W&S SHABBAT BULLETIN

Calendar - Please see Upcoming Events Below

Do remember that we set our clocks back one hour overnight Saturday to Sunday...


Shabbat, October 31 - Parashat Vayera

  • 9:30 am at Harvard Hillel
  • Friday Evening Candle Lighting: 5:22 pm
  • Potluck Kiddush
  • Zoom Access Available


Shabbat, November 7 - Parashat Chayei Sarah

  • 9:30 am at Harvard Hillel
  • Friday Evening Candle Lighting: 4:13
  • Potluck Kiddush
  • Zoom Access Available


Minyan Service Opportunities

We need folks to volunteer to be present early at services and to stay late to help clear up after Kiddush. We also need folks to manage the Zoom access when Rabbi Jim is not around. If you have ideas about how to encourage members to help out more (or simply want to help out yourself!), please be in touch: rabbijim@worshipandstudy.org.


I want to put out a call for people to volunteer to bring Kiddush (rather than relying on a Potluck Kiddush). It does not need to be substantial—just a contribution to the life of our minyan! I have prepared a brief document about our Kashrut Standards, and I am very open to feedback about it. If you'd like to sign up to bring a spread for Kiddush, please be in touch with Maurie Fox-Warren or Loren Joseph.


Tzedakah Opportunities

  • The next Shabbat Dinner in Brookline will be December 11 at 5:30 pm at 1550 Beacon Street. You are welcome to join us as a volunteer (and have a delicious kosher meal). Please let me know if you're planning to come.
  • Our next "Soup Making Thursday -- Hanukkah Edition" at First Church Cambridge is this Thursday, December 10 from 4:00-6:00 pm. Please let me know if you're planning to come. See the full schedule here.

This Week’s Services

Reading from Torah

Vayera (Genesis 18:1 – 22-24)

W&S Torah reading for year II of the triennial cycle: Genesis 19:1 – 20:18

The Eternal rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah sulfurous fire from the Eternal out of heaven—annihilating those cities and the entire Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities and the vegetation of the ground. (Genesis 19:24-25)

Pieter_Schoubroeck_-_De_verwoesting_van_Sodom_en_Gomorra image

Pieter Schoubroeck (ca.1570 – May 10, 1607) -

De verwoesting van Sodom en Gomorra

(The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah)

Reading from Prophets

II Kings 4:1-37

And Gehazi passed on before [Elisha and the Shunammite woman], and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he returned to meet [Elisha], and told him, saying: 'The child is not awaked.'  And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.  He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.  And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and he stretched himself upon him; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.  Then he returned, and walked in the house once to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him; and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (II Kings 4:31-35)

Upcoming Events

Check out worshipandstudy.org/events/ for more information.


Sunday, November 22 - One Minyan One Book


Sunday, December 6 - Hanukkah Party (Tentative)

  • 2:00 pm
  • Location TBD


Thursday, December 10 - Soup Making at First Church

  • Come make soup with a group of minyan friends.
  • 4:00-6:00 pm at First Church (11 Garden St.) Cambridge
  • Please let me know if you're planning to come.
  • Feel free to bring something to eat: vegetarian appetizers, bread, dessert, and non-alcoholic libations...
  • Bring a hanukkiah and holiday treats!


Please note that you must be vaccinated and boosted to attend Worship and Study services; masking is optional. 

Check out our web site: worshipandstudy.org and send your friends there!


For Shabbat, click the following links to download the Lev Shalem liturgy and the W&S Amidah Guide.


If you'd like to sign up to bring a spread for Kiddush, please be in touch with Maurie Fox-Warren or Loren Joseph.


We also need people to deliver a D'var Torah, to lead services or to leyn Torah. Please review this spreadsheet for availability and be in touch with me: rabbijim@worshipandstudy.org (for leading services or serving as gabbai); or Susan Brand: susan.brand@comcast.net (Torah chanting); or Harvey Mendelsohn harveymendelsohnbooks@yahoo.com (D'var Torah).

Zoom Services

Please feel free to reach out to me if you need help with the technology.


Click: https://hebrewseniorlife.zoom.us/my/rabbijim

If you have the Zoom app, you can simply click “Join” and type in “rabbijim”


Call: 267 831 0333 or 301 715 8592 

After the greeting, enter Meeting ID: 583 155 5454 #

If you need a toll-free number, please let me know.

Shabbat Shalom

Worship and Study Minyan at Harvard Hillel | Email Address | Website

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