| | Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin | | | Vaera | | January 13, 2024 | 3 Sh'vat 5784 | | | | | | Friday | | | Candle Lighting | 4:28 PM | | Mincha | 4:33 PM | | Shabbat | | | Shacharit | 7:00/8:00/9:00 AM | | Sephardic Minyan | 8:45 AM | | Coffee and Commentary | 8:45 AM | | Latest Shema | 8:57 AM | | Latest Shacharit | 9:59 AM | | Bob's Basics | 10:00 AM | | Shiur | 10:30 AM | | Code Of Jewish Law | 3:35 PM | | Mincha | 4:25 PM | | Havdalah | 5:30 PM |
Greatness Defined Who is greater - Moshe or Aharon? They are two of the most significant leaders in Jewish history. The question of who is greater seems odd though as it is clearly not the same as asking, "Who is the greatest baseball or basketball player of all time?" Yet, the Torah alludes to this comparison in this week's Torah portion of Va'era and, in doing so, offers a valuable life lesson. The verse states: This is Aharon and Moshe to whom God said, "Take the children of Israel out of Egypt...this is Moshe and Aharon." (Shemot 6:26-27) Rashi notices that in verse 26, Aharon is listed first and in verse 27, Moshe is listed first. Rashi explains that the shift is to teach us that the two of them are equal. In truth, how can they be equivalent? Moshe was the greatest of all prophets and the only human being to whom God spoke Panim El Panim, face to face. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, of blessed memory, explains that greatness is not defined by a person's accomplishments, but rather by the person's success in fulfilling the tasks for which God equipped him or her and sent them to this world. Every person enters the world with unique abilities and set tasks to accomplish. Each person is blessed with different talents and endowed with a special mission. God expects us to use our gifts to the utmost. Aharon was not Moshe but, Rabbi Feinstein expounds, he was not supposed to be like Moshe. Aharon did succeed in using all of his God given abilities, the tasks set for him in the world, just as Moshe did. In this spirit, he is equal to Moshe. Spend time reflecting on your unique gifts and special mission. We can all succeed in life if we do our utmost to harness our God given potential for the Divine task given only to us. Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Daniel Cohen |
Shabbat Information - Learn about the Shabbat Torah Reading for Parshat Vaeira 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 28:25-29:21
- Haftarah summary by Chabad.org - click here
- Haftarah summary by Haftarah Helper - click here
- Would you like to read the Torah or Haftara for your bar mitzvah parsha? Let us know by clicking here.
We are excited to welcome Carly Gammill for our Stand with Us Shabbaton. Carly is the Founding Director of the Center for Combating Antisemitism for StandWithUs, a non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. She will speak three times during Shabbat: - Friday Night at 8 PM at the home of Diane and Rabbi Daniel Cohen: Trends on Campus and the Impact of October 7th
- Shabbat Morning Sanctuary Sermon: Understanding Anti-Semetic Tropes in light of October 7th and How to Fight Back
- Seudah Shlishit: The Role of Parents and College Alumni in Fighting Anti Semitism on Campus
Carly 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.
Parsha Icebreakers (Courtesy of Elisheva and Yaakov Moshe Shmidman) - Recall an experience where someone exhibited the same bad behavior over and over again? What would you do differently in that situation (Pharaoh keeps reneging on his word to let the Jews go free)?
- Recall something that affected the your Jewish community as a whole (the plagues skip over the Jewish community in Goshen)?
- What is an experience you have had with a wild animal (plague of beasts)?
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Coat Room Cleanout There are many coats, hats and gloves that have been left in the coat room. They have been moved to a rack outside the room - please take a look and take yours home. Anything left on the rack on January 29th will be donated to Threads of Warmth.
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Save the Date for our Agudath Sholom Annual Dinner
Sunday, March 10th, 2024
Am YIsrael Chai, It is not just a Statement, it is a Way of Life
Mazal Tov to our honorees! - 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
Dinner Co-Chairs - Shira Marder & Jason Saibel
Honorary Dinner Chairs - Rachel & Nimrod Dayan, Karen & Ira Berk and Sharon & Simeon Wohlberg
Dinner Journal Chairs - Eve Steinmetz and Shushannah Yasgur
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Shabbat Topics & Participants |
| Bob's Basics | Bob Abrams | | Shiur | Michael Feldstein - Kol Yisrael Areivim Zeh Bazeh - Dedicated in memory of Tova Feldstein, z"l, Tova Gittel bat Michoel Gershon v'Sharon, to mark her first yahrzeit | | Sanctuary Sermon | Guest Speaker, Carly Gammill: Understanding Anti-Semitic Tropes In Light of Oct. 7th and How to Fight Back | | Code of Jewish Law | Rabbi Yossi Kamman | | Seudat Shlishit | Rabbi Cohen's Siyum in memory of his mother and Guest Speaker, Carly Gammill - The Role of Parents and College Alumni in Fighting Anti-Semitism on Campus |
- to Shelly & Harold Schwartz on the arrival of a great-grandson, Parker John Marshall!
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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- Senior Challah Deliveries: Nancy & Gadi Mimoun in memory of Nadia Mimoun and Ann Harmatz
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- 7AM Kiddush: Ana & Albert Lilienfeld in honor of the upcoming birthday of our very dear friend Dovi Zucker
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- Chapel Kiddush: Aviva & Paul Schieber in commemoration of the yahrzeits of Paul's mother, Annette Schieber (Chana Alda Bas Avraham Dov), and grandmother, Dora Goldstein (Rivka Devorah Bas Yitzchak Halevi)
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- Sephardic Kiddush: The Hanna Family in honor of Daniel Hanna's 25th birthday and the anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah
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- Sanctuary Kiddush: Co-sponsored by StandWithUs in appreciation to Rabbi Daniel Cohen and Congregation Agudath Sholom for Standing with Us; Alex & Brett Olsson in memory of Brett's grandfather Mark Sytner; and Tamar & Daniel Kraus
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- Seudat Shlishit: Diane & Rabbi Daniel Cohen in memory of Sandra Cohen, Sara Malka bat Aharon Avraham Halevi
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Shabbat, January 13 - 12:00 PM |
| Monday, January 15 - 9:30 AM |
| Nachos & Knowledge with Rabbi Daniel Cohen |
Wednesday, January 17 - 8:00 PM |
| Stamford Jewish Experience Friday Night Dinner |
Friday, January 19 - 6:15 PM |
| Sunday, January 21 - 10:30 AM |
| | Sunday, January 28 - 8:00 PM |
| Threads of Warmth Clothing Collection |
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Literature at Lunch Round Table led by Dr. Richard Schwartz Wednesday, January 17 - 12:00 PM Our final Roundtable of 2023 featured John Milton--front and center. For our upcoming Roundtable, we turn our attention to Psalm 19. A close reading may offer us an alternative response to Milton's question: "Doth God exact day labor light denied?" We will also refer to Psalm 90 (previously discussed at last year's Roundtable) which portrays God's Eternity contrasted with man's brevity. Our meeting schedule for the first half of 2024-meeting one Wednesday a month at noon- is as follows: February 14, March 13, April 17, May 15, June 19. We hope you will continue to join our conversation catered by Restaurant 613. Please contact me if you have any questions at rj@richardjschwartz.com. Zoom meeting ID 8784487429 Passcode 868450. | CAS Men's Chabura Wednesday, January 17 - 7:45 PM Rabbi Yossi I Kamman on Chilul Shabbos? The Controversy of the ZIM Shipping Services in the 1950's. Hosted by Michael Warmflash. Contact Sam Sroka (sroka.samuel@gmail.com) for more details. | CAS Womens Crafty Ladies Wednesday, January 24 - 10:00 AM Crafty Ladies will meet on Wednesdays, Jan.10 and Jan. 24 at 10:00am at CAS. Crafty Ladies have sent 18 black woolen hats to the IDF, and it is not too late to knit more! Need info, reach out to Audrey 203-355-3180 or Johanna 203-588-0942. |
Remembering the Fallen IDF Soldiers Every week, we read the names of the IDF soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the state and people of Israel. Reading the fallen names takes them out of their uniformed headshots into the plainclothes lives they led, with families and professions and hobbies and all that makes us who we are. It brings the fallen nearer, making them a little more real and making the loss all the more profound. May God grant their families and friends much comfort and strength and their legacy will live on always.
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100 Days In solidarity with the hostages who have now been held for over 100 days, we placed 132 red balloons on our patio today and will have some of them in the sanctuary on Shabbat. We will read all of the names on Shabbat morning this week. God willing, they will come home NOW.
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Meaningful Idea to Support Families in Israel Every expression of support for our brothers and sisters makes a difference. The MEALuim Project easily enables communities and individuals to send a weeknight meal to families whose parents are serving in the IDF. One less meal to prepare each week lightens the parents' heavy loads, brings smiles to the faces of children and reminds Israeli families that they have friends – even very far away – who want to do what they can to share the burden.
Become a neighbor across the ocean—simply choose the size of the family and how many weeks you want to send a delicious meal. Register with our community. If your family is joining, please email me as well (rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org) so we can acknowledge your participation.
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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.
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Parent-Child Learning Every Motzei Shabbat - 30 minutes after Havdallah, join us for this 45 minute program. For kids in grades 1-7 Learn the incredible stories from the book of Shmuel.
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- Next Shabbat Guest Speaker Yedidya Harush Yedidya will speak on Shabbat morning in the sanctuary. Yedidya is Jewish National Fund's (JNF-USA's) Liaison for Negev Community Development, was born and raised in Gush Katif and had to relocate after Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Working with JNF-USA, Yedidya went on to pioneer the creation of a thriving community on the Gaza border called Halutza where he lives with his wife and 4 kids. On October 7th, he and other men from the community took up arms to fight off Hamas terrorists and saved hundreds of lives. The entire community was evacuated and are still living in temporary housing. A decorated soldier, Yedidya rejoined his elite IDF unit and has been fighting on the front lines in Gaza and the West Bank ever since. Yedidya will be sharing his unique perspective on the current situation and his determination to rebuild the Gaza border communities.
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- First Yahrzeit of Tova Gail Feldstein, z"l Michael and Sharon Feldstein will be sponsoring a seudat shlishi, in memory of their daughter Tova Gittel bat Michoel Gershon v'Sharon, on the occasion of her first yahrzeit. Shabbat, January 20, 2024, between mincha and maariv.
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- Threads of Warmth Clothing Collection Let's show others the thoughtful and generous community we are all part of! CAS is participating in a clothing collection drive sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut's Social Ministry Collaborative. Those who need the clothing will come shop on February 2, 2024 at the New Covenant Center. For more info contact Julie Veetal CAS Coordinator at julieveetal@gmail.com.
There are a couple of ways to participate: - Donate new or gently used underwear, socks, jeans, tshirts, hats, gloves, hooded sweatshirts, and sweatpants for men and women. CAS will have collection boxes in the front vestibule of the shul, which will be collected on January 29th, 2024.
- Volunteer to help organize, transport, and distribute clothing at the event on February 2, by clicking here
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- The Cholent Challenge is Back! Shabbat, Jan 27th - Limited spots, to participate contact Rabbi Kurtz. Prepare your entry in the shul kitchen on Thursday night or Friday.
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- January Seudah Shlishit Series: Religious Zionist Torah Thinkers "For the Torah will go forth from Zion." Join us between mincha and maariv on Shabbat 1/20, 1/27, 2/10 and 2/17, to learn about revolutionary Israeli Torah personalities such as Rav Goren, Rav Kook, Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon and Rabbi Yehuda Henkin. Our presenters include Michael Feldstein, Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Rabbi Moshe Kurtz, and Rabbanit Ayelet Schlesinger! For questions and sponsorship opportunities, please email Rabbi Kurtz: rabbikurtz@cas-stamford.org
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- 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
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- Shacharit Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday: 6:30/8:30 AM; Tuesday-Friday: 6:30/7:30 AM
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- Mincha Sunday-Thursday: 4:35 PM; Friday: 4:41 PM
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- Candle Lighting Friday: 4:36 PM
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We Wish A Speedy Recovery To |
- 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
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- 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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- UJF's Annual Martin Luther King Celebration Join UJF's JCRC in attending Stamford's MLK Day Annual Celebration on Monday, January 15 at Bethel AME Church with a rally starting at 10:00 AM and the MLK March at 11:00 AM. For more information contact JCRC Director, Sharon Lewis (slewis@ujf.org) or register today at www.ujf.org/mlk to attend.
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- Addressing Antisemitism with Author, Richard Hurowitz The first in a three-part Zoom series presented by UJF and the Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County starting on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 28 at 7:00 pm, author Richard Hurowitz discusses his book, "In the Garden of Righteous: The Heroes Who Risked Their Lives to Save Jews During the Holocaust". Register: www.ujf.org/jcrcseries
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