Announcements בס‘‘ד Schedule of Services/Events

Shalosh Seudas is sponsored by Howard and Liz Rubin to com- The Rav will be the Keynote Speaker at the memorate the first yahrtzeit of Howard’s Mother, Chaya bas Hershel. Agudath convention in Dallas , Texas this Shabbos T HE BAIS YISROEL

There will be a Shabbos BNOS 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Kallah this Shabbos After- PK Malke Prero 2823 Salem Friday Erev Shabbos S HABBOS OBSERVER noon beginning at 3:30 PM in K Bas Sheva Heisler 2933 Ottawa Parshas Vayechi January 5 Volume 2:Issue Number 029 16 Teves, 5767 Parshas Vayechi honor of Bena Kutoff, at the January 5 & 6 ,2007 1 Bluma Breningstall 2609 Princeton Shacharis 6:57 & 7:25 AM Kutoff home, 2724 Lynn Ave. Mincha 4:30 PM 2 Yocheved Silverberg 2650 Quentin S. All women and girls are Candle Lighting 4:28 PM invited. 3 Gitti Jaffa: 2842 Raleigh 4 Sara Frank 2834 Salem Shabbos, January 6 Parshas Vayechi The community is invited to a 5 Hodaya Afenzer 2830 Raleigh Shacharis 8:30 AM Seudas Hodaah this Tues- Mincha 4:15 PM day, Jan. 9, sponsored by Mary Ann and Jonathan Grad thanking G-d Shabbos is over 5:38 PM for Jonathan’s recovery over the past year and in gratitude to the community for it’s many acts of Chesed . The Seudah will take place Sunday, January 7 at Kenesseth Israel after Maariv (~5:30 PM). Please RSVP to the Shacharis 7:10 & 8:00 AM Grads at 952-915-1057. Mincha 2:45 PM & Mincha/Maariv 4:35 PM Maariv 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM The Bais Yaakov Banquet, will be on January 14, 5:30-reception, 6:15- Dinner at the Double Tree Hotel. Please make your reserva- Monday-Thurs January 8-11 tions asap. Call the Bais Yaakov 952-915-9117 for more information. Shacharis 6:56 & 7:20 AM

There will be a Women & Girls Motzei Shabbos Swim at the Mincha 2:45 PM & Mincha/Maariv 4:35 PM Sabes JCC, this Motzei Shabbos, January 6th and will continue thru Maariv 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM Jan 27th. 6:30-7:30 PM, $18 for all six sessions or $5 per session. Friday Erev Shabbos Ari and Rena Neuwirth invite the entire Kehilla to the Upsherin Parshas Shemos January 12 of their son, Avigdor, IY"H this Sunday January 7, 2007 from 2:00 to Shacharis 6:56 & 7:20 AM 4:00 PM at their home 2819 Salem Ave. Mincha 4:40 PM The Novominsker Rebbe, Shlita, at a special breakfast with the Kollel Candle Lighting 4:36 PM Yunegeleit and Torah Academy Rabbeim For those wishing to participate in the tremendous mitzvah of tzeda-

משה טוביה ליף !kah, supporting a great Talmid Chacham in Yerushalayim, please Good Shabbos רב קהילת בית ישראל contact Rabbi Abramczyk. This tzedaka has received warm blessings Message from the Rav מיניאפוליס מיניסוטה of the Gedolim of Eretz Yisroel and of the Rav. Shiurim Given by HaRav Moshe Tuvia Lieff EPHRAIM AND MENASHE Mon Wed & Thurs After Maariv Mesechta Sota Traditionally, Jewish parents bless their sons comparing them to the role models of THE KOLLEL KORNER Tues & Thurs 8:15 AM Mesechta Suka Ephraim and Menashe. The reason for this is that Yaakov Avinu assured Yosef that Study “The Path of the Just”, Wednesdays at Torah Academy Wednesday. Jan. 10 @ 12 PM -Altman & Isek Lunch & Learn through his children, parents would bless their offspring, “so he blessed them that 8:00 – 9:00 P.M. Contact Rabbi Koval, [email protected] 901 North 3rd Street, Minneapolis day saying, through you shall Israel bless saying may Hashem make you like Ephraim 612.296.9634 U of M @ 4:00 PM on Jan 11th Hillel and Menashe.” (Vayechi 48:20) The nightly ”Mishna Berura” shiur is beginning the Halachos of daily conduct, 9:30–10:00 PM followed by Maariv. Please see Rabbi Rav Shmuel Hominer ZT”L explains why Ephraim and Menashe were designed as Bais Yisroel Shabbos Observer is a weekly publication that Congregation Bais Yisroel the ultimate role models for Jewish Children throughout the generations. Of all the Pam for more info. brings you Divrei Torah on the weekly parsha and community 4221 Sunset Boulevard events. To submit items for publication please contact the Bais shevatim only Menashe and Ephraim were born and raised in decadent Egypt, a land A shiur on “The 39 Melachos” begins 5 minutes after Davening Minneapolis, MN 55416 inundated with spiritual defilement. The other tribes were different. They were concludes and runs for exactly 10 minutes. The Shiur is given by Yisroel Office by 2 PM Wednesday of each week. For general Phone: 952-926-7867 information regarding activities and events or membership infor- Rabbi Schnall. Fax:952-926-2936 Mazel Tov to the Chosson & Kallah, Avrohom Yeshia and Leah Moskovitz. mation please contact the shul office or HaRav Moshe Tuvia E-mail: Rabbi Greenberg will give his Parsha Hashavua shiur, Thurs. eve- Lieff. [email protected] Mazel Tov to Rabbi Yaakov & Mrs. Sari Waxman and the entire Waxman [email protected] and Moskovitz families. May the couple be zocheh to build a ning 8:15 – 9:00 PM. Founding editors: Arnie and Hindy Frishman Webpage www.baisyisroel.org Bayis Ne’eman B’Yisroel L’Shem U’lisferes Sponsorships for the BYSO or Shalosh Seudos are available for your Simcha, Anniversary or Hakoras Hatov or a Yarhzteit raised and educated in the home of Yaakov Avinu. His aristocratic spirit refined Yitzhak once visited an ill person who was very worried about whether he As we conclude the Book of Genesis, we should reflect on the lessons it them. When they ascended to Eretz Yisroel from Charan, they merited the influ- would receive a place in the World to Come. Upon hearing the man's con- teaches us. Over and over we see an emphasis on empathy for others - ence of Yitzchok. cern, Rav Levi Yitzhak called over some of his students to act as witnesses, shifting the focus away from our individual, self-centered concerns in order to be as sensitive as possible to the needs of others. Our patriarchs and Nevertheless, when Yaakov arrived in Mitzrayim, he realized that Ephraim and Me- whereupon he drew up a document transferring his own portion in the nashe, he realized that Ephraim and Menashe were not influenced and drawn after Next World to the ill man. His students signed the document, and a few matriarchs exemplify this quality. It is a necessary foundation - a prerequi- the immorality of Mitzrayim. They did not study its customs or adopt its culture. moments later the man died. site that must be integrated into the Jewish national character before we can On the contrary, they were raised and educated on Yosef Hatzadikk’s knee, steeped appreciate the redemption of the Book of Exodus. in Torah and Yiras Shamayim to the point they were reckoned among the pure and The students were shocked by their rabbi's behavior, and they asked him holy Shivtay Kah. why he had acted in such a manner. Rav Levi Yitzhak replied, "To make a May we integrate this lesson into our own lives and be blessed to develop Jew who is suffering feel calm and at ease, even for one moment, is worth unity, camaraderie, and compassion for each other, so that we merit the The road to producing Ephraim and Menashe was not lined with roses. Unques- more than the entire World to Come." ultimate redemption, soon in our days.( Used with Permission, Aish.com) tionably, there were many difficulties along the way. Yet they overcame obstacles and temptations, and followed the holy footsteps of their ancestors as their right- eous father has guided them. This is the kavanah every parent should have when (It seems possible that the reward Rav Levi Yitzhak received for this great HAFTORAH: KINGS I 2:1-12 blessing their children. That they should follow in the direction of the Torah Hake- act of compassion far outweighed the reward that he signed over to the dosha and not learn from or be affected by those that abandon the Torah way, the dying man!) path of integrity and uprightness. * * * THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN

May Hashem Yisborach inspire us to inspire our children—to bless them and infuse ALL THREE WORLDS As in the Parsha where we read the final will and testament of Yaakov, so them until they too reach the spiritual level of Ephraim and Menashe. too the Haftorah deals with the final words of King David. David com- These examples show that holy people do not live for themselves; they live mands his 12 year old son, Shlomo, to act as a man of wisdom and piety for others. We see this in the Torah when it states, "And Jacob lived in the despite his tender years, and to guard and uphold the Torah. David prom- LIVING FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD land of Egypt" (Genesis 47:28). The Meshech Chochma explains that Jacob ises Shlomo that if he will serve Hashem in truth, with all his heart and soul, Rabbi Abba Wagensberg did not merely live in the land of Egypt for his own sake; his "life" was for he will merit that all the kings of Israel will descend from him. Just as Yaa- kov illuminated the path to make his children into a people, King David Greetings from the holy city of ! everyone! His care for others, including the Egyptians, affected the entire illuminates the path that will make Shlomo the father of kings. However, world - since, at the time, the whole world depended on Egypt for their there is a striking difference between the death-bed scene of Yaakov and In this week's portion, Jacob is on his deathbed and tells his children: food supply. Thus, Jacob's complete lack of self-centeredness had a positive that of King David. When Yaakov took leave of this world, he summoned "Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen at the End of impact on the entire world. all 12 of his sons, whereas David calls for only Shlomo, for he alone was a Days" (Genesis 49:1). However, this information is never disclosed! In- comfort to him and worthy to inherit the Davidic line. (Adapted from stead, Jacob blesses each one of his sons, and no further mention is made We see this as well in the verse where Jacob tells Joseph, "I am giving you Rabbi Mendel Hirsch) of the prophetic vision he promised to reveal. one shchem MORE THAN YOUR BROTHERS" (Genesis 48:22). What is

the meaning of the word shchem? On a literal level, it means "portion." * * * According to Rashi, the Divine Presence left Jacob as he was about to tell Rashi understands it to refer to the city of Shchem, which Jacob describes THE WAY OF THE WORLD his sons what would happen at the End of Days. Since Jacob was unable to as conquering with his sword and his bow. prophesy without Divine assistance, he blessed his children instead. But "I go the way of all the earth; be strong and become a man." why would the Divine Presence depart from Jacob precisely at this time? Onkelos, in his Aramaic translation, defines "my sword and my bow" as

"my prayer and my requests." We live our lives as though we were immortal. How much of the time do Rabbi Naftali of Rupshitz suggests that once Jacob looked into the future, we think about where we are going? How often do we pause and ponder in he saw all the pain that the Jewish people would have to endure until the According to Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (Likutei Maharan), these prayers front of Whom we will ultimately have to account for our every thought end of time, and this saddened him so much that the Divine Presence left had an effect on all three worlds: the lower world (shafel) in which we live; and deed? him. The Talmud teaches ( 30b) that sadness prevents a person the middle world (kochavim) of outer space and galaxies; and the highest from being able to receive prophesy. Therefore, once Jacob was over- world (malachim), which is the realm of the angels. The acronym of these In this verse, King David commands three things to his son Shlomo. whelmed with sorrow for the Jewish people, he no longer had clarity about three Hebrew words (SH-afel, K-ochavim, M-alachim) spells SHCHEM! The first two are obvious: "Be strong" and "become a man." The third lies future events. in the beginning of the sentence "I go the way of all the earth." David is Thus we see again that Jacob did not live only for himself or his family. He not merely describing his end, he is actively commanding Shlomo to re- This teaches us a powerful lesson about what it means to feel the pain of did not pray only on his own behalf, or on behalf of the people and cities in member these words constantly: "I go the way of all the earth." (Tzoari others. his immediate surroundings. Jacob prayed for the acronym of Shchem - for Shalal) ( Used with Permission, Ohr.edu) everyone in all three worlds.

A story told about Rav Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev is instructive. Rav Levi