A Taste of Torah This Shabbat with Rebbetzen Dina Golker Kiddush at 10.00am in the Dora Freedman Hall followed by talk from 10.15am - 10.

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1 9 th December st Kislev 5778 וישב Vayeshev Hertz 141/152 Stone 198/1142 Dayan Ivan Binstock will give a chumash shiur before davening at 9.00 am Yossi Fachler will lead the services Jeremy Davidson will lein Joel Toledano will read the haftarah Rabbi Yoni Golker will deliver the sermon Alex Toledano will sing anim zemirot Dayan Dr Pinchas Toledano will speak over seudah shlishit A Taste of Torah This Shabbat with Rebbetzen Dina Golker Kiddush at 10.00am in the Dora Freedman Hall followed by talk from 10.15am am This week Shabbat begins 3.37 pm. Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat 3.45 pm. Shabbat ends 4.46 pm. Next Shabbat begins 3.36 pm. Service Times Shacharit Mincha Ma ariv Shabbat 9.15 am 3.35 pm 4.46 pm Sunday 8.30 am 3.45 pm Follows Mincha Monday 7.15 am 1.30 pm 7.30 pm Tuesday 7.25 am 1.30 pm 7.30 pm Wednesday Chanukah I 7.05 am 1.30 pm 7.30 pm Thursday Chanukah II 7.05 am 1.30 pm 7.30 pm Friday Chanukah III 7.05 am 3.45 pm Follows Mincha Next Shabbat Chanukah IV 9.00 am 3.35 pm 4.46 pm The congregation is invited to Kiddush in the Moritz Gertler Hall after the service which has been kindly sponsored by Daniel and Jan Toledano. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS LEAFLET FROM THE SHUL ON SHABBAT AS THERE IS NOT YET AN ERUV! For information on our eruv planning please contact info@sjweruv.com

2 Parsha Puzzle Quotation How many brothers were persuaded by Judah to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites? Last week s question: How old is Jacob when his father dies? Answer: 120 Winners: Sam Vecht, Menachem Mendel Vogel, Lionel Kopelovitz, Stephen Goldwyn A lion has roared who would not fear? My L-d G-d has spoken who would not prophesy? [Bible, Amos 3:8, the concluding verse of today s haftarah] Super Siddur Sleuth Where can you find a reference to Seven Shepherds in the siddur? Last week s question: If strong is to weak and wicked is to righteous, what is arrogant to? Answer: Those who are engaged in the study of Torah. The reference is to the Al Hanissim prayer for Chanukah. NS 93. Winners: Lionel Kopelowitz, Jacob Cohen, Daniel Goldwater, Stephen Goldwyn Weekly Shiurim Chumash Shiur with Dayan Binstock/Rabbi Golker, 15 minutes before Shabbat morning service Talmud Shiur with Alex Grunfeld follows Ma'ariv on Friday Night Tuesday Talmud Shiur with Rabbi Fine at 10.30am Wednesday Ladies Shiur at 10.30am in the Beth Hamedrash. 13th December special Chanukah session. Restarting 10th January Continuing with the Book of Job. All welcome. For info contact annegodfrey75@gmail.com Fortnightly shiur led by Rabbi Faivish Vogel at the home of John Fenner at 10.00am. For more information Bereavement Services Contact Susan Kosky ssperber@hotmail.co.uk or Thank You to the Kiddush Rota and Security Team for this Shabbat. On this Day Rav Yitzchak Hutner died on 20 Kislev, Born in Warsaw in 1906, he became known as the Warsaw illui (prodigy). He studied in Israel and for a time was a disciple of Rav Kook. He founded Yeshivat Chaim Berlin in America and developed a unique blend of Jewish philosophy and halacha. His works, Pachad Yitzchak, were edited for publication by his daughter, Rebbetzen Dr Bruria David, an outstanding rabbinical scholar in her own right. We are delighted to welcome Dayan Dr Pinchas Toledano to our community this Shabbat. Dayan Toledano was the Acting Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Community in London. Born in Morocco, he qualified as a rabbi aged 20. He gained a BA and Ph.D. from London University. Until recently he was the Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese community in Holland. He is the author of many volumes on Jewish law. Dayan Toledano will be speaking over Seudah Shlishit. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY Please follow the instructions of the security officer in charge. Stewards should wear yellow vests. Unless otherwise advised, the evacuation point is at the American School (entrance opposite 3-5 Loudoun Road). Children should be under the supervision of a responsible adult at all times in the building. Our defibrillator can now be found adjacent to the Shul noticeboard in the Foyer. Children's & Youth Services at 10.45am Toddlers: in the Bride's Room Children's Service: in the Dayan's Office Breakfast Club: in the Carter Club

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4 Regular Events Please join us on Tuesday 12 th December for our Chanukah Party 12.45pm - Drinks Children Singing 1.00pm - Home cooked lunch 3.00pm - Menorah Candle Lighting Donation: 7 Synagogue members 8 non - Synagogue members MORNING SOLD OUT!! If you would like an additional 5 takeaway salt beef meal please call and let us know in advance. Booking essential. Please RSVP to Melody or Gillian Transport available if essential for members only. We look forward to seeing you! PEACE OF MIND 28 TH January 4 TH February St John s Wood are welcoming a unit of 20 former IDF soldiers for a week s programme of intensive therapy, and activities in our community. We are needing families to host two men for this week. The men can share a room. You will have breakfast every morning and dinner together on two evenings. And you will be part of a unique programme, with a communal dinner on Friday 2 nd February. The men are 31 years old and speak English. It is a privilege and a mitzvah. For more details please contact : Andrew Loftus: andrew@loftusfp.com or or Anthony Goldstein: agg@evf.co.uk or Theatre Club Quiz. Noel Coward Theatre. Tues 5 June. 7.30pm. 45 Brief Encounter. Empire Cinema Haymarket. Wed 20 June. 7.30pm The King and I. London Palladium. Thurs 2 Aug. 7pm Details from Richard Mernane richard.mernane@icloud.com Bridge Club Duplicate Bridge: Mondays from 1.00 to 4.00pm. Donation 8 a session including tea. Director: Mike Eden. Contact: Gillian Burr on Book Club For details contact Valerie Garston on Keep Fit For Women - Weekdays with Stevie Sillers Hebrew Classes St John s Wood Synagogue Cheder Reception - Year 6 & GCSE class Sundays 9.45am 12.45pm Contact Rabbi Ronen Broder or cheder@shulinthewood.com Kindergarten St John s Wood Synagogue Kindergarten Daily, from 2 years old. Monday to Thursday 8.45am-1.15pm or 3.00pm Lunch now available 4 days a week! Friday 8.45am-12noon Contact Estelle Brown or kindergarten@shulinthewood.com Babes in the Wood Every Friday at 10.30am. Join us for play, coffee & our fun Shabbat table! Jewish Eductional and Israeli songs with Elisheva Tatz and Einav, on alternative weeks. Contact Dina Golker at dina@shulinthewood.com Ladies Guild 14 th December - Visit to Charles II: Art & Power at 11.00am. Private talk. Members 25, guests th January - Visit to 'Modigliani', 1.30pm. Private talk. Members 28, guests rd January - Visit to 'Designs on Britain' at The Jewish Museum at 1.00pm. Private talk. Members 15, guests 18 Gentlemen welcome to all events Contact Gillian Burr on Communal Chanukah Lunch - Tuesday 12 th December Drinks 12.30pm. Home cooked lunch 1.00pm for Synagogue members, 8.00 non-members. Please RSVP to: Gillian Burr on or Melody Salem on Help Available If you are housebound and would like a visitor or a regular phone call, if you need advice or information on local services and activities or if you would like a lift to the Shul s Communal Lunches, please get in touch. Please contact Gillian or Melody. Shabbat 16 th December Friday 12 th January Forthcoming Events Bar Mitzvah of Joshua Brecker Golden Wedding of Hazel & John Cosgrove Community Friday Night with Rabbi Lord & Lady Sacks. Booking open now! Please support our lunchtime mincha service at St John's Wood DAILY pm (Mon-Thurs)

5 Social & Personal MAZEL TOV Mazel tov to Beryl Slade on the birth of a great grandson in Jerusalem, first grandson to Moshe and Yocheved Slade Mazel tov to Sidney Hauswirth and Patricia Hauswirth on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Max Gerbi this Shabbat at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue Mazel tov to Sheila Gewolb on her 70 th Birthday CONDOLENCES Chaim aruchim, long life to Mrs Jeanette Owide, Mr Daniel Owide and Ms Juliette Owide on the passing of their husband and father, Oscar Owide. CONSECRATIONS 21/01/2018 Late Dr Louis Freedman noon Bushey Cemetery 28/01/2018 Late Anne Freeman 9.30 am Bushey Cemetery NEXT SHABBAT Next Friday, 15 th December, we will be kindling the Chanukah lights in shul at 3.36 pm, followed by Mincha at 3.45 pm. Chanukah lights are kindled before Shabbat lights, at least one Chanukah candle needs to be long enough to last till about 5.15 pm Thought for the Week by Dayan Ivan Binstock FULFILLING DREAMS In 1995 the US Congress and Senate passed, overwhelmingly, the Jerusalem Embassy Act, mandating the relocation of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. President Bill Clinton used his waiver authority to avoid implementing the Act. Yet the waiver was only valid for six months. Since that time, the waiver has been renewed periodically by Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama and by President Trump when he first came to office. The latest waiver was due to expire on Friday 8th December. In announcing on Wednesday, the relocation of his embassy, President Trump was, therefore, only reiterating what has been an unequivocal plank of US policy towards Israel for twenty-two years. It is fascinating to observe that a period of twenty-two years also separates a dream and the process of its realization in this week s portion. Joseph, as a seventeen-year-old has his dreams of leadership that his brothers would bow down to him. Whilst his brothers are jealous and angry the Torah says his father - shamar et hadavar - kept the matter in mind. Rashi, explains He was waiting and looking forward to when the realization would come about. At aged thirty, Joseph is hauled from prison to successfully interpret Pharaoh s dreams and become the Viceroy of Egypt. After seven years of plenty and two years of famine, Joseph s brothers come down to Egypt and bow down to the Viceroy, twenty-two years after they had originally mocked him for his fantasies. The Talmud (Berachot 55b) observes that one can expect to wait for as much as twenty-two years for the fulfilment of a good dream. Yet in the brothers initial response to Joseph there lies an important message that is vital to appreciate in the present climate in the Middle East. When Joseph tells his brothers that he dreamed that their sheaves of wheat would bow down to his, they said: Would you then reign over us? Would you then rule over us? The double expression refers to two kinds of authority: consensus and tyranny. The brothers say rhetorically to Joseph did he think that they would accept his leadership voluntarily or was he expecting to impose himself upon them by force. As welcome as the announcement of the relocation of the embassy is, it is crucial that efforts are redoubled to achieve a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. Ultimately peace will only be achieved when both sides are prepared to live in harmony with one another. May that dream be fulfilled speedily in our time.