Shabbat Hanukkah, Parshat Miketz at Anshe Sholom B'nai

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Shabbat Hanukkah, Parshat Miketz at Anshe Sholom B'nai Welcome to Shabbat Hanukkah, ANNOUNCEMENTS Parshat Miketz We regret to inform you of the passing of Jack Heifetz, father of Rona Heifetz and zeide of Ilana Borzak. For those interested in providing dairy meals, please at Anshe Sholom B’nai lsrael Congregation contact Lori Sagarin at 847-323-1899. May the memory of the righteous be a blessing and a comfort to us all. Amen. December 19 – 20, 2014 28 Kislev 5775 540 West Melrose Street (773) 248-9200 We regret to inform you of the passing of Bella Schwartz, grandmother of Jill Chicago, Illinois 60657 www.asbi.org Schwartz. Shiva is taking place in Los Angeles, California. May the memory of the righteous be a blessing and a comfort to us all. Amen. Kiddush is co-sponsored by Dan & Debbie Eisenstein in honor of We regret to inform you of the passing of Irving Luban, father of Michael David Eisenstein's 25th birthday. Luban. Shiva will take place at Michael & Ann’s home (924 W. Cuyler) on Monday, December 22 (6:30—8:30 PM), Tuesday, December 23 (1:00—8:00 Kiddush is co-sponsored by the Lopatin Hospitality Fund. PM), and Wednesday, December 24 (1:00—8:00 PM), with a (Conservative) minyan at 7:00 PM all three days. May the memory of the righteous be a blessing and a comfort to us all. Amen. SCHEDULE FOR SHABBAT Friday, December 19 ASBI’s Rabbinic Intern Avishai Gebler will appear on “Jeopardy!” this Tuesday, December 23. Be sure to tune in and cheer him on! Light Candles 4:03 PM Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat 4:05 PM Save the stamps you earn at Jewel for The ARK, which will redeem them for free cookware to be distributed to community members in need. Stamps are Saturday, December 20 being collected through December 26 and can be mailed to The ARK (6450 N. Hashkama Minyan 8:00 AM California, Chicago, IL 60645) or dropped off at ASBI. Questions? Contact Caroline at [email protected]. Shacharit with sermon by Rabbi Wolkenfeld 9:00 AM On the Interpretation of Dreams Neighbors Program: Are you an ASBI vet looking to show someone new the Youth Tefillah Groups (see inside for details) 10:30 AM ropes? Are you new to the area and looking for some friendly faces? Sign up to Mincha followed by Shalosh Seudot 3:50 PM be a neighbor as part of our program to welcome members of the Young Shabbat ends, Havdallah at shul 5:04 PM Professional community to Lakeview. To sign up, email Jeremie Lappe at [email protected]. Stay updated on the status of the Eruv at twitter.com/lakefronteruv or call 773- 248-9200, ext. 14, which also gives service times for the upcoming week. Latest time to recite Sh’ma: December 20, 9:31 AM If you would like to set up an appointment with Rabbi Wolkenfeld, please email [email protected] to arrange a time. If there is something urgent that you Daily Services: December 21 – 26 need to discuss with him, please call his cell phone at 917-621-5678. Shacharit: Sunday, Thursday & Friday 8:30 AM Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 6:45 AM ANSHE SHOLOM TRIBUTES Join Rabbi Wolkenfeld and a talkative, open-minded group for the Book of Kings I - Aliyah every weekday morning for 30 minutes after davening. All are welcome. Irving Ehrlich Mincha: In Honor Sunday through Friday 4:10 PM Rachel Harris & Randy Deshazo, with deep gratitude for the kindness and generosity of the community on the birth of their son, Benjamin Donations received after December 17 will be listed in next week's bulletin. Readings for Shabbat Hanukkah, Parshat Miketz Many thanks for these generous donations. Torah: Haftorah: Beresheit 41:1-44:17 Zechariah 2:14-4:7 Hertz: Pages 155-166 Hertz: Pages 987-989 Connect with ASBI on Facebook! Kaplan: Pages 200-220 Kaplan: Pages 1360-1364 “Like” ASBI’s Facebook page at Stone: Pages 222-248 Stone: Pages 1210-1211 Facebook.com/asbichicago. Yom Kippur Appeal 5775 Celebrate Hanukkah at ASBI! Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to Following Mincha/Ma’ariv each night of Hanukkah, children are this year’s Yom Kippur Appeal! invited to visit ASBI to light candles & receive Hanukkah Gelt! Thanks to you, we have exceeded our goal for 5775 of Sunday, December 21 $136,000! Hanukkah Crafts for Kids, 3:00 PM There is still time to make a pledge and help us reach 100% Women’s Hanukkah Celebration, 8:00 PM member participation. Dues only account for 41% of the shul’s operating expenses; every contribution to YKA helps to ensure ASBI Women’s Hanukkah Celebration that the shul can pay building utilities, staff salaries, programming costs, and much more. To contribute or complete payment for Sunday, December 21, 8:00 PM, at ASBI your pledge, visit asbi.org/payment.php. Come schmooze at our Women's Hanukkah The shul is counting on your support! Wine & Cheese Tasting Time is running out to make a contribution to ASBI in 2014! Learn about Judith and why we have a tradition of eating wine and cheese during Hanukkah. For income tax purposes, charitable contributions may be deducted against income for the calendar year in which the contributions are Registration is now closed, but please email made. For 2014 deductions, your checks must be dated and postmarked [email protected] if you would still like to attend. by December 31. Credit card payments can be made at asbi.org/payment.php until 11:59 PM on December 31. ASBI Winter Playroom Open Hours Communal playtime for ASBI kids with their parents & caregivers Hanukkah Crafts for Kids Where: ASBI Playroom When: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Sunday, December 21, 3:00 PM Mondays & Thursdays in the ASBI Social Hall (Not available on select dates when the shul office is closed, including Thursday, January 1, 2015) ASBI kids 7 and under, join Yarden Cottrell and Ayala Klein for Hanukkah-themed art projects. Stay after crafts for a children’s candle lighting and sufganiyot! This is a free event. Walk-ins are welcome. Support Team Cara & Chai Lifeline Beit Midrash Wednesdays Team Cara will be running in the Miami Half Marathon on Join us every week for dinner and open learning, followed January 25 to raise money for Chai Lifeline in honor of Cara by an accessible and thought-provoking shiur. Lopatin. Chai Lifeline is an organization that helps support kids 7:00 PM: Open learning, including bekiut Talmud with Rabbi and their families who are facing serious illness. Wolkenfeld Last year, Team Cara raised over $81,000 for Chai Lifeline. 7:30 PM: Dinner Donate and help sponsor a Team Cara runner at 8:00 PM: Shiur teamlifeline.org/my/60300. “Crisis and Continuity: Halakhah at the Crossroads,” a four-part series with Rabbi David Wolkenfeld January 7 Automation & Autonomy: From Shabbat Timers to the Shabbat App January 14 Got Milk? Commercial Milk and Modern Jewish Identity January 21 Team Cara Participants: Please Pass the Cheese: Kraft Cheese, Tablet-K, and the Politics of Kashrut Andrew Ackerman Stuart Sprague* Graciela Bucay Shoshana Sprague Fain January 28 Jonathan Cope* Nancy Weinberger Female Orthodox Rabbis Deena Davis* David Wolkenfeld* David Fain Stuart Zisholtz RSVP's are required for dinner. The cost for dinner is $5. Julie Gans Bini Zomer Please register at asbi.org prior to 11:00 AM on the day of Andrea Katz* Heather Zomber the class. Rachel Lopatin Dinner walk-ins will be accommodated as possible at $10 per person. Joseph Raviv* *ASBI Members Melissa Rothwax Hilkhot Niddah: The Laws of Jewish Family Life with Sara Wolkenfeld at ASBI This year’s ASBI Annual Meeting will be Tuesdays, December 30, January 6, 13 & 20, 8:00 PM Sunday, January 11, 2015, at 10:00 AM. This four-part class is designed to be an introductory class for engaged couples or conversion candidates, as well as a refresher course for married couples. Sara Wolkenfeld, If you would like to host ASBI’s Rabbinic Intern Avishai director of the ASBI Mikvah, has taught hilkhot niddah to Gebler for a Shabbat meal or provide overnight hospitality, brides and couples since 2004 and has studied Talmud and please contact Rabbi Wolkenfeld at [email protected]. Halakhah at numerous institutions of higher Jewish education in America and Israel. Avishai will be visiting ASBI January 16-17, February 13-14, March 18-21, and April 17-18, with additional dates TBD. This is a free class. Please register at asbi.org. Please review the following chart and let the office know if you would like either to read Torah or to sponsor or co-sponsor a Kiddush or Shalosh Seudot. We’ll be happy to help with the arrangements. DATE KIDDUSH SHALOSH SEUDOT TORAH PORTION HAFTORAH December 27 Taken Vayigash Rabbi David Wolkenfeld January 3 Taken Vayechi [email protected] January 10 Taken Taken Avishai Gebler Shemot Rabbinic Intern Celebrate your own, your child’s, or a loved one’s birthday/anniversary/milestone by OFFICERS – 2013-2014 / 5774-5775 sponsoring or co-sponsoring a Kiddush or Shalosh Seudot. President – Rabbi Paul Saiger • One Shabbat each month will be our Birthday/Anniversary Kiddush, to celebrate birthdays/anniversaries/ Immediate Past President – David Harris milestones in that month. Vice President - Ways and Means – James Faier • You may co-sponsor a Kiddush by contributing a smaller amount. Vice President - House – Jeremy Treister Small Kiddush Meal $720 Light Kiddush Lunch $1080 Hearty Kiddush Lunch $1440 Shalosh Seudot $118 Vice President - Membership – Danielle Gershon 1 main course 2 main courses 3 main courses assorted salads Vice President - Ritual – Dr.
Recommended publications
  • Shabbat Hanukkah, Parshat Miketz Rosh Chodesh Tevet at Anshe
    Welcome to Shabbat Hanukkah, Parshat Miketz ANNOUNCEMENTS Mazal tov to Chai Wilensky & Ash Zarkowsky on the birth of a baby boy on Thursday, December 10. Rosh Chodesh Tevet The bris is expected to take place after shacharit on Thursday, December 17, at ASBI. If you would like at Anshe Sholom B’nai lsrael Congregation to help with meals, please visit TakeThemAMeal.com (Last Name: Wilensky/Zarkowsky, Password: Baby Z). May this child's life be filled with the insights of Torah, the warm and supportive love of December 11 – 12, 2015 / 30 Kislev 5776 family and community, and the blessing of good deeds. Amen! Mazal tov to Zahava & Ariel Berkowicz on the bris and naming of their son Judah Emanuel Kiddush this week is co-sponsored by the Lopatin Hospitality Fund. Berkowicz. May this child's life be filled with the insights of Torah, the warm and supportive love of family and community, and the blessing of good deeds. Amen! SCHEDULE FOR SHABBAT Saturday’s Women’s Hanukkah Celebration has been cancelled.Apologies for any inconvenience. Friday, December 11 Thank you to an anonymous donor for sponsoring latkes for this week’s Young Professionals Dinner. Light Candles 4:01 PM Stay updated on the status of the Eruv at twitter.com/lakefronteruv. Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv 4:05 PM To set up an appointment with Rabbi Wolkenfeld, please email [email protected]. If there is something Young Professionals Dinner (by reservation only) 6:15 PM urgent that you need to discuss with him, please call his cell phone at 917-621-5678.
    [Show full text]
  • Parshat Vayigash January 7, 2017 Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
    PARSHAT VAYIGASH JANUARY 7, 2017 RABBI VERNON KURTZ The custom to complete the weekly public readings of the Torah every year on the holiday of Simchat Torah finds its roots in Babylonia of the Talmudic Era. The Torah was divided into 54 sections or Parshiyot to allow for the completion of the yearly cycle with the reading of one Parshah every week. This week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, follows the story immediately told in last week’s Miketz. But, the Rabbis seem to be enamored with the old-time serial movies or the modern-day soap operas by leaving us last week with a cliff-hanger of a story and asking us to wait a week to complete it. Last week, towards the end of our Torah reading, the divining cup of the Viceroy of Egypt, Joseph, is found in the food sack of Benjamin. We know that it was a set-up by Joseph as he had instructed his servants to bring Benjamin back to Egypt and send the other brothers on their way to Canaan. The brothers refuse to leave the side of their young brother and are all brought back to stand before Joseph. At that point, the Torah reading last week ends and we are left on the edge of our seats to find out what happened. If this was a mystery novel many of us would not put it down until we knew what had occurred or we would look at the end of the book to find out what happened. Rabbi Zev Leff asks: “Why did the previous Parshah have to end with such a cliff- hanger? Why didn’t the Torah simply extend Parshat Miketz a few more verses and include the resolution of this story? Why do we have to wait a whole week
    [Show full text]
  • Parshah Miketz – D'var Torah by Joel M. Bernstein December 28Th 2019
    Parshah Miketz – d’var Torah by Joel M. Bernstein December 28th 2019 … for … this week’s Parshah, Miketz, a continuation of the story of Joseph and his brothers… I have reviewed the following scholarly material. UNDERSTANDING GENESIS, a thorough review by one of the most brilliant experts on this part of Torah, Nahum Sarna; TORAH TODAY, a renewed encounter with scripture by Pinchas Peli; review of multiple commentaries from faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary; Professor Robert Alter, and of course, my favorite source, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The titles of my D’var Torah are Remaining Jewish and Appearance and Reality. Except for Chapter 38 of Genesis which is to me a most important chapter demonstrating the process of the beginning of repentance of Judah and his affair with his daughter in law Tamar, the story of Joseph and his brothers from Chapters 37 to 50 is a profound analysis of how a son of Jacob, who literally becomes Egyptian because of his God-given gift of interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh, maintains his identity as a Jew. This idea is as important today as we see assimilation of Jews into secular cultures, intermarriage where the children do not maintain their contact with Judaism, and 3000 years of maintaining Jewish existence as we celebrate the defeat of the Greek-Syrians by the Maccabees slightly over 2000 thousand years ago and today celebrate the Holiday of Chanukah. As the Book of Genesis approaches its conclusion, we realize the significance of names and naming—especially at the heart of the Joseph story.
    [Show full text]
  • Teacher's Lesson Flow: at the End (Miketz)
    מקץ (Teacher’s Lesson Flow: At the end (Miketz Genesis 41:1-44:17 ~ Zechariah 2:14-4:7 ~ Matthew 21-22 Life Verse: Matthew 22:37-39 New English Translation (NET Bible) 37 Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 5. Reinforcing the WORD to Build “Banah” Lives a. Praise Words to Thank YHVH God. b. Read aloud Life verse: Matthew 22:37-39 c. Read aloud Hebrew letters and vocabulary. d. Does God help you find answers? e. Was God with Joseph brothers in their trouble? f. Is God with you in your troubles? g. How do you show love to those that hurt you? 1. Start Here PRAISE “Hallel” 4. a. Prayer and Praise to the Lord New Testament God is With Us “B’rit Chadashah” Including the Fruit of the Spirit a. Story of the man who tried and Helps Us! definition and Hebrew Praise to trick Jesus Word. b. Love (AHAV) b. Life Scripture practice - Matthew 22:35-39 c. Hebrew writing practice c. Game or Activity d. Read Story Children’s work pages begin here! 2. 3. God’s Teachings/Law – “Torah” Prophets/Writings “Haftarah” a. Pharaoh 2 dreams - Genesis 41:1-16 a. The BRANCH our forgiveness b. God gives Joseph the meaning of the dreams for Zechariah 3:8 Pharaoh Genesis 41:25-32-39 c. Joseph rules Egypt - Genesis 41:42-49 d.
    [Show full text]
  • Parashat Miketz: When Reality Invites You to Play Rabbi Elisha Wolfin
    Parashat Miketz: When Reality Invites You to Play Rabbi Elisha Wolfin Dear Friends, Years have passed since Yoseph was thrown into jail. He is a leader of prisoners, he is an interpreter of dreams, but he is certain that the world has forgotten about him. If nothing changes, he will rot there for the rest of his life. And then Pharaoh dreams his two famous dreams, and everything changes. History is about to unfold! Pharaoh is bewildered by his dreams and none of his sorcerers and magicians are able to comfort him. Finally the chief baker, who had previously been imprisoned with Yoseph, and had witnessed Yoseph’s dream interpretation first- hand, remembers him. Yoseph's life is about to change completely. From a prisoner wrongly accused, he becomes Pharaoh's second-in-command. He will marry and have two children, and in nine years (still in Parashat Miketz) he will be reunited with his brothers, who will bow down to him exactly as he had dreamed so many years previously. It is very surprising to me that Pharaoh and his sorcerers are unable to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. The dreams are simple enough and the sorcerers are indeed very skilled (they will one day prove that they too can turn a staff into a serpent!). As a child, I loved daydreaming. These dreams were a source of sanity and hope when reality around me was less pleasant. Years have passed and I no longer daydream. I don't have time for it. I am too busy with concrete reality.
    [Show full text]
  • Parsha Miketz Torah Reading - Page 222 Haftorah - Page 1143
    December 16, 2017 28 Kislev 5778 Shabbat Mevarchim - Parsha Miketz Torah Reading - Page 222 Haftorah - Page 1143 In the Week Ahead Saturday, Dec 16 - Chanukah, 4th Day Shacharit ...................................................................................................... 9:00 a.m. Tot Shabbat ............................................................................................... 10:40 a.m. Chanukah Luncheon .............................................................................. 11:30 a.m. Insights Into the Weekly Torah Portion ......................................... 3:35 p.m. Mincha/Seudah Shlishit......................................................................... 4:20 p.m. Havdalah ...................................................................................................... 5:43 p.m. Sunday, Dec 17 - Chanukah, 5th Day Shacharit ...................................................................................................... 9:00 a.m. Bagels & Beit Medrash ........................................................................... 9:45 a.m. The Jewish Way to Death and Mourning ........................................ 10:00 a.m. JYE BI Chanukah Carnival ..................................................................... 4:00 p.m. Monday, Dec 18 - Chanukah, 6th Day Shacharit ...................................................................................................... 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec 19 - Chanukah, 7th Day Shacharit .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mishnas Chayim Bereishes 5769.Indd
    project of A : MISHNAS CHAYIMMISHNAH ON THE PARSHAH Parshas Toldos 5769 ❧ THE GOOD OLD DAYS As we shall see, however, this very arrangement is itself a testimony to Yitzchak’s special greatness. SHORTCHANGED? CHAS V’SHALOM! UNEARTHING THE MYSTERY Taking a quick overview of the three Avos Opening up this somewhat cryptic passage is the (Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya’akov) in sefer Rabbeinu Bechaye. He explains the issue of the Bereishis, we notice something interesting. wells on two levels, each centering on the same The Torah devotes significant space to discussing basic idea. the life of Avraham Avinu. In parshas Lech Lecha, “And all of the wells that were dug in the days of parshas Vayeira, and parshas Chayei Sarah, the Avraham were stopped up by the Plishtim, who narrative focuses primarily on Avraham. Ya’akov filled them with earth... And Yitzchak went back, receives similar treatment. In a good portion of this and re-dug the wells... which the Plishtim had sealed week’s parshah of Toldos, as well as Vayeitzei and after Avraham’s death; and he gave them the same Vayishlach, Ya’akov plays a major role; and names that his father had given them” (Bereishis Vayeisheiv, Miketz, Vayigash, and Vayechi deal 26:15,18). extensively with the actions of Ya’akov’s sons and Rabbeinu Bechaye points out that these verses the effect on their father. highlight Yitzchak’s purpose in this endeavor, as What may initially seem strange is the extent – or well as his life-mission. We see that Yitzchak was lack thereof – to which Yitzchak appears.
    [Show full text]
  • Shabbat Table Talk for Miketz
    Hebrew for Christians www.hebrew4christians.com Parashat Miketz Shabbat Table Talk Page Overview • Parashah: Miketz ( #QEmi, “at the end of”) • Chapters: Genesis 41:1–44:17 hr"At yrEb.dIB. qAs[]l; Wnw"ñciw> Ãwyt'wOc.miB. Wnvñ'D>qi rv,a] Ã~l'A[h' %l,m,ñ Wnyheñl{a/ hw"hy> hT'a; %WrB' – Torah Study Blessing – Synopsis Last week’s Torah portion (i.e., Vayeshev) related how Joseph, the favored son of Israel, was cruelly sold into slavery by his jealous brothers for 20 pieces of silver. However, the LORD was with him, and soon he was promoted to be the supervisor of his master’s household! When Joseph steadfastly turned away from the seduction of his master’s wife, however, he was unjustly thrown into prison, though Potiphar soon promoted him to help manage the jail. After successfully interpreting the dream of Pharaoh’s imprisoned wine steward, Joseph hoped to be released from his unjust imprisonment, but the steward forgot to make appeal for him before the Pharaoh. Two years after the wine steward was freed from prison, Pharaoh had two unusual dreams (in one, seven lean cows devoured seven well-fed cows, yet remained lean; in the other, seven thin ears of grain swallowed seven full ears, yet remained thin). Pharaoh was disturbed and called for his magicians and wise men to explain their significance, but none of them could do so. Then the wine steward remembered how Joseph had correctly interpreted his dream two years ago and promptly told Pharaoh, who hastily summoned Joseph to appear before him.
    [Show full text]
  • Rabbi Norman Lamm Parshat Miketz the Jewish Center December 13, 1969
    RABBI NORMAN LAMM PARSHAT MIKETZ THE JEWISH CENTER DECEMBER 13, 1969 "THREE TABLES" The Bible, as the Word of God, inspires in us deep feelings of reverence and awe, sometimes even fear. For when we confront it, we stand face to face with the immortal and imperishable words of the Creator of the universe in all His awesome infinity and power. That is why the Torah often seems to us so austere, so severe. Probably the last thing in the world we would attribute to the Bible is -- a sense of humor. It certainly would seem dis- cordant in the context of Biblical solemnity and incommensurate with the weightiness of the Biblical message. Yet if one reads our Sidra in truly perceptive fashion he cannot help but notice that the Torah is not at all strait- laced. Indeed, in one verse it gives us an insight into a situation that is genuinely comical, even downright funny. Consider the situation: at the second visit of the bro- thers to Joseph, the viceroy of all Egypt orders his Egyptian subjects to prepare a royal banquet for him, the viceroy, for the Egyptian subjects, and for the visitors from Canaan. One would ex- pect that a large official table be set around which would be seated all the guests in appropriate order. Instead, the royal dining room is broken up into three parts, and instead of a large and majestic dining room table, we have three tables: the equivalent of a small bridge table for the sovereign by himself, a slightly larger one -2- for the Canaanite visitors, and probably the largest of all for the various subordinates and lackeys amongst the Egyptians.
    [Show full text]
  • December 24, 2020 Vayigash - Message from Rabbi Wexler
    December 24, 2020 Vayigash - Message from Rabbi Wexler: I know that we are still about a week away from New Years, but I must say, I am eager for the year 2020 to end. To say that 2020 has been a difficult year is an understatement. Winter has begun and the Pandemic continues to rage. We hope that the year 2021 will bring healing, new beginnings, and a return to some sense of “normalcy.” In these last days of 2020, we see glimmers of hope and light at the end of the tunnel, underscored by the photos and Facebook posts of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers and front-line workers receiving their COVID-19 vaccination. The year 2021 is on the horizon and with it will certainly come both new opportunities and sustained challenges. As we look towards the new year, the names of last week and this week’s Torah portions help us to frame this moment. Last Shabbat we read the Torah portion, Miketz, which means “at the end.” Meanwhile, this Shabbat we will read the Torah portion of Vayigash, which means “and he approached.” Together these two Torah portions highlight pivotal moments in Joseph’s life. Last week marked an ending in Joseph’s life; the end of two years of physical imprisonment, but also the end of Joseph living an immature, self-centered existence, in which he searched for meaning. This week Joseph assumes a new mature existence in which he takes it upon himself to create meaning. Joseph’s brothers have come down to Egypt in search of food.
    [Show full text]
  • בייה Genesis 41:1-44:17 the Parashat Begins Two Years Later
    בייה PORTION DATE HEB DATE TORAH NEVIIM KETUVIM Miketz 16 Dec 2017 28 Kislev 5778 Gen. 41:1-44:17 Zech 2:14-4:7 John 10:22-28 Genesis 41:1-44:17 The parashat begins two years later after the release of the Royal Cupbearer – a total of twelve years since Joseph was imprisoned. At this point, Joseph was almost 30 years old, Jacob 120, and Isaac 180. The Sages teach that Isaac died about this time. This week’s parashat as well as last week’s parashat talks about dreams. The dreams of Joseph, the dreams of royal servant, the dreams of Pharaoh. Their dreams have significance that have changed the history of Jacob’s family. The Talmud, however tells us that we should not pay too much attention to our dreams as it will tell lies. However, the Gemara says some dreams are good. It is important to distinguish the dreams that we have today to the days in the Scripture. Because their spiritual purity was significantly greater than us. That being said, the dreams that we have an hour or two before we wake up has some meanings. For example, if you have same or similar dreams more than once, than it has some significance as it is a sign. The Scripture tells us that some dreams are prophetic, i.e. Balaam in Numbers 22. Of all prophets, there were 48 prophets, 7 prophetess, and one gentile prophet, only Moses was the greatest of all prophets. It is said that Moses saw all the prophecies of other prophets combined, and more.
    [Show full text]
  • A Taste of Text: Source Based Learning for Shabbat This Weekly Sheet Is Brought to You by Rabbi Dr
    A Taste of Text: Source based learning for Shabbat This weekly sheet is brought to you by Rabbi Dr. Moshe Freedman of Northwood United Synagogue in conjunction with Shapell's/Darché Noam PARSHAT MIKETZ DVAR TORAH: YEHUDAH’S RETURN In last week’s parshah, the Torah opens the episode of Yehudah’s marriage using a negative sounding verb: Yehudah went down from his brothers. Thus, says Rashi, the Torah writes between the ,וירד יהודה מאת אחיו lines that, after the selling of Yosef, not only did Yehudah move away from the rest of the family, his status also dropped. He had been a leader and the brothers deposed him when they saw their father Yaakov’s distress. “You told us to sell him,” they said. “Had you told us to return him to his father we would have listened to you.” According to the Kli Yakar, not only was Yehudah “deposed” by the brothers, but he wanted to separate from them as well – Yehudah went down from his brothers. Rav Moshe Tzvi Neriah, of blessed memory, in Ner Lamaor, elaborates: They claimed that as leader he should have directed them to return Yosef, but, his counter-claim was that they did not look to him as a leader when they condemned Yosef to death. They didn’t consult with him. Only later during their meal were they responsive to his suggestion to minimize the damage and sell Yosef into slavery. The brothers, though, suspected he knew they were right but wasn’t willing to admit it. We are therefore surprised in this week’s parshah to see Yehudah together with the rest of the family and take a central leadership role in Miketz, Vayigash, and Vayechi.
    [Show full text]