Parshas Mishpotim

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

6:45pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

7:08pm

Latest time for Shema

10:01am

Latest Candle lighting

8:19pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 8:05pm

Shkiya

8:36pm

Shabbos Ends

9:21pm

Reminder - please register for Shabbos

Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov to Daniel & Amanda Teller

On the occasion of

Benny's Bar-Mitzva

Mazal Tov to grandparents and great grandparents

Short Vort on the Parsha

The Torah warns, "One who brings offerings to the gods shall be destroyed"
(Shemos 22:19). The Ibn Ezra explains that the Torah is not speaking to the
Jewish Nation because they were already warned in the Aseres Hadibros not to
make for themselves other gods. Rather, the Torah is addressing the gentile
who wishes to live in Eretz Yisrael and it is cautioning him not to
sacrifice to the gods. The Ramban argues and asserts that the Torah is
certainly addressing the Jewish People. While the Aseres Hadibros give a
general outline as to what is permitted and what is forbidden, the
subsequent parshios discuss the specific details of the commandments and the
punishments for each of the transgressions. Rav Wolbe cites the Medrash
(Shemos Rabbah 30:9) which differentiates between the mitzvos that the
nations of the world received and those given to Bnei Yisrael. While the
gentiles where given bare mitzvos "unadorned" with any halachos, Bnei
Yisroel were given mitzvos along with instructions - both in the Written and
Oral Torah - down to the very last detail. While some might find the
numerous details of each mitzvah cumbersome, in truth they are all a
blessing. Each detail is another pointer to the manner in which we are to
live our lives. Every Jew knows how he is supposed to conduct his day from
the minute he arises in the morning until the time he retires at night. He
knows what to do, how to do it, and what to say while he is doing it.

Parshas Terumah

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

6:40pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

6:54pm

Latest time for Shema

10:12am

Latest Candle lighting

8:00pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 7:45pm

Shkiya

8:18pm

Shabbos Ends

9:00pm

Reminder - please register for Shabbos

Kiddush

Gabi and Sari Franck invite the Kehillah to a Kiddush this Shabbos

In honour of the birth of their daughter

Batsheva

The kiddush will take place at 8 Merton Street

Shabbos Afternoon Groups

Shabbos afternoon groups this week 6:30-7:00pm

Avos Ubonim

Avos Ubonim this week at 7:00-7:45pm

Short Vort on the Parsha

Parashas Terumah begins with Hashem instructing Moshe to collect money for
the purpose of building a Mishkan: "Speak to Bnei Yisroel and let them take
for me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him (asher yidvenu
leebo) you shall take My portion" (Shemos 25:2). Rashi explains that the
word "yidvenu" connotes a "nedava" (a donation) and refers to the good will
of the person offering the donation.

Rav Wolbe brings the Alter of Kelm who writes that all the donations to the
Mishkan were given with completely pure intentions. Donations were certainly
not accepted if they were given as means of attaining honour. Moreover, even
donations given with the holy intentions of obtaining Olam Haba or so that
the Shechina should reside among Bnei Yisroel, were not accepted. The money
had to be given for the sole reason that Hashem asked for Bnei Yisroel to
donate. Doing something simply because "that is what Hashem asked one to do"
is the ultimate level of lishma. While most of the time our actions are
performed with some sort of ulterior motive, with a bit of concentration it
is quite possible to perform an action simply for the sake of Hashem.

Parshas Tetzaveh

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

6:30pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

6:47pm

Latest time for Shema

10:16am

Latest Candle lighting

7:51pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 7:40pm

Shkiya

8:09pm

Shabbos Ends

8:50pm

Reminder - please register for Shabbos

Ladies Shiur

Mrs Lisa Cohen will be giving a ladies shiur this Shabbos Morning

All ladies and girls welcome

Shabbos Afternoon Groups

Shabbos afternoon groups this week 6:25-6:55pm

Avos Ubonim

Avos Ubonim this week at 6:55-7:40pm

Friends Of Shaarei Tefillah (FOST) 2024

Shaarei Tefillah would like to thank all its mispalelim for your constant
support over the past year.

At this time of year, we kindly ask you to join FOST.

FOST is a donation made by mispalelim of Shaarei Tefillah.

It goes towards the running cost of the shul and is our major source of
revenue.

We have decided to keep the contribution the same as last year - $990 per
family.

We understand that some mispalelim might be facing financial difficulties
and we ask you to pay what you can.

Monthly payments can also be setup.

With your support Shaarei Tefillah is able to provide the services that it
does.

It's warm and caring community as well as its inspiring and engaging
programs - offers something for the whole family

This could not be done without your help.

There are tax deductible options for this payment.

FOST contributions are based on the calendar year.

Geoffrey Heimann and Merv Adler will be making calls regarding FOST and your
support is much appreciated.

Short Vort on the Parsha

Rabbeinu Yonah writes (Sha'arei Teshuvah 1:10) that every person should be
aware that, "Hashem has blown into my nostrils a living spirit, wisdom of
the heart... to enable me... to fear Him." Why does Rabbeinu Yonah emphasize
that the wisdom given to us is wisdom "of the heart?"

The answer can be found in the menorah oil discussed in this week's parsha.
Parshas Tetzaveh starts with Hashem instructing Moshe to command the Bnei
Yisroel to prepare the purest olive oil for the lighting of the menorah. In
Parshas Vayakhel (35:14) this unique oil is listed among the various
components of the Mishkan whose preparation required the expertise of "wise
hearted men." Rashi explains that this was so because this oil was different
from all other oils. Only the ripest olives from the top of the tree were
used, and only the very first drop squeezed from each olive qualified to be
used as oil for the menorah. Just as the oil of the menorah needed the
expertise of "wise hearted" men because it differed from ordinary oil, so
too, the fear of Hashem requires "wisdom of the heart" because it differs
from ordinary fear.

The Navi Yeshaya (29:13), relaying Hashem's rebuke of Bnei Yisroel,
declares, "Their fear of Me is like commands performed by rote." Indeed they
feared Hashem, but their fear was robotic. They practiced their fear by rote
as if was a standard item that one acquires in any store. Their fear was not
tailored to fit their individuality.

When it comes to acquiring Yiras Shomayim, a person needs to use the wisdom
of his heart. No two people are the same and no two situations are the same,
and thus, the guidelines set down for Reuven will not work for Shimon.
Rather, it is the knowledge of ones specific set of virtues and deficiencies
that can help guide us.

Parshas Ki Sisa

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

6:25pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

6:39pm

Latest time for Shema

10:19am

Latest Candle lighting

7:42pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 7:30pm

Shkiya

7:59pm

Shabbos Ends

8:40pm

Reminder - please register for Shabbos

Ladies Shiur

Mrs Mindy Wiesner will be giving a ladies shiur this Shabbos Morning

All ladies and girls welcome

Shabbos Afternoon Groups

Shabbos afternoon groups this week 6:15-6:45pm

Avos Ubonim

Avos Ubonim this week at 6:45-7:30pm

Friends Of Shaarei Tefillah (FOST) 2024

Shaarei Tefillah would like to thank all its mispalelim for your constant
support over the past year.

At this time of year, we kindly ask you to join FOST.

FOST is a donation made by mispalelim of Shaarei Tefillah.

It goes towards the running cost of the shul and is our major source of
revenue.

We have decided to keep the contribution the same as last year - $990 per
family.

We understand that some mispalelim might be facing financial difficulties
and we ask you to pay what you can.

Monthly payments can also be setup.

With your support Shaarei Tefillah is able to provide the services that it
does.

It's warm and caring community as well as its inspiring and engaging
programs - offers something for the whole family

This could not be done without your help.

There are tax deductible options for this payment.

FOST contributions are based on the calendar year.

Geoffrey Heimann and Merv Adler will be making calls regarding FOST and your
support is much appreciated.

Short Vort on the Parsha

After the sin of the Golden Calf, Bnei Yisroel were informed that instead of
Hashem accompanying them along their journey He would be sending an angel in
His place. "The people heard this bad tiding and they became grief stricken"
(Shemos 33:4). Rashi explains that the bad tiding refers to the fact that
Hashem would not be residing amongst them nor journeying along with them.
Rav Wolbe comments that this pasuk really defines the essence of good and
bad. "Good" is anything which brings a person closer to Hashem, while "bad"
is anything which distances a person from Him. Thus, the knowledge that
Hashem would not be traveling along with them was most certainly a bad
tiding. As the Ramchal writes, our mission in this world is to create the
strongest connection possible with our Creator. It makes sense that anything
which aids a person in accomplishing their mission is "good" while anything
that impedes him from achieving his goal is "bad." The formula for making
correct decisions is often very simple. We must ask ourselves: Is this
action going to bring me closer to Hashem or distance me from Him? It's a
small question that can yield tremendous dividends.

Parshas Vayak'hel - Parshas Shekolim

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

6:15pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

6:30pm

Latest time for Shema

10:21am

Latest Candle lighting

7:31pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 7:20pm

Shkiya

7:49pm

Shabbos Ends

8:29pm

Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov to Josh and Yona Wasbutzki on the birth of a baby boy

Mazal Tov to grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandmother

Sholom Zochor will take place at the Home of Family Teller from 9pm

Ladies Shiur

Mrs Ettie Spigelman will be giving a ladies shiur this Shabbos Morning

All ladies and girls welcome

Shabbos Afternoon Groups

Shabbos afternoon groups this week 6:05-6:35pm

Avos Ubonim

Avos Ubonim this week at 6:35-7:20pm

Short Vort on the Parsha

Although Moshe was the one told by Hashem to instruct Bnei Yisrael to build
the Mishkan, nevertheless, he was not in charge of the actual construction.
In this week's parsha the Torah informs us that there were two people
charged with that mission. The first was Betzalel and the second was
Ohaliav. Rashi points out that Ohaliav came from sheivet Dan which was
regarded as one of the "lowly" shevatim since Dan was born from Bilha who
was a maidservant of Rachel. On the other hand, Betzalel came from sheivet
Yehuda which was regarded as one of the greatest shevatim. Despite the
difference in their lineages, the Torah equated the two in the construction
of the Mishkan. Rav Wolbe comments that Hashem does not examine a person's
ancestry before choosing him for a specific position. The criteria for
obtaining the position is the person's ability in the specific task needed
to be filled. Ohaliav was the perfect man for the job and therefore he was
chosen to work hand in hand with Betzalel who was of a much more prestigious
lineage. The same can be said when it came to those who merited executing
the actual construction of the Mishkan and the numerous vessels within. The
Torah tells us "Every man whose heart inspired him came, and everyone whose
spirit motivated him brought the portion of Hashem for the Mishkan"
(i35:21). The Ramban explains that Bnei Yisrael had no one to train them
into these highly skilled and detail oriented vocations. Nevertheless, those
whose spirit motivated them to join the workforce of constructing an abode
for Hashem, found the skills within themselves despite their lack of
training. Once again, the positions were filled not with those who brought
the most impressive ancestry, but with those who desired to participate and
thereby made themselves truly worthy for the position.

Parshas Pekudei

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

6:05pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

6:22pm

Latest time for Shema

10:24am

Latest Candle lighting

7:21pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 7:10pm

Shkiya

7:38pm

Shabbos Ends

8:18pm

Ladies Shiur

Mrs Alisa Bensky will be giving a ladies shiur this Shabbos Morning

All ladies and girls welcome

Shabbos Afternoon Groups

Shabbos afternoon groups this week 5:55-6:25pm

Avos Ubonim

Avos Ubonim this week at 6:25-7:10pm

Short Vort on the Parsha

The beginning of this week's parsha repeats the totals of the donations
given for the Mishkan fund. Why repeat the donations which have already been
discussed in previous Parshas? One answer given concerns the two types of
reward given for effort in mitzvos. When one makes an effort to do a
mitzvah, one receives two types of reward for it. First is the reward for
the effort itself, regardless of whether you achieved the result of doing
the mitzvah in the end, for example; if you were prevented from doing it by
unforeseen circumstances. And second is the reward for having done and
completed the mitzvah, and its consequent effects - you gave Tzedokah which
made someone smile and made someone else be kinder to their friend, etc. The
donations in previous Parshas concerned the first type of reward - for the
effort alone, because the Mishkan had not yet been built in those Parshas.
Now, in our Parsha, when we are dealing with the fact that the building of
the mishkon and its contents was completed, the donations are repeated to
tell us that not only did the Bnei Yisroel receive the reward for effort,
but they also received the reward for achievement; that their donations had
now resulted in the mishkan having been built and its consequences of Hashem
residing within us, so to speak.

Parshas Vayikra

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

6:00pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

6:13pm

Latest time for Shema

10:26am

Latest Candle lighting

7:10pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 7:00pm

Shkiya

7:28pm

Shabbos Ends

8:08pm

Shabbos Afternoon Groups

Shabbos afternoon groups this week 5:45-6:15pm

Avos Ubonim

Avos Ubonim this week at 6:15-7:00pm

Purim times and Program

Please see attached flyers

Motzei Shabbos Purim Melava Malka

All men are invited to join us this Motzei Shabbos from 10:30pm

for a Fleishig Melava Malka and learning

Insights into the Megillah by Yaakov Leigh

Good Ruach and Great Food (meat by Moe)

Looking forward to seeing you there

Short Vort on the Parsha

The Ramban (Vayikra 1:9) explains the concept of offering an animal as a
sacrifice to Hashem. A korban takes an animal - the object which epitomizes
the physical - and turns it into a spiritual entity. Thus, korbanos were the
greatest form of connecting with Hashem, since they were the bridge from our
physical world to the spiritual heavens. Rav Wolbe writes that although we
lack the Bais Hamikdosh and consequently the ability to bring korbanos, the
concept of a korban is still very relevant in the twenty-first century. We
are meant to take the physical and turn it into an expression of
spirituality. Bilam declared, "Who can count the [many mitzvos] that Yaakov
[performs] with dirt" (the dirt used in the ceremony of the Sotah, and the
ashes of the parah adumah etc.). Bnei Yisroel's uniqueness is their ability
to take plain dirt and connect it to the heavens. This is an idea we should
bear in mind as we prepare for the Yom Tov of Pesach. Much time is spent on
cleaning the house and other seemingly menial tasks. Yet, truthfully this is
yet another mitzvah that Bnei Yisroel perform with dirt (and crumbs).

Parshas Tzav - Parshas Poroh

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

5:50pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

6:04pm

Latest time for Shema

10:28am

Latest Candle lighting

7:00pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 6:45pm

Shkiya

7:17pm

Shabbos Ends

7:57pm

Ladies Shiur

Rabbi Brenner will be giving a ladies shiur this Shabbos Morning

All ladies and girls welcome

Shabbos Afternoon Groups

Shabbos afternoon groups this week 5:30-6:00pm

Avos Ubonim

Avos Ubonim this week at 6:00-6:45pm

Short Vort on the Parsha

The world gives the impression as if it operates by itself. Although a
nonbiased individual should be able to discern the Grand Puppeteer behind
the stage, it seems that most people are simply oblivious to the Creator. A
fascinating explanation of a mitzvah in this week's parsha offered by the
Sefer HaChinuch, illustrates to just what degree Hashem's presence in this
world is hidden. The Torah commands us, "A permanent fire shall be lit upon
the mizbeiach, it shall not be extinguished" (Vayikra 6:6). The Chinuch
writes that it is well known that even awesome miracles performed by Hashem
are somewhat concealed. They appear as if they are simply an element of
nature. Prior to the splitting of the sea, arguably the most astounding
miracle in all of history, "Hashem moved the sea with a strong east wind all
night" thereby giving the impression that the whole incident was the result
of a natural disaster. The force of a powerful tornado caused the waters to
split thereby allowing the Jews to pass through the parted waters. In a
similar vein, despite the fact that a fire descended from Heaven onto the
mizbeiach, we are commanded to light our own fire upon it to veil the
otherwise overt miracle. Indeed, even when Hashem's reveals Himself, He
makes sure to hide behind the veil of nature. When the Navi exhorts us,
"Walk with tzenius with Hashem" (Michah 6:8), he is not merely instructing
those who look for publicity to conceal their good deeds. He is informing us
that when one conceals his actions he is actually following in Hashem's
ways, since He also hides what He does.

Parshas Shemini - Parshas HaChodesh

Erev Shabbos

Shabbos Day

Mincha

5:40pm

Shacharis

9:00am

Plag Hamincha

5:55pm

Latest time for Shema

10:30am

Latest Candle lighting

6:49pm

Shabbos Mincha

4:30 / 6:35pm

Shkiya

7:07pm

Shabbos Ends

7:47pm

Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov to Fred and Mina Grossman on the Chasuna

of their daughter Tali to Michoel Lewin

Shabbos Afternoon Groups

Shabbos afternoon groups this week 5:20-5:50pm

Avos Ubonim

Avos Ubonim this week at 5:50-6:35pm

Ladies Motzei Shabbos Shiur

All ladies are invited to a Shiur given by Rebbitzen Kimche

This Motzei Shabbos @9:15pm at 2/19 Milburn Grove

Change of Clocks

This Motzei Shabbos - Remember to turn clocks back 1hr

Short Vort on the Parsha

The Torah in this week's parsha tells us 'Wine and other intoxication
beverages you (the kohanim who are doing the Avodah) shall not drink' The
Medrash warns against the harm of alcohol 'if a person drinks too much wine,
he will end up selling all that he owns to keep up his addiction to
drinking'. The Medrash then relates the story of a man who spent so much
money on his habit of drinking that his children were worried they would
soon be penniless. When he was drunk, they tied him up and took him out to a
cemetery. They hoped that when he became sober he would be shocked to find
himself in in the cemetery and would become aware of the dangers of drinking
to excess. That day a caravan carrying vats of wine passed near the
cemetery. The caravan was attacked and traveled as fast as it could. One of
the large barrels it was carrying fell off and landed right next to the head
of the drunk man. When he awoke from his drunken sleep, he was surprised to
find the faucet of the barrel right next to his face and kept drinking right
there in the cemetery. In a letter to his father, Rav Dessler (Michtav
Eliyohu Vol 3, P319-320)) commented that we see from this the principal that
Hashem leads a person in a way he wants to go. The events that let the
person to find wine in the cemetery were so unusual that they were almost
miraculous. If this is so when a person wants to do something that is
improper, all the more so is it true when a person has a strong will to do
what is good.