Mazel Tov to Leora Hecht on Educator's Award

Mazel Tov to Leora Hecht on her being honored with the Educator's Award at the upcoming YESS Melaveh Malkah on Saturday, February 12, 2005 at the Utopia Jewish Center. If you would like to participate in a group ad, please call Leon Stern at 575-0801.

Mazel Tov to Gary & Adina Estersohn on the Engagement of Shmuel

Mazel Tov to Gary & Adina Estersohn on the Engagement of Shmuel to Sori Lessor of Flatbush.

Mazel Tov to Mordechai and Esta Adelman on the Chasana of Sholom Boruch

Mazel Tov to Mordechai and Esta Adelman on the recent Chasana of Sholom Boruch to Yocheved Wasserman.

Rebbetzin Heller on Tu B'Shvat

Aish has a good article by Rebbetzin Heller named L'Chaim to the Trees. Here's an excerpt

It is for this reason that the Sages of the Talmud tell us that on this day, we should pray for a good Esrog -- one of the four species that are taken and blessed on Sukkot. Yet Sukkot has already faded into the past. Why are we thinking of an Esrog?

The simple reason is that at this season the sap is rising, and the tree is beginning the process of eventually giving fruit. This is true of all trees. So why is Tu B'Shvat special to the Esrog?

Because of its shape, the Esrog represents the symbol of the heart. This is the day we can pray for purity of the heart.

We are fragile and fail. But the power of prayer can move us it its source -- to infinity, to God. It can give us access to the Tree of Life.

Don't forget that Rebbetzin Heller is speaking in the Shul at 8:00 on Wednesday for women only. This is one shiur you will not want to miss.

While I was blogging this I got an email from Aish with a link to this 90 Second Tu B'Shvat Flash Movie.

Rabbi Welcher's Shiur on Tuesday 1/25 - Tu B'Shevat and Kedushas Haaretz - Part II

Rabbi Welcher will be continuing his discussion of "Tu B'Shevat and Kedushas Haaretz" on Tuesday, January 25 at 8:30.

Kashrus Alerts

New Kashrus alerts on Kashrus.Com include info on Grapple, Nesquik and Nestea.

Little League Registration

Little league registration will take place at the home of Gittel Nierman on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24 from 8:00-9:00 PM

Purchase solar house numbers through the Women's League

The AY Women's League is now offering the solar-powered house numbers that are highly recommended by Hatzolah at a cost of $15 per number. Click here for picture of EZlight.

To order numbers for your home, please call Batya Fishman at 718-263-3406 or send an email to hb13enrd6 at aol.com.

Mazel Tov to Leora & Elliot Hecht on the Birth of a Girl

Mazel Tov to Leora & Elliot Hecht on the birth of a baby girl on Tuesday.

Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin in KGH - Parshas B’Shalach - 1/21/05

Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin, author of “Spiritual Awakenings” and “Dad’s Guide to Inspirational Parenting” will be in Kew Gardens Hills for Parshas B'Schalach on 1/21. Rabbi Rubin's schedule is as follows:

Shiur for Women – 3:15pm
“Spirituality: Why are women more spiritual?”
Home of Michael and Barbara Salzbank

Motzei Shabbos Melave Malka - 8:30pm
“Inspirational parenting-theory and practice”
Home of Steven and Shari Weiss

Mazel Tov to Marty & Yaffa Katz on the Engagement of Avi

Mazel Tov to Marty & Yaffa Katz on the engagement of their son Avi to
Esti Besser, daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Naftoli Besser of Brooklyn, NY.

Rabbi Welcher's Shiur on Tuesday 1/18 - Tu B'Shevat and Kedushas Haaretz

Rabbi Welcher will be giving a shiur on Tuesday, January 18 at 8:30 on " Tu B'Shevat and Kedushas Haaretz".

Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller - Wed Jan 26, 2005 at 8:00PM

We are extremely fortunate to once again be hosting a shiur for women by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller on Wednesday Jan 26, 2005 at 8:00PM in the Shul. The topic is "To Worry or Not to Worry: Timeless Insights from Orchos Tzadikim."

Please avail yourself of the one of the most insightful and inspiring speakers of our generation.

Rocking Horse Ranch - Winter Yeshiva Break 2005

The Winter Yeshiva break is fast approaching. So why not treat your family to a few days at the Rocking Horse Ranch.

There will be two sessions this year:
1/23-1/27 (Sun-Thurs)
1/30-2/3 (Sun-Thurs)

Skiing, Horseback Riding, Gourmet Meals, Daf Yomi, Minyanim, Shiurim, Playgroups and much more. Come join us.

New Simcha Dancing Session Begins 1/17/05

Having a Simcha before Shavuot?

It's not too late to join us!!
Ahavas Yisroel Women's League invites you to a class in:

SIMCHA DANCING

with Tzirel Goldschmiedt
Monday nights in our shul 147-02 73rd Avenue

January -17
February -7, 28
March - 7, 14, 21, (28 makeup date if needed)
April - (11 makeup date if needed) 7:45 pm - 8:45 pm

Cost: $60 for the series
Newcomers welcome! You'll be treated like old friends!!

For additional information call: Tzirel @ (718) 263-6456

Kew Gardens Hills - Safety Alert

A member of the Shul had her bag stolen on Main Street and 72nd Drive on Monday at about 7:00 PM. Please be careful as you walk in the neighborhood - especially at night.

Mazel Tov to the Goldschmiedts and Wimpfheimers

Mazel Tov to Tzirel and Danny Goldschmiedt on the birth of a granddaughter to their children Dena and Jeremy Wimpfheimer. Mazel Tov to the entire Hill, Goldschmiedt and Wimpfheimer mishpochos.

Mazel Tov to the Schwerds and Walfishs

Mazel Tov to Gila and Moishe Schwerd on the birth of a granddaughter to their children Brocha and Moshe Walfish. Mazel Tov to Aunt Karen and Uncle Steve Reisbaum and the entire Reisbaum, Schwerd and Walfish mishpochos.

Passing of Rabbi Moshe Orbach

We regret to inform you of the passing of Rabbi Moshe Orbach, father of Yossi Orbach.

The funeral will take place in Israel on Monday afternoon.
The entire shiva will be observed in Israel until Sunday morning.

Yossi can be reached as follows:
011-972-2581-1739
011-972-52-569-4610 (cell)
011-972-54-4811-739 (cell)

May the family be comforted among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim

Kavanna in the First Brocha

In his shiur on Tuesday, Rav Welcher stressed the importance of the Kavanna in the first Brocha of Shomoneh Esrai. According to modern poskim like the Steipler and Rav Moshe, even without proper Kavanna one fulfills their davening obligation, but l'chatchila we should try to achieve proper Kavanna.

Rav Welcher pointed out that according to the Ramchal, the first brocha represents the three primary middos of a Hashem and the Avos who personified them. We begin we Chesed personified by Avraham and the word ha-gadol. Rav Welcher pointed out that for Chesed to be received in a usable for it has to be limited through Din. Yitzchak represents Din and the word ha-gibbur is used. The third leg is Tiferes, exemplified by Yaakov representing Torah and the word ve-ha-norah. Tiferes is the perfect synthesis of Chessed and Din and it is through Torah that this wonderous balance is achieved.

Of course it is impossible to give over the full flavor of the many beautiful ideas Rav Welcher conveyed while standing on one blog post. But on Tuesday at 8:30 we will hear a shiur on Modim and it is another good opportunity to increase our understanding and committment to meaninful davening.