Parashat Vayeishev
Torah: Genesis 37:1 – 40:23
Haftarah: Amos 2:6 – 3:8
21 Kislev 5778 / 8-9 December 2017
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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THE SECRET?
"And Judah said to his brothers, "What advantage is there if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?" Genesis 37:26
A traditional understanding of this verse is that Judah sees an opportunity to get rid of Joseph and profit at the same time (while saving his life). That is why the brothers ultimately decide to sell Joseph into slavery. But Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Kotzk has a very different take on the verse.
The Kotzker focuses not on the profit motive, but on the idea of hiding the deed. He says, "If we are forced to conceal the matter and to keep it secret, that is a sign that it is wrong. Every secret is like a type of theft."
In the Kotzker's view, Judah is saying there is no benefit whatsoever in eliminating Joseph, since it will be a guilty secret among the brothers forever. Indeed, we see later in the Torah that the brothers become wracked with guilt and recrimination when they are confronted by the vizier of Egypt (the disguised Joseph), who seems omniscient in his penetrating questions and demands of them.
My father, z’tz'l, whose name also was Menachem Mendel, taught me a very simple lesson on the issue. "Don't ever say or do anything that you would not want on the front page of the newspaper."
There's no such thing as a secret.
Shabbat Shalom V'Chag Urim Sameach!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Visit me on Facebook
Twitter: @DrahcirMolf
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 88a
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Candlelighting: 4:25 pm
Friday – Shabbat Evening Service at 7:30 pm, followed by Oneg Shabbat.
Saturday – Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.
Sunday – Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew – 10:00 am. Adult Game Day - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Includes delicious lunch. Price: $15 - checks payable to TBH Sisterhood. Questions/RSVP to Gina Seeman - (818) 349-5301. Deadline December 6.
Tuesday – Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon. Hanukkah!! – begins at sundown. Light those lights! Spin that dreidel! Fry those latkes or sufganiyot!
Friday, December 15 – Shabbat Evening Service at 7:30 pm, followed by Oneg Shabbat.
Saturday, December 16 – Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows. TBH/CBM Hanukkah Happening! - Havdalah, Light Dinner (with latkes, of course!), Communal Menorah Lighting (bring yours along!), songs, etc. No charge, but donations welcome. RSVP to TBH/CBM office by December 8! Sponsored by Linda and Tony Foster, and Gina and Bernie Seeman, in honor of their respective wedding anniversaries.
Sunday, December 17 – NO Religious School or Adult Hebrew until January 7 – Winter Break
This d’var torah is offered in memory of my uncle, Dr. David M. Flom, whose yahrzeit falls this Shabbat, 21 Kislev. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Ze’ev ben Adeline, HaRav Chana Rivka bat Doronit, Yaakov Rani Ben Margalit, Eilite bat Miryam, HaRav Tzvi Hersh ben Frimet, Sarah bat Devorah, Hiroe Andriola, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther), Jerry Forman, Bernard Garvin, Myra Goodman, Leah Granat, Simon Hartmann, Brandon Joseph, Gabor Klein, Philip Kovac, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Emanu), Lyndia Lowy (Leah bat Sarah), David Marks, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), Jonathan Woolf, and Meagan Yudell.
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.
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