WE’RE NO ANGELS

Parashat Vayeishev
23 Kislev 5776 / 4-5 December 2015
Torah: Genesis 37:1 - 40:23
Haftarah: Amos 2:6 - 3:8

Calendar and dedications follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about our community, check out our website at: http://bethmeier.org

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WE’RE NO ANGELS

A man found (Joseph) wandering in the fields. The man asked him, "What are you looking for?" He answered, "I am looking for my brothers. Could you tell me where they are pasturing?" The man said, "They have gone from here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. Genesis 37:15-17

This meeting between Joseph and the man appears to be pure happenstance. If so, we might ask, what would have happened had they not met? No slavery for Joseph and the Israelites, no Exodus from Egypt, no receiving the Torah from God, no history as we know it! Many commentators respond by saying that it was no man, but an angel dispatched by God.

I would like to suggest that it was in fact a man, but one with a holy purpose - to give Joseph information and direction. Joseph had that purpose, too - to ultimately give direction to his family as well as all of Egypt; and to teach something to and to learn something from every person he met. Each of us, really, has the same holy purposes in life. Each of us has knowledge, wisdom and Torah to share with others and to give them direction, and we should do so. At the same time, we must seek out knowledge, wisdom and Torah from others.

We're no angels, but we should treat others as if they were – or at least, like the holy being with holy purpose that each of us is - think of what we, and they, would learn! Think of what our world would be like! If we kindle even one candle in ourselves and in our souls - the flame will spread to others and light our world.

Shabbat Shalom! Chag Urim Samech! Happy Chanukah!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City, CA

www.bethmeier.org

Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com

"From the place where we are absolutely right, flowers will never grow in the spring."

"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"

Yehuda Amichai

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Candlelighting: 4:25 pm

Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 PM. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday: Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday: Erev Chanukah – begins at sundown. Religious School – 9:30 am. Jewish Wedding (Ketubah and Chuppah) of Tony and Linda Foster – Kabbalat Panim at 11:00 am, followed by Ketubah signing and reading, Chuppah at Noon, and a light lunch to follow. All members of Beth Meier are invited – please, please RSVP to synagogue office to assure sufficient food and drink. Mazal Tov! Happy Chanukah!

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.

Friday, 11 December: Family Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, 12 December: Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday, 13 December: Religious School – 9:30 am. Chanukah Celebration – Movie and Game Night – 6:30 pm. For the last night of Chanukah, bring your menorahs, your candles, and your appetites. We’ll light our candles; sing songs; eat latkes, sufganiyot, and pizza; have games for the kids; and, screen “Above and Beyond” (award-winning documentary about the founding of the Israeli Air Force) for the adults. $5.00/person – RSVP by Thursday, December 10.

Next time you come to Beth Meier, please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for SOVA.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah bat Devorah, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Gig Flom (Gittel Tobi bat Blanca), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther), Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Stephanie Kane, Elaine Kleiger, Philip Kovac, and Gil Robbins.

Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be removed from this list.

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