2 Kislev 5776 / 13-14
November 2015
Parashat Tol'dot
Torah: Genesis 25:19 -
28:9
Haftarah: 1 Kings
1:1-31
Calendar and
dedications follow below. See our web site at: http://www.bethmeier.org for complete listings
Please feel free to
pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE
“May God (Elohim) give you of the dew of heaven, and the fat of the land, and plenty of wheat and wine.” Genesis 27:28
Rashi: Why is the name of God that is used here the one that refers to His attribute of justice? To teach that He will treat you with justice. If you deserve it (the blessing), He will give it to you, and if not, He will not give it to you.
Oznayim Latorah: Wheat, i.e., bread, is one of the necessities of life, but wine is a luxury, which only those who can afford to will use. Isaac in this blessing hints that those who can afford it may ONLY (my emphasis) drink wine if there is plenty of wheat, for both the poor and the rich, and if there are no hungry people in the land. But, if there is not “plenty of wheat” in the land, if there is a shortage of bread, then even those who can afford to may not drink wine, and should instead use the money in order to buy bread for the poor.
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YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE
“May God (Elohim) give you of the dew of heaven, and the fat of the land, and plenty of wheat and wine.” Genesis 27:28
Rashi: Why is the name of God that is used here the one that refers to His attribute of justice? To teach that He will treat you with justice. If you deserve it (the blessing), He will give it to you, and if not, He will not give it to you.
Oznayim Latorah: Wheat, i.e., bread, is one of the necessities of life, but wine is a luxury, which only those who can afford to will use. Isaac in this blessing hints that those who can afford it may ONLY (my emphasis) drink wine if there is plenty of wheat, for both the poor and the rich, and if there are no hungry people in the land. But, if there is not “plenty of wheat” in the land, if there is a shortage of bread, then even those who can afford to may not drink wine, and should instead use the money in order to buy bread for the poor.
This idea of foregoing luxuries, even when we can afford them, in order to provide others with necessities, goes against much if not all that our increasingly selfish and libertarian-leaning society teaches us. As is so often the case, Torah can be truly counter-cultural, if not revolutionary in its teachings.
Unfortunately, there
are still significant numbers of homeless and hungry people in our communities.
You can help with donations of food, and/or money, and/or time to a shelter or
food bank near you.
What kind of justice do
YOU deserve?
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier
- Studio City, CA
"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: 4:32
pm
Friday: Family 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.
Friday, 20 November: Shabbat Evening service – 8:00 pm. Oneg
Shabbat follows.
Saturday, 21 November: Shabbat morning service – 10:00
am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday, 22 November: Religious School - 9:30 am.
Adult Hebrew with Linda Foster – 10:00 am.
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.
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To dedicate a Cyber Torah
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