WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

To paraphrase Rabbi Sacks on Parshat Vayigash, he describes the challenge of balancing closeness with distance. Too much closeness in a relationship breeds contempt while too much distance breeds insensitivity. He explains that part of the problem between the brothers was their being on top of each other leading to squabbles which escalated out of control. This in turn led to them becoming emotionally distant to the point they could no longer see him as a brother.

When the pendulum swung to the opposite extreme, and they were absent from each other for decades, they were ready, even if they didn’t realize it, to regain the proper closeness to their brother. Thus, the word Vayigash, which literally translates to “And he came close”, reveals the first time Judah makes himself “close” to another human being, attempting to empathize with another human being. The result is that both his and Joseph’s hearts melted and rapprochement ensued.

Tuesday is the Fast Day known as the 10^th of Tevet commemorating numerous unfortunate events in our history such as the coerced translation of the Torah into Greek.

ADULT EDUCATION RETURNS!

Brand new Beginners Hebrew this Tuesday at 6:30pm followed by Portion of the Week at 7:15pm

Young Parisian Jews from “Olami” visit the synagogue for services

There were here to attend the Siyum HaShas on Wednesday

Rabbi Glass delivers a Dvar Torah to them at breakfast

Translated into French by Tobin Kohane

Vayeshev presents us with yet another sticky conundrum: how do we explain the fratricidal behavior of Joseph's brothers?!

We start with the Talmudic concept of Rodef which refers to someone who is threatening someone else's life. As the logic dictates, one is entitled to do whatever is necessary to eliminate that threat. In this case, in the brothers' estimation, Joseph represented more than a threat to their physical well being, he threatened their spiritual future and that of all their descendants.

How so?

He was constantly criticizing their behavior to their father Jacob. The brothers noted that up until this generation there had always been a selection whereby the chosen son would continue the legacy and the castoffs would be relegated to the spiritual dustbin of history. This is what happened to Ishmael and to Esau, why wouldn't this be the case with them?

Thus, they made the fateful decision to eliminate Joseph as a threat, albeit a flawed decision, from which we are suffering to the present day!

Mazel Tov to Deborah and Carlos Gutierrez for the birth of a boy last night! Details to follow.

Condolences to Colin Kelly for the loss of his father. He will be receiving guests Saturday night (12/21), from 6:15 to 9:45 pm, in the residents' lounge in the lobby of our building, 25 Broad St., Manhattan.

Presentation of Hebrew-Spanish Chumashim to the Patronato Synagogue in Havana

Rabbi Glass will make a presentation about his trip during services Shabbat morning.

A full travelogue will be forthcoming.

Amazing Children's Chanukah Party on Monday

Kol HaKavod to our Director Yael Even Esh!

In Vayetze Jacob has most of his children including Leah’s 4^th son Judah. Upon his birth she proclaims “this time let me thank God” and then gives him a name that is related to the Hebrew word for thanking. Our sages state that this was the momentous first time in the Torah that a phrase of gratitude was recorded.

As such, it is so appropriate that we reserve this Friday night as the occasion to show appreciation to our community for all the ways it supports the TriBeCa Synagogue, whether financially, or in time and effort of just by being there for all of us. We will celebrate with a Friday night Shabbat dinner to which everyone is invited and generously sponsored by our president Eli and Yael Weiss in memory of his grandfather who passed away this year.

The dinner will begin officially at 6:30pm; Rabbi Glass will conduct a Family/Hebrew School service at 5:30pm

This week the kiddush is sponsored by Joy and Rami Mishani in memory of her father Sidney Reiter who passed away this year and her mother Marilyn, with whom he made a great team.

Wallin* Shiva Schedule:

THURSDAY
4:15 PM- Mincha/Maariv 
Shiva visits until 10:00 PM
FRIDAY
7:45 AM - Shacharit
Shiva visits until 1:00 PM
SATURDAY NIGHT
5:15 - Maariv
Shiva visits until 11:00 PM
SUNDAY
Shacharit 8:30 AM
Mincha/Maariv 4:15 PM
Shiva visits all day until 10:00 PM

*79 Laight Street

PLEASE help with the minyanim! Contact Rabbi Glass at rabbi@tribecasynagogue.org with your availability.

Upcoming:

Children’s Chanukah Gala Party    December 16^th  3:30pm to 6pm

Young Professionals Pre Chanukah Shabbat Dinner   December 20^th   6pm

This week is Chayei Sarah and deals with the transition from Sarah to Rebecca. When Eliezer approaches Rebecca’s family regarding her marrying Isaac their first reaction is “here is Rebecca, take her and go”. Later, when it’s time to go they request that she remain with them “days or 10” which is interpreted to mean “if not for a year, at least for 10 days”. What changed?

Oftentimes we underestimate the worth of certain people in our lives simply because that is how we were accustomed to view them. Once in while an external factor develops and all of a sudden we realize how misguided we were. That is what happened when Eliezer arrives with an entourage and laden with riches to ask for the hand of Rebecca. Her family finally woke up to her value but it was too late as she had already decided to seek her fortune in a better environment.

This Shabbat we bless the new month of Kislev which will begin this Thursday and Friday.

The ZOA dinner this Sunday at the Marriot Marquis

With Martin Rothman and Past President Robert Sidi

TriBeCa Torah Challah Baking

Celebrating the life of Sarah our Matriarch

Putting up the Mezuzot in our classrooms

Donated by Ken and Jennifer Paskar

Designed by our own Deborah Gutierrez

Jewish Lawyer’s Guild Chanukah Party

With Past President Avi Turkel, Carlos Gutierrez and Cantor Moshe Berkowitz

Last week’s portion and this week’s portion Lech Lecha shines the spotlight on these two towering figures of Genesis-Noah and Abraham. So while the Torah describes the two in fairly similar terms we know that their respective legacies ended up being very different. Noah’s influence was limited to his generation while Abraham’s imprint on society lasts thousands of years!

One approach is that Noah was more or less self-contained in his life style and the results speak for themselves in that he wasn’t close to salvaging his society. Abraham, on the other hand, dedicated almost every waking moment to reaching out to anyone he could, even lavishly sharing his largesse to make an impression on people.

Granted, it's possible to explain the difference due to different generational circumstances, but the point should be loud and clear that when possible, we should take our cue from our patriarch and do our best to spread the “word”!

Congratulations to Abe Dweck and Robert Levine for the Bnot Mitzvah of their daughters Charlotte and Olivia who we will celebrate this Shabbat at the synagogue.

The TriBeCa Synagogue is thrilled to announce the engagement of Larry Rosenblum, son of our long time devoted members Ken and Denis Rosenblum, to Sara Ostrow!

The TriBeCa Synagogue is also thrilled to announce the birth of a son to our members Zahava Blumenthal and Collin Kelly!

Our past president Toby Turkel has a submission at a 2pm opening ceremony for A Passion For Ink—an exhibition for Artist Shan He, students and friends. Sunday, November 10th 2019, 11am -5pm   Confucius Plaza Community Room located at 33 Bowery.

There’s some discussion about the Torah and  Parshat Bereshit starting with a  ב, the second letter of the alphabet, rather than an א, the first letter. I suggest that if the Torah is about our spiritual journey, then just by opening the Torah we already are on our way! Indeed, when we consider that the holidays take place in the beginning of a new year and not at the conclusion, we have to assume that one of their purposes is to jump start our annual odyssey to spiritual growth for the next year. Following the weekly portion is a reflection of this process and helps us preserve this energy and momentum throughout the year. With God’s help, this time next year, we will all be able to look back on where we were and marvel at our progress!

Congratulations to Neil and Rafaela Hirsch, our new members, for the first birthday of their son Asher.

We thank the Torah Tours program for sending us 5 wonderful young people who, together with our community, celebrated the conclusion of the holiday season, and especially Simchat Torah, with exceptional joy and intensity. We also thank Eve Goldberg and Neil Wallin for their wonderful gesture of providing the final kiddush luncheon of the season in loving memory of Eve’s father William Goldberg, Zev ben Binyamin, whose yahrtzeit follows immediately after the holiday on the 24^th of Tishrei. They hope to make this a “TriBeCa Tradition” for years to come, YiYasher Kochachem!

Our own Wendy Friedland will be presenting her musical “Windy Woo and her Naughty Naughty Pets” at A.R.T./New York Theatres, Mezzanine Theatre 502 West 53^rd Street, NYC

WWW.THENAUGHTYNAUGHTYPETSMUSICAL.COM For online tickets: www.AmasMusical.org