Congregation K.I.N.S. Israel Solidarity Mission February 12-15, 2024
Join us in a Solidarity Mission to Israel, beginning Monday evening, February 12th, and ending Thursday evening, February 15th.
This three-day mission will include visits to communities in "otef Aza" ("the Gaza envelope"), military bases, families who lost loved ones, chesed opportunities, and more.
The cost of the mission will be $1600, which will include all land arrangements, buses, meals, and hotel - based on double occupancy (add $300 for single occupancy). Participants will be responsible to make their own airline reservations, but the trip is arranged so you can leave on Sunday and return on Friday morning for Shabbat.
If you are interested in participating in this mission, please respond to this email ASAP byclicking here. A minimum of 15 participants are needed to make this trip a reality.
DVAR TORAH This week's parsha describes that when Pharaoh's daughter saw the basket floating on the river "She opened it and saw the boy, and behold! A youth was crying. She took pity on him and said, ‘This is one of the Hebrew boys.’” (Shemot 2:6)
Interestingly, if one were to consider why Pharaoh's daughter took pity on Moshe, it would seem to be for three reasons: 1. he was a baby; 2. he was crying; and most significant of all 3. he was from a threatened nation - a Hebrew boy. Yet, reason number three appears after the Torah says that she took pity and not before!
Rav Nissan Alpert, ztz"l, explained that this unusual order teaches us an important lesson, one which we can all apply to our personal lives. Upon seeing someone in pain, or even an organization in serious need, people typically have two immediate reactions either a desire to help or the question if help is possible - i.e., can I make a difference?
Pharaoh's daughter chose the former option without considering the latter. She immediately took pity and did not bother to care that a Hebrew child was an anathema, reviled by the country and the focus of her own father’s decree of infanticide. Rather, she wanted to help without regard to the outcome or the risks involved. Indeed, as Rav Alpert taught, this, too, was Moshe's nature - when he saw a Jew in trouble, he intervened without thinking of his own danger.
There are always “reasons,” not to take action. But what Pharaoh's daughter teaches is chesed, kindness, should always precede emet - the realities of a situation. We should first act and then face the music – later – after we have acted compassionately and saved a life, family, or organization.
Tuesdays @ 8:30 pm - KINS Women's Tehillim Group each week at a different home. To stay informed - CLICK HERE
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: SHOVAVI”M This week begins the six weeks known as Shovavi"m (שובבי"ם) - an acronym for the six weekly Torah portions of Shemot, Vaera, Bo, B’shelach, Yitro and Mishpatim. According to the Ar”i z"l, this acronym alludes to the verse in Yirmiyahu 3:14, "Shuvu banim shovavim" - "return oh wayward children." As such, it reminds us that these weeks are an auspicious time to repent for sins ("wayward" ways), particularly for those that are related to areas of intimacy.
Of course, beyond the acronym, these six weekly parshiyot deal with the Egyptian enslavement, the Exodus, and our redemption at Mt. Sinai is the story of our national rise from a state of impurity to the ultimate connection with G-d. That struggle can serve to motivate us to do teshuva and rise above the behaviors that can enslave us to our temptation to sin.
As a result, many have the custom to review the laws of taharat ha’mishpacha during these weeks. Some fast on Mondays and Thursdays (or at least the first Monday, Thursday, and Monday - beha"b) and give extra tzedakah to support the process of repentance and recite special selichot and tikkunim (Kabbalistic prayers or meditations) composed for the weeks of shovavi”m. Another custom during these weeks is that on Shabbat, some accept upon themselves a ta'anit dibbur - refraining from speaking, except to recite the words of davening and for Torah learning.
Since the origin of shovavi”m is found in Kabbalah, these customs are most likely to be observed by Sefardim and Chassidim and less so among Ashkenazim.
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MAZAL TOV * to David and Yael Shiner on the birth of a grandson. The proud parents are Jacob and Rikki Shiner (NY). Mazal Tov to great grandparents, Kalman and Ethel Shiner, Liliane Dayan and Rabbi Abraham Bruckenstein. * to Steve and Malka Miretzky on the engagement of their son, Doni, to Dina Rothwachs, daughter of Rabbi Sruly and Wendy Rothwachs (Bergenfield, NJ). * to Oron and Judy Domsky on the engagement of their daughter, Talia, to Ami Strick, son of Sholom and Leora Strick. SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, Seuda Shlishit, or to donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here. Kiddush at KINS North is sponsored by Scott and Anna Abramowitz in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Anna’s mother, Susan Weisberg z’l. Early Minyan Kiddush is sponsored by Jim and Meira Mainzer in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Jim’s father, Lewis Mainzer z’l.
Seudah Shlishit at KINS North is sponsored by Carol Silverman and Richard & Rachel Silverman and family in commemoration of the 1st yahrtzeit of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Judith Sachs, Yehudit Bat Aron z”l.
DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – Mon.-Fri. after 6:25 Shacharit; Sunday - 6:45am PARSHA PERSPECTIVE – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
ANNIVERSARIES Shelly and Miriam Aberman (1/9)
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
AMUD HASHAVUA - Mondays 1:00-2:00pm
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - Mondays 8:00-9:00pm
PARSHAT HASHAVUA - Tuesdays 12:30-11:30pm 
SEFER MELACHIM - Wednesdays 1:00-2:00pm
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - 
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - Shabbat 3:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays 9:00am - will resume 1/14