December 31, 2014

9 Tevet 5775

PARSHAT Vayechi

Rabbi Yaakov Polla k

What Is Your Blessing?

Jacob blessed his sons, not only according to each of their characters, but also with a unique piece of himself.

How much importance do we attach to blessings that we receive from others? How seriously do we take them? Our Sages established that "everything depends upon the one who gives the blessing and the one who receives it."

What if God Himself gives the blessing?

A deeper significance to the concept of blessings is found in the Almighty's declaration to Abraham, "Veheyei berachah--You will be a blessing." This gave Abraham the Divine authority to bless anyone else he wanted, according to Rashi.

The Ramban (Nachmanides) explains that Abraham became the model through whom other people blessed each other.

But there is another way to understand "Veheyei berachah." The Torah tells us

click here to finish reading

Click here to read Rabbi Robbins' Divrei Torah and archived Weekly Greetings

ADULT EDUCATION

Shabbat morning study with Dr. Mitch Parker:

"Reflections on the Siddur: Hallel, Birkat Hamazon and Beyond."

Future dates: 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, 3/21, 4/11, 4/25, 5/9, 5/23.

Caring Community Information

THE MISHEBEIRACH LIST HAS BEEN RESET. Please submit any times you wish to have remain on the list to Michael Golob: e-mail Michael Golob.

Mazel Tov

Birthday Cake

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

31 Gaye Taub

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

2 Sandy Birnholtz

3 Craig Gittleman

3 Aviad Kapen

4 Aviva Lupovitch

5 Gayla Bassham

5 Hadley Roth

5 Sophia Roth

6 Lorraine Rimar

6 Corey Rosen

7 Ellen Kershenbaum

11 Laurie Kimmel

11 Warren Robinson

12 Joan Freedman

13 Joseph Eisman

13 Kobi Schmeltz

18 Ehud Kapen

18 Benjamin Schmeltz

21 Gail Beale

21 Susan Feber

23 David Hundiak

25 Itzhak Elrom

29 David Chudnow

31 Robin Pappas

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

15 Marvin & Edith Kozlowski

18 Ofer & Julie Ohana

23 Mark & Elaine Segal

To make a donation in honor of someone's birthday or anniversary, please click here.

If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.

Support B'nai Israel by using the Amazon button
to shop today!

DAILY MINYAN, JANUARY 1ST:

8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Your attendance is greatly appreciated.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

SHABBAT Vayechi

Friday, January 2nd

6 p.m. Services, Chapel

Saturday, January 3rd

9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary

10 a.m. Supervised Youth Room

Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by the following Kiddush Lunch Bunch Families: Bev Avadenka, Bernice Jacobson, Linda and Steve Jacobson, Sy and Pearl Manello, Ruby Robinson, Lou and Sally Soverinsky, Ruth and Mark Webber.

Kiddush Lunch each week is sustained by the generosity of sponsors If you would like to become part of a sponsoring lunch group, please e-mail Mindy Shuback. Donations to the Kiddush Lunch Fund can also be made directly to the synagogue.

Mazel Tov

To Amy Robbins for receiving, through nomination of her classmates at University of Detroit School of Nursing the Sister Noth Award as the member of her nursing school cohort who best exemplifies the qualities of professionalism, caring, selflessness, and leadership. Congratulations Amy!

SAVE THE DATE:

Saturday January 31st

Talent Show Reprise. For details, or to register your act, please e-mail Frank Ellias.

UPCOMING YOUTH AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES

FAMILY CAMP 2015: FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 1ST.

EARLY BIRD PRICING UNTIL JANUARY 9TH.

Click here for registration form.

Teen D'var Torah Cafe (8-12 graders) and Shabbat Children's Workshop (ages 7-12) have returned!

Future dates: 1/17, 2/7, 3/7, 4/11, 5/9 PLEASE WATCH THE WEEKLY SHABBAT BULLETIN FOR DETAILS.

To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group.

May Their Memories Be For a Blessing

DECEMBER YAHRTZEITS

12/31/2014 (9 Tevet)

Lillian Lewis

Annie Wineberg

JANUARY YAHRTZEITS

1/3/2015 (12 Tevet)

Betty Berman Ellias

Manuel Faxstein

1/4/2015 (13 Tevet)

Dr. Howard Feigelson

Sussel Jakobes

1/5/2015 (14 Tevet)

Elenore Winkelman

1/6/2015 (15 Tevet)

Donald Irwin Kapetansky, Gertrude Lind, Bernard Tucker, Benjamin Williams

1/9/2015 (18 Tevet)

Mr. Ela Osher Dzodin

Selden Tachna

1/11/2015 (20 Tevet)

Mr. Ela Osher Dzodin

1/12/2015 (21 Tevet)

Morris Band, Hyman Ribiat Robert

1/13/2015 (22 Tevet)

Fay Janet Golob

Doris Lada

Rose Silverman

1/14/2015 (23 Tevet)

Edsel Kershenbaum

Muriel Trager

1/16/2015 (25 Tevet)

Mildred Robinson

Lillian Saulson

1/17/2015 (26 Tevet)

David Jacknow

Louis Weiss

1/18/2015 (27 Tevet)

Harriett J. Beale

1/20/2015 (29 Tevet)

Sophie Silverstein

1/21/2015 (1 Shevat)

Joseph Grossman

1/22/2015 (2 Shevat)

Tillie Lantor

Edith Tucker

1/23/2015 (3 Shevat)

Marian Knoppow

Samuel Tron

1/24/2015 (4 Shevat)

Morris Fishman

Marie Garnick

Lisa Goldstone

Nancy Lynn Precour

1/26/2015 (6 Shevat)

Walter M. Stark

1/27/2015 (7 Shevat)

Rachel Orzach

1/29/2015 (9 Shevat)

Lois Shirley Pappas

To make a donation to commemorate a yahrtzeit, please click here. If you are a member of the synagogue and a yahrtzeit for your loved one is not on the list, please contact the synagogue office so we can update our records.

Please click here if you wish to permanently memorialize a loved one by purchasing a yahrtzeit plaque.

B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with USCJ, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

QUICK LINKS:

B'nai Israel Synagogue website

B'nai Israel Synagogue

5085 Walnut Lake Road

West Bloomfield, Michigan 48323

248-432-2729