Young Israel of Great Neck
President's Message
The YIGN is a Modern Orthodox synagogue that was founded by six visionary families. They dreamed of a participatory minyan that would be welcoming to all. After multiple small temporary locations, we moved to our present, beautiful facility at 236 Middle Neck Road in Great Neck, New York. We are privileged to inhabit a newly constructed Beit Midrash and classroom building, as well as a full sized gym. Read more
Annual Dinner Raffle Tickets
Registration for Annual Dinner on March 9
To register for the YIGN Annual Dinner please select this link
Rabbi Lerner's Weekly Parsha Shiur
Parshat Yisro
(As Rabbi Lerner is in Israel this week, there was no regular parsha shiur this week. Below is a transcription of a previous Yisro shiur from 2007 that was not distributed previously)
Preparation for Receiving the Torah
19:1-2: In the third month from the Exodus of Bnei Yisrael from Mitzrayim, on this day, they arrived at Midbar Sinai. They journeyed from Refidim and arrived at Midbar Sinai and camped in the desert; and they camp there facing the mountain. In the first pasuk the Torah tells us that they went from Refidim and came to midbar Sinai - why repeat in the second pasuk? We also know the battle against Amalek was in Refidim, and one of the goals of Amalek's battle was to block the giving of the Torah; so we already knew where they traveled from. Why repeat that they came from Refidim to midbar Sinai? Rashi: We know they traveled from Refidim to Sinai - the reason it is repeated is to create a connection - just as when they came to Sinai with great religious fervor to get the Torah, so too was the leaving of Refidim with teshuvah. Refidim means "Raf Yadayim" - a weakening of the hands - this was the prelude to the attack of Amalek. when the Jews first complained about not having water, and they then additionally complained, asking whether God was with them or not. This was a place where they doubted the existence of God in their midst (not the existence of God, but they questioned whether He was still with them). This very doubt was captured in the name, the weakening of the hands, as opposed to Moshe's strengthening of the hands to fight Amalek. The Torah here repeats it to tell us that even though they fell in religious stature at Refidim, they did teshuvah and corrected themselves there in Refidim before journeying on. That is why in this pasuk it repeats the phrase "they camped," but while the first mention was in the plural (Vayachanu), the second was in singular (Vayichan), to tell us that the physical encampments were many, but the spiritual one was unified as one to enable contact with God and to receive the Torah. They did a quick repentance at Refidim ... to read more follow this link
Current Announcements
Mazel tov to Debbie and Simon Auerbacher on the engagement of their daughter Lauren to Jonathan Maslow.
Mazel tov to Beverly and Frank Hochheimer on their children Rabbi Mordechai and Shira Hochheimer being guests of honor at the Derech Hatorah Yeshiva dinner.for their leadership and service to the Rochester Jewish community
CONDOLENCES
Condolences to Aziz Basalely on the loss of his father Babadjan Basalely.
THANK YOU
Josh Peyser and family would like to thank the Young Israel members for the outpouring of support and kindness following the loss of Josh’s father, Irwin Peyser z.l.
OUR SHUL
NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Please take this opportunity and join us as we pay tribute to our most deserving honorees by planning to attend the journal dinner on Saturday night March 9th. The dinner committee is hard at work to make sure this dinner is one for the ages so please do not miss out. You also have the chance to support YIGN by soliciting ads for the journal from vendors and local merchants with whom you may have an association. Send your ad blank ASAP or register on line at yign.org. Please do your best to make this our most successful journal fundraiser yet!
ART SCROLL MISSING
An Art Scroll Gemorrah #4 Shabbos has been removed from the Beit Midrash. Please return it to the library if you borrowed it.
NEW TALLIS LOCKER CABINET
Our new tallis locker cabinet has arrived, and hopefully everyone has seen how much it adds to our beautiful main lobby. If you are interested in purchasing or renting a locker, please call the shul office, 829-6040.
YOUTH
This Saturday night there will be a special Youth department trip to the NY Islanders game for all children 6th-12th grade. $40 per person for transportation and ticket. The bus leaves YIGN at 6:20PM and will return to YIGN after the conclusion of the game.
Our annual Purim Carnival will take place Sunday February 17th from 11AM - 2PM. The carnival is geared for children through 8th grade. There will be lunch, ice cream and prizes included in the price of admission. $20 per member child, $30 per non-member child, $50 max per member family
This Sunday February 10th there will be a pre-Purim Arts and Crafts project with Morah Monica from 9:30-10:15AM for children ages 3 - 2nd grade.
Next Friday Night February 15th there will be a HS Oneg at Rabbi Slomnicki’s house beginning at 7PM.
Purim Night: Get Ready for our Post Megillah excitement with games, music and awesome food to celebrate the chag! Come in costume!! Games will be for kids of all ages - Be sure not to miss it!!
New Program: 16 Handles - 1 great Flavor! For girls in 6th-8th grade. Come to 16 Handles for some free ice cream (OK, yogurt) and 1 great flavor of shmooze with Rabbi Slomnicki. Come find out what it’s all about. Wednesday Night February 13th from 7:45-8:30PM & Thursday March 14th from 7:45-8:30PM.
OUR COMMUNITY
AMIT MISHLOACH MANOT
The AMIT Mishloach Manot program is now open. This year all proceeds from the program will be used to purchase computers and recreational equipment for AMIT schools in Ashdod as part of their Kehillah U'Mishpacha/Family and Community program to provide after-school safe havens for children until their parents are able to pick them up. If you did not receive your password via email or would like to participate for the first time please contact Debbie Goldberg gngardener@gmail.com or Sara Shapiro ilovered18@gmail.com. Don't miss out!!
YU SEFORIM SALE
February 3 – March 3 – For more information, you can go online at www.theseforimsale.com.
“PEACE” OF PARSHA
There will be a gathering on Wednesday evening, February 6th at 8:00PM at the home of Laura Danoff, 4 Vista Drive to commemorate the end of the shloshim period following the passing of Laura’s mother, Sonia Herman z.l. The topic of the shiur will be “Peace” of Parsha. FOR WOMEN ONLY
NYC HALF MARATHON- TEAM SHAARE ZEDEK- MARCH 17, 2013
Please join the Shaare Zedek Team for the NYC Half- Marathon on Sunday, March 17th -please contact Sharon Goldwyn (sgoldwyn@acsz.org) to reserve a spot as soon as possible!! We thank the 2012 ING NYC Marathon Runners from Great Neck: Lizzy Luxenberg, Amnon Moneta, Aviva Tobin-Hess and Greg Kramer, for their hard work and dedication to support Shaare Zedek’s new Generation Children’s Facility!
GREAT NECK WEDDING GOWN GEMACH
The "Great Neck Wedding Gown Gemach" was established several years ago in memory of our mothers, Chaya Sarah Benedek,z'b and Sarah Haskel,z'b. Baruch HaShem, we get requests for these gowns from brides and their families from all over the north east. We would like to help them all. It is such a wonderful feeling to help beautify a bride. We need your help in order to help others. If you have a wedding gown that's in perfect condition, professionally cleaned, and modest in style, Please Donate it and fulfill this fabulous chesed. Your generosity is truly appreciated. Please contact : Jenny Scherzer,516 4663628 or Cindy Gold at 516 4674262.
DONATIONS
The following donations have been made to the Young Israel of Great Neck
- Viviane and Arnold Breitbart in memory of Jahan Moradi; In memory of Freda Franklin
- Charlotte Hoffman in memory of Ethel Korn
- Mazie and Steve Foss in honor of the engagement of Miriam Shapiro and Elie Schwartz; In honor of the engagement of Eytan Segal to Hadassa Hadad; In honor of the birth of Sarah Chaya Abittan
- Cindy and Cory Gold in honor of the birth of Sarah Chaya Abittan
- Michelle and Barry Rubin in memory of Jahan Moradi; In memory of Babadjan Basalely; In memory of Grace Sassoon
- Debbie and Alan Kestenbaum in memory of Babadjan Basalely; In memory of Grace Sassoon