Here's to love! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
|
Can't see images? View webversion |
|
|
|
Hope you've had a good week. I read a lovely Parsha insight by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis this week, as follows: We are told how Yaakov worked for seven long years for the hand of Rachel in marriage. The Torah tells us "Vayihiyu be'einav kayamim achadim be'Ahavato otah, they were for him in his eyes like but a few days on account of his deep love for her" (this week's Parsah, Vayetzei, Genesis 29:20). What a romantic statement, what a great love story. But when you think of it, it actually doesn't make sense. Surely, if he loved her so much, every day of waiting was like a week, every week like a month, a month like a year, a year like a millennium. What sense can we make of this? The Sforno explains as follows, the key term here be'Ahavato otah, on account of his love for her - and not for himself. Yaakov was not in this relationship in order to please himself, rather, he had a thrill in recognizing the opportunity to give of himself to somebody else, to share his life with the inner beauty of Rachel, all of her great qualities, and to have that privilege, seven years of waiting were like but a few days. This interpretation resonated with me, because Rivki & I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary this week. Yes, 17 years thank Gd, sometimes it feels that way, but it often feels just like yesterday, as if not so long ago we were standing under the Chupah in sweltering heat and walking along the Yarra taking wedding photos. We thank Gd every day that He placed us in each other's path and for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us in our life journey together thus far. Long may it continue, in good health! Time flies not only when you're having fun, but when the days and years are spent meaningfully and joyfully, with those you love and respect. I bless us all, that in each of our relationships, marriage and friendships, we always recognise and cherish the privilege and blessing of having a particular person to love and share the ups and downs of life with and genuine friends without who life would be very different, to give, to grow with and to be there for. Here's to a peaceful and healthy Shabbat and a week ahead, filled with love and friendship!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shabbat Starts / Ends Friday, 12 Nov: Light Candles by 7:49pm Shabbat, 13 Nov: Shabbat ends at 8:51pm This week is Parshat Vayeitzei - See synopsis below.
In-Shule Services - We'd love to see you!
Fri Night 6:30pm - Pre-register required by clicking here Shabbat morning 9:30am - Pre-register required by clicking here Sunday Morning 8:00am Mon - Fri Morning 6:45am Sun - Thur Mincha Maariv 7:30pm This week's Kiddush is kindly sponsored by Mark Kuran in honour of his Bar Mitzvah Anniversary. You must be fully vaccinated to attend Shule. Pre-registration is required for Shabbat Services. For weekdays, please scan the QR code at the Shule entrance or check in manually with the COVID marshal if you are unable to scan the QR code. Please ensure you have linked your vaccination certificate to your Service Victoria app on your phone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chanukah on Acland Street is back! Sun, 28 Nov, 7pm. Live Music! Latkes! Donuts! Book today by clicking here! Kindly sponsored by the Kline Family, in loving memory of George Kline ob’m This is a COVID safe event and requires prebooking and QR scanning on arrival.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please note: We understand that from when we reach 90% vaccination rate (indicative date 24 Nov), all children age 12 and up will need to be double vaccinated in order to attend Shule services and events. We will advise the community as soon as we have more information on this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weekly Shiurim with Rabbi Shmuel - All welcome Monday Afternoon, 12:30pm on Zoom - Give your week a boost with inspiration from the Parsha and other timely topics. From the comfort of your home or office. Click www.elwoodshule.org/zoom to join. Talmud Thursday, 8pm at Elwood Shule - Scan QR code on arrival (Mincha /Maariv 7:30pm). We are exploring the fascinating Talmudic discussions in the Tractate of Megillah.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please keep us in the loop by notifying us of your lifecycle events. Happy - Jewish - Birthday! We wish a very Happy Jewish Birthday to Sonia Charitan, Marvin Cohen, Luca Friedman, Eyal Geiger, Herman Gurwitz, Mark Kuran, Ben Leventer, Toby Rubin, Laini Shaw, Jamie Sobol, Fran Sondheim, Helen Taylor. We wish them good health till 120. Jewish birthday Calculator.
Happy Anniversary! We wish a very Happy Anniversary to Josh & Nikki Gelfand, Lawrence & Gene Harris, Rabbi Shmuel & Rivki Karnowsky. To many more happy and healthy years! Yahrtzeits Shabbat Adella Bryfman - Mother of Gary Felix Dindas - Father of Robert Monday David Landau - Father of Freda Banky Tuesday Tzila Livshiz - Wife of Arkady, mother of Rimma Pavlova and Chanan Wednesday Jack Hansky - Husband of Paula, father of Esther Frenkiel, Lisa Goldberg and Mark Sara Kaz - Mother of Shoshana Halperin, Chaya and Rivka Laika Feibysowicz - Mother of Joe Feiber Thursday Ernest Lemin - Father of Pinchas David Waters - Brother of Anne McArdle Friday Itzhak Shoshana - Father of Ronit Chrapot We wish the respective families blessings of long life and good health. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This week's PARSHA is Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3) Jacob leaves his hometown of Beersheba and journeys to Charan. On the way, he encounters “the place” and sleeps there, dreaming of a ladder connecting heaven and earth, with angels climbing and descending on it; G‑d appears and promises that the land upon which he lies will be given to his descendants. In the morning, Jacob raises the stone on which he laid his head as an altar and monument, pledging that it will be made the house of G‑d. In Haran, Jacob stays with and works for his uncle Laban, tending Laban’s sheep. Laban agrees to give him his younger daughter, Rachel—whom Jacob loves—in marriage, in return for seven years’ labor. But on the wedding night, Laban gives him his elder daughter, Leah, instead—a deception Jacob discovers only in the morning. Jacob marries Rachel, too, a week later, after agreeing to work another seven years for Laban. Leah gives birth to six sons—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun—and a daughter, Dinah, while Rachel remains barren. Rachel gives Jacob her handmaid, Bilhah, as a wife to bear children in her stead, and two more sons, Dan and Naphtali, are born. Leah does the same with her handmaid, Zilpah, who gives birth to Gad and Asher. Finally, Rachel’s prayers are answered and she gives birth to Joseph. Jacob has now been in Charan for fourteen years, and wishes to return home. But Laban persuades him to remain, now offering him sheep in return for his labor. Jacob prospers, despite Laban’s repeated attempts to swindle him. After six years, Jacob leaves Charan in stealth, fearing that Laban would prevent him from leaving with the family and property for which he labored. Laban pursues Jacob, but is warned by G‑d in a dream not to harm him. Laban and Jacob make a pact on Mount Gal-Ed, attested to by a pile of stones, and Jacob proceeds to the Holy Land, where he is met by angels. Click here to explore the Parsha. © Copyright, all rights reserved, Chabad.org. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just spent $100 on a belt that doesn’t fit!
Huge waist.
|
|
|
|
|