In This Issue

  • Winter Kiddush Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Issac's Parsha Corner
  • Sisterhood Book Club & Luncheon
  • Upcoming Events

We are so pleased that we have so many sponsored kiddushes! 

In the future all reservations for kiddush must be made through the main office.

Please call or email and you will be sent a form to fill out and a statement will

be sent .


There is no deadline to sponsor an upcoming kiddish but if requested after the Tuesday prior to Shabbat, it will be recognized in the following week’s bulletin.

We hope this streamlined process will make our kiddush sponsorships run smoothly.

Kiddush sponsorships are available this Winter season for $200 and multiple families may co- sponsor.


Click for Kiddush Form

Isaac’s Parsha Corner – Vayechi 2023

Isaac Shulman


What Is Yours Is Mine


“And now, your two sons who have been born to you in Egypt prior to my arrival in Egypt, they are

for me (alt. belong to me), Ephraim and Menashe will be like Reuven and Shimon are to me. And

myself (what happened to me), when I came from Padan, Rachel died (alai) on me, in the land of

Canaan on the way to Efrat, and I buried her there on the road to Efrat known as Beit Lechem. (Gen.

48:5&7)


According to Rashi, since the land of Israel was divided according to the census, there was no land

gain resulting from being “like Reuven and Shimon.” He suggests that the benefit was in being

named a unique tribe. When dividing up the land of Israel, “the tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of

Menashe” replaced the “tribe of Joseph.” When enumerating and blessing his children in this

parsha, Jacob blessed Joseph and did not bless Joseph’s children individually. Neither Reuven nor

Shimon received a positive end-of-life blessing from Jacob so to be like them would be a negative!

Moshe did the same in his end-of-life blessing. The tribes of Menashe and Ephraim did however each

have their own leadership and flag. Understanding Jacob’s declaration this way argues for the

benefit of self-rule and of autonomy generally. It is interesting that Menashe was so autonomous

that it split itself up into two sections with one group joining Reuven and Gad in the East Bank.

According to the Ramban the tribes each received equal portions of land. Therefore, by making

Ephraim and Menashe into individual tribes, the result was a doubling of tribal land for Joseph. In

that way Joseph replaced Reuven as first born.


Whether you agree with Rashi or the Ramban, the repeated use of “Me” and “You” in these p’sukim

needs interpretation. In addition, we need to understand the relationship between the death of

Rachel and Jacob’s re-designation of Ephraim and Menashe.


Rachel’s death was felt personally by Jacob and was certainly felt even more by young Joseph. The

interpretive reading of the p’sukim is as follows: “My beloved Rachel, who you barely knew, died so

young. I know you would have loved to have known her more. You have two sons, who I also barely

know, having been born before I arrived; “And Israel saw the children of Joseph and said, ‘Who are

these?’” (Ibid. 8) I bring your two sons closer to me, making them mine, that way bringing you closer

to me as well reminding me of my beloved Rachel. I know you will understand and appreciate the

love I had for your mother Rachel.


* Dedicated to the memory of my father R. Chaim ben Pinchas Eliyahu z”l whose yahrzeit is next week.

Dear Sisterhood,


To enhance our Book Club meeting, Rabbi Robert Fierstien, Rabbi and historian, has agreed to facilitate a discussion about Jews in the Civil War. If any of you have not been to a session with Rabbi Fierstien, we promise you will enjoy it! All Congregants are welcome to join the Book Club meeting on Zoom or in person to hear Rabbi Fierstien’s presentation on "Jews and the Civil War". Rabbi Dr. Robert E. Fierstien is an Adjunct Professor of Jewish Studies at Stockton University & Co-Chair of the JHMOMC History Committee to New York. Rabbi Fierstien is a member of our Synagogue, having a summer home in Bradley Beach. He has presented programs at The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County on the Jews in American History. Several of us attended his Lunch and Learn classes at Torat El on the Jews in the American Revolution and we are looking forward to hearing his presentation of "Jews in the Civil War" which is supportive of this month's book, The Thread Collector. 


Just a reminder, we will be meeting in person at the shul on January 10, at 12 pm, or you can join us on Zoom, link to follow. You are welcome to bring a lunch or a snack.


Thank you,

Book Club Committee


The luncheon is open to all our members who would like to join Sisterhood. 

Dinner and Discussion

Wednesdays at 7pm

We will be using the wonderful "Tzurba" booklets, which contain English translations of all the major sources, from the Torah to the Talmud to Today's Torah luminaries. You can also join by Zoom but you will have to provide your own dinner. All are invited.

Click Here to let us know if you'd like to attend and would like to sponsor a dinner.

WoW:

Wonderful Women in Judaism 

Thursdays at 1pm

A weekly adventure where we'll discover new insights into well-known women and meet some extraordinary women you've never heard of. Please let us know if you would like to attend and if you are interested in having this as in-person (we will also have it on Zoom). If you are interested, but the time is a bit off, let us know, and we'll try to tweak it to maximize attendance. 

Email us to RSVP for Class

Rabbi Kelman will be joining over 650 rabbis around the world who will be participating in this year’s Shabbos Vayechi program sponsored by NASCK: The National Association of Chevra Kadisha.  

Learn More

Small actions can have major effects.

Isaac Shulman's Parsha Class on Thursday Evenings

Please Note: Beginning Next Week, Class Will be Back on at 8pm.

Parsha Class this Thursday will be 10:00 pm


Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/209047533


We are looking for people to volunteer for our programming and chesed committees. We hope to have a series of dinners, Shabbatons and other programs that will bring new people to our shul. We would also love to have a few people who can help with bikur cholim, both for people at home and in the Jersey Shore Hospital. Please let us know if you have any time to help as we continue to expand our community and reach more and more people.


Email: congbradleybeach@gmail.com for more information or to sign up to volunteer!

To Volunteer Click Here


PLEASE NOTE: Rentals are available in the community, or if you would like to post your home, please contact the office. We have some listings that are available.

Board of Directors


Dr. Leonard Bielory, President


Sharon Shulman,

Vice President


Rick Strulowitz,

Treasurer


Ari Blech, Secretary


Lani Kaye, Trustee


Ellen Sokoloff, Trustee


Fanie Strasser, Trustee


Beth Cotler, President-Sisterhood


STAY WELL STAY SAFE

_____


Agudath Achim Bradley Beach Website