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Marathon Jewish
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Shabbat Vayeshev
Genesis 37:1-40: 23
Candle Lighting Time: Friday, November 30, 2007 4: 14 P.M.
Envy is a feeling of resentments aroused because of another person’s
qualities, possessions, or position. We see a prime example of the
destructive nature of envy in this week’s Torah portion. Joseph’s
brothers resented him because their father showed favoritism to him.
“Now Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of
his old age, and he had made him a coat of many colors. When the
brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers,
they hated him so that they could not speak a friendly word to him.”
(Gen. 37:3-4)
The results of this envy had a great impact not only upon Joseph and his
brothers but the entire Jewish people! They sold him as a slave to a
band of Ishmaelites who in turn resold him to Midianite traders. They
in turn sold him as a slave to Potiphar’s household in Egypt. The
rabbis note in the Talmud, Shabbat 10b, “See the consequences of
favoring one child over another. Because of those few ounces of wool
(the coat of many colors), our people were enslaved in Egypt.” (Etz
Hayim, page 227 commentary below the line.)
Any advantage held by another can trigger this feeling-intelligence,
good looks, popularity, a good job, and a person’s spiritual insights.
Even the most devout Jew is not immune to the subtle temptation of envy.
To rid our heart of envy we must first identify it. Instead of tearing
the other person down to build ourselves up, we should love that person
as our self. We know we are rooting out envy when we begin to rejoice
in that person’s good qualities more than wanting them for ourselves.
Remember a heart full of love has no room for envy.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Gary Greene
Services Schedule:
Friday night 7:00 p.m.
Shabbat 9:00 a.m.
Mon. & Thurs 6:30 a.m.
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.
The Schedule of Our
Workshops
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.
In The Community
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
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