July 18 - Schara Tzedeck

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Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt
Torah Reader: Joseph Marciano
Dvar Torah - Rabbi David Silverberg
Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Medrash
Parashat Kedoshim contains the famous command of
“Ve-ahavta le-rei’akha kamokha” – “You shall love your fellow as
yourself” (19:18). Torat Kohanim, commenting to this verse, cites
the famous remark of Rabbi Akiva proclaiming this command as the
“kelal gadol ba-Torah” – “the great principle of the Torah.” The
obligation to overcome the egotistical instinct, and to care for the
needs and feelings of other people as we do for our own,
comprises, according to Rabbi Akiva, the most fundamental of the
Torah’s precepts.
However, Torat Kohanim then proceeds to cite Ben Azzai
as disputing Rabbi Akiva’s assertion, and pointing to a different
verse as the “kelal gadol ba-Torah,” namely, the verse in Parashat
Bereishit (5:1) that introduces the lineage of Adam Ha-rishon: “Zeh
sefer toledot Adam” – “This is the account of Adam’s progeny…”
The obvious question arises, why did Ben Azzai afford such
importance to this verse, and what exactly is the point of dispute
between these two sages?
Ben Azzai, it appears, seeks to shift the focus away from the
quality of selflessness and consideration which Rabbi Akiva
emphasized so vigorously. Although the Torah certainly commands
to “love your fellow as yourself,” Ben Azzai draws our attention to
Adam Ha-rishon, who was created as a single individual, but
ultimately produced multitudes of people. Ben Azzai responds to
Rabbi Akiva by noting just how much a single individual can
achieve and create. Essentially, Ben Azzai proclaims, “Love your
neighbor as yourself – but don’t forget about yourself.” Just as we
must show consideration and care to others, we must also show
care and consideration to ourselves. We are entitled, and obliged,
to look out for our own best interests. For Ben Azzai, even more
May 2, 5775
Achrei Mot/Kedoshim
Torah Reading pg.636
Haftorah pg.1173
Rabbi’s Class 7:20 pm
Mincha 8:00 pm
Havdalah 9:22 pm
Shabbat Youth
Programming
10:30 am Story:
Youth Lounge 2nd Flr
10:45 am Groups
11:15 am Kiddush:
Auerhahn Youth Lounge
Weekly Services
May 3 - 7
M 8:20 pm
Friday, May 8
M 6:15 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat 6:30 pm
Cl 7:10 pm
Dvar Torah
fundamental than “Ve-ahavta le-rei’akha kamokha”
is the need to take care of oneself, because each
person has a lot to get done. It is certainly important
to look out for others, but we must also look out for
ourselves, because we each have enormous
potential. Each individual is important because each
individual can accomplish great things – but for this
to happen, we must each take care of ourselves to
allow this potential to be realized. Of course, Rabbi
Akiva and Ben Azzai do not really disagree with one
another. These two “great principles of the Torah”
reflect the perennial tension between our own
needs and the needs of others. All conscientious
people struggle with the question of when and to
what extent they should compromise on their own
self-interests for the sake of other people. On which
luxuries should one forego in order to help the
needy? How much time must be sacrificed from
our personal schedules for community service and
volunteer work? There is no right answer to these
questions, and this is precisely what Torat Kohanim
teaches us: there are two “great principles” which
must be carefully and delicately balanced against
one another – the need to care for ourselves so we
could achieve our full potential, and the need to
look out for the needs of other people. This is likely
the intent of Hillel in his famous pronouncement, “If
I am not for myself, then who is? And if I am [only]
for myself, then what am I?” (Avot 1:13). We are
more aware than anyone else of our own needs
and interests, and thus we must assume
responsibility to ensure that those needs are met.
At the same time, we must not limit our concern to
our own personal interests, and must be prepared
to make sacrifices for the benefit of the other people.
Hillel then adds, “If not now, then when?” When
we begin to wonder where to draw the line, how we
should balance these different priorities, we should
tell ourselves, “Just go do it.” There is no correct
resolution to this dilemma, so we should not
waste time worrying about how to resolve it.
Member Announcements
A warm welcome to everyone who is
visiting us this Shabbat.
Mazel Tov to Ilana Welch on the
occasion of her Bat Mitzvah. Mazel Tov
as well to her parents, Jessica Jaiven
and Martin Welch, and to all her family
and friends.
Upcoming Programming
Shavuot 5775 – All Night Learning
Bein Kodesh L’Chol:
Finding Sanctity in the Personal
and the Communal
Saturday, May 23, 2015
8:45 pm – 4:30 am
Full Schedule of Classes coming shortly.
Mazel Tov to Jasi & Indy Layton on the
occasion of their Bnei Mitzvot. Mazel
Tov to their parents, Jonathan and
Renaty Layton, to their brother, Bailey,
to grandparents Gina & Michael Gordon,
to Eva & Stephen Layton and to all their
family and friends.
Todah Rabah
Our thanks to Renee & Jonathan Katz,
and Brenda & Ruben Grubner, and for
sponsoring Premier Scotch at the Oneg
Kabbalat Shabbat in honor of Chazzan
Yaacov Orzech and the Kol Simcha
Singers.
Our thanks to Karly and Jonathon
Leipsic for sponsoring Premier Scotch
for the Oneg Kabbalat Shabbat
Our thanks to Jessica Jaiven and
Martin Welch for sponsoring Premier
Scotch this Shabbat in honor of their
daughter Ilana's Bat Mitzvah.
Our thanks to Leslie Mickelson for
sponsoring Premier Scotch in honor of
her sister Robin James’ special
birthday.
With Scholar in Residence
Yaffa Epstein
Director of Strategic
Partnerships, Pardes
Institute of Jewish Studies
Yaffa Epstein teaches
Talmud at Yeshivat
Maharat and serves as
the Director of Strategic
Partnerships at the
Pardes Institute of Jewish
Studies. She holds a Law
Degree from Bar-Ilan
University and has been a
member of the Israeli Bar
since 2003.
She has taught at Limmud Events around the globe,
and has written curriculum for the Global Day of Jewish
Learning, and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish
Campus Life.
Contact VHA to pre-order and
pre-pay for the Lag B’Omer BBQ
604-266-1245
Our thanks to NCSY volunteers for
preparing and delivering food to
homeless people in Oppenheimer
Park.
Our thanks to the Family of Leon Kahn, z’l for their
generous sponsorship of this program.
A special memorial evening in loving memory
of our beloved member Oscar Dirnfeld, z'l, to
mark the end of the shloshim, will be Tuesday,
May 5th 7:00 pm, in the Beit Midrash (Small
Chapel).
New Class
For the month of May (until
Shavuot), Rabbi Rosenblatt will be
teaching a class on the Book of
Ruth - Monday, 7pm, Silber
Auditorium.