FIRST THINGS FIRST

9 Kislev 5776 / 20-21 November 2015

Parashat Vayetze

Genesis 28:10 – 32:3
Haftarah – Hosea 12:13 – 14:10 (Ashkenazim); Hosea 11:7 – 12:12 (Sephardim)

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

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FIRST THINGS FIRST

“And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and will guard me on this way that I am going, and will give me food to eat and clothing to wear, and I return in peace to my father’s house, then the Lord shall be my God.’” Genesis 28:20-21.

This is a somewhat troubling vow. Jacob seems to be saying that he will accept God as his God only if God grants his request for food, clothing and safety. One might say that, after all, Jacob is only human, and we humans make this kind of bargain all the time. “If I am cured of this disease, I will start putting on tefillin regularly.” “If I pass this exam, I will go the synagogue every Shabbat.” But it is unseemly in one of the Patriarchs.

Rabbi S. Z. Heller says that what Jacob is really saying is, “then I will be able to serve You properly.” He continues: We don’t say “Adon Olam” (Master of the Universe, the concluding hymn on Shabbat morning) until after we have said “Ma Tovu” (How Goodly Are Your Tents, the prayer said upon entering the synagogue). One’s physical needs must be attended to before one can engage in spiritual practice.

This brings to mind the teaching of Rabbi Israel Salanter, the founder of the Musar (ethics) movement. Rather than concerning oneself with one’s own physical needs and the spiritual lives of others, one should first attend to the physical needs of others and one’s own spiritual life. We can’t save souls unless we first save the bodies.

Perhaps what Rabbi Salanter is really telling us is that in saving the physical lives of others, we save our own souls.

Shabbat Shalom!

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: 4:28 pm

Friday: Shabbat Evening Service - 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

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

Sunday: Religious School - 9:30 am.  Adult Hebrew with Linda Foster – 10:00 am.

Tuesday: NO Lunch and Learn – Rabbi Flom in Israel. Lunch and Learn will resume December 1.

Sunday, 6 December (Erev Chanukah): Jewish Wedding (Ketubah and Chuppah) of Tony and Linda Foster – Kabbalat Panim at 11:00 am, Ketubah signing and reading, Chuppah at Noon, light lunch follows. All members of Beth Meier are invited – please, please RSVP to assure sufficient food and drink. Mazal Tov!

Sunday, 13 December: Chanukah Celebration – Movie and Game Night – 6:30 pm. For the last night of Chanukah, bring your menorahs 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.

           

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, Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Stephanie Kane, Elaine Kleiger, Philip Kovac, Marsha Meyers, Annie Rivera, Gil Robbins, and Ruth Silon.

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.

My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list.

Cyber Torah list management:

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

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To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net  with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.