November 22, 2024

Candle-lighting: 4:28 p.m.

Dear Friends,

In the next few weeks, we will have a number of opportunities to learn from guest speakers. Next Shabbat, Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the head of the Abuyadaya community in Uganda, will be giving the drash upstairs and has agreed to stick around for a Q&A after kiddush. On December 7, Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, author and Orthodox rabbi, will speak about LGBT issues in Judaism. On December 14, the director of The Healing Space, a trauma center founded in the aftermath of October 7, will be leading a Lunch & Learn.

And this week, we have veggie cholent...

Also in this issue:

• Shabbat Services
• Mishnah Study
• Torah Morsel - Volunteers Needed
• Upcoming Calendar
• Donations This Week
• Dear Libby
• Haftara Plethora
• Jewish Trivia

If you have questions or suggestions, or want to include something in a future Weekly Update, please email Joel Elkins at joel.elkins@gmail.com.

Shabbat Services

Service begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Dorff-Nelson Chapel, followed by kiddush in Hersch Hall.

Mishna Study

Mishna study starts a new chapter this week as Norm Green leads us in the study of the first mishna in Chapter 16 of Tractate Shabbat. Mishna study begins at 9:15 a.m. in the Whiteman Conference Room and on Zoom.

Torah Morsel

About six months ago, we added Torah Morsel to the Library Minyan Weekly Update. In that time, many of you have contributed your personal thoughts and shared original or passed down insights on the weekly parsha which others have hopefully read and benefited from. But we need more volunteers. If you would like this feature to continue, please choose an upcoming parsha here.

Upcoming Calendar

Below is a list of upcoming special kiddushes and events. If you would like to contribute to any of these (or to add another kiddush-worthy occasion), please click here and indicate the event in the notes.

11/30 - All-Joel Shabbat; Rabbi Gershom Sizomu Q&A

12/7 - Rabbi Mike Moskowitz guest speaker

12/14 - Torah Club Shabbat; Lunch & Learn

12/21 - Farewell kiddush for Tamar Levin

Donations This Week

Susan Laemmle & John Antignas

-in honor of the engagement of Ethan Stern

Deborah Chariton

-in honor of the 70th anniversary of Bernie Goler's Bar Mitzvah

Susan Laemmle & John Antignas

-in honor of Tamar Levin on her forthcoming Aliyah

Frumi and Benjamin Gluck

-for the kiddush in honor of Tamar Levin

Larry & Diane Herman

-in honor of Russell and Rachel's wedding

Dear Libby

Dear Libby:

With Shabbat starting so early I can hardly get ready on time. I barely get home from work in time to light candles, let alone prepare Shabbat dinner. And we end up eating so early that we have hours to kill before it’s time for bed. Any suggestions?

TRYING TO PUSH BACK ON SHABBOS

Dear Trying:

Yours is a common complaint, but we have the perfect solution. It’s called SST or Shabbat Saving Time. Every Thursday night, set your clock ahead three hours. You’ll get to work early, get home early and have plenty of time to prepare for Shabbat. Then at the end of Shabbat, set your clock back three hours. Problem solved!

LIBBY

Dear Libby:

I took your advice, and it worked great. But I have one problem: when I show up for Shabbat morning services at 9:45, I have to wait around for three hours to get a minyan!

STILL TRYING

If you would like Libby to answer your questions or solve your problems, submit your questions and/or kvetches to dearlibby@libraryminyan.org

Haftarah Plethora

In the Haftarah Plethora for Hayei Sarah, the boys have a field day with the titillating text, trope, and tale. Larry suggests that the Torah portion and Haftarah are connected by the literary style of the repeated story. Rick goes to town explaining the plethora of dramatic tropes, including the observation that the good guys in the story get the flattering elaborate trope. Shabbat Shalom.

You can see all of Larry and Rick's recordings here.

Jewish Trivia

Last week's question: Who was the only Jew to be crowned Miss America?

Answer: Bess Myerson, who won in 1946, possibly the first Jewish beauty queen since Esther.

This week's question: According to the Torah, if someone commits a tort and later confesses, they must "make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged." (Numbers 5:5-7.) Suppose the damage incurred is valued at 200 shekel. What is the amount to be paid to the victim?

(Answer next week.)