Shabbat Shalom ouka ,ca November 8, 2014 15 Heshvan, 5775 Beth David B’nai Israel Beth Am Synagogue Affiliated with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Mazal Tov to our Bar Mitzvah, Coby Goldberg! VaYeira Parashah: 99 trhu Haftarah: 124 Service Times Friday S..................................... ervice Times Friday Candle Lighting.............. Shabbat Mincha....................... Shabbat ends........................... Sunday -Thursday ................... This issue of the Shabbat Shalom is sponsored by Sheldon & Eta Reinsilber in honour of their grandson Coby Goldberg becoming Bar Mitzvah. Members are asked to refrain from wearing fragrances in the synagogue 4:45 PM 4:44 PM 4:30 PM 5:43 PM 5:00 PM Mornings: Shabbat................................... 9:00 AM Sunday .................................... 8:30 AM Monday- Friday ..............7:00 & 8:00 AM PLEASE TURN OFF ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE IN THE SYNAGOGUE 55 Yeomans Road, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 3J7 | Phone: 416.633.5500 Fax: 416.633.1740 | www.bethdavid.com Seudah Shlishiyt Jackie & Brian Cohen Kiddush Sponsors Amy & Jay Goldberg Breakfast Sponsors Martin Baranek Amy & Jay Goldberg Joe Garber Zena Wise brotherhood Upcoming Events Please join us on Saturday, November 15 at 10 AM as our Brotherhood honors our resident Jewish veterans with a Shabbat Service. Services will take place at the Sunnybrook Hospital Jewish Chapel and a Kiddush will follow the service. Parking will be validated. Sisterhood New Sisterhood Members are invited to join us on Tuesday, November 11th for a stimulating, fun filled evening of "Brain Games" with Peter Nowell Club Chaverut Members Free Guests Welcome $5.00 Refreshments Sunday November 16, 2014 at 1:30 PM Sisterhood Hall RITA, ALEX & FRIEND Tanach Reading Opportunity Corner This corner is for those who would like to read Torah or a Haftarah in general, but also especially for anyone who might like to mark the anniversary of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration or Wedding Aufruf by reading from the same portion chanted on that special occasion. You will find here a list of coming Shabbatot & Festivals when there is no Simcha taking place at our Synagogue, meaning the Haftarah and any Torah reading is open to our members. If you are interested, please contact Michael Rubin directly by email –[email protected] – and confirm your chanting assignment! Also, we would like to update our records of when your Bar/Bat Mitzvah took place. Please email Michael Rubin with details – Gregorian date and Parashah. We look forward to hearing you relive the excitement of that special day, however many years ago! Reading Openings: Shabbat / Festival Parashah Haftarah Torah Shabbat December 20 Shabbat December 27 Shabbat January 3 Shabbat January 10 Shabbat January 24 Shabbat January 31 Shabbat February 7 Shabbat February 14 Shabbat February 21 Shabbat February 28 Shabbat March 7 Shabbat March 28 Mikeitz – Hanukkah VaYigash VaYechi Shemot Bo B'Shallach - Shirah Yitro Mishpatim - Shekalim Terumah Tetzaveh - Zachor Ki Tissa Tzav - haGadol Available N/A Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available N/A Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Members: $7.00 Non-members: $10.00 RSVP to Rose Haspel at 905 764 8141 by November 10, 2014. Sam Abramson Jacob Adler Bessie Allen Moshe Baranek Yechezke’el Baranek Sam Beckenstein Isaac Berelovitch Helen Brodie Elias Cipin Hania Cohen Min Collins Samuel Consky Leah Cutler Sarah Davis Elaine Susan Dinardo Janette Nettie Elias Mary Feldman Klara Fischer Coleman Gertler Sophie Goldenberg Cecelia Goodman Joseph Grafstein Syd Green Irene Bella Hershberg David Louis Horenfeldt Shelley Jackson Evelyn Jacobs-Malcolm Iser Kagan Sarah Kitchener Celia Klein Rodney Kruger Betty Levine Ya h r z e i t s c om m e m o r at e d t h i s w e e k : Sisterhood Hall - 8:00 p.m. Bernard Levinson Esther Lockett Joseph Lutrofsky Louis Manilla Morris Bernard Manilla Sonny Mason Sally Meirovich Nathan Pivnick Frances Prusan Max Pushkoff Isadore Reisman Nissim Sampson Solomon Edward Shack Syndey Shapiro Martin Shaw Pearl Shoot Abraham Skrobacky Yitzchak Smith Eva Spring Phyllis Spring Bernard Starr Frances Steinberg Jack Ugar Zelda Waldman Irving Walton Clara Waxman Leah Wise Rose Zaretsky Max Zeller Brina Zukerman Samuel Zukerman youth/families Adult Education A gift opportunity has been established to sponsor this exciting event by the Friends of Beth David... Please contact the Synagogue office to make a gift. Join us this fall for an exciting learning series when Dr. Aaron Nussbaum leads us in 3 sessions exploring the legal, historic, midrashic-aggadic texts. A fascinating opportunity to discuss the importance and relevance of the texts today. Dr. Nussbaum is a university lecturer and former director of education at Robbins Hebrew Academy. THURSDAY: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Nov 13th and Nov 20th, 2014 Admission is FREE & everyone is welcome. We are looking for hosts for Teens from the USY Convention on November 14th - 16th, please email [email protected] if you are interested. Our Women’s Study Group Led by Rabbi Philip Scheim and Ritual Director Michael Rubin Topic for 5775: “Genesis: The Beginning of Desire” A year-long course (based on the writings of Avivah Zornberg) exploring the roles and traditions of women in the Book of Genesis. Books Classes meet twice monthly. are available for purchase in 1st & 3rd TUESDAYS: from 10:30 AM to the office for 12:00 PM. Next class November 18th $20 Admission Free Open to all S H A B B AT S I D R A L U N C H E O N S a t . N o v. 2 2 n d : Following morning services. Bernard Schimmer will lead a discussion of Toledot and the accompanying Haftarah. Advanced registration for luncheon required: $10.00 by Tuesday Nov.18th. Register online at www.bethdavid.com or call BDBIBA at 416-633-5500 or e-mail [email protected] Yiddish Literature - Self Study MONDAYS: Boardroom, 10-11 AM Open to all Shinshinim Programs for Adults Weekly Media Class Wednesdays from 8pm - 9pm November 12, 19, 26 December 10 Come watch an Israeli TV series followed by discussions in Hebrew. All levels of Hebrew are welcome! This week’s Tora h r e a di ng : VaYeira trhu braham, recuperating from his Brit Milah, his A circumcision, invites the three “men,” three divine messengers in for a meal. His pain not withstanding, Abraham extends gracious hospitality, teaching all future generations of Israel the mitzvah of hakhnasat orhim, of welcoming guests into one’s home. The meal Abraham serves presents commentators with a problem: the menu consists of butter, milk and beef. Could it be that Abraham did not follow the laws of Kashrut and would serve milk and meat together? A historian would suggest that it was close to 2000 years after Abraham’s time (in the Rabbinic period), that the separation of milk and meat as we know it was legislated. Classical commentators, however, posit that, indeed, Abraham did follow the laws of Kashrut, suggesting that Abraham first served the dairy, and then the meat (there being no mandatory waiting period after eating dairy). As well, the words “he stood over them,” tell us, according to Midrash, that Abraham served as mashgiash, ensuring that his guests would not mix the meat with the dairy foods. The messengers, meanwhile, have come to reiterate the news that Sarah will bear a son, an event that transpires later in our parashah. Parashah: 99 Haftarah: 124 God reveals to Abraham His plan to investigate the wickedness of the cities of S’dom and ‘Amorah. Should they be as sinful as He suspects, He will destroy the cities. Rashi suggests that God’s investigation is merely an opportunity for the inhabitants to repent, for surely, God knew the reality of the situation without having to inspect the scene Himself. Rashi also interprets that God’s investigation is intended to send a message to earthly judges not to convict on hearsay evidence, rather, investigate and be certain beyond all doubt. Abraham negotiates with God for the sake of righteous individuals who may be trapped in the cities; God agrees to spare the cities if as few as ten righteous inhabitants will be found. Our portion concludes with the Akeidah, the command to Abraham to offer his precious son Isaac as a sacrifice. This ultimate test of Abraham’s faith coupled with God’s refusal to permit the harming of Isaac, teaches that human sacrifice is abhorrent to God, that life and not death is the goal of faith. Rabbi Philip S. Scheim SHABBAT SHALOM Please note that all submissions to the Shabbat Shalom must be received by the office no later than 3 PM on Monday of that week. Dear Members, When calling the office for your various Synagogue activities and needs, please note the extensions listed below for our office staff. This will help make your office experience more efficient. Cari Kozierok Bahar (ext. 22) Robyn Zajac-Cooper (ext. 35) Jeev Logan (ext. 27), Kisanth Sathi (ext. 25) Helene Jacobs (ext.28), Faye Major (ext. 0), Simmi Toby (ext. 24) Philip S. Scheim - Rabbi | Marshall Loomer - Cantor | Michael Rubin - Ritual Director Cari Kozierok Bahar - Executive Director David Bienstock - President Andy Pascoe - Vice President, Finance and Administration Madeleine Sarick -Vice President, Programming and Ritual Steven Risenman - Vice President, House and Property Karen Bernstein - Secretary Jerry Paskowitz - Treasurer Ettie Schimmer - Past President Steven Risenman - Brotherhood President Lisa Levine - Sisterhood President Chairman of the Board - Barry Levine