HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Blowing the Shofar During the Month of Elul Beginning this past Wednesday, the first day of Elul, and continuing through erev Rosh Hashana, we have the custom of sounding the shofar at the conclusion of Shacharit.
According to the Tur Shulchan Aruch [Orech Chaim 581] the origin of this custom can be found in the writings of Pirkei d'Rebi Eliezer where we learn that when Moshe was about to ascend Mt. Sinai on Rosh Chodesh Elul to receive the second set of tablets the shofar was sounded - signifying the Jews' abandonment of idolatry (which had doomed the first set of tablets).
The Tur further explains that the custom to blow the shofar during the entire month of Elul is to inspire us to repent. This is based upon the verse in Amos [3:6] which establishes that the sound of the shofar has the capacity to inspire fear and awe.
Rabbi Michael Rosenzweig of Yeshiva University suggests that the Tur offered two sources for sounding the shofar (the anniversary of Moshe's ascension and the verse in Amos) because the shofar actually represents a dialectic of renewed mission (Rosh Hashana) and repentance (the verse in Amos).
The Aruch HaShulchan notes [ibid. 581:1] that while there were opinions that throughout Elul a full sequence of shofar sounds should be blown [Bach, Tur Shulchan Aruch, ibid.] the Ashkenazic custom is to merely sound a Tekiah-Shevarim-Truah-Tekia.
If one forgot to blow the shofar following shacharit, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled that the shofar could be sounded following mincha [Igrot Moshe, Orech Chaim 4:21(5)]. However, Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg notes, that the custom to blow shofar is only incumbent upon a minyan, and not the individual. Therefore, if an individual did not hear the shofar during Elul, there is no obligation to arrange for a "make-up" opportunity [Tzitz Eliezer 12:48].
DVAR TORAH "If there shall be a poor person among you... do not harden your heart or close your hand to your impoverished brother. Rather, you should surely open your hand..." [Devarim 15:7-8]
HaRav Yitzchak Karo (the uncle of HaRav Yosef Karo and author of Toldot Yitzchak) learns several lessons from these verses about how to give charity.
First, why does the verse mention the heart? Doesn't the poor person need your hand, rather than your heart?
The answer, suggest Rav Karo is that sometimes a person may not be able to give tzedakah, and therefore, may be tempted to close the door or run away from the one who is asking for support. But, said Rabbi Karo, that’s not the Torah’s way. Rather, even if your wallet is empty, open you heart and speak comforting words to the person. This, too, is tzedakah. And if you are in a position to give - make sure to do it with a smile.
But even more, why did the Torah use the seemingly redundant language: "do not... close your hand... Rather, you should surely open your hand"? HaRav Karo explained, that sometimes you may reach into your pocket and remove a larger amount than you intended. Even in such a case, the Torah emphasized through its double language, do not close your hand. If the poor person has seen the larger amount that was in your hand, do your best to give it to him.
Tuesdays @ 8:30 pm - KINS Women's Tehillim Group - To stay informed - CLICK HERE
Receive a daily 3 Minute Thought directly to your whatsapp. Click here to enroll
MAZAL TOV *to Steve and Malka Miretzky on the birth of a grandson. The proud parents are Rabbi Ephraim and Zahava Miretzky (Silver Spring). *to Oren and Noemy Skidelsky on the engagement of their daughter, Adina to Dovid Blank. Mazal tov to grandparents, Howard and Shoshana Benditzson *to Yossi and Dalia Brandman on the birth of a grandson. Proud parents are Akiva and Suri Brandman.
CONDOLENCES *to Neeli & Ari Engelhart, Meira Sacks, Gabe & Ravit Axler and Rachel Engler on the loss of their mother and sister, Shoshana Axler z’l. Shiva is being observed in Israel through Friday at the Engelhart home, Shlomtzion Hamalka 27/2. Shiva hours will be 8:00 am-1:00 pm and 4:00 pm-9:00 pm. Shacharit at 8:00 am, Mincha at 6.45 pm and Maariv at 7:20 pm.
THANK YOU! Thank you to our group leaders who are leaving for their year in Israel. We wish you Nesiyah Tovah and Hatzlachah Rabbah: Ayelet Appel, Baylee Ashkenazy, Tiferet Goldman, Eliana Isenberg and Talya Silverman.
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, Seuda Shlishit, or to donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund -please click here.
DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – Mon.-Fri. after 6:25 Shacharit; Sunday - 6:45am PARSHA PERSPECTIVE – RECORDED Sunday-Friday MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - Mondays - 8:00-9:00pm
PARSHAT HASHAVUA - Tuesdays - 12:30pm DAYTIME DIALOGUES - is on summer hiatus
ANNIVERSARIES Howard Rieger and Beverly Siegel (9/7) Edward and Shelley Stopek (9/9)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - Mondays - 8:00-9:00pm
PARSHAT HASHAVUA - 
SEFER MELACHIM 
SEMICHAS CHAVER PROGRAM 
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - Shabbat 5:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat 45 minutes before mincha
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays 9:00am