DVAR TORAH HaRav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik z”l [the “Bet Halevi”] was related by marriage to the famed nationalist and literary figure, Peretz Smolenskin. Once, Rav Soloveitchik was visiting Warsaw, and learning that Smolenskin was hospitalized there, and he announced his intention to visit his relative.
One of Rav Soloveitchik’s followers tried to dissuade him from visiting Smolenskin, reminding him that Smolenskin was a leading figure in the Haskalah movement, which was antagonistic to the traditional yeshivot of Eastern Europe. But Rav Soloveitchik would not be dissuaded, explaining that the Torah writes: ‘You shall not see the ox of your brother or his sheep or goat lost, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely return them to your brother.’ Based on the unusual phrasing of this verse, the Talmud teaches that there are exceptions to the obligation to return a lost object.
However, in Isaiah 58:7 we read, ‘From your flesh you shall not hide.’ In that case, the Talmud never says that there are exceptions, because a person must never hide from his own family. Therefore, said Rav Soloveitchik, I will visit my relative.
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: When Do We Begin to Recite Selichot? According to the Tur [Orach Chaim 581], three traditions exist regarding when to begin reciting Selichot. According to Rav Amram Gaon, selichot were recited only between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur; Rav Hai Gaon began selichot with Rosh Chodesh Elul (which remains the Sefardic custom); and Ashkenazim began selichot on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah - provided that there are at least four days before Rosh Hashana (Therefore, this year, since Rosh Hashana is on Sunday night there would not be four days and we have to start selichot a week earlier, on September 21st.)
While the first two time frames for reciting selichot seem very logical, why do Ashkenazim choose a time towards the end of Elul and yet before Rosh Hashana?
There are three explanations:
First, there was a custom to observe ten days of fasting before Yom Kippur for repentance. As always, selichot are recited along with fasting. However, since during the days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, there are four days on which it is impossible to fast (the two days of Rosh Hashana, Sabbath, and erev Yom Kippur), four alternate days are set aside beforehand. Nowadays, even though most people no longer fast on these ten days, getting up early for selichot is customary. [Mishna Berura 581 note 6].
A second reason for this practice is that on Rosh Hashana, a person must "sacrifice himself" before G-d. Since we find that sacrifices had to be prepared and checked for blemishes four days before being offered up, it was decided that selichot be recited four days before Rosh Hashana. Furthermore, so that people do not become confused, it was established that the first reading of selichot takes place on Saturday night. [Mishna Berura, ibid.]
Finally, the Ran, in his commentary to the Gemara in Rosh Hashanah [16a], cited the custom in Barcelona was to begin selichot on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, giving us five days of special prayers before Rosh Hashana. However, as noted before, to avoid confusion, many communities began selichot on a day of the week - Sunday that would typically fall around the 25th. This reports the Vilna Gaon [Orach Chaim 581] may also be the source of the Ashkenazic custom.
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MAZAL TOV * to Rabbi Nachman and Leah Levine on the marriage of their grandson, Mitch Azose to Meira Sheffey (NJ). * to Jon Korman on completing his MBA at University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. * to Miriam and Marc Sommer on the bat mitzvah of their granddaughter, Daniella * to Mrs. Bernice Novick on the bar mitzvah of her grandson, Menachem Rush (Israel).
CONDOLENCES * to Nachum and Elana Meyers on the loss of Nachum’s mother, Esther Meyers, a"h. The burial was in Israel. Nachum will sit shiva at his mother’s apartment, 6800 N. California, #1F. Friday morning through Wednesday morning. Shacharit on Friday at 10:00am, Sunday – Wednesday at 8:30 am and Mincha on Friday at 3:00pm, and Sunday-Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.
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Early Minyan Kiddush this week is sponsored in honor of Larry and Elizabeth Feder on their making Aliyah.
KINS North Kiddush is sponsored by the Levinson family in honor of Rabbi Noach and Alexis Goldstein's inaugural Shabbos.
A Donation to the Kiddush Fund was made by the Jacobson, Stein, and Aaron families in loving memory of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Irwin Jacobson, יצחק אליעזר בן אברהם מרדכי, ז"ל, on the occasion of his 20th yahrtzeit on 15 Elul.
DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – Mon.-Fri. after 6:25 Shacharit; Sunday - 6:45am PARSHA PERSPECTIVE – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
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MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wednesdays @ 8:15pm 
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 5:00pm 
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays @ 9:00 am