257 Garden StreetRoslyn Heights, NY 11577516.484.0697www.roslynsynagogue.org

Monday to Friday morning: Shacharit: 6:30am (except Rosh Chodesh 6:20am)

Sunday morning: Shacharit: 8:30am

Sunday evening:Mincha/Ma’ariv at the previous Friday’s candle lighting time.

Erev Shabbat:Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at candlelighting time.

Shabbat morning:Shacharit: 9:00am

Mincha: immediately following kiddush on Shabbat

Ma’ariv and Havdalah: 14-15 minutes after the end of Shabbat.

Beginning March 8:Erev Shabbat:Mincha and Kabblat Shabbat at 6:45pm.

Shabbat morning:Shacharit 9:00am

Saturday evening:Shiur 40 minutes before the previous Friday’s candle lighting time.

Mincha: Ten minutes before previous Friday’s candle lighting time followed

NewsletterMessage from our Rabbinic Intern

The Roslyn

PURIM 5775

“The rose of Jacob thrilled with joy and exulted when they collectively beheld Mordechai garbed in royal blue.”

We all recognize these words from the famous poem sung after reading the Megillah, “Shoshanas Yaakov”, the “rose of Jacob”. What is the significance of the “royal blue” and why was it cause for celebration? The simple answer is that when Mordechai rode around in the royal garments – which included a rich blue – the Jewish People realized that God had saved them and they would be ok. However, Rabbi Yonasan Eibshitz, ZT”L, has a different approach. He comments that the “royal blue” that Mordechai wore was actually techelet, the blue strings of the tzitzit. When Mordechai was rewarded by Achashverosh with the chance to wear the royal garb and parade around on a horse, Haman was to be the man to lead him around. Understandably, Haman did not want people to recognize him leading around Mordechai so he decided to put on Mordechai’s own clothing when Mordechai dressed in the royal robes. Mordechai, though, presumably kept on his tzitzit — including the techelet — even when dressed in the royal garb. The Jewish People then saw both Mordechai and Haman in close proximity to one another, but only Mordechai was wearing his resplendent techelet. The Jews then understood the situation and broke out in cheer. The world is now getting a close look at the behavior belonging to the bearers of another ancient religion. While all monotheistic religions may look similar to the outsider, as Haman and Mordechai might have looked, only one consistently stands out as a paragon of righteousness, empathy, and true devotion to God. This Purim forward, let’s work to embody these traits and remind the world of the Chosenness of our Nation.

Purim Sameach!

Yaakov Lasson

40th Anniversary Journal Dinner Gala

On February 7th, old and new members, friends and family gathered to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Roslyn Synagogue and the leadership and dedication of Rabbi Robert and Beile Block. We were treated to speeches and reminiscences by Shari Falk Baker, Rabbi

Goldenberg, Shoshana Block, Marc Yunis and Rabbi and Beile Block. Rabbi and Beile were presented with a nostalgic photo album and a surprise certificate for plane tickets to Israel. It was a festive event with superb music by Yakov Block and his band, and spirited dancing and singing by the crowd. A great time was had by all!

Chairpeople:Jayne SpielmanPami Wexelman

Committee members: Hannah BaumgartenSarah Baumgarten Susan Cooper

Pam GoldmanDebra KolitzSoheila PeymanJerry Rauchwerger Maxine Rauchwerger Shari ReisnerAndrea SchulmanJill Sonnenklar

Rozita YoussefzadehMiriam Yunis

Board members:Steve KreinikAlan SonnenklarMarc Yunis

40th Anniversary Journal Dinner Gala

Thank you to all whose hard work made this event such a success!

Taanit Esther Thursday March 4th, 2015Fast Begins 5:12amShacharit 6:30am Mincha 5:15pmMaariv 6:30pmFast ends 6:32pm

Reading of Megillat Esther 7pm

There will be pizza for all, and karaoke for the kids after the Megillah reading Wednesday night.

Thursday March 5, 2015Shacharit 6:30 amMegillah Reading 7:15 amMincha 3:00 pmMaariv TBA

Mischloach Manot will be ready for pick-up by either you or the recipient after both Megillah readings.

Purim ScheduleShul News

Mazel tov to Anita and Robert Neman and family on Avigail’s becoming a Bat Mitzvah.

Mazel tov to Pami Wexelman and Jason Tuerack and family on Skylar’s becoming a Bat Mitzvah.

Mazel tov to Rozita and Cyrus Youssefzadeh on the engagement of their daughter, Jessica to Rayan Kayd.

kkkkkkkOur sincere condolences to Jason Tuerack on the loss of his father, Melvyn Tuerack.

Our sincere condolences to Barbara Fischman on the loss of her sister, Marilyn Ruth Foster.

Our sincere condolences to Nate Schulman on the loss of his mother, Bettie Schulman.

May the family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Purim is unique among all the holidays in that it is preceded by a fast day. (Although Pesach has the fast of the bechorim, the first born, that is not for the entire community, only the first born.) The nature of the fast and the observance of Purim stress the importance of community. The 13th of Adar is referred

to in the Gomorrah as a yom kehilla, a day of gathering for the community. This of course is the day of the fast of Esther. In the Megilla, when Esther proclaims the fast she says, “Go and gather all the Jews who are in Shushan…” Obviously, she wants the fast and the prayers of the entire community to include the entire Jewish community. Despite the dispersed and diverse nature of the Jews, Esther wants them all to participate in the fast. The celebration of the reading of the Megilla also stresses the community. Each person is obligated to read the Megillah from a kosher parchment, but the universal custom is for the entire community to join together in shul and listen as the Megilla is read aloud. This is the optimal way to perform the mitzvah and fulfill the principle of “in a multitude of people is the glory of the King (Hashem)”. If a person cannot attend shul then the Megilla should be heard with a minyan. Even if less than a minyan is present and someone can read from a parchment this is the preferred way. As we celebrate and observe the mitzvot of Purim, let us do so as a community committed to increasing learning, knowledge and the practice of Judaism. Let us also celebrate as a community committed to one another and to Klal Yisroel. Purim sameach, Marc Yunis, President

Message From the President