1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Study of weekly Torah Portion– 11:45am
Shabbat
Guide to the Perplexed– 7pm
IUSB Lunch & Learn - 11:45-12:45
Book Of Joshua -10am
Thursday
Lunch & Learn –Nov 12th -12-1pm
Women’s only class-10:30am—at the home of Dave and Barbara Lerman
Wednesday
Faith & Trust– 7:00pm
Unlocking the Mystery of Midrash– 10AM
Tuesday
Book Of Joshua 7pm
Notre Dame Lunch & Learn 12:30-1:30pm
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew -9:30am
Monday:
Jewish Law-9:30-10:30am
Sunday
MIDWEST TORAH CENTER CLASS SCHEDULE
South Bend, IN 46614
2712 S. Twyckenham Dr.
Midwest Torah Center
Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID South Bend, IN Permit No. 11 MIDWEST
TORAH
CENTER
THE TORAH TELEGRAPH
Issue 63 November 2014 RABBI’S MESSAGE
MELALEUCA PRODUCTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN SOUTH BEND! Every once and a while, when introducing myself, I drop my
title and just use my given name. I find that people are more
relaxed and open-minded when they don’t know my profession.
They actually get to know “me.” For example, one occasion at
the Federation, I was speaking with people who didn’t know I
was a rabbi and the conversation was quite lively. When I was
“exposed” by someone who came over to say hello and thus
used my title, the people at the table started to clam up. When
they found out that I worked for the Torah Center, one person
remarked, “You’re nothing like what I pictured!” To this day, I’m
not sure if that was a compliment or insult, but it got me thinking. Why do we judge
people by their affiliation or dress?
In Pirkei Avot-the Ethics of our Fathers, it states, “Don’t look at the bottle but rather
what is in the bottle. It could be a new bottle with old wine or an old bottle with nothing
in it.” Or in more updated language, “Don’t judge the book by its cover.” As a
community, we have people who are all over the political and religious spectrum. And,
I have learned that just because one is on the “left,” doesn’t mean that that leaning will
apply throughout one’s life and that the same goes for those on the “right.” For
example, just because one drives on Shabbat, doesn’t guarantee that they don’t keep
any part of the Sabbath. They may indeed light Shabbat candles, have a Shabbat
meal, attend services, study Torah, etc. And similarly, just because one gives charity,
one may not necessarily give the required 10% of their earnings. And the list could go
on ad infinitim.
The Palm Tree Of Devorah authored by Rabbi Codovero teaches that one must meet
a person at whichever level they are at. One must teach to the individual and not to
where one believes the other should be “holding.” Similarly when we look at how a
person dresses or know which side of the fence they “hang out on” one must strive to
understand the individual and not make assumptions as to what the person believes. If
we can actually do this, then we will truly begin to bridge the gap in our community and
insure that one day we will all be together.
Sei Gesund,
Rabbi Fred Nebel
ADMINISTRATOR’S ARTICLE
The Torah Center has just celebrated its fourth Bris and the birth of a baby girl n less
Eruv Hotline 235‐1235
The Torah Telegraph is a monthly publication.
Published by Midwest Torah Center 2516 S. Twyckenham Drive.
South Bend, IN 46614 (574)-234-9092 www.midwesttorah.org
Editor in-chief: Rabbi Fred Nebel
Editor: Chaya Nebel
Contributors: Rabbi Kuppel Lindow
Lindow, Rabbi Fred Nebel
Chaya Nebel, Rabbi Akiva Gutnicki
Midwest Torah Center Staff:
Director of Outreach: Rabbi Fred Nebel
Administrator: Rabbi Kuppel Lindow
Youth Director: Rabbi Akiva Gutnicki
Would you like to help the environment? Do you want to feel good about your purchases? Are you red of standing in long lines at the store? Melaleuca has a solu on for you. You can shop from the comfort of your home computer and your order will be shipped directly to your home! Be part of a company that is environmentally conscious. Be part of the team whose mission is “to enhance the lives of the people we touch by helping people reach their goals.” 
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Save money Help Yourself Help the Environment Help the Midwest Torah Center For more informa on please check out Melalueca online at www.melaleuca.com and then call Suzi Katz at 574‐323‐5214 to start on your way to a healthier life. Today we all need extra protection. Insure yourself and your family against physical
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For savings on your gas, electric: www.energysavingschoices.com
Rabbi Yoel Yormark [email protected]
*Please mention this ad when you speak with Rabbi Yormark. “LIKE US” ON FACEBOOK- MTC is all over the web. You can keep up with us by
logging onto Midwesttorah.org for our latest blogs and calendar. Or you can go to
Midwest Torah Center fan page on Facebook and “Like” us. Also if you have a child
between the ages of 10-18, log onto Sr NCSY South Bend and/or Jr NCSY South
Bend and “like” that page. That way, you will know the very latest goings-on at
MTC. Check out Youtube.com channel Rabbi Nebel!
Mazel tov to:
The Seigels on the birth of their son
The Goldmans on the birth of their daughter
The Yeldermans on the birth of their son
The Gutnickis on the birth of their son
The Levins on the birth of their son
SHABBATON
NOV. 7TH & 8TH
Our next Shabbaton will be after the daylight savings time change so we’ll have
lots of time to enjoy each other’s company. This Shabbaton we’ll be introducing our
new “Learn-a-Thon” program: the Book of Proverbs. We’re looking forward to
everyone’s participation again, not only in learning, but a more advanced learning
and regular presentations. This is a true growth potential. Please join us. Here’s our
schedule:
Friday Nov. 7th 5:10pm Mincha/ Meal 6pm.
Shacharit Nov. 8th 9:30am
Kiddush/lunch 11:15am
Rabbi Nebel lecture 12:30pm.
WILL THE REAL MESSIAH PLEASE STAND UP
NOV. 9TH 5:30PM
We always talk about the messiah, but do we really know what we’re waiting for?
Is it a fantasy or an ideal concept? Is there a definite time set for his arrival? Must it
be a man? Come and discover for yourself what Orthodox Judaism has to say
regarding the Messiah.
Learn to recognize the messiah.
What will the messiah's name be?
When is the messiah coming?
Can there be multiple messiahs?
Without delay, enjoy our buffet.
Are you a commercial business? Would you like to save 30% on your gas bill? I can get it done! All you need to do is call and you can start saving today! Businesses that have availed them to my services have saved thousands already. Now it’s your chance. Please call Nachi Elbaum at 574‐386‐9627. than two months. A new group of children has started coming to the Center on Shabbat
and we’re rethinking our Shabbat children’s programming. New families are moving into
the community, not only for the high-quality jobs and affordable housing, but because
South Bend, Indiana provides a rich and varied Jewish environment for the entire
family in which the Torah Center plays a vital role.
With all that said, the Torah Center’s expansion plan is becoming more imperative
every day. We’ve had many roadblocks to overcome, but I believe we’re seeing the
light at the end of the tunnel now. With the expansion, we expect to provide many of the
amenities larger communities provide including catering, an attractive social hall,
restaurant services, expanded youth programming and more.
The future of the Torah Center, helping to grow South Bend into an even greater
bastion of Jewish life, is bright. However, (you knew this was coming) without financial
support from the greater community, it would be impossible for us to grow. If you
haven’t already received your special gift of a flash drive in the mail, you will soon. On
that flash drive we’ve installed a short video which shows our progress over the past
eight years and a little bit of what we mean to so many people. We’re certain that you’ll
be moved enough by this video to make a donation either through the mail or on our
website.
A one-time donation to our general fund for our annual budget
or the expansion would be greatly appreciated. Yet, a recurring
donation in our virtual pushke towards our endowment fund
would be even more appreciated. Unlike other non-profits, we
want to run the Torah Center more like a business, though not
necessarily profitable, but ideally it will be able to sustain itself
somewhere down the line. By keeping our budgets low and
continually contributing towards the endowment fund, within a few
short years, the fund can make significant contributions back to the Center and allow us
to set our sights on even greater goals than we already achieve.
The Torah Center has raised the bar for Jewish life in South Bend by accomplishing
many firsts with high quality, whether these firsts be in Jewish study, socialization or
quality of life. Please be generous with a pledge or recurring gift towards the Torah
Center’s vision of increasing Jews’ appreciation of their Judaism and their commitment
to the Jewish people.
I thank you in advance,
Rabbi Kuppel Lindow
PAINTBALL SUNDAY
NOV. 16TH 12:30-3PM
Do you have what it takes to be a
Breaking Paint champion? Test your skill
at this NCSY awesome event! Join us at
Action Park, 11951 Harrison Rd,
Mishawaka, IN. Refreshments will be
served. Costs for paintball is $20 a
person. First time participants in NCSY will
receive a $5 discount. For waiver forms
and more information, please contact
Rabbi Akiva Gutnicki at (574) 383-9524.
NCSY LOUNGE NIGHT WEDNESDAY,
NOV. 12TH 6:30 – 8:30PM
Take a break from your school work and come meet some new friends. Enjoy all the
usual fun with great games, sports, food, and more. It’s the place to be.
SOUTH BEND NCSY LATTE 'N' LEARNING
NOV. 24TH 4-4:45PM
South Bend NCSY will be having Latte 'n' learning at Krispy Crème this month. It’s an
after-school treat. If you need help with transportation, contact Rabbi Gutnicki at
574-383-9524.
HASHEM COMMANDED TO ABRAHAM "GO FOR YOURSELF".......SO I DID
The story of Abraham destroying his father’s idols is perhaps one of the most
famous biblical stories, yet it is not mentioned in the Torah! Additionally, there is
Rabbinic literature that details how Abraham discovered monotheism and how he
subsequently stood against the rest of civilization fighting idolatry, yet, these are not
mentioned in the Torah. True, there are allusions such as is mentioned in Yeshayahu
(29:22), "Hashem who redeemed Abraham," which hints to the grave danger Abraham
faced when he lived in Ur Casdim and was thrown into the fiery furnace by Nimrod but
was ultimately saved by Hashem. By not including these episodes in Abraham’s life,
the Torah is making a strong statement, namely that Abraham's origin was not relevant
enough to be included in the Torah!
Rather the story begins only when Abraham started to have an actual
relationship with Hashem and was told to leave everything behind and start his new
journey. Until that point, even though Abraham discovered and defended Hashem's
existence to the rest of the world, there was no actual relationship with Hashem. At
best, Hashem's existence in the world was through philosophy, intellect, and faith. But
throughout the Torah, the narrative is constantly revolving around the relationship
between Man and G-d.
My own personal journey with Hashem started 20 years ago. Since I was a kid I
always observed Jewish law, such as kosher, praying three times a day,etc. there was
something missing. Then one day, everything changed. One of my rabbis asked me:
"So you keep the mitzvos and learn Torah, correct?" I responded “Yes.” He asked
"Why are you learning Torah? Why are you keeping mitzvos? What is the whole
purpose of observing Judaism?" I tried to answer him but he was never satisfied. I
finally said "Okay Rabbi so tell me, what is the answer?" He replied, "The answer you
must find for yourself." I was annoyed at first and then thought to myself WHY AM I
TRYING TO KEEP JUDAISM? WHAT IS THE POINT OF LEARNING TORAH?
I began my search for the answer. After a few months of learning many books, I
realized the answer was right in front of me. A famous book in Jewish literature called
"The Path of the Just" explained that the whole purpose of man’s creation is to have
pleasure and the pinnacle of all pleasures is to have a deep relationship with Hashem.
The way of developing this relationship is through keeping Torah and mitzvos. I started
applying that concept to my daily life and from that point on, whenever I did a mitzvah or
JEWISH VALUES: AN ORTHODOX APPROACH
During the summer, Lisa Levin went out on a limb and presented “Bridging the Gap”
which was an attempt to bring our entire community together. During the event, one
thing that I came to realize is that we just don’t know where each other stands on
many religious issues. We may believe that we understand the “other” side, but I
found my side misunderstood. As a result, I would like to continue Lisa’s mission of
“Bridging the Gap” but showing an orthodox person take on the “big” questions.
Beginning on Dec 8th at 8pm, please join me at the Midwest Torah Center for a
5-week course exploring 5 different topics. They are as follows:
Dec 8th - Belief in G-d
Dec 15th – Prayer
Dec 29th- The Sabbath
January 5th -Jewish observance
January 12th- Sexuality
We can only really come together if we understand where the other is coming from.
It does not mean that one needs to agree with the other, it only requires that we
listen to each other. I’m look forward to learning with everyone. See you on Dec 8th
at 8pm!
THANKS TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!
We’d like to thank our numerous volunteers over the holiday season, for their
assistance was essential to producing a festive time had by all.
The Ballinger Family
Cindy Ebersol
Moshe & Suzie Katz
The Lindow Family
Margarita Mattingly
Tzvi Novick
Jeremy Stein
Avishalom Tor
Shlomo Wadler
Adina Wainhaus
We’d like to wish a fond farewell and thank you to Tanya Holzer for all
her efforts over the past six years of
taking care of the children on
Shabbat morning and all her efforts
in NCSY. Her consistent dedication
to the Torah Center was exemplary.
May her move to Cleveland be
prosperous and happy.
advocated for a reorganization of Naval command structure in the Arctic to prepare
for the coming changes in their recent report National Security and the
Accelerating
Risks of Climate Change. It is irresponsible to conflate sea ice shrinkage in the Arctic
with sea ice changes in Antarctica and elsewhere in order to minimize the change that
is taking place, and to say that the polar ice caps overall are gaining mass is simply
wrong.
The reason that I feel compelled to address these items is that the article suggests
that they support the argument that it is ludicrous to make predictions about the future.
Our doctors would be most displeased if we all smoked or loaded our food with salt
because “we can’t predict the future so how can we know we’ll get sick?” Indeed, we
are taught to be exceedingly careful with our health because our bodies are gifts from
God, created in the divine image. Shouldn’t we be at least as careful with an entire
planet, teeming with life? The article notes that the planet is “property,” but it’s not just
anyone’s property. “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Psalm 24)
Just as a doctor can’t tell you when or even if you will get cancer from smoking but
we all know smoking increases cancer rates, scientists know that we are stacking the
deck against our children and grandchildren even though they can only provide a rough
estimate of sea level rise, drought intensification, and ocean acidification this century.
The prophet Micah tells us what is expected of us and it’s not to say “whoops” or “who
knows what will happen”. Michah says “hatzneia lechet im elokecha” – “walk prudently
with your God”. To quote someone much more prosaic, when George Shultz was
serving as President Reagan’s Secretary of State in 1987, his response to those who
argued there was no need to worry about the ozone layer was simply, “Look, there
must be, in the back of your mind, at least a little doubt. You might be wrong, so let’s all
get together on an insurance policy.”
I wholeheartedly agree that only God can give us nice weather for Sukkot (because
that’s weather, not climate). The least we can do to show our gratitude for beautiful
sunshine and the many other gifts we receive is to utilize prudence in caring for God’s
creation.
Kol tuv,
Rachel Novick, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame
Donations
Thank you to all our donors. It is only with your assistance that we can do all we do.
Kiddush
Jeremy and Sarah Stein
General
Daniel and Aliza Crook
James Fischoff
James and Judith Goodkin
Moishe and Tira Gubin
Rabbi Betzalel and Ruthie Holzer
Danny and Elisheva Lerman
Lisa and Shannon Levin
Keith and Margarita Mattingly
Joshua and Michelle Rosen
Jeff and Arielle Sax
Miriam Viktora
Steve and Alex Yelderman
learned Torah, I had in mind that I am developing a stronger relationship with Hashem. I
can tell you that knowing and applying that concept alone made a huge difference. I
started seeing Hashem in a more concrete and palpable way, so much so that many
times I find myself having a personal conversation with Hashem.
Let’s go back to the story of the first mention of Abraham in the Torah. Hashem says
to Abram "Go for yourself....to the land which I will
show you". Rashi expounds upon the words "Go for
yourself" that his journey was for Abraham's benefit
and good.
Connecting the concept of the "Path of
the Just," namely, that the ultimate pleasure is having
a deep relationship with Hashem, together with
Rashi's explanation, that Hashem told Abraham to go
for his benefit and pleasure, we can find that Hashem
was enabling Abraham to forge a strong connection with Him. If we take this idea of
developing a relationship between ourselves and Hashem through the mitzvos that we
do, I am confident for all of us that our own journey with Hashem will become more real
and concrete.
Rabbi Akiva Gutnicki
LETTERS TO EDITOR
I was deeply disappointed to read this month’s Administrator’s Column in the MTC
newsletter, which conflated inaccurate weather predictions, overstated food-security
concerns from the 1960s, and a completely misinterpreted comment on Arctic sea ice
(from a politician, not a scientist) to draw a misguided and ethically troubling conclusion.
One of the first things one needs to understand when talking about the climate is that
the number of hurricanes or snow days or anything else last year is quite irrelevant.
Weather is what you get on a daily basis; climate is what you expect in a particular
region and we look at trends over the course of decades or more. Any knowledgeable
scientist will tell you that while we do expect hurricane frequency and intensity to
increase with climate change, this is one of the trickiest areas in which to predict even
general trends, and the long-term data cannot tell you much of anything about a
particular hurricane season.
Now let’s spend a moment thinking about Paul Ehrlich’s 1968 The Population Bomb.
Fortunately, mass starvation did not occur at the rate he predicted for the 1970s. And
yet, those of you who were born around the time Ehrlich published this book have seen
world population double in your life times. By mid-century, there will likely be 9 billion
people sharing this planet. And 840 million people are chronically hungry. One in 4 of
the world’s children are stunted by hunger. Over 20,000 people die of hunger or
complications from hunger every day. How many people need to die before you call it
mass starvation?
And then let’s talk about Al Gore, who certainly did not say that “in five years the polar
ice cap would melt and the seas would rise 20 feet flooding all coasts”. What he said
was that in five years we could see an ice-free summer in the Arctic. Yes, it’s more likely
to be the 2030s and we might even make it to the 2040s. But it should really scare you
that the Arctic has lost an average of 20,800 square miles (two Marylands) of sea ice
per year since the late 1970s. It certainly scares the U.S. Military Advisory Board, which
9:00am Shacharit
8 7 1 9:00am Shacharit
9 :30am Jewish Law
NCSY Strikes & Spares
9:30am Biblical Hebrew
12pm Notre Dame
7pm Book of Joshua
8pm Crash Course
Hebrew Reading
9:30am Biblical Hebrew
12pm Notre Dame
7pm Book of Joshua
8pm Crash Course
Hebrew Reading
9:30am Biblical Hebrew
12pm Notre Dame
7pm Book of Joshua
8pm Crash Course
Hebrew Reading
9:30am Biblical Hebrew
12pm Notre Dame
7pm Book of Joshua
8pm Jewish Values
9:30am Biblical Hebrew
12pm Notre Dame
7pm Book of Joshua
8pm Crash Course
Hebrew Reading
Monday
9:30am Biblical Hebrew
12pm Notre Dame
4pm NCSY Latte & Learn
7pm Book of Joshua
8pm Crash Course
Hebrew Reading
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Sunday
23/30
Rosh Chodesh Kislev
9:00am Shacharit
9:30am Jewish Law
9:00am Shacharit
9:30am Jewish Law
12:30-3pmNCSY Paintball
16
10
3
Margaret Mead
9:00am Shacharit
9:30am Jewish Law
5:30pm Lecture “Will the
Real Messiah Please Stand
Up?”
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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9 2 27
26
25
10am Legends of the Talmud
7pm Faith & Trust
10am Legends of the
Talmud
7pm Faith & Trust
10am Legends of the
Talmud
7pm Faith & Trust
Tuesday
10:30am Women’s only
class
7pm Jewish Ethics
10:30am Women’s only
class
12pm Lunch & Learn 4pm NCSY Latte & Learn 7pm Jewish Ethics
10 3 Thursday
10am Book of Joshua
11:45 IUSB Lunch & Learn
7pm Guide to the Perplexed
11 10am Book of Joshua
11:45 IUSB Lunch & Learn
7pm Guide to the Perplexed
4 Wednesday
December 2014/5775
12 5 10am Book of Joshua
11:45 IUSB Lunch & Learn
7pm Guide to the Perplexed
20
10am Book of Joshua
11:45 IUSB Lunch & Learn
7pm Guide to the Perplexed
13
10am Book of Joshua
11:45 IUSB Lunch & Learn
7pm Guide to the Perplexed
6
18
19
10am Legends of the Talmud 10:30am Women’s only
7pm Faith & Trust
class
7pm Jewish Ethics
11
12
10am Legends of the Talmud
10:30am Women’s only
7pm Faith & Trust
class
12pm Lunch & Learn
6:30-8:30pm NCSY Lounge
Night
4
5
10am Legends of the Talmud
10:30am Women’s only
7pm Faith & Trust
class
7pm Jewish Ethics
Friday
4:55pmMincha
4:58pmLighting
5:00pmMincha
5:02mLighting
5:05pmMincha
5:07pmLighting
5:10pmMincha
5:14pmLighting
4:55pmMincha
4:57pmLighting
4:55pmMincha
4:56pmLighting
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Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.
Sunday
November 2014/5775
13 6 9:30am Shacharit
11:15am Kiddush
4:50pmMincha
9:30am Shacharit
11:15am Kiddush
4:55pmMincha
9:30am Shacharit
11:15am Kiddush
5pmMincha
9:30am Shacharit
11:15am Kiddush
5:05pmMincha
9:30am Shacharit
11:15am Kiddush
6:15pmMincha
9:30am Shacharit
11:15am Kiddush
4:50pmMincha
9:30am Shacharit
11:15am Kiddush
4:50pmMincha
Shabbat
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Shabbat