Shoftim 5777

Sponsored in loving memory of Keith Freeman z”l Avram ben Emmanuel z”l

Service Times

g n i h t e Som e n o y r e v for E

Parshat Shoftim

Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat

19:00

(Candle Lighting)

19:00

Shacharit

09:15

Leining

10:15

Mincha followed by Seudah & Ma’ariv

19:55

Shabbat Ends

21:06

Weekday Shacharit

Mincha & Ma’ariv

Sun

09:00

19:30

Mon*

09:00

19:30

Tues

07:00

19:30

Wed

07:00

19:30

Thur

07:00

Fri

07:00

19:00

ing. These include the betrothed, but unmar-

the fun of the trip. It can happen in class,

ried, one who has built a house or vineyard

with friends or even at a family simcha.

but hasn’t inaugurated or redeemed it., and

28 Aug 6 Ellul

Philip Braunstein

Father

Tues

Jonathan Brownson Father Michelle Rothburn Father

Wed

Bill Lister Michael Lister

Father Father

Thurs

Malcolm Jaffa Shirley Horwich Harvey Burman Gillian Suppree Jeremy Bernstein Stacey Rosenberg

Mother Mother Mother Father Father Mother

David Middleweek

Mother

Fri

1 Sept 10 Ellul

‫שבת‬

2 Seot 11 Ellul

Infectious Negativity

into complaining mode – and there goes

Brother Mother

31 Aug 9 Ellul

Thought For The Week

there are those who are exempt from fight-

Muriel Mond Susan Lentin

30 Aug 8 Ellul

finally, the fainthearted, “let him not melt

The dynamic of one person effecting those

the heart of his fellows, like his heart”..

around him is very powerful. It doesn’t take much. Any time we are dealing with a situ-

This verse teaches us that the fact you are

ation that isn’t limited to us, we should deal

afraid is your problem and allowing you to

with it in private.

be there with everyone else will bring down the morale of everybody else. The only solu-

The Alter of Slabodka was known to say

tion is to send you home.

your face is ‘Reshut Harabim’ - the public domain. It is not yours alone. We have to be

When people go through difficulties, we are

conscious of what we are communicating;

supposed to be there for each other. It is

at home, work and within our community.

our responsibility and privilege.

Shabbat Shalom!

However, there are times when one’s

Rabbi Aharon Bloch

struggles are going to affect others, and Susan Sallon

1199 1476 835

19:00**

Father Father Father

29 Aug 7 Ellul

1024 1236 820

like on a family trip;. Somebody switches

Sandra Mason Basil Latter Shelley Ferster

Mon

Haftarah

war – conquest and combat. Interestingly,

to all those who have Yahrzeit this week as follows

27 Aug 5 Ellul

Leining

19:30

Chayim Arukim

Sun

Security team: Pink

Page No.s Artscroll Gutnick Hertz

ficulty dealing with the same scenario. It’s

Candle Lighting

26 Aug 4 Ellul

4 Ellul 5777 26 August 2017

This week’s Parsha discusses the laws of

* Bank Holiday ** Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

‫שבת‬

d"sb

Mother

will bring others down. That is an issue.

There are situations where everyone is in it together and some experience greater dif-

Shabbat Weather AM Showers 20o High 11o Overnight Low

Parsha

verview

First Aliyah - 18 verses We are commanded to appoint judges in every city of Israel. These judges must be fair. Capital punishment is prescribed for idolatry, and various idolatrous practices are banned. The sacrifices we offer to G-d must be blemishless.

We must follow the rulings of the Sanhedrin and the Oral Law. Refusal to accept the Sanhedrin’s authority is a capital offence.

Second Aliyah - 7 verses Moses instructs the Jews to coronate a king after they enter Israel.

Several rules apply to a Jewsih king.

Third Aliyah - 5 verses The Kohanim were chosen by G-d to be His holy servants. They do not receive a portion in the Land of Israel. Instead, the Kohanim receive various priestly gifts; selections of meat from certain sacrifices, as well as tithes from crops and animal shearings.

Fourth Aliyah - 8 verses A Kohen always retains the right to come to the Temple and personally offer his personal sacrifices, even though there would be a rotation of Priestly families working in the Temple each week. Divination, fortunetelling and similar occult practices are prohibited.

Fifth Aliyah - 22 verses We are commanded to obey our prophets. This section prescribes the punishments for non-compliance with prophets’ words, as well as for an individual who falsely claims to speak in G d’s name. The six cities of refuge are discussed again.

Sixth Aliyah - 17 verses At least two witnesses are required to secure a conviction in many court cases. Military exemptions are detailed.

Seventh Aliyah - 20 verses Before waging battle against an enemy, we are commanded to try and make peace. If the enemy does not accept the offer does battle ensue. The procedure for an unsolved murder is discussed.

The mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles is commanded by the Rabbis, not directly from the Torah!

S L E W

JE

M S I DA

U J F O

Delve into the deeper side of Judaism This week we examine the ideal way to prepare for battle

Prepare For War In a war commanded by Hashem it is a mitzvah for each individual soldier not to be afraid of the enemy’s strength or numbers. The verse says (20:21), “When you got to war against your enemy and see a horse and a wagon, people more numerous than you, do not be afraid...”

The Torah includes ‘a horse and a wagon’ in the singular, to imply a Divine promise: “When the Jewish People fulfill My Will, all the enemies’ horses and wagons (or other military equipment) will be like one before Me. You are superior to the enemies in good deeds, and you are descendants of the forefathers, to whom I swore to multiply their seed. Just as I brought you out of Egypt with miracles, so can I perform miracles at any time of need.”

Since G-d does not want the Jewish People to rely on miracles, therefore an army must be organised.

However, a Jewish soldier should not put his trust in the Jewish army. His trust must be in Hashem.

During the battle a sol-

dier may not think about his wife and children. He should bear in mind that victory or defeat is solely in G-d’s hands. He has to do battle solely for Hashem’s sake.

The Torah commands the appointment of a special Kohen, known as the ‘Mashuach Milchama’, (the Kohen annointed for war) who would teach the people the Torah command-

He should bear in mind that victory or defeat is solely in G-d’s hands.

ments concerning warfare and to encourage them. He would address the people twice.

The first time would be before the army was mobilised, and he would read the verses aloud that exempts any soldier who puts himself into one of the following three categories:.

Someone who recently built (or bought or inherited) a new home, and has



not yet dedicated it by fixing a mezuzah, or lived in it yet.  One who planted (or bought or inherited) a vineyard in the last four years.  Someone who is engaged to a woman, but has not yet married her.

Also, anybody who wasa faint-hearted would also be encouraged to return.

Why does the Torah disqualify these groups from actual combat?

On a simple level, none of these men would make good soldiers, for their hearts would not be in the battle.

On a deeper level, someone who is fearful is afraid of falling in battle, perhaps because he feels he does not deserve to be saved, due to sins he has committed. In order to spare the sinner the public shame of having to withdraw for this reason, G-d commanded the three other groups to also leave, so that he could keep his reason private.

Based on ‘The Midrash Says’,

by Rabbi M. Weissman

If you would like to share your words of wisdom, please submit your article of no more than 500 words to nick@hale-community.org.uk

Parsha Stats Shoftim is the 48th of 54 sedras 5th of 11 in Devarim Written on 191.6 lines in a Torah 97 verses - ranks 36th (7th in Devarim) 1523 words - ranks 28th (7th in Devarim) 5590 letters - ranks 31st (7th in Devarim)

Did You Know Shoftim contains a sizeable 41 of the 613 mitzvot. 14 are positive mitzvot, and 27 are prohibitions. It is the 6th most mitzvah-intensive parsha.

The top 6 parshiyot with the most mitzvot contain 55% of the Torah’s mitzvot. The 48 others contain 45%.

It is forbidden to plant trees to beautify the Beit Hamikdash because by doing so, we would miss the main point that the beauty of the Temple flows from itself and its spiritual essence.

Tip #43 Ashrei

TEFILLAH TIPS

Maimonides tells us the Sages praised anyone who recites the final six chapters from Psalms daily. Ashrei is the first of these last chapters, and the other five chapters are recited afterwards as part of the Pesukei Dezimra. From this formulation, it is clear that these chapters are the essence of Pesukei Dezimrah.

Ashrei has a special significance of its own, because the Talmud teaches that

the Sages assured a share in the World to Come to anyone who recites it properly three times a day. For this reason, we recite it during Pesukei Dezimra, and again towards the end of the morning prayer service. It is said a third time at the commencement of Minchah.

The first letter of each verse follows the order of the Aleph Bet to indicate that our praise of Hashem is all-encompassing.

The Torah guarantees Divine support and protection in situations where a false prophet or a fraudulent leader must be exposed. One should never feel afraid to defend Hashem and His Torah.

Just For Fun

Question: What did the lawyer name his daughter?

Answer: Sue.

L

KING AHEAD

2

In The Spotlight Pippa Lister and Josh Sacofsky This week’s kiddush is sponsored by Eve Oppenheim in celebration of her granddaughter, Pippa’s forthcoming marriage to Josh on Sunday. Audrey and Bill have been waiting excitedly for this day to come, and will be praying the sun will be shining for the happy couple.

Pippa and Josh will be getting married at Thornton Manor, and will be settling together in London. They look forward to celebrating with friends and family from near and far, including Scotland and Israel.

We wish Mazaltov to Audrey and Bill, and to Josh’s parents Sharon and Mark Sacofsky, as well as to both families, and we wish Pippa and Josh a happy and healthy future together.

Mazaltov to Sharon & Warren Ferster and Robert & Diane Sterling on the birth of a grandson, a son to Michelle & James.

Audrey Oppenheim & Bill Lister on the occasion of Pippa’s marriage to Josh Sacofsky.

Kiddushim 26 August Eve Oppenheim

If you would like to sponsor an edition of ‘Something For Everyone’, in honour of a simcha or for a yahrzeit, or for any reason, please contact the Shule office on 0161 980 8846 or admin@hale-community.org.uk

2 September Unsponsored 9 September Andrea & Jonathan Flax