From the Desk of Rabbi Engel - Shabbos Nachamu 5770

1. Our Sofer will be coming to town on August 8 (28th of Menachem Av) and will be checking Tefillin and Mezuzos until August 18th (8th of Elul) If you are interested in reserving a spot, please contact Rabbi Engel ASAP (first come first serve-two days of his time are already accounted for).



2. I am considering a learn-to-read Hebrew class at our Shul in October-November, if there is enough interest. Please notify me if you are interested.



3. Scott Peck a”h – As reported earlier, there came in a few hundred dollars more than was needed to cover the basic funeral costs. All who attended from our Shul were shocked to see that he was buried in a wall and not in the ground. Even The Jewish Family Service and Rabbi Gartenberg of Temple Beth Shalom were surprised. I have spoken to two renowned Rabbonim and they both advised me to do whatever is possible to make sure that Scott receives an ‘earth’ burial. I am in touch with the Jewish Family Service, who is finding out exactly what this will involve financially and we will proceed as swiftly as possible. Hopefully we will have enough money to cover a re-interment.



4. There is a former student of the Hebrew Academy-Sam Yudin-who will be promoted from a Staff Sgt. to Sgt. First Class rank [On a scale of 1-9, 9 being the highest, he will become a number 7.] this coming Monday, July 26th at 4:00 PM. He asked me to introduce him to Tibor Rubin, a Jewish ‘Congressional Medal of Honor’ recipient, so that he could ask Tibor to bestow this honor upon him. As it turns out, Tibor will be addressing the soldiers on the Los Alamitos base, on July 26th at 4:00 PM, while bestowing the honor to Sam Yudin. The public is invited to this ceremony. You might want to attend and/or bring your family with you to show them how Jews are proudly serving their country in many ways including serving in the military. (If you have not heard about Tibor Rubin and the many American lives he has saved during the Korean war, Google Tibor Rubin and you will see how a Jew has made us proud. The reason he did not receive this medal fifty years ago was because his superior said “No Jew will receive this great honor under my watch.”)

All attendees must have identification papers/drivers license. You are to park in the big parking lot right after you enter the base. The ceremony will be on the east side of building #15, which is near the parking lot. After about five to ten minutes, we will move indoors for Tibor to address the soldiers. The entire ceremony should be about one hour long.

Best wishes for a great Shabbos Nachmu,

Rabbi Engel