This past Tuesday, the Kollel was graced with a serendipitous visit from Dayan Yehoshua Posen of London, England. While he did not come all the way from London solely to speak in the Kollel, Dayan Posen graciously offered to give a shiur for women on Megillas Rus, which we will read during the upcoming Yom Tov of Shavuos. We had already learned of Dayan Posen's vast Torah knowledge and phenomenal delivery from previous visits to town, so we of course took him up on his offer. The Kollel Library was full that night as Dayan Posen delivered a masterful shiur, as anticipated. (The English accent is always a draw as well.) By know you're probably anxious to hear it for yourself, and I won't hold you back any longer. Enjoy!
What the Early Bird gets (besides the worm)
I don't particularly like worms. In fact, I'm pretty certain most people don't. Perhaps this is why many people fail to take advantage of early bird specials. So, I decided to come up with some other advantages that you can get with the early bird special.
You see, for a couple, the early bird special saves you $50. With that money, you can get:
- A gift certificate for some lovely fabric from fabricworm.com
- A full set of lures to prepare for the fishing opener (including plastic worms)
- A set of beautiful metal bookmarks for that very special bookworm
- Replacement parts for your commercial kitchen equipment
In short, the possibilities are endless!
Regardless, the early bird special ends on May 11th (next Friday) so take advantage by clicking HERE to register for the Kollel dinner.
The Franks, Lefkowitzes, and Weinrebs will be joining us for the Kollel Dinner this Year
Click HERE to register
Every year, the Kollel banquet is an uplifting and meaningful event, but this year is special. This year marks the 18th year since the Kollel began in 2000. It is only appropriate that the celebration be as meaningful and special as the milestone itself. We are delighted that some of the original Kollel families will be joining us for the dinner this year as we recognize their sacrifice, and dedication that got everything started way back in Y2K. In addition we will recognize HaRav and Rebbetzin Yechezkel Greenberg, themselves part of that first group, for all that they do for our community. Finally, we are proud to recognize Sidney & Mia Usem as the JWAYers of the year. All in all, this year’s dinner will be one to remember!
Please check your mailboxes for formal invitations and join us on May 27th at the Radisson Blu! L’Chaim!!
Kollel's 18th Year Celebration!
Every year, the Kollel banquet is an uplifting and meaningful event, but this year is special. This year marks the 18th year since the Kollel began in 2000. It is only appropriate that the celebration be as meaningful and special as the milestone itself. We are delighted that some of the original Kollel families will be joining us for the dinner this year as we recognize their sacrifice and dedication that got everything started way back in Y2K. In addition, we will recognize HaRav and Rebbetzin Yechezkel Greenberg, themselves part of that first group, for all that they do for our community. Finally, we are proud to recognize Sidney & Mia Usem as the JWAYers of the year. All in all, this year’s dinner will be one to remember!
Please check your mailboxes for formal invitations and join us on May 27th at the Radisson Blu! L’Chaim!!
The Complete Pesach Shopping Guide
It's that time of year again- Pesach shopping season! With so much to do in so little time, we all want clear guidelines on what can be used on Pesach and what can't. This past Wednesday, Rabbi Eli Markowitz of CRC Kosher took an overflow crowd of women through the grocery aisles.
Topics covered included:
- Which food items do not need Kosher for Pesach certification?
- Cosmetics
- Toiletries
- Medicine
- And more…
Missed the shiur, or want to hear it again? Listen to or download the audio below.
The Women's Guide to Purim
The Halachos of Purim as they apply to women
Rabbi Eli Markowitz took a closer look at the laws and customs of Purim, focusing on the unique circumstances that women can encounter. He provided clarity in the relevant laws, helping women avoid the stress of not knowing where to prioritize!
Topics included:
- If one can’t make it to shul for Parshas Zachor
- Coming late to Megillah reading
- Cleaning, laundry on Purim
- Menu requirements for the Purim Seuda (besides the wine!)
- And much more…
Didn't make it, or want to hear it again? Listen to the audio below.
Building On The Business Breakfast
This ever-popular program continues to grow in attendance, and continues to increase awareness of the Torah's monetary laws. We want to make a great thing even better! Fill out the following survey, and let us know your feedback. Then check back soon to see the results of the survey!
The Business Breakfast: Deal or Steal?
The Business Breakfast continues to grow!
A capacity crowd filled the Kollel Library this past Sunday, eager to learn about a crucial and fascinating topic. Rabbi Yerachmiel Pickholtz of the Chicago Choshen Mishpat Institute delivered a clear and incisive shiur about theft, mistakes, and hashavas aveida (returning lost objects).
This lead right into a discussion of the permissibility of taking advantage of various online deals and mistakes, as well as when it is necessary to rectify a merchant's mistakes after the fact. In any of these instances, there are many factors to weigh, and one must consult a halachic authority as to how to proceed.
Missed the shiur, or want to hear it again? Audio is below.
The Upside to Feeling Down
“I've been in a spiritual coma these past three days! I feel horrible!”
Rabbi Eliezer Geldzahler, the beloved Chassidic Rabbi, knew the voice well. Ari (not his real name) was seeking solace from his teacher for his recent lack of devotion.
“Wonderful! Why don’t you come over to my house and we’ll have a l’chaim (chassidic toast)!”
“Rebbe,” said Ari, “Are you sure you heard me correctly? I said I feel horrible, I haven’t done a thing these past three days.”
“Precisely!” exclaimed R’ Geldzahler, “How many people in the world would feel horrible if they have three bad days?!”
“This is certainly cause for a L’Chaim!”
Spiritual, Business, Personal: How many people, go through down periods of their lives and don’t even stop to feel it!
The first step to any resolution is to be distressed.
Rest assured, a wise word of encouragement and a small celebration were just what Ari needed to shake off his doldrums and get back into his learning with gusto!
So, next time you're not feeling your best, remember the upside to being down!
Yarchei Kallah: Keep It Kosher
The record low in St. Louis Park for December 25th is -39 °F, back in 1872. I sincerely hope that record never gets challenged again. However, there is no record yet for a low temperature that has kept our community from coming to learn Torah. Participants in today's Yarchei Kallah shrugged off the sub-zero temperatures outside to warm the Bais Medrash with the fire of Torah.
The topic was the laws of Nat bar Nat, when parve food comes into contact with meat or milk utensils, which is essential knowledge for maintaining a kosher kitchen. Rabbi Chaim Leib Rupp condensed and clearly explained this complex topic. Rabbi Rupp elcuidated the underlying concepts from their sources in the Gemara, and traced them through to practical examples we encounter in our own kitchens.
If you missed the shiur, or you would like to hear it again, listen to the audio below.
