Shabbat Vayigash Dec 14-15, 2007 / Tevet 6, 5768
Asara B'Tevet
The Fast for the 10th of Tevet is observed this Wednesday morning at dawn until night fall. The 10th of Tevet commemorates the siege of the walls of Jerusalem prior to its destruction by the Babylonians.
Guys Night Out Dec 20
Only five seats left! Join us Thu Dec 20th at Aarons Glatt Market from 8:00-10:30pm for a fun night of food, drink, music and some Torah. $10 donation to KAY. RSVP Gary Lewis 858-538-2330 or Marc Lotzof 619-540-5952.
KAY's Torah Study Opportunities
Work Person's Shiur
Workperson's Class at Aubrey Meyerowitz's office will meet on Wednesday, Jan 9th, 1pm. Address: 9863 Pacific Heights Blvd 92121. This class meets once a month.
Advanced Talmud Class: Men and Women are invited to study high level Talmud. Please speak to Rav Menashe to inquire further.
KAY Chavurot: Join an informal, social Chavurah study group this year. Meet once a month for social Torah meetings about whatever area of Jewish life you are interested in. Please contact Rav Menashe.
Community events
JFS Embrace-a-Family for the Holidays
In our Embrace-a-Family Program, we match families in need with individuals, families, or groups in the community. We provide you with a description of your family, ages of children, and their holiday wish list. Embracers provide toys, clothes, staple food, and gift cards for the family, enabling them to have a more joyous holiday. To learn more about embracing a family contact Melinda Bell at (858) 637-3050 or by email melindab@jfssd.org.
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.
Contact Ian Aires at 858/481-2706.
Limmud: Community Day of Learning
Hosted by the AJE. Sunday, January 27th, 7:30am-3:30pm at the LFJCC
2008 Options
Guest Speaker: Anita Diamant - February 5th, 10am-1pm. All women from the community are encouraged to attend this annual UJF fundraising event; for more info: contact jessicah@ujfsd.org
SD Jewish Film Festival
Hosted by the Center for Jewish Culture at the LFJCC. Begins February 7th thru February 17th. For more info, go to www.lfjcc.org/sdjff
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
New members - we are delighted to welcome our new members Ivan & Maureen Menachemson!
Happy birthday to Justin Myerson (Dec 14), Randy Shiner (Dec 16) and Savi Lurie (Dec 19)!
Wedding anniversaries - mazal tov to Ivan & Maureen Menachemson (Dec 10), Clive & Martha Gurwitz (Dec 14), Ron & Kim Lazarus (Dec 16) and Syd & Rachelle Rosin (Dec 16)!
Yahrzeits - we wish a long life to Ivan Menachemson (for his father), to Ron Levin (for his mother) and to Stan Rapoport (for his father).
Levaya - we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Suki Lurie's father in South Africa. May she and her family be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion.
Kiddush
Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by Stan & Robyn Rapoport in memory of Stan's father.
Please contact Barbara Lurie at 858/792-7942 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 Dec 14: Candle lighting 4.26 PM
- Sat Dec 15: Shabbat ends 5.26 PM
Thought for the week
Coming Close
"And Judah approached, Vayigash, him [Joseph]." (Genesis 44:18) The opening verse of this week's Torah reading brings the sibling drama to its crescendo; Judah and Joseph confront each other in their famous battle of wills. Under Judah's pressure, Joseph can no longer hide his true identity and reveals himself to his stunned brothers.
The term to describe Judah's confrontation with Joseph, Vayigash, appears in many scenarios in the Bible. It is a particularly common word in the Genesis account. However, in two instances, exegetical approaches to explaining the concept of approaching are described in identical ways.
The first time we see this confrontation, the Vayigash, Abraham intercedes with G-d to retract the decree for Sodom and Gemorrah's destruction. Rashi comments that Abraham's approach to G-d contained three elements: combative, appeasing and prayerful. (18:23; see Rashi there)
The second time we see this form of confrontation comes from this week's reading. Maskil L'David suggests, like Rashi earlier in the Torah, that these three parts of Abraham's approach: the combative, appeasing and prayerful, were repeated by Judah in our Torah portion. (See Joshua 14:6)
By reading the story of Judah's confrontation with Joseph, as the same type of confrontation that Abraham undergoes with G-d, Maskil L'David shares an interesting and important double message: Our confrontation and interaction with each other and with G-d must mirror each other.
In trying to find the best way to approach an intangible G-d, the best tools we must try to access are the ones we use when we approach each other in passionate dialogue. And when we interact with each another, the more we can envision the presence of holiness, the Tzelem Elokim, in each person, the more meaningful, the more sensitive our interactions will be.
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