JACOB’S MANTRA

Tevet 14, 5780 / January 10-11, 2020

Parashat Vayechi

Torah: Genesis 47:28 - 50:26 (Chazak, chazak v'nitchazeik!)

Haftarah: 1 Kings 2:1-12

NEW ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT TBH/CBM!

Starting this Sunday, January 12, we'll have two Sunday morning classes:

1. "(Re) Introduction to Judaism", with Rabbi Richard Flom - Sundays at 9:30 am. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn or relearn everything they should have taught you in Hebrew School - and a whole lot more! This is equally useful for people considering conversion to Judaism. Cost: $180 for non-members, complimentary for members of TBH/CBM

2. "History of Israel and the Middle East", with David Silon - Sundays at 11:00 am. Cost: complimentary to all.

Class schedules, curricula, and reading lists were sent by snail mail this week to TBH/CBM members. Basic class info is available on my blog at:  

https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2020/01/reintroduction-to-judaism.html

CASTING CALL! PURIM IS COMING!

Anyone who wishes to take part in our annual Purim Spiel is invited to come for a read through of this year’s spiel, based on Beach Boys tunes – Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 pm. No one will be turned away. Purim dinner, spiel and megillah reading will be Monday, March 9, at 6:30 pm. Thanks to Reb Jason and Rebecca Marcus for creating this year’s spiel!

Calendar and dedications follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about Temple B’nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier, check out: www.bnaihayim.com 

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.

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JACOB’S MANTRA

"For Your salvation do I hope, O Lord!" Genesis 49:18

In the middle of blessing his sons, between the blessings for Dan and Gad, Jacob cries out this apparent non-sequitur. Rashi suggests that Jacob is prophesying the moment when Samson (a Danite), blinded by the Philistines, cries out to God for sufficient strength to destroy them (Judges 16:28). Other commentators say that it is a plea for God's protection of the tribe of Dan, which was to be the rear guard during the desert journey. Still others say that Jacob, on his deathbed, is asking God for help to complete the blessings before his strength gives out.

Until recent times, people believed that sleep was a bit like death. Because of this, the Rabbis who compiled the siddur included a prayer to be recited on awakening each morning, which thanks God for restoring one's soul. And in the bedtime prayer, they included the above verse.

However, one does not merely recite the verse. The three Hebrew words of the verse are manipulated so that one recites the following: "For Your salvation do I hope, O Lord. I hope, O Lord, for Your salvation. O Lord, for Your salvation do I hope." Many siddurim say that this formula is repeated three times, so that the verses, and the name of God, are said nine times. It is, in essence, a Jewish mantra. Perhaps it is symbolic of the nine months of childbirth, so that when we recite this portion of the bedtime prayer, we are asking to be "reborn" in the morning.

It is also a plea that God should safeguard the soul should one die during the night. The bedtime prayer is replete with this theme - from the opening blessing through the Hashkiveinu ("cause us to lie down in peace, and to rise up again, our King") to the concluding verse of Adon Olam: "Into His hand I entrust my spirit, when I am asleep and awake; and as with my spirit, so also my body, God is with me and I will not fear."

One need not fear death in order to derive immense comfort from reciting the bedtime prayer. The feeling of having communicated to God one's hopes and fears can be a relaxing conclusion to any day. Recite Jacob's mantra, and sleep well.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

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Candle lighting: 4:45 pm

Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 6:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Junior Congregation – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am. Rabbi Flom’s “(Re)Introduction to Judaism” class – 9:30 am. David Silon’s "History of Israel and the Middle East" class – 11:00 am.

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.

Friday, January 17: Simcha Shabbat Service and Dinner - 6:30 pm. We celebrate all the January simchas with special blessings and a complimentary Shabbat dinner! RSVP by January 15!!

Saturday, January 18: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Next time you come to TBH/CBM, 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 Leah bat Sarah Imanu, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Mark Brownstein, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Gabor Klein, Philip Kronzek, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Ina Labowitz, Barbara Levy, Stuart Lytton, David Marks, Gail Neiman, Sandra Raab, Josef Sands, Shirley Sands, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), and William Sragow.

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.