Dedicated in memory of Alice Setton Parshat Vayigash December 26, 2020 11 , 5781 ARTSCROLL 250 Rabbi Sacks on Parshat Vayigash HERTZ 169 In our parsha, Joseph you, he tells his brothers, it future, we can redeem the does something unusual. was God. You didn’t realize past. Revealing himself to his that you were part of a larger HAFTORAH A classic example of this is brothers, fully aware that plan. And though it began the late Steve Jobs’ 2005 ARTSCROLL 1144 they will suffer shock and badly, it has ended well. So commencement address at HERTZ 178 then guilt as they don’t hold yourselves guilty. Stanford University, that remember how it is that And do not be afraid of any has now been seen by more their brother is in Egypt, desire for revenge on my part. Times than 40 million people on he reinterprets the past: There is no such desire. I YouTube. In it, he described “I am your brother realize that we were all being Weekly Times three crushing blows in his Joseph, the one you sold directed by a force greater life: dropping out of college, : Sun 8:30 am into Egypt! And now, do than ourselves, greater than being fired by the company Mon - Fri 7:45 am not be distressed and do we can fully understand. he had founded – Apple and not be angry with Joseph does the same in next being diagnosed with yourselves for selling me Scholars’ Kollel 9:00 am week’s parsha, when the cancer. Each one, he said, (link in the daily here, because it was to brothers fear that he may take had led to something emails) save lives that God sent revenge after their father’s important and positive. me ahead of you. For two death: “Don’t be afraid. Am I Dropping out of college, 4:15 pm years now there has been in the place of God? You Jobs was able to audit any famine in the land, and intended to harm me, but God course he wished. He for the next five years intended it for good to attended one on calligraphy there will be no ploughing Times accomplish what is now being and this inspired him to and reaping. But God done, the saving of many lives. build into his first sent me ahead of you to Mincha 3:50 pm (Gen. 50:19-20) Joseph is computers a range of (Asara B’Tevet) preserve for you a helping his brothers to revise proportionally spaced fonts, remnant on earth and to Candle Lighting 4:15 pm their memory of the past. In thus giving computer scripts save your lives by a great doing so, he is challenging one an elegance that had Hashkama Minyan 8:00 am deliverance. So then, it of our most fundamental previously been available was not you who sent me assumptions about time, only to professional Parsha Shiur 8:30 am here, but God. He made namely its asymmetry. We can printers. Getting fired from me father to Pharaoh, Main 9:00 am change the future. We cannot Apple led him to start a new lord of his entire change the past. But is that computer company, NeXT, Beit Midrash 9:15 am household and ruler of all entirely true? What Joseph is that developed capabilities Egypt.” (Gen. 45:4-8) Youth Minyan 9:45 am doing for his brothers is what he would eventually bring This is markedly different he has clearly done for himself: back to Apple, as well as Gemara Shiur 3:40 pm to the way Joseph events have changed his and acquiring Pixar Animation, described these events their understanding of the the most creative of Mincha 4:10 pm when he spoke to the past. Which means: we cannot computer-animated film Shabbat Ends 5:23 pm chief butler in prison: “I fully understand what is studios. The diagnosis of was forcibly carried off happening to us now until we cancer led him to a new Latest Times for from the land of the can look back in retrospect and focus in life. It made him Shema/Shemoneh Esrei Hebrews, and even here I see how it all turned out. This realize: “Your time is have done nothing to means that we are not held limited, so don’t waste it Dec. 26 9:36/10:23 am deserve being put in a captive by the past. Things can living someone else’s life.” Jan. 2 9:39/10:25 am dungeon” (Gen. 40:15). happen to us, not as Jobs’ ability to construct Then, it was a story of dramatically as to Joseph these stories – what he Next Shabbat kidnap and injustice. perhaps, but nonetheless called “connecting the dots” Vayechi Now, it has become a benign, that can completely – was surely not unrelated story of Divine alter the way we look back and to his ability to survive the Candle Lighting 4:20 pm providence and remember. By action in the blows he suffered in life. Mincha 4:20 pm redemption. It wasn’t Few could have recovered 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Vayigash 5781 from the setback of being dismissed from his own company, The Rebbe read out the list and said “No” to all three. My and fewer still could have achieved the transformation he mission, he said, was to train Rabbis at ’ College (now did at Apple when he returned, creating the iPod, iPhone the London School of Jewish Studies) and to become a and iPad. He did not believe in tragic inevitabilities. Though congregational Rabbi myself. So, overnight, I found myself he would not have put it in these terms, he knew that by saying goodbye to all my aspirations, to everything for action in the future we can redeem the past. which I had been trained. Professor Mordechai Rotenberg of the Hebrew University The strange thing is that ultimately, I fulfilled all those has argued that this kind of technique, of reinterpreting the ambitions despite walking in the opposite direction. I past, could be used as a therapeutic technique in became an honorary barrister (Bencher) of the Inner rehabilitating patients suffering from a crippling sense of Temple and delivered a law lecture in front of 600 guilt. If we cannot change the past, then it is always there barristers and the Lord Chief Justice. I delivered Britain’s holding us back like a ball and chain around our legs. We two leading economics lectures, the Mais Lecture and the cannot change the past, but we can reinterpret it by Hayek Lecture at the Institute of Economic Affairs. I integrating it into a new and larger narrative. That is what became a fellow of my Cambridge college and a philosophy Joseph was doing and having used this technique to help professor at several universities. I identified with the him survive a personal life of unparalleled ups and downs, biblical Joseph because, so often, what I had dreamed of he now uses it to help his brothers live without came to be at the very moment that I had given up hope. overpowering guilt. Only in retrospect did I discover that the Rebbe was not telling me to give up my career plans. He was simply We find this in throughout its history. The Prophets charting a different route and a more beneficial one. I reinterpreted biblical narrative for their day. Then came believe that the way we write the next chapter in our lives Midrash, which reinterpreted it more radically because the affects all the others that have come before. By action in situation of Jews had changed more radically. Then came the future, we can redeem much of the pain of the past. the great biblical commentators and mystics and philosophers. There has hardly been a generation in all of Friday, December 25th is Asara B’Tevet Jewish history when Jews did not reinterpret their texts in the light of the present tense experience. We are the people The fast begins at 5:49 am and ends at 5:11 pm after who tell stories, and then retell them repeatedly, each time Kiddush for Shabbat. with a slightly different emphasis, establishing a connection Shacharit: 7:45 am between then and now, rereading the past in the light of the present as best we can. It is by telling stories that we Mincha on Friday afternoon will be moved up to 3:50 pm make sense of our lives and the life of our people. And it is to accommodate Torah Reading. Kabbalat Shabbat and by allowing the present to reshape our understanding of the Maariv will follow Mincha. past that we redeem history and make it live as a positive force in our lives. In the State of Israel, is recited on this day for people whose date or place of death is unknown. I gave one example when I spoke at the Kinus Shluchim of Consequently, many rabbis have designated it as a day Chabad, the great gathering of some 5000 Chabad of remembrance for the Holocaust. emissaries from around the world. I told them of how, in

1978, I visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe to ask his advice on ‘And it was in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth which career I should follow. I did the usual thing: I sent month, in the tenth (day) of the month, that him a note with the options, A, B or C, expecting him to Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon came, he and all his indicate which one I should follow. The options were to hosts, upon Yerushalayim, and he encamped upon it and become a barrister, or an economist, or an academic built forts around it. And the city came under siege till philosopher, either as a fellow of my college in Cambridge the eleventh year of King Tzidkiyahu. On the ninth of the or as a professor somewhere else. month famine was intense in the city, the people had no bread, and the city was breached.’ (II Melachim 25).

Great Neck Synagogue We see then, that the tenth of Tevet – on which the 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck , NY 11023 516-487-6100 siege of Yerushalayim began, was the beginning of the whole chain of calamities which finally ended with the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. ‘The essential Rabbi Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi significance of the fast of the Tenth of Tevet, as well as Rabbi Yehoshua Lefkowitz, Intern Rabbi that of the other fast days, is not primarily the grief and Dr. Ephraim Wolf, z”l, Rabbi Emeritus mourning which they evoke. Their aim is rather to Yitzy Spinner, Cantor awaken the hearts towards repentance; to recall to us, Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus both the evil deeds of our fathers, and our own evil Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director deeds, which caused anguish to befall both them and us Zehava & Dr. Michael Atlas, Youth Directors and thereby to cause us to return towards the good. As Mark Twersky, Executive Director it is said (Vayikra 26): ‘And they shall confess their Dr. James Frisch, Assistant Director transgressions and the transgressions of their fathers.’ Jordan Wolf, President (Rambam: Hilchot Ta’anit Chapter 5). {continue next page} Dov Sassoon, Chairman of the Board ASARA B’TEVET & GNS BIKUR CHOLIM

‘Therefore, each person is obligated to examine his deeds and to repent during these days. As it is written of the people of Nineveh: ‘And the Lord saw their actions’ (Yonah 3), upon which the Rabbis say: ‘It is not said, He saw their sackcloth and , but rather their actions‘ (Ta’anit 2:1). We see hence that the purpose of fasting is repentance.’ ‘Therefore, the people, who fast but engage in pointless activities, grasp what is of secondary importance and miss what is essential. Nevertheless, repentance alone without fasting is also insufficient, because there is a positive commandment of Rabbinic origin to fast on this day.’

The fast begins, as do all the public fasts with the exception of Tisha B’ and , at “alot haShachar,” “dawn.” These four public fasts: Asarah B’Tevet, Tzom Gedaliah, Shiva Asar B’, and Ta’anit Esther, are also alike in that there do not apply any additional physical constraints, such as the prohibition of washing or of wearing leather shoes, etc.

One who is in the category of being ill-even-without-danger, or who is a pregnant or nursing woman, for whom fasting might be difficult, and all children, are exempt from fasting. All those who are exempt from fasting should not, in any case, eat publicly or indulge in purely pleasurable forms of consumption, but should eat only that which is necessary for good nutrition.

If a public fast falls on Shabbat, it is delayed until after Shabbat since fasting is not permitted on Shabbat. The one exception is Yom Kippur, which, based on a verse in the Torah, is observed even if it falls on Shabbat. The also write that the same was once true of the tenth of Tevet, since it is written of the tenth of Tevet: ‘On this very day’ (Yechezkel 2). In our calendar calculation, however, the tenth of Tevet can never fall on Shabbat.

If a public fast occurs on Erev Shabbat, we fast the entire day till the conclusion of the fast, even though it means entering Shabbat while fasting. Neither “” nor “” are recited at Mincha. The fast continues until after the completion of Maariv for Shabbat (after the appearance of the stars). One should not eat or drink anything until after Kiddush. Nowadays our calendar calculation is such that the only public fast which can fall on Erev Shabbat is the tenth of Tevet. {OU}

GNS BIKUR CHOLIM -THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Thank you very much for the overwhelming and generous support of the following sponsors and volunteers who helped make the Bikur Cholim Chanukah gift delivery a huge success! We delivered gifts to 35 ill/elderly members of our shul to lift their spirit before the holiday. Thank you to GNS Sisterhood (Vivian Kron and Judy Lillien) for their strong support and to Meorot (Jessica Smooha and Ruthie Goykadosh) for providing the beautiful gifts. Special thank you to Leah Reichlin for the original illustration she created for the Bikur Cholim cards. Thank you also to Mark Twersky and Jimmy Frisch for their assistance. Thank you very much to Rabbi Polakoff for his guidance and strong support.

Chanukah Gift Sponsors (ABC order): Annie and Robert Mendelson Anonymous (2) Ruth and Milt Mitzner Sharona Abraham in honor of the Chaverim teamsters Robin Adada Brenda and Ed Parver Liora Ben-Sorek Diane and David Rein Robyn and Steven Blumner Talia and Carey Reiss Debbie and Hal Chadow Rivka and Carl Rosenberg Alina and Lev Dynkin Michelle and Norman Rutta Meryl and Mark Friedman Pia and Michael Shlomo Rayna Friedman Jessica and Evan Shusterman Sarah Friedman Heather and Jerry Siegelman Jared Friedman Shoshana and Martin Sokol Amy and Martin Griffel Rivka and Jordan Wolf in memory of her mother, Sally Fox z”l Vladimir Zyskind in honor of Jill Swartz Donna and Joey Hecht Erica and Eliot Heisler Volunteers who delivered the Chanukah gifts Helaine Helmreich (ABC order): Alisa and Michael Hoenig Anonymous (3 people) Debbie and Robert Hollander Dahlia Abraham-Klein Lisa and Erran Kagan Rachel Brecher Dahlia and Mervin Klein Debbie Hollander Ilana and Jonathan Kroll Carole Lerman Carole Lerman and Charles Libby Cindy Ludwig Cindy and Glenn Ludwig Brenda Parver Tina Machnikoff Davida Shlomo Susan Mayer Jill Swartz GNS YOUTH TORAH MADNESS

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ANNOUNCEMENTS Rabbi Polakoff’s shabbos drasha through 5781 MAZAL TOVS & COMMUNITY NEWS is dedicated in memory of DOVID BEN NISSAN v’LEAH For other such opportunities please contact Mazal Tov to Randi & Arthur Luxenberg on the birth of a Howard Wolf 516-643-3344 grandson, born to their children Elizabeth Luxenberg & IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO IS MOVING INTO THE Steven Lipner. GREAT NECK AREA PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW. GREAT NECK KOSHER FOOD PANTRY CHAVERIM CENTER There is a kosher food pantry in Great Neck (Steamboat The next Chaverim program will be on December 23rd Road) that is open for families in need that live in Nassau from 12:30 - 1:30 pm as a forum to socialize. Join HERE. and Suffolk County. Please contact the pantry at (516) 400-3026 for more information. HUNGER INITIATIVE During these difficult times, we are providing food for GREAT NECK COMMUNITY CALENDAR numerous families in our community and nearby areas. If As you may know, we are fortunate to have a Great Neck you cook in excess during the week, please freeze your Community Calendar where one can post their upcoming extras, neatly wrap them and drop them off in the cooler simcha or special event. It is suggested that when planning on the porch at 91 Baker Hill road on Friday from 7 am - a simcha or event that you post it on the calendar in order 1 pm. PLEASE DO NOT DROP PERISHABLE FOOD OFF to avoid unnecessary conflicts. To post your simcha, send DURING THE WEEK. Canned goods, cereal, any grocery your request to [email protected]. If you post items, fruit and vegetables are also appreciated. If you on the Community Calendar, do not assume that you are would like to volunteer to make a deliveries and help booked on the GNS calendar as well. You must reserve your collect food for these families, Please contact Cindy Hodkin date on the GNS calendar independently. at 516.317.9632 or at [email protected]. SISTERHOOD MAH JONGG CARDS GNS CONNECTIONS Mah Jongg Cards are available at $9/card or $10/large print. GNS Connections is a new initiative to reach out to Forms are due by Jan. 25th. Please make check out to GNS members of our synagogue – many who usually attend Sisterhood. services but are not able to during this COVID pandemic CHAVERWEB for health and safety reasons. If you are interested in Chaverweb is the most convenient place to view your volunteering to make phone calls 1-2x month to keep in account status, pay your bills and manage your online touch with these members, please email the Chair of GNS profile. Accessible at gns.org with your account password. Connections, Rachel Brecher at [email protected]. YAHRTZEIT SHIUR KIDDUSH SPONSORSHIPS There will be a special shiur given by Rabbi Lichter in We encourage our members to think about sponsoring the memory of Katie Lichter’s father, Kevin Leifer, Kalman ben safe and socially distant Kiddush at the conclusion of Chaim z”l to commemorate his first yahrtzeit, on Sunday davening or the Kiddush Bags to go. It may be sponsored evening, Jan. 3rd at 7:30 pm. Please join via zoom here. in memory or in honor of someone. Please email [email protected] for more details. Monday, 6 Tevet Randi Luxenberg for Evelyn Beeber SCHEDULE OF CLASSES Stewart Kaplan for David Kaplan Sunday Rabbi Shimon Wolf for Rebecca Miller 9:15 am: Midrash Class w/ Rabbi Polakoff (zoom) Susan Goldman for Ilana Pachinsky Tuesday, 7 Tevet Monday Y Ron Malen for Gladys Noveck 8:00 pm: Insights to Parsha w/ Rabbi Lichter (zoom) A Zinat Yacobi for David Yacobi 9:00 pm: Aggadata on Gemara Sota (zoom) Wednesday, 8 Tevet Tuesday H Ellen Siegel for Blanche Givner 7:00-7:30 pm: Parsha ‘n Pizza W/ Rabbi Lichter R Barbara Shaw for Gussie Schwartz (grades 1-5 in the Gym) Register your child HERE Sharon Mazur for Herbert Wald Wednesday Z Friday, 10 Tevet 9:00 pm: WNL Halacha Chabura w/ Rabbi Lichter (zoom) E Nathan Rosenblatt for Seymour Rosenblatt Thursday Saturday, 11 Tevet 9:15 am: Women’s Chumash w/ Rabbi Polakoff (zoom) I Tami Kramer for Irving Secunda 8:00 pm: Power Chumash w/ Rabbi Polakoff (zoom) Pari Schwartz for Aziz Rebbe Torkan T Jerrald Weinstein for Shiffra Weinstein To contact the clergy or office staff, please do so using the Sunday, 12 Tevet following information. S Martin Griffel for Marion Griffel Rabbi Polakoff: [email protected]/516.637.3674 Ivan Kaufman for Anita Kaufman Rabbi Lichter: [email protected]/516.859.5123 Edwin Rosman for Romy Rosman Chazzan Spinner: [email protected]/732.991.6606 Monday, 13 Tevet Mark Twersky: [email protected]/516.527.9076 Nathaniel Weisel for Jennifer Kaplan Jim Frisch: [email protected]/516.840.5202 Milton Mitzner for Gitl Mitzner