Shabbat Vayishlach
Genesis 32:4-36:43
Candle Lighting
Time: 4: 14 P.M. Friday, Nov. 23, 2007
In an old Peanuts
comic strip, Lucy had just broken the news to Linus that children cannot
live at home forever. Eventually they grow up and move away. Then she
said that when he left she would get his room. But Linus quickly
reminded her that at some time she too would have to leave home. When
this realization hit Lucy, she was shocked. But she said she had a
solution. She would turn the TV up loud, crawl into her beanbag chair
with a bowl of ice cream, and refuse to think about it.
Avoiding
unpleasant circumstances is not as easy or desirable as Lucy thinks.
Life’s realities cannot be successfully avoided. We may try to run and
hide, but we will find that the struggles and trials have a way of
dogging our footsteps and eventually catching up with us. Jacob learned
this lesson. Because he tricked his father to receive his brother
Esau’s blessing, he had to flee for his life. Even spending 20 years in
exile did not help him avoid his brother forever. The first thing Jacob
learns as he returns home is that his brother Esau is coming to greet
him with four hundred men, no less! Jacob’s name is changed to Israel
signifying he is no longer the same man he was 20 years ago. He is
willing to meet with Esau and accept the consequences of such a meeting.
We should
therefore face up to our problems. The psalmist David did this when
beset by persistent foes and false friends. He did not try to minimize
his danger by adopting a don’t –think-about-it philosophy. Instead, he
acknowledged the storm that was raging around him and looked to the
Lord. He wrote, “In God I have put my trust.” (Psalm 56:4) When he
did, he was led into a place of calm.
Let’s follow
Israel’s and David’s example and not that of Lucy. True, facing up to
the difficulties of life may be a frightening experience. But our fear
may be the very means God uses to draw us into His arms. When this
happens, we will experience real deliverance from the harsh realities of
life.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Gary Greene
Services Schedule:
Friday night
7:00 p.m.
Shabbat
9:00 a.m.
Mon. & Thurs 6:30
a.m. excluding Thanksgiving morning. There are no morning services for
we couldn’t find a time we would be able to gather a minyon. Either the
time was too early or too late. Just daven on your own and give thanks
to the Almighty.
Sun. -Thurs night
7:30 p.m.
Announcements:
Tuesday, December
4th Adult Education classes, 10:00 a.m. The Book of Ezra, no
previous Hebrew or Bible classes required. 11:00 a.m. The Arab in
Israeli Short Story. This week we shall continue to discuss A. B.
Yehoshua’s “Facing the Forests”
Don’t forget
Tuesday night- We light one candle in honor of the first night of
Hanukkah.
December 6th
Carl Gussin’s class on Beraisheet.
December 7th
Sisterhood’s annual Hanukkah dinner in honor of Shabbat and Hanukkah.
RSVP immediately either to Estelle Lefkowitz or to Josephine in the
shul’s office.
December 9th
Hebrew School presents our family educational Chanukah workshops. All
are invited. It is free for the MJCC Hebrew School families. If other
families would like to join us (e.g. grandparents and grandchildren) you
are invited. There is a $10.00 per child as a materials fee. Adults
must accompany the children and they are admitted for free.
9:00 a.m.- 9:15
Welcome
Round One of
Workshops
9:15 a.m. -10:15
a.m. Menorah Making led by Rachel Gershman
A Hanukkah Snack
from 10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Round Two of
Workshops
10:30 a.m.-11:00
a.m. and 11:05 a.m.-11:35 a.m
Attend two of the
following four half hour workshops
1. Songs of
Hanukkah led by Ben Levine
2. Marathon
Miracles: Discover and uncover all the small miracles in your life led
by Diane Amar
3. Edible Dreidles
led by Melissa Adler
4. The December
Dilemma: Strategies for dealing with Christmas now that Hanukkah is over
led by Rabbi Greene.
Save this date:
December 24th - We are screening the first of our four
Israeli films in honor of Israel’s 60th birthday. We shall
be screening the Ephriam Kishon’s comedy “The Policeman.” Watch your
mail for further details.
Sunday, December 2nd
The community wide Chanukah program celebration at the Samuel Field Y
sponsored by the Y and the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council.
NEQJCC and MJCC's
WINTER COAT AND CLOTHING DRIVE FOR THE NEEDY
Bring to the
Samuel Field Y your good, warm, and old winter jackets that are just
taking up space in your closet December 2-21, 2007. We shall recycle
them so those in need will be warmer through out this cold winter.
