echod B’lev Echod Insights into the weekly Parsha and other matters at the heart of the LSS community

2 IYYAR 5774 • PARSHAT EMOR 2 IYYAR 5774 • PARSHAT EMOR 2 IYYAR 5774 • PARSHAT EMOR MAY 2MAY 2MAY 2---3, 2014 3, 2014 3, 2014 By: Lori Jacobowitz

Nature vs. Nurture

Dedicated in loving memory of Howie ben Manny, on his 2nd Yahrzeit, 2 Iyar.

Throughout Parshas Emor (and the whole book of Leviticus up to this point,) the Torah teaches a significant number of com-mandments incumbent upon the Jewish people as a whole, those that falls specifically on the Kohanim, including the laws of the Sab-bath and Festivals. Ultimately, at the end of the Parshas Emor, the Torah records the extreme consequences of an incident that began with a lack of respect for one of these commandments, relating the tale of a man that disobeyed the law and blasphemed the Name of G-d. It concerns the son of Shelomit bat Divri of the tribe of Dan, who was the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man. He has a quarrel with an Isra-elite man. Midrash Rabbah says he was told that he could not pitch his tent in the camp of Dan (his mother’s tribe) because his father was an Egyptian and he had no rights in the Dan encampment. He appealed to the court of Moshe and lost his appeal. In his anger, he cursed G-d. For this crime, G-d sentenced him to death by stoning. The Torah passage begins with the ambiguous verb va’yetze (and he went out).

.אשה ישראלית והוא בן איש מצרי בתוך בני ישראל וינצו במחנה בן הישראלית ואיש הישראלי-ויצא בן There are many different interpretations by our sages of this verb. According to one opinion of Rashi (he lists three), va’yetze means he went out of his world and left his place. The Siftei Chachamim, commenting on Rashi, states: “every Jew from the day of his birth is attached to a higher world in a holy manner and when he sins, he goes out from the place that he is bound.” In explaining va’yetze, the Kli Yakar cites Pirkei Avot 4:5, where we see that whoever desecrates tThe Name of G-d in secret, will be punished in public; intentional or unintentional,because they are alike regarding desecration of the Name. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch says he left his boundary and crossed into a place that was not his realm. In Margin For Living, Rabbi Joseph I. Singer, rabbi of (Brooklyn’s) Manhattan Beach Jewish Center for nearly 50 years, says that this was not a spontaneous act. “Behind the façade of willful disaffiliation or convenient assimilation can be traced to family life or personality flaws. He was living in two worlds but at home in neither.”

While many sages compare va’yetze to other biblical appearances of this verb (Ramban compares it to Esther 4:1),

Abarbanel rejects these comparisons. He says that the incident records the tale of a “bachur”, a young man, who grew up too quickly. He didn’t follow the path of his elders and he questioned the rationale of the laws, particularly the 9-day delay in eating the Showbread (he apparently felt this was disrespectful and not honorable, even though the Torah specifically commands it). Abarbanel says that the Torah now brings an example of someone who curses G-d, and G-d’s reproof of the Jewish People for not killing him instantly. As a man with mixed parentage, this individual had many challenges. He was brought up with the Jewish values of his mother and with the understanding that his father’s family was the enemy.

Those around him in the camp didn’t accept him and he could find no place of his own or meaning to his life. He had to be a wanderer and he couldn’t accept that. He began his downfall by questioning Jewish law. His mocking of the Showbread and its longevity led to a horrible conclusion. When it was time for his “court encounter” with Moshe, he could not accept Moshe’s ruling because in his mind he had already left Judaism (va’yetze). Kabbalah teaches that this can ultimately lead to one going so far astray as to embrace other religions.

We see that this man had some very deep sociological issues. Some say that his father may have been the Egyptian

that Moshe slew earlier and we see a further hint of trouble in his mother’s name, Shlomit bat Divri (friendly, daughter of talkative) implying lashon harah violations. Parentage seems to play a role here. However, it may be more than that: some say that in the battle of genetics vs. environment, environment wins. Rbbi Berel Wein says that overwhelmingly, blasphemy of G-d's Name occurs when human behavior towards other humans is involved. And this is especially true when the subject matter of the dispute between the people involved is connected to matters of religion, ritual, faith and belief. It was the insulting of one Jew by another that became the direct cause of the blasphemy of G-d's Name that followed. Although this individual may have been destined to act out because of his parentage and his lack of fatherly guidance, it was his environment and the hatred by his fellow man that may have finally pushed him over the edge. There are often those around us that seem different and detached. We must take the time to understand where they are coming from before we “pass judgment” on them. A little kindness goes a long way!