Good Erev Shabbat to all!
We are looking forward to "An Evening of Inspiration" with HaRav Yissocher Frand, Shlita, B'ezrat Hashem, on Monday evening, March 24th @ 7:30 graciously hosted by the Young Israel of Queens Valley in Kew Garden Hills. Rabbi Frand's topic will "Klal Yisroel: A Study in Diversity". We would like to express our deep appreciation to Mr. & Mrs. Jack Schmidt and Mr. & Mrs. Itzi Laub for their efforts in planning this event and Mrs. Carole Wittenberg for being one of our sponsors of this event in memory father Mr. Norman Platner, z'l, and her cousin Mr. Jordan Cohn, z'l. Anyone who would like to be a sponsor of this uplifting community event please contact us at the Yeshiva (917-747-7342, 646-706-8142).
A basic principle of the Torah is the Achdut of Klal Yisrael and the Ahavah we are required to feel for each other. As we complete the narrative in the Chumash detailing the construction of the Mishkan with this week’s Parsha, this message rings out loud and clear. The building of the Mishkan commenced with a call for national unity,- "Vayakhel Moshe, and Moshe gathered together all the Klal Yisrael." The Mishkan rested upon sockets made of silver, into which the gold-plaited boards were placed. What did this silver represent? Our Chazal explain that it was an atonement for the 20 pieces of silver the Shevatim received when they sold Yosaif. The silver embodies the Teshuva of the brothers for the rift they caused in the Klal Yisrael, and thus it symbolizes unity and harmony amongst the Jewish people. It reminds us that all the Avodat Hashem that the Mishkan encompasses rests upon Ahavat Yisrael, our love for our fellow Jew! A similar concept can be derived from the Mitzvah of the Machtzit HaShekel we read about this Shabbat. Why does each Jew contribute a half shekel and not a whole coin? It is to emphasize that we are all incomplete as individuals. We can only reach our full potential and fulfill our true purpose when we become a vibrant part of the Klal Yisrael.
Shabbat Shalom!
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