Enjoyed our services? Want to find out more about us? Speak to one of our Board members following services or contact our office 905-889-0276 x31 or shalom@beitrayim.org www.beitrayim.org The PRIDE OF ISRAEL KOSHER FOOD BANK helps 140 Jewish Welfare families every Wednesday, year round. They desperately need non-perishables such as canned goods, pasta, peanut butter and powdered milk. These items should be marked kosher. Leading up to Hanukkah they would like to bundle, soups, potatoe latke packages, applesauce and chocolate gelt. Between December 1 - 20, Beit Rayim volunteers will be calling our families and appealing to you to help fill the shelves of Pride of Israel's Kosher Food Bank. They will give you full information when they call. If you would like to help with this project, please contact Ellin Bessner at: ebessner@gmail.com Please consider making a cash donation to the food bank in lieu of gifts on one of the nights of Hanukkah. Cheques can be made payable to: THE PRIDE OF ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE KOSHER FOOD BANK c/o THE PRIDE OF ISRAEL 59 Lissom Crescent, Toronto, ON M2R 2P2
Shabbat For Tots (ages 2-7) Shabbat Mornings from 9:30 AM
NEW
This new program is geared to be fun. While you pray, your children will learn about torah stories and our holidays. A blend of story telling, games and hands-on activities will connect your child to Jewish traditions in an enjoyable and entertaining fashion.
December 10, 2011 ~ 14 Kislev 5772 Shabbat Vayishlach
פרשת וישלח Beit Rayim welcomes Ian Schlifer, our new Ba’al Koreh, to our roster of Torah readers. The congregational Kiddush will be held in Main Street following services.
שבת שלום Please join us on Friday, December 16, 2011 Kabbalat Shabbat- 6:30 PM Saturday, December 17, 2011 Shabbat Services at 9 AM when Michael Jay, our USCJ Alim Rabbinic Fellow, will again return to Beit Rayim for the weekend.
Next Sunday
Annual Torah reading: Genesis 32:4-36:43 (Etz Hayim, p.198, Hertz, p.122) Beit Rayim Triennial Reading: Genesis 34:1-35:15 (Etz Hayim, p.206, Hertz, p.127) Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1–21(Etz Hayim, p.222, Hertz, p.137)
ANNOUNCEMENTS/הודעות The Congregation thanks Lisa Korn for making a donation to the Kiddush Fund in memory of her father, Nat Tenenbaum, z”l. If you are receiving an Honour/Aliyah, please make sure to arrive at the beginning of the service and introduce yourself to the Gabbai at the door. This week December 10, 2011– December 16, 2011 we remember Luba Bard, z”l, mother of Cantor Eli Bard Raizelle Boro, z”l, mother of Stewart Boro Doris Levine, z”l, mother of Tami Sher Natalio Szafirowicz, z”l, father of Ana Szafirowicz Nat Tenenbaum, z”l, father of Lisa Korn Rhoda Grossman, z”l, mother of Loren Grossman May their souls be bound up in the bonds of eternal life, Amen.
Don’t gamble. No problem! Lots of great, fun activities for everyone.
PARASHAT Vayishlach - Prepared by Rabbi Joseph Prouser In anticipation of a tense reunion with Esau, Jacob dispatches messengers to his brother. When they return to report Esau's approach with a force of 400 men, Jacob assumes that his brother's intent is hostile. He divides his family and flocks into two separate camps, hoping that at least half his entourage will survive if they are attacked. After intense prayer and a tense night, Jacob sends his brother propitiatory gifts. Sending his wives and children to safety across the river Jabbok, Jacob spends the night alone. During the night he wrestles with a mysterious "man." (An angel? His conscience?) Jacob's hip is injured in the fight, an event linked by the text to the prohibition against eating an animal's sciatic nerve. Jacob demands a blessing from his opponent, who refuses to identify himself but gives the patriarch a new name: Israel. Jacob's reunion with Esau is without incident: they kiss and embrace, and Esau is introduced to his brother's family. Although at first he declines, finally Esau accepts Jacob's substantial gifts. The brothers part ways peacefully. Jacob arrives in Shechem, where he buys land. Jacob's daughter Dinah is raped by Shechem, who subsequently expresses the desire to marry his victim. Shechem and his father, Hamor, propose a diplomatic arrangement whereby Jacob's clan and the Hivites will join together and intermarry, permitting the union of Shechem and Dinah, for whom they offer an exorbitant bride price. Jacob's sons duplicitously consent to the arrangement on the condition that the men of Shechem undergo circumcision. These terms are accepted. As the men of Shechem, still incapacitated, recover from the surgical procedure, Simeon and Levi attack the city, slaughtering all of them, including Shechem and Hamor. Jacob's other sons plunder the fallen city of its wealth. To Jacob's expression of dismay, Simeon and Levi respond indignantly: "Should our sister be treated like a whore?" Jacob travels to Beth El, where he builds an altar and rids his entourage of idolatrous religious articles. Rebekah's nurse, Deborah, dies and is buried. Jacob receives a divine revelation and blessing, during which his new identity as Israel is affirmed. Rachel dies in childbirth. She calls her son Ben-Oni but Jacob wisely and sensitively adjusts the name to Benjamin. Reuben consorts with his father's concubine, Bilhah. The unseemly, perhaps politically motivated liaison is reported in a single verse. (The traditional cantillation of the passage, in Genesis 35:22, joins this verse to the one that immediately follows, to dispense with a salacious matter as delicately and expeditiously as possible.) Jacob travels to Hebron, where Isaac dies at the age of 180, and is buried by Jacob and Esau in a memorial tribute reminiscent of Isaac and Ishmael's funerary rites for Abraham. The parashah concludes with genealogical lists of both Jacob's and Esau's descendants.
Please circle your calendars: Friday, December 16 – Kabbalat Shabbat with Michael Jay Sunday, December 18 - Hanukkah Party at Ross Doan Public School. 10:30-12:30 AM. Thursday, December 22 - Last session of Beit Rayim Hebrew School before the winter break. Friday, December 23 – Last date for Casino Night Early Bird Bonus! Tuesday, December 27 – Israeli Movie Club. Thursday, January 12 – First session of Beit Rayim Hebrew School after the winter break. Saturday, January 21 – Havdallah at the Wave Pool. Tuesday, January 24 – Israeli Movie Club. Saturday, January 28, 2012 - Casino Night at Pride of Israel. Friday, February 3 – Kabbalat Shabbat with the PJ Library. Saturday, February 4 – Shabbat Shira – Women’s Shabbat. Sunday, February 5 – World Wide Wrap February12 – Kadimah and USY Snow Tubing. – Tel Aviv Café.
Israeli Movie Club will be showing the comedy “The Band’s Visit” on Tuesday, December 27 - 7:30 PM at the home of Isabel and Irv Siegel Space is limited and preference will be given to synagogue members. You must RSVP to Udi Avitzur at: ehude.avi@gmail.com The address will be given to registrants. (Please note the title will be announced two weeks Kabbalat Shabbat before the screening). First Friday each month* Next date will be February 3, 2012* Co-Sponsored with The PJ Library Snack & Schmooze: 6 - 6:30 PM Interactive & Participatory Service with story time: 6:30 - 7:15 PM
*no PJ in January due to winter school break
Celebrate your birthday, anniversary or other simcha with your Beit Rayim Family. Receive a special blessing at Shabbat services. “Sponsor” a Congregational Kiddush for $360. or “Co-Sponsor” the Kiddush for $180. (This rate does not apply to the added cost for guests who you invite to attend that week and does not apply to Bar or Bat Mitzvah Kiddushim). “Donate” to the Kiddush is still at a variable rate of your choice. Donations are tax receiptable. Call: 905.889.0276 ext. 31or admin@beitrayim.org
UJA of Greater Toronto’s Victims of Terror Fund supports southern Israel Funds raised for victims of terror in Israel are allocated to United Israel Appeal Canada Inc. (UIA) on whose behalf the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) delivers services. To donate contact ujadonations.com/victims or call 416-361-5705
We want to stay in touch with you. Please make sure we have a current email address on file. Looking for a few good “Shabbat Buddies” We are looking to create a roster of drivers who would be willing to pick up and take home some of our members who can no longer drive to services. If you would be willing to “Buddy” up with a member, please contact Fran at the synagogue office: admin@beitrayim.org / t.905-889-0276 x31
Donate a Chumash or Siddur in honour or memory of a person or a special event. Contact the office for details: shalom@beitrayim.org or 905-889-0276 x31 Chairman of the Board of Directors Shelley Isenberg President Larry Miller Immediate Past President Irv Siegel Founding Rabbi Rabbi Sol Tanenzapf, z”l Rabbi in Residence Moshe Edelman Cantor Eli Bard Assistant Cantor
Jaclyn Cepler-Klimitz USCJ Alim Rabbinic Fellow Michael Jay
In response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Cree First Nations community of Attawapiskat, on James Bay in northern Ontario, United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto has established the Attawapiskat Emergency Relief Fund to raise funds to assist the citizens of that community with basic necessities of life. With a shortage of suitable housing, many men, women and children have been forced to live in uninsulated shacks, trailers and tents without drinking water, heat or even blankets. As another harsh northern Ontario winter approaches, these men, women and children will soon be at even greater risk. "It's hard for most of us, who take life's basic comforts for granted to even imagine what these unfortunate people must be going through, particularly in our own province," said Ted Sokolsky, President and CEO, United Jewish Appeal of Great Toronto. "But, as fellow Ontarians, and as Jews, we have a responsibility to take care of those in need, particularly here at home. And, by following our commitment to the Jewish value of tikkun olam, "repairing the world", United Jewish Appeal established this fund to do just that." ujadonations.com/Attawapiskat or call 416-631-5705 209 - 1118 Centre Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 7R9 t. (905) 889-0276 x31 shalom@beitrayim.org www.beitrayim.org www.facebook.com/beitrayimshul