DVAR TORAH This week's parsha opens with the words "Re' eh anochi noten lifneichem hayom bracha u’klalah," "See, (written in the singular) I am giving you (written in the plural) today, a blessing and a curse."
Why did the Torah shift, from singular to plural? Who is G-d speaking to - each individual Jew, or the entire nation?
The answer may be that G-d is speaking to both!
Because we live with a dual responsibility – to ourselves and others. Therefore, when G-d delivered His commandments, they are addressed to each of us, as a personal directive and as a means for each individual to have a direct impact on the fate of the nation as a whole.
This too is the message we find in the two paragraphs of the Shema - which awere read over the past two weeks. Each contains many similarities, e.g., the mitzvot “to Love G-d,” “to Study the Torah,” “to wear Tefillin,” and “place Mezuzot on our doorways.” However, there is also a significant difference between these two paragraphs. The first paragraph is in the singular, addressed to the individual Jew, while the second paragraph of the Shema is in the plural, addressed to us all.
Because each one of us has a dual responsibility which coexists side by side - to care for ourselves and to care for others. This is the unique challenge Moshe placed before the Jews as they were about to enter the Land and assume a "normal" life. Because for a Jew, a "normal" life - is not a life of isolation, but a life lived for the sake of the nation.
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: BLOWING THE SHOFAR DURING ELUL Beginning next Friday, the 1st day of Elul and through erev Rosh Hashana, we have the custom to sound the shofar at the conclusion of Shacharit.
According to the Tur Shulchan Aruch [Orech Chaim 581], the origin of this custom is found in the writings of Pirkei d'Rebi Eliezer. There 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 can inspire fear and awe.
Rabbi Michael Rosenzweig of Yeshiva University suggests that the reason the Tur offered two sources for sounding the shofar (the anniversary of Moshe's ascension and the verse in Amos) is because the shofar represents a dialectic of a 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 only to 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].
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MAZAL TOV * to Yoel and Yehudit Goldberg on the upcoming marriage of their son Gav to Avigayil Berkowitz, the daughter of Dudi and Shira Berkowitz. Mazal tov to grandparents, Norman and Malkie Goldberg, and great-grandmother Chana Chaitovsky. * to Danny and Alida Harris on the marriage of their daughter, Dodi to Yair Kaszvovitz. REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Esther Meyers who is in rehab at The Pearl in Elk Grove Village.
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was donated by Sandy Aranoff in honor of Yonit, Zevi & Yaakov David on their making Aliyah.
DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – Mon.-Fri. after 6:25 Shacharit; Sunday - 6:45am PARSHA PERSPECTIVE – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays noon 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA - Wed. 8:00p/Shabbat 8:30a
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wednesdays @ 8:15pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 5:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Special time this week - 9:30am
BIRTHDAYS Yair Aberman (8/14) Benjamin Katz (8/14) Yehoshua Kleinman (8/14) Akiva Leibtag (8/15) Ayelet Leibtag (8/15) Mrs. Becky Starck (8/15) Mrs. Rena Berkowitz (8/16) Ezra Weil (8/16) Mr. Michael Aberman (8/17) Dr. Dean Bell (8/17) Mr. Avi Zisook (8/18)
ANNIVEERSARIES Etan & Rifi Bleichman (8/12) Yisrael & Elana Shapiro (8/12) Jonathan & Sara Stopek (8/12) James & Aviva Matanky (8/13) Barry & Elaine Semer (8/13) Howard & Ilana Karesh (8/14) Tzvi Yaakov & Rifka Miretzky (8/15) Michael & Tova Perl (8/15) Ari & Sarah Nussbaum (8/16) Reuven & Meira Gottesman (8/17) Chaim & Judy Reich (8/17) Dr. Leonard & Yafa Levitt (8/18) Henry & Marlene Wasserstrom (8/18)
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 - 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 - 