Weekly Service & Shabbat Times
|
Monday - Wednesday:
7:00am & 7:45pm
Thursday: 9:00am & 7:45pm
Friday: 9:00am & 7:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am & 4:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am & 7:45pm
|
Mazal Tov to those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries
November 23rd-29th
|
Sharon Berman
Marilyn Cohen
Beth Kaplan
Brandon Osian
Thelma Sorscher
Jane Schonfeld
Werner Straus
Tikva Ofeck
Larry Lesh
Bruce Rosen
Iris Fox
Rona Topiel
Harold & Anne Bendell
Adrian Osian & Michelle Reisner
Alan & Leslie Fromkin
Harvey & Barbara Fishman
Bill & Helen Tobenkin
|
|
|

Hanukkah/Chanukkah at Gesher Shalom
I once got into a little bit of trouble when speaking to kindergartners about Hanukkah and Christmas. Apparently my attempt to teach them that Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday for Jews, but that it nevertheless looms large, is because it's 8 days long and falls at the same time of the year is Christmas. On the other hand, Christmas is a very important holiday for Christians. At least one little boy went home and reported to his parents that the Rabbi said, Hanukkah is not that important, but Christmas is.
At least there is no danger of that happening this year. In fact, I think Hanukkah and Thanksgiving complement each other rather nicely.
So... We all know that Hanukkah begins on Erev Thanksgiving. We don't want to be an undue burden to the Fort Lee police and other municipal workers as Thanksgiving begins amidst what is always a traffic nightmare. To that end, we are holding a very brief, scaled-down menorah lighting ceremony at five o'clock on Wednesday. That doesn't mean it won't be joyous: will have singing, Hanukkah gelt and iTunes gift cards for all Hebrew school students who attend.
Our BIG CELEBRATION will be on Saturday night, when we will light four candles on the community menorah, and then head back to the shul for havdalah, candlelighting (literally this time, not lightbulbs), singing, games, music, food, activities and a raffle.
Last year Hanukkah began on a Saturday night; we had a really nice, intergenerational turnout and a great time. That's when we decided that from now on, no matter when Hanukkah begins, we would always have Saturday night celebration. Hope you can join us for both evenings!
|
Needed Community Menorah Volunteers
|
Volunteers to light the community menorah in the triangle at Lemoine and Schlosser on the other six days of Hanukkah between 4 and 5 PM. We'll even give you the secret code to the menorah's padlock!
Please e-mail me with your availability.
|
The Seminary does little better or more important than
CAMP RAMAH
And it's right here in Nyack... Click here to read about this year's programs.
|
Renovation of our Chapel, in honor of Carl Hess, is underway! Stop in and see the progress...
|
Saudi Prize Awarded to a Jew
|
I got this in an email this week; it was news to me. Wonderful as it is, it turns out to be old news - from 2009.
I discovered that when I googled the prize and saw that a Columbia Professor, Richard L. Berkowitz, was the 2012 co-recipient. Still, it's not ho-him that the Saudis are regularly recognizing accomplishments without regard to religion-and in the case of the first winner, his Israeli connections! Click here to read more.
|
Another little tidbit that sheds light on "appearances from the outside"
I Samuel 22
12 Saul said, "Son of Ahitub, listen to me." "Yes, master," he answered. 13 Saul said to him, "Why have you and Jesse's son joined together against me? Why did you give him bread and a sword? Why did you ask God a question for him? Now he has turned against me. He is hiding and waiting to attack me right now." 14 Ahimelech answered the king, "David is true to you. In fact, he's more true to you than anyone else who serves you. He's your own son-in-law. He's the captain of your own personal guards. He's highly respected by everyone in your palace. 15 Was that day the first time I asked God a question for him? Of course not! "Please don't bring charges against me. Please don't bring charges against anyone in my family. For a preview of the edited text click here
Don't forget to join us following services on Saturday, December 14, when we explore the relationship between David and his first wife, Michal (King Saul's daughter).
|
Rabbi's LIFE class
Learning Is For Everyone
Our next session will be on Thursday, December 5 at 10:30 AM in the Library.
Because I will be presenting a different method of studying the text of the Torah at this coming Shabbat morning service (that's right, no sermon tomorrow), please read the third chapter, Torah Study, which begins on page 81.
|
A New Israel-Inspired and Situated TV Series
|
Set to air on USA Network "Dig" is being jointly created by Gideon Raff, who brought "Homeland" to life, first as an Israeli television series, and Tim Kring, who fashioned the breakout hit "Heroes" for NBC seven years ago.
The series is broadly described as a murder mystery at a dig site in the Old City of Jerusalem that eventually uncovers a conspiracy extending back 2,000 years. "It has a kind of Indiana Jones meets 'The Da Vinci Code' vibe," said Jeff Wachtel, the chief content officer for NBCUniversal's cable networks.
|
Update on IsraAid in the Philippines
|
 | First baby was born in the field hospital established by the IDF in the Philippines |
|
Synagogue World Tour (courtesy Huff Post)
|
50th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination |
Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination
Of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, but the material presented here is not for the Faint-Hearted:
The videos of the doctor who took care of Kennedy are fascinating: Interview with Robert McClelland on the 50th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination
Click here to see the interviews.
It is now 50 years later, and the special November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has brought together Dr. Rohrich, Dr. McClelland and many others to reflect upon the events of Nov. 22, 1963, and re-examine the medical evidence of the JFK assassination. Read several special topic and editorial pieces in this issue to remember this tragic historic event and, potentially, shed new light onto its old secrets. Don't miss the exclusive video interview with Dr. McClelland, for a first-person account of the day from a surgeon's point of view. "Sitting in a folding chair outside of Trauma Room 1, I saw Mrs. Kennedy," Dr. McClelland recalls. "I had to literally force myself to keep walking down toward Mrs. Kennedy, and walk past her and push the door open and walk into Trauma Room 1, and was horrified. What I saw there immediately was President Kennedy, lying on his back, face up, his bloody head and a light shining down on him."
|
TORAH Page 226 HAFTARAH Page 247
VA-YEISHEV
Jacob's favorite among his twelve sons is Joseph. The favoritism is so blatant that it causes resentment among the brothers - a resentment that is only exacerbated by Joseph's dreams of grandeur. Joseph gets his comeuppance when his brothers strip him of the multi-colored coat given to him by his father, and throw him into a pit. He is subsequently sold by his brothers to Ishmaelites and winds up in servitude in Egypt. The brothers dip Joseph's coat in blood, leading Jacob to believe that Joseph had been killed by a beast.
The narrative of Joseph's life is interrupted by the story of Judah and his sons. Judah's eldest son married Tamar, but this son soon died. In accordance with the custom of levirate marriage, the next son, Onan, was to marry Tamar in order to produce a male heir for his deceased brother. Onan refused to be a party to this, and he too died. Judah, fearing that Tamar was the cause of both sons' deaths, was reluctant to let his youngest son marry her. Disguising herself as a cultic harlot, Tamar seduced her father-in-law, Judah, and bore twins. Judah admitted his error in not requiring his youngest son to enter in levirate marriage with Tamar.
Back in Egypt, Joseph had become the most trusted and favored servant of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials. Joseph comes to the attention of his mistress; repeatedly rejecting her advances, she exacts revenge by accusing him of attempted rape. Joseph is imprisoned. He wins the favor of his jailer, who gives him a position of responsibility. Joseph correctly interprets the dreams of two of Pharaoh's jailed servants: the baker who will be executed, and the butler, who will return to Pharaoh's service. Joseph implores the butler not to forget him upon his release, for he has been imprisoned unfairly.
|
|
|
Upcoming Events:
(click titles below for more information)
|
 Shabbat Kiddush November 23rd: 12:00pm
Martha Shemin has contributed to today's kiddush in remembrance of her husband, Orin, and his first yahrzeit last month
|
Upcoming Events
|
Sunday November 24th
Minyan & Congregational Breakfast: 9:00am
Hebrew School Pre-Chanukah Party and "BYOF" Day
9:00am
|
Monday November 25th
Mondays with Marvin: 4:00pm
|
November 27th
Community Chanukkah Candle Lighting: 5:00pm in the triangle
|
Thursday November 28th
Thanksgiving Office Closed
|

Friday November 29th
Thanksgiving Office Closed
|
FUTURE EVENTS
12/6 Shabbat Dinner and Musical Service
|
|
|