Sunday, June 24, 2018 – 7:45 p.m. KINS Young Adult BBQ at the home of Josh and Aviva Hassan Please RSVP by June 10th click here for more information
Sunday, July 22, 2018 Tisha B'Av @ KINS featuring Shiurim by Rabbi Michael Myers, Rabbi Yona Reiss and Rabbi Daniel Raccah, Kinnot and Commentary with Rabbi Reuven Brand and an award winning documentary, "Destination Unknown"
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: The Makom Kavua Based upon the pasuk in Bereshit [19:27] which recounts that Avraham went to "the place" ("ha-makom") where he had previously encountered G-d, the Talmud in Brachot [6b] teaches that "whoever prays regularly in the same place, the G-d of Avraham will be his help."
But why did Chazal place such importance upon this "makom kavua" and what is considered is the "same place"?
Rabbeinu Yona [Ri"f to Brachot 3b] explained that when people create a special place for davening, it shows the importance that davening has to them - which ultimately leads to a sense of added piety. As a result, unless people must distance themselves from those who distract from their davening, we should always try to daven in our own "makom kavua" [Kaf HaChaim 90:118].
But, the definition of a "makom kavua" is not, as many think, the EXACT same seat in shule. Rather, according to some Rishonim a "makom kavua" is anywhere within the same shule [Aruch HaShulchan 90:23] and according to most poskim it is anywhere within four amot (6-8 feet) of where one usually davens [Magen Avraham, ibid., note 34]. Therefore, if someone else occupies a person's regular seat, it is not necessary to insist that this person move [Ishei Yisrael 9:16]. Rather, the person whose "makom kavua" is being occupied, should move to another nearby seat and fulfill the mitzva of not embarrassing another or creating strife within a community. (In fact, it could even be argued that this may be considered "l'tzorech mitzva" - and therefore, may even entirely preclude the need to seat in one's "makom kavua"! [Aruch HaShulchan ibid.]).
Interestingly, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach also added a further definition of a "makom kavua" - that it is the place one davens shacharit on Shabbat. Therefore, if a person davens in a specific seat on Shabbat and another sits there during the week, the one who sits there on Shabbat has precedence to that "makom kavua". However, as already noted since anywhere with four amot is considered the same "makom kavua", in most cases this issue of precedence should not need to be invoked.
Finally, this issue of "makom kavua" is also the reason that Chazal looked askance at those who "wandered" during davening - not only because walking around a shule is distracting to others, but also because it is distracting to the one who is walking.
DVAR TORAH "...And Miriam died there and she was buried there. And there was no water for the assembly, and they gathered together upon Moshe and upon Aaron...." [Bamidbar 20:1-3]
According to the Talmud [Taanit 9a] during the entire 40 years the Jews spent in the wilderness, it was because of the merit of Miriam, that there was a well providing water to the people.
Rabbi Ephraim Luntshitz in his commentary, Kli Yakar writes that the reason the water stopped flowing from the well with the passing of Miriam was a punishment because the people not properly eulogize her. After both Aharon's and Moshe's passing, the Jews cried. But no where do we see a similar reaction with the death of Miriam! All that the Torah states is that she died and she was buried
Explains the Kli Yakar that because they did not appreciate who Miriam was, G-d said "I will show you how great she was!" and He withheld their water, until the episode of the "mei mireva".
What is so unusual about this explanation is the question of "why" - why didn't they mourn Miriam - didn't they realize that it was her merit that kept them alive all of the 40 years?
Perhaps this is the lesson Kli Yakar wants us to learn - that people can become accustomed to even the greatest of miracles! The first time they received water from the rock, they were amazed. But when something continues for forty years, day after day, people begin to take it for granted - people lose their sense of "hakarat hatov" - and with that comes failure, and even tragedy.
MAZAL TOV * to Ari and Neeli Engelhart on the bar mitzvah of their son, Natie. Mazal tov to grandparents, Shoshana Axler and Larry and Marlene Engelhart.
* to Rochelle Schultz on the Bar Mitzvah of her great-grandson, Avrohom Yishayahu Atlas, son of Akiva and Chaya Sora Atlas. REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Yosef Shapiro who is hospitalized at Children's Hospital of Milwaukee. To help with meals for the Shapiro family, please click here * to Joe Samuels who is recuperating at home.
CONDOLENCES * to Misha Feldman, Ariel Feldman, Sam & Dorit Flatt, Ami & Yitzie Sommer and Leora & Jonathan Stern on the loss of their wife, mother, daughter and sister, Donna Feldman z”l. To participate in learning mishnayot in Donna’s memory, click here
* to Doreen and Moshe Mermelstein on the loss of Doreen’s father, Mr. Herman Klein z”l. Shiva is being observed at the Klein residence, 45 Neptune, Woodmere, NY. Shacharit at 7:00am and Mincha at 8:20pm. On Monday Doreen will be returning to finish sitting Shiva at her home 3500 W. North Shore, Lincolnwood. SPONSORS Main Minyan Kiddush is sponsored by the shul in honor of Rabbi Yoav and Riki Bar Kochva, wishing them Tzetschem L’Shalom on their return to Eretz Yisrael and in honor of the KINS Shabbat Group Leaders: Yael Appel, Gavi Domsky, Avi Edelson, Sophie Frankenthal, Dodi Harris, Zoe Nussbaum and Hannah Wortman. Contributions to the Kiddush Fund were made by: * Jeremy and Rebecca Amster in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Jeremy’s father, Victor Amster z”l * Jack and Anne Maryles in honor of their wedding anniversary
SHABBAT 8:30am – Parshat Hashavua with Rabbi Myers 5:00pm – Parshat Hashavua with Wisdom of Torah Institute Following 6:00pm Mincha - Family Learning Program 45 min. before Mincha – Mesechet Ketubot with Rabbi Matanky
SUNDAY 6:30am - Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg 9:00am– Sefer Shmuel with Rabbi Matanky - will resume 7/8 9:00am – Contemporary Halacha with Rabbi Lerner 8:00-10:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
MONDAY 7:05am – Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg 2:00pm - Halacha and Chumash for Men with Rabbi Lerner 8:00pm – Halacha Then & Now with Rabbi Yehuda Meyers 9:00pm – How to think like a Brisker with Rabbis Sprung & Kraft 8:00-10:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
TUESDAY 7:05am – Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg 2:00pm - Halacha and Chumash for Men with Rabbi Lerner 8:00-10:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
WEDNESDAY 7:05am – Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg 2:00pm - Halacha and Chumash for Men with Rabbi Rosenbaum 9:00pm – Parsha Chabura with Rabbi Bar-Kochva 9:00pm – Hilchot Shabbat with Rabbi Stromer 8:00-10:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
THURSDAY 7:15am - Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg 2:00pm - Halacha and Chumash for Men with Rabbi Rosenbaum 9:00pm – From the Dayan’s Desk with Rabbi Reiss 8:00-10:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park 2800 W. North Shore Ave • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
