Star-K's Pesach Medicines and Cosmetics

Dear Friend,

We are proud once again to present to you this year’s STAR-K Pesach Guide along with Rav Bess’s Passover Medicines & Cosmetics listings. The latter lists were made possible as a result of the long-standing and fruitful partnership between STAR-K and Kollel Los Angeles.

The Passover Medicines & Cosmetics lists are based on Rav Gershon Bess’s extensive research with pharmaceutical manufacturers and personal care product companies. In addition to serving Star-K Kosher Certification as rav of Congregation Kehilas Yaakov in Los Angeles, Rav Bess is considered a leading expert on Passover medications.

With best wishes for a chag kasher v'same’ach,

• Rabbi Moshe Heinemann
  Rabbinic Administrator

• Avrom Pollak
  President

Halacha for Purim 2023

• If it is impossible for someone to come to the synagogue on Shabbat Zakhor to listen to Parashat Zakhor, it is possible for him to compensate for it when parashat Ki Tetze is read from the Torah [in the month of Elul]. He should ask the cantor to have in mind to recite this passage on his behalf so that he can fulfill the mitzvah of remembering Amalek. On Shabbat Zakhor, it is proper that he at least read Parashat Zakhor out loud from a printed book.

• As on all other Taanit Esthers, anyone who has the status of a choleh, or pregnant and nursing women, do not have an obligation to fast. Please contact Rabbi Tal for more information.

• It is permissible to eat and drink in small amounts to reduce hunger between the end of the fast and the Megillah reading. (we will take a 10 minutes break Outdoors after צאת הכוכבים).

MATANOT LA'EVYONIM - CHARITY FOR THE POOR

• Our Sages instituted a mitzvah to give charity to at least two poor people during Purim day. This mitzvah can be fulfilled during Purim day only, and not during the night of Purim. Ideally, one should fulfill this mitzvah soon after having recited the Megillah.

• For Matanot L'Evyonim, checks (made out for Congregation Etz Ahaim Rabbi's Charity Fund) may be mailed to the shul or given to Rabbi Tal at any point before Purim day for distribution on Purim to needy members of our community.

• The custom is to collect money from each member of the synagogue on the night of Purim before the recitation of Megillat Esther. This is a reminder of the mitzvah of Mahatzit HaShekel, the half-shekel everyone must pay for the purchase of the sacrifice offered in the Bet Hamikdash. One must give an amount equal to the value of three drams (9 grams) of pure silver, for this year it's equal to a bit less than nine dollars. We will have a separate basket in the synagogue for Mahatzit Hashekel.

MISHLOACH MANOT

• During the day of Purim, each person must give another Jew two portions of food, meaning a portion of each of two different foods. The two portions may be both the same type of food as long as they are cooked in two different manners, or two different cuts of meat. This obligation is stated in Megillat Esther (9:22): "To make these days ones of feasting and celebration and of each person sending portions to his fellow man and of gifts for the destitute."

• Some Poskim ruled that one must give portions of food that are cooked and ready to eat, but other Poskim ruled that one can fulfill this mitzvah by sending raw meat as well. All Poskim agreed that one cannot fulfill the mitzvah by sending a live chicken, expecting the recipient to have it slaughtered. In practice, we follow the second opinion.

• The mitzvah is to give two portions of two different foods. One cannot fulfill the mitzvah by giving two portions of the same food, even if one gives them in separate dishes. One can give two cuts of meat even if they are parts of the same animal since they have different flavors and textures. This is certainly so if one gives the cuts of meat while they are still raw, since they can be cooked into two dishes all togethe

• If someone mails a gift of mishlo'ah manot to someone in the Eretz Yisrael some time before Purim and ascertains that the package will be delivered to it intended recipient on Purim day, they thereby fulfills the mitzvah of mishlo'ah manot.

THE PURIM FEAST

• It is a mitzvah to enjoy a festive meal on Purim day. It is sufficient to have one meal only, and the proper way to fulfill the mitzvah is to eat bread.

• The Purim Feast is a mitzvah to do on Purim day and not at night.

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I want to wish to all of our dear members and Friends Purim Shamech happy Purim may we be all healthy and safe with prosperity and long life

Amen

Rabbi Tal

Purim Schedule — 2023

Monday, March 6 — Ta’anit Esther

• Fast Begins: 5:03am

• Shacharit: 6:30am

• Talmud: (Indoors and Zoom) 7:30am

• Mincha:5:25pm

  • Collecting Machatzit HaShekel After Mincha

• Arvit: 6;10pm

• Megilla Reading: 6:20pm

• Fast Ends: 6:25pm

• Etz Ahaim’s Annual Purim Celebration

Tuesday, March 7 -- PURIM

• Shacharit: 6:30am

• Megillah Reading: 7;15am

• Second Megillah Reading: 9:00am

• Mincha: 1:00pm

• Mincha/Arvit: 5:35pm

New Highland Park Smart Water Meters Raises Concern for Shabbat Observance

The Borough of Highland Park is installing new smart water meters in the borough. The new smart meter has an LCD display that changes as you use water. Some Rabbis and Orthodox Jews consider this a form of writing which would be forbidden on Shabbat and Chagim. However, it isn’t universally accepted viewpoint for a variety of reasons. You’re not necessarily considered breaking Shabbat if you turn on your tap on Shabbat and it causes the LCD display to change.

Although it isn’t necessarily considered breaking Shabbat and Chagim, if you have someone over as a guest who is strict on this topic on Shabbat or Chag, they may be concerned about the meter’s LCD display changing as someone turns on the tap. If you plan to sell your house, someone who is strict on this matter may decide not to buy your house.

Fortunately, Sensus, the company that makes this meter, has a special meter model called an iPerl LCD-Off. This model keeps the LCD display off as long as the lid is closed. Opening the lid turns on the display. Closing the lid turns it off. As long as you don’t open the lid on Shabbat, there is no writing on the LCD display.

The borough of Highland Park has agreed to install the special Shabbat Mode meter on households who are concerned about the LCD display changing on Shabbat. However, the Borough of Highland Park need to know how many of these special meters to order.

Therefore:

• If you’re a Highland Park resident, and not a resident of Edison or New Brunswick.

• And you’re concerned about the LCD display on Shabbat affecting your Shabbat observance.

You may request the special iPerl LCD-Off meter that keeps the LCD display off until the lid is opened, but you must do so in the next few days.

You can use the form below (on page https://www.etzahaim.org/news/water-meter) to let us know how many meters must be ordered, and where they need to be installed. If you have more than one water meter for your dwelling, please indicate that number.

Chevruta Learning

Rabbi Eliyahu Tal and Congregation Etz Ahaim invite you to Chevruta Learning

Topic: Issur V’Heter

Starting January 2023, Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday at 8:00pm at the Etz Ahaim beit Midrash

Smicha certification from Chacham Kasin available for those that qualify

For more info: Rabbi Tal - 860-978-4511

OU Launches New Portal to Report anti-Semitic Incidents

As acts of antisemitism continue to rise drastically, it has never been more important to report these incidents of hate. Without recorded data, it’s impossible to lobby for the security our communities need. Nothing should ever happen, but if you experience an act on antisemitism – however minor – report it and know that it is crucial in getting protection for our shuls, schools, and communities. Watch the video about this new reporting tool and register to stay informed of campaign updates.

Watch Now

The Dr. Edward Nawy Memorial Talmud Education Program

In gratitude for a family grant, Etz Ahaim has dedicated our 5783 Talmud education program in memory of our dear departed member, Dr. Edward Nawy, a"h. The Congregation would like to thank the Nawy family for its generous support to help us maintain and expand Talmud education at Etz Ahaim and in our community.

Classes are 7:45am on weekdays. Available on Zoom.

Next Year is a Shmita Year. If You have Lent Money, You Need to Create a Pruzbul

At the end of the seventh year of the Sh’mitah cycle in the current cycle, prior to Rosh Hashana 5783, (which will occur at sundown on September 25, 2022), all loans are automatically nullified.

If you wish to collect loans after the Sh’mitah year, you must make a Pruzbul before the new year. Otherwise, your loans are nullified.

There are two pruzbul forms. The one in Hebrew and the one in English from the Beth Din of America.

Here are the directions:

1. You need to make a list of all of your loans that are due to you.

2. In addition to promissory notes, credit agreements, and wage agreements that have been converted to loan agreements that are subject to cancellation in the upcoming Shmita year, the rules for rental agreements that have been converted to loan agreements are complex, so it is best to make a pruzbul in such cases.

3. You need only one pruzbul for all of your loans. Therefore, you don’t need to list them on the pruzbul itself.

4. The borrower must have ownership of some amount of property on which the pruzbul can attached to as a lien.

   • If a you as the lender suspect that the borrower has no property, you may sell a small stake in some property to the borrower. This is accomplished by one of the judges (or witnesses) handing a handkerchief to you by which all of the borrowers acquire a small amount of property from you.

5. The pruzbul must be dated. The date on the pruzbul is for all loans owned before that date. If someone makes a loan to someone after the date on the pruzbul, they need to make another pruzbul for that other loan.

6. Women also need to make a pruzbul for any loans they made on any assets that they own separately from their spouse.

7. If a pruzbul is lost, there is no need to make another one.

8. If you use the Hebrew form:

   1. You must ask three other Shabbat and Torah observing Jews must form a Bet Din.

      • None of the three people can have anything to do with the loans you have taken out. Nor, can they be related to each other.

   2. You as the lender say to the assembled Bet DIn:

      • I submit to you judges in this place all of the loans that I have outstanding, and I therefore may collect these loans at any time that I desire.

   3. You fill out the pruzbel, and have the three members of the Bet Din sign it.

   4. You as the lender keep this form.

9. If you use the English form:

   1. You must ask two other Shabbat and Torah observing Jews to be witnesses.

      • Neither of the fwo people can have anything to do with the loans you have taken out. Nor, can they be related to each other.

   2. You as the lender say:

      • You are my witnesses that I am submitting all of the loans that I have outstanding to the Beth Din of America in New York, comprised of Rabbi Mordechai Willig, Rabbi Yona Reiss and Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, and I therefore may collect these loans at any time that I desire.

   3. You as the lender, fill in the pruzbul, have the witnesses sign it, then send it to Beth Din of America, 305 Seventh Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10001 or e-mailing it to info@bethdin.org.

10. If you have any questions, please contact Rabbi Tal via text message at (860) 978-4511 or call him/

Rabbi Shimoni Selling Lulavim and Etrogim

Rabbi ShImani, former owner of Judaica Gallery, is selling Lulavim and Etrogim this Sukkot. Payment is by cash or check only. No credit cards. Email Rabbi Shimoni at hpjudaica@gmail.com for more information or place an order.

The Transition Between Shabbat and Tish B'Av

When the fast falls out on Sunday, like it does this year, there are certain special halachot that must be observed

1. We eat the third Sabbath meal (seudah shlishit) like we do on any other Shabbat, including the singing of Sabbath songs. However, we stop eating and drinking before sunset.

2. It is also fitting not to sing joyous songs after sunset.

3. We also refrain from washing and anointing ourselves after sunset.

4. One who relieves himself during bein hashmashot should wash his hands normally.

5. We remain in our Sabbath clothing, keep our shoes on, and continue to sit on chairs and greet each other until a few minutes after Shabbat ends. Then, we say Baruch ha’mavdil bein kodesh le’chol(Blessed is He Who separates between the holy and the mundane), and take leave of Shabbat.

6. After Shabbat, we remove our shoes, take off our Sabbath garments, and change into weekday clothes. One should wear clothing that was already worn the previous week, because one may not wear freshly laundered clothing on Tish’a B’Av.

7. Our custom is to delay Arvit until around fifteen minutes after Shabbat ends, in order to give everyone time to take leave of the Sabbath at home, remove their shoes, change their clothes, and come to the synagogue for Arvit and the reading of Eichah in weekday clothes. 

8. The fast begins immediately after Shabbat, making it is impossible to say havdalah over a cup of wine. Therefore, we postpone saying this form of havdalah until after the fast.

9. We say Havdalah – Ata Chonantanu – in the Arrvit prayers, after which we are permitted to do work. Some say women should pray Arvit on Saturday night in order to say Ata Chonantanu for Havdalah. Women who do not say Arvitshould say, Baruch ha’mavdil bein Kodesh le’chol, so they are permitted to do work.

10. One must recite the the blessing Boreh Me’orei Ha’esh on a candle Motza’ei Shabbat. It is customary for the rabbi or Chazzan to recite this blessing in the synagogue before the reading of Eicha after we complete Amida.

11. The blessing Boreh Minei Besamim is not recited since it is meant for pleasure.

12. At the end of the fast, before eating or drinking, one must say Havdalah over a cup of wine which and say the two blessings: Al hagefen (on the wine) and HaMavdil (He Who separates). No blessing is made on spices or fire.

13. A sick person who needs to eat on Tish’a B’Av, must say havdalah over a cup before eating. In such a case, it is proper to use chamar medinah – a distinguished beverage other than wine, preferably something intoxicating, but any ubiquitous drink, like coffee, will do.

14. If one has no such beverage, he should say Havdalah over grape juice, and if even that is unavailable, he should say Havdalah – be’di’avad – on wine and drink a cheek full (around 40 ml.).

15. When the fast is over on Sunday night, one may eat meat to break the fast this year.

May all these halachot no longer be halacha l'maaseh because the final Geula will soon come to our community and to all of Klal Yisrael.

The Laws of the Three Weeks (For Sephardim)

The Three Weeks lasts from the fast on the 17th of Tammuz (Shiva Asar B'Tammuz) and end on the end of the 9th day of Av (The fast of Tisha B'Av). However, this year Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat, so we observe Tisha B’Av on Sunday on the 10th day of Av).

The mourning is divided into four levels of increasing severity:

1. From 17 Tammuz until the end of Tammuz (Evening of July 16 to Evening of July 28)

2. From Rosh Chodesh Av until the week that contains the 9th of Av (Evening of July 28 to evening of August 6)

3. The week where the 9th of Av falls. This year, the 9th of Av falls on Shabbat which means we observe Tish B’Av on the 10th of Av which is Sunday. Thus this year, there is no Week where the 9th of Av falls.

4. The 9th of Av itself (evening of August 6 to the night fall of August 7)

This chart shows you what is permitted and what is prohibited during that particular time period of the three weeks.

Activity	17 Tammuz - End of Tammuz	Rosh Chodesh until week	Week of 9th of Av	9th of Av
Getting Engaged	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Getting Married	Permitted	Prohibited	Prohibited	Prohibited
Saying Shehecheyanu	Prohibited except on Shabbat	Prohibited	Prohibited	Prohibited
Blessing Hagomel	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Prohibited
Blessing of HaTov V'HaMetiv	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Listening to Music	Prohibited unless Depressed	Prohibited	Prohibited	Prohibited
Acapella Music (sans instruments)	Permitted	Prohibited (lechatehila)	Prohibited (lechatehila)	Prohibited (lechatehila)
Dancing	Prohibited	Prohibited	Prohibited	Prohibited
Taking a Shower	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted with Cold Water	Prohibited
Swimming / Kosher Beach	Permitted	Permitted	Prohibited	Prohibited
Shaving and Haircuts	Permitted	Permitted	Prohibited	Prohibited
Cutting Nails	Permitted	Permitted	Prohibited	Prohibited
Buying new shoes, clothing, and furniture	Permitted	Only if on sale or the price will increase	Prohibited	Prohibited
Washing Clothes	Permitted	Permitted	Prohibited	Prohibited
Ironing	Permitted	Permitted	Prohibited	Prohibited
Wearing New Clothes	Prohibited except on Shabbat	Prohibited	Prohibited	Prohibited
Eating Meat or Drinking Wine	Permitted	Only on Rosh Chodesh and Havdallah	Prohibited	Prohibited

New Classes for Every Day of the Week.

Yehoshua

The first book after D’vorim. We are starting with Chapter 1 and going through the whole book.

Every Shabbat, 45 minutes before Mincah.

Parshah of the Week Every Thursday

Thirty minutes before Mincha. Refreshments will be servied.

Shulchan Aruch

Every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

Message from the Vaad Harabonim of Raritan Valley About the Mural Vandalism

We, the rabbis of the Vaad Harabonim of Raritan Valley, unequivocally condemn the defacing of the new mural recently installed in Highland Park. Furthermore, we condemn the use of Jewish imagery to do so. Supporting diversity and fostering the legitimate expression of opinions strengthens all of us, and we must not let this act of vandalism sow division within Highland Park.

The ROC of New Jersey Issues Statement on Recent Mural Vandalism

The Raritan Valley Orthodox Jewish Community Association, also known as The ROC of New Jersey, strongly condemns the vandalism used to deface the mural that was recently painted on Raritan Avenue.

While the first amendment right of freedom of speech is one that we cherish and respect, there is a respectful way of making one’s views known that can convey one’s message without leading to disrespect and animus.

Refugees are the backbone of America and the Jewish community too is appreciative of the welcome we received when our forefathers and foremothers arrived at these shores.

We hope that those that vandalized the mural will be caught by law enforcement and dealt with accordingly by the legal system.

In the meanwhile, we stand together with the men and women of all faiths residing in Highland Park in asking that we all respect each other, and work together to bring tolerance and harmony to our community.

Machzorim From Highland Park to Indonesia →

The Jewish Link | April 12, 20220 By Harry Glazer

One of the reasons that David Tawil has earned the nickname of “director of special projects” at his shul is because he has a knack for connecting with all sorts of people and identifying unique opportunities to do chesed.

Tawil, vice president of Congregation Etz Ahaim, the Sephardic shul in Highland Park, is a family and matrimonial law attorney and partner with Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook and Cooper in Westfield. He and his wife, Yehudit, the social work manager at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, have four children and live in Highland Park.

Tawil had gotten to know Jacob Oslick, a member of Etz Ahaim and a board member of Congregation Mikveh Israel, a historic shul in downtown Philadelphia. Oslick put Tawil in touch with Yaakov Baruch, the parnas (leader) of Kahal Kadosh Shaar HaShamayim—the small Jewish community in Indonesia.

According to a report in the Times of Israel (March 5, 2019) Baruch leads a community of a few dozen Jews in the small town of Tondano City on the Sulawesi island. A description on the ANU: Museum of the Jewish People website states that the Jewish community of Indonesia once numbered in the thousands in the 1940s, the result of waves of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi dominated Europe before and during WWII. Persecution by the Japanese occupation government and later, by forces favoring independence, led many Jews to immigrate to the U.S., Israel and Europe.

The now independent Muslim majority country officially recognizes only six faiths—Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism—forcing Jews to lie and list Catholicism or Protestantism on their government documents. While Indonesia was considered for many years as the location of a moderate form of Islam, in recent years conservative elements in the country have grown.

Through email and Facebook Messenger discussions with Baruch, Tawil heard about the challenges facing the small Jewish community of Indonesia, which uses the Western Sephardic liturgy. He also learned about one problem they had that he thought he could readily address—a severe shortage of machzorim for the holidays. They had only one machzor for each chag.

Tawil had previously led the drive to update the holiday machzorim at Etz Ahaim and the “old” machzorim, which were still in fine shape, were boxed and awaiting disposal. Tawil enlisted his 13-year-old daughter, Emily, and together they sorted and prepared machzorim for shipment to Indonesia. He spoke with a few members of the shul, who contributed to help cover the $1,500 in shipping costs. And he worked with Edison Pack & Ship store owners Azriela and Steve Jaffe, who graciously offered to ship them at cost.

Shortly before Purim, five boxes of siddurim and machzorim, nearly 200 books in total, were shipped to Indonesia and arrived the week after the holiday.

On receiving the machzorim, Baruch wrote a warm email to Tawil: “Thank you very very much for this project, now we feel complete since we never have machzor for Shalosh Regalim, but now we have it and more machzor for High Holidays as well. Can you imagine for many years we only have one set of S&P Machzor for High Holidays?! Our kahal members send their warm regards and they appreciation for this project, may God bless you, your family and your kahal kadosh Etz Ahaim as well.”

Others involved in the chesed project were similarly pleased with the results.

“The Jewish community in Indonesia was in need of prayer books and since Etz Ahaim had recently updated its books, we had many of the DeSola Poole books in good condition available to donate to their community,” said Rose Reiss of Highland Park, one of the supporters of this project. “We gladly raised the money for postage and sent them on to their new home, where we expect they will be well used and appreciated.”

“It was our pleasure to participate in this meaningful chesed for fellow Yidden, shipping 186 siddurim and machzorim (256 pounds) to Indonesia in time for the congregation to enjoy them for the Pesach Yomim Tovim,” said Azriela and Steve Jaffe, proprietors of the Edison Pack & Ship store on Route 27. “We were really impressed with the generosity of the members of Congregation Etz Ahaim, and the leadership that David Tawil demonstrated to make sure that the project completed successfully.”

“It was a genuine pleasure and an honor to make the shidduch between Etz Ahaim, the Sephardic Congregation of Highland Park, and Shaar HaShamayim, the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue of Indonesia,” said Oslick. “However, all I did was make the connection. David and Yaakov did the heavy lifting. David raised the funds and physically packed the siddurim into boxes, while Yaakov has gone above and beyond to build a small but thriving Jewish community in Tondano. I’m thrilled that Yaakov and his congregation will again put the siddurim to good use.”