PreVw 4 Shabbat Vayigash 5772 – 12/30-31/11

December 29th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Shabbat Preview

Thursday, December 29, 2011 – 3 Tevet 5772
Preview for Shabbat Vayigash

NEXT CONGREGATIONAL ISRAEL TOUR

1. Depart EWR: December 18, 2012

2. Return to EWR: January 1, 2013

3. The itinerary & application is available: www.israeltours.com/rmallach2012.php

4. Look for upcoming information on an upcoming Informational Meeting for this tour

UPCOMING EVENT REMINDERS:

A. Sunday, January 1: NO Religious School

1. 9 AM: Morning Minyan

2. 7:45 PM: evening minyan

B. Monday, January 2, 2012: NOTE morning minyan will be at 9 AM on this day

C. Thursday, January 5, 2012 @ 8 PM: Coffee & Clergy Corner at Barnes & Noble session

D. Friday, January 6 @ 6:30 PM: SHABBATis4U – Services led by Nitzanim & Kohavim, January Birthday blessing, Yahrzeit list is read, dinner by prior RSVP to follow services – NO LATE SERVICE Monday,

E. Monday, January 16th, 10 – 11 AM: Springfield Interfaith Clergy Association Martin Luther King Day Commemoration, Townhall, 2nd Floor

F. Sunday, January 15th, 7 PM: Step Up for Israel concluding film & discussion

G. Thursday, January 19th @ 7:45 PM: Torah on Tap

H. Sunday, February 5th @ 9 AM: World Wide Wrap – Come wRAP with us with Tefillin, Talit, special breakfast & guest speaker – all sponsored by your Men’s Club – open to all, male & FEMALE, Tefillin help and practice pairs are available

I. Sunday, February 19th @ 8 PM: TBAY 3rd Annual A Night of Comedy, featuring Rabbi Rob Alper & Rev. Susan Sparks

You can also visit my website at: http://ridinrebbe.com/

For updated information go to: http://www.tbaynj.org/

II. December 30, 2011 – 5 Tevet: Shabbat Vayigash

Candle Lighting Time: 4:20 PM
8 PM Shabbat Services –
1. Kiddush Soloist: Cantor Nadel

2. Sermon Theme: guest speaker – Steve Taub

3. L`kavod Shabbat – Special Honors

a. Responsive Readings: Al Eglow – pg. 33

b. Open Ark for Aleinu: Irv Yoskowitz

4. Bima Officers: Pam Kornspan & Steve Klinghoffer

5. Oneg Shabbat: Sponsored by Women’s League

II. Saturday, December 31, 2011 – 5 Tevet: Shabbat Vayigash

A. 9:30 AM: Shaharit L`Shabbat in the Sanctuary:

1. Shabbat Coordinator: Roberta Gersh

2. Baal Tefillah Preliminary Service (Prayer Leader): David Glass

3. Baal Tefillah Shaharit: Cantor

4. Dvar Torah: Steve Taub

5. Baal Koreh (Torah Readers): Ken Melman

6. Baal Maftir (Haftorah Reader): Ken Melman

7. Gabbayim (Torah Proctors):

8. Baal Tefillah Musaf: Cantor

9. Special Aliyot

IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN ALIYAH, PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!!!

a. Congregational Aliyah:

b. B`nai Mitzvah Anniversary Aliyah:

10. Bima Officers Scheduled: Pam Kornspan & Steve Klinghoffer

11. The Kiddush luncheon following services is sponsored by EAC

B. 10:30 AM: Youth Services ARE NOT in session

1. Grades 4 – 6 are in the Chapel

2. Mini-Minyan, grades K – 3 are in the Youth Lounge

C. 10:30 AM: “BABYSITTING & BLESSINGS” IS IN SESSION

Next Shabbat: Shabbat Vayekhi

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Mallach

Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael
60 Temple Drive
Springfield, NJ 07081
(973) 376-0539 x 15
Fax: (973) 376-5478
Cell: (908) 803-4777

“Tears may linger for a night, but joy comes with the dawn.” (Psalm 30:6)

TTT: Vayigash 5772

December 27th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in TTT

Torah Thoughts for Today
Shabbat Vayigash 5772
Rabbi Mark Mallach
Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael, Springfield, NJ
MINYAN ASSURANCE NEEDED
Bob Modlinger has a Yahrzeit, your help to assure a minyan on Tuesday, December 27th, at 7:45 PM is GREATLY NEEDED.
HOME CAREGIVER AVAILABLE
We have a member who uses a home caregiver on a part-time basis; the caregiver is looking for additional hours, either live-in or commuting. If interested, please let me know

Morning Minyan time for Hanukkah: 6:45 AM on 12/28

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
IMPORTANT NOTES FOLLOW BELOW
PARASHAT VAYIGASH
December 31, 2011 – 5 Tevet 5772
Annual: Genesis 44:18-47:27 (Etz Hayim p. 274; Hertz p. 169)
Triennial: Genesis 45:28-46:27 (Etz Hayim p. 279; Hertz p. 172)
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15–28 (Etz Hayim p. 291; Hertz p. 178)
Prepared by Rabbi Joseph Prouser
Judah delivers an impassioned appeal to Joseph on behalf of Benjamin, offering to submit to slavery personally in his youngest brother’s stead. He does so, he says, to spare both Benjamin, for whom he has pledged personal responsibility, and his father. Joseph is moved to tears by his brother’s selfless and eloquent appeal. Dismissing everyone but his brothers from his presence, Joseph finally reveals his identity, immediately inquiring about his father’s well being. He attributes his sale into slavery at his brothers’ hands to Providence. Embracing his brothers, he instructs them to return to Canaan and then to come back, with Jacob, to settle in Egypt.
News of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers spreads to Pharaoh and his court. The brothers, supplied with wagons and provisions, return home and tell Jacob that his beloved son is still alive and has risen to high office in Egypt. On the return trip to Egypt God appears to Jacob in a vision, assuring him that going back down to Egypt is the proper course, while not mentioning the enslavement that is his nation’s destiny. The 70 Israelites taking up residence in Egypt are listed, and Joseph is tearfully reunited with Jacob. He reports his family’s arrival to Pharaoh, to whom he introduces them. Jacob has a private audience with Pharaoh and details for him the personal adversity he has long endured.
Against his express instructions, Joseph’s brothers tell Pharaoh that they are shepherds. Joseph settles his families in Goshen, setting the stage for future events. Despite his generous treatment of his family, Joseph is ruthless in his economic administration of Egypt. After depleting the financial resources of Pharaoh’s subjects through the sale of the grain and food under his control, next he takes their livestock in exchange for supplies, and finally he usurps their only remaining material resource, their land. The only land Joseph allows to remain in private ownership belongs to the priests.
Once he has secured a royal monopoly on both Egypt’s land and its livestock for Pharaoh, Joseph imposes further economic duties on the populace: they owe Pharaoh one fifth of each harvest. Deprived of private land and livestock, and impoverished through the sale of grain over which Joseph had exercised such visionary but shrewd control, the Egyptians nevertheless are thankful for surviving the famine: “You have saved our lives! We are grateful to our lord, and we shall be serfs to Pharaoh.”
The parashah concludes by contrasting the impoverished Egyptian populace under a despotic regime with Israel’s growing prosperity: “They acquired holdings in [Goshen], and were fertile and increased greatly.” This description anticipates the opening of the Book of Exodus, and the ethnic tensions that led to the Israelites’ enslavement.
Halachah L’Maaseh
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that “if a holiday is based on religious belief, such celebrations are prohibited to Jews.” In reference to celebrating the Gregorian new year, Rabbi Feinstein ruled: “The first day of the non-Jewish year, January 1, and American Thanksgiving are not prohibited according to halachah because today they no longer have any religious significance, but those who are particular should be strict in respect of them” (Responsa Igrot Moshe, Even Ha-Ezer 2:13). Despite Rabbi Feinstein’s welcome and permissive conclusion, we note with interest that New Years Day is also marked as “The Feast of the Circumcision” because it marks the eighth day after December 25, celebrated by Christian faithful as the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth. The feast day is still in currency among Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. While Rabbi Feinstein finds that this fact presents no obstacle to celebrating the secular new year, Rabbi Raymond Apple, rabbi emeritus of the Great Synagogue of Sydney, Australia, cautions: “the halachah is far from happy with the hedonism and overindulgence in eating and drinking which are common on New Year’s Eve.” [Best wishes for a happy and healthy, worthy and studious 2012 – JHP]
Historical Note
Parashat Vayigash, describing Joseph’s continued (and alas, somewhat despotic) program of providing food to an Egypt – and surrounding nations – impoverished by seven lean years, is read on December 31, 2011. U.S. Secretary of State (and former Army Chief of Staff) General George C. Marshall was born on December 31, 1880. The general is remembered as the architect of the post-World War II Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program. After the ravages of the war, which had disrupted agricultural production for years, much of Europe was on the brink of famine. Under the Marshall Plan, European nations received nearly $13 billion in aid, which initially resulted in shipments of food, staples, fuel and machinery from the United States. As a result, from 1948 through 1952 European economies grew at an unprecedented rate.

Your thoughts as always are welcome…
REMINDERS:

A. Sunday, January 1, 2012:
1. 9 AM:
a. NO Religious School
b. Morning Minyan
2. 7:45 PM: evening minyan

C. Morning Minyan times for Hanukkah: 6:45 AM on 12/21, 12/22, 12/23, 12/27 & 12/28
D. NOTE: MONDAY, December 26TH = FEDERAL HOLIDAY – MORNING MINYAN WILL START AT 9 AM
,
E. January 2, 2012: NOTE morning minyan will be at 9 AM on this day
F. Thursday January 5, 2012 @ 8PM: Coffee & Clergy Corner at Barnes & Noble session
G. Friday, January 6 @ 6:30 PM: ShabbatTis4U – Services led by Nitzanim & Kohavim, January Birthday blessing, Yahrzeit list is read, dinner by prior RSVP to follow services – NO LATE SERVICE
H. Monday, January 16th, 10 – 11 AM: Springfield Interfaith Clergy Association Martin Luther King Day Commemoration, Townhall, 2nd Floor Sunday,
I. January 15th, 7 PM: Step Up for Israel concluding film & discussion
J. Thursday, January 19th @ 7:45 PM: Torah on Tap
K. Sunday, February 5th @ 9 AM: World Wide Wrap – Come RAP with us with Tefillin, Talit, special breakfast & guest speaker – all sponsored by your Men’s Club – open to all, male & FEMALE, Teffilin help and practice pairs are available
L. Sunday, February 19th, 8 PM: TBAY Annual Comedy Night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEXT CONGREGATIONAL ISRAEL TOUR
1. Depart EWR: December 18, 2012
2. Return to EWR: January 1, 2013
3. The itinerary & application is available: www.israeltours.com/rmallach2012.php

For updated information go to: http://www.tbaynj.org/

You can also visit my website at http://ridinrebbe.com/

Sermon: Miketz/Hanukkah 5772

December 22nd, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Sermons

The Last Shlomo Story

Shabbat Shalom v`Hag Samaeach!
There is a long tradition of Hanukkah Miracle stories; a genre inspired by the story of the vase of oil, sufficient for 1 day, which burned for 8 days. It seems, every generation has a story of some sort of miracle that occurred during the Festival of Hanukkah. The story that I am about to share is one of many that comes out of the Shoah, the Holocaust. This story is known as The Last Shlomo Carlebach story:
Rabbi Levi tells a story that he heard from his uncle, a rabbi in England. Shlomo Carlebach, of blessed memory, was in England right before he got on the plane upon which he was struck by his fatal heart attack. Before he got on that fateful flight, the English rabbi turned to Shlomo and asked him to share some new story from amongst his awesome array of stories of faith. Shlomo said” o.k. Holy Brother I’ll tell you a story I haven’t told before.”
He then told him of a friend of his who was a survivor of Auschwitz. This friend recounted an event from the camps. It seems there was a very devout and sweet older man called Yosi in the barracks with him. Yosi was determined not to let the Nazis vanquish his pride and his heritage. As a result, he insisted on fasting on Yom Kippur, even though that meant not eating the one ration they received daily. As he trudged through the camp performing all the mindless functions inherent in slave labor, his lips would be silently mouthing the book of psalms. Yosi would measure his days by the number of times he would succeed in “going through” the book of psalms.
On his last Hanukkah, Yosi was determined to light Hanukkah candles. He was finally able to obtain a little bit of vegetable oil, after bartering away his winter boots, and a few threads from his uniform from which he fashioned a candle.
Yosi lit this candle on Erev Hanukkah and his face beamed and glowed in the reflection of the candle. Within minutes the door burst open and the guards clamored into the barracks. They demanded to know who lit the candle; they threatened to kill all the inhabitants of the barracks if they would not reveal the culprit. Yosi, although hunched over with age and pain stepped forward and said,”It is I”. At that moment, the friend told Shlomo, he had never seen Yosi stand so straight.
The guards hustled Yosi outside…and shot him dead, but they had forgoton to put out the candle. Rabbi Carlebach’s friend then said, “You are not going to believe me….but that candle flickered on for the rest of Hanukkah! …for eight days.” Shlomo Carlebach then told this Rabbi: “that’s it…that’s the story…That’s the story of Yosi, and that is the story of the Jewish People”
Now, I don’t know if there is any confirmation of this incident and that make-shift candle burning miraculously for 8 days, just the gravitas of the story being told by Shlomo Carlebach. However, what intrigues me is the concept that special, dare we say miraculous events tend to occur around Hanukkah.
Take the near miraculous event that Rhoda and Mark Berenson experienced this Tuesday, Erev Hanukkah, when their daughter, Lori, and their 2-year old grandson arrived to Newark Airport.
If you recall, Lori Berenson, stirred international controversy when she was convicted of aiding Peruvian guerrillas and sentenced to 20 years of hard labor in a Peruvian jail. Her parents despaired of her ever returning to the United States.
After serving 15 years of her sentence, she was paroled, but restricted to stay in Peru. When her plane touched down on Tuesday, it was her first visit home since her arrest in 1995.
Her father, Mark Berenson, said that his daughter was looking forward to introducing her son to Hanukkah traditions.
Now, I am not about to confirm Lori’s visit to the US, and it is only for a short visit, she must return next month to Peru, that her visit is a miracle; but I wouldn’t doubt that thought being in the minds of her parents. Nor, would I deny their fervent wish that this miracle repeats itself, soon, God-willing, and Lori is granted the right to permanently leave Peru – b`kerov b`yamainu – it should only be soon in our time.
ALUASA

Preview for Shabbat Miketz 5772

December 22nd, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Shabbat Preview

Thursday, December 22, 2011 – 26 Kislev 5772
Preview for Shabbat Miketz v`Hanukkah
MINYAN ASSURANCE NEEDED
Friday, December 23rd, 6:45 AM – Lori Klinghoffer & Amy Lebovitz each has their fathers’ Yahrzeit, please help assure that we have a minyan
COLLEGE CONNECTION
It has been noted that there are likely a large number of our member families who have children in college that are not on our College Connection list. We do like to stay in touch with, and periodically send them out goody bags. If you have not notified us our your child’s name & college address, please do so

NEXT CONGREGATIONAL ISRAEL TOUR
1. Depart EWR: December 18, 2012
2. Return to EWR: January 1, 2013
3. The itinerary & application is available: www.israeltours.com/rmallach2012.php

UPCOMING EVENT REMINDERS:

A. Sunday, December 25: NO Religious School
1. 9 AM: Morning Minyan
2. 7:45 PM: evening minyan

B. Morning Minyan times for Hanukkah: 6:45 AM on 12/21, 12/22, 12/23, 12/27 & 12/28
C. NOTE: MONDAY, December 26TH = FEDERAL HOLIDAY – MORNING MINYAN WILL START AT 9 AM

D. Monday, January 2, 2012: NOTE morning minyan will be at 9 AM on this day
E. Thursday, January 5, 2012 @ 8PM: Coffee & Clergy Corner at Barnes & Noble session
F. Friday, January 6 @ 6:30 PM: ShabbatTis4U – Services led by Nitzanim & Kohavim, January Birthday blessing, Yahrzeit list is read, dinner by prior RSVP to follow services – NO LATE SERVICE Monday,
G. Monday, January 16th, 10 – 11 AM: Springfield Interfaith Clergy Association Martin Luther King Day Commemoration, Townhall, 2nd Floor
H. Sunday, January 15th, 7 PM: Step Up for Israel concluding film & discussion
I. Thursday, January 19th @ 7:45 PM: Torah on Tap
J. Sunday, February 5th @ 9 AM: World Wide Wrap – Come RAP with us with Tefillin, Talit, special breakfast & guest speaker – all sponsored by your Men’s Club – open to all, male & FEMALE, Teffilin help and practice pairs are available
K. Sunday, February 19th @ 8PM: TBAY 3rd Annual A Night of Comedy, featuring Rabbi Rob Alper & Rev. Susan Sparks

You can also visit my website at: http://ridinrebbe.com/

For updated information go to: http://www.tbaynj.org/

II. December 23, 2011 – 28 Kislev: Shabbat Miketz v`Hanukkah

A. Candle Lighting Time: 4:15 PM
B. 8 PM Shabbat Services –
1. Kiddush Soloist: Cantor Nadel
2. Sermon Theme:
3. L`kavod Shabbat – Special Honors
a. Responsive Readings:
b. Open Ark for Aleinu:
4. Bima Officers: Lesley Brooks & Lois Kaish
5. Oneg Shabbat: Sponsored by Women’s League

II. Saturday, December 24, 2011 – 28 Kislev: Shabbat Miketz v`Hanukkah

A. 9:30 AM: Shaharit L`Shabbat in the Sanctuary:

1. Shabbat Coordinator: Barry Segal
2. Baal Tefillah Preliminary Service (Prayer Leader): Larry Horwitz
3. Baal Tefillah Shaharit: Cantor
4. Dvar Torah: Rabbi
5. Baal Koreh (Torah Readers): Ken Melman
6. Baal Maftir (Haftorah Reader):
7. Gabbayim (Torah Proctors):
8. Baal Tefillah Musaf: Cantor
9. Special Aliyot

IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN ALIYAH, PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!!!
a. Congregational Aliyah:
b. B`nai Mitzvah Anniversary Aliyah:

10. Bima Officers Scheduled: Lesley Brooks & Lois Kaish
11. The Kiddush luncheon following services is sponsored by EAC
B. 10:30 AM: Youth Services ARE NOT in session
1. Grades 4 – 6 are in the Chapel
2. Mini-Minyan, grades K – 3 are in the Youth Lounge
C. 10:30 AM: “BABYSITTING & BLESSINGS” IS IN SESSION

Next Shabbat: Shabbat Vayigash

Shabbat Shalom!

Sermon: Vayeshev 5772

December 16th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Sermons

Tim Tebow, A Humbler Yosef
I. HS Football – pregame locker-room huddle, on 1 knee for Lord’s Prayer – I moved my lips but recited Shema v`ahavtah
II. Religion & Sports in America – inseparable!
A. Alex Gonzales – biblical verse inscribed on his bat
B. Home run trot – index fingers pointing to the sky
C. Stat: This fall TV season, 23/25 most watched shows – NFL
III. Tim Tebow phenomena – WSJ page
A. Last year Heisman Trophy winner – under eye glare protection – Biblical verses – show WSJ
B. Pro football – QB Denver Broncos
1. Has won 7/8 games
2. ¾ game = terrible – last Q, takes over, ie win over the Jets & using his fullback running ability
3. No more under eye glare protection verse – I guess not allowed in NFL, but Tebowing
a. Phase coined & made into a website by Jared Kleinstein, nice 24 yr old Jewish boy from NY, snapped a pic, posted it on the website he created & it went viral from there
b. Imagine a Rodin pose, head bowed, prayer to Jesus for help in scoring the touchdown
c. Now, little league kids are Tebowing
IV. Tebow & Yosef – Parashat Vayeshev
A. @ Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, this week’s NY Jewish Week, Tebow is a humbler Yosef
B. Both are chosen ones
1. Yosef – bring back to Promised Land
2. Tebow – Superbowl – the promised land of the NFL
C. Yosef’s assent:
1. Gen. 37:3 – Yakov loves Yosef best of all – multi-color coat –strutting
2. Dreams:
a. #1 – v. 5- 8: his sheaf of grain stands upright, brothers’ sheaves bow down (Tebow pose?)
b. #2 – v. 9 – 10: sun, moon & stars bow to Yosef – Yakov berates him – he needs to cool it
3. Not until much later, in response to Pharoah, then he credits his dream interpretation to God – it took being thrown into multiple pits to be humbled
D. Tebow
1. Already cautioned by former NFL QB great Kurt Warner to tone down his evangelical actions
2. Every NFL defense is looking to throw him into a pit, running QB’s in the NFL tend to have short careers

V. Good v. Sons of Darkness
A. This Sunday, Broncos play the New England Patriots – already being touted as a battle of good vs. evil – good v. sons of darkness
B. Tebow vs Tom Brady, the well coifed Hollywood QB (anything Hollywood =’s decademt)
C. Tebow vs Belichick – coach of Pats, the hoodie-clad diabolical coach, once fined for secretly video-tapping opponents practice – sinners must be punnished
D. Tebow vs. Bob Kraft – the Jewish owner – thru Tebow he will see the light
VI. Significance – fuel for the Christian right & Right to Lifers, his mother refused against medical advice to have an abortion, the outcome – Tebow – Tebow the new poster boy – could he take them all the way to & win the SuperBowl – post game commercial: Tim Tebow, now that you have won the SuperBowl what are you going to do? Answer, wont’ be going to Disneyland, but, I’m going to church to pray to Jesus for winning the SuperBowl for us.