Fri., Dec. 11 Chanukah Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Candle lighting 4:11PM Minchah 4:15PM

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1 The Jewish Center S H A B B A T B U L L E T I N DECEMBER 5, 2015 PARSHAT VAYESHEV 23 KISLEV 5776 EREV SHABBAT 4:11PM Candle lighting 4:15PM Minchah (3 rd floor) SHABBAT 7:45AM Hashkama Minyan (The Max and Marion Grill Beit Midrash) 8:30AM Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine 9:00AM Shacharit (3 rd floor) 9:15AM Hashkama Shiur with Rabbi Ari Lamn (5 th floor) 9:30AM Young Leadership Minyan (The Max Stern Auditorium) 9:26AM Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:00AM Youth Groups, Under age 3, 3-4-year-olds and 5-6-yearolds: Geller Youth Center; 2 nd -3 rd graders, 4 th -6 th graders: 7 th floor Community Kiddush (5 th floor) Youth Department Birthday Kiddush WITH THANKS TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS: Brauna & Marvin Fortgang in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Marvin's father, Max Fortgang Hedda Rudoff and Family in memory of her husband and their relative, Sheldon Rudoff WITH THANKS TO OUR BIRTHDAY KIDDUSH SPONSORS: Rebecca & David Herman in honor of Jonah's 8 th birthday Rabbi Yosie & Rachel Levine in honor of Ari's 3 rd birthday Sarah Feingold & Andrew Newton in honor of Rena's birthday Deena Blanchard & Akiva Novetsky in honor of AJ s 5 th and Nathan's 13 th birthdays Miri Lipsky & Josh Schainker in honor of Zeke's 4 th birthday Jennifer & Mark Smith in honor of Kaitlin's 6 th birthday 12:20PM Early Minchah (The Max and Marion Grill Beit Midrash) 2:45PM Bikkur Cholim/Bikkur in the Home (meet at 730 Columbus Avenue) 4:00PM Minchah (3 rd floor), Shabbat afternoon groups (5 th floor) Israel Friedman Daf Yomi 39 Melachot with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind Seudah Shlishit Speaker: Rabbi Ari Lamm 5:11PM Shabbat concludes Parent Child Learning (Grades 1-6) with Rabbi Ari Lamm SPECIAL CHANUKAH MAY AND SAMUEL RUDIN LECTURE FEATURING NIALL FERGUSON FROM REFUGEE TO THE WHITE HOUSE: HENRY KISSINGER AND THE AMERICAN JEWISH JOURNEY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 AT 8:00PM Niall Ferguson is the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard University. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a Senior Research Fellow at Jesus College, Oxford. Book signing to following the lecture. The JC is selling his book online and will be selling books at the lecture for a special discounted price of $20. This event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required. Please visit our website to register. THE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE HAS BEEN EXTENDED! Join Today It s Where You Belong Join by December 15 and save 20% on dues Discount includes a 14-month membership. To apply for membership, visit our website or pick up a form in the lobby. Questions? our Membership Committee co-chairs Naomi Goldman and Ron Shapiro at membership@jewishcenter.org. Sun., December 6 Chanukah Begins Daf Yomi 7:45AM Shach 8:30AM Minchah 4:15PM DAILY SERVICES Mon., Dec. 7 - Thurs., Dec. 10 Chanukah Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 4:15PM Fri., Dec. 11 Chanukah Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Candle lighting 4:11PM Minchah 4:15PM WOMEN'S TEHILLIM GROUP Monday, December 7 at 7:15PM. Contact Joyce Weitz for more information at SIXTH ANNUAL TEEN VS. CLERGY BASKETBALL GAME SATURDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 19 AT 7:00PM Tired of seeing your clergy and officers looking like penguins in top hats waddling around the Bima? Come support the JC teens, Rabbis and officers in this all-star game and help raise money for our Youth Department. See the insert for more information. The Jewish Center - The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning 131 W. 86 th Street, New York, NY

2 JOIN OUR GROWING LIST OF NEW MEMBERS THE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO DEC. 15. JOIN TODAY! Julie & Andrew Ackerman Allie & Jeremy Alperovich Elan Ariel Natalie & David Batalion Jeremy Berman Zachary Breslaw Lauren Browdy Oren Charnoff Zoe & Harry Chiel Karen & Ivan Ciment Marissa Cinnamon Rabbi Dovid & Ruchi Cohen Ben Davidman Tamar Feigenbaum Jodi & Alan Friedman Betina Schein & Alan Futerfas Lauren Glassman Robert Goldfarb Samuel Grossman Laura & Zohar Kastner Phyllis & Bernard Katz Allen Krulwich Jordana & Avi Moche Daphne Morduchowitz Dorothy & Martin Prager Mikhayla & Daniel Reidler Rena Reiter Cynthia & Paul Rosenberg Rene Schloss Ronnie & Andy Schonzeit Ruby Gelman & Shimon Shkury Allie & Jeremy Simon Marlene & Michael Sperling All those who joined The JC in 2015 are invited to a New Members Kiddush on Shabbat, January 9. YOUTH DEPARTMENT FIREHOUSE VISIT ON THANKSGIVING DAY Be sure to stop into WEST SIDE JUDAICA for all your Chanukah needs CELEBRATE CHANUKAH AT THE JC December 8 A Special Chanukah May and Samuel Rudin Lecture featuring Niall Ferguson December 10 Special Chanukah Outing with Rabbi Levine to the Global Citizen: The Architecture of Moshe Safdie exhibit December 11 Special Community Chanukah Oneg December 11 Teen Girls Lounge with Erica Brown December 12 Shabbat with Erica Brown, musical Havdalah, and community candle lighting Daily community candle lighting following Minchah Special activities for our youth during Shabbat groups JEWISH CENTER UNIVERSITY FALL SEMESTER RUNS THROUGH DECEMBER 18 For more information visit our website or contact Rabbi Dovid Zirkind at dzirkind@jewishcenter.org DAILY (except Shabbat) Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with rotating JCU Faculty, 7:45AM MONDAY Timing is Everything: Studies in Mesechet Kedushin with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind, 8:00PM TUESDAY Nosh and Drash: Annual Chanukah Lunch with Dr. Adena Berkowitz, noon at My Most Favorite Food. Jewish History: Judaism in a Christian Empire with Rabbi Ari Lamm, 7:15PM (7 th floor) David, King of Israel Sadye and Henry Bayer Chumash Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine will resume on Dec. 15 at 8:00PM WEDNESDAY Women of the Bible with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 11:00AM Parshah/Haftarah Round Table with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 7:15-8:00PM Advanced Talmud Chabura with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 8:00PM The Next Level with Rabbi Mark Wildes, 8:00PM SHABBAT Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 8:30AM Hashkama Shiur with rotating JCU Faculty, 9:15AM Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with rotating JCU Faculty 39 Melachot with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind Parent-Child Learning with rotating JCU Faculty, following Havdalah To sponsor Kiddush or Seudah Shlishit or a JC event, please contact Aaron at astrum@jewishcenter.org

3 CHILDREN, JOIN US FOR ADON OLAM Children ages 2-6 are encouraged to come to the bimah during the Cantor s recitation of Kiddush and then sing Adon Olam together. CHANUKAH PLAYERS PERFORMANCE THIS SHABBAT DURING GROUPS FOR THOSE IN GRADES 1 AND 2 TEEN GIRLS LOUNGE WITH ERICA BROWN SHABBAT, DECEMBER 11 AT 7:30PM Details to follow. TEEN MINYAN AND HOT KIDDUSH SHABBAT, DECEMBER 19 AT 9:30AM All teens and their friends are welcome to UPCOMING EVENTS NOSH AND DRASH: ANNUAL CHANUKAH LUNCH WITH DR. ADENA BERKOWITZ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 AT NOON AT MY MOST FAVORITE FOOD All are welcome to join! RSVP to Dr. Berkowitz at Adenaberkowitz@gmail.com. SPECIAL CHANUKAH OUTING WITH RABBI LEVINE - GLOBAL CITIZEN: THE ARCHITECTURE OF MOSHE SAFDIE EXHIBIT TOUR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 AT 11:00AM AT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY MUSEUM ( TH AVENUE) The exhibition, which traces the trajectory of 2015 AIA Gold Medal Recipient Moshe Safdie s life and work over the course of his more than 50-year career, has been specifically updated for the National Academy presentation and features a new focus on projects devoted to issues of dense urbanism, together with an expanded section exploring the firm s recent and ongoing work across Asia. Among Safdie's most iconic works are Habitat 67, Yad Vashem's Holocaust History Museum and the Mamilla Centre and David's Village in Jerusalem. Tickets for members $10; non-members $12. Capacity is limited. Visit our website to register. SPECIAL COMMUNITY CHANUKAH ONEG SHABBAT, DECEMBER 11 Join us for a community oneg featuring divrei Torah from our clergy and a musical performance by Cantor Chaim David Berson. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Details to follow. A CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION COURSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BETH DIN OF AMERICA, DOES JEWISH LAW HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FEMALE WITNESSES? [HINT: NO] WITH MICHAEL AVI HELFAND, PH.D. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17 FROM 8:00PM-9:30PM This class is worth 1.5 ethics credits and costs $75. To register, please visit our website. YACHAD SHABBATON SHABBAT, DECEMBER 18 The JC is proud to partner with Manhattan Day School and the Orthodox Union as they host their annual Yachad Shabbaton. Participants will join us for Kabbalat Shabbat followed by a communal Shabbat Dinner. Sponsorship and hospitality opportunities available. For more information and to get involved, contact dzirkind@jewishcenter.org. PERFORMANCE BY THREE UPPER WEST SIDE CANTORS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 AT 8:30PM AT THE JEWISH CENTER Don t miss this performance by Cantor Zevi Muller of West Side Institutional, Cantor Chaim David Berson of The Jewish Center and Cantor Yanky Lemmer of Lincoln Square Synagogue. Light snacks, sushi, wine and drinks will be served. Visit our website to register. Tickets cost $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Please direct questions to cdberson@jewishcenter.org. SAVE THE DATE: SHABBAT OF SONG FEATURING SIX13 SHABBAT, JANUARY Be a part of this spirited Shabbat which will include lively services, a community Shabbat dinner, and musical Havdalah. Please direct questions to Cantor Chaim David Berson at cdberson@jewishcenter.org. YOUTH DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS & UPDATES For more information contact Jenn & Gaby Minsky at jennandgaby@jewishcenter.org. join. Davening will be led by JC teens with guidance from Rabbi Ari Lamm. Following the service, teens will enjoy an amazing hot Kiddush and sushi. For more information or to sponsor the Kiddush, contact Gaby. CLERGY VS. TEEN BASKETBALL GAME SATURDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 19 Come and cheer on your favorite rabbis as they are challenged by our youth players! Sponsorship opportunities available. Teens interested in playing should contact Gaby. See the insert for more information. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS MAZAL TOV Shani & Josh Eisen on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Yosef Eisen Cecile & Irving Skydell on the recent engagement of their granddaughter, Nicole Skydell to Jonathan Schottenstein COMMUNITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Congratulations to Erica Brown whose book Take Your Soul to Work: 365 Meditations on Every Day Leadership was recently released Congratulations to Maurizio Molinari who was named Editor-in-Chief of La Stampa newspaper. He also recently released another book, Jihad THANK YOU TO CSS We would like to once again thank CSS and our dedicated CSS members for providing the security for our synagogue this week. THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS Thank you to our ushers Yossie Sklarin and Pamela Neikrug. MUSICAL HAVDALAH SATURDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 12 CHANGES TO OUR TEFILOT BEGINNING AT MAARIV ON SATURDAY EVENING, DEC. 5, PLEASE REMEMBER TO MAKE THE CHANGE TO ותן טל ומטר לברכה ERICA BROWN, JC COMMUNITY SCHOLAR, WILL JOIN US ON SHABBAT, DEC To advertise or list an announcement in The Jewish Center Bulletin, please contact us at eliane@jewishcenter.org

4 In the painful Joseph narratives, there is one seen which almost brings me to tears year after year. The brothers have just thrown Joseph, their tattle-telling dreaming brother into a pit. Before they do so, they strip him of his robe. In Genesis 37:23, this detail is not insignificant, and even though we know the coat set him apart from his brothers and clothed him in favoritism, the text reiterates the specialness of this garment: So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe--the richly ornamented robe he was wearing We can only imagine the brothers resentment and glee as they stripped Joseph of his majestic coat, finally ridding themselves of his arrogance and his alleged superiority. Once they removed him of the coat, they threw him into the pit, making the removal of the coat and the removal of Joseph two separate and distinct acts. And then and this is what slays me the verse tells us what the brothers did next: As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. (Gen. 37:24-25). The sign of their callousness is captured in another small detail. They had lunch right near the pit. They satisfied their needs without a thought about Joseph s desperate situation. In fact, it is at this moment when they decide to sell him, ostensibly to save him. But they cannot hide their greed. Selling him means they profit from his mysterious disappearance. By the end of the chapter, they have Joseph s coat, have gotten rid of him, eaten and done some profitable business at their brother s expense. And again, small details matter. They sold him for twenty shekels. This is the text s way of telling us that this was done more for their benefit than his. JC DELEGATION AT THE AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCE March in Washington, DC The AIPAC Policy Conference is the pro-israel community's preeminent annual gathering. The event attracts more than 16,000 community and student activists from all 50 states, and more than half of the Senate, a third of the House of Representatives and countless Israeli and American policymakers and thought leaders. Over three jam-packed days, Policy Conference participants choose from hundreds of informative sessions and participate in the pro-israel community's largest and most important advocacy conference. Tickets with The JC discount cost $399 per person. REGISTER BEFORE DECEMBER 31 TO LOCK IN THIS DEAL. PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS. ONLY 18 TICKETS LEFT. Objects that Lie Erica Brown, Community Scholar The coat makes another appearance in the same chapter and again its specialness is emphasized. It was brought to Jacob: Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the ornamented robe back to their father and said, We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe. He recognized it and said, It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces. " (37:31-33) The brothers said nothing; they did not have to. They let the object lie for them. And they did not say it was their brother s robe, distancing themselves yet again from the fate of their brother and from any sense of fraternal responsibility. They let Jacob arrive at his own conclusions. This lie created by an object is redeemed in the very next chapter when objects tell the truth. When Tamar was brought forward and accused of harlotry, she risked it all with a gambit: As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her fatherin-law. I am pregnant by the man who owns these, she said. And she added, See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are. (Gen. 38:24-25). The objects spoke more loudly and vociferously than any person could have. Judah recognized them and said, She is more righteous than I (Gen.38:26) We think that inanimate objects don t talk. True. In these narratives, they scream. Clergy & Staff Yosie Levine Rabbi Dovid Zirkind Assistant Rabbi Chaim David Berson Cantor Daniel Fridman Resident Scholar Ari Lamm Resident Scholar Erica Brown Community Scholar Noach Goldstein William Fischman Rabbinic Intern Aaron Strum Executive Director Eliane Dreyfuss Glassman Director of Programming and Communications Jenn & Gaby Minsky Youth Directors OFFICERS Avi Schwartz President Andrew Borodach First Andrew Kaplan Mark Segall Rose Lynn Sherr Michael Jacobs Assistant Yaron Kinar Treasurer Len Berman Assistant Treasurer Miri Lipsky Secretary Phone Numbers Ilana Gadish Yoetzet Halacha nycyoetzet@gmail.com Jewish Center Chevra Kadisha x555 UWS Mikvah Hatzalah Eruv Status x4

5 THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF CHANUKAH: A BRIEF OVERVIEW RABBI DOVID ZIRKIND Chanukah commemorates the spiritual and military victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greeks and Hellenized Jews. It begins on the eve of the 25 th of Kislev, corresponding (this year) to Sunday night, December 6, 2015 through Monday, December 14, The following is a list of important laws to help fulfill the beautiful mitzvot of Chanukah in the optimal manner. LIGHTING THE MENORAH 1. Ideally, every member of the household, including younger children capable of understanding the concept of Chanukah, should light his or her own menorah. Married women may fulfill their obligation to light through their husbands, but may also light the menorah individually. 2. Those sleeping at the home of another over Chanukah should furnish their own Menorah and candles/oil. In the event that they cannot do so, they may join in the kindling done by the household members and should contribute a small amount of money to become a partner in the lighting. 3. Often, people are invited out for a Chanukah party, wedding or similar event into the evening hours. If they plan on returning home later in the evening, they should light at home even if the hour is late. A visitor away from home should light in the place where he is sleeping, even if all his or her meals are eaten elsewhere and even if one will arrive home late. 4. The menorah should be lit at tzeit hakochavim (nightfall) and should continue burning for 30 minutes. Tzeit hakochavim is approximately 42 minutes following sunset - for the week of Chanukah in New York City, at about 5:15PM. Ideally, one should not become involved in any activity within a reasonable amount of time before sunset, including eating, and it is preferable to daven Maariv before this time as well. 5. If one has to leave the house, it is permitted to extinguish the candles after they have burnt for half an hour after tzeit hakochavim. Upon returning, there is no need to rekindle the lights though it certainly is permitted to do so. If the flames die out before the proper amount of time has elapsed, they should be rekindled without any additional blessing. 6. In the event that one is unable to light at the optimal time, candles may be lit later, even if one arrives home after everyone has gone to sleep. There is no need to wake anyone up for candle lighting. 7. Shalom bayit is a paramount value in Halacha, and therefore it is permissible (and even encouraged) to delay lighting Chanukah candles until one s spouse arrives at home even if that will not take place at the halachically optimal time. 8. Traveling during Chanukah can present issues regarding lighting Chanukah candles, depending on when the travel takes place and for how long, to where and whether anyone is still at home. Each situation is unique, so if this applies to you, please contact the JC Clergy and we look forward to discussing it with you further. THE CANDLES AND THE BLESSINGS 1. All oils and candles are permitted for use in the Menorah; however it is preferable to light with olive oil, ideally with wicks made of cotton or linen. New wicks are not needed every night. If one is using store-bought olive oil, one should declare explicitly that it is not being used solely for Chanukah candles. Oil left over in the receptacles after the Menorah has been lit for the requisite amount of time may be thrown out, or used the next night. 2. The candle holders or oil receptacles should be positioned in one level and on a straight line. The lights are placed in the menorah from right to left before kindling and are lit from left to right. 3. Menorot may be kindled anywhere inside one s home. Optimally, they should face outside, or should be in one s doorway (inside or outside) opposite the mezuzah. Care should be taken in the placement of the Menorah, as it is forbidden to move it once it is lit. Safety should also be a paramount concern when it comes to candle lighting, so the menorah should not be placed on or near anything flammable, precarious or otherwise dangerous. EREV SHABBAT 1. On Erev Shabbat, there should be sufficient oil or candle-length, enough that the menorah can burn 30 minutes after nightfall. Because Shabbat is accepted when Shabbat candles are lit, one must light the Menorah before the Shabbat candles. 2. On Motzei Shabbat in shul, the Menorah is lit followed by Havdalah. In one s home, Havdalah is recited first, followed by lighting the Chanukah candles. PRAYERS 1. The prayer of הנסים Al /על Hanissim, is inserted in both the Shemoneh Esrai and Birkat Hamazon; in the event that it is omitted, one need not repeat either prayer. The Jewish Center 131 W. 86 th Street, New York, NY

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