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Hanukkah and Mincha with Malkha Visiting Malkha and her daughter for weekday Mincha and singing Hanukkah songs on the last day of Hanukkah. If the above hyperlinks don't work on the mobile app or here, use these links: https://www.facebook.com/tes.kempner/videos/10157038034937914/?t=0 or https://youtu.be/Ykrtv2ogLYk

Sermon This week’s Torah portion is “Miketz”. It typically falls not only during the eight days of Hanukkah, but also during Rosh Hodesh, the new month of Tevet. So we have three themes that complement each other. In the portion of “Miketz”, Joseph is let out of prison to interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams. He assesses that Egypt is on the verge of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He also tells Pharaoh that the dream also has the solution to the famine and that Pharaoh should save a portion of this seven-year bumper crop to provide food during the famine. When Pharaoh complements and congratulates Joseph on his astuteness in interpreting what his magicians and wise men can’t, Joseph credits G-d as providing the answers through him. Pharaoh then sets up Joseph as the second-in-command to Pharaoh to arrange and organize for the coming famine. We also have the sixth day of Hanukkah during this Shabbat and this Torah portion. Hanukkah remembers how the Seleucids have invaded and taken over Judea. The Maccabees of the Hasmonean family of priests wage a guerilla war that expels the Seleucids. Unfortunately, the Seleucids in their wake have desecrated the Temple and ruined the pure olive oil used for the Menorah. The supply of oil for one day miraculously lasts for the eight days it takes to press new oil. Finally, this Shabbat also rings in the new month of Tevet. A new month is a new beginning. A new month is a new chance of opportunities. During the eight days of Hanukkah, we add a special prayer during the prayer of “Modim anachnu lach”, “we gratefully thank you…for the miracles that you wrought daily”. During Hanukkah, we insert a prayer acknowledging the Maccabees: the few defeated the many, the weak defeated the strong, and the righteous overcame the evildoers. This was a miracle unto itself. Joseph, too, was weak among the strong. He was a stranger in a strange land of people who despised outsiders. Yet here this stranger with completely different customs, a man who worshipped the one G-d, found an exulted place and status among pagans. As Jews we thrice daily thank Hashem, for it is Hashem that oversees us and sustains our success. This is so evident among us Jews that it is almost superfluous to acknowledge. Yet it’s something we really need to do. Some will say that one reason that G-d gives us challenges is so that we will turn to him in time of trouble. The trick is also to remember G-d’s beneficence during the good times as well. One of the reasons we study Torah and acknowledge Hanukkah and the Maccabees is to remind us to do that. Both Joseph and the Maccabees overcame through the faith, belief, and more important, their connection to Hashem. Consider that they both acted knowing that G-d was with them and that they would prevail. We look to these incidents for guidance and inspiration. We may not be trying to get out of prison or fending off pagan invaders, but we face challenges in our lives. It’s important to understand who’s monitoring. Our inspiration this week comes from our ancestors overcoming those stronger than themselves. In the case of the Maccabees, this small group took on the Seleucids, a more numerous and powerful fighting force. Joseph, on the other hand, was a stranger in a strange land who prevailed as a leader and saved these people from starvation. Both had trust and confidence in Hashem. The Hasmoneans were fighting for what was just and right, the teachings and heritage of the one, true G-d. Joseph, too, knew that all his prosperity, and his challenges as well, were from and because of the one, true G-d. The Hasmoneans re-dedicated the Temple and Joseph acted—without necessarily publicly acknowledging—with the support of Hashem. So when Joseph met his brothers once again, he approached the situation in a very evolved and enlightened way. Rather than give in to his resentment and anger, he chose a higher path. He acted like the sage he had become, understanding that his exulted position as the viceroy gave him a power and control that also, he felt, demanded statesmanship and wisdom. Joseph saw the higher purpose, that G-d had arranged his life so that he could serve Him and the peoples in the highest capacity: providing for their survival. It is in that vein that Joseph interacted with his brothers, seeing their repentance and their desire to save their brother Benjamin and honor their father. Out of adversity, Joseph had matured. Likewise, the Maccabees saw a higher purpose. They put their lives at stake, fought against tough odds in order to preserve the glory of Hashem. They knew what was right. Let us use their actions as our inspiration. Let us honor our ancestors and their effort by emulating their actions. As we go through life, and this is not easy, when we face challenges, let us see the big picture. Let us see what we learn from a current, trying situation, let us choose the higher path, and let us prevail in our lives as well, personally, spiritually, emotionally and religiously. May you all continue to bring our heritage into your lives and prosper. If the above hyperlink doesn't work may not on the mobile app), use this link: https://youtu.be/m1MaF2nWL9c

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Parashat Miketz 5780 #ParashatMiketz5780 #DvarTorah #TorahCommentary

Sermon: "Avoiding Evil Things" In our morning prayers, we ask Hashem to accustom us to study His Torah and attach ourselves to his commandments. The word “religion” comes from the Latin root “to adhere”. We ask G-d to NOT bring us into the power of error, the power or transgression and sin. We ask Hashem to keep us far from the Evil Inclination and to distance us from an evil person. We also ask Him to attach us to the Good Inclination. This week’s portion of the Torah, “Vayeshev”, shows us how Joseph faced a similar dilemma. Joseph is Jacob’s favorite son, a reminder of his favorite wife who had just recently died. While Joseph’s brothers are out in the pastures working the family business, Joseph is home studying Torah with his father. Joseph’s brothers are jealous. It doesn’t help that Joseph now has a special coat of nobility and has dreams that his family bows down to him. Joseph’s brothers then kidnap him and sell him off to traders. Joseph ends up in the court of one of the Pharaoh’s ministers managing his household. Joseph then has to avoid the seduction of the minister’s wife. Because of her subsequent accusations, Joseph ends up in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. So what good did it do for him to stay away from an evil companion when the evil companion came after him? There’s more to the story. Later on, Joseph impresses the Pharaoh with his interpretation of the latter’s dreams. He ends up saving the area from starvation through famine and ends up the viceroy of the court of Egypt. He is married with two sons. These sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, live in the midst of pagans, yet they remain faithful to their father’s heritage. They mingle little with their fellow citizens and adhere to a life of morality and ethics. While no one is perfect, for the most part, our ancestors showed us how to behave amid depravity. Joseph goes on to save the known civilized world from famine and each Erev Shabbat we bless our sons that they be like Ephraim and Manasseh who maintained their integrity while interacting with that society. Most of what we know about Joseph’s behavior is speculation and Midrash. Ephraim and Manasseh were born of an Egyptian princess who supposedly adopted Joseph’s code of morals and behavior, ie Torah. Hence how the two sons had a high level of morality. Consider as well that Joseph was living in Egypt and governing under an Egyptian moniker. Here, then, he ended up staying away from an evil companion and staying with a good companion. What happens when we associate with an evil companion? We start to adopt their point of view and take on and sanction their behavior. Evil can be strong and tempting. Probably the first thoughts that come to mind is the peer pressure that kids feel in their developmental years. There always seem to be one or two leaders of the pack, depending on the size of the pack, who exerts the influence. The rest of the crowd goes along to be accepted and feel “cool”. This explains bullying. Bullies do not harass anyone stronger than them; it’s always someone weaker. How do you explain the fact that no one in the group confronts the leader that this is a weaker person, not fair and perhaps better challenges await? Being part of the group is more important than any personal integrity. This is what happens when you don’t stay far from the evil inclination or an evil companion. You get sucked in. What makes evil so attractive? Consider Joseph in this week’s portion. He was barely a 20-something discovering his sexuality. Like almost all people in the world, he had an ego to protect. Compound this with him being in a foreign land with a different culture. His ego was vulnerable to a boost. Along comes a woman, older and probably very attractive since she was royalty, who is attracted to young Joseph. She probably had esteem issues of her own, being married to an important prince in the royal court who was busy with his duties and not around much. She wanted to feel attractive, desired and probably powerful as well. Joseph wavered. We see this as part of the Torah cantillations. There is a special cantillation, found only four times in the Torah, that is long and wavering. The Massoretes (who arranged the Torah 2000 years ago in its format) placed “shelshelet” there to emphasize that Joseph, himself, was wavering. Should he keep far from an evil companion or give in to the temptation of his ego? A classic example of the struggle between the good and evil inclinations. So, yes, Joseph did get into trouble and ended up spending eleven (11) years in prison. But imagine his punishment if he had succumbed. And look at his reward for staying away from an evil companion. He was second-in-charge of the most powerful culture in the civilized world and was very well-to-do. A very important lesson about keeping far from an evil companion. #AvoidingEvilThings

Hanukkah (Hebrew: חֲנֻכָּה), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah 2019 will begin in the evening of Sunday, December 22 and ends in the evening of Monday, December 30. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left (just as Hebrew is written from right to left), but are lit from left to right. The shammash candle is always the first one lit, and is used to light the others, starting with the left-most one. (Think of it as lighting the candle representing the newest night first.) #HappyHanukkah

Parashat Vayeshev 5780 #ParashatVayeshev5780 #DvarTorah #TorahCommentary

Parashat Vayishlach 5780 #ParashatVayishlach5780 #DvarTorah #TorahCommentary

After noticing a lack of Hanukkah tunes, Adam Sandler decided to sing a Hanukkah song about all the famous Jewish people you might not know about such as David Lee Roth, Goldie Hawn and The Three Stooges. [Season 20, 1994]

Parashat Vayeitzei 5780 #ParashatVayeitzei #TorahCommentary #DvarTorah

Parashat Toldot 5780 #ParashatToldot5780 #DvarTorah #TorahCommentary

Sermon Dennis Praeger, the conservative commentator, recently made an interesting point about one the most important commandments. “Love your neighbor/fellow as yourself”. The Hebrew word, רעך, can be interpreted as either “fellow” or “neighbor”. The concept is that it refers to someone close to you. According to Mr. Praeger, there is a specific reason why the commandment states, “neighbor”, and not just anyone or everyone. We are very close in proximity to our “fellows”, and as the saying “familiarity breeds contempt” shows us, many of our interactions become a recipe for problems, misunderstandings, miscommunications. In fact, it seems that judges in our court system will always give preference to hearing cases involving neighbors since there are the most volatile and have the most potential to build in enmity and become explosive. It’s easy to love a stranger; you can smile at anyone and that’s the end of it. Let’s say you’re driving on the road and someone wants to cut in but forgot to put on their directional. Sure, it can be annoying as someone is invading your space, but you get over it pretty quickly. Unless you’re involved in a situation comedy, you’ll probably never see that person again. The idea of loving your neighbor is very challenging. There you are going about your business, living in peace, and one day you start to hear barking. Well, not just barking, but yapping. It seems that your neighbor got a little, yappy dog that just won’t stop. So maybe you say something to them, maybe you call animal control or the police. Now your relationship with your “fellow”—whatever it may or may not have been before—is strained. Now here it is your 50th birthday party—a very special milestone—and your wife or husband decides to throw you a party and invite all your friends. Your neighbor may have had a rough night the night before and didn’t get a lot of sleep, which they were looking to make up the very night you have your party that goes on into the wee hours of the morning. Except that either it doesn’t because the police are now at your door asking you to respect the curfew laws, and then you get a letter from your HOA telling you they’re fining you for carrying on after the 10 pm time limit. It’s easy to understand why judges want to hear these cases and resolve them right away. It’s also easy to understand this commandment, but very hard to comply with it. Consider that “fellow” doesn’t just refer to a “neighbor”. Perhaps your “fellow” is someone with whom you interact in a business setting or social group. Perhaps you’re part of a board the oversees a volunteer organization. In these situations, there are usually groups of people who interact on a regular basis to manage. Let’s say your board has eight or nine members that meet monthly to decide how to best manage the organization. There are probably eight or nine opinions on how to do things. In fact, with Jews, there are probably sixteen or eighteen opinions. It’s inevitable that people are going to disagree. Maybe there are personalities that tend to always disagree and have very divergent ways to get things done. Unfortunately, at some point, it is no longer about the point of view or opinion—it becomes about the person. This is when enmity starts to rear its ugly head. Instead of conducting a civil procedure in which things get done via rules, there is arguing that becomes harsh, that becomes yelling and interrupting. People try to bully people. Things are said behind people’s back to try and discredit them. By the way, did we talk about the commandments that warn against talebearing and spreading false accusations? As the song goes, one thing leads to another. And while you’re watching all this go on, or heaven forbid you’re one of the participants, the idea of loving your fellow doesn’t even enter the picture. “Love” is the last thing on anyone’s mind. And this is why “Love your neighbor as yourself” is one of the most prominent commandments we have and it’s why sages talk about it so much. It’s easy to vilify people with whom you disagree. It’s hard to separate the opinion from the person. Look at our political landscape. Commentators have been saying with an election looming that this is the most divisive political landscape that our country has ever experienced. People don’t just debate or discuss anymore; in fact, they don’t even argue. They, you guessed it, scream and yell. People are no longer people who have opinions or preferences; people ARE the opinions or the preferences. Someone asked awhile ago why there is antisemitism. This is why. We can’t just be people who see G-d differently. We can’t even be wrong while someone else is right. We don’t believe the way most others believe and that makes us, not just our religious perceptions, bad. We have to get back to loving our neighbor. We have to learn, or re-learn, how to respect people. As Rambam said, this means that you want your fellow to enjoy the same successes and prosperity that you have. And respect. #FridayNightSermon #LoveYourNeighborasYourself