| Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin |
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| | Vayigash | | December 27, 2025 | 7 Tevet |
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| | Friday | | | Candle Lighting | 4:13 PM | | Mincha | 4:18 PM | | Shabbat | | | Shacharit | 7:00/8:00/9:00 AM | | Coffee & Commentary | 8:40 AM | | Sephardic Minyan | 8:45 AM | | Latest Shema | 8:53 AM | | Melachim Class | 9:00 AM | | Latest Shacharit | 9:54 AM | | Family Minyan | 10:00 AM | | Shiur | 10:30 AM | | Code Of Jewish Law | 3:20 PM | | Mincha | 4:10 PM | | Havdalah | 5:15 PM |
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 good news in the days and weeks ahead, Rabbi Daniel Cohen |
Fast of the 10th of Tevet
The fast is this Tuesday, December 30th- Fast Begins: 5:50 AM
- Shacharit: 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 AM
- Early Mincha: 1:30 PM
- Regular Mincha and Maariv: 4:00 PM
- Fast Ends: 5:09 PM
To learn more about the Fast, click here
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Shabbat Topics & Participants |
| Coffee & Commentary | Rabbi Daniel Cohen | | Melachim Class | Mark Wagshul | | Shiur | David Held | | Code of Jewish Law | Rabbi Yossi Kamman | | Seudah Shlishit | Rabbi Aryeh Roberts |
- to Michal & Yishai Zwiren and Diane & Rabbi Daniel Cohen on the birth of a daughter and granddaughter named Orli Shoshana! Mazal Tov to big sisters Ruthie and Avigayil!
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- to Ariel & Evan Gorsky on the birth of a baby boy, Benyamin Refael! Mazal Tov to big sisters Sophie and Kira!
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- to Shara & David Israel on the arrival of a grandson, Noam Yona!
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- to Nurit & Mark Wexler and Debbie & Ben Soifer on the marriage of their son and grandson Elan to Hannah Dolginoff! Mazal Tov to the entire Wexler/Soifer family!
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- to the early morning Mishnah Brurah shiur upon finishing the entire six volumes! Classes are held Sunday through Friday mornings 35 minutes before the earliest minyan - next up is Sefer HaChinuch
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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 the Novak Family on the passing of Barbara Novak z"l
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- to Jennie Folkinshteyn on the passing of her beloved aunt Risha bat Riva Ruchel, Ali Edelstein z"l
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- to Elie Herman on the recent passing of his grandmother Roberta Tobia z"l, Chana Rachel bat Chayim Gedlaya
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- We wish comfort to the families of Aviv Maor and Mordechai Shimshon who were murdered in Israel in a terror attack
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- to Mitchell Bell and all the volunteers and donors who supported the meal for the Pacific House on December 25th. It was very much appreciated!
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- Senior Challah Deliveries: Stella & Isaac Cohen in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Avrom Aaron Levy z"l
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- 7am Kiddush: Navah & David Zizmor in honor of Gabriel's reading the haftorah
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- Chapel Kiddush: Anonymous
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- Sanctuary Kiddush: Co-sponsored by Dinah Miller & Seth Marlowe in commemoration of the 29th yahrzeit of Dinah's father, Robert Alexander Miller z"l/Rafiol Alexsander Ben Ze'ev; Lauren & Josh Esses in memory of Joseph Soleimani z"l; Lorraine & David Kweskin in memory of Philip Plotkin z"l; and Judith and Matt Bernstein in memory of Alvin Bernstein z"l
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- Seudah Shlishit: Tali & Rami Ben-Joseph in memory of Yosef Fosman z"l
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Agudath Sholom New Year's Morning Yom Iyun with Rabbi Chaim Jachter |
Thursday, January 1 - 9:15 AM |
| Family Friday Night Dinner |
Friday, January 9 - 5:45 PM |
| CAS Youth Chanukah Celebration |
Sunday, January 11 - 10:30 AM |
| An Evening of Learning with Atara Eis |
Sunday, January 11 - 7:30 PM |
| Agudath Sholom Kesher (ASK) |
Monday, January 12 - 4:45 PM |
| Sunday, January 18 - 8:00 PM |
| Stamford Jewish Experience Friday Night Dinner |
Friday, January 23 - 6:00 PM |
| NJOP Crash Course in Basic Judaism |
Thursday, February 5 - 7:45 PM |
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Save the Dates in January - Shabbat, Jan 9-10: Scholar in Residence Rabbi Shaul Feldman Director of Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada
- Shabbat, January 30th-31st: Rabbi Yosef Lindell |
Mentorship Opportunity with Sarah Walsh, Director of Greater NY & CT "Upon graduating from McGill University in Montreal, I started out in the Jewish world at the Birthright Israel Foundation, which sent me on a trajectory to Friends of the IDF, Federation, and AIPAC. If I can help set someone else into the right path, I would be honored to pay forward the opportunities granted to me as a young adult." If there are any high school, college, or recent graduates who are interested in AIPAC, advocacy, Jewish non-profit work, etc, Sarah is available to shadow for a morning. If you are interested, please contact Rabbi Cohen at rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org
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- Shabbat Icebreakers (courtesy of Yaakov Moshe and Elisheva Shmidman)
- What is your favorite movie reveal or plot twist (Yosef reveals himself to the brothers)?
- What is something you want to see or do in your lifetime (Yaakov says he wants go Yosef before he passes away)?
- What is something or someone that has brought goodness into your life (Yaakov tells Pharaoh that his life has been short and difficult)?
- Parsha Would You Rather - know the whole truth even if it is very difficult or be left in the dark (The meforshim disagree on whether Yaakov ever found out that the brothers had sold Yosef)?
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- Meeting our Members Project: Monthly Member Features on the Big Screen! Thank God, our shul is growing every week! We would love to highlight families on a rotating basis on the screen in our lobby. It is a great way to connect names with faces and fuel the warmth of our shul!
Our Request: Fill out this survey with a Photo and send it back to us at your convenience. We are a shul created in God's Image where we celebrate our diversity, and warmth. Thank you for being a part of our wonderful and unique shul family! For questions, contact Brad or Rabbi Cohen.
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- Holy Habits Shabbat Shopping Join our CAS Board of Directors, who committed unanimously to purchase one extra item when they shop each week to support the Freedberg Kosher Food Pantry. When each one of us does one small act, it can truly make a difference. To learn more about the Kosher Food Pantry, visit https://www.ctjfs.org/kosher-food-pantry/.
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- New Torah Opportunity back by Popular Demand CAS Daily Learning Initiative to Ignite Your Life Consider the daily study of Chayenu - daily Parsha, Tanya and Tehillim! A generous sponsor offered to subsidize subscriptions. For more info, visit https://chayenu.org. If you would like to join, please email Rabbi Cohen at rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org. Testimonial - It changed my life! Agudath Sholom member Josh Goldberg
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- Making A Good Marriage Great: Shalom Bayit Young Couples Chavura with Rabbi Daniel and Diane Cohen. Starts Winter 2026 - Rabbi Daniel and Diane Cohen will lead a three month series on strengthening marriage, deepening relationships and growing in romance and love. The series will be hosted at private homes. To learn more and/or be hosts, contact Rabbi Cohen at rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org
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- Support our Local Kosher Establishments Thank God we have a growing number of Kosher establishments in Stamford. Navaratna is currently closed for renovations, but please make an extra effort to support 613, Ricotta, L'Chaim and Greenwich & Delancey.
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- Israel Advocacy - Sign up for Pens and Swords This group shares links to petitions and information about how everyone can contact political figures and businesses to advocate on behalf of Israel. Most of these actions take under a minute to complete and they keep pressure on policymakers to support Israel and/or drop actions that are detrimental. Please share the link for this group with as many supporters of Israel and the Jewish people as possible. click here
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- Shacharit Sunday, Thursday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday-Wednesday, Friday: 6:30/7:30/8:30 AM
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- Mincha Sunday-Monday, Wednesday-Thursday: 4:20 PM; Tuesday: 4:00 PM; Friday: 4:24 PM
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- Candle Lighting Friday: 4:19 PM
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- Thursday New Year's Day - Office Closed
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New Learning Initiative WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 at 8 PM | BBQ MEN'S BEIT MIDRASH Every other Wednesday night! Wings and Poppers will be served. Choose between chavrusa learning on in-depth halacha from the parsha OR chassidus on the parsha, followed by a late maariv. This week: Rabbi Cohen will be teaching "Growing in Spiritual Greatness: The Insights of the Tosher Rebbe on the Finale of Bereishit," followed by a halacha shiur from Rabbi Roberts on the topic of "Fashion, Identity, and the Complexities of Shehechiyanu." Reach out to Rabbi Roberts to be added to the Whatsapp group.
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We Wish A Speedy Recovery To |
- Tzvi Zev Yosef ben Chana Shulamit
- Yaffa bat Hanna
- Anat bat Rachel
- Moshe Yosef ben Sarah
- Raanan Noach ben Slova
- Chaim ben Leah
- Yosef Ishai ben Miriam
- Yocheved Rochel bat Chava Kayla
- Sheina Feiga bat Rivka
- Hershel Wolf ben Brucha
- Rema bat Etta
- Yitzchak ben Shmuel v. Chaya
- Freidel bat Esther
- Leeba Minna bat Rivka
- Pesach Melech ben Basha
- Chaya Shoshana bat Yehudit
- Nira bat Rachel
- Sara bat Nira
| - יוֹסֵף ben בתיה
- Chana Leah bat Esther
- Nadav Ephraim ben Shlomit Leah
- Rafael Zvi ben Chana Pearl
- Evgeny ben Perl
- Ariella Maor bat Liba Chaya
- Leah bat Rivka
- חיים זאב ben לאה
- Adeline bat Chava
- Moisha Gedalia
- Nechemiah
- Dorit bat Ora
- Yospa bat Shana Menucha
- Michal bat Chana
- Rachel Leah bat Sara
- Mary
- Yosef Noach ben Dina
- Uriel ben Vered
| - Tanya bat Malka
- Chaya bat Liba
- Moshe Yitzak ben Raisel Crendel
- Miriam bat Devorah
- אסתר רחל bat רייזל ביילה
- Chaya Rachel bat Carmi Adina
- Penina bat Batya
- Dov ben Pnina
- Nehama Miriam bat Dvora
- Yehouda ben Aghdas
- Hersh Zalman ben Sorah Rochel
- Moshe Gavriel ben Rachel Esther
- Cheryl Sheva bat Gittel Leah
- Sossie Raizel bat Sarah Fraida
- Calev Natanel ben Sara
- Yitzchak Osher ben Chana Shayva Chaya
- Inna bat Tanya
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- Ariel Y
- Shani Y
- Tali Y
- Yoad A
- Harry B
- CZM
- JEM
| - AMM
- Nathan H
- Noam H
- Yehudit
- Sally K
- Oren L
- Nathan L
| - Rachel M
- Jeremy S
- Yehudit S
- Meni N
- Yaniv H
- Rachel W
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- Self Defense Class December 27th at 8:00 PM Come one come all! We are excited to announce an amazing night of Self Defense with world class UFC fighter & a defender of the Jewish people and Zionism, Natan Levy. Learn some self defense tactics and stay for a Q & A following. Families are included as long as kids can follow instructions and participate safely. Please note: There is no charge for the event but we would kindly appreciate any donations between $10-$100 to help offset costs. RSVP to Shira Burstein (bursteinshira@gmail.com) - Location provided upon RSVP
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- TBE Tzedek Committee invites you to Censorship, Book Banning, and First Amendment Rights Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 9:30 AM at Temple Beth El. Featuring Dr. Tamu Lucero, Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools; Regan Allan, Director of Education & Engagement at Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF); and Alice Knapp, CEO of Ferguson Library. Doors open at 9:00 am for a light breakfast. $10 for adults over age 20 by 1 pm on Friday, Jan. 9th. $15 at the door. Middle school and high school students are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP to www.tinyurl/com/censor1-11-26
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- Aaron's Place - A Kosher Comfort Room Aaron's Place, on the ground floor of Stamford Hospital, provides kosher snacks, drinks and meals, in a comfortable environment. If you are caring for a hospitalized loved one or waiting for tests, this comfort room is a place to relax and refresh. Information is available at the hospital front desk, The code, in Hebrew letters, is on the door of the room. Volunteers Needed! To volunteer, please email ronsichel@aol.com
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