27 Kislev 5774 / 29-30 November 2013
Torah: Genesis 41:1 - 44:17
Maftir: Numbers 7:24-29 (Hanukkah Day 3)
Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7 (Shabbat Hanukkah)
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Get Wise!
‘And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I dreamt a dream and there is no interpretation for it, but I have heard it said of you that for you to hear a dream is to interpret it.” And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “Not I! God will answer regarding Pharaoh’s welfare.”’ Genesis 41:15-16
Joseph is a slave and a prisoner, who has suffered at the hands of his brothers, Midianites, Ishmaelites and Egyptians for many years. This is his big opportunity to gain his freedom, by impressing Pharaoh with his wisdom. Yet, he tells Pharaoh that the interpretation of the dream will come from God. In last week’s parashah as well, Joseph did not claim the mantle of prophet or wise man. (“Do not interpretations belong to God?” 40:8) It seems that God is always on his mind. (“How then can I do this great evil and sin against God?” 39:9) Also see 41:25, 28 and 32.
What is going on with Joseph? Consider Job 28:12 (Job was another who suffered greatly) - “And wisdom, where (mei’ayin) will it be found? For is this (v’ei zeh) the place of understanding?” The answer lies buried within the same verse, for “mei’ayin” and “ei zeh” each has two different meanings, so that the verse may also be read - “And wisdom, from nothingness (mei’ayin) will it be found. And what (v’ei zeh) a place of understanding!”
Pharaoh asks, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God?” and tells Joseph, “As God has shown you all this, there is none as discerning and wise as you.” Joseph’s humility and refusal to despair, even in the nothingness of jail, ultimately save him and bring him to greatness. It is through his trust in God that he saves his family (and not incidentally,
“The beginning of wisdom is to hold God in awe.” Psalms 111.10; Proverbs 9:10. I pray that we follow the model of Joseph, and get wise.
Shabbat Shalom, Chag Urim Sameach and Happy Thanksgiving!
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Candlelighting: 4:25 pm. Light Hanukkah menorah first, then Shabbat candles.
Friday: Beth Meier office closed. Shabbat Evening Service – 6:30 pm. NOTE EARLY START! Come on down for a joyful way to bring in Shabbat! Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday: NO
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – noon.
Wednesday: Eighth Night of Hanukkah – come to Beth Meier for latkes, sufganiyot, dreidels and songs to say goodbye to Hanukkah! – 6:30 pm. No cost, but please RSVP to CBM office. (Re)Introduction to Judaism class – 7:30 pm.
This d'var torah is offered in honor of my sister, Lorrie Flom Goodman, whose birthday is Friday. Yom huledet sameach! Ad meah v’esrim!
This d'var torah is offered in honor of my son, Robert Flom, whose birthday is Sunday. Yom huledet sameach! Ad meah v’esrim!
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Blimah Reizel bat Rachel, Boaz ben Dina, Dov Nechemya Hakohen ben Rachel Chaya Sarah, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Eve Beatty, Howard Ehrlich, Joshua Erenmark, Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Lizzie Legnine, Gloria Loera, Frank Marcovitz, Barney Meskin, Colleen Pierce (Chaya Shoshanah bat Sarah Emanu), Phil Raider and Rachel Robbins.
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