Shabbat Vayetze Nov 16-17, 2007 / Kislev 7, 5768
In the Community
If you know of anyone that will be alone or housebound for Thanksgiving, please contact Rav Menashe.
KAY Annual Thanksgiving Football game
We meet at the park next to Carmel Creek Elementary school at 10am for a friendly, but fierce game of football. No charge, lots of fun!
KAY's Torah Study Opportunities
Work Person's Shiur
Workperson's Class at Aubrey Meyerowitz's office will meet on Wednesday, November 28th at 1pm. Address: 9863 Pacific Heights Blvd 92121. This week's topic will be about Chanukkah. This class meets once a month.
Advanced Talmud Class: Men and Women are invited to study high level Talmud. We will be starting this Class after the High Holiday Season. Please speak to Rav Menashe to inquire further and to vote on what will be this year's Talmud tractate for the Kehilla.
KAY Chavurot: Join an informal, social Chavurah study group this year. We are looking for 4 families to volunteer, to make a guest list and to form a rotation of hosts for once a month social Torah meetings about whatever area of Jewish life you are interested in. Please contact Rav Menashe to volunteer.
Chanukkah is coming
First night of Chanukkah is Tuesday evening, December 4th!
KAY Chanukkah party - Save the date for our annual Chanukkah party at the Palacio Clubhouse on Sunday evening, December 9th, for the 6th night of Chanukkah. We will play music, eat latkes, dance and have lots of fun for the kids. Be sure to bring your own Menorah for the communal candle lighting.
Community events
Men's Event
Sign up for the Men's Event with KAY's Table. January 24th, 5:30 pm. This year's guest lecturer, Alan Dershowitz. http://sandiego.ujcfedweb.org/page.html?ArticleID=157988.
AIPAC brunch fundraiser - Mar 30
Tickets $50 till December, thereafter $65. Please contact Daniella Lewis 858/603-7553.
Refuah Sheleima
Please contact Rav Menashe to let him know of any family or friends who are ill.
Member news
Happy birthday to Jennie Starr (Nov 16), Lauren Berman (Nov 17), Rachel Berman (Nov 18) and Yael Esserman (Nov 19)!
Yahrzeits - we wish a long life to Ivan Strashoon (for his father), to Brett Matus (for his mother), to Alex Novokolsky (for his mother) and to Joe Pamensky (for his father).
Kiddush
Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by Bev Murray in honor of her three sons' birthdays - mazal tov!
Please contact Daniella Lewis at 858/603-7553 if you would like to sponsor kiddush on Shabbat morning.
Membership registration
Your support is vital! Please complete and send in your membership form as soon as possible. To discuss your monthly contribution in strict confidence, please contact Geoff Patz at 858/733-3777. All donations are tax deductible and should be made payable to Kehillat Ahavat Yisrael and mailed to 13030 Brixton Place, San Diego CA 92130-1325. Thank you for your support!
Shabbat services
Friday night services: 6.15 pm. Shabbat morning: 9.30 am. Children's service 10.30 am. Services are held every week in the Bet Midrash of the San Diego Jewish Academy's Carmel Valley campus. Please see our web site for more information and directions.
Shabbat times
- Fri Nov 16: Candle lighting 4.29 PM
- Sat Nov 17: Shabbat ends 5.29 PM
Thought for the week
Finding Strength
This Shabbat we read parshat Vayeitze from the Torah, where Yaakov sets out on a journey to save his own life. He runs to Haran to live with his devious uncle Lavan, as he tries to escape the wrath of his twin brother, Esau. In Lavan's house, Yaakov builds his own family, fathering twelve children from four different women. The last child born to Yaakov in this week's portion is Joseph from Rachel. Interestingly, immediately after Joseph's birth, Yaakov sets his will on returning to Canaan, where he will encounter Esau for the first time in many years. (Genesis 30:25)
Why did Yaakov wait until the birth of Joseph to leave Lavan's house?
After having eleven children, what changed in Yaakov's mind which encouraged him to return to Canaan?
Rachel is Yaakov's wife of choice. He loved her the instant he met her; it was truly love at first sight. (ibid 29:11) In Rachel, Yaakov must have seen a partner in much the same way that Isaac saw Rebecca and as Abraham had seen Sarah. These women would be the first mothers of the destiny of Israel. Yaakov carries the blessing of the destiny of Israel, first given to Abraham and Isaac by G-d, later bestowed by Isaac to Yaakov. The destiny of Israel emerges with children. When Rachel finally gives birth, Yaakov understood the destiny of Israel to be coursing through him too. (This also explains Yaakov's inconsolability when he thought Joseph dead, later in Genesis)
In Yaakov's actions, the Rabbis sensed this message. The Talmud states that prior to Joseph's birth, Yaakov felt doubtful about a conflict between he and Esau. But after Joseph is born, Yaakov knew he could withstand and even overcome Esau, citing the verse "Yaakov is the fire, Joseph the flame, and Esau the straw." (Ovadia 1, quoted in TB Baba Batra 123b; see Rashi there and in Genesis 30:25)
Yaakov's strength can act as a source of strength for us too. When Yaakov sees himself as part of a bigger picture, part of a dream becoming reality, he uncovers the hidden wellsprings of faith and hope. Despite inevitable hardship, Yaakov can open his spiritual First-Aide kit whenever his soul is in need of mending. And we can too.
Shabbat Shalom Umevorach,
Rav Menashe
Kehillat Ahavat Yisrael (Love of Israel - the nation and the land) is a warm, caring Orthodox community welcoming Jews of all backgrounds to personal exploration and growth within Judaism. Our name symbolizes our passionate love for both fellow Jews and the State of Israel. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who you think might be interested. Let us know at any time if you'd like to be removed from this email list.
Contact information:
Rabbi: Rav Menashe and Donna East 858/605-1111
Board:
- President: Michael Lurie 858/794-8278
- Marketing: Ian Aires 858/481-2706
- At large: Barbara Berkovich 858/353-1420
- Programs: Gary Lewis 858/538-2330
- Programs: Jeff Max 858/481-7627
- Finance: Selwyn Lurie 858/792-7942
- Ladies: Barbara Lurie 858/792-7942
- Membership: Geoff Patz 858/733-3777