December 23-24, Kislev Parsha Vayeshev Erev Hanukah Torah Reading - Page 198 Haftorah - Page 1142

Transcription

1 December 23-24, Kislev 5777 Parsha Vayeshev Erev Hanukah Torah Reading - Page 198 Haftorah - Page 1142

2 In the Week Ahead Saturday, December 24 Shacharit... 9:00 a.m. Torah Parade... 9:45 a.m. Youth Classes... 10:15 a.m. See Page 6 for complete class schedule Insights into the Weekly Torah Reading... 3:40 p,m. Mincha/Seudah Shlishit... 4:25 p.m. Havdalah... 5:47 p.m. First Candle Lighting of Chanukah... Following Havdalah Sunday, December 25 Shacharit... 9:00 a.m. Bagels and Beit Medrash... 9:45 a.m. Monday, December 26 - Office Closed Shacharit - Please note later time!... 9:00 a.m. Lunch & Learn w/rabbi Shlomo... 12:00 p.m. Read Hebrew America at RBJH... 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 27 Shacharit... 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 28 Shacharit... 7:00 a.m. Chanukah Carnival... 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 29 Shacharit... 7:00 a.m. Woman s Class... 9:30 a.m. A Lot of Latkes-help cook latkes for Shabbat dinner... 10:45 a.m. Challah Baking for Shabbat dinner noon Friday, December 30 Shacharit... 6:45 a.m. Mincha/Maariv & Kabbalat Shabbat... 4:47p.m. Candle Lighting... 4:47 p.m. Shabbat Chanukah Dinner... 6:00 p.m. Rabbi Ari is out of town through Sunday, December 25 Baruch Dayan Ha-Emet Stephen David Greenberg The thoughts and prayers of the Beth Israel family are with the families on their loss. May they know no other sorrow. 2

3 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 Now available in the synagogue office 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. Free of charge but reservations needed 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 - Reservations needed by Tuesday! Shabbat/Chanukah Kiddush - Sat, December 31 Kiddush will include doughnuts and other special Chanukah treats And don t forget the Sisterhood Gift Shop for Chanukah decorations and gifts! Gift shop open during office hours. to Bette and Jack Kozlen on the birth of a greatgrandson, Henry Jack Barnum. Henry is the son of Emma Barnam and Sam Carter. His big brother, Dean, was very excited to welcome him home. Mazel Tov to Those Celebrating This Week Birthdays Alan Potash Dec 26 Anniversaries Danita & Leon Shrago Dec 26 Susan & Jake Besser Dec 27 Celebrating a birthday or anniversary in January? See Page 5 for info on the January Simcha kiddush 3

4 Scholar-in-Residence - Rabbi Shalom Hammer January 13 & 14 Rabbi Hamer is a senior lecturer for the Jewish Identity Branch of the IDF, providing Jewish identity training for secular soldiers. An educator, lecturer and author, he is currently involved in his own initiative offering lectures throughout the country on the basics of Judaism to many secular kibbutzim and moshavim. He also serves as a lecturer for The Israel Government Fellows of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center and has authored five books. Rabbi Hammer is a contributing writer for the Jerusalem Post and is a renowned guest lecturer for communities throughout the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia. Friday, January 13 5pm - Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat / 6pm - Shabbat Dinner Soup, chicken, roasted vegetables, challah, and dessert $12 for adults, $6 for ages 4-12, and free for those under 3 6:45pm - What Are We Fighting For? The Challenges of Instilling Ideology in the IDF Saturday, January 14 Shacharit at 9am 11:30 am - January Simcha Kiddush 12:15 pm - Israel s Struggle for Survival and Vison of Continuity 4:45pm. Seudah Shlishit The Awakening of Jewish Identity in Israel Midwest Jr NCSY Winter Convention January St. Louis Grades Live band, amazing raffle, mind blowing Saturday night activity and more! Cost $179 is registered before January 6 Contact Rabbi Shlomo for more information. Scholarship funding available. 4

5 Celebrating a Simcha in January? Be a part of the January Simcha Kiddush on Shabbat, January 14, 2016 A sponsorship is just $25 Contact the synagogue office to be included The Laws of Chanukah The following is a partial list of the laws followed throughout Chanukah, as published by the Orthodox Union. For a complete list, visit ou.org. For the entire eight days of Chanukah, it is forbidden to fast or to eulogize. There is no obligation to have festive meals; however, it is customary to celebrate by eating special meals anyway, because of the fact that the dedication of the Temple and Altar took place during Chanukah. It is customary to sing during the meals songs that thank and praise Hashem. To sing and speak about Torah makes the meal into a seudat mitzvah, a meal of religious significance. If a number of people are lighting in one household, they should make a slight separation between their menorahs so that there is no confusion to the observer as to the number of candles. Ideally, the menorah should be placed outside the house to the left of the entrance. Since anti-semitism was so common throughout Jewish history, it became customary among may communities to place the menorah inside the house, near the entrance or on the table. In many families, it is the custom to place the menorah in a window facing the public, especially where many people share one entrance. In Israel, it is customary to light outside in a special box that prevents the flames from blowing out. It is best to light in the presence of many people in order to publicize the miracle. On the first night three blessings are recited. Lehadlik ner shel Chanukah, She asa nissim and Shehecheyanu. On the other nights only the first two blessings are said. All the blessings should be recited before actually lighting the candles. First light the Shamash before the blessings to avoid delay. It is forbidden to speak between the recitation of the blessings and the completion of candle lighting. Haneirot Halalu is recited either during or after the lighting of the additional candles. Maoz tzur yeshuati then sung. 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. Chessed Committee - Join this group in baking and delivering challah for community members and baking for special synagogue events. The group will meet next meet Thursday, December 29. Contact Lauren Tam for more details. Ladies Rosh Chodesh Group - The group meets monthly near Rosh Chodesh to study, snacks and have a meaningful and fun time together. The group will next meet on January 26. If you are interesting in hosting, please contact Lauren Tam or Katherine 6

7 Parsha Summary (From torah.org - Rabbi Aron Tendler) The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person goes up to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. 1st Aliya: In the year 2216, Yakov was settled in Canaan. Yoseph was 17 years old and Yakov presented him with the multi-colored coat. Yoseph related his two dreams to his brothers. 2nd Aliya: The brothers conspired to kill Yoseph, but Reuven intervened. He suggested throwing Yoseph into a pit to buy time, during which he would have been able to save Yoseph. 3rd Aliya: During Reuven s absence, Yehudah suggested selling Yoseph into slavery. The brothers presented Yakov with contrived evidence of Yoseph s death, and he was inconsolable. 4th Aliya: The story of Yehudah and Tamar is related. In the end, their first son, Peretz, is the progenitor of Mashiach. 5th Aliya: Yoseph had been purchased by Potiphar and was quickly recognized for his managerial skills and integrity. He was appointed to run Potiphar s household. 6th Aliya: Potiphar s wife attempted to seduce Yoseph, but Yoseph withstood temptation and fled his mistress s presence. He was thrown into the royal prison and was soon chosen by the warden to run the prison. 7th Aliya: Due to his managerial position, Yoseph came in contact with the former royal wine steward and baker. He successfully interpreted their dreams and the wine steward was re-appointed to his position. Yoseph asked the wine steward to intervene on his behalf with Pharaoh. In the year 2227, Yoseph is 28 years old. Parsha Questions Will be answered following the Haftorah 1. Why were Joseph s brothers so angry with him? 2. What was Joseph s first dream? 3. What was Joseph s second dream? 4. What was the name of the Egyptian who bought Joseph? 5. Why did Potiphar and the prison warden like Joseph? 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) /