Rabbi Shmuel's Weekly Newsletter for week of 17 December 2023
- Rabbi Stephen Epstein
- Dec 17, 2023
- 5 min read
Kabbalah Thought for this week
"Discord and turmoil in our lives can e traced to negative influences and evil forces that dwell in our midst. Our negative behavior creates openings for destructive entities, but teh Light of...our spiritual energy purifies our soul, raises our consciousness and inspires us to eliminate self-destructive impulses that create the cracks and crevices through which dark forces enter our lives."
Psalm 94: Psalm for Yom Revi'i, Wednesday, Fourth day of the week, timely for current events
Each morning, Jews end their Shacharit, or morning service, with a psalm of the day. It is chosen to correspond with that day of creation, as well as keep track of the days leading up to Shabbat. Considering the brutality that Hamas inflicted against innocent Israeli civilians, and the corresponding denial of those who spew hate against the Jewish nation, this psalm is especially timely in addressing that:
Psalm 94
God of retribution, LORD,God of retribution, appear! Rise up, judge of the earth,give the arrogant their deserts! How long shall the wicked, O LORD,how long shall the wicked exult, shall they utter insolent speech,shall all evildoers vaunt themselves? They crush Your people, O LORD,they afflict Your very own; they kill the widow and the stranger;they murder the fatherless, thinking, “The LORD does not see it,the God of Jacob does not pay heed.” Take heed, you most brutish people;fools, when will you get wisdom? Shall He who implants the ear not hear,He who forms the eye not see? Shall He who disciplines nations not punish,He who instructs men in knowledge? The LORD knows the designs of men to be futile. Happy is the man whom You discipline, O LORD,the man You instruct in Your teaching, to give him tranquillity in times of misfortune,until a pit be dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake His people;He will not abandon His very own. Judgment shall again accord with justiceand all the upright shall rally to it. Who will take my part against evil men?Who will stand up for me against wrongdoers? Were not the LORD my help,I should soon dwell in silence. When I think my foot has given way,Your faithfulness, O LORD, supports me. When I am filled with cares,Your assurance soothes my soul. Shall the seat of injustice be Your partner,that frames mischief by statute? They band together to do away with the righteous;they condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD is my haven;my God is my sheltering rock. He will make their evil recoil upon them,annihilate them through their own wickedness;the LORD our God will annihilate them.
Psalm 95 Come, let us sing joyously to the LORD,raise a shout for our rock and deliverer; let us come into His presence with praise;let us raise a shout for Him in song! For the LORD is a great God,the great king of all divine beings.
Announcements
-Office Hours
-This week’s 10-Minute
-Events
-Candle Lighting Times for Shabbat (Ontario, CA)
-Shabbat Services
-School
Calendar
This is an overview of upcoming events. Details of each event are below
Sunday, 17 December 2023-Hebrew School
Monday, 18 December 2023-Torah Study
Thursday, 21 December 2023-Judaic Studies
Friday & Saturday, 22 & 23 December 2023-Shabbat Services
Sunday, 24 December 2023-Hebrew School (?)
Monday, 25 December 2023-Christmas Holiday
Thursday, 28 December 2023-Judaic Studies
Friday & Saturday, 29 & 30 December 2023-Shabbat Services
Sunday, 31 December 2023-New Year's Eve
Monday, 1 January 2024-New Year's Day Holiday
Thursday, 4 January 2024-Judaic Studies
Friday & Saturday, 5 & 6 January 2023-Shabbat Services
(TBA), January, 2024-Miller Course
Monday, 15 January 2024-Sofer-On-Site
*For your information, I have included below my schedule, including office hours for the next two weeks and specific classes in which I am involved.
**For your convenience and information, Zoom links will be provided in separate emails for security purposes.
***I continue to update our Mi Sheberach מי שברך list for those in need of healing. For your convenience, I am attaching this revised list to this email that only goes to members of Temple Sholom of Ontario. Thank you.
Office Hours for the next few weeks:
Going forward, I am planning on conducting Hebrew School from my office and making Sunday an office day to be more available.
Sunday, December 17, 2023 9:00am - 2:00pm (Hebrew School 10:00am - 11:30am)
Monday, December 18, 2023 9:00am - 2:00pm
Friday, December 22, 2023 2:00pm - 7:30pm (Friday Night Shabbat Ma'ariv @ 7:30pm)
Sunday, December 24, 2023 (No school. Holiday weekend.)
Monday, December 25, 2023 (Christmas Holiday.)
Friday, December 29, 2023 2:00pm - 7:30pm (Friday Night Shabbat Ma'ariv @ 7:30pm)
Sunday, December 31, 2023 9:00am - 2:00pm (No school. New Year's Eve)
Monday, January 1, 2024 (New Year's Day)
Friday, December 22, 2023 2:00pm - 7:30pm (Friday Night Shabbat Ma'ariv @ 7:30pm)
(Subject to change. Please call for appointments)
Adult Torah Study Class
Next Session: Monday, December 18 at 7:30 pm PT
Zoom Links sent in separate email Monday morning. Please reply if you do not receive them.
Parashat Vayigash 5784 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ
23 December 2023 / 11 Tevet 5784
Parashat Vayigash is the 11th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.
Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27
Vayigash (“He Approached”) opens as Judah pleads with Joseph not to keep Benjamin as a prisoner. Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, crying and kissing them. The brothers bring Jacob from Canaan to Egypt, and Jacob and his children settle in Goshen. The portion ends as Joseph buys most of Egypt’s land in exchange for food. [1]
Commentary and Divrei Torah
Hertz Chumash: pp. 172 – 174 Triennial Year 2 (Full Kriyah pp. 169 – 177)
Artscroll Chumash: pp. 250 – 261 Triennial Year 2 (Full Kriyah pp. 256 – 267)
Etz Chaim Chumash: pp. 279 – 282 Triennial Year 2 (Full Kriyah pp. 274 – 289)
Judaic Studies
Next session: Thursday, December 21, 2023 @ 7:30pm
What next?
We’ll go back to the “what do we study next?” drawing board.
Shabbat Times for Ontario, California, USA
🕯️ Candle lighting / הדלקת נרות Friday, December 22⋅4:27 – 4:27pm
✨ Havdalah (50 min) / הבדלה - 50 דקות Saturday, December 23⋅5:27 – 5:27pm
Powered by Hebcal Shabbat Times
Upcoming Services
Shabbat Ma'ariv Service Friday, December 22, 2023 @ 7:30 pm
Shabbat Shachrit Service Saturday, December 23, 2023 @ 9:30 am
Zoom Links sent in separate email Friday afternoon. Please reply if you do not receive them.
We are now incorporating guitar accompaniment with our Friday Night Shabbat Ma'ariv
Parashat Vayigash 5784 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ
23 December 2023 / 11 Tevet 5784
Parashat Vayigash is the 11th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.
Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27
Vayigash (“He Approached”) opens as Judah pleads with Joseph not to keep Benjamin as a prisoner. Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, crying and kissing them. The brothers bring Jacob from Canaan to Egypt, and Jacob and his children settle in Goshen. The portion ends as Joseph buys most of Egypt’s land in exchange for food. [1]
Triennial year 2
1: 45:28-46:4 · 5 p’sukim ·
2: 46:5-7 · 3 p’sukim ·
3: 46:8-11 · 4 p’sukim ·
4: 46:12-15 · 4 p’sukim ·
5: 46:16-18 · 3 p’sukim ·
6: 46:19-22 · 4 p’sukim ·
7: 46:23-27 · 5 p’sukim ·
maf: 46:23-27 · 5 p’sukim ·
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28 · 14 p’sukim
Commentary and Divrei Torah Sefaria OU Torah Jewish Theological Seminary American Jewish University
Hertz Chumash: pp. 172 – 174 Triennial Year 2 (Full Kriyah pp. 169 – 177)
Hebrew School at Temple Sholom of Ontario
Sunday, January 7, 2023 Hebrew School 10:00am - 11:30am
No school for Winter recess. See you in the New Year
We will have two sessions:
10:00am - 10:40am Learning Hebrew and Hebrew Reading for more advanced students
10:50am - 11:30am Discussing the weekly Torah parashat and other Bible topics
Next Miller Course
We are planning our next Miller Course to start tentatively in January 2024.
Stay tuned for more information.
*The titles in blue and underlined are "hyperlinks". If you click on any of those, it will lead to that site/URL. The hyperlink gives a descriptive title with the actual link embedded in that title. Anyone who is concerned about clicking a link or hyperlink can access any of these resources by going to my website, www.modernrabbistephen.com. You can find them in the "Blog" and "Videos" sections, as well as the "Instagram Links" by clicking on the various pictures.
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