Parasha & Times | Ṡabat Mevark̇im Paraṡat Toledot
30 December 2024 * 29 Ḣodeṡ Ḣeṡvan 5785
כ”ט חשוון התשפ”ה Jerusalem - 3:55pm Candles; 5:14pm Havdala
Rehovot - 4:06pm Candles; 5:16pm Havdala
Austin - 5:12pm Candles; 6:09pm Havdala
Toronto - 4:24pm Candles; 5:29pm Havdala Miami - 5:11pm Candles; 6:06pm Havdala
Manhattan - 4:11pm Candles; 5:14pm Havdala Moscow - 3:46pm Candles; 5:08pm Havdala London - 3:38pm Candles; 4:52pm Havdala
Paris - 4:39pm Candles; 5:50pm Havdala |
Picture of the Week | 
“They Look friendly, maybe they will have us over for dinner?!”
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The Weekly Riddle | When John was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height. Ten years later at age sixteen, John returned to see how much higher the nail was. If the tree grew by five centimeters each year, how much higher would the nail be? (Guess before you take a peek, the answer is on the back page) |
In The Good News | Saudi billionaire Turki Alalshikh offered $700 million, if Mike Tyson agrees to compete against Jake Paul and triumphs with a 3-minute knockout in their rematch. |
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In The Beginning | Kislev - Kislēw כִּסְלֵו - is the third month of the Jewish civil year and the ninth month of the Biblical year on the Hebrew calendar. In a regular (k’sidran) year Kislev has 30 days, but because of Rosh Hashanah postponement rules, in some years it can lose a day to make the year a "short" (ḣaser) year. Kislev is an autumn month which occurs in November–December on the Civil Gregorian calendar. The name of the month may be taken from Akadian kislimu, which means "inspissated, thickened" due to plentiful rains. But the name may also derive from the Hebrew root K-S-L as in the words "kesel, kisla" (hope, positiveness) or "ksil" (Orion, a constellation that shines especially in this month) - because of the expectation and hope for rain. The month’s name is mentioned twice in the Bible: One time in Zekharia and the second in Neḣemia. The month of Kislev is sometimes perceived as the month of dreams. In Jewish Rabbinic literature it is believed to correspond to the Tribe of Benjamin. The Jewish zodiac sign of Kislev is Keshet, meaning a bow, and Sagittarius in the civil zodiac. |
Cyril Zooms In | “Envy is a declaration of inferiority.” - Napoleon Bonaparte This week’s parasha, Toledot (“offspring,” “descendants,” or “generations”), has the uniqueness of evolving two generations of patriarchs, Isaac and Jacob, and providing the difficult context of their lives despite divine blessings. Of course, Jacob is not yet Israel, but we can discern in him the particularly audacious and cunning character that he will have throughout his life and that will allow him to continue the legacy of his fathers and to be the root of the Jewish people. However, we perceive that his life will be tormented, complicated and sometimes dramatic. He is the victim of the jealousy of his twin brother, Esau, and then of his father-in-law Laban, just as Avimelekh, king of the Philistines, is jealous of Isaac’s material success when he settles in Gerar. Jealousy is probably the most dangerous vice because even if the envious eventually dies, jealousy never dies, it is transmitted from generation to generation (antisemitism is a prime example), it paralyzes the potential for love (especially brotherly love in this parasha), and it is an expression of narcissism, of egocentrism. Jealousy is therefore a universal calamity that is difficult to combat. But there is a remedy: learning humility, and recognizing the good that is done to us, even if minimal. Thanksgiving is in its essence the indispensable remedy for jealousy because it brings families and friends together and it helps to appreciate being together and knowing each other. This is a great step in the right direction. I wish you and your family a grateful, restful and joyful Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom! C.B. |
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