Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin

Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin Miketz December 16, 2023 4 Tevet 5784 send your submission to bulletin@cas-stamford.org ‌ ‌ Friday Candle Lighting 4:08 PM Mincha 4:13 PM Shabbat Shacharit 7:00/8:00/9:00 AM Sephardic Minyan 8:45 AM Latest Shema 8:47 AM Shmuel Class 9:00 AM Latest Shacharit 9:48 AM Bob's Basics 10:00 AM Shiur 10:30 AM Early Mincha 12:20 PM Code Of Jewish Law 3:15 PM Mincha 4:05 PM Havdalah 5:09 PM Shabbat Shalom The Real Lights of Chanukah: Moving Forward ` It seemed to me and many others that this year, we needed Chanukah more than ever. Since October 7th, we have been living in two worlds of death, hope and despair and light and darkness. As I shared last Shabbat, just when we may think all is lost, the discovery of the jug of oil in the midst of the impurity of the Beit Hamikdash stands as a timeless and timely reminder that despite the efforts of our enemies to defile and destroy, our purity and possibility for renewal always remains. Our task is not to single handedly win a war and change the destiny of the Jewish people. Our task is to light a candle, add one light, even if it seems it may only last one day. God will take that commitment, that act of faith and fuel miracles that we could never have imagined to be possible. God willing, we will witness that day soon. Chanukah offers another important takeaway for all of us. The Halacha teaches that the wicks and oil on Chanukah may be qualitatively inferior to the wicks and oil used for Shabbat. (See Bameh Madlikin) Rabbi Avraham Schorr explains the reason for the distinction. The prime mitzvah of Chanukah is lighting the Chanukiah modeled on the Menorah in the Temple. The one who lit the Menorah was Aharon whose raison d'etre in life was to love every Jew. He never lost faith in the Divine spark in each person and the "hidden jar of oil" inside all of us. Aharon was so beloved since he helped people believe in themselves. For this reason, the lighting of the Chanukiah may be done with inferior wicks and oil to affirm the latent light in every Jew. During his tour, a story is told about Rabbi Aryeh Levine, The Tzaddik of Jerusalem, who encountered a young man whom he knew as a child and was now no longer observant. He did not wear a kippah anymore and when he spotted Rabbi Levine he sought to avoid him as he was embarrassed. To the man's dismay, he met Rabbi Levine and confessed his attempt to hide. Rabbi Levine responded with words that embody the message of Chanukah. "Besides being too short to see what is on your head, it is not as important to me as what is in your heart." With those loving words, he not only removed the young man's embarrassment but restored his faith in the Divine within him. The 8 days of Chanukah offered unparalleled opportunities to reignite the sparks in every Jew. There is unprecedented unity now amidst the Jewish people. We must nurture it and fuel this spirit so it continues to grow God willing for many many years. We will only merit blessing and redemption when we are unified as one people with one heart. May we witness the lights burning in the restored Beit Hamikdash and a time when the light of Zion will shine forth over the entire earth speedily and in our days. Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Daniel Cohen Shabbat Information  Learn about the Shabbat Torah Reading for Parshat Miketz with the insights of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l - click here Please find Dovi Siderson's weekly parsha resource here The Haftarah is read from I Kings 3:15-4:1 Haftarah summary by Chabad.org - click here Haftarah summary by Haftarah Helper - click here Fast of the 10th of Teves: Next Friday (12/22) the fast begins at 6:04AM and ends at 5:04PM. (We break the fast after Maariv with the recitation of Kiddush.) Would you like to read the Torah or Haftara for your bar mitzvah parsha? Let us know by clicking here. Parsha Icebreakers (Courtesy of Elisheva and Yaakov Moshe Shmidman) Admit a mistake you made in the last week (es chatai ani mazkir hayom)? When have you had a difficult time at a government office/at an airport(Yosef gives the brothers a tough time buying grain)? When have you taken responsibility for someone's well being (Yehuda promises Yaakov he will return Binyamin safely)? Important Announcement - Early Shabbat Afternoon Mincha Beginning this Shabbat, we will offer an early mincha following Kiddush on Shabbat morning. It will meet in sanctuary. The times are as follows: December 16 - 12:20 pm December 23 - 12:23 pm December 30 - 12:27 pm January 6 - 12:30 pm Annual Dinner Honorees We are thrilled to announce the honorees for our Agudath Sholom Annual Dinner on Sunday, March 10th, 2024 and wish them and their families much Mazal Tov! Guests of Honor - Dinah Miller & Seth Marlowe Young Leadership Award - Amy & Sam Sroka Community Service Award - Chris Beldotti, Mike Beldotti and the Beldotti Family Chai Award - Judd Love Dinner Chairs - Alex & Brett Olsson and Shira & Jason Saibel Our theme this year is Am YIsrael Chai, It is not just a Statement, it is a Way of Life. Friendly Youth Decorum Reminders  Groups begin at 10 AM. All youth must be either in groups or with their parents. No Ball Playing inside the shul or on the premises. Cleanliness is Next to Godliness. Kids tables are located in the front of the Social Hall. We ask parents to remind kids to keep food in this area of the building.  End of the Calendar Year Reminder  If you would like to make a prepayment towards future dues, Annual dinner, or other items before December 31st, please contact Matt in the office. Shabbat Topics & Participants Shmuel Class Mark Wagshul Bob's Basics Bob Abrams Shiur Rabbi Dr. Jeff Cahn: Al HaNisim vs Yaaleh V'Yavo - Understanding their Unique Function Code of Jewish Law Rabbi Yossi Kamman Seudat Shlishit Rabbi Moshe Kurtz: "The Kippa and Jewish Pride" Mazal Tov to Nicole & Jonathan Makovsky on the birth of a baby boy! Mazal Tov to siblings Mackenzie, Austin and Riley! to Lynn & Harvey Berman on the arrival of a grandson! to Joan & Bennett Schwartz on the engagement of their son Aaron to Ariel Goodstein, daughter of Melissa & Steve Goodstein of Katonah, NY! to Wendy Seigel on receiving the Harvey A. Peltz Young Leadership at the UJF Annual Meeting! to Agudath Sholom members Meryl Gordon and Ellen Weber who received Volunteer Awards at the UJF Annual Meeting for their service on the The New Jewish Voice Editorial Committee! to our youth leaders as we honor them this Shabbat! Sharon Wohlberg - Tot Shabbat Sonia Avney - Mini Minyan Yael Sabo - Jr. Cong Akiva Katz - Jr. Cong Darren Bahar - BMC Dovi Siderson - Youth Director/NCSY Teen Advisor Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here Thank You to our Teens for their leadership at the Shabbat morning groups and weekly dedication to our youth: Bella Abramov, Aviygail Chavkin, Racheli Chavkin, Eden Cohen, Liv Haron, Sophie Sigman, Elissa Tobin and Hannah Tobin Thanks To Our Sponsors Senior Challah Deliveries: Greg & Amanda Smith 7AM Kiddush: Matt Greenberg in memory of his mother, Sheila Greenberg Sanctuary Kiddush: Sponsored in Thanks to our Morahs and Group Leaders Paid Advertisement Sign Up for these Events sign up Agudath at the Met! Sunday, December 17 - 2:00 PM sign up CAS Movie Club Sunday, December 17 - 8:00 PM Learn more Holy Habit - Food Pantry Donations Learn more Donate Seforim to the Beit Midrash Learn more Senior Challah Delivery Sponsorships sign up Nachos & Knowledge with Rabbi Daniel Cohen Wednesday, January 17 - 8:00 PM Upcoming Events Literature at Lunch Round Table led by Dr. Richard Schwartz Wednesday, December 20 - 12:00 PM Partner with us as the sun sets on our fifth year at CAS. John Milton, Englishman, Poet and Statesman (1608-1674) lost his eyesight at 46, yet he composed his greatest work Paradise Lost and later his drama Samson Agonistes while totally blind. We will explore his reaction to his loss of light with an enlightening reading of his 19th sonnet When I Consider How My Light is Spent. Along our journey we will segue to the Genesis forefather Isaac and the dimming of his eyes. Lunch, as usual, will be catered by Restaurant 613. If you plan to attend in person or have any questions, please contact me by Tuesday, Dec. 19th. at rj@richardjschwartz.comZoom meeting ID 8784487429- Passcode 868450. CAS Womens Crafty Ladies Wednesday, December 27 - 10:00 AM Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 13th and 27th, 10:00 -11:30 AM at Agudath! Bring your knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, eyes, and your project - or learn how to! For more information, contact Johanna (203-588-0942) or Audrey (203-355-3180) CAS Announcements Men's Club Pacific House Meal on December 25th  The CAS Men's club once again is planning on serving lunch at the Pacific House to the residents there. Since it's a day off for most, let's think about what we can do for the homeless in Stamford. We're looking for food donations, hats, gloves, scarves. All food should be kosher as we have found Jews among the needy in the past. Turkey, fruit, sweet potato and any other food items will be appreciated. The opportunity to cook from 9-noon or serve from noon-2 pm is available. Contact Mitchell Bell, wizdrbel@yahoo.com or 203-722-3512 Save the Date - Stand with Us Shabbaton  January 6-7 - Please save the date especially for rising juniors and seniors in High school and collegiates. More information will be forthcoming. The Shabbaton will be for the entire congregation and community. Friday Night Dinner with 11th and 12th Graders and Collegiates Diane and Rabbi Cohen will host a dinner for them on Friday night, Jan. 5th. Please let your students know and RSVP to rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org. January Seudah Shlishit Series: Religious Zionist Torah Thinkers "For the Torah will go forth from Zion." Join us between mincha and maariv every Shabbat in January to learn about revolutionary Israeli Torah personalities such as Rav Kook, Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon and Rabbi Yehuda Henkin. Our presenters include Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Rabbi Moshe Kurtz, Rabbanit Ayelet Schlesinger, and a mystery presenter to be announced! For questions and sponsorship opportunities, please email Rabbi Kurtz: rabbikurtz@cas-stamford.org Michael Feldstein's Latest Column  click here Weekday Schedule Shacharit  Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday-Friday: 6:30/7:30 AM Mincha  Sunday-Thursday: 4:15 PM; Friday: 4:16 PM Candle Lighting  Friday: 4:11 PM CAS Classes Join one of our classes. Click here for up to date schedule We Wish A Speedy Recovery To Hershel Wolf ben Brucha Freidel bat Esther Aliza Alka bat Miriam Mark Emanuel ben Leah Asher Anshel Eliezer ben Baila Leah bat Tzirel Miriam Rut bat Chana Daniel David Yitzchak ben Shulamit אסתר רחל bat רייזל ביילה פרידה הדסה bat פערל לאה Dov ben Pnina Click here to add a name to this list We Honor Our Military Ariel Y Shani Y Tali Y Harry B Zevi M Nathan H Noam H Yehudit Sally K Oren L Nathan L Jeremy S Meni N Yaniv H Rachel W Click here to add a name to this list Community Announcements Resilience Amidst Adversity: Coping with the Impacts of Current Challenges in College Life  Two-part in-person series held on Thursday, December 21, 7:00 - 8:30 PM and Monday, January 8, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM at the Schoke JFS office, 196 Greyrock Place, Stamford, CT. Reserve your seat at www.ctjfs.org. We welcome high school seniors, college students, recent college graduates, and parents who may be facing concerns of safety, social pressures, and lack of balance. Save the Date: 40th Anniversary of the Stamford Eruv Please join the Stamford Jewish community as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Stamford Eruv to be held at Chabad of Stamford, 770 High Ridge Roadon Sunday, January 28th, at 10AM. Child care will be provided. Registration information to come soon.

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