Bay Terrace Garden Jewish Center

07/03/2024

On July 14 at 2:00 PM, we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the merger between Bay Terrace and Garden Jewish Center. Remember your Jewish beginnings and commit to the future. We invite all to be "Klezmerized" by internationally renowned musician Dimitri "Zisl" Slepovitch. We will also enjoy a dessert collation.

To be a part of this memorable and special day, you must register in advance by calling (718) 428-6363. Cost is only $36 per person. Checks can be brought to the office or paid at the door. (No credit cards accepted) We look forward to celebrating with you.

Bay Terrace Garden Jewish Center
13-00 209th Street
Bayside, NY 11360
Tel. (718) 428-6363

08/06/2021

Weekly Update: Re'eh
August 6 - Aug 13
Shabbat Mevorchim Elul

• August 6: Virtual Oneg, 6:00 PM
• August 6: Candle-lighting, 7:47 PM
• August 7: Morning Tefillah (in-person for BTGJC members): 9 AM (Rosh Hodesh Elul is Sunday and Monday).
• August 7: Shabbat ends 8:49 PM
• August 7: 'Learn & Light' online with our Virtual Kehillah: 9:15 PM

IN-PERSON THIS WEEK (Shul Beit Midrash)
* Monday & Thurs, August 9 & 12, 7:45 AM:
- Daf Yomi and Shaharit service
- Shofar blowing after the service for the month of Elul starts
* Tuesday night, August 10, 8 PM: MITCHELL BREIDBART, a longtime friend of BTGJC will be observing a YAHRTZEIT in memory of his mother, Devora Sosha bat Heshel.

IN THE VIRTUAL KEHILLA THIS WEEK
• August 7: 'Learn & Light' online with our Virtual Kehillah: 9:15 PM
• August 8, 8:45 AM: Daf Yomi/Shaharit (Morning Service)
• August 9, 10, 11 & 13: 7:45 AM: Daf Yomi/Shaharit (Morning Service)
• August 12, 12 PM: 'The Weekly Haftarah' (Rabbi's class)

* Thursday, August 12, 8 PM *
'The Judge Is At The Gate'
An Evening of Learning with Rabbi Sid

07/21/2021

Excellent article by my favorite journalist on the Ben & Jerry controversy: https://religionnews.com/2021/07/20/ben-jerrys-threatened-ban-in-west-bank-creates-ripples-beyond-ice-cream-stores/?fbclid=IwAR2CBovPsbGFoG4a5NI1BPYVyUORssX5ZwLGseAx0jB4Gj2XpAbFNU7qti0

(RNS) — The company’s announcement that it would not renew its licensee in the occupied territories has brought accusations of antisemitism.

05/21/2021

SHABBAT UPDATE: NASO

SHABBAT SCHEDULE
• May 21: Virtual Oneg, 6:00 PM
• May 21: Candle-lighting, 7:54PM
• May 22: Morning Tefillah (in-person for BTGJC members by registration only), 10 AM
• May 22: Havdallah: 9:01 PM
• May 22: Virtual 'Learning & Lighting' (Pirkei Avit and 'havdallah service), 9:15 PM

ISRAEL UPDATE
The cease fire has brought a temporary cessation of rocket attacks,. As of erev Shabbat, Eitan is home after a tense week near Ashkelon. Yoni is on border patrol with his unit.

The danger, however, is far from over

I urge you to continue to pray for the welfare of Israel and its people, for the solders who defend them, and for the safety of those held hostage by the terrorists of Hamas and their enablers.

For news I recommend that you go to the Times of Israel website for the latest updates.

VIRTUAL KEHILLA ACRIVITIES THIS WEEK

• May 23: 8:45 AM: Daf Yomi/Shaharit (Morning Service)
• May 24-28: 7:45 AM: Daf Yomi/Shaharit (Morning Service)
• May 24: Adult Education, 12 PM
• May 28: Adult Education, 12 PM
HEBREW SCHOOL
Sunday @ 10:00 AM
Wednesday afternoon @3:30 PM
Bogrim: Individually

Please contact the office for the Virtual Kehilla address

THE SHUL OFFICE IS OPEN FOR PHONE CALLS FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 9AM to 1PM.
RABBI'S PHONE: 718-487-9854

PARASHAT HASHAVUA
Bamidbar (Bamidbar 1:1-4:20)
Synopsis by Rabbi Aron Tendler

1st Aliya: The family of Gershon is assigned to carry the curtains and tapestries of the Mishkan. The family of Merrari is assigned to carry the beams, poles, and sockets that comprised the walls of the Mishkan.

2nd Aliya: The families of Gershon and Merrari are counted.

3rd Aliya: The laws regarding sending out of the camp: the Mitzora, the Zav (a type of discharge), and anyone who has come in contact with a dead body, are stated. The law of stealing from a convert (making restitution if someone steals from a convert who then dies without any heirs) is commanded.

4th Aliya: The laws and procedures for the Sotah – the accused adulteress; and the Nazir are explained.

5th, 6th, & 7th Aliyot: The Korbonos offered by the princes of each Shevet at the inauguration of the Mizbeach are listed.
https://torah.org/torah-portion/parsha-summary-naso-3/

Insights
Our sages say that the reason why our parasha put the section of the laws of the nazirite right after the ceremony of the 'bitter waters' (which a suspected adulteress must drink to test her innocence) is because the nazirite sees what happens when one gives yields to their lust and follows their impulse. This prompts the nazirite to abstain from alcohol and other temptations.

Why, then, does the Torah require the nazirite bring a sin offering when the period abstinence is over? Isn't it a good thing to abstain from things or situations that might tempt one to sin?

Shabbat shalom.
Rabbi Sid

04/15/2021

For next year's Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration

03/15/2021

We
ve been talking about dates in recent daf yomi sessions. Here's some sweet news from the world of archaeology.

For thousands of years, the date palm was a staple crop. In the Kingdom of Judea it was a source of food, shelter, medicine, and shade.

02/02/2021

People are stepping up to the plate.

Black and Jewish entertainers, including Billy Porter, Sharon Osbourne and Tiffany Haddish, are joining forces to combat racism and anti-Semitism.

02/02/2021

Thank you everybody for making Sunday's forum on Anti-Semitism a success. This is only the beginning. We have a lot to do.

01/22/2021

Weekly Update - Parashat Bo (Shemot 10:1 - 13:6)

Shalom everybody.

A few weeks ago, one of our members asked if we had a special prayer for the government and representatives who took their oath of office this week in DC. I thought this would be the ideal platform to introduce it to you. This Shabbat, as we read about our ancestors' exodus from Egypt, we wish the new administration success in insuring that we all work together to safeguard the values, freedoms and noble ideals on which our country was built.

"God of our ancestors: we ask your blessings for our country, its government, its leaders and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them insights from there from Your Torah that they may administer all matters of state fairly, so that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst.

"Bless all the inhabitants of our country with your spirit. May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony, to banish hatred and bigotry, and to safeguard the ideals and institutions that are the pride and glory of our country.

"May this land, under Your providence, be a force for good throughout the world, uniting all people in peace and freedom – helping them to fulfill the vision of Your prophet that 'nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and neither shall they study war anymore'."

Have a pleasant weekend, and a safe, restful Shabbat. And until we see each other face-to-face, I look forward to seeing you online.

Stay well

SHABBAT SCHEDULE
• Jan. 22 Candle-lighting: 4:44 PM
• Jan. 23 Morning Tefillah (Privately): 9 AM
• Jan. 23 Havdallah: 5:46 PM
• Virtual Havdallah Service: 6:15 PM (GoToMeeting site)

THIS WEEK IN THE VIRTUAL KEHILLA
• Jan. 23, 6:15 PM: Join us for a Virtual Havdallah Service
• Jan. 24, 8:45 AM: Daf Yomi/Shaharit (Morning Service)
• Jan. 25 - 29, 7:45 AM: Daf Yomi/Shaharit (Morning Service)
• Jan. 25, 12 PM: Rabbi Slivko's Adult Education Class: Profiles in Jewish Leadership
• Jan. 28, 12 PM: Rabbi Slivko's Adult Education Class: Weekly Haftarah

HEBREW SCHOOL SCHEDULE THIS
Sunday Morning @10 AM All Levels
Tuesday afternoon @3:30: Lower
Wednesday afternoon @3:30 PM: Upper
Bogrim: Individual hours

Parsha Insights
Before the B'nei Yisrael left Egypt, they were told to prepare the Paschal lamb (korban Pesach) for the last meal in Egypt and spread its blood on their doorposts to protect themselves from the final plague - the killing of the first born. If God was able to protect the B'nei Yisrael from the other nine plagues, why did he need them to perform this ritual of blood for the tenth?

Shabbat shalom.
Rabbi Sid

11/27/2020

WEEKLY UPDATE:
Vayetzei

Dateline Jerusalem

Happy Thanksgiving.

People have asked me if Israelis celebrate Thanksgiving. Well, I can't vouch for other towns or other Israelis, but I can say that many of our American expat friends celebrated this year with all the traditional foods (someone asked us this morning if the big supermarket in our neighborhood carried cranberry sauce - we had already bought ours in the corner grocery across the street).

In case you missed the fine point of that exchange, one of the key differences about between Israel and the US is that some of us turn Thanksgiving into Shabbat (or celebrate it as a 2-day yom tov, much like having two seders outside of Israel). Yesterday we had our turkey dinner with all the trimmings (courtesy of Eitan). Tonight we are doing it again for Shabbat, with the addition of chicken soup courtesy of yours truly.

The 'yom tov sheni shel Yisrael' is uniquely Israeli and Jewish since it is Shabbat-centric. It also reminds us that no matter how far we travel, we are still connected with our family and friends in the US. That's why I am so grateful that we have the tools to stay connected no matter how far apart we may be.

So I remind you to keep connected going using the shul's ongoing online activities. Join us for our daily services, classes and special events (check out the schedule below for this week's events). Your participation in our Virtual Kehilla today will help us return to being a real kehilla tomorrow.

I wish you all a Shabbat shalom and a pleasant weekend.

SHABBAT SCHEDULE
• Nov. 27 Candle-lighting: 4:12 PM
• Nov. 28 Morning Tefillah (Privately): 9 AM
• Nov. 28 Havdallah: 5:14 PM

THIS WEEK IN THE VIRTUAL KEHILLA
• Nov. 28, 5:45 PM: Join us for a Virtual Havdallah Service
• Nov. 29, 8:45 AM: Shaharit (Morning Service)
• Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 7:45 AM: Shaharit (Morning Service)
• Nov. 30, 12 PM: Rabbi Slivko's Adult Education Class: The Life and Legacy of Rav Kook
• Dec. 3, 12 PM: Rabbi Slivko's Adult Education Class: Weekly Haftarah
HEBREW SCHOOL
Sunday morning, 10 AM: Lower Grades
Sunday morning, 11 AM: Upper Grades
Monday, 3:30 PM: Bogrim Class
Tuesday, 3:30 PM: Lower grades
Wednesday, 3:30 PM: Upper grades
(Download the BTGJC School calendar)

THE SHUL OFFICE IS OPEN FOR PHONE CALLS FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, but the building remains closed for services, and activities in the shul are still suspended.

It says in the Talmud that if you can't make it to your synagogue for tefillah, pray at home at the times when tefillah is said in your synagogue. The time for tefillah on Shabbat morning is 9:00 AM. At 9:30 AM I will recite the misheberach for members of our community and communities around the world who are ill and pray for their speedy recovery.*

I have a number of names that people have given me, and if you have a name you would like me to add, please e-mail me at [email protected] before Shabbat, I also urge you to join me from home at that time to add your own prayer as well.

*The misheberach text in English follows here:
"May He who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moshe and Aaron, David and Solomon, bless the sick person (name) the son/daughter of (mother's name) because we are praying for his/her sake. It is Shabbat when it is forbidden to plead; healing will come soon; and let us say, Amen."

Meanwhile, please take time each day to pray for the well-being of our community and for communities around the world.

Also remember to reach out to one another during this time to remind everyone that we are one community.

Join our Virtual Kehilla from your computer, tablet or smartphone. PM me for details: btgjcrabbi"gmail.com

PARASHAT HASHAVUA
Vayetzei (Beresh*t 28:10 - 32:3)
Synopsis
The parashah tells of Yakov's travels to, life in, and return from Haran. The parashah recounts Yakov's dream of a ladder to heaven, Yakov's meeting of Rachel at the well, Yakov's time working for Lavan and living with Rachel and Leah, the birth of Yakov's children, and the departure of Yakov's family from Laban.

Insights
Yakov deceived his father and brother, in order to receive Yitzhak's blessing by claiming that he is the firstborn (even though he had 'bought' his brother's birthright it was still deception). Lavan deceives Yakov by giving him Leah as his wife, claiming it was against the local custom to marry off the younger daughter before the elder one. So we see that there is a 'Newtonian' balance at work in the Torah, and that our actions do have equal consequences. But Yakov's mother Rivkah is also at least partially to blame for her role in the deception. What happens to her?

Shabbat shalom.
Rabbi Sid