| Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin |
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| | Vayetzei | | December 7, 2024 | 6 Kislev 5785 |
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| | Friday | | | Candle Lighting | 4:07 PM | | Mincha | 4:12 PM | | Shabbat | | | Shacharit | 7:00/8:00/9:00 AM | | Latest Shema | 8:42 AM | | Sephardic Minyan | 8:45 AM | | Coffee & Commentary | 8:45 AM | | Shmuel Class | 9:00 AM | | Latest Shacharit | 9:43 AM | | Teen Minyan | 10:00 AM | | Shiur | 10:30 AM | | Code Of Jewish Law | 3:10 PM | | Mincha | 4:00 PM | | Havdalah | 5:07 PM |
Let's Make a Deal or Not: Giving 10 Percent to Charity One of my favorite television shows growing up was Let's Make a Deal with Monty Hall. The format of the program involves selected members of the studio audience who make deals with the host. The catch is that the trader does not know whether is getting an item of lesser or greater value until the choice is made. The program was entertaining as a show. In business and life, we often make deals. Yet, in our relationship to G-d, the concept seems sacrilegious. In this week's Torah portion, we are struck by Yaakov's approach to his own personal crises. He is being chased by his brother Esav, who wants to murder him. He spends the night on a bed of stones and as we know he dreams of angels ascending and descending a ladder. Upon awakening, he senses the holiness of the place and names the location, Beit El, a house of God. Then he makes a deal with the Almighty. He declares, "If God will watch over me on this journey and gives me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's household, then the Lord will be my G-d and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." How do we understand Yaakov's seeming bargain with G-d? He offers to give G-d charity if G-d watches over him? Why do we give tzedakah in times of personal crises? Rabbi Yamin Goldsmith, the Menahel of Sha'alvim for Women, where some of my daughters studied, offered a simple yet profound answer. The Torah teaches us that when a person gives a tenth of their animals to the Levites, known as maaser behemah, it necessitated actually counting each animal as it entered the pen and the tenth one was designated as charity. Similarly, we are enjoined by the Torah not to give charity willy nilly but rather to count our money and determine how much is a 10th of our earnings. Rabbi Goldsmith posits that it is the counting itself that serves a higher purpose. We count our blessings prior to giving a tenth. The goal of charity is not to bargain with G-d but to undergo a process of spiritual fortification. Like Yaakov, we may encounter times in our life when we feel uneasy and anxious and we turn to G-d for help. Yet, our prayers are best formulated not out of desperation but from a clear awareness of the gifts G-d has bestowed on us. We yearn for protection and G-d's grace but let us never forget all of the blessings bestowed upon us each and every day. Counting towards the ten percent allocation mandates that we gain a renewed appreciation of the 90 percent endowed to us by the Almighty. All of our material possessions are on loan from God. Count them, appreciate them and let us dedicate them to G-d's glory. Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom and may we share good news from Israel in the days ahead Rabbi Daniel Cohen |
Shabbat Information - Learn about the Shabbat Torah Reading for Parshat Vayeitzei with the insights of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l - click here.
- Haftarah summary by Chabad.org - click here.
- Haftarah summary by Haftarah Helper - click here
- Reminder: This past Wednesday night, we began inserting V'Tein Tal U'Matar in the beracha of Bareich Aleinu during the weekday Shemoneh Esrei.
- To learn more about V'Tein Tal U'matar, see this helpful summary by the Orthodox Union.
- Would you like to read the Torah or Haftarah for your bar mitzvah parsha? Let us know by clicking click here
Shabbat Icebreakers (courtesy of Yaakov Moshe and Elisheva Shmidman) - What is the heaviest thing you ever lifted (Yaakov rolls the stone off of the well)?
- Describe a time you saw someone act with a lot/ a lack of integrity (Lavan is constantly trying to change the deal with Yaakov)?
- What inspired your name (The different names of the shevatim all have unique inspirations)?
Parsha Would You Rather - New Feature- Would you rather have a well paying job with a terrible boss or a low paying job with a great boss (Lavan is a terrible boss for Yaakov but Yaakov prospers anyway)?
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Prayers for Hostages - We Pray for the Immediate Rescue and Release
"Acheinu kol Bais Yisrael – Our brethren, the entire Jewish People"
"Hanesunim bitzara u'bishivya – who are delivered into confinement and captivity"
"Ha'omdim bein bayam u'vein bayabasha – whether they be on the sea or dry land"
"HaMakom yiracheim aleihem viyotzi'eim mitzara li'rvacha – May the Omnipresent have mercy on them and remove them from distress to relief"
"U'mei'afela li'ora – and from darkness to light"
"U'mishibud lig'ula – and from subjugation to redemption"
"Hashta b'agala u'viz'man kariv – now, speedily, and close at hand"
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Out of Office Rabbi Cohen will be away from Tuesday, Dec 10th until Sunday, December 15th. Please be in touch with Rabbi Kurtz (347-752-2331) in case of an emergency. For non urgent matters, he can be reached at rabbikurtz@cas-stamford.org.
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Bar Mitzvah Project FIDF Lone Soldiers in honor of Oshri Steinberg's Bar Mitzvah - For my Bar-Mitzvah, I am donating to the FIDF, Lone Soldier Program. This donation is made in honor of my grandfather, who was a lone soldier in Israel in the 1960's. https://justgiving.com/campaign/oshribarmitzvah
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| Great Man Up finale Bar Mitzvah trip to visit Rabbi Tzvi Pincus at Tiferes Stam this past Sunday to learn the inside story on Tefillin and of course a visit to a delicious old school lunch at Essen off Coney Island Ave!The trip was the culmination of our three part series with Dads and Sons on what it means to become a Bar Mitzvah.Mazal Tov all of the Bnai Mitzvah and their families! | 
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 Thank You to everyone who has supported our Yom Kippur Appeal thus far and we encourage 100% participation. Whether alot or a little, the donation from your heart is an eternal investment in our shul and makes a difference! If you have not done so already, please join them.
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Shabbat Topics & Participants |
| Coffee & Commentary | Rabbi Daniel Cohen | | Shmuel Class | Mark Wagshul | | Shiur | Rabbi Moshe Kurtz: Eiva, Akum, and America | | Code of Jewish Law | Rabbi Yossi Kamman | | Seudah Shlishit | Rabbi Moshe Kurtz: It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? |
- to Ayelet & Keith Steinberg on Oshri's Bar Mitzvah!
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- to Aviva & Jared Kafer on the birth of a baby boy! Mazal Tov to big sisters Sivan and Elia! Join the Shalom Zachor this Friday night at 8:30 PM at 27 Brighton Place (Kohl home) in honor of the new baby.
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- to Ivy & Marvin Schildkraut on Mira's upcoming marriage to Benjamin Kutner!
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Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here- to Shira Manheimer on the passing of her mother, Carole Bolensky z"l
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- to David Bessaleli for sponsoring the 7 AM kiddush last week in celebration of the birth of his great granddaughter Tiferet Rachel born to Tehila and Adar Shaked, children of Gilla and Goel (Glenn) Jasper
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- Senior Challah Deliveries: Lynn & Jeffrey Lowin in commemoration of the yahrzeits of Lynn's father, David Rothfeld and Jeffrey's father, Murray Lowin
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- 7AM Kiddush: In honor of Mitchell Bell
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- Sephardic Kiddush: Anonymous
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- Sanctuary Kiddush: Ayelet & Keith Steinberg in celebration of Oshri's Bar Mitzvah
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- Teen Kiddush: Rabbi & Mrs. Josh & Mielcah Munk in honor of Pearl's 7th birthday
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- Seudah Shlishit: The Michelson Family in commemoration of the completion of 11 months of kaddish for their dear mother Naomi Michelson - May her Neshama Have an Aliya
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Sunday, December 8 - 10:00 AM |
| Sunday, December 8 - 8:00 PM |
| Middle Feastern Sephardic Food Event |
Shabbat, December 14 - 8:30 PM |
| BMC A.I. Pizza Contest and Game Show |
Sunday, December 15 - 1:00 PM |
| CAS Youth & UJF Chanukah Magic Show |
Sunday, December 15 - 3:50 PM |
| Israel Teen Fellowship for 10th & 11th Graders |
| Stamford Jewish Experience Fire Pit |
| Scholar Series with Leora Orenshein |
Monday, December 16 - 8:00 PM |
| 55+ Social Committee Dinner and Paint Night |
Wednesday, December 18 - 6:30 PM |
| 55+ Social Committee Dinner and Show |
Thursday, January 23 - 6:30 PM |
| An Evening of Community Building with Rav Yosef Blau |
Thursday, December 19 - 7:30 PM |
| Sunday, December 22 - 9:30 AM |
| CAS Youth Chanukah on Ice |
Thursday, December 26 - 2:30 PM |
| CAS Youth Bubble Mania at the Palace Theater |
Sunday, December 29 - 3:00 PM |
| Monday, January 13 - 11:00 AM |
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SAVE THE DATE - SHABBAT WITH FRIENDS OF THE IDF Shabbat, January 11 Join us for a unique experience with FIDF leadership and IDF Soldiers. Hear inspiring stories and spend an unforgettable Shabbat together. Featuring Rabbi Steve Weil, FIDF CEO and IDF Soldiers |
A Note from Rabbi Josh Munk Our mission is to be a Light for the Nations. Our new theme is being a source of light in the world. In our parsha, Yaakov felt cheated by Lavan because, well, Lavan cheated him - after 20 miserable years working! But, Yaakov still chose "light," being an example of honesty for all of us to follow. For fun & experiential learning, we'll have fruit twists with our snack that resemble ladders as we learn the story of Yaakov and the ladder with angels going up and down.
Some Questions For Your Shabbat Table:- Why do you think Lavan cheated in his business dealings with Yaakov?
- Why do you think Yaakov chose not to cheat Lavan?
- Between Yaakov and Lavan, which do people today think is better?
- Have you ever been tempted to cheat? How do you think others will feel about you if you do cheat?
- Rachel gives up something very important so her sister, Leah won't be embarrassed. Why is it so important not to embarrass others?
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We are excited to announce the launch of Israel Teen Fellowship an Agudath Sholom program in partnership with StandWithUs and designed to Educate and Inspire Teens as Israel Advocates and Religious Zionists via monthly seminars, visits to Hartford and Washington DC and internship or volunteering with Israel Advocacy Organizations. Thank you to UJF Stamford for the grant to seed this vital program. Registration is now open online until Dec 15th for 10th and 11th graders. For more info, contact Rabbi Cohen.
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- Men's Club Pacific House Meal On December 25th beginning at 9am, the CAS Men's Club will cook and prepare a meal for the residents at the Pacific House. We are looking for kosher food donations - consisting of sweet potatoes, string beans, potatoes, salad items (lettuce, peppers, tomatoes).We will prepare the meal from 9-11:15 am and deliver to the Pacific House. We also need servers beginning at 11:30 am (a waiver must be signed). If you can donate or volunteer, please contact Mitchell Bell at wizdrbel@yahoo.com or 203 722 3512.
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- Support our Local Kosher Establishments - Big News! 613 will now open on Saturday nights. Check out the special Sat Night menu at https://613restaurant.com/. First 10 Reservations get Free Drinks
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- Check out Rabbi Cohen's Interview with Cathy Heller on Gratitude click here
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- Shacharit Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday-Friday: 6:30/7:30 AM
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- Mincha Sunday-Thursday: 4:10 PM; Friday: 4:13 PM
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- Candle Lighting Friday: 4:08 PM
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We Wish A Speedy Recovery To |
- Tzvi Zev Yosef ben Chana Shulamit
- Raanan Noach ben Slova
- yosef ishai ben miriam
- Sheina Feiga bat Rivka
- Chaya Sara bat Chava
- Hershel Wolf ben Brucha
- Penina bat Sara
- Rema bat Etta
- Ahron Dovid ben Esther Bayla
- Yetta Liba bat Freidel
- Freidel bat Esther
- Leeba Minna bat Rivka
- Pesach Melech ben Basha
- Chaya Shoshana bat Yehudit
- Nira bat Rachel
| - Sara bat Nira
- Chana Leah bat Esther
- Nadav Ephraim ben Shlomit Leah
- Ariella Maor bat Liba Chaya
- Leah bat Rivka
- Adeline bat Bat Chava
- Shlomo ben Velvel
- Rivkah Devorah bat Channa Gittel
- Moisha Gedalia
- Nechemiah
- Dorit bat Ora
- Mary
- Miriam Rut bat Chana
- Abokhay Moshe ben Zoya
- Chaya bat Liba
| - Harav Eliezer ben Chaya
- Miriam bat Devorah
- אסתר רחל bat רייזל ביילה
- Chaya Rachel bat Carmi Adina
- Penina bat Batya
- Sarah Rochfl bat Paya Etel
- Dov ben Pnina
- Nehama Miriam bat Dvora
- Moshe Gavriel ben Rachel Esther
- Cheryl Sheva bat Gittel Leah
- Sossie Raizel bat Sarah Fraida
- Eliezer Meyer ben Leah
- Calev Natanel ben Sara
- Yitzchak Osher ben Chana Shayva Chaya
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- Ariel Y
- Shani Y
- Tali Y
- Harry B
- Zevi M
- Joreh M
| - Ayden M
- Nathan H
- Noam H
- Yehudit
- Sally K
- Oren L
| - Nathan L
- Jeremy S
- Meni N
- Yaniv H
- Rachel W
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- Join the Friendship Circle Bar/Bat Mitzvah program for 6th and 7th graders! Dec 8, Dec 15, Jan 5, Jan 12 from 6-7:30 PM at 48 Union St., Stamford. Discover how to support individuals with various disabilities, learn respectful ways to interact, and understand the impact of giving back to the community. Through a three-part series featuring fun games, interactive videos, insightful discussions led by specialists and therapists, and hands-on volunteer opportunities, you'll gain valuable skills while making a meaningful difference.
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- NextGen Chanukah Party Saturday, December 7 at 8:30pm UJF NextGen's annual pre-Chanukah Party will be held at the Carousel at Mill River Park. Dust off those fun/ugly/funky Chanukah sweaters and great ready to join old friends and new for a loaded-latke bar, festive drinks, and comradery. Register at www.ujf.org/NextGenChanukah
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- UJF Lunch-And-Learn with Author S. Ilan Troen Tuesday, December 10 at 12:00pm Join UJF for the first in a two-part series of Israel-themed Lunch-and-Learns. Pack a "brown bag" lunch and hear S. Ilan Troen talk about his new book Israel/Palestine in World Religions: Whose Promised Land?. The cost is only $5, and snacks and drinks will be provided. Register at www.ujf.org/LunchAndLearn
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- UJF In-Person "Virtual" Tour of Israel Monday, December 16 at 7:00pm Explore Israel with UJF Shlicha Eden Refaelovich, during this in-person "virtual tour" of Haifa and Nesher (Eden's hometown). This is the second in a four-part series learning about Israel from north to south and east to west, and you won't even have to leave Stamford! Register at www.ujf.org/VirtualTour
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- UJF's 2024 Annual Meeting Wednesday, December 18 at 7:30pm Join UJF in paying tribute to outgoing UJF President Michael Schlessinger, installing newPresident Beverly Stein and the new UJF Board, and to celebrate 10 years of 3Square. The program will include a conversation with Israeli actress Swell Ariel Or, star of the Netflix series The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. Register at www.ujf.org/Annual24
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