GIVING THANKS

Parashat Vayetze

9 Kislev 5779 / 16-17 November 2018

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

Calendar and dedications follow below. For more information about our community, check out our web site at: www.bnaihayim.com

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

"She conceived again and bore a son, and said, 'This time I will thank (odeh) the Lord.' Therefore, she named him Yehudah (Judah) ..." Genesis 29:35

We Jews are called in Hebrew "Yehudim", i.e., the descendants of Judah. It literally means that we are "the ones who are thankful".

On this upcoming Thanksgiving Day, and every day, every one of us should give thanks for our families, our friends, our communities and our lives. We should give thanks that we are fortunate enough to live in a country founded on the principles of justice and freedom, where we are free to practice our faith. We should give thanks - and mean it!

Thanksgiving Day derives from the harvest holiday of Sukkot. At your Thanksgiving table this week, you might wish to recite Psalm 100 (Mizmor L'Todah, A Psalm of Thanksgiving) or any of the psalms that are typically recited during Hallel (the Service of Praise – Psalms 113-118). Or download and read one of the following resources from the Rabbinical Assembly:

A reading based on Psalm 92, by Rabbi Debra Cantor: https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/assets/public/jewish-law/holidays/tgiving/tov-l-hodot-ladonai.pdf

Torah and Talmud study sheets, prepared by Rabbi Ashira Konigsburg:

https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/assets/public/readings-prayers/thanksgiving-gratitude.pdf

A Prayer for the Thanksgiving Feast, by Rabbi Naomi Levy:

https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/assets/public/jewish-law/holidays/tgiving/thanksgiving-prayer.pdf

Our Rabbis taught: “Know before Whom you stand.” In a similar vein, know to Whom you should give thanks.

Yom L'Todah Sameach - Shabbat Shalom U'Vrakhah!
Happy Thanksgiving! Have a Shabbat of Peace and Blessing!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier

Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/

Visit me on Facebook

Twitter: @DrahcirMolf

"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"

"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”

BT Yevamot 88a

----------------------------------------------------------

CALENDAR

Candle lighting: 4:30 pm

Friday – Shabbat Roxx! With Reb Jason and the Shul of Rock Band. Rock n’ Roll 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 – NO Religious School – resume December 2.

Tuesday – Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.

Thursday – Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 23 – NO Shabbat Evening Service.

Saturday, November 24 – Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.

Saturday, 8 December: Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Women’s Rosh Chodesh Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Attn: all female members – your participation is needed! Contact Carol Herskowitz or Lynn Kronzek for details. Kiddush luncheon follows.

Sunday, 9 December: Community Menorah Lighting, Religious School Hanukkah Play, Reb Jason and his guitar, Latkes, Sufganiyot, and More! - 5:00 pm. Check our website or weekly bulletin for details. RSVP to TBH/CBM office.

Next time you come to TBH/CBM, please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for SOVA.

TBH Religious School and TBH Pre-school have open enrollment. Enroll your children now! Contact the TBH office for information.

And be sure to tell your neighbors, friends, and relatives about our warm and welcoming community and our programs!

We are looking for volunteers for services: chant Torah or Haftarah, daven, lead English readings, and have aliyot and other Torah/bimah honors. Training available! Contact Rabbi Flom by e-mail for details and to sign up!

This d'var torah is offered in memory of Lynn Kronzek's grandfather, Gabriel Stern, whose yahrzeit falls on Sunday, 10 Kislev. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah – may his memory be a blessing.

This d'var torah is offered in memory of my uncle, Daniel Flom, whose yahrzeit falls this Thursday, 14 Kislev. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah – may his memory be a blessing.

This d'var torah is offered in memory of all those who have died in the California wildfires. May their memories be a blessing.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all those who have suffered losses in the California wildfires.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Elisheva bat Malkah, Ze’ev ben Adeline, Liora bat Sarah, Eilite bat Miriam, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Annabelle Flom (Chanah Bella bat Kreina), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Brandon Joseph, Gabor Klein, Philip Kovac, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Emanu), Barbara Levy, David Marks, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), Irwin Silon, William Sragow, and Jonathan Woolf.

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. No salesman will call!

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”.

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

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.