SHABBAT SHALOM, GESHER SHALOM!


 
December 14th 2018
 
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Shabbat Times: 
Candle Lighting
Congregational Dinner
Evening Service
Morning Service
Minha
4:11 pm
6:00pm
7:15pm
9:30am
4:00pm
 
  Forecast: 39/ rainy

IN THIS ISSUE...
UN
Shabbat Kiddush
Larry Lesh has enhanced today's Kiddush in memory of his uncle, 
Jack Lesh

 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
 
Brielle Landau
Suzanne Alenick
Amy Rosen
Cheryl Karpman
Rochelle Carus
Myrna Block
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Jill & Kenneth Rak
Nancy & Richard Schiff

   UPCOMING EVENTS
                                
Saturday 12/15
Morning Service 9:30 am
Minha , S'uda Shlishit (3rd Shabbat Meal), timely topic, Maariv and Havdalah 4:00 pm
Tuesday 12/18
Sisterhood Board Club "The Librarian of Auschwitz" by Antonio Iturbe 1:00 pm
Thursday 12/20
Rabbi's Class "Talmud and Tangents" 10:30 am
Visiting Scholar Rabbi David J. Fine-Lecture series "The Jews in Germany: A Complicated Legacy" 12:45 pm
Friday 12/21
Bible Class 11:30 am

Torah Rea ding   283        Haftarah 291

VA-YIGGASH
Judah approaches Joseph and delivers an impassioned plea, asking that Benjamin, who was framed for having stolen Joseph's chalice, be allowed to return to their aged father. Judah offers himself in place of his youngest half-brother. At this point Joseph can no longer contain himself and he reveals his true identity to his brothers. Joseph reassures them that their role in his disappearance was God's will: it has allowed him to save Egypt from starvation during the famine which will continue for another five years. It will also allow Joseph to bring their entire family from Canaan to Egypt where they will have sufficient food. The brothers embrace; all is forgiven.
 
Joseph lavishes gifts upon his brothers and sends wagons to convey Jacob and the Israelite household to Egypt. On the way down to Egypt Jacob stops at Be'er Sheva, where God assures him that his descendants will return to Canaan.
 
The reunion between father and son is quite emotional. Joseph presents his father and several of his brothers to Pharaoh, who extends an invitation to them to settle in Goshen.
 
The famine becomes more and more severe. When the people have no more money with which to buy food, they exchange their cattle and their land for provisions. Many move from the countryside to the city to be close to the food storage and distribution centers. Those who remain on the land are permitted to till it as long as they remit one-fifth of their produce to Pharaoh's treasury. The Israelites, living apart from the Egyptians, prosper in Goshen.
 





 

Peter and Ann Bloch's Granddaughter, Brielle Bloch, Lit the Community Menorah
For the first time a truckload of Fort Lee firefighters joined us at the Triangle-and they even came back to the Shul for Latkes and Sufganiyot!
Thanks to everyone who came, especially Fort Lee Police, Fort Lee DPW & Dr. Ralph Selig for the musical accompaniment!


 
Tonight at 7:15 p.m. (after our Post-Hanukkah Shabbat Dinner)
Tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.
Tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.:
Minha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma'ariv & Havdalah
During Seudah Shlishit we will read NYT columnist Bari Weiss' piece insightful and articulate op-ed Europe's Jew Hatred, and Ours                                                                                                                                                  

This Week's Yahrzeit Observances
We hope that our weekly listing of yahrzeit observances will serve 2 purposes:
1)     To remind those who ha ve the yahrzeit for a second time, much closer to the date of the actual observance
2)     To alert friends and acquaintances that someone they know is observing a yahrzeit. We hope that you will show them your support by joining them at our minyanim, and helping to assure that Kaddish can be recited with a minyan 
 
Ellen Yuder will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Edna Davidman on Friday night, December 14th
Alvin Sussman will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Celia Sussman on Friday night, December 14th
Stephen Whitman will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Anne Whitman on Friday night, December 14th
Rhea Hess will be observing yahrzeit for her husband, Carl Hess on Saturday night, December 15th
Evan Fein will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Myrna Fein on Sunday night, December 16th
Corinne Weishaus will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Lee Schein on Sunday night, December 16th
Harriet Hirschenfang will be observing yahrzeit for her husband, Dr. Fred Hirschenfang on Monday night, December 17th
Martha Shemin will be observing yahrzeit for her grandfather, Albert Shemin on Monday night, December 17th
Audrey Greenberg will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Beatrice Breindel on Tuesday night, December 18th
William Katz will be observing yahrzeit for his father, Benjamin Katz on Tuesday night, December 18th
William Katz will be observing yahrzeit for his grandfather, Abraham Korzash on Tuesday night, December 18th
Ira Smilovitz will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Florence Smilovitz on Tuesday night, December 18th
Peter Bloch will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Lenore Bloch on Wednesday night, December 19th
Barbara Fishman will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Florence Eckstein on Wednesday night, December 19th
Stephanie Stern-Protz will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Samuel Sobel on Thursday night, December 20th
Vida Story will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Mollian Dyme Story on Thursday night, December 20th





A Lot of the Bread in the US Will No Longer be Kosher-and Especially not Parve!   
                                      
Important Reads
I know that many of your concerned about the election of two, young Muslim women to the US House of Representatives, along with progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, from Queens, New York. Part of that is because they are news; they are creating a sensation. Let me remind you that they are only 3 out of a group of 435; that's perspective that I take.
And if you are concerned about them, this article may give you some measure of comfort, but it should also unnerve you. It appears that you are in the company of the evangelical right and Middle East autocracies, who are not big fans of theirs either:
SMEAR CAMPAIGN:            Media attacks on newly elected Muslim U.S. House representatives have been coming from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates    
                                                                       
This next article also appeared in the same issue of Foreign Policy Magazine. On my first read-through, it upset me, but as I reflected on the poll's results, I realized that I, who consider myself an ardent supporter of Israel, share many of the same criticisms and concerns as the poll's respondents with respect to current Israeli policy and recent legislation.
The article begins with the Marc Lamont Hill "incident", but does not critique his words at the UN or his follow-up so-called "explanation or clarification." I don't know how his "reference to 'river to the sea' was not a call to destroy anything or anyone." I don't know how it could be understood as "a call for justice, both in Israel and in the West Bank/Gaza." I don't know how...
And if you are worried about the Democratic Party turning against Israel, please be assured by the following: Democratic sources say the party leadership considers the focus on this handful of vocal freshmen as out of proportion to their influence, and does not adequately illustrate their representation in the caucus in the House.
At the Israeli-American Council conference on Sunday, December 2, Rep. Nancy Pelosi said that she expected a strong year for pro-Israel advocates in Washington. "We have people very well placed to share our values in terms of Israel in the heart and in spirit," she said, listing several future committee chairs with staunch records, who are friendly to Israel. "Remove all doubts in your mind. It's just a question of not paying attention to a few people who may want to go their own way."
And finally, as this article itself makes clear: "The prevalent American views toward Israel, especially among Democrats, appear to be expressions of opposition to current Israeli policies and projected values, not "anti-Israel" views, and certainly not an expression of expanding anti-Semitism."
Please read the article bearing all of this in mind.
New polling shows that the U.S. public's views on Israel's policies are shifting                                          

Jewish Centrist Legislators (like Josh Gottheimer) Are Leading the Fight to Keep Nancy Pelosi in Charge                                      
Sanctions on Hamas, Hezbollah and Those Who Use Civilians as Human Shields        
On Tuesday night Congress passed legislation targeting Hamas, Hezbollah (among others for their use of human shields.
This is the first time Congress has taken legislative action against this heinous practice.
The importance of this legislation is underscored by the recent discovery of Hezbollah terror tunnels into Israel that originated under the cover of civilian houses in Lebanon. And just weeks ago - using the cover of civilian populations in Gaza - Hamas fired more than 500 rockets at communities across southern Israel.
Hamas and Hezbollah are clearly and blatantly violating international law and endangering innocents by placing their terrorist infrastructure among civilian populations. The legislation imposes sanctions on members of terrorist organizations or agents of a foreign state that the President has determined knowingly encouraged, supported, ordered, controlled, or has otherwise been complicit in any attempt to use civilians or protected property to deliberately cause casualties or shield lawful targets from attack.
In October, the Senate adopted this important legislation. It now goes to the President for his signature.

Mexico City's Jewish Mayor Wants to be Identified by her Policies, Not her Ethnicity                                                                                                                 



 
Israel
I wanted to open this section with the item about the Chief Rabbinate, but Israeli security comes first (and you will really see what I am talking about in the last paragraph of this introduction).
You may have read that this week, on the same night, Israeli forces finally caught up with the terrorist who murdered 2 in the Barkan Cooperative Industrial Zone (constructed with the aim employing Palestinians and Israelis side-by-side), as well as the drive-by terrorist who was sought in the Ofra death of a newly delivered infant, 2 and the wounding of his mother and 5 others.
And then this morning I read that French police took out the Strasbourg Christmas Market terrorist. In connection with that manhunt, and the strain on police personnel, the Times reported that "earlier Thursday, the government signaled that it was worried about the ability of the police to handle protests scheduled for Saturday by the Yellow Vest movement in towns, cities and villages around the country, and that it would prefer the organizers called them off."
This reminded me of what happened in Israel during the 2011 Tel Aviv Tent City protests for social and economic justice and relief. Those protests drew hundreds of thousands.
But when there was a gruesome cross-border terror attack from the Sinai Peninsula that resulted in multiple deaths, the leaders of the protests, of their own volition, suspended the Tent City to allow security forces to deal with the national emergency. That's the Israel that I am proud of! As the French say, vive la difference!!

As Rabbis of All Denominations, We Say It Is Time to Abolish Israel's Chief Rabbinate                                                  
A multi-denominational coalition opposes what it calls a "monopolistic Orthodox rabbinic authority."                
The Social and Economic Revolution of Arab Women in Israel
The status of Arab women in Israel is improving significantly. Hadas Fuchs, a researcher at the Taub Institute, published a study in 2018 on the integration of Arab women in the labor market in Israel. The most striking detail of her research relates to a revolution in the education of Arab women: 15% of students in higher education are Arab women, even though the proportion of Arab women among the general population is only 10%. In fact, the number of female Arab students in higher education has doubled since the beginning of 2000. As a result, women in Arab society are much more educated than men.
Female students at Arab high schools comprise 52% of students studying computer programming and sciences, 55% in electronics, 59% in mathematics, and 70% in chemistry. The employment rate of Arab women jumped from 35% to 40% in the past year alone
Finding a Safe Space on a Kibbutz  
Israel's kibbutzim start taking in African asylum-seekers and their families       
Startup Nation is becoming the AI Nation   'This sector's vital signs are positive,' reports IVC Research in its summary of Israeli artificial intelligence startups                                                                                                                                      
Israeli Medical Imaging Startup Makes TIME Magazine's List of Genius Companies
HEZBOLLAH TUNNELS UNDER A GALILEE FARMER'S APPLE ORCHARD                                          
Israel Joins Anti-Illegal Funding Body FATF                                



UN
The existence of these Hezbollah tunnels, extending from Lebanon into Israel, can be laid squarely at the feet of UNIFIL, who had to have turned a willful blind eye to these massive excavation and instruction projects. This is an example of the impotence of UNIFIL:
                                                     

UN Working with Both Sides, After Hidden Tunnels Confirmed Along Lebanon-Israel "Blue Line"                                 
And I haven't heard a peep out of Hizbollah!

IDF Uncovers Third Attack Tunnel Dug from Lebanon into Israel                  
This guy is not sympathetic to Israel; he is a loyal and concerned Lebanese citizen. Please note that the Israeli troops seen operating in the top photo (photo taken from the south, in Israel, looking north) are on the Lebanon-side of the wall. But that border wall was deliberately constructed by Israel meters to the south of the actual border so that Israel could operate legitimately along both sides of the wall.
A Lebanese Journalist Speaks:   Lebanon still looking for light at end of tunnel. Hezbollah can dig tunnels and improve its missiles all it wants. It won't do Iran any good                                                                       
 The Europeans have confirmed the existence of the tunnels and have expressed their support of Israel's right to destroy them, yet they refuse to blame Hizbullah. UNIFIL has confirmed the existence of a tunnel, but it has refrained from asserting that Hizbullah has thereby significantly violated Israel's sovereignty

If UNIFIL Expands Mandate, Few Countries Will Send Troops           
THE CURTAIN IS FALLING ON BIBI'S LEBANESE BELLY-DANCE                            
  What lies beneath seven years of Israeli rhetoric about Iran? 
Just before the vote, Bolivia and several Arab states asked to require a two-thirds majority for passage. This rule change passed by a vote of 75-72, with 26 abstentions.

How Major Countries Voted at the UN General Assembly on Condemning Hamas       
Haley: 87 Countries Said Hamas Was a Problem                                       


 Anti-Semitism / BDS
Anti-Semitism
Bret Stephens: When Anti-Zionism Tunnels Under Your House  For the people of northern Israel, anti-Zionism isn't some feckless sally in the world of ideas 

38% of Jews in Europe Are Thinking about Leaving         
"Anti-Zionism" Threatens Europe's Jews
 We keep hearing it isn't the same as anti-Semitism. Even the EU knows better.       
Four Out of Five British Jews Believe Anti-Semitism Has Infected UK Politics       
                                           
 
1 in 3 European Union Jews Say They Avoid Jewish Sites Out of Security Fears    One third of respondents in the EU poll also said they are considering emigrating, and more than one quarter said they experienced an anti-Semitic incident

Canberra's Jewish Community 'Living in Fear' Due to Anti-Semitic Attacks 
CUNY's Anti-Semitism Problem and the Campaign to Fire Michael Goldstein                                                  

BDS
Israeli-Sponsored Community Center Opens in South Africa 
Local BDS activists attempted to halt the renovation plans, but local residents decided to cooperate with Israel                        
They canceled because of intimidation; they haven't joined in supporting BDS: David Power, front man of the UK tribute band, replied, "Roger, as I pointed out to you, my concern was for my colleagues and the abuse and threats they were receiving as a result of your initial post."

Pink Floyd Tribute Band Cancels Israel Performances After Pressure from Roger Waters
Airbnb Faces Blacklisting in Illinois over Israel Boycott                                                                                       



POP CULTURE
THE 50 BEST JEWISH POP CULTURE MOMENTS OF 2018   
                                                               
 
'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Season 2 Debuts on Amazon to Glowing Reviews  
 
The show summons midcentury Jewish culture-and slyly subverts it with a feminist twist          

Midge is a Manic Pixie Jewish Dream Girl in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel 
Israel Has a Bobsled Team, and It Wants to Compete in the Olympics 
A novice New Yorker and a disabled athlete pair up for a big-time challenge                                                









Inbal Segev, Cello
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Friday December 14 | 7:30 pm
Sunday December 16 | 5:00 pm
Tuesday December 18 | 7:30 pm
Alice Tully Hall
Inbal Segev will be playing J. S. Bach's complete Brandenburg Concertos with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.


Music
David Broza Cuban Style
The Not Exactly XMES Show
Saturday, December 22 |8:00 pm
Symphony Space
David Broza's annual show featuring his greatest hits with a fresh Cuban twist - accompanied by Trio Havana and special guests. As one of the most innovative and creative musicians in the world today, his 40+ year career spans the gamut from blues to jazz, rock, country, folk and world music. Singing in Hebrew, Spanish, English, and Arabic, he brings together audiences of all cultures, bridging barriers of language through his music."Trio Havana", is led by flute virtuoso Itai Kris, with special guests including Flamenco singer and flute player Alfonso Cid and master guitarist Yuniel Jimenez, including the special appearance of Flamenco dancer Xianix Barrera.


Music
5th Anniversary Tribute Celebration of Erik Einstein
Ani Ve'Ata Sharim
Tuesday, December 18 |8:30 pm*
The Loft City Winery
Moshe Bonen and special guests will celebrate the musical talent and pay tribute to Arik Einstein at The Loft.

*Doors open at 6:30 pm


Music
Salute to 3 Knights with
Asi Matatius, violin
Jupiter Symphony Players
January 7th | 2:00 pm, 7:30 pm
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
William Wolfram, piano, Asi Matatias, violin,  Eunae Koh, violin,  Maurycy Banaszek, viola,  Zlatomir Fung, cello,  Barry Crawford, flute,  Vadim Lando, clarinet
Asi Matatius, a protégé of Pinchas Zukerman, is already recognized as one of the most talented musicians of his generation. As an enthusiastic chamber musician, he has participated in festivals such as the Jerusalem, Con Anima (Austria), Vienna Bezirk Wochen Festspiele, Israel, and Prussia Cove in England.


Music
KOOLULAM
Celebrate Unity and Love Through Song
Universal + Timeless
Israeli Culture in North America FB
Have a look and a listen.... lets join together in song!
The Founders of קולולם - Koolulam Asia Society New York The Game Changer Awards Spreading Unity through Song in One of the World's Most Divided Cities. Check out the Award Winning Music Video created in honor of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) General Secretary's visit to Jerusalem is part of a comprehensive, global campaign to transform religion from a political weapon into a source of universal love and compassion.
See KOOLULAM among 2018 AWARD HONOREES




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