SHABBAT, DECEMBER 28, 2019 - KISLEV 30, 5780 PARSHAT MIKEITZ (Pgs. 222, 890 & 768) ROSH CHODESH CHANUKAH TORAH INSIGHTS FROM RABBI ELI BABICH So the men took that gift, and they took with them double the money, as well as Benjamin. They made their way down to Egypt, where they presented themselves to Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his house steward, “Take the men into the house; slaughter and prepare an ani- mal, for the men will dine with me at noon.” The man did as Joseph said, and he brought the men into Joseph’s house. But the men were frightened at being brought into Joseph’s house. “It must be,” they thought, “because of the money replaced in our bags the first time that we have been brought inside, as a pretext to attack us and seize us as slaves, with our pack of animals.” (Miketz 43:15-18) Upon returning to Egypt a second time, the brothers were taken into the palace to dine with Yosef. As it was highly unusual for common visitors to be invited to dine with the viceroy himself, the brothers suspected that Yosef’s invitation was a pretext to imprison them. Many of the commentaries associated this episode with a prior incident that occurred in last week’s parsha. After throwing Yosef into the pit, the Torah noted, “…and [they] took him and cast him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to a meal…” The Sforno explained the brothers were so confident they committed no wrong by throwing Yosef into the pit, they subsequently sat down for a lavish meal. The Tzror Hamor commented the meal was a celebratory meal, in which the brothers rejoiced in the “nullification” of Yosef’s dreams of future greatness. Although the brothers felt the truth was on their side, their overt display of callousness, by sitting down for an extravagant meal while their brother suffered in the depths of a pit, was considered unseemly behavior for which they would be held accountable. The Chofetz Chaim explained that the fear the brothers now felt when called to dine with Yosef was a punishment, midah keneged midah (measure for measure), for feasting earlier while Yosef suffered in the pit. Furthermore, the Midrash extended this thought and stated that the in- sensitivity displayed by the brothers would be replayed in a future distress experienced by the Jewish nation on Purim. The Midrash noted, “You sold your brother, cried out a voice from Heaven, and you sit down to feast?! The time will come when your descendents will be sold in the midst of a feast.” This refers to Purim, when King Achashverosh and Haman sat down to dine and issued the decree to eradicate the Jewish people. From here we learn the sensitivity one must have for someone suffering, even for one considered an oppo- nent. As written in Proverbs, “If your enemy falls, do not exult; if he trips, let your heart not rejoice. ELI BABICH, RABBI JOSEPH MALOVANY, CANTOR 5 East 62nd Street ●Tel: 212.838.2122 ●www.5as.org CANTOR JOSEPH MALOVANY Cantor Joseph Malovany will be leading all services this Shabbat Chanukah. DAF YOMI SIYUM HASHAS at METLIFE STADIUM, NJ Wednesday, January 1st, 2020, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Our Fifth Avenue Synagogue Daf Yomi Group will be joining over 100,000 Jews from across the world for the 13th Siyum HaShas, celebrating the completion of the entire Talmud, a seven and a half years’ cycle of learning the Oral Torah and its commentaries, in which each of the 2,711 pages of the Babylonian Talmud are covered in sequence. If anyone from Fifth Avenue Synagogue wants to attend the Siyum and purchase VIP tickets with indoor access and food, please contact President Jacob Gold at [email protected] or (212) 980-0140. Tickets are tax deductible. All proceeds from this massive event go directly towards the organizers. Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov to Laurel Grass on the birth of a grandson, born to Judith and Samuel Grass. Mazal tov also to big sister, Alexandra Grass. Happy Birthday! Miles Oshan, 9 YAHRZEITS December 28 - January 3, 2019; Kislev 30 - Tevet 6, 5780 DECEMBER/TEVET JANUARY/TEVET 29 1 Mr. Fred Frenkel, Brother 2 5 Mrs. Ruth Dimenstein, Husband 29 1 Ms. Sonia Jaye, Father 3 6 Mrs. Claire Dienstag, 29 1 Mrs. Edith Levite, Sister-In-Law Mother-In-Law 30 2 Mrs. Laura Rabinowitz, Father 30 2 Mrs. Ruth Dimenstein, Granddaughter 31 3 Mr. Ira Leon Rennert, Father 31 3 Mr. Andrew Lowinger, Brother 31 3 Mrs. Evelyn Sommer, Father-In-law 31 3 Mrs. Bernice Schwartz, Husband FOR ERUV STATUS: 212-838-2122 x 5. For questions or comments about the Eruv please contact Rabbi Tauber at Mechon L’Hoyroa: (845) 659-8777. NEW ADULT HEBREW CLASS with RABBI ELI BABICH Would you like to brush up on your Hebrew reading skills, and/or have a deeper understanding of Jewish prayer? Whether you are a total beginner or just need a refresher, we have the class for you! Rabbi Eli Babich will be teaching a warm and intimate Hebrew reading class for adults in January and February. This 6-part class will also include davening instruction and explanations of the various prayers. The class will meet at Fifth Avenue Synagogue on Wednesday evenings, beginning on Wednesday, January 15 at 6:00 pm. The cost for the course is $36, which will cover all textbooks and materials. Please register at www.5as.org or email [email protected]. Learning Hebrew and understanding the prayers is one of the best ways to enhance your connection to Judaism. Please join us for this special opportunity. WEEKLY TUESDAY NIGHT TALMUD CLASS with RESIDENT SCHOLAR RABBI DR. MICHAEL ROSENSWEIG Rabbi Rosensweig’s Talmud class continues next Tuesday night, December 31, at 7:30 PM at FAS. Rabbi Rosensweig is teaching Tractate Chulin. NEW THREE-PART SERIES with LISA BABICH Please join us for a 3-class series with Rebbetzin Lisa Babich: “LIVING JEWISH” The first class takes place on Thursday, January 9 at FAS: “The Revitalizing Power of Shabbat” The next two classes to follow: Wednesday, February 12 (Location TBD): “Parenting the Jewish Way: A perspective on how to raise children in a meaningful way” and Wednesday, March 18 (Location TBD): “Sticks and Stones AND WORDS Can Hurt You: The Torah perspective and laws of proper speech.” Sushi will be provided. Please RSVP to [email protected]. *These classes are being jointly sponsored by Fifth Avenue Synagogue Young Leadership and The Creative Playschool. CHANUKAH NOTES This year, Chanukah begins on Sunday evening, December 22, at which time we light the first candle. Chanukah is our thanksgiving festival. We express our gratitude Therefore, on Friday afternoon, those for the victory of our people, led by who would typically use small the Maccabees, over the Syrian Chanukah candles should place Greeks, who were determined to Shabbat candles in the menorah. Of eradicate Judaism and Jewish life, course, Shabbat candles should also be and we celebrate the rededication lit in the usual manner, immediately of the Temple. Chanukah is, after the lighting of the menorah. We accordingly, a time for rededication recommend that you arrive at the for all of us. It is appropriate that we Synagogue earlier than usual on Friday recommit ourselves to Torah and afternoon, December 27, to be present Jewish life during this season. when the Chanukah candles are lit in the main sanctuary just prior to LIGHTING OF THE CHANUKAH Mincha. On Saturday night, December CANDLES 28, in the Synagogue we first light the Please note the procedure in which Chanukah candles and then recite the candles are lit. As we face the Havdalah. At home, the order is menorah, the candles are placed reversed: first we recite Havdalah and from right to left, each night adding then we light the menorah. On the first one to those kindled the night night of Chanukah, we recite three before. Though the incremental blessings upon the menorah (l’hadlik candles of each day are added from ner, she’asa nissim, and right to left, the procedure in she’hecheyanu). Thereafter, we recite lighting the candles is to begin on two blessings (l’hadlik ner and she’asa the left and move to the right. It is nissim), on each subsequent night. At desirable that the menorah be lit at Shacharit services, we recite Hallel and nightfall. In order to fulfill the read the Torah each morning of mitzvah, one must use enough oil Chanukah. Additionally, on Shabbat (or, for those who use them, candles and Sunday, December 28 and 29, we that are large enough) so that the observe Rosh Chodesh. Please be sure lights will burn for at least thirty to join us. Chanukah concludes on minutes. Monday, December 30. FAS YOUTH PROGRAM EVERY SHABBAT & HOLIDAY! -Youth Groups Ages 5+ led by Yosef Itzkowitz; 4th Floor - 9:30 AM - Junior Congregation Ages 1-4 led by Rivkah Halpert; 5th Floor - 10:30 AM FAS Welcomes MORTON A. KLEIN NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA PLEASE JOIN US FOR FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER JANUARY 10, 2020 Mr. Klein will be introduced by Mrs. Inge Rennert, and he will speak on the topic: “The Orwellian Lies Against Israel” Members: $80/Adult, $40/Child; Non-Members: $100/Adult, $50 Child. Kids program during the speech. Please RSVP: www.5as.org, email [email protected] or call 212-838-2122. Morton A. Klein is National President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), the oldest pro-Israel group in the U.S., founded in 1897.