Y Ou N G Isr Ael O F Hart Fo Rd

YOUNG ISRAEL OF WEST HARTFORD Shabbat Mevorchim 2240 ALBANY AVENUE WEST HARTFORD, CT 06117 Parashat Vaera 860-233-3084 January 17, 2015 26 Tevet 5775 Web Site: www.youngisraelwh.org Kiddush this Shabbat

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS Is Sponsored by 1/17 YIWH - AIPAC Shabbaton Juanita & Yitz Moss

1/17 - Mikveh Bess Israel Movie Night On the occasion of Juanita’s “LUZ” Father’s Yahrzeit 1/21 Women’s Rosh Chodesh Tehillim Jack Samuel Lieberman Group Yaacov Samuel 1/24 Joint YIWH /Chabad Havdallah 1/31 Movie Night - FOOTNOTE YIWH - AIPAC SHABBATON 2/6-7 Scholar in Residence Shabbat Shabbat, January 17th at YIWH

Ari Gordon & Shuli Taubes Shabbat Morning SEE BULLETIN FOR MORE DETAILS The Case for the U.S.-Israel Alliance Hadas Peles, AIPAC’s Southern New England Area Director מזל טוב

to Eli Bilmes on his engagement to Seuda Shlishit מזל טוב to מזל טוב !.Sara Esrig of St. Louis, MO HARTFORD Confronting Anti-Israel Activity on American parents Barbara Becker & Jonathan College Campuses Hadas Peles, AIPAC’s Southern New England Area מזל טוב !Bilmes, siblings Uri and Naomi to the entire Becker, Bilmes and Esrig Director families! Ari Zackin, AIPAC Student Leader

Please note one change: that there will be NO Friday MIKVEH BESS ISRAEL NIGHT AT THE MOVIES Night Program or Dinner. WEST Saturday, January 17th at 8:00PM ABOUT OUR AIPAC SPEAKER At the home of Deena Rubin, 2 Old Field Hadas Peles, AIPAC Area Director, is responsible LUZ for AIPAC’s political, development, and grass- A short documentary about the relation- roots work in Connecticut and Rhode Island. In ship between a mother and her adopted the Greater Hartford area, Hadas develops bi- daughter. It addresses the crucial partisan, pro-Israel political activism that ensures question: What is motherhood? Israel’s safety and security, and a strong U.S.- Israel relationship. WOMEN ONLY Hadas has a degree in Political Science from the ABOUT AIPAC University of Georgia’s School of Public and Inter- The Jewish state is under consistent threat national Affairs. Prior to her time at AIPAC, Ha- and relies on support from America in order das worked on local, state, and national policy to confront the challenges it faces. The best and campaign efforts. She served as a press rela- way to guarantee that the U.S. stands with Is- tions staffer on behalf of the city of Athens, Geor- rael is through bipartisan support in Con- gia, and went on to serve as an immigration policy gress. AIPAC is focused exclusively on specialist for the University of Georgia. As a stu- strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship and dent, Hadas interned for Congressman Hank works with both political parties to ensure Johnson on Capitol Hill and was named to AI- that Democrats and Republicans come togeth- PAC’s National Council as student activist of the er to keep Israel safe. year in 2008. Hadas was born in Israel and moved to the United YIWH PROJECT 5775 States as a child. She is fluent in Hebrew and trav- The Concise Book of Mitzvot els to the Middle East often. YOUNGISRAEL OF by The Chafetz Chaim צאתבם לשלום SHABBAT MITZVOT TO STUDY To Rabbi Gary Lavit who leaves this week for 1/17/15 Negative 7 -12 Israel to find a place to live and to begin his process of Aliya. Rabbi Brahm Weinberg 860-233-3084 or [email protected] Debra Luger 860-233-0300 or [email protected] Editor: Judie Patel [email protected] Affiliate of the National Council of Young Israel Synagogues, Member of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Sponsor of West Hartford NCSY, National Conference of Synagogue Youth, Kashrut Commission of Greater Hartford, Mikveh Bess Israel of Greater Hartford, Eruv of West Hartford WINTER CLASSES AT YIWH MISHNA BRURAH CLASS With Rabbi Sheinkopf Shabbat Mornings at 8:15AM

RABBI WEINBERG’S SUNDAY MORNING GEMARA CLASS - Masechet Beitzah ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page 2 WEEKLY AUDIO CLASS NEW GUIDELINES FOR DONATIONS “10 Minutes on Tefilla” & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CARDS This class will be emailed every week The YIWH has beautiful, new printed cards to We will be studying Shearim B’Tefilla” be used for acknowledgements and to thank of Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus z”l. individuals for donations. Please send your check with the detailed acknowledgement information (including ad- NEW WOMEN’S LEARNING GROUP dresses as needed) DIRECTLY TO THE SHUL OFFICE OR Wednesday morning at 11:15 AM DONATE ON THE WEB SITE. Cards will be sent out and In Classroom 1 at the JCC a posting will go in the Bulletin unless you direct us otherwise. New Tuesday Night Class Will resume shortly Judie & Lal Patel Mazal tov on the birth of grandsons to: NEW SHABBAT PROGRAM Audrey and Arlen Lichter - Aaron Isaac Raymond called Shabbat Tot Circle Fran & Gene Wittenberg - Yehudah Gavriel It will be a parent led Shabbat group for Debbie & Steve Luger - Noah Reese Levi children ages five and under. The program will be the first Shabbat of every month. In memory of: Parents are invited to stay with their children Jason Wolfe during this program to partake in davening, Steve Malech’s father songs and games. Morton Weinstein’s mother A special Shabbat treat will be served. Bob & Evelyn Harris: In honor of the birth of a grandson to Fran & COMMUNITY TEACH-IN Gene Wittenberg Tuesday, January 20th In honor of the birth of a grandson (Aaron Isaac) 7:30 PM - 9:15 PM at HHNE to Audrey & Arlen Lichter Rabbi Jeremy Bruce In honor of the birth of a grandson to Debbie & Steve Luger HOW TO BECOME GREAT. Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits Rafael & Shoshana Blum: & Professor Ron Kiener In memory of Jason Wolfe KABBALAH: ENTERING THE GARDEN

You are invited to join our roving educational “party” of Community “Teach-Ins!” Please join for one, a few, or all of the monthly Women’s Rosh Chodesh Tehillim Group learning opportunities. Sponsorship of the Wednesday, January 21st at 7:30 PM program is by the Solomon Schechter Day At the home of Barbara Snyder School in cooperation with Beit Midrash, The 22 Mohegan Drive Greater Hartford Institute of Adult Jewish Studies. All programs are free of charge, and run from 7:30 p.m. until 9:15 p.m., and each SCRIP PROGRAM night features two speakers. Refreshments Thank you to our shul members who have either recently will be served. started to participate in the Scrip program or who have continued their involvement. I am happy to report that See Flier for details from July 1st our shul has raised $3152. We now also have JOINT YIWH - CHABAD HAVDALLAH gift cards from Whole Foods to sell to the shul members directly. Daniella (Cell) 516-286-0815 Program for children and parents January 24th. NEW BOOKKEEPER More details to follow. We have a new bookkeeper, Kim Danek. She will be working part time at the Shul office in the same DOR L’DOR capacity as Martha. In general, her hours will be Parent Child Learning at HHNE Mondays & Thursdays Saturday Nights Between 7:00 -8:00 PM from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. (These hours may vary January 24th February 7th slightly this month) You can call during those hours, February 21st or email her at [email protected] and she will get back to you when she is in the office. חודש טוב! Rabbi David Silverberg www.vbm-torah.org Page 3 We find in Parashat Vaera a brief genealogical record of the tribes of Reuven, Shimon and Levi, in which the Torah tells us that Moshe was the product of a marriage between a nephew and his aunt: “Amram took his aunt, Yokheved, as a wife, and she bore him Aharon and Moshe” (6:20). Amram was a son of Kehat, one of the three sons of Levi, and as we know from Sefer Bamidbar (26:59), Yokheved was Kehat’s sister, and was thus an aunt of Amram. The Talmud Yerushalmi (Yevamot 11:2; see also Bavli, Sanhedrin 58b) comments that although Kehat and Yokheved were brother and sister, they had different mothers. Levi had two wives, one of whom gave birth to Yokheved and the other to Kehat. Be- fore Matan Torah, marriages between siblings of this type were permissible, and thus Amram was al- lowed to marry Yokheved. The Tosafists (in Da’at Zekeinim and Rabboteinu Ba’alei Ha-Tosafot) make an interesting com- ment associating Amram and Yokheved’s marriage with the Torah’s presentation of the prohibition against marrying one’s aunt. In Sefer Vayikra (20), the Torah lists the various marriages with relatives that are forbidden, including the prohibition against marrying an aunt (verses 19-20). In each in- stance, the Torah emphasizes that the violation incurs the severe punishment of karet (eternal exci- sion from the nation). The exception is the prohibition against marrying an aunt, in the context of which the Torah makes no mention of karet. The Tosafists claim that this omission was intended to protect the honor of Moshe, who was the product of such a union. Although his parents’ marriage was permissible at the time, it nevertheless could be perceived as a source of disgrace for Moshe, who brought us the Torah which forbids such a marriage. In order to protect Moshe’s honor, the Tosafists assert, the Torah makes no mention of the punishment of karet in the context of this prohibition, as if to deemphasize (though certainly not denying) its gravity. What message might this insight – which the Da’at Zekeinim cites from the Midrash – seek to convey? Why is it significant that the Torah sought to protect Moshe’s honor in this fashion? Rav Yehuda Leib Ginsburg, in his Yalkut Yehuda, explains that the Midrash here warns against mentioning people’s deficiencies over which they have no control. Under the right circumstances and when spoken in the right way, constructive criticism is acceptable and even worthwhile. However, pointing out of a stain on a person’s record which he cannot do anything about is, by definition, not constructive. The Midrash speaks of the need to conceal the “shame” of Moshe’s parents’ marriage to teach us to “conceal” and ignore people’s flaws that cannot be corrected. Noting people’s imperfections is appropriate only if it can lead to a positive, constructive outcome; otherwise, it has no justifica- tion. By noting the concern to protect Moshe’s honor in this regard, the Midrash reminds us to reserve criticism for situations where it is likely to be beneficial, and to avoid criticism that serves no practical purpose.

SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE AT YIWH SHABBAT FEBRUARY 6 - 7, 2015 Ari Gordon & Shuli Taubes Ari and Shuli will be speaking a number of times over Shabbat about some fascinating topics that they have researched. ARI GORDON Ari Gordon is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania in Islamic studies, where he researches the history of Muslim-Jewish relations. He also serves as American Jewish Committee's (AJC) special advisor for Interreligious and Intergroup Relations and, from 2005- 2008, was the department's assistant director. He lectures for international and American groups about Judaism and other religions and serves as a member of the research council of the Interna- tional Conference of Christians and Jews. Ari received his Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School (HDS) in 2010, during which time he was also a Wexner Foundation Graduate Fel- low. He completed his bachelor's degree in philosophy at Yeshiva University in 2005.

SHULI TAUBES Shuli Taubes is a native of Teaneck, NJ, and received her Masters in Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and her BA in history from Barnard College. She currently serves as a fac- ulty member at SAR High School in Riverdale, New York, where she teaches Tanakh, Jewish Iden- tity, and chairs the Jewish Philosophy department. She has also developed and teaches a curricu- lum for educating modern orthodox high school students in comparative religion. Shuli recently represented the American Jewish Committee at interreligious conferences in Berlin and Jerusa- lem. This year Shuli is serving as a Community Scholar at the Young Israel of North Riverdale where she gives shiurim and serves in a pastoral role. Shuli has lectured in synagogues throughout the country as well as at The Drisha Institute and Yeshiva University's Midreshet Yom Rishon. Ari and Shuli are married and currently live in Washington Heights, NY Full Schedule of Lectures To Follow  YIWH Schedule of Services  January 16th - 23rd, 2015 It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush Shabbat Mevorchim Parashat Vaera Or Seudah Shlishit! Friday, January 16th - Erev Shabbat Shul handles set up & Clean up! Shacharit 6:45 a.m. Contact Judie Patel at 860-761-3818, Candle Lighting 4:27 p.m. or [email protected] Mincha/Maariv 4:32 p.m. to check the availability of the date you need & call Fran Wittenberg Shabbat, January 17th at 860-983-4837 Rabbi Sheinkopf’s Mishna Brurah Class 8:00 a.m. to make the arrangements for the Shacharit 8:45 a.m. type of Kiddush you want. Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:38 a.m. Checks need to be received the Shabbat Morning Youth Groups 10:00 a.m. Sunday prior to your Kiddush date. Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 4:00 p.m. There are three types Shabbat Ends 5:29 p.m. of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Sunday, January 18th - Thursday, January 22nd Semi-Deluxe for $250 Earliest Tallit & Tefillin 6:20 a.m. & Deluxe for $350 Shacharit...Sunday - Followed by Breakfast 8:15 a.m. With supplements available. and Rabbi Weinberg’s Gemara Shiur

Shacharit…Monday & Thursday 6:40 a.m. For Seudah Shlishit contact Shacharit…Tuesday 6:45 a.m. Shacharit…Wednesday - Rosh Chodesh Shvat 6:30 a.m. KIDDUSH SCHEDULE Mincha/Maariv...Sunday at YIWH 4:30 p.m. 1/17 Moss Mincha/Maariv...Monday - Thursday at HHNE 4:30 p.m.

Friday, January 23rd - Erev Shabbat Shacharit 6:45 a.m.

Candle Lighting 4:36 p.m. Mincha/Maariv 4:42 p.m.

Check out the weekly Schedule on the YIWH Website youngisraelwh.org/times ~ Times from: ou.org/holidays/calendar For Eruv Information: twitter.com/WHartfordEruv or youngisraelwh.org/eruv or (Hotline - 860-232-6417)

Ner La’Maor - Lights Pat La’Orchim Daniella & Avi Robinson Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit Juanita & Yitz Moss Yayin l’ Kiddush Ve'Havdalah In memory of Yitz’s grandfather Judy & Lauren Daman Albert Sheiner אברהם בן עמנואל In memory of their daughter Michelle Daman Wasserman טובה רנה גיטל פרידה בת אברהם Kiddush Supplement 5775 Candy Man You -Dah -Man Rachel & David Cohen Elisheva & Zev Davidovics Ann & Jeremy Pava Seudah Shlishit Supplement Handy Man Good Humor Man Ilana & Steve Bernstein Patty & Lou Kornreich In honor of their parents Debbie & Steve Luger In honor of Tsion Cohen Victor & Lieba Bernstein Rabbi Richard & Lisa Plavin

WANT TO JOIN THE LISTSERV: To receive emails from the synagogue about classes, events, and times of services consider subscribing to our public listserv by emailing [email protected]. Members of the listserv can email each other about events and other needs by addressing email to [email protected]. Visit our website www.youngisraelwh.org or contact [email protected] for more information.  YIWH Schedule of Services  January 23rd - 30th, 2015 It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush Shabbat Parashat Bo Or Seudah Shlishit! Friday, January 23rd - Erev Shabbat Shul handles set up & Clean up! Shacharit 6:45 a.m. Contact Judie Patel at 860-761-3818, Candle Lighting 4:36 p.m. or [email protected] Mincha/Maariv 4:42 p.m. to check the availability of the date you need & call Fran Wittenberg Shabbat, January 24th at 860-983-4837 Rabbi Sheinkopf’s Mishna Brurah Class 8:00 a.m. to make the arrangements for the Shacharit 8:45 a.m. type of Kiddush you want. Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:37 a.m. Checks need to be received the Shabbat Morning Youth Groups 10:00 a.m. Sunday prior to your Kiddush date. Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 4:25 p.m. There are three types Shabbat Ends 5:38 p.m. of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Sunday, January 25th - Thursday, January 29th Semi-Deluxe for $250 Earliest Tallit & Tefillin 6:20 a.m. & Deluxe for $350 Shacharit...Sunday - Followed by Breakfast 8:15 a.m. With supplements available. and Rabbi Weinberg’s Gemara Shiur

Shacharit…Monday & Thursday 6:40 a.m. For Seudah Shlishit contact Shacharit…Tuesday - Wednesday 6:45 a.m. Mincha/Maariv...Sunday at YIWH 4:40 p.m. KIDDUSH SCHEDULE Mincha/Maariv...Monday - Thursday at HHNE 4:40 p.m.

Friday, January 30th - Erev Shabbat Shacharit 6:45 a.m. Candle Lighting 4:44 p.m. Mincha/Maariv 4:50 p.m.

Elisheva & Zev Davidovics Ann & Jeremy Pava Seudah Shlishit Supplement Handy Man Good Humor Man Ilana & Steve Bernstein In honor of their parents Patty & Lou Kornreich Debbie & Steve Luger In honor of Tsion Cohen Victor & Lieba Bernstein Rabbi Richard & Lisa Plavin

WANT TO JOIN THE LISTSERV: To receive emails from the synagogue about classes, events, and times of services consider subscribing to our public listserv by emailing [email protected]. Members of the listserv can email each other about events and other needs by addressing email to [email protected]. Visit our website www.youngisraelwh.org or contact [email protected] for more information.  YIWH Schedule of Services  January 30th - February 6th, 2015 It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush Shabbat Parashat Yitro Or Seudah Shlishit! Friday, January 30th - Erev Shabbat Shul handles set up & Clean up! Shacharit 6:45 a.m. Contact Judie Patel at 860-761-3818, Candle Lighting 4:44 p.m. or [email protected] Mincha/Maariv 4:50 p.m. to check the availability of the date you need & call Fran Wittenberg Shabbat, January 31st at 860-983-4837 Rabbi Sheinkopf’s Mishna Brurah Class 8:00 a.m. to make the arrangements for the Shacharit 8:45 a.m. type of Kiddush you want. Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:35 a.m. Checks need to be received the Shabbat Morning Youth Groups 10:00 a.m. Sunday prior to your Kiddush date. Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 4:25 p.m. There are three types Shabbat Ends 5:38 p.m. of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Sunday, February 1st - Thursday, February 5th Semi-Deluxe for $250 Earliest Tallit & Tefillin 6:11 a.m. & Deluxe for $350 Shacharit...Sunday - Followed by Breakfast 8:15 a.m. With supplements available. and Rabbi Weinberg’s Gemara Shiur

Shacharit…Monday & Thursday 6:40 a.m. For Seudah Shlishit contact Shacharit…Tuesday - Wednesday 6:45 a.m. Mincha/Maariv...Sunday at YIWH 4:50 p.m. KIDDUSH SCHEDULE Mincha/Maariv...Monday - Thursday at HHNE 4:50 p.m.

Friday, February 6th - Erev Shabbat Shacharit 6:45 a.m. Candle Lighting 4:53 p.m. Mincha/Maariv 4:59 p.m.

WANT TO JOIN THE LISTSERV: To receive emails from the synagogue about classes, events, and times of services consider subscribing to our public listserv by emailing [email protected]. Members of the listserv can email each other about events and other needs by addressing email to [email protected]. Visit our website www.youngisraelwh.org or contact [email protected] for more information.  YIWH Schedule of Services  February 6th - 13th, 2015 It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush Shabbat Mevorchim Parashat Shekalim/Mishpatim Or Seudah Shlishit! Friday, February 6th - Erev Shabbat Shul handles set up & Clean up! Shacharit 6:45 a.m. Contact Judie Patel at 860-761-3818, Candle Lighting 4:53 p.m. or [email protected] Mincha/Maariv 4:59 p.m. to check the availability of the date you need & call Fran Wittenberg Shabbat, February 7th at 860-983-4837 Rabbi Sheinkopf’s Mishna Brurah Class 8:00 a.m. to make the arrangements for the Shacharit 8:45 a.m. type of Kiddush you want. Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:31 a.m. Checks need to be received the Shabbat Morning Youth Groups 10:00 a.m. Sunday prior to your Kiddush date. Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 4:40 p.m. There are three types Shabbat Ends 5:56 p.m. of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Sunday, February 8th- Thursday, February 12th Semi-Deluxe for $250 Earliest Tallit & Tefillin 6:11 a.m. & Deluxe for $350 Shacharit...Sunday - Followed by Breakfast 8:15 a.m. With supplements available. and Rabbi Weinberg’s Gemara Shiur

Shacharit…Monday & Thursday 6:40 a.m. For Seudah Shlishit contact Shacharit…Tuesday - Wednesday 6:45 a.m. Mincha/Maariv...Sunday at YIWH 4:55 p.m. KIDDUSH SCHEDULE Mincha/Maariv...Monday - Thursday at HHNE 4:55 p.m.

Friday, February 13th - Erev Shabbat Shacharit 6:45 a.m. Candle Lighting 5:02 p.m. Mincha/Maariv 5:08 p.m.