Parshat Shelach Schedule

Shabbat Mevarchim

Shabbat Schedule

Friday, June 15

  • 06:50 am – Shacharit
  • 07:00 pm – Mincha
  • 08:05 pm – Candle lighting

Saturday, June 16

  • 07:45 am – Shacharit at Salem Towers
  • 08:45 am – Shacharit
  • 08:55 am – Latest time for Kriat Shema
  • 10:30 am – Jr. Congregation
  • 11:15 am – Kiddush
  • 05:00 pm – Ladies’ Torah class
  • 06:45 pm – Men’s Derech Hashem class
  • 07:40 pm – Mincha and Se’udah Shlishit
  • 09:00 pm – Ma’ariv
  • 09:14 pm – Shabbat Ends

Weekday Schedule

June 17 – 22

Shacharit

  • 08:00 am – Sunday
  • 06:40 am – Monday, Wednesday (1 Rosh Chodesh Tammuz) and Thursday (2 Rosh Chodesh Tammuz)
  • 06:50 am – Tuesday and Friday

Mincha

  • 08:10 pm – Sunday – Thursday
  • 07:00 pm – Friday

Ma’ariv

  • 08:40 pm – Sunday – Thursday

To print this schedule, click here to go directly to the post, and then press ctrl-P (Windows) or cmd-P (Mac) to print it.

Weekly Words of Torah

Internal Viewing

Insights into Parshat Shelach of Mr. Ari Gordon of Yeshivat Sha’alvim, by Rav Re’uven Ungar of Sha’alvim.

In this weeks Parsha, we read about the Mitzvah of Tzitzit. What is Tzitzit all about? The Pasuk is clear: In order so that you won’t stray after your eyes and your heart and so that you will remember and do all the Mitzvot and be holy. Now, what does THAT mean?

The common explanation is that Tzitzit help us remember the Torah so that when we are tempted with an Aveirah we won’t do it.

The Sfat Emet isn’t satisfied with this narrow application of the message of Tzitzit. He explains that when the Gemarah speaks about how exactly Tzitzit are meant to remind you of the Mitzvot, it says the following: When one looks at the blue threads (Techeilet) he is reminded of the blue sea, which remindes him of the sky, which reminds him of Hashem’s royal throne, which reminds him to keep the Mitzvot. Let’s be honest, will the average person really get all that from a blue string? That’s exactly the message of Tzitzit! Don’t get caught up in externalities, rather think deeply and get to the heart of the matter.

What does the word “Tzitzit” really mean? The Midrash in Bamidbar explains that it comes from the Hebrew word that means “to peak” and that Hashem is “peaking through the cracks of the wall.” One who doesn’t look past what his eyes see perceives “the wall” as sealed. Only one who looks closesly, who knows and practices the unique message of Tzitzit realizes that Hashem is always there, “looking through the cracks.” This really represents a way a life. When the Torah warns us not to stray after our eyes, it’s warning us not to embrace the superficial aspect of things as seen by the naked eye. “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. Tzitzit are a reminder that a Jew must always see through the eyeglasses of Torah and to view a thing not by it’s external shell, rather by its internal essence.

Also in our Parsha is the story of the spies who spied out Eretz Yisrael. This story is the perfect illustration of what NOT to do. When the spies came in, they saw everyone in their funeral clothes carrying caskets to the graveyard. Based on this, their evaluation of the land was that it was “a land that consumes its inhabitants”. In reality, Hashem specifically caused many funerals on that day so that the spies’ mission would go smoothly without trouble from the natives (as stated by Rashi). What happened? The spies neglected the fundamental message of Tzitzit. They saw funerals and immediately thought “this is a bad place” without pausing to think about why Hashem made it happen.

We must learn from the story of the spies the importance of looking past the external. As Jews, we must always see the Hand of Hashem in everything that happens. Shabbat Shalom!