Shalom Congregants and Friends.....
 
Rabbi's Ramblings...... 

With deep regret I have to announce that our scheduled "Cantor Shabbat" with Cantor Michelle Teplitz is cancelled because of her being ill. She informed us earlier this week that she had contracted bronchitis and lost her voice.... clearly a major problem for a cantor! So services will be conducted by our gabbaim and myself... and we will reschedule Cantor Teplitz for a return visit in a few months.

Although services will be more or less routine (we finish the book of Genesis and say "hazak, hazak, v'nithazak" and that's always exciting to me), Saturday night will most definitely not be. The party that is being scheduled for Saturday night to celebrate "someone's" birthday will be a wonderful event! Thanks in advance to all who have given time, effort, and financial support to making this event happen!

Unfortunately, but almost as always, there are lots of issues in Israel that involve the Jewish world. The Orthodox rabbinate is polarizing society there, as well as well as giving the country a bad press, with anti-Arab declarations and attempts to reignite the conversion crisis. There are lots of questions in regards to Israel's unpreparedness in relation to the Carmel fire, as well as the (going back to my first statement) sad fact that the rabbinate denied burial in a city cemetery to one of the prison officers killed in the blaze! We will discuss these questions at Shabbat services Friday night and Saturday morning.
 
Note on your calendar that the Friday evening services 12/24 and 12/31 will be early ones because of the end-of-the year holidays. An early service will allow you to attend and then have a leisurely Shabbat dinner with family or friends.
 
Shabbat Shalom...... I hope you will be with your "synagogue family" at some time here at Beth Hillel Synagogue. 


Rabbi Gary and Iris Atkins

"All it takes to study Torah is an open heart,

a curious mind and a desire to grow a Jewish soul."

 Shabbat  Services & Candle Lighting Times

CANDLE LIGHTING     
Friday, December 17, NLT 4:01pm EST
 

SERVICE TIMES
Friday, Dec. 17, 8:00pm  Saturday, Dec. 18, 9:30AM, 4:00PM Mincha   
Congregational Announcements 

Traveling in the weeks ahead?????     Becoming a Snowbird???
Ask Rabbi Atkins for "shaliach kesef" - messenger money - along with a prayer for a safe journey; it will "guarantee" you a safe trip.
It's one of my favorite  mitzvot!!   

Lost and Found
There are a number of items left in the synagogue that are in the office. Anyone missing their glasses or a cellphone? Check with the office and see if it's yours!

 Social Action Updates    

COMING MONDAY, JANUARY 17, THE SHEMA TOUR WITH TEMPLE BETH HILLEL. DETAILS TBA!!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3,.... BETH HILLEL TURN FOR THE "LOAVES and FISHES" SOUP KITCHEN

DONATIONS OF FOOD ARE GREATLY NEEDED FOR THE KOSHER AND REGULAR FOOD BANKS!! PLEASE DONATE AT THE SYNAGOGUE NOW!!

Blue neckties are needed for the students of Milner school. Bring in your gently used neckties to either the shul or rabbi's office.
 
Help with Darfur ..... Help in Hartford... Help in Ethiopia

The 2010 Handbook of Hartford Volunteer Opportunities is now available for your perusal in the library!

Be aware of those less fortunate than we are!! Carry out the mitzvah of tikkun olam!
 Library News   

THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD NEW BOOKS TO READ IN OUR SYNAGOGUE LIBRARY.......

Lots of good periodicals and newspapers as well.... Jewish/ Israel/ General.... Jerusalem Post and Jerusalem Report. The Forward, The Jewish Week..... Consumers Reports.....

Do stop by and take a look!!!!!!
 Kashrut in the News   

SHUMAN's KOSHER DELI OPENS IN BLOOMFIELD.....
In the Mini-Mall, 12 Mountain Avenue, just past the library. Hashgacha under the HKC.... a chance to enjoy some good Jewish "soul food!"

Magen Tzedek Announcement

Beta testing with food manufacturers  of the Magen Tzedek standards is scheduled to begin in January, 2011.  This is a most significant step, as we will be testing companies producing Kosher food with verifiable standards developed by the Hekhsher Tzedek Commission.  These standards, drafted by Prof. Joe Regenstein, have now been compiled into an objective and verifiable program by SAAS, with whom we are partnering in moving the Magen Tzedek forward.  We have entered into relationships with two manufacturers and are in discussions with a third company to begin extensive field testing, which will ensure that our standards are effective and verifiable. We have pledged strict confidentiality to the manufacturers in this critical assessment process.  This beta testing is scheduled to conclude in March. We will keep you updated as this exciting project progresses.

For more information about Magen Tzedek please visit magentzedek.com.
 A  Cute thought to share this week.........    

The meaning of ASAP

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally, we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.
*************
There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-

A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER


In the midst of family chaos,
"Quality time " is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-

A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.


It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather-

A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER


God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our cares,
And He'll respond to all your needs

A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

Israel News....... 

 You may have seen the weekly newsletter from this group sharing high-tech developments from Israel, on the bulletin board near my office......


Last Tuesday night, 11 million Americans learned something unexpected and extraordinary about Israel.

On Glee, a hit television show that chronicles the experiences of a high school glee club, a paraplegic teenager began walking again, with the miraculous aid of a robotic exoskeleton.  "It was invented by some guy in Israel," explained Artie on this week's episode of Glee, to the amazement and delight of his peers.


And it all started with ISRAEL21c.


     Back in 2008, ISRAEL21c was the very first media organization to feature Argo Medical and its creation ReWalk, a quasi-robotic exoskeleton that enables paraplegic individuals to move once again with a brace support suit and computerized and battery-operated backpack that controls motorized joints, leg braces and motion sensors. 

 

ISRAEL21c's feature story about this incredible scientific invention was immediately picked up by several influential and popular blogs. And from there it snowballed: an article by Reuters, television features about Argo Medical on ABC News, BBC and CNN.


Heading into our 10th year of operations, ISRAEL21c's reach is wider than ever. Our content extends beyond traditional and new media outlets, with embassies and consulates, pro-Israel lobby groups, and Jewish organizations the world over using our in-depth interviews and stories. Coupled with our wide-ranging social media networks, our current impact is tremendous. 


Our mission is to showcase Israel's contributions to the worlds of bio-tech, high-tech, green-tech, democracy, art and culture and more.


At a time when Israel's detractors are organizing to boycott, divest and de-legitimize Israel, we show the world how Israel adds value to everyday life, around the world.

Weekly Torah Portion Commentary  -

Courtesy of Rabbi Daniel Nevins,  Dean of The Rabbinical School and dean of the Division of Religious Leadership, JTS.


This final parashah of Genesis bears a cryptic title: Va-yehi, "He (that is, Jacob) lived." Well, of course he lived, and soon he will die, but how has he lived? What legacy does he bequeath? These are the questions that concern Va-yehi. What is the Torah's final judgment of Jacob, a man who has wrestled, mourned and rejoiced, deceived and been deceived; a man who has been wounded and yet prevails, who has been humbled by his sons and yet manages to retain enough vigor and authority to command them until his dying breath? How has he lived?

The question of life and legacy pertains also to Jacob's 12 sons as they are summoned to their father's deathbed to hear his final testament. This is not a Hollywood ending with soaring violins and tearful embraces. Jacob is a tough man, and his assessments of the boys are frank and often cutting. He addresses each in turn-how did they live, and what will be the consequences of their deeds?

The same question of life-judgment is especially keen regarding the enigmatic figure of Joseph. Jacob lavishes his favorite son with covenantal blessings (Gen. 49:22-26), calling Joseph a great man, "the elect of his brothers." Still, Jacob's blessing contains obscure images of Joseph, who is also described as a "wild ass." How, in the end, does Jacob regard this son and sometime stranger, a man who has been beloved and despised, enslaved and enriched, magnanimous and vindictive? Joseph has been both dutiful and subversive toward his father. Who, in the final reckoning, is Joseph? How did he live and what is his legacy?

The rabbis are of two minds about Joseph. In Talmud Tractate Sotah (13a), Rav Yehudah cites Rav in criticizing Joseph for allowing his own father to be humbled before him. This refers to the occasions (five times in chapters 43-44) in which the brothers address the still-disguised Joseph and refer to Jacob as "your servant, our father." According to Rav Yehudah, Joseph should somehow have corrected his brother's description of their father as "your servant," even if it meant blowing his cover......

 Perhaps, but it is simple enough to feel the pathos of Joseph's plea to have his desiccated remains transported to his unhappy homeland several centuries hence. Moreover, this verse hardly captures the enormity of Joseph's 20-year silence and the torment he visited upon his father by imprisoning Simon and then demanding that Benjamin be brought to him in Egypt. Is Joseph a good guy or not? How did he live?....

This tradition of ascribing arrogance to Joseph is opposed by another rabbinic tradition claiming that despite his power, Joseph retained his sense of humility. In Midrash Shemot Rabbah (1:7) the Rabbis claim that Joseph thought of himself as the least of the sons, both when he was a slave and also when he had ascended to power in Egypt.

Furthermore, the Rabbis give Joseph the superlative title of "the Saint" (Yosef HaTzaddik). Whether it is for resisting Potiphar's wife and then crediting God for his ability to interpret dreams, or for his ramified rescue plan for Egypt and his great concern for the physical and even spiritual welfare of his family-in all of these ways Joseph earns the respect of the Rabbis.

I would add another point of admiration for Joseph: in all of his great deeds, he acts alone. To borrow from Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's famous title, Joseph is a "lonely man of faith." With whom can he share his faith in God or take counsel? With the brothers who nearly murdered him and then sold him into slavery? With his wife, the daughter of the priest of On? With Pharaoh? Yet for all of his isolation, Joseph is never shaken from his abiding faith in God or from his dedication to moral conduct. Joseph does not receive prophecies from God in the same way as his ancestors did. His knowledge of God is the product of dreams and introspection. It is not family, society, or even prophecy that establishes Joseph as a servant of God-he himself must invent his religious persona, and in this he is both extraordinary and accessible.

Joseph is understandable to modern readers because we too function in a seductive society in which our Jewish identity is either hidden or at least partitioned from our more universal identity. Many of us are blessed with supportive families, and few of us suffer the trials of Joseph, but all of us can relate to the demand that we invent our own individual relationship with God. The book of Genesis, the story of Creation, ends with a form of creation that we each undertake-the creation of a life-story.

For us, too, the title of the final parashah is a question and a challenge: Va-yehi. When our own story is over, when we are spoken of in the past tense, how will others say that we lived? Like Joseph, we will present our heirs with a bundle of contradictions-which of our qualities and deeds will be deemed most significant and representative of the whole? What will have been our distinctive contribution, and what spiritual legacy will we bequeath to others? These are the questions that hovered over the heads of our ancestors, and these are our questions too. As we complete the first book of the Torah, we pray for strength to move through its five stages, growing with our ancestors in merit and in the knowledge of God's path to holiness.