Parashat
Vayishlach
17 Kislev 5777
/ 16-17 December 2016
Torah Reading
Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-21
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Dedications and
Calendar of Events follow.
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HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?
"Esau said, ‘I have a lot; my brother, let what is yours be
yours.’ And Jacob said, ‘… Please take my present that I have brought to you,
for God has favored me, and I have everything.’ And he urged him, and he
took." Genesis 33:9-11
In his commentary "Kli Yakar", R. Shlomo Ephraim
Lunshitz (d. 1619) wonders about this exchange between the brothers. Esau has
"a lot" – he is wealthy and powerful. Jacob offers him a gift, saying
that he has "everything". Esau accepts, and does not reciprocate. Kli
Yakar says that one who says he has "everything" means "what I
have is enough for me. I am satisfied with my lot." But one who merely
says, "I have a lot" always wants more.
I am certain that virtually everyone reading this e-mail has
"a lot". Perhaps we are not wealthy and powerful in the way that Esau
was, but we have food, clothing, shelter, modern conveniences, toys of various
sorts, etc. How many of us are prepared, like Jacob, to say we have
"everything"? Why aren’t we satisfied? Why do we want more? I believe
it is because we are unable, or more likely, unwilling, to say, "God has
favored me." Without acknowledging that higher source, without opening up
our spiritual side to be satisfied with that which God has given us, we will
always have "a lot", but never "enough" – let alone
“everything”.
Jacob gave a gift to someone who was at least as rich and powerful
as he. He had his reasons. For those of us who have “a lot” or “everything”,
are we prepared to give some of it up to those who have only a little or
perhaps nothing at all - the poor and the hungry and the homeless? When we do, that
is even greater testimony that God has favored us.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard
A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook
Twitter: @DrahcirMolf
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 87b
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Candle lighting: 4:27 pm
Friday – Shabbat
Evening Service – 8:00 pm.
Saturday – Shabbat
Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows services.
Sunday – Dreidels,
Donuts and Latkes Hanukkah Celebration – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. All are
welcome – RSVP appreciated – no charge.
Tuesday – Lunch
and Learn – 12:00 noon.
Friday, 12/23 – Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm.
Saturday, 12/24 – Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am.
Kiddush lunch follows services.
Sunday, 12/25 – NO Religious School or Adult
Hebrew class – both resume 1/15.
Tuesday, 12/27 – NO Lunch and Learn – resume 1/3.
Sunday, 1/1
– Meshuga Nutcracker – AJU – 2:00 pm.
Sunday, 1/8
– Movie and Ice Cream Bar Night – 7:00 pm
Mazal tov to Fran and Stuart Zimmermann on the birth of their
grandson.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel
Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, HaRav Yisrael Shimon ben Liebah Breina, Yaakov Rani
Ben Margalit, Sarah bat Devorah, Zehavah B’rakhah bat Leah, Susan Arbetman, Ken
Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr.
Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben
Esther), Jerry Forman, Myra Goodman, Simon Hartman, Fouad Kay (Yehoshua ben
Salima), Philip Kovac, Tonya Kronzek, Toni Linder, Roy Miller, Deborah Schugar
Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), Lauren
Wheaton (Dafna bat Yorma), and Naomi Zimmermann (Naomi bat Yorma).
Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to this
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