Shabbat Newsletter - November 26, 2021

Shabbat Shalom!

And mazel tov to

Rebecca & Michael Waxman

on the occasion of their daughter's Simchat Bat

Services for this weekend

All Zoom links have migrated to our webpage! Click here to get there!

WWW.SHIRCHADASH.ORG

Kabbalat Shabbat

Friday, 4 PM

ON ZOOM ONLY

Shabbat Morning Services celebrating the Simchat Bat of Riley Waxman

Saturday, 9:30 AM

In person and live-streamed

Minyan with Men's Club

Sunday, 9:15 AM

In person in the Chapel,

followed by breakfast.

Also available on Zoom

Torah Tidbits

Vayeshev

“The pit was empty; No water.” [Gen. 37.24].

The first of Rashi’s comments on a biblical text that I remember learning in rabbinical school is on a verse in this week’s parashah, Va-Yashev. When Joseph’s brothers cast him into the pit we read, “The pit was empty; there was no water in it.” Rashi asks if the pit is empty, why does the text add that there is no water in it? The phrase is there, he writes, to teach us that although there was no water in the pit, it was full of snakes and scorpions. This was my introduction to Rashi. I have never forgotten this comment because it struck me as such a farfetched conclusion.

Recently I was reading an article by Rabbi Richard Israel on giving a D’var Torah. One of his suggestions for gaining insight into the text is to read Rashi. He writes, “Rashi is mainly interested in answering to questions he finds in the text, questions you probably didn’t even notice.

Rashi raises a good question on this verse. Why does it add that there is no water in the pit after first telling us that the pit is empty? This time I asked myself a question as well. What does water symbolize? Water, cross-culturally, is a symbol of life and birth. When the Israelites travel through the desert after the exodus from Egypt, they are accompanied by Miriam’s well. It sustains them on their journey. The search for water is a theme that runs through their travels. In our tradition, we also speak of mayim chayim, living waters. It is one of the metaphors we use for the Torah.

When Joseph is thrown into a place with no water, he is taken away from all that nourishes his life. Not only is the pit empty of the physical things needed for life, it is also bare of the spiritual and psychological underpinnings of life. There is no food, no water, no ornamental clothes, no family in the pit. God’s plan is also hidden from Joseph. By telling us that the pit is empty, with no water in it, the Torah is telling us that at this moment Joseph is completely, utterly alone. All the familiar things of his life are gone. He has entered the dark night of the soul with no apparent sustenance to help him through it. These three simple words, ain bo mayim, teach us of Joseph’s hopelessness and despair as he is sold into Egypt.

- Rabbi Julie Wolkoff

Torah Service Prayer

Here is the new prayer we have created for our Torah service. Thank you to Elliot Finkelstein for the idea! Please join in from home.

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Nishmat Kol Hai, Breath of Life

bless the people of this community

their families and their friends

here and at home.

HaShekhinah, Beloved One

bless our neighbors in this city

may we live in harmony

may we be proud of each other.

HaTzur, Protecting One

bless this country, its government,

all who strive for its welfare

all who risk themselves to protect it.

Elohei Avoteinu, God of our ancestors

bless the land of Israel

may it flourish in hope and in honor

spread over it a shelter of peace.

Ma’ayan Hayyenu, Wellspring of our lives,

bless the Jewish people

may we be ambassadors of our tradition

may we be spared from distress and shame.

Hamakom, All-present One

bless the world and all that is in it

help us defend it and preserve it

for the generations that will follow us.

May all this be so,

And we say,

Amen.

Click here to view in PDF form and print prior to Shabbat

Parashat Vayeshev

Shabbat Mevarchim Hachodesh

Torah: Genesis 39:1 - 40:23

Maftir: Genesis 40:20-23

Haftarah: Amos 2:6 - 3:8

The Torah reading for this week is in the panel above. If you do not have a Humash at home you can find it on the link below. We are reading Triennial Year 3, but you might like to read the full portion (“Full Kriyah”).

Brochure

Our Shabbat brochure with yahrzeits and simchas for this week is attached. You might wish to take special notice of those who are sick and take a moment to direct your thoughts towards them.