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Dear friends, 

In Eikev, this week's Parsha, we are given the second paragraph of the Shema, to accompany the first paragraph that we had in last week's Parsha. The two paragraphs are almost identical. They both speak about loving Hashem, studying and teaching Torah, Tefillin. The obvious question: why?  

In his commentary on last week's Parsha, Rabbi Mirvis explains that the two paragraphs are similar but not exact. The concepts are the same, but last week's paragraph is written in the singular and this week's paragraph is in the plural. First we are commanded to love Hashem and do the mitzvot, but then we have to insure that all of the Jewish people do likewise.  

We are not islands, but a People, and we are responsible for each other. We must personally adhere to the laws of the Torah, but we must also support the community institutions that allow us all to become better Jews. If there are opportunities to facilitate the performance of more mitzvot, we are obligated to seek them out and embrace them (Rabbi Mirvis' full dvar Torah is here ).  

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Bnai Avraham is our community institution, and it behooves us to support it, as well as all of the programs and opportunities it provides. Not all programs will appeal to everyone, but that isn't the point. The point is for everyone to find a home. 

Before my son spent his year in Israel, I took him and his friend to look at a variety of yeshivot. I remember taking his friend to one. After the tour and the interview, he told me that it just wasn't his "makom" (his place). It was a fine yeshiva, but not the right one for him. 

We want B’nai Avraham to be a makom for everyone, but in order for that that to happen, we have to allow for people to find their place within it. Israel has lots of Yeshivot to choose from. Brooklyn Heights has one frum Shul.

As the Rabbi said in his email this week, it’s time to start saying Shana Tova, the High Holiday season is upon us. The tents are being ordered, the Chazzanim are preparing and we have to start getting ourselves ready too. Dinners will be avalable for Rosh Hashana and Sukkot, and there will be a variety of events to participate in. Flyers will be going out shortly. If you haven't already paid your membership dues, doing so will ensure your seats for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.  

I want to send wishes of refuah shlemah to all our congregants who need them. May they all have successful outcomes and speedy recoveries.

Wishing you all a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat Shalom,
Steven Inker​​​

Dear friends,

This week's Parsha, Va'Etchanan, continues Moshe's discourse to the Jewish people before they enter the Promised Land. It contains the first paragraph of the Shema as well as the Ten Commandments. Moshe lays out what the Israelites must do to attain the greatness that they have been promised since the days of Abraham, and how they will grow and thrive. 

In his commentary on the Parsha, Rabbi Sacks z"l is puzzled by one fact.  After speaking about the great nation they have become and how they will thrive and grow, Moshe tells the Jewish people that they are "the fewest of all peoples." Even after growing since the time of our forefathers, they were still tiny compared to the other nations they would be battling. The simple answer is that many had died in Egypt but the Israelites would continue to grow while other nations disappeared over the course of time. 

The deeper reason is more compelling. Moshe is telling the people that there is a fundamental difference between being many and being great. A small nation can still be great, and a large nation can crumble. When a mighty nation succeeds, no reason is given. It's obvious. But when a tiny nation triumphs, we are forced to figure out why. As we read in Zecharia: "not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit." Everything we accomplish is thanks to Hashem. 

The parallel to our shul is obvious. We are a small synagogue but have continued to serve our community for over 30 years, through hard work and faith in Hashem. Full text of the devar is here . 

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Now that we have left Tish B'Av behind, we can start getting ready for the High Holidays and the rest of the year. We’ll have a tent again for davening for both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. If you haven't already, please send in your membership dues so your seat(s) will be assigned. 

For those of you who have not yet seen the sisterhood lineup, Holly, Brooke and their team have planned a tremendous variety of activities for the coming year. The Israel monthly lecture series will kick off in November with speakers on Israeli culture, history and politics. The Rabbi has also organized lectures and a shabbaton over the next few months, as well as a book signing for the newly completed biography of his grandfather, Rabbi J J Hecht, z"l.  Mazal Tov to him and his family on this tremendous accomplishment!

I want to thank everyone who commented, applauded or offered constructive criticism for the code of conduct. It’s to serve as a framework going forward for how we want our Shul to be, and what we can do to get it there. Just to be clear, the code was sent to everyone, and was not meant to address any issues in the past, but only as a guide going forward.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish a special Mazal Tov to Mitch and Beth Garbow on the birth of a baby boy to their children Chana and Elya in Israel. May they all have great nachas from him and may he grow into Torah, Chupah and good deeds.  

Wishing you all a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat Shalom,

Steven Inker