"The Wood River Jewish Community is a gathering place that strives to perpetuate
Jewish tradition through worship, fellowship and learning. Founded in 1976, we seek to provide a welcoming and caring community in the Wood River Valley
October 23, 2018
PARSHA OF THE WEEK
Parashah Vayeira (and he appeared)
Genesis 18:1-22:24
God is revealed to Abraham three days after the first Jew's circumcision at age ninety-nine; but Abraham rushes off to prepare a meal for three guests who appear in the desert heat. One of the three-who are angels disguised as men-announces that, in exactly one year, the barren Sarah will give birth to a son. Sarah laughs.
Abraham pleads with God to spare the wicked city of Sodom. Two of the three disguised angels arrive in the doomed city, where Abraham's nephew, Lot, extends his hospitality to them and protects them from the evil intentions of a Sodomite mob. The two guests reveal that they have come to overturn the place, and to save Lot and his family. Lot's wife turns into a pillar of salt when she disobeys the command not to look back at the burning city as they flee.
While taking shelter in a cave, Lot's two daughters (believing that they and their father are the only ones left alive in the world) get their father drunk, lie with him and become pregnant. The two sons born from this incident father the nations of Moab and Ammon.
Abraham moves to Gerar, where the Philistine king takes Sarah-who is presented as Abraham's sister-to his palace. In a dream, God warns King Abimelech that he will die unless he returns the woman to her husband. Abraham explains that he feared he would be killed over the beautiful Sarah.
God remembers His promise to Sarah, and gives her and Abraham a son, who is named Isaac (Yitzchak, meaning "will laugh"). Isaac is circumcised at the age of eight days; Abraham is one hundred years old, and Sarah ninety, at their child's birth.
Hagar and Ishmael are banished from Abraham's home and wander in the desert; God hears the cry of his dying son, and saves his life by showing his mother a well. Abimelech makes a treaty with Abraham at Beersheba, where Abraham gives him seven sheep as a sign of their truce.
God tests Abraham's devotion by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah (known the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. Isaac is bound and placed on the altar, and Abraham raises the knife to slaughter his son. A voice from heaven calls to stop him; a ram, caught in the undergrowth by its horns, is offered in Isaac's place.
Honor a special occasion, express sympathy, remember a loved one, or simply say "Thank You" with a donation to a WRJC fund of your choice.
WHERE NEEDED MOST FUNDS
Bob and Claudie Goldstein in memory of Bob Baker
Bob and Claudie Goldstein in honor of Larry and Nina Rothstein for the birth of their granddaughter Ryan Gemma
Alan and Wendy Pesky in memory of Marshall Bennett
David Hoffman in memory of Ellen Hoffman
David Hoffman in memory of Susan Zucker
Marty and Mila Lyon
in memory of Bob Baker
Marty and Mila Lyon in honor of Barbara Brown's Birthday
Marty and Mila Lyon in memory of Marshall Bennett
PATRON OF THE MONTH
Earl and Shirley Feiwell
FILM FESTIVAL
Gary and Deana Langer
BE A BLESSING
Barry and Sylvia Bunshoft
Larry Goldberg, Naomi Goldberg, Brad Guss and their children Sadie and Eli
Lynn Mason-Pattnosh and her son Matthew
CONGRATULATIONS
To Larry and Nina Rothstein for the birth of their granddaughter Ryan Gemma Rothstein.
YARZHEITS OF THE WEEK
A Yahrzeit donation allows you to honor the memory of the special people in your life. Your gift will memorialize your loved one during the anniversary of his or her passing.
Jacob Henry Flower, Grandson of Judith Jellinek
Melvin Leon Gross, Father of Karen Stern
Henry Helmut Marx, Father of Susanne Marx
Susan Hoffman, Wife of David Hoffman
Marilyn Kofsky, Mother of Karen Alpert
Jack Waxenberg, Father of Jeri Wolfson
Katherine Weil, Mother of Edward Weil
To discuss leaving a legacy and providing support to our Wood River Jewish Community in perpetuity, please feel free to call 208-726-1183 or email claudie@wrjc.org to arrange a private and confidential meeting.
If you want to know more about our organization, please contact
Claudie Goldstein, Executive Director at claudie@wrjc.org or 208-726-1183
