Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin

Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin Vayigash December 23, 2023 11 Tevet 5784 send your submission to bulletin@cas-stamford.org ‌ ‌ Friday Mincha 4:00 PM Candle Lighting 4:11 PM Shabbat Shacharit 7:00/8:00/9:00 AM Sephardic Minyan 8:45 AM Latest Shema 8:50 AM Shmuel Class 9:00 AM Latest Shacharit 9:51 AM Bob's Basics 10:00 AM Shiur 10:30 AM Mincha 12:23 PM/4:05 PM Code Of Jewish Law 3:15 PM Havdalah 5:12 PM Shabbat Shalom To Forgive is Divine: The Legacy of Joseph Have you let go or are you still holding on? Are you holding a grudge and living in a place of negativity or are you willing to forgive? I have witnessed over the years the challenge of forgiving another human being. Someone we know may have said something or did something that was hurtful. More often than not, they are willing to accept responsibility. They have sincerely learned from their mistakes and ask us for forgiveness. The question is whether we accept their remorse and move forward in the relationship or not. Regrettably, many times we hold on to the past. We cannot let go of our negative feelings towards the person and the relationship is never the same. This is not the Jewish way. We learn this ideal from the courageous gesture of Joseph in this week's Torah portion. When he reveals his identity to his siblings, they are mortified and shamed. They have no words. It is clear they have repented for the sale over 20 years ago. In that moment in time, Joseph is confronted with a monumental decision. Does he forgive them or does he take revenge? Does he allow the relationship to heal or does he dismiss their response as insincere and hold on to the past? In one verse in the Torah, Joseph introduces the power of forgiveness. He is the first human recorded in history to forgive. He says to them, "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." (Genesis 45:5) How does Joseph muster the inner strength to let go? The answer is his humility. He has grown as a human being. He understands that there is a larger plan. He realizes that it is not his role to be the judge and jury for his brothers. If they are asking for forgiveness, he must emulate God who is forgiving and do the same. In the words of the Ishbitzer Rebbe, the mitzvah of loving your neighbor as yourself teaches us that just as we are willing to over look our mistakes, we must also be willing to forgive someone else's as well. Have the strength to let go. Do not wait until it is too late to forgive. If you are struggling with mending a relationship in your family or our community, I am available to offer wisdom from the Torah and guidance. We are one family. Forgiveness liberates us from the past. Hannah Arendt, the author of The Human Condition, explains that forgiveness breaks the irreversibility of reaction and revenge. It is the undoing of what has been done. In the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, "Humanity changed the day Joseph forgave his brothers. When we forgive and are worthy of being forgiven, we are no longer prisoners of our past." May we all find the strength and exhibit the courage to follow in the ways of Joseph. Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom and God willing an immediate return of the hostages, victory and peace speedily and in our days ahead, Rabbi Daniel Cohen Shabbat Information  The Fast of the 10th of Teves ends at 5:04PM. (We break the fast after Maariv upon the recitation of Kiddush.) Learn about the Shabbat Torah Reading for Parshat Vayigash 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 Ezekiel 37:15-28 Haftarah summary by Chabad.org - click here Haftarah summary by Haftarah Helper - click here The final chance to recite Kiddush Levanah is this coming Tuesday night 15th of Teves). 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) What is something you have stood up for or are willing to stand up for (Yehuda stands up for Binyamin)? Recall a time when you were in a state of shock (the brothers are shocked to discover that the viceroy is Yosef)? What is a road trip memory that you have (Yosef says to his brothers not to fight on the way back to Canaan)? 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 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 Honorary Dinner Chairs - Rachel & Nimrod Dayan, Karen & Ira Berk and Sharon & Simeon Wohlberg 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 Michael Feldstein: Why Didn't Yosef Phone Home or Text His Dad? Code of Jewish Law Rabbi Dr. Jeff Cahn Seudat Shlishit Rabbi Daniel Cohen Mazal Tov to Ariel Blum & Ben Zweig on the birth of a baby girl! Mazal Tov to big sister Emma! to Nicole & Jonathan Makovsky on the birth of a baby boy, Preston Al/Eliyahu Chaim! Mazal Tov to siblings Mackenzie, Austin and Riley! and thank you to our Annual Dinner Honorary Chairs: Rachel & Nimrod Dayan, Karen & Ira Berk and Sharon & Simeon Wohlberg Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here Condolences to Cindy & David Pitkoff and their family on the passing of David's mother, Rita Pitkoff to Jeannie & Brian Kriftcher and their family on the passing of Jeannie's dear uncle Harvey Shuster Thanks To Our Sponsors Senior Challah Deliveries: Rachel & Harold Terk in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Rachel's brother George Paru, Yaakov Ben Harav Yitzchak 7AM Kiddush: The Lefkovits Family Chapel Kiddush: Co-sponsored by Yonnie & Sara Rubinfeld in honor of Benny's Birthday; and Howard Wolfe in honor of our brave IDF soldiers defending Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael Sanctuary Kiddush: In memory of Larry Rezak on his 1st yahrzeit by Linda, Rachel & Dan, Josh & Leora, Jessica & Yoni, Emily & Jared and his 13 grandchildren Sign Up for these Events 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 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 with Guest Speaker Carly Gammill  January 13-14. Carly is the Founding Director of the StandWithUs Center for Combating Antisemitism for StandWithUs, a non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. She is a constitutional litigator with extensive experience assisting clients on an array of issues, including freedom of speech and religious liberties. For the past decade-plus, she has been active in fighting antisemitism on campuses, in local communities, in court, and at the United Nations. Please save the date especially for rising juniors and seniors in High school and collegiates. More information is 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. 13th. Please let your students know and RSVP to rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org. Check out Rabbi Cohen's Interview on Combating Antisemitism on Power and Politics News 12 CT click here 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 Holy Habit - Food Pantry Donations  Rather than wait for a Food Drive, make it a habit each week when shopping for Shabbos to purchase kosher, non-perishable food for the Freedberg Kosher Food Pantry.Drop off at JFS or CAS Michael Feldstein's Latest Column  click here Weekday Schedule Shacharit  Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday: 7:00/8:30 AM; Tuesday-Friday: 6:30/7:30 AM Mincha  Sunday-Friday: 4:20 PM Candle Lighting  Friday: 4:15 PM Monday  Office Closed 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 The Stamford Eruv Association cordially invites you to a brunch in honor of the 40th ANNIVERSARY of the STAMFORD ERUV  Dedicated to Bennet Kfare, of blessed memory. Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 10am - Chabad of Stamford, 770 High Ridge Rd. $25 per person/ $180 sponsorship (includes four reservations). Visit https://www.stamforderuv.org/brunch to register by January 21, 2024

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