Z’manim & Services

Shabbat Parashat Vayḥi

Date: 14 Tevet 5776 * 26 December 2015

Candle Lighting - 4:15pm

Minḥa/Kabalat-Shabat/Arvit - 4:20pm

Shaḥrit - 8:30am * Latest Sh’ma - 9:38am

Parasha Limud - 3:15pm * Zohar - 3:45pm

Minḥa - 3:55pm * Sh’ki’a - 4:34pm

Shiur: 4:25pm * Arvit - 5:14pm

Shabbat End: 5:19pm

Weekday Prayers (Tefilat Avraham)

Shaḥrit: Sun: 8:30am

Mon/Thu: 6:40, 8:00am

Tue/Wed/Fri: 6:45, 8:00am

Minḥa/Arvit: Sun-Thu: 4:20pm

Picture of the Week

We know that Jesus was a Jew, but now also Santa?!

A Moment of BAN

Seen this week on Facebook:

“Zipi Elmalem and Maurice Elmalem are now friends.”

... and i thought they were already married.

:)

In the Beginning

The 14 of Tevet is marked as Purim Hebron, after a miracle that happened to the Jews of Hebron in 1848. The new Ottoman ruler demanded from the Jews a high tax of or he would execute some and sell the rest into slavery. Local belief tells that the rabbis ordered a community fast and to place a written prayer in the Cave of Machpela. They bribed an Arab guard to drop it through a window overlooking the burial site, as the Moslems prohibited Jews from entering the cave. On the night before the ultimatum was due, the Pasha dreamed of three men who demanded from him, on pain of immediate death, the exact sum due. The Pasha, frightened, handed over his gold. The next morning, the Jews found the bag of gold in the synagogue. When the Pasha came to the Jews seeking the tax he had demanded, he was astounded to find the exact bag he had handed over in his dream. The Pasha publicly praised G-d, declaring that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were surely watching over the Jews, and so will he. (chabad +)

This Shabbat & Beyond

Shah’rit: 8:30am * Beth Aharon Sh’ma: 9:15am - all kids participate!

Youth Groups: See the Bayit Bulletin for all programs!

Parasha: 9:45am * Yimlokh: 10:45 - All kids!

D’var Torah: 10:45 - Shim’on

Special Kiddush: is sponsored by Malka & Louis Zalcenstein with 2 thanks to Hashem, for His great hesed.

Parasha Limud @ 3:00pm - "Ya'akov, Esaw, and Nimrod: All GoodFellas?"

Open discussion with Rav Sh'muel.

After Minha in Hebrew: “Mila baParasha” – understanding a word in parashat Vayḥi: "Bilha ­- בִּלְהָה"­ what’s the meaning of her name; Ya’akov’s wife or his concubine; our Mother’s slave or our Mother?

After Minha in English: “The Melody of Shabbat: Laws and Legends” and a new shabbat zemer “Yom Shabbat Kodesh Hu!” with Rabbinic Intern Bracha Jaffe.

After Minha in Aramaic: Limud Daf Yomi with Rav Dov Linzer on the 3FL.

Refuaa Shelema to Avraham Teller, Ed Sloan and Israel’s injured bodies & souls.

Many Thanks to the Bergier family for sponsoring kiddush last shabbat.

Congratulations to all our kids for finishing a school-year semester. Enjoy your free time on the vacation! Daily Tefilot continue as usual... 3 times daily,

shabbat included

Happy Birthday to Calanit, R’uven, Rav Kaplan.

The weekly Riddle

Why do Jedi always grow up to be so big and strong?

(Guess before you take a peek. The answer on the back page)

  Rav Ovadia Yosef z”l

מי שמצא כסף בשבת

שאלה: האם מותר לדחוף בשבת דבר מוקצה, על ידי דחיפה ברגליו? וכגון, מי שמצא בשבת ארנק, האם יוכל לדחפו ברגליו הצידה, בכדי שלא יבא לידי הפסד?

ארנק כסף, הוא מוקצה בשבת

תשובה: הנה נכון הדבר, שארנק כסף הוא מוקצה בשבת. כי המעות, הן בכלל מוקצה מחמת גופו, כגון עצים ואבנים, שאסור לטלטלם בשבת, כיון שאינם כלי, ואינם ראויים לכל מלאכה בשבת.

דברי מרן השלחן ערוך בענין טלטול בגופו

כתב מרן השלחן ערוך (סימן שיא ס"ח) בזו הלשון: "טלטול בגופו, אפילו לצורך דבר האסור מותר, הילכך, קש שעל גבי המטה, דסתמו מוקצה להסקה, מנענעו בגופו". ופירוש דבריו: קש, הרי הוא מוקצה בשבת, מכיון שהיו רגילים להשתמש בקש לצורך הסקה באש לחימום ובישול. ולכן, הקש הרי הוא מוקצה בשבת, כי הוא מיועד לדבר האסור בשבת. ומכל מקום, מי שבא לשכב לנוח על גבי הקש (כפי שהיו רגילים בזמנם), והקש היה מונח בצורה לא נוחה, מותר לו לדחוף ברגלייו את הקש, או בשאר חלקי הגוף, בכדי להחליק את המצע שיהיה נוח לשכב על גביו.

וטעם הדבר, משום שטלטול "בגופו", כלומר, בשאר חלקי הגוף, אינו נחשב לטלטול מוקצה בשבת. שלא גזרו חכמים איסור טלטול, אלא כשמטלטל בידיו דוקא, אבר כשאינו עושה כן בידיו, אלא ברגליו וכיוצא בזה, אין בדבר איסור...

ולסיכום: מותר לטלטל מוקצה בשבת, על ידי דחיפה ברגליו. לכן, המוצא ארנק של מעות בשבת, מותר לו לדחוף אותו ברגליו למקום מוצנע, בכדי שאדם אחר לא ימצא אותו וילך לאיבוד.

Daf Bite  –   טעם דף

The Mishna on our daf (page) discusses whether a document that had a kuti signed as a witness would be considered to be valid. The Gemara brings three opinions regarding the status of kutim -

- The tanna kamma (first) rules that matza made by a kuti could be eaten on Pesah and used to fulfill the mitzva

- Rabbi Elazar forbids use of matza made by a kuti

- Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel believes that the kutim are even more exacting in observance than are Jews with regard to those mitzvot that they accepted.

The term kutim refers to those people who were brought to Israel in a population exchange during first Temple times, when the kings of Assyria exiled the Northern kingdom and replaced them with other nations - not all of whom were truly kutim. They settled in the area around Samaria, which is why they are also called Samaritans (Shomronim).

 (Daf Yomi from Steinsaltz.org; Gittin 10a-b)

Rav Question – שאלת רב

Is it halakhically permissible to torture for the sake of getting information:

Knowing that it will save people’s lives?

 Knowing that it might save people’s lives?

Thinking that it will save people’s lives?

Thinking that it might save people’s lives?

Jewish History –  Jews in Roman Turkey

Located on the coast of southwestern Turkey, Limyra has a long, rich history—although the site now lies in ruins. Occupied for more than a millennium, it served as the home for many different religious groups. A recent archaeological discovery at Limyra suggests that a Jewish community also lived there.

In the midst of ... pagan and Christian influences, it appears that there was also a Jewish presence at Limyra, Turkey. In a building recently excavated by Martin Seyer, chancel screens with Jewish symbols—menorahs, a shofar and a lulav (palm branch)—have been uncovered. In a later period, these screens were broken and reused as paving stones.

This building with its Jewish features is the only attestation of a Jewish community in Limyra, Turkey. Previous to its discovery, the only other indicator that there were Jewish inhabitants at Limyra was a solitary Greek inscription on a rock tomb that reads, “Tomb of Iudas.” The recently excavated building with Jewish features shows that there were enough Jewish inhabitants to justify a synagogue. (biblicalarchaeology.org)

Time to Smile  

Many Israeli officials who were elected lately wear kipa. Now, be sure, "it's not that we have anything against officials who wear kipa.

But just think what would happen should there be a state of legal-security emergency right between hand-washing and hamotzi. What exactly we would do then?

The head of the Shabak will emmmm the head of the Mossad, who will signal with his hands to the Police Commissioner, who will nod his head to the Attorney General. Then someone will bring them the saltshaker.

But what can we do with a saltshaker against Hizbullah?

That's what bothers us! :)"

(Rav Hayim Navon on FB)

Speechless in the Parasha - Vayḥi

Before his death, Ya’akov blesses his twelve sons. In your opinion, which of Ya’akov’s sons gets the best blessing?

Makom baParasha - Goren Ha’atad

“When they came to Goren ha-Atad which is beyond the Jordan they held there a very great and solemn lamentation; and he (=Joseph) observed a mourning period of seven days for his father. 11 And when the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw the mourning at Goren ha-Atad (the threshing-floor of Atad - “the thornbush” or “bramble”), they said, ‘This is a solemn mourning on the part of the Egyptians.’ That is why it was named Abel-Mitzraim (= the mourning of the Egyptians)...”

Goren HaAtad was the place where Joseph and his brothers, when on their way from Egypt to Hebron with the remains of their father Jacob, made for seven days a “great and very sore lamentation.” On this account the Canaanites called it “Abel-mizraim” (Genesis 50:10-11).

We cannot determine the exact location of Goren ha-Atad / Abel-mizraim other than knowing that it was in the Northern Negev on the road coming from Egypt. The place is described in these verses of Genesis as “beyond the River Jordan” which is normally understood as “east of the Jordan River” and therefore has to be in today’s Jordan. But as Hizkuni noted, from transjordanian perspective it could be “west of the Jordan River” and therefore in Canaan or between Sinai and Israel, and maybe near Hebron. (thetorah.com / wiki / tbs)

Parashah – B’reshit: (Genesis) Vayḥi - 47:28-50:26

Historical Context: Erets Mitsrayim, Erets Kenaan briefly, and back to Erets Mitsrayim. Creation Time: 2255 to 2309. (General calendar: 1668-1633 bce.) Yaakov was born creation year 2108 and died 2255. Yosef was born 2199 and died 2309.

Parashort: In the year 2255, Yakov was 147 years old and Yoseph was 56. Yakov had been living in Mitsrayim for 17 years. Yakov summoned Yoseph to his bed-side. Yoseph came with his 2 sons. Yakov blessed them and appointed Menashe and Ephrayim to the status of "Tribe". Yakov summoned his twelve sons and blessed each one. Yakov instructed all of his sons to bury him in Canaan, next to his wife Leah, and then passed away. Mitzrayim mourned Yakov for 70 days. Yoseph assured his brothers that he bore no grudges against them. Yoseph ruled over Egypt for another 54 years. He made his brothers promise that at the time of their exodus from Egypt his bones would be transported for re-burial in Canaan. Yoseph died in the year 2309 at the age of 110. (Torah.org - Rabbi Aron Tendler )

Biblical Quiz - Vayḥi

Kids: King Shlomo was known as the tallest, wisest or strongest man on earth?

Teens: Of Yosef’s two sons, who was older, Menashe or Efrayim?

Adults: Out of the 613 mitsvot, how many can we observe today?

Experts: How many years did Yaakov live in Erets Kenaan?

A Story - of Kidush Hashem

Rabbi Berel Wein was once invited to a meeting with the editor of the Detroit Free Press. The editor told him that his mother, Mary, had immigrated to America from Ireland as an uneducated, 18-year-old peasant girl. She was hired as a domestic maid by an observant family. The head of the house was the president of the neighboring Orthodox shul.

Mary knew nothing about Judaism and had probably never met a Jew before arriving in America. The family went on vacation Mary's first December in America, leaving Mary alone in the house. They were scheduled to return on the night of December 24, and Mary realized that there would be no Christmas tree to greet them when they return. This bothered her greatly, and using the money the family had left her, she went out and purchased not only a Christmas tree but all kinds of festive decorations to hang on the front of the house.

When the family returned from vacation, they saw the Christmas tree through the living room window and the rest of the house festooned with holiday lights. They assumed that they had somehow pulled into the wrong driveway and drove around the block. But alas, it was their address.

The head of the family entered the house contemplating how to explain the Christmas tree and lights to the members of the shul, most of whom walked right past his house on their way to shul. Meanwhile, Mary was eagerly anticipating the family's excitement when they realized that they would not be without a Christmas tree.

After entering the house, the head of the family called Mary into his study. He told her, "In my whole life no one has ever done such a beautiful thing for me as you did." Then he took out a $100 bill -- a very large sum in the middle of the Depression -- and gave it to her. Only after that did he explain that Jews do not have Christmas trees.

When he had finished telling the story, the editor told Rabbi Wein, "And that is why, there has never been an editorial critical of Israel in the Detroit Free Press since I became editor, and never will be as long as I am the editor."

The shul president's reaction to Mary's mistake -- sympathy instead of anger -- was not because he thought that one day her son would the editor of a major metropolitan paper, and thus in a position to support Israel. (Israel was not yet born.) He acted as he did because it was the right thing to do.

That's what it means to be a Kiddush Hashem, to sanctify God's Name. It is a goal to which we can all strive.

(virtualjerusalem.com /Jonathan Rosenblum via aish.com)

Haftarat Vayḥi – Melachim Aleph (Kings 1), 2: 1-12

Haftit: King David was 70 years old, and on his deathbed was commanding his son Shlomo to keep the Torah. Then David ordered Shlomo to kill Yoav, David's commander in chief of the army and confidant, because of his treachery. Yoav had betrayed King David by backing David's eldest son Adoniyahu, who was trying to steal the throne from Shlomo. Shlomo was also told to support the sons of Barzilai, who were always staunch supporters of King David. Next, Shlomo was to execute Shimii ben Gaira, who cursed David in a time of crisis. King David passed away and Shlomo took his rightful place as King of Israel, fulfilling his father's last wishes. David was buried in Ir David.

Connection to the Parasha: In our parasha, Yaakov calls his sons to his deathbed to give them his last instructions. Similarly, the Haftarah talks about the advice King David gave to his son Shlomo before he died. (haftorahman)

Support Beth Aharon!

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Tsizku Leshanim Rabot V’tovot!

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Fill up your Shabbat and Holiday table by inviting friends and guests. Need a table? Contact Rahel Wachsman @ drftager@gmail.com for help.

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Join Talia Michaeli Half Marathon - This Jan. in FL. with Team Lifeline & the Sean Team. Details on the BABlog or michaelifam@hotmail.com

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Chala Baking with Talia - Thursday, January 7 bet. 5:00-7:00pm. Chala - Hafrasha, Baking, and Giving to those in need in Riverdale.  

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Hilkhot Martin Luther King - January 16, Parashat Bo, with Rav Dov after Tefila.

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Tu-Bishvat Seder - Sunday Evening, January 24th, between 5:45pm to 7:45pm. Songs & Blessings with Rav Dov, Crafts & Games for Kids, and... Good Eats.

Biblical Quiz: Answers - Vayeḥi

Kids: The wisest. Teens: Menashe.

Adults: About 200. Can you imagine observing 613?

Experts: 110 years. 147 years minus 20 years in Aram and 17 years in Egypt.

Riddle Solved

Because their mothers always FORCE feed them.

Bella’s Hats Riverdale Trunk Show!

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Jan. 10, 2016 bet. 12pm - 2pm. 3800 Blackstone Ave. #4N, Bronx, NY

bellahatsandfascinators@gmail.com

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Prayer for wellness

To Israel in captivity and Israel’s wounded bodies & souls; Reuven ben Aliza, Leah Channa bat Shifra, Yisrael Yair ben Yehudit Tzvia, Adi ben Talia, Menachem ben Yehudit, Avraham Uriel Halevy ben Myrel, Alisa bat Tsipora Malka, Nina bat Rahel, Shmuel ben Hava, Binyamin ben Simona, Yagel ben Hofit, Eliyahu Menachem ben Devora Sarah, Yisrael ben Leah, Shayna basya bat Chaya Feiga, Leslie bas Rifka,

and all the sick.