HANUKKAH PARTY IS AROUND THE CORNER!

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1 Torah Portion: Vayeshev, Genesis 37:1-40:23 Torah Teacher: Rabbi Miriam Torah Chanters: Miriam Cantor Greeters: Helene Silber A.T. Receives Rebates From Purchases Through Our Site Double CLICK HERE TO SHOP SHOP AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION P.O. BOX 442 SANTA MONICA, CA EVERY SHABBAT 9:00AM Ethics- Mussar with Rabbi Miriam Hamrell, Greg Metzger and Rabbinic Intern Florence Dann 10:00AM 12:15PM Shabbat Service 12:15PM-Potluck Dairy Lunch December 1, 2015 Rabbi: Miriam Hamrell MHL,MAEd Cantorial Soloist: Gary Levine Associate Cantorial Soloist: Kimberly Haynes Co-Presidents: Judy Kollack & Shoshi Wilchfort Treasurer: Hal Jaffe Secretary: Linda Badger Board Members: Debra Barrath Barbara Burbank Vicki Crawford Gary Levine Jonathan Troper Co-Social Action: Vivian Gold Renee Schwartz Past Presidents Michael Stevens Rena Jaffe Jean Katz Ron Estroff Sid Rosenblatt Blanche Moss Ex-officio Members: Rabbi Miriam Hamrell & Charles Hamrell, MD Editor: Linda Badger AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION 343 South Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA (310) ONE TORAH, ONE COMMUNITY, MANY TEACHERS COMMITTED TO REPAIRING THE WORLD ahavattorahla.org HANUKKAH PARTY IS AROUND THE CORNER! This week s parsha is Vayeshev which is Hebrew for and he lived. Jacob favors his son Joseph and gives him preferential treatment, which angers his brothers. Joseph shares with his brothers his dreams that he is destined to rule over them. This incites them to sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt. Judah s daughter-in-law, Tamar, disguises herself as a prostitute and sleeps with her father-in-law. Tamar gives birth to two of Judah s sons. In Egypt Joseph is sold to Potiphar. God blesses Joseph and he becomes overseer of all his master s property. Joseph rejects advances by Potiphar s wife and is accused of rape and is sent to prison. In prison, Pharaoh s butler and baker share their dreams with Joseph who interprets them.!1

2 THE WEEKLY ARTICLE FROM OUR CO- PRESIDENTS JUDY and SHOSHI The official American holiday of Thanksgiving has come and gone and most of us are still eating the leftovers from our holiday dinners. Every day, literally, should be a day of thanksgiving but all too often we just settle back into our normal routines and begin taking for granted what many, even in our own country, struggle with each day, good health, good food, shelter and clothing, family and friends who care about us and about whom we care, experiences to nourish our bodies, our minds, and our hearts. How fortunate we are to be living in these days, in this place (where the sun almost always shines!), in a country of plenty even though it is not always fairly distributed, and with the ability to share our wealth and opportunities with others. This month in particular, when most of us are deluged with solicitations from all sorts of organizations which are trying to correct some of our nation s and our world s ills, the opportunities for mitzvot of tikkun olam activities are all around and we hope many of us will really dig deep and make a difference. If you haven t yet sorted through your closets to recycle your gently used clothing for this weekend s Veteran s Stand-Down, please do so and bring your clothes to synagogue on Shabbat. If you would like to contribute toys for distribution to children (VA families and others) who may otherwise not receive any Hanukkah or holiday presents or money to purchase some toys, feel free to do so as well. Share the fun that Ahavat Torah provides by inviting guests to our Hanukah party which is in just another week and contribute your valuables which sit on your shelves unused for our Hanukkah silent auction to raise money for our little congregation. Come learn how to make hallah and terrific soup on Tuesday. And please continue to stay in touch with the several people in our own congregation who need our prayers for healing, our good wishes, our cards and phone calls and visits, and sometimes even our help. Mark your calendars for the next Hartman Institute lecture and if you are concerned with the needless deaths of thousands of children and adults due to gun violence, plan on attending the National Vigil on December 9 th. With gratitude for all of you who work tirelessly in many different ways to keep our little shul vibrant and relevant, we remain, B shalom, v brachot, vahava Shoshi and Judy!2

3 PLANT A TREE IN ISRAEL AND SUPPORT AHAVAT TORAH Planting a tree or a ring of trees is a beautiful way to honor or thank someone or to remember someone who has passed,or for any other occasion....and, at the same time Help Green Israel. The low cost is $18 for one tree, or $50 for a ring of 3 trees. Please make out your check to AHAVAT TORAH Congregation. The recipient of this gift will receive a lovely certificate. Please contact Shayna Lester for more information and for ordering the trees from the Jewish National Fund. her at revshayna@roadrunner.com or call her at HANUKKAH PARTY Ahavat Torah will provide the latkes, desserts and drinks. We are asking all members to sign up to bring an appetizer or side dish based on your last name. Members whose last name begins with the letters A-L, please bring an appetizer. Members whose last name begins with the letters M-Z, please bring a side dish. Please call Renee with any questions and what you are planning to bring at or cell or reneeschwartz1@verizon.net. with any questions. Hanukkah is here! Ahavat Torah s Hanukkah party will be held on December 11th, and as is our usual custom, we will be holding a silent auction during the festivities. We would appreciate our members donating items for the silent auction, preferably items worth at least $25 and in good shape. For the Chinese auction, we will need all kinds of items, from gently used tzatkes, to jewelry, clothing, scarves, hats, Judaica the kind of items that you would find at a thrift shop. Please bring these items on Shabbat and give them to Shoshi or Barbara, who are chairing the auction. Dear members, thank you for all you do for Ahavat Torah.!3 Shoshi and Barbara

4 AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION S ROARING TWENTIES THEME HANUKKAH PARTY PLEASE JOIN US WHEN: FRIDAY DECEMBER 11, to 10:00 pm WHERE: 343 S. Church Lane, LA Live MUSIC and DANCING with JOEL WARREN S ROCKING BAND A SILENT AUCTION and RAFFLE! We PROVIDE the LATKES and the DRINKS! You PROVIDE the Potluck! HONOR YOUR MEMORIES BY BRINGING YOUR OWN HANUKKIYAH (Hanukkah Menorah) AND CANDLES Admission and Reservations $20 - A.T. Members and your Dairy or Vegetarian Dish. Please contact Renee about your potluck contributions. $25 - Guests. PLEASE RSVP: (310) and Leave your name and number. or motek2222@gmail.com.!4

5 AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION IS BEGINNING NEW ADULT CLASSES WHEN: TUESDAYS beginning December 1st, December 8th and December 15th, to 9:00 pm WHERE: 343 S. Church Lane, LA Many Shabbat foods have their origins in folklore but they are also the traditional foods of our hearts, souls and memories from home which makes the Shabbat experience so meaningful. Rabbi Miriam will be teaching three consecutive Tuesday Night Cooking Classes. Come learn the Rabbi s secrets and tricks. We all know she is fabulous cook! December 8th will be on cooking for Hanukkah - Latkes and Hanukkah Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts.) December 15th will be on cooking for Shabbat -Israeli Sephardic Appetizers There will be a $10 charge for each class. Please RSVP to Linda or call (310) !5

6 Donations thru November 20, 2015 TRIBUTE CARDS Shoshi & Izydor Wilchfort, blessings with love to Georges Gross Barbara & Alan Burbank, speedy recovery to Sasha Firman and Michael Stevens Judy Kollack, speedy recovery to Sasha Firman, Judith Rivin, Michael Stevens and Judith Weinberger Judy Kollack -on behalf of Dawn Swift and Sybil Michaelson wishing each of them a refuah shalom Ellen Dubois, praying for Liz Kennedy s good health Barbara Burbank, to Dawn Swift for a speedy recovery Jean Katz, speedy recovery Daniel Katzand Kalee Alexandria GENERAL FUND Jane Best YAHRZEIT Brana Hall, in memory of Morris Meadows Sid Rosenblatt, in memory of his father Max Arlene Rosenblatt, in memory of her father Irving Ellen Dubois, in memory of Irvin, Macy, Ben, Lilly DuBois and Simon & Anna Mashkes Sue-Ann Leeds, in memory of her mother Lillian Cohen Shayna Lester, in memory of her father Myer Samuel Nadine Antin-Colla, in memory of Bessie Antin Ellen Dubois, in memory of Leo Yarfitz!6

7 Mussar, Study PLEASE JOIN US! YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR ETHICS - MUSSAR CLASS THIS Saturday December 5, 2015 at 9:00 AM Rabbi Miriam and Rabbinic Intern, Florence Dann, will be teaching a Mussar class on the Ethics of Our Fathers. PLEASE JOIN US AND BRING A FRIEND! Dear family and friends, It is with gratitude in my heart, that I plan to celebrate my birthday on Dec. 12th during the Shabbat services. The 3rd Aliyah is reserved for all who wish to be blessed at the Torah for their December simha. My daughter-in-law, Beth, and I will be chanting some Torah, and our family and friends will have honors including the Dvar Torah which will be taught by Len Felder. Following will be a dairy lunch and hallas by my granddaughter Ava who is a hallah specialty baker!!! Please let me know if you plan to attend and NO GIFTS PLEASE!!! (A donation to the temple if you wish.) Sat. Dec. 11, :15-12:15 PM Services 12:30-1:30 lunch Ahavat Torah Congregation/Village Church 343 S. Church Lane, Brentwood Glen 90049, Shoshi Sunday, December 13, 2015 Join Shalom Hartman Institute of North America for the Third Lecture in the Los Angeles Collaborative Lecture Series!7

8 AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION DONATIONS NEEDED 1ST Annual VHC Veterans Stand Down December 4th and 10:00 am to 3:00 pm VA Campus on Wilshire in West LA 23rd VHC Holiday Celebration December pm 5:30 pm Our Booth will provide gently used clothing and miscellaneous items to homeless veterans and their families. Additional contributions are welcome and can be brought to the Synagogue only on Saturdays 10:30 am to 2:00 pm, 343 S Church Lane, LA, CA We have collected over 70 boxes of clothing and miscellaneous items already! Donations gladly accepted WE REALLY NEED TOYS FOR OUR VETERANS CHILDREN ON DECEMBER 6th. New underwear, and socks are also needed. Please make checks payable to: Ahavat Torah Congregation P.O. Box 442, Santa Monica, CA Indicate donation is for VA Outreach Program Contact Linda Badger at (310) or lindabadger0713@yahoo.com to VOLUNTEER or with questions. PLEASE JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!8

9 LAST SHABBAT! Joel, your soul is an integrated part of A.T. s soul. Your music makes the blessings come alive! Joy, you bring another dimension to our service. Come back again soon. Marge, we are so proud of you!!9

10 LAST SHABBAT CONTINUED Zack, what a precious new daughter you have. Debbie, your drash on the theme of the rape of Dinah gave us lots to think about.!10

11 Dear AT Members, Ahavat Torah is a member of the Interfaith Coalition to End Gun Violence, initiated by members of Temple Isaiah. Now the Coalition includes several synagogues and churches around L.A. County. We at AT have been invited to attend the Third Annual National Vigil for All Gun Violence Victims, Dec. 9, Temple Isaiah, Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA Parking is available across the street at Rancho Park. We will honor the memory of the 30,000+ people lost to gun violence in America each year, and to pray for hope, peace, and love in their honor. If you plan to join me there and attend, be sure to RSVP for security purposes to Lenore Rosen (310) B Shalom, Jean Katz!11

12 !12