. - Congregation Mogen David

COMMUNITY NEWS
SHABBAT SHOFTIM
OU DEPARTMENT OF SYNAGOGUE & COMMUNITY SERVICES
presents: LA COMMUNITY WEEKEND w/ Scholar-inResidence RABBI HERSCHEL SCHACHTER, Rosh Kollel, YU
Marcos & Adina Katz Kollel, OU Kashrus Senior Halachic
Consultant. Sept. 9-10, Parshas Shoftim. Contact Devorah@
310.229.9000 x 201
Bnei Akiva Events - Upcoming: City Hadracha Shabbaton,
Sept 23-25 Snif resumes Oct 1! for Info, call Eyal: 310220-1459
Moshava California - Summer Registration 2017 NOW
OPEN! Early registration promotions available For a limited
time only -info: [email protected] or 855MOSHAVA
NCSY Announces that Birthright Israel, is partnering Israel
Free Spirit with NCSY Connect WINTER TRIP, LA Dec 18 - 28:
Registration Opens Sept. 12. Contact Denise Badreau:
310 -229-9000 ext.202 or [email protected] for Priority Status
Los Angeles Jewish Community Children's Choir season is
begin--and now the recipient of the Los Angeles County Arts
Commission!! Our first meeting is this SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th
(3:00-4:30pm this day only) at the Workmen's Circle, 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., 90035. Please contact Michelle Green Willner for more in-
SEPTEMBER 9 — 15 , 2016 • 6 — 12 ELUL 5776
ASHKENAZI MINYAN
Erev Shabbos
Mincha: 6:30pm
Candle lighting: 6:50pm
Shabbat
Shiur: 8:15am w/R’Moses
Shacharit: 8:45am
Shiur: 5:05pm w/Eliyahu Binyamin Moses
Shiur: 5:50pm w/R’Moses
Mincha/Arvit: 6:35pm
Ma’ariv: 7:40pm
Havdalah: 7:46pm
SHABBOS
Mishna: 8:45am w/R’Elias
Shacharis: 9:00am
Mincha: 6:40pm
Ma’ariv: 7:40pm
Havdalah: 7:46pm
Sunday
Shacharis: 8:00am
Mincha Maariv/Arvit: 6:50pm
Weekday
Shacharis:
Mon—Fri - 6:30am
Mincha & Ma’ariv: 6:50pm
PLEASE, MAKE AN EFFORT TO JOIN US FOR EVENING MINYAN
SEPTEMBER 9—15
• Susan Younai • Yisca Abraham • Dolly Ives
Ronia Blum • Sophie Katz •
Important Halalhic Times
Earliest Talit & Tefillin
Last Time for Shema
Last time for Shacharis
Earliest time for Mincha
5:47am
9:47am
10:44am
1:21pm
THANK YOU TO THIS WEEKS SPONSORS
SEPTEMBER
Irving & Tessa Horwitz • David & AuraLee Ring •
Gary & Sarit Karz • Kambiz & Ronak Ahsoorzadeh •
Ami & Rosilyn Kozak • Aziz & Jaclin Haboosheh •
Myron & Goli Mendelowitz • Ed & Dolly Ives •
Avishai & Lizie Shraga
IN MEMORIAM: SEPT 9-15 / 6—12 ELUL
Max Maron • Sonia Sookman • Leah Fisher, MD
Brian Jay Krater • Harry Weinstein • Marlene Leon
Clara Mekies • Ruth Siegman • Chana Birnbaum
Sandra Marian Grad • Chana bat Shoshana
Pearl Sutnick • J.Louis Albert • Steven Mermelstein
Gohar bat Rabi • Henry Rosenwein
SEPHARDIC MINYAN
Erev Shabbat
Mincha: 6:30pm
Candle lighting: 6:50pm
Kiddush is co-sponsored by; Morad Golshirazi in
memory of his father Yochanan ben Pinchas,
by Abraham Hakakian for Hatzlacha for the
community, and by Israel Lasry for the Refuah
Shleimah of Levi Jacob Cohen ben Maytal
Seudah Shlishit is co-sponsored by Shoshana Edison
for the Hazkarah of Chana bat Shoshana
and by
Moris and Sanaz Rabanipour for the Hazkarah of
Gohar bat Rabi
To Sponsor or Co-Sponsor Kiddush or Seudah Shlishit in honor of a Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, New Baby, Simcha, New
Job, or honor a Memory of a loved one; contact the office 310 -556-5609
Sunday
Slichot: 7:15am15am
Shacharit: 8:00am
Mincha Maariv/Arvit: 6:50pm
Weekday
Slichot: Mon &Thurs: 5:50am
Tues/Wed/Fri: 6:00:am
Shacharis:
Mon—Fri 6:30amn/
Mincha & Ma’ariv: 6:50pm
PLEASE, MAKE AN EFFORT TO JOIN US FOR EVENING MINYAN
MEMBERSHIP & HIGH HOLIDAY SEATS *5777
TO PURCHASE OR RENEW
MEMBERSHIP AND
RECEIVE PREFERENCES &
PRIORITY FOR THE SAME HIGH HOLIDAY SEATS AS LAST
YEAR, RETURN YOUR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AND SEAT
REQUEST FORM BY MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2016. AFTER
SEPT. 12, AS AVAILABILITY ALLOWS TO NON-MEMBERS
WHERE SEATS ARE AVAILABLE
MEMBERSHIP FORMS WERE MAILED IN JUNE, ARE
AVAILABLE AT MOGEN-DAVID.ORG,
AND IN THE WEEKLY E-MAILS
SEAT REQUEST FORMS MUST BE FILLED IN AND SIGNED,
AND RETURNED WITH PAYMENT;
ALL HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS
MUST BE PAID FOR BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS
FOR INFO CALL THE OFFICE AT 310-556-5609
RABBI GABE ELIAS, Senior Rabbi/Executive Director
NOEY JACOBSON, Cantor
AVY AZEROUAL, President
CONGREGATION MOGEN DAVID
RABBI YEHUDA MOSES, Rav Kehila, Sephardic Minyan
RABBI MICHAEL ABRAHAM, Assistant Rabbi/Hazan
9717 W PICO BLVD, LA, CA 90035 • 310.556.5609 •
SHOFTIM
Daily Classes
SHOFTIM
Weekly Classes
SUN:
PARSHA SHOFTIM
PARASHAT
The parsha begins with the matter of setting up local
judicial systems to supplement the national
system. It then discusses the establishment of a
national government and the choice of a king.
The parsha continues with a number of warnings
against idolatry and paganism, and then moves on
to a miscellany of assorted prohibitions. It contains
brief descriptions of the duties of the Kohamim and
the development of the prophetic personalities.
Parashat Shoftim concludes with the strange
subject of the Eglah Arufah. A corpse is found
in a desolate area with no identifying perpetrator. We measure the body to the closest inhabited town and the Ziknei Beit Din walk
through a ritual, absolving them of spilling the
blood of this innocent person. Rashi, quoting
the Gemara in Masechet Sotah, asks the question we all ask while reading these pesukim:
"V'chi Alta al Lev SheZiknei Beit Din Shofchei
Damim Hem"?! Can we really entertain the
idea that the Rabbanim and Chachamim, our
best and brightest, those entrusted to uphold
the moral integrity of the community, are murderers! Certainly not. Rather, the Gemara explains, perhaps this unfortunate person left the
town without proper directions, without guidance, food or provisions. Perhaps he took a
misstep along the road and fell off a cliff without a trusted map in hand, or an escort by his
side; perhaps he wandered in the wrong direction and entered a dangerous area, teeming with bandits and lawless thieves.
The parsha speaks eloquently about a simple
three-word phrase, tzedek tzedek tirdof, (justice,
justice shall you pursue). It is traditional that no word
is repeated in the Torah unless it has special
significance. Chazal have noted that the phrase,
tzedek tzedek tirdof, is found in the same portion of
the text as the admonition to set up a judicial system,
and consequently some have considered that
tzedek as used here, refers only to the requirement of
a competent judiciary. Rather tzedek would not
have been repeated if that is all that was meant.
Instead the judges are told to pursue justice in a just
means and to teach that the ends do not justify the
means.
We are living in troubled times. People have
questioned the existence of Hashem. Some have
said, "God is dead", others that "there is no God".
Judaism, offers "the pursuit of righteousness" as a
practical method of reducing the perplexities of our
modern day, and suggests that the pursuit of
righteousness can serve as an expression of
our Emunah in Hashem.
So when the Parsha says, tzedek tzedek tirdof"righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue," in effect it is saying, "let the pursuit of righteousness be our
way of disposing of modern skepticism, so that the
pursuit of righteousness be our expression
of Emunah in Hashem."
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Gabe Elias
KOLLEL & CLASSES
The Ziknei Beit Din are responsible for setting
the culture and environment within their communities. They certainly did not shed innocent
blood, but they allowed members of their
town to act in an inhospitable and discourteous manner. They were derelict in their leadership and in acting as role models for their constituency. In this way they were responsible. albeit indirectly, for an unfortunate death.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Yehuda Moses
Tuesday Sept 13 and Thursday Sept 15 at 7:45pm
SUN-FRI: Chok Le’Yisrael w/Haim Dayan
SUN@ 8:45am; Mon—Fri @7:30am
Shiur: w/R’Adler following Shacharit
Guide to Belief: @9:30am w/David Sacks
MON:
Parsha Class: w/R’Elias @Pico Café 7:45am
Next Class Sept 12, 19
TUES:
8:00pm Gemara Class: w/R’Adler
7:45pm The 613 Mitzvot w/R’Moses
7:45pm *Halacha in the Modern Context
w/R’Elias(Men&Women)
WED:
12.00pm Lunch & Learn:(Weekly Parsha) w/R’Elias
9.00pm Book of Mishley w/R’Abraham
THUR:
Gemara Class:
@8:00pm w/R’Adler
@7:45pm w/R’Moses
Talmud Shiur: @7:45pm w/R’Elias
Kollel Classes are Sponsored by Avy and Sandra Azeroual;
Dedicated in memory of ADA BAT HANNA AZEROUAL; and in
dedication to the memories of JACK E. GINDI and ESKANDAR
RASHIDI DOOST.
We offer the opportunity to sponsor a week of Kollel learning for $180 as a
way to commemorate a Yahrtzeit or Hazkarah, to celebrate a joyous
Simcha, or to help and support the Torah learning at our Shul. Please call
or email the office to choose a week to sponsor a class.
REFUAH SHLEIMAH:
Yoseph Shmuel Chaim ben Brana • Abraham ben Shlomo •
Benzion ben Chaya Yehudit • Nathan Aaron ben Blimah •
Israel Aaron ben Shendel • Yosef Lev ben Sarah •
Mordechai ben Simcha • Haim Menachem ben Hena Raizel
Baruch Pelech ben Chana • Avraham Meir ben Batya •
Avraham ben Dolat • Ruven ben Raisel • Shimon Dov ben Shifra •
Levi Yakov ben Maytal Ha’Kohen • Yitzchak ben Kalomeera •
Moshe Mordechai ben Rachel • Raphael David ben Ella •
Homayoun bat Horshid Shlomo ben Raizel •Reuven Ben Goel •
Yisrael Meir ben Esther • Efriam ben Ida • Ozer ben Leah •
Aaron Yosef ben Chana •
Rochel bat Miriam • Esther bat Chana • Matana bat Rachel •
Sara bat Etta • Tzvia Nechama bas Chana Rochel •
Sarah bat Elka • Dafna bat Sima • Chana Ruhal bat Selma •
Bracha Hena bat Rivka • Habiba bat Rahel • Villis bat Fruma •
Chava Golda bat Rachel Leah • Sima bat Sara Gutah •
Neima bat Sara • Silvia Neche bat Rosa • Rachel bat Chana •
Shifra bat Chaya Esther • Yona bat Pesiah • Esther bat Gital •
Miriam bat Sara • Miriam bat Sarah • Chaya Rachel bat Simcha •
Shayna bat Chave • Rivkah bas Chemda •
Elana bat Rachel • Sheva Leah bas Beatrice v' Hirschel •
Bracha bat Niktzan Rina • Sara Chana bat Tziporah •
Rivka Devorah Brainah bat Avigyil Faiga •
Tuesday Sept 13 at 7:45pm
Thursday Sept 15 at 7:45pm