Shabbat Parshat Vayishlach B”H Friday, December 13, 2019 15 Kislev, 5780 MAZEL TOV: To Lance and Jessica Reisch on the Birth of their Baby girl, mazal tov to Candle Lighting 4:10 PM the Brothers - Eric and Ethan and Grandparents - Richard and Marlene Yuzik, Carol Reisch Mincha at 4:20 PM

KIDDUSH: is sponsored by Lance and Jessica in honor of this blessing Shabbat Services Tanya/soul maps 8:30 AM Shacharit 9:00 AM Mincha 4:10 PM GIRLS SHABBAT LOUNGE: Instead of Jr. Congregation for your daughter Grade 4+ we are Shabbat Ends 5:14PM excited to offer the “Girls Shabbat Lounge” which is a comfy welcoming space where she can Havdalah Service/Living Torah DVD daven, snack and schmooze with her friends. It will be open every week on Shabbos with older of the Rebbe 5:14 PM supervision from 10:45-12 pm.

Junior Congregation BAR MITZVAH CLUB: Rabbi Shneor Wolfman will be teaching Bar Mitzvah boys and at 10:45 am - 12 pm Chabad on a weekly basis, if you are interested to have him teach your son please email Rabbi PreK-Grade 3 (upstairs) - Mrs. Dina Levi Shemtov asap [email protected] Klapper Grades 4+ Girls (downstairs) - Girls lounge KOSHER MEDITATION WORKSHOP: The Jewish Women’s Circle presents a Holistic Aviva Laskin & Maya Rudoy Techniques for today’s Jew: A Torah workshop to Jewish Meditation Monday, December 16th Grade 4+ Boys (downstairs library) 7:45-9:30 PM. (see flyer for details)

NEXT WEEKS SCHEDULE Sunday Shacharit 8:45 AM WINTER TORAH SEMINAR: Infusing Jewish scholarship with spirituality and purpose. For Monday– Friday 6:55 AM young adults ages 18-26. December 23-26, NYC. Register at www.AriSeminar.com

A TWEET TREAT FOR SHABBAT CYP SHABBATON: “Encounter: 2020” for young jews ages 25-35. Januaary 17-19, 2020. The real reason you can’t get a Please email [email protected] kosher t-bone steak http://ChabadRiverdale.org/784896 CHANUKAH ANNOUNCEMENTS: CHANUKAH ON ICE: —Sunday December 22 , 5 - 8 pm, atLasker ring North Central Park. Online: $22/admission with no skate rental; $30/with skate rental; under 3 is free At the door: $28/admission with no skate rental; $35/with skate rental, under 3 is free RSVP

@ CHANUKAHONICENYC.COM

Updates 1 GIANT MENORAH LIGHTING: Join us for our annual Giant Menorah Lighting on Sunday Parsha in a Nutshell 2 December 22, 4pm, at the Bell Monument! Live music, Latkes, Doughnots Dreidels and .... Monday - Thuersday 4pm Friday 3:00 pm Saturday night 6:30 pm Sunday December 29 4pm Meditation Workshop 3

Riverdale & Beyond 4 BRING JOY TO CHILDREN WITH ILLNESS!: We will be delivering toys to sick children Tehilim List 5 in the hospital over Chanukah. Please donate unwrapped toys to Chabad of Riverdale, 535 Weekly Article 6 West 246th Street. Our offices are open from 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Thursday. Donations can also be made online on our website. We are also looking for volunteers to visit hospitals on Dec 10 –13. If you can help, email us at [email protected]. PARSHA IN A NUTSHELL Vayishlach Genesis 32:4–36:43

Jacob returns to the Holy Land after a 20-year stay in Haran, and sends angel-emissaries to Esau in hope of a reconciliation, but his messengers report that his brother is on the warpath with 400 armed men. Jacob prepares for war, prays, and sends Esau a large gift (consisting of hundreds of heads of livestock) to appease him.

That night, Jacob ferries his family and possessions across the Jabbok River; he, however, re- mains behind and encounters the angel that embodies the spirit of Esau, with whom he wres- tles until daybreak. Jacob suffers a dislocated hip but vanquishes the supernal creature, who bestows on him the name Israel, which means “he who prevails over the divine.” Jacob and Esau meet, embrace and kiss, but part ways. Jacob purchases a plot of land near Shechem, whose crown prince— also called Shechem—abducts and rapes Jacob’s daughter Dinah. Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi avenge the deed by kill- ing all male inhabitants of the city, after rendering them vulnerable by convincing them to circumcise themselves.

Jacob journeys on. Rachel dies while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, and is buried in a roadside grave near Beth- lehem. Reuben loses the birthright because he interferes with his father’s marital life. Jacob arrives in Hebron, to his father Isaac, who later dies at age 180. (Rebecca has passed away before Jacob’s arrival.)

Our Parsha concludes with a detailed account of Esau’s wives, children and grandchildren, the family histories of the people of Seir among whom Esau settled, and a list of the eight kings who ruled Edom, the land of Esau’s and Seir’s descendants.

RIVERDALE & BEYOND

CHANUKAH PARTY: (For Riverdale Single Moms) Bring along your children to join the fun participat- ing in games, crafts, food & fun. Sunday 12/22/19 12:30-2:30 PM at the home of Orital Weinroth. 5035 Ar- lington Ave. please RSVP at [email protected]

HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER: 6 bedroom (includes maids room on lower level)/6 bathroom (5 full plus 1 powder) house for sale by owner. Large circular driveway with 4 brick columns Extensive landscaping. Full gut renovation, all new. Call or text for details (917) 496-5373

THE GEMACH OF RIVERDALE: Provides interest-free loans to Riverdale families and individuals in our community who find themselves with unexpected shortfalls or short-term capital needs. The Gemach is flexi- ble - providing interest-free loans from $500-$100,000, and with repayments up to 5 years. Founded in 2013, Gemach has funded over 30 loans totaling over $325,000 for uses such as Credit Card Consolidation, Unex- pected Tax Bills, Student Loan Payments, Starting a New Business, Medical Procedures, Home Repairs, Plan- ning a Simcha, New Home Expenses, Tuition Payments. 1. If you or someone you know can use an interest free loan, please contact Gemach of Riverdale. 2. Every loan requires two guarantors who stand ready to repay if the borrower doesn't. We wish to acknowledge and thank all those people in the community who have served as guarantors for their fellow Jew. 3. Know that all inquiries and discussions with the Gemach are han- dled with absolute confidentiality. 4. To learn more about the Gemach or how you can help in this effort, please contact Rabbi Moish Drelich. The Gemach is an incredible community wide resource, established to help strengthen our Riverdale Jewish community. The Gemach has granted loans to members of every shul in our community. [email protected] 917.408.3035

BIKUR CHOLIM: Bikur Cholim of Riverdale wishes to inform you that the Yehuda Memorial Bikur Cholim Room at Mon- tefiore Hospital will be fully stocked with food for Yom Tov. We are currently planning the volunteer schedule for this coming year. If you would like to volunteer on a weekly, bi-monthly or monthly basis or you would like to volunteer for Respite please contact us. We need your help!! If you need more information about the room or the services Bikur Cholim provides year-round, please contact us Bikur Cholim of Riverdale or Tammy Alter at 917-543-4844 and Orital Weinroth at 917- 257-5681.

The Bikur Cholim of Riverdale Medical Equipment Gemach, named in memory of Dr. Mark Ellen, Elimelech ben Chaim Yehoshua Hakohen loans out medical equipment at no charge to those in need in the Riverdale community. We stock wheelchairs, walkers, rollaids, commodes, adult and children’s crutches, shower chairs, a bed assist rail, an IV stand, a cane, a waterproof cast protector and other small medical-related items. Please contact Bikur Cholim of Riverdale or Orital Weinroth at 917-257-5681 and Tammy Alter at 917-543-4844 for more information or to arrange a drop-off or pick-up.

TEHILLIM (PSALMS) LIST We compile and maintain a Tehillim list of the names of people who need a refuah shlaima (speedy recovery) so we may all daven for them. Dr. Frimet Skolas has volunteered to coordinate names for a Tehillim list for the weekly Shabbat bulletin. So if you know someone who isn’t well, please contact Frimet at 1-347-602-7951, fax 1-347-602-7951, or e-mail: [email protected]. All names need to be rein- stated 8 weeks after submission or they will automatically be deleted. Frimet will update the list every Wednesday evening.

Rabbi Adin ben Rivka Lea Elisheva Malka bas Sarah Miriam Pesha Soroh bas Esther Aurilia Myriam bat Rivka Victoria Esther bas Rochel Reuven ben Aliza

Avraham Ben Devorah Esther bat Maguy Rivkah Leah bas Sarah Raiza Avraham Abba Ben Sara Chana Ephraim Matan Ben Chana Riva Devorah bas Raizel Gittel Avraham Shmelka ben Sarah Frimet bas Chaya Gitel Reizel Gitel bas Rochel Leah Baruch Moshe ben Esther Freida Rochel bas Esther Ruth bas Rivka Beila bas Sarah Gershon Elchanan hacohain ben Tzvia Rachel Chana bas Sidell

Bracha Faiga bas Yehudis Gitel bas Sheindel Sara bat Shoshana

Bracha Rivkah bat Yehudis Devorah Golda Shira bat Yenta Rochel Sarah bas Yael Carmela bat Juliet Hadassah Raizel bat Sorel Schneur Chaim Yitzchok Alexander Ben Nechama Dina

Channah bat Rivka Hinda Sorah Rochel bas Yitta Shlome Alter Dov Yehuda Halevi ben Gila Esther

Chana bas Devorah Huna ben Esther Shmuel ben Ellen Chana bas Mushka Juliet bat Hanna Sholom Mordechai Halevi Ben Rivkah Chana Breindel bas Gittel Jadon and Anias bas Nicole Shoshanah Faige bas Devorah Chaim Dovid ben Blume Kalman ben Dobe Sima bas Chana Chaim Shraga Feivel ben Chaya Leah Mal- Kayla Sarah bas Malka Yentel Sorah Hadassah bas Gittel ka Chana Chaya bas Yenta Bayla Lea bat Valerie Tzvi ben Miriam Chaya Bella bas Rivka Leah bat Rachel Tzadik haLevi ben Masha Rachel Chaya Sorah bas Devorah Yuda Leah Luba bas Baila Yael bas Sarah Channah Liba bat Chaya Sarah Liat bat Carmela Yaacov aryeh dov ben resha matel Cherna bas Liba Lieba Chaya bas Devora Yuda Yakot bat Zochra

Daliya Bat Batya Malka Devorah bat Ella Chava Yehudit bat Sarah Daveda shimona bas Malka rivka Masha bas Tzimi Yehudis bas Feigel Rachel Devorah Hinda bat Bracha Meir ben Trina Yehudis Chaye bas Gittel Devorah Lieba bas Yael Menucha Rochel bas Gilah Elkah Yehudis Tirtza Chana bas Bracha

Doba Baila bas Malka Menachem Mendel Mordechai ben Miriam Yissaschar ben Roza Rasha

David Shlomo ben Lea Mechachem Ksil ben Kayla Yona bas Chana

Dovid Shlomo ben Shoshana Malka Moshe Chaim ben Yehudis Yoshua Tzvi ben Nechama Lea Dovid ben Sarah Moshe Yoel Lee ben Chana Yosef Yisrael ben Dina Eheskiel Baruch Ben Leah Miriam bas Chaya Sorah Yosef bezalel ben Rus Eliyahu ben Miriam Miriam Esther Bas Sorah Yonatan Halevi ben Malka

Eliezar Ben Pearl Naftali Hertz Chaim ben Feiga Gitel Zehava Nechama Chaya bat Elisheva

Nechama bas Chana Elisheva Malka bas Sarah Miriam Eliana bat Chana Nechama Miriam bas Shternah Chana

If you only knew - The Tzemach Tzedek said - the power of verses of Tehillim and their effect in the highest Heavens, you would recite them constantly. Know that the chapters of Tehillim shatter all barriers; they ascend higher and still higher with no interference; they pros- trate themselves in supplication before the Master of all worlds; and they effect and accomplish with kindness and compassion (Chaf). We know that when an individual says any amount of Tehillim (Psalms) she/he can merit many blessings. This is particularly true when the entire book of Tehillim is recited by a group of individuals, since G-d blesses us when we are united in peace with one another. It is also considered as if each of the individuals who take part in the group recited the entire Tehillim, not just their allotted chapters. You can say it anytime and anywhere that Shabbat. If you wish to participate, please indicate how many average-sized chapters (psalms) you would like to say and your preference. I will contact you to let you know your allotted chapters. In the merit of saying Tehillim may we receive the blessings we need individually and for Klal Yisrael. Please reply to Frimet Skolas at [email protected] or call 1-347-602-7951. VAYISHLACH: The Cosmic Twins By Rabbi Yossy Goldman

Our sages tell us that before G‑d created our world, He created an “earlier” state of existence—the world of Tohu (“Chaos”). But this was a world of “much light and scant vessels.” As a result, the vessels burst and the light escaped. G‑d then created “our” world—the world of Tikkun (“Correction”), constructed with “broad containers and scant light” that allow it to function and endure.

(“Light” (or) is the Kabbalistic term for an emanation of Divine energy; “containers” (kelim) are the Divine forces that channel, define, and focus the “light.” A soul, for example, is a “light,” while a body is a “vessel.” A world, whether physical or spiritual, consists of lights deriving from the Divine power to reveal and bestow, and vessels deriving from the Divine power to define and delimit.)

There was a reason for this “debacle.” G‑d desired that our “correct” world should be built upon the ruins of Tohu, so that we should delve beneath its surface to unearth the “sparks of holiness” that are the residue of this primordial world, tap their potent potential, and ultimately integrate the two realities, capturing the immense light of Tohu in the broad vessels of Tikkun.

The Kabbalists see Esau and Jacob as the embodiment of the cosmic twinship of Tohu and Tikkun. Esau is the raw, untamed energy of Tohu. He is a destructive force, because he lacks the discipline and control that would channel this energy in a useful, constructive way. But he is also a very powerful force—far more powerful than the constricted and defined energies that animate Jacob’s correct and orderly world. The chal- lenge, as we said, is to bring together the cosmic twins in a way that exploits the best of both worlds: to marry the immense energy of Tohu with the focus and control of Tikkun.

The struggle to achieve this synergy is the life-history of the biblical twins, and the essence of human history as a whole. Esau and Jacob emerge from the same womb (where they were already fighting), and the rest of their lives is defined by the effort to bring them back together.

But the conflict is too deep, too vast, to be resolved in one lifetime—even a lifetime as rich, tragic and glorious as Jacob’s 147 years. The forces of Tohu are too expansive, too hungry for life, to submit to the rigors of Tikkun; and the vessels of Tikkun are too focused, too structured, to embrace the passions of Tohu.

Some very serious attempts are made. Isaac endeavors to create a partnership between his two sons by bequeathing the spiritual legacy of Abra- ham to Jacob and granting the material blessings of earth to Esau. But Rebecca intervenes: Esau is still too raw, too unformed, to be entrusted with this role. If he is granted the “dew of heaven and the fat of the land” there’ll be another explosion. Had Esau been allowed to marry his predestined soulmate, Leah, as Jacob married Rachel, the brothers (now brothers-in-law, as well) would have shared in the founding of the na- tion of Israel. But Leah wept her eyes out at the prospect, and Jacob ended up with both wives (as he had ended up with both blessings) and all twelve tribes. Upon his return from Haran, Jacob seems ready to take the big step: he dispatches angels and gifts to Esau and initiates a reun- ion. But on the night before the fateful meeting, Jacob encounters the spirit of Esau, and instead of embracing, man and angel wrestle all night. Jacob, again, emerges as the victor, and exacts a concession from Esau’s angel that the blessings—all of them—and the name “Israel” are rightfully and exclusively the younger brother’s.

The next morning, the brothers meet in the flesh, but their long-awaited reunion is an anticlimax: both know that the true encounter has al- ready taken place, resulting in yet another battle and victory rather than a union and integration. Jacob locks his daughter Dinah in a chest to prevent her marriage to Esau, eliminating the chance that the daughter will take on the task which her mother had refused (with the result, say our sages, that Jacob loses her not to his twin brother but to a Canaanite prince). Jacob and Esau embrace and kiss, but only superficially; Esau extends a half-hearted invitation for a joint life together, but Jacob drags his feet. The brothers meet again only at their father’s funeral, and then in death, when Esau’s head (but only his head) finds its resting place in the lap of Isaac in the Cave of Machpelah, on the day that Jacob is laid to rest in the same burial place.

So the quest to unite Tohu and Tikkun extends beyond their lifetimes, to the nations of Israel and Edom. The eight kings who “reigned in Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel” are the volatile forces of Tohu, while the people of Israel proceed to Sinai where they are entrusted with the 613 commandments that serve as the vessels for tikkun olam, the correction and civilization of the world. The conflict rages on in the battles between Judah and Rome, between spirit and matter, between law and lust, to be resolved only when the strug- gles of humanity culminate in the day when “the saviors shall ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau.”