GOOD SHABBOS CLAREMONT WYNBERG בס ד NUMBER 655 - PARSHAT BO 23/24 JANUARY 2015-4 SHEVAT 5775 ARTSCROLL LIVING TORAH PARSHA: Pg 340 Pg 300 HAFTORAH: Pg 1151 Pg 1103 THERE S NO PLACE LIKE HOME Some years Good ago shabbos I had kjsfljlkvjsl to travel to jsj;k;kk a small ;lklksks;skf town in the Northern Cape for a funeral. It was during the month of March and the weather was indescribably warm. I found the place to be oppressive, bleak, dusty, flat (compared to the mountainous terrain of Cape Town) and downright miserable. I couldn t imagine why anyone would choose to live there other than if forced to do so for reasons of employment. Upon my return I shared my impressions of the place with a lady who had moved from there to Cape Town and I noticed that she seemed rather uncomfortable with my description. I realized then that I had made a mistake. Even though she had moved to a new city that seemed superior in every way, her heart remained very much in that small town. That was where she was raised and it would always be home in spite of all its deficiencies. Such feelings of nostalgia and longing for one s birthplace are often illogical but they are very real. In Jewish tradition there is a custom to identify great leaders with the place of their birth or the town they were most active in even though they might have spent relatively few years there. Examples of this phenomenon are Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (from Salant); Rabbi Itzele Peterburger (from St. Petersburg); Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner (from Volozhin) and, of course, the Vilna Gaon (Rabbi Eliyahu Kramer). Rabbi Moshe Schreiber (1762-1839), who was known as the Chatam Sofer, was the famous head of the community and yeshiva of Pressburg, Hungary for most of his life and yet he always signed his letters Moshe Schreiber from Frankfort-am-Main, because that was the place of his birth. Why do people identify so strongly with their hometown or country? In this week s Parsha the concept of finding grace or favour (chein), appears twice in reference to the Israelites. The first time is prior to the final plague, when Hashem tells Moshe to instruct the nation to ask the Egyptians for garments and utensils for their long trek (Shmot 11:2-3): Please speak in the ears of the people: Let each man request of his fellow and each woman from her fellow silver vessels and gold vessels. Hashem granted the people favour in the eyes of Egypt; moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of the servants of Pharaoh and in the eyes of the people.
The second time is following the plague, after the firstborn of Egypt perished (Shmot 12:35-36): The Children of Israel carried out the word of Moses; they requested from the Egyptians silver vessels, gold vessels and garments. Hashem gave the people favour in the eyes of the Egyptians and they granted their request - so they emptied Egypt. In both instances the Aramaic translation of the word chein (favour) is rachamin, mercy. The concept of finding favour is strongly related to the biblical character Joseph. His personality was such that even when he found himself in the worst possible scenarios, people gravitated to him and treated him with grace. Thus, when he was a lowly slave in the house of Potiphar the Torah (Bereishit 39:4) records that: Joseph found favour in his [Potiphar s] eyes, and he attended him; he appointed him over his household, and whatever he had he placed in his custody. Even when Joseph was thrown into the dungeon following Potiphar s wife s accusation of rape, he still did not lose his trademark chein (Bereishit 39:21-22): Hashem was with Joseph, and He endowed him with charisma, and He put his favour in the eyes of the prison warden. The prison warden placed all the inmates of the prison in Joseph s custody, and everything that was done there, he would accomplish. Once again, the Aramaic translation of the word chein, favour, in these instances is rachamin, mercy. What do all of these cases have in common? The Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman) writes the following concerning the Egyptian citizens unusual feeling of favour towards the Israelites (Shmot 12:3): The verse states, Hashem granted the people favour in the eyes of Egypt to indicate that not only did the people of Egypt not hate them because of the plagues but they actually felt additional love towards them and [the Israelites] found favour in their eyes as if to say, we are the wicked ones who have perpetrated an injustice against you and it is only proper that Hashem should show you grace. Even the man Moses who brought the plagues upon them was very great in all of the land of Egypt in the eyes of the servants of Pharaoh who were his adversaries The Ramban s approach is that it was completely illogical for the Egyptians to have shown any form of grace towards their former slaves but Hashem caused them to feel otherwise. We could suggest a similar approach concerning Joseph. By all accounts he should not have found favour in the eyes of Potiphar or the jail warden. He was a foreign slave with no standing in society and very little to offer. Yet God was with him and even in the bleakest of situations he radiated chein. The Talmud (Sotah 47a), citing Rabbi Yochanan, records that: There are three items that find favour [in the eyes of those connected to them]: the favour of a place to those who live there; the favour of a woman in the eyes of her husband and the favour of a purchase in the eyes of the purchaser.
Rashi explains that even if the place is [objectively] bad, it appears to those who live there as if it is good. And even if a woman is unattractive, she finds favour in the eyes of her husband. This comment is not unlike the words of the Ramban - even though it might be illogical to feel positively about the place, the wife or the purchase, God somehow causes the resident/husband/purchaser to feel precisely the opposite. The commentary of the Iyun Yaakov provides a rationale for this. It was Hashem s desire that the world be settled and populated. If people only chose to live in places that were objectively good, then most of the world would be deserted. This is especially true of the land of Israel. If the Tribes had chosen to settle only in the most fertile and lush regions of the land, then the remaining portions would be desolate. He therefore placed into the hearts of people an illogical love of the city/district/country that they live in. In regards to a spouse and a purchase, if people felt no satisfaction after their marriages or after they had spent money on a new purchase, the world would be full of disagreements and regrets. Everyone would believe that they were short-changed and could have gotten a much better deal. Hence, God causes people to feel favourably towards their spouse and towards the objects they buy even if they appear unattractive to others. That is why, he explains, the sages (see Ketubot 17a) decreed that at every wedding the guests should sing: She is a beautiful and virtuous bride for she has found favour in the eyes of her husband despite any objective blemishes she might have. Our love for the place of our birth might be inexplicable to others but it is a condition of human life that ensures the existence of the world as we know it. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Liebenberg The link to Rabbi's YouTube message for this week is http://youtu.be/4xn3_yxrb9c
THE HAFTORAH WILL BE READ BY: CHARLES SILBERT 6:30 pm Earliest candle lighting time* 6:30 pm Mincha followed by Kabbalat Shabbat 7:57 pm Sunset 6:45 pm Children s service 8:30 am Shacharit followed by Kiddush Bracha 9:28 am Latest time to fulfil the mitzvah of reading the Shemah 10:00-11:30 am Children s service 7:00 pm Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit 8:25 pm Maariv 8:34 pm Shabbat ends 6:27 pm Earliest candle lighting time for next Friday night (30 January) *Important note for ladies: During the summer months we will indicate the earliest time one can light candles (one and a quarter halachic hours before sunset). The latest time corresponds to the time that the community recites Psalm 92 after L cha Dodi (approximately 30 minutes after the start of Mincha). WEEKDAY TIMES Shacharit: Mondays and Thursdays - 6:30 am Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 6:40 am Sundays and Public Holidays - 8:00 am Mincha (followed by Maariv): Sundays to Thursdays - 6:15 pm Fridays - 6:30 pm
S H I U R I M Gemorah shiur: Monday to Friday following Shacharit for half an hour. Contact Rabbi Liebenberg if you would like to join. We are studying the seventh chapter of Tractate Shabbat. Between Mincha and Maariv: A short halachic shiur with an opportunity to Ask the Rabbi. We are studying the Orach Chaim section of the code of Jewish Law with the commentary of the Mishna Berura. MONDAY: 11:30 am - Ladies Tehillim group meets in the Beit Midrash. 12:30 pm 8:00 pm Parsha shiur for gentlemen. Contact Felicia Westland at the office for details. TUESDAY: 1:00-2:00 pm Business shiur at the offices of Berk Enterprises. We are studying the Sefer HaChinuch, a classic text on the 613 mitzvoth. All levels welcome. Take a break from your busy work week for some great food, company and Torah study! Contact Howard Katzeff at howard@berk.co.za for details. WEDNESDAY: EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY NEXT SHIUR 4 FEBRUARY 8:00 pm - Ladies Shiur. We are learning Messilat Yesharim (The Path of The Just), a classic work of Mussar (ethics and personality development). A text with English translation will be available for all participants. Please RSVP to Felicia (felicia@clarewynshul.co.za). 7:50-9:50 pm Yeshiva Learning Sessions - contact the Yeshiva on 021 439-9867 or email office@yeshiva.org.za to organize your time slot. THURSDAY: 10:00-11:00 am Ladies Parsha shiur with Rabbi Liebenberg in the Beit Midrash. Thursday Night Club for gentlemen - the next meeting will take place on 29 January with guest speaker, Advocate Milton Seligson. SHABBAT: Learning programme for all congregants every Shabbat following the Kiddush Bracha for 30-45 minutes. This week Deputy Israeli Ambassador, Michael Freeman, will speak on the topic, The Only Democracy in the Middle East: Towards elections in Israel.
WELCOME To Deputy Israeli Ambassador, Michael Freeman. To the bachurim of the Yeshiva of Cape Town, Amiad Navon, Geva Frenkel, Nivy Harel and Meir Rosenblatt. To the Bnei Akiva Shlichot, Tamar Saar and Lee-el Shoshtari. MAZAL TOV TO Hymie and Shirley Bruk on the birth of a granddaughter, daughter to Ilana and Terrence Ossin in Johannesburg. Temma Gad on the Bar Mitzvah of her grandson, Jesse, son of Robert and Simone Gad. Eric Michaels on the Bar Mitzvah of his grandson, David, in Johannesburg. Rosanne and Jeremy Sarkin on the forthcoming Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Hannah. Sally and Lauren Singer on the engagement of their grandson and nephew, Dovi, to Rivka in Israel. Dovi is the son of Rabbi Dr Moshe and Denni Singer. Rabbi and Nurit Levitz on the engagement of their daughter, Rivka, to Aviezer Silverman from Bet Shemesh. Lesley Zieff who will be celebrating her 50 th birthday on Thursday 29 January. Birthdays Friday 23 January: Saturday 24 January: Sunday 25 January: Monday 26 January: Tuesday 27 January: Thursday 29 January: Anniversaries Friday 23 January: Sunday 25 January: Wed. 28 January: Elle Katzeff, Anita Pick, Amalie Sheldon, Louise Slavin, Adam Wagenheim Valerie Bernstein, Sydney Kaufmann Veretta Fligel, Ronald Gerdis Myron Davimes, Amanda Katz Arthur Jacobson, Michael Lewis Minnie Katzeff, Sally-Ann Klein, Candice Tollman, Lesley Zieff Sid and Elle Katzeff Leon and Eunice Movsowitz Selwyn and Sheila Mannsbach
SPONSORSHIPS The Kiddush Bracha is sponsored by: Ya kov and Emunah Rachel Van Zyl in celebration of Chana s Bat Mitzvah this past Sunday, with gratitude to Hashem. The Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by: Cyril and Rhona Salkinder in honour of the yahrzeits of Rhona s late mother, Sarah Bat Aharon Beinesh Klotz, and Cyril s late brother, Arnold - Avraham Ben Eliezer Salkinder. Upcoming sponsorships 29 January: Breakfast Shoprite Checkers 31 January: Kiddush Bracha Howard and Alison Katzeff 07 February: Kiddush Bracha Barry and Louise Slavin 09 February: Breakfast Jackie and Maureen Sachar 07 March: Children s Table Eric and Wendy Berger Please call the office to sponsor/co-sponsor a Kiddush Bracha, Seudah Shlishit and Children s Table. UPCOMING PROGRAMMES PRE-TU B'SHVAT OUTING SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY 4:00 PM Join us at Arderne Gardens (across the road from Claremont Hospital on Main Road). Bring a picnic basket and relax on the lawns. There will be a fascinating guided 90-minute walking tour with Des Lazar of this unique garden with its ancient trees and beautiful ponds. R30 donation to Friends Of The Arderne Gardens (FOTAG). NB: If you would like to go on the walking tour, please give your name to the shul office ASAP as there is place for only 20 people. TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 8:00 PM Guest speaker Rabbi Adi Sultanik Topic: "A State Is Not Delivered On A Silver Platter - But Is It Worth It?" Includes special Tu B Shvat buffet. R30 donation welcome. WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 8:00 PM Rabbi Liebenberg will talk about his recent trip to Israel. Tea/Coffee will be served. R20 donation welcome.
EYES AND EARS AWARENESS PROGRAMME Thank you to our team on duty: Jonathan Tulipan, Mervyn Stein, David Resnick, Milton Gerdis, Steven Horwitz. Kindly assist by being aware of unknown individuals and suspicious activity in the area and reporting this to a team member. Please DO NOT gather outside on the street after the service. Shabbat Shalom CLASSIFIEDS HAIRSTYLIST For all your hair requirements in the comfort of your home. Contact Pia on 021 686-6123 / 082 494 3367. HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FOR SALE Various household items for sale. Contact Benita or Arnie Stein on 021 674-1618. Leave message on answering machine. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE FROM SHUL PREMISES ON SHABBAT