Congregation Agudath Jacob

Transcription

1 December Kislev/Tevet 5778 Rabbi: Ben-Zion Lanxner Phone: Fax: Congregation Agudath Jacob President: Brent demoville Office Admin: Karen Eason This bulletin is published twelve times per year by Congregation Agudath Jacob, a non-profit organization. Founded in 1888 Celebrating 129 years Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi Ben-Zion Lanxner Believe it or not, Erev Chanukah is just 12 days away as the first candle is to be lit Tuesday evening, December 12, 2017, as soon after dark as possible and must burn for at least ½ hour. On Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday night, first light the Chanukah candle, and then light the Shabbat candles. *** There is a principle in Jewish thought that states that one s name represents its essence. That is one of the reason that when someone converts to Judaism, I always suggest to the candidates to start thinking of a Hebrew name which will help define as well as represent their new essence of being reborn as Jews. Similarly, we can explain how the name of a holiday captures the spirit of that time period. Based on this idea, the name Chanukah (literally inauguration, referring to the inauguration of the Holy Temple, The Beit Hamikdash) needs further analysis. This name neither makes any direct reference to the miracle of the oil, nor to the miracle of the victory of the war that so apparently symbolize the essence of the holiday of Chanukah, besides maybe for the fact that the Maccabee soldiers encamped by the Temple and the war ended (in Hebrew, Chanu they camped on the 25 of Kislev, in Hebrew 25 is Kah Kaf numerically valued at 20 and Hey valued at 5). Why was this name chosen to refer to these days? In order to answer the above question, we first need a background clarification of what the Greek empire represented. The Greeks were very intellectual people when it came to studying and explaining the physical world. They made major advances in the sciences and other fields that focused on physical phenomena. However, as Nachmanides (Ramban) explains, Greek philosophy strongly rejected the existence of anything that could not be seen, heard, felt, measured, or tested in the laboratory. We all know that for the Ancient Greeks, the trait of aesthetics was a priority, thus the importance of sports and body building, as the exterior appearance, good looks was praised and encouraged. Using this philosophy, the Greeks totally rejected the existence of a spiritual world. The Greeks tried to contaminate spirituality and bring it down into pure physicality to give credence to their way of thinking. The name for Greece in Hebrew, Yavan, (originated from the 3 rd son of Noach, Shem, Cham and YEFET, whom had seven sons, one of them was Yavan) comes from the hints at this idea as well, as the word yaven is used in Psalms to describe slimy mud that sinks anyone who stands on it (explain by Metzudat David on Psalm 40:3). This was the Greek approach to anything having to do with spirituality. Thus, the Greeks did not destroy the Beit Hamikdash, but rather contaminated it. They did not throw us out into exile from Eretz Israel, but rather brought exile into Eretz Israel. They did not destroy the Torah but rather defiled it by translating it in such a way that it seemed just like another book of legends.

2 To the Greeks the Beit Hamikdash was just another building, Eretz Israel was just another country, and the Torah was just another storybook. The place that most apparently went against this Greek ideology was the Beit Hamikdash. When a person visited the Beit Hamikdash it was almost impossible for him not to see beyond the physical world. The Beit Hamikdash was the place where spirituality was brought into physicality. In fact, this is precisely why in Shir Hashirim (4:4, 7:5) the Beit Hamikdash is referred to as the neck. The Shem M Shmuel explains that just as the neck connects the higher faculty of man, namely the head, to the more physical part of man, namely the body, so too the Beit Hamikdash connected the spiritual world to the physical world. (This also illustrates the Midrash telling us that there were ten constant miracles in the Beit Hamikdash). Being an intermediary between the spiritual and physical worlds, the Beit Hamikdash was in some ways above the laws of nature. Through its spiritual nature the Beit Hamikdash countered the Greek motto that physicality is everything. We can now begin to understand the depth behind the name Chanukah. The battle between the Maccabees and the Greeks wasn t just a physical battle, but rather a clash of ideologies. While the Greeks came to separate the physical world from its spiritual root, the Maccabees, all of whom were kohanim, were the ones who dedicated themselves to the task of connecting the physical world to its spiritual core through their service in the Beit Hamikdash. The Greeks came and defiled a Beit Hamikdash that went against everything Greek ideology stood for, while the Maccabees rededicated the Beit Hamikdash, thus declaring that there s more to the physical world than meets the eye. Chanukah is named after the rededication of the Beit Hamikdash. It is the rededication of the place where the physical and spiritual meet, which best describes the victory over the Greeks who didn t see past the physical world. The name Chanukah is therefore the name that most accurately encapsulates the essence of this holiday. To conclude, I would like you all to recognize that when reflecting on the experiences of the Jewish people throughout history, we can see glimpses of Chanukah in every generation. Although we have not been yet privileged to overcome our enemy, call it, Evil inclination, Lashon Harah, etc., and return to our Holy Temple as we did in the days of Matitiyahu, we have survived inquisitions, pogroms and even a Holocaust. It has already been said by one of our great Torah scholars that the survival of the Jewish people is the most powerful proof that G-d runs the world. Let us therefore utilize Chanukah as a time for thanking G-d for the miracles of our survival and praise Him for the experiences that brought us closer to Him. Just as we thank and praise G-d for our miracles as a Nation, each of us must also have the same approach to the individual trials we face in life. May the spirit of Chanukah permeate every facet of our lives so that we can learn to be closer to our Creator, closer to each other, helping each other in building together a stronger community and congregation, learning and observing His Torah, and fulfilling our role in this world, to be a Mamlechet Kohanim, vegoy Kadosh a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy People, and thus bringing closer to our days the Final Redemption with Mashiach ben David. Amen Chag Urim Sameach- Happy Chanukah! Rabbi Ben-Zion Lanxner See you all at our Synagogue Chanukah Party on December 16, 2017 at 6:00 for Havdalah followed by our Chanukah Candle lighting Make sure to bring your own special Chanukah and candles.

3 Friday, December 1 Kabbalat Shabbat Candle Lighting Saturday, December 2 Shacharit Shabbat Ends Friday, December 8 Kabbalat Shabbat Candle Lighting Saturday, December 9 Shacharit Shabbat Ends Friday, December 15 Kabbalat Shabbat Candle Lighting December Service Schedule 6:00 5:07 9:30 a.m. 6:04 6:00 5:08 9:30 a.m. 6:05 6:00 5:9 Saturday, December 16 Shacharit Shabbat Ends Friday, December 22 Kabbalat Shabbat Candle Lighting Saturday, December 23 Shacharit Shabbat Ends Friday, December 29 Kabbalat Shabbat Candle Lighting Saturday, December 30 Shacharit Shabbat Ends 9:30 a.m. 6:07 6:00 5:12 9:30 a.m. 6:11 6:00 5:17 9:30 a.m. 6:15 The Annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 6 at 6:00 All members in good standing are invited to attend. December 1 Harry Harelik December 3 David Jortner December 4 Shanna Bubis Bauer December 6 Emily Rogers December 7 Gloria Yoder December 11 Rachael Rosen December 12 Eden Via December 21 Paul Farmer December 22 Max Schwarz December 24 Liberty Anne Harris December 25 Teresa Harris December 28 Maura Jortner December 29 Genie Zacharias Food from the Faithful We will bring cereal & pasta on an on-going basis. Please bring packages throughout the year and Susan Silver will see that they are delivered to Caritas

4 Michael Lucas Leonard Englander December 1 Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Wolf December 15 Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Harris Jennifer Lanxner Jeff & Lea Levin Brent & Dianne demoville Helen Fred Herbert Fred Johanna Fay Brent & Dianne demoville Sarah Rubel Phyllis Ruttenberg Akmal Rina Ruttenberg Ida Harris Barbara Wolpo Bernice Drobnis Ken & Lois Germain Jean Adelman Barbara Wolpo Abbye & Susan Silver Cheryl Hersh Frank Lipinsky Sydney Jacobson Naman & Esther Lipinsky Jack Goldberg Norman & Margie Goldberg Betty Rosen Stanley & Florence Hersh Lane Harris Gary & Margaret Bell Arthur Schwartz Martin & Loren Schwartz You are invited to join us for a special Hanukkah celebration! Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 16 th at 6:00 and enjoy the Holiday!

5 WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HANUKKAH Hanukkah occurs every year on the 25 th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. (Hannukah is a combination of two words: Hanu, They rested, and Kah, which has a numeric value of 25. Together these words indicate that the Jews rested on the 25 th of the month of Kislev). There are two miracles that we celebrate on Hanukkah: 1) Rabim beyad me atim- Many given over to the few. More than 2000 years ago, the Greek King Antiochus, decreed that the Jewish people would no longer be allowed to keep 3 commandments: Shabbat, the foundation of the Jewish belief in the creation of the world by the One G-d. Chodesh, the power of the Jewish court in Jerusalem to declare the new moon and thus control when the Jewish holidays fall out. Brit Milah, the symbol of the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people. Antiochus knew that these three commandments were basic to the existence of Judaism. Without them, Greek culture would soon overpower the Jewish nation as it had so many other nations. Eventually, the Greeks went so far as to force Jews to bow down to the Greek idols. Some Jews bowed down, while others gave their lives to sanctify G-d s name (Kiddush Hashem). In the town of Modiin, there lived a family of Kohanim (priests) led by Matityahu the Maccabee. When he saw a Jew bowing to one of the Greek idols, he killed him. Before the Greek soldiers could apprehend him, he fled to the mountains where together with his five sons, he started a revolution against the Greeks. Though greatly outnumbered, and with very few weapons, the Maccabees succeeded in defeating the greatest army of that time. This miraculous victory was seen as a clear manifestation of G-d s love for the Jewish people. 2) Nes pach hashemen- The miracle of the jug of oil. After the great victory, the Jews went back to the Temple in Jerusalem. They wanted to resume the daily service, which the Greeks had stopped. Part of the service included the lighting of the

6 Menorah. However, all the pure oil needed to light the Menorah had been defiled by the Greeks. Ultimately, one small sealed jug of pure oil was found. There was just enough oil in the jug for exactly one day. A miracle occurred and the oil lasted for eight days- enough time to make new oil. That is why the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah for eight days. F Y I: 1) To publicize the miracle of Hanukkah, we light the candle of the Menorah (actually the Hanukkiah) at a window, so when people are coming home from work and passing by your home they can see the Hanukkiah lit. 2) The candle for that night has to burn for at least half an hour (you can find these candles in our giftshop at the Synagogue, and an exceptional beautiful assortment of great gifts!). 3) Put the candles into the Hanukkiah from right to left, but light the candles from left to right. (One reason for doing so is that if you put the candle at the right and always light the Hanukkiah from the right, you would emphasize that it was only the first day that was the biggest miracle, which is not the case. Every day was a miracle on its own). 4) On the first night say three blessings before lighting the candles: Baruch atta.lehadlik ner shel Hanukkah. Baruch atta.she assa nissim la avoteynu, bayamim ha heim bazman hazeh. Baruch atta she hecheyanu, ve kyimanu, ve higiyanu laz man hazeh. On the other 7 nights, the third blessing is omitted. 5) During the day, we say Hallel, Praise G-d prayer. 6) It is customary to eat potato latkes or jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot), since they are fried in oil, and oil is such a major ingredient in this holiday. 7) Parents give children Hanukkah Gelt (money) or presents. 8) The Dreidel, a special spinning top, has four Hebrew letters Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin, which are the first letters of Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, a great miracle occurred there (in Israel). The Rebbetzin Susan and I wish you all a Happy and Healthy Hanukkah, Chag Urim Kasher vesame ach Rabbi Ben-Zion and Susan Lanxner

7 Tuesday, December 12 1 st Candle 6:07 Wednesday, December 13 2 Candles 6:07 Thursday, December 14 3 Candles 6:07 Friday, December 15 4 Candles 6:08 Saturday, December 16 5 Candles 6:08 Sunday, December 17 6 Candles 6:09 Monday, December 18 7 Candles 6:09 Tuesday, December 19 8 Candles 6:09 Shabbat Donations November 4 Stanley & Florence Hersh Brandon & Teresa Harris Gloria Yoder Joseph Settle Henry & Hope Hacker November 11 Brent & Dianne demoville Joseph Settle Stanley & Florence Hersh Larry & Joie McNabb Ray & Shannon Via Abbye & Susan Silver George & Kathleen Keller November 18 Brent & Dianne demoville Abbye & Susan Silver Stanley & Florence Hersh Henry & Hope Hacker November 25 Stanley & Florence Hersh Gloria Yoder

8 HOW TO OBSERVE THE YAHRZEIT It is traditional to kindle a Yahrzeit Candle in the home on the evening Yahrzeit begins. It should remain lighted until sunset the next day. Possible prayer before lighting a Yahrzeit candle: Eternal God, I/we light this candle in memory of (name), my/our beloved (relationship). The light of the flame rekindles all the warm memories of the moment we shared together, and reassures me /us that a piece of his/her soul dwells in my/our heart(s) forever. May his/her soul be bound up with the bonds of eternal life. Amen. Candles are available at the Gift Shop. Every effort should be made to say Kaddish at congregational services. It is meritorious to perform some Mitzvah or to contribute to the synagogue in commemoration of the deceased. Kaddish will be read on December 1 Kislev 13 Miriam Berkman Philip Stupak Kislev 14 Stanley Marmelzadt Lilian Mendelsohn Kislev 15 Pauline Bartz Moses W. Cinnamon Elihugh Frankfort Kislev 16 B. Roddy Emma Wizig Zlata Singer (Schwartz) Devorah Lanxner Kislev 17 Mary Friedman Moze Novich Max Reed Kislev 18 William Goldblatt Warren Israel H. Novich Rachel Rosenthal Kislev 19 Max Corman Mose Harris Jack Silver Kaddish will be read on December 8 Kislev 20 Sidney Fleischman Kislev 21 Flora Epstein Toby Schwartz Vernon Woolf Kislev 22 Yetta Cohen Kislev 23 Amanda Goldstein Sarah Leah Markusfeld Dr. Sam Ellis Kislev 24 Carrie Loewenstein Samuel H. Robinson Sarah Schaevitz Margaret Harelik Kislev 25 Leon Rouvant Edith Koss Jon Evans, Jr. Kislev 26 Sadie Berman Chaim H. Green Diana Green Rosner Margot Meyers Kaddish will be read on December 15 Kislev 27 Shirley Kleiner Cochavah Lavi Kislev 28 Cecile Aronson Dora Goldberg Max Knop Kislev 29 Paul Adams Saul Morris Gellman Julian L. Levinson Sam Rosenberg Lillian Smith Kislev 30 Jake Berkman Infant Jenny Levy Teveth 1 Mary Roddy Harry Udashen Teveth 2 Sobel Baby Beatrice Kline Teveth 3 Barnet Brown Sarah Reva Ellis Beckye Levin Louis I. Rosenberg Kaddish will be read on December 22 Teveth 4 Mendel Beerman Mrs. L. Bodenheim Arnold Keen Itzak Lavi Ira L. Solovey Teveth 5 Mrs. Aaron Levy Norman Stein Teveth 6 S.H. Gardner Louis Stein Teveth 7 Katie Kirschner Teveth 8 Ivan Esserman Rose Gerson Ida Kaplan Isaac Loewenstein Leon Meinstein Bessie Cohen Sachs Teveth 9 Ben Adelman Morris L. Gardner Nathan Wood Teveth 10 Benjamin Adams Tillie Miller

9 Kaddish will be read on December 29 Teveth 11 Nate Chodorow Marie Genecov Adams Teveth 12 Alphonse Podrizki Teveth 14 Sarah Adams Ida Farbstein Rubin Gandler Mrs. Sam Genecov Hattie Lansky Teveth 15 Mrs. Hermine Block J.M. Freeman Teveth 16 Teveth 17 Eli Frankfort Charlotte Gelber H. Rosenberg Fannie Wolf Elias Greenfield Mrs. B.R. Goldberg Hilda Hoffman Mrs. L. Ringold Arthur Rubel Jacob Arnold Fischman Pauline Kolom Rachel Levy

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11 December Kislev Tevet 5778 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 7:12AM/5:21PM 1 2 5:03PM Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 7:13AM/5:21PM 6:06PM Shacharit 9:30 a.m. 13 Kislev 14 Kislev Shevous 3 Shevous 4 7:13AM/5:21PM 7:14AM/5:21PM 7:15AM/5:21PM 7:16AM/5:21PM 7:17AM/5:21PM 7:17AM/5:21PM Minyan & Class 9:30 a.m. Religious School 4:30 Congregational Meeting 6:00 5:03PM Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 7:18AM/5:21PM 6:06PM Shacharit 9:30 a.m. 15 Kislev 16 Kislev 17 Kislev 18 Kislev 19 Kislev 20 Kislev 21 Kislev Shevous 5 Shevous 6 Shevous 7 Shevous 8 Shevous 9 Shevous 10 Shevous 11 7:19AM/5:21PM 7:20AM/5:22PM 7:20AM/5:22PM 7:21AM/5:22PM 7:22AM/5:22PM 7:22AM/5:23PM Minyan & Class 9:30 a.m. Erev Hanukkah 6:07PM Hanukkah I Religious School 4:30 6:07PM Hanukkah II 6:08PM/ 5:05PM Hanukkah III Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 7:23AM/5:23PM 6:08PM Hanukkah IV Hanukkah Party 6:00 Shacharit 9:30 a.m. 22 Kislev 23 Kislev 24 Kislev 25 Kislev 26 Kislev 27 Kislev 28 Kislev Shevous 12 Shevous 13 Shevous 14 Shevous 15 Shevous 16 Shevous 17 Shevous 18 7:24AM/5:24PM 7:24AM/5:24PM 7:25AM/5:24PM 7:25AM/5:25PM 7:26AM/5:25PM 7:26AM/5:26PM :09PM Hanukkah V Minyan & Class 9:30 a.m. Rosh Hodesh - Hanukkah VI 6:09PM Rosh Hodesh - Hanukkah VII 6:09PM 6:10PM Hanukkah VIII Religious School 4:30 5:08PM Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 7:27AM/5:26PM 6:11PM Shacharit 9:30 a.m. 29 Kislev 30 Kislev 1 Tevet 2 Tevet 3 Tevet 4 Tevet 5 Tevet Shevous 19 Shevous 20 Shevous 21 Shevous 22 Shevous 23 Shevous 24 Shevous 25 7:27AM/5:27PM 7:28AM/5:28PM 7:28AM/5:28PM 7:28AM/5:29PM 7:29AM/5:29PM 7:29AM/5:30PM Minyan & Class 9:30 a.m. 6:14PM 5:12PM OFFICE CLOSED NO SCHOOL Fast of Tevet 10 Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 7:29AM/5:31PM 6:16PM Shacharit 9:30 a.m Tevet 7 Tevet 8 Tevet 9 Tevet 10 Tevet 11 Tevet 12 Tevet Shevous 26 Shevous 27 Shevous 28 Shevous 29 Shevous 30 Shevous 31 Shevous 32 7:29AM/5:32PM 13 Tevet Shevous 33 [ Candle Lighting, Observance End, Printed November 29, 2017/11 Kislev 5778 for Dallas, TX]