Parsha Vayeitze Torah Reading - Page 144 Haftorah - Page 1139

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1 December 9-10, Kislev 5777 Parsha Vayeitze Torah Reading - Page 144 Haftorah - Page 1139 Welcome Rabbi Yonah Weinrib Scholar-in-Residence

2 IN THE WEEK AHEAD Saturday, December 10 Shacharit... 9:00 a.m. Torah Parade... 9:45 a.m. Youth Classes... 10:15 a.m. See Page 6 for complete class schedule December Simcha Kiddush... 11:30 a.m. Visual Perceptions/Spiritual Reality by Rabbi Weinrib 12:15 p.m. Insights into the Weekly Torah Reading. 3:35 p,m. Mincha/Seudah Shlishit... 4:20 p.m. Havdalah... 5:42 p.m. Musical Havdalah, Artist Reception, Art Display & JCC... 6:30 p.m. Sunday, December 11 Shacharit... 9:00 a.m. Monday, December 12 Shacharit... 7:00 a.m. Lunch & Learn w/ Rabbi Beth Israel noon Tuesday, December 13 Shacharit... 7:00 a.m. Friedel Alumni Club... 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 14 Shacharit... 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, Board of Commissioners Meeting... 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 15 Shacharit... 7:00 a.m. Ethics Class w/rabbi Ari... 7:45 a.m. Woman s Class... 9:30 a.m. Scholar s Club for 6th graders... 4:30 p.m. Avot U Banim... 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 16 Shacharit... 7:00 a.m. Mincha/Maariv & Kabbalat Shabbat... 4:39 p.m. Candle Lighting... 4:39 p.m. Rabbi Ari will be out of town Sun, Dec 11 - Wed, Dec 14 with Camp Simcha campers in Orlando Mazel Tov to Matan Shapiro, son of Ben Shapiro and Amy Reynolds, on the celebration of his Bar Mitzvah today at Beth El. 2

3 ...to the December Simcha Kiddush sponsors. Birthdays - Mario Lopez by Eli and Amanda Lopez; Hodaya Abramovich by Rabbi Shlomo and family; Aviva Chana Shyken by Paul and Susie Shyken; Annette Fettman by Cantor Leo Fettman; Mike Sadofsky by Marina Sadofsky; Rabbi Ari Dembitzer by Laura Dembitzer; Yehodah Beneda by Stephanie and Matt Beneda; Michael Shrago, Noah Shrago by Michael, Melissa, and Ethan Shrago, & by Jack and Helene Shrago; Matan Shapiro by Ben Shapiro and Amy Reynolds; Jordana Kurtzman by Aaron, Issac and Joshua Kurtzman. Anniversaries - Dani & Leon Shrago; Anne & Ed Joseph...to Sherry & Jeff Taxman for chairing the Scholar-in-Residence weekend...to the Sherry Taxman for cooking last night s Shabbat dinner, Jordana Kurtzman for making the soup for last night s dinner; Lauren Tam and Dani Shrago for baking challah for the dinner and for home deliveries; to Katherine Pawlowski and Dani Shrago for preparing the cholent for today s Simcah Kiddush; to Bonnie Bloch, Julee Katzman and Bette Kozlen for helping set-up artwork for Saturday night s event. to Bette Kozlen and Donald Gerber for sharing their talents in preparing a special musical tribute for Rabbi Ari s birthday. Mazel Tov to Those Celebrating This Week Birthdays Jeanne Shechet Dec 10 Rabbi Ari Dembitzer Dec 10 Aviva Chana Shyken Dec 13 Michael Shrago Dec 14 Annette Fettman Dec 14 Noah Solomon Shrago Dec 16 Georgia Plotkin Dec 16 Anniversaries Debbie & Ron Powers - 27th Dec 10 The congregation is cordially invited to the Bar Mitzvah of Aidan Thomas Shnayder Saturday, December 17 A kiddush luncheon, sponsored by the Shnayder s, will follow services. 3

4 READ HEBREW AMERICA Classes begin Monday Instructor Rabbi Shlomo Abramovich Mondays, 7:30-8:30pm December 12, 19, 26, January 2, 9 LOCATION CHANGE! Now meeting at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Free of charge Register by calling (402) The READ HEBREW AMERICA AND CANADA program is based on NJOP s popular and enjoyable Hebrew Reading Crash Course. Designed for Jews with little or no background in Hebrew, the program concentrates on teaching the Hebrew alphabet and basic reading skills. Kids Campaign Tzedakah Boxes still available in the synagogue office 4

5 BETH ISRAEL CHANUKAH HAPPENINGS Krispy Kreme Fund Raiser Purchase a certificate for a dozen, delicious, glazed donuts and add sweetness to your Chanukah celebration. Great gift idea for family, friends, neighbors and teachers, while supporting Beth Israel Chanukah Carnival - Wed, December 28 / 6:30-8pm Chairs - Karen & Michael Cohen Bring your menorah for a group lighting to get the evening off to a great start. Moon walk, games, prizes, cotton candy, hot dogs. Free of charge, open to the community Carnival sponsors needed - please contact Mary Sue Shabbat/Chanukah Dinner - Fri, December 30 / 6pm Featuring the first ever Beth Israel Table Decorating Contest Brisket, challah, latkes, applesauce, roasted vegetables, desserts $12 for adults, $6 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and under Shabbat/Chanukah Kiddush - Sat, December 31 Kiddush will include doughnuts and other special Chanukah treats NCSY Goes to Sky Zone! Sunday, December pm 5 th -12 th Graders - Cost - $5 Water and snacks provided Please RSVP to Rabbi Shlomo by 12/15 Parent volunteers also needed please contact Rabbi Shlomo to help Sr. NCSY Winter Conclave December Bloomington, IL Grades Registration still open! Contact Rabbi Shlomo for more info Midwest Jr NCSY Winter Convention January St. Louis Grades 5-8 Live band, amazing raffle, mind blowing Saturday night activity and more! Cost $179 is registered before January 6 Contact Rabbi Shlomo for more info 5

6 Beth Israel Sisterhood Gift Shop The gift shop has games, toys, and other items for weddings, babies, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, or just for yourself. Visit the Gift Shop during synagogue office hours: Mon - Thu, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Fri, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Many thanks to Lynne Saltzman for being the Gift Shop chair. YOUTH EDUCATION CLASS SCHEDULE Shabbat 10-11am Boys, ages 11 and older Mr. Shrago Social Hall 10-10:30am Boys & Girls, under age 11 Rabbi Ari Social Hall 10:30-11:15am Boys & Girls, ages 6-11 Reb Donald Chapel 10:30-11am Girls, ages 12 & older Rabbi Shlomo Social Hall 11-11:30am Tot Shabbat Teen Girls Social Hall 12pm Teen Class Rabbi Ari Rabbi s Office Baby-sitting is provided for ages 6 months through 6 years, 10am through the end of services. For their safety, children are not allowed to leave the room without a parent or sibling over the age of 12 Weekdays Mon, 3:30pm Mishnah&Torah, 6th Grade Rabbi Shlomo Friedel Thu, 4:30pm Mishnah&Torah, 6th Grade Rabbi Shlomo Friedel Thu, 4:30pm Scholar s Club, 6th Grader Rabbi Ari JCC Thu, 7pm Avot U-Banim Rabbi Ari Social Hall Plus Friedel Alumni Club - watch for s from Rabbi Shlomo ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES Check the schedule on Page 2 for the various learning opportunities for adults each week. Also, don t miss Torah in Your Home, with Rabbi Shlomo. Meet one-on-one, or with a few friends for this new learning opportunity. Contact him at (402) or sabramovich@orthodoxomaha.org. 6

7 Parsha Summary (From torah.org - Rabbi Aron Tendler) 1st Aliya: Yakov experiences the famed prophecy of Jacob s Ladder. 2nd Aliya: Yakov arrives in Charan, encounters Rachel, and contracts with Lavan for her hand in marriage. 3rd Aliya: Lavan switches Leah for Rachel forcing Yakov to negotiate another 7 years of service for Rachel. Leah gives birth to Reuven, Shimon, Levi, and Yehudah. Rachel marries off Bilhah to Yakov who gives birth to Dan and Naftoli. Leah marries off Zilpah to Yakov, and she gives birth to Gad and Asher. 4th Aliya: Rachel contracts with Leah for Reuven s mandrakes, after which Leah gives birth to Yisachar and Zevulen. Rachel finally gives birth to Yoseph, and Yakov approaches Lavan to negotiate a proper salary for continued service. 5th Aliya: Yakov s uses his vast knowledge of nature and husbandry to amass a fortune in sheep and cattle. After 6 years he decides with Rachel and Leah to flee from Lavan. 6th Aliya: They flee and Lavan catches them. Hashem (G-d) intervenes and Yakov, while confronting Lavan for his years of duplicity, unwittingly curses Rachel. 7th Aliya: Yakov and Lavan separate and Yakov arrives at the border of Canaan in Parsha Questions Will be answered following the Haftorah 1. How many years did Yaakov work for his wives? 2. Sarah and Rachel had a common problem. What was it? 3. What did they asked their husbands, in order to solve this problem? 4. How many children did Leah have? 5. How many children did Rachel have, and what were their names? Chessed Committee - Join this group in baking and delivering challah for community members and baking for special synagogue events. Contact group organizer, Lauren Tam, for next baking date. Ladies Rosh Chodesh Group - The group meets monthly near Rosh Chodesh to study, snacks and have a meaningful and fun time together. The date for the next meeting, welcoming the month of Tevet, will be finalized next week. If you are interesting in hosting, please contact Lauren Tam or Katherine Pawlowski. 7

8 WELCOME TO BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE We are delighted to welcome you to Beth Israel Synagogue. A passage from Deuteronomy 30:11-14 inspired the art work in the sanctuary. For this commandment that I command you today - it is not hidden from you and it is not distant. It is not in heaven, [for you] to say, Who can go to the heaven and take it for us so that we can listen to it and perform it? Nor is it across the seas, [for you] to say, Who can cross to the other side of the sea for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it? Rather, the matter is very near to you - in your mouth and your heart - to perform it. Mitzvot are obtainable. The focal point of the sanctuary is the Menorah Window, which frames the Ark and is shaped in the form of the six branched candelabrum. To the right, brilliantly colored window has forms that reflect the heavens, while the left side depicts the seas. The message is completed in a frieze, the horizontal painting on wood mounted on the wall. The background of the frieze symbolically and abstractly represents the relationship between G-d and the people of Israel through the Covenant. The perochet, or curtain over the Ark, completes the symbolic composition, with an expression that intertwines the Torah and the letter Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, of the Ten Commandments, and of G- d s name in Hebrew. As is traditional, the sanctuary has 12 windows, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. These windows contain the name of each tribe in flowing, organic letters. The windows are located above the continued frieze, which includes two central texts of the revelation at Sinai - If you will keep my Covenant, you shall be precious to me, and You shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This composition expresses the unity of Israel as the people stood together at Sinai and accepted the Torah. Beth Israel Synagogue strives to perpetuate the legacy of Torah Judaism in the modern world. Beth Israel welcomes all persons of the Jewish faith to join and accepts the diversity of practice and thought among its members. Rabbi Ari Dembitzer, Senior Rabbi Toba Cohen-Dunning, President Mary Sue Grossman, Executive Director Rabbi Shlomo Abramovich, Visiting Scholar Leo Fettman, Cantor Emeritus Pacific Street, Omaha, Nebraska (402) /