Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts 30 November 2018

This weekend, starting on Sunday night, we'll start the celebration of Chanukah. I know some folks spell it Hanukkah...it's really the same thing. On Sunday evening we'll light the first of eight candles, read the stories of Chanukah, eat the traditional foods and have some family time and maybe even a Chanukah Night Quiz. Memories are made of these evenings. We hope you will light those lights, tell the story and proudly display the menorah in your window. We have a proud heritage and it's a great story.

This week we read Parsha Vayeishev (Genesis 37 - 40) It is called Vayeishev because that word (settled) is the first word in this reading, "Vayeishev Yaacov", "Jacob settled in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan."

The sentence is telling us that Jacob finally wanted some peace. But, that was not to come because as soon as he was settled tragedy struck. His beloved son Joseph is kidnapped. What? G-d didn't want Jacob to have some tranquility? No, what we learn from this is that it was not time for Jacob to "settle" his work was not yet done. Even when he was informed that his son Joseph was dead, Jacob did not waiver in his faith.

The sages tell us that, especially for the righteous, there is little "rest". There is always more to do.

There are four stories in this week's parsha:

• The plot and then the selling of Joseph as a slave by his brothers. It was this act that eventually positioned Joseph to be second in command in Egypt and allowed him to save the world from famine;
• The indiscretion of Judah with Tamar, careful it's a pretty hot story;
• The attempted seduction of Joseph by Potifar's wife, which ends up with Joseph going to prison;
• Joseph, while in prison, interprets the dreams of his prisoners, the wine steward (who was reinstated and forgot to put in a good word for Joseph) and the baker who was hanged.

Lot's going on here and worthy of a sexy romance novel.

We are left wondering what comes next. And what comes in next week's parsha is when the baker "remembers" Joseph and Joseph interprets the dream of Pharaoh. That sets into motion the redemption of the family and rewards Jacob's faith.

Service Schedule

We will hold Eve Sabbath Services next Friday evening at 7:15pm at the Synagogue. Our Torah Study (Midrash) will take place on Saturday (Shabbat) starting at 10:00am. Expect us to spend some time on Chanukah and we've got some latkes and other traditional food being prepared for the festival.

See you in Shul! 

 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts for This Week - 16 November 2018

Each week the Jewish Congregation of Mason City, Iowa takes a look at the weekly Torah Portion and offers a brief lesson. This week we read in the Book of Genesis 28:10 - 32:3. The portion, in Hebrew, is called Vayetzei or in Hebrew, "And he left" the first words in this reading.

Jacob now leaves his home after studying for 14 years at the academy of Shem the son of Noah. Why would Jacob, an already learned person, spend so long in study?  The rabbis tell us that he was preparing to leave his home and enter the corruption of Haran, the people who were Laban's comrades in dishonesty. To survive that environment he needed to know more of the Torah.

The Torah, this week, says that the first thing Jacob did upon leaving on his journey to Haran was lay down and go to sleep. The Midrash (story) says the reason this happened was because Jacob was so so hungry to learn Torah that during his fourteen years he studied day and night...without sleep.

Jacob then has a dream of a ladder going from earth to heaven and the Torah says, "And behold! Hashem (G-d) was standing over him, and He said, "I am Hashem, G-d of Abraham your father and G-d of Isaac; the ground upon which you are lying, to you will I give it and to your descendants." G-d also says, "Behold, I am with you, I will guard you wherever you go..."

Pretty powerful stuff.

But, wait.  Why a ladder? Is it just to share a story of how G-d comes down from Heaven to visit with Jacob?  Nah...G-d can do anything and does not need a ladder.

Perhaps the ladder is about us and our level of observance?

If you look at a ladder that would reach from the earth to heaven that's a mighty big climb. There is no way we could start and end that journey.  But, if we look at the ladder as a symbol of how we can get closer to G-d one rung at a time. It makes more sense.

Think of it. In our busy, busy lives we often forget about G-d and what he wants from us. We're too busy going to meetings, running our kids to sporting events and doing the chores of every day life. We forget to take even the small steps of saying "thank you" to G-d when we eat. Or spending five minutes studying the Torah. Or giving charity...or maybe even in prayer. Getting closer to G-d one rung at a time rather than trying to climb the entire way all at once.

This is what we an learn from Jacobs Ladder... If we remember to climb in our spiritual observance, one rung at a time, we'll not only get closer to G-d but we will also not tire from the journey.

Shabbat Schedule This Week

Services at Adas Israel will be on Friday evening starting at 7:15pm. Feel free to come and join us!

Midrash - Study Session - will be on Saturday morning starting at 10am. We'll eat, talk and study this Torah Portion to learn what other lessons we're being told.  Again, all are welcome to attend.  

See you in Shul! 

 

Torah Thoughts 9 November 2018

Each week our shul Adas Israel of Mason City, Iowa authors Torah Thoughts about the weekly Torah Portion or "parsha". Our goal is to help our members, and friends learn more about the Jewish Faith and the lessons we get from the parsha.  Ready?  Let's GO!

This week we continue our journey through the book of Genesis, or in Hebrew, Bereishis ("in the beginning"). The portion this week can be found in Genesis 25:19 - 28:9. The parsha is called Toldot which, in Hebrew means "generations" or "offspring" the second Hebrew word in the parsha, "And these are the offspring of Isaac son of Abraham..."

Wives Who Could Not Have Children

In the very first paragraph we read that the wife of Issac, Rebecca was "barren" or could not have children. The amazing part of this story is that of the Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel were all unable to conceive. The rabbis explain that the very existence of the Jewish People is from a miracle because each generation was a gift of G-d to a mother who could not have given birth naturally.  We learn by this that G-d desires the prayers of the righteous along with us all. It is a lesson that if those who are righteous must pray...then so too should we all so that we can raise ourselves to spiritual heights.

So...What Else?

Rebecca gives birth to Esau and Jacob. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup. Isaac sojourns in Gerar with Avimelech, king of the Philistines. Esau marries two Hittite women bringing great pain to his parents because they weren't of the people.

Jacob impersonates Esau on the counsel of his mother in order to receive the blessing for the oldest son by his blind father, Issac. Esau becomes, angry because of his brother's deception which caused him to lose the firstborn blessings and plans to kill Jacob. Jacob then flees to his uncle Laban in Padan Aram -- on the advice of his parents. They also advise him to marry Laban's daughter.

Easu knows that his wives are displeasing to his parents, so he marries a third wife, Machlath, the daughter of Ishmael.

Yikes!  So much to unpack here...and that is what we do each month at our Midrash.  More on that in a moment.

A Torah Lesson

In the very first sentence we read, "And Issac was forty years old when he took Rebecca, the daughter of Besuail the Aromite, from Padan Arom, the sister of Laban the Aromite, for himself for a wife" (Genesis 25:20). So? What is the lesson here other than just giving the names of who is who.

Ahhhh...  The great sage Rashi answers this question by talking about influence. Rebecca was the daughter of an evil person, the sister of an evil person and lived in a community of evil people. Nevertheless, she did not learn from their behavior!

Many people try to excuse their faults by blaming others as the cause of their behavior: 

• "It's not my fault I have this bad trait, I learned it from my father and mother."
• "I'm not to blame for this bad habit since all my brothers and sisters do it also."
• "Everyone in my neighborhood does this or does not do that, so how could I be any different?"

They use this as a rationalization for failing to make an effort to improve.

We learn from the opening story of Rebecca that regardless of the faulty behavior of those in your surrounding, you have the ability to be more elevated. Of course, it takes courage and a lot of effort to be different. The righteous person might be considered a nonconformist and even rebellious by those in his environment whose standard of values are below his level. However, a basic Torah principle is that we are responsible for our own actions. Pointing to others in your environment who are worse than you is not a valid justification for not behaving properly.

Service Schedule for November

We will meet for our Friday Shabbat (Sabbath) service on the 16th at 7:15pm and then for our Midrash (Study Session) on Saturday the 17th starting at 10:00AM. Everyone is welcome to attend and we promise you a learning experience. 

 

Torah Thoughts 2 November 2018

Everybody can take a little time to learn Torah...right?  This is the regular religious blog from Adas Israel of Mason City, Iowa. A fixture in
that community for over 100 years. Each week we offer up "Torah Thoughts" based on the Parsha (portion) of the Torah we're reading this Shabbat (Sabbath). See what you learn here?

This week we are still in the Book of Genesis (in Hebrew this is called Bereshis or "in the beginning") 23:1 - 25:18. This Parsha is called Chayei Sarah or "Sarah's lifetime".  In this section we we learn a number of things:

• Sarah dies at the age of 127;
• Abraham buys a burial plot in Hebron;
• Abraham sends his servant Eliezer back to his homeland to find a bride for Isaac;
• Eliezer creates some interesting requirements for the bride to be;
• Rebecca, unknowingly, meets those requirements;
• Eliezar gets approval from the family but they are not too keen on having her leave town;
• Abraham marries and fathers six more sons before he dies at 175;
• Issac and Ishmael bury Abraham in the same cave in Hebron where Sarah lies;
• The portion ends with the death of Ishmael at age 137.

So much to unpack here. But, let's focus on one of the points...and that is kindness.

As we've said before, Abraham was known for his kindness and so when Eliezer goes looking for a bride for Issac that is on the top of his mind. As he approaches a town he offers up this prayer:

"Let it come to pass that the maiden to whom I shall say: 'Incline your pitcher that I may drink,' and she shall say, 'Drink and I will give your camels to drink also,' she will be the one whom You have designated for Your servant, for Isaac; and thereby shall I know that You have shown kindness to my master" (Gen. 24:14).

Eliezer realizes that the Mother of the Jewish People must display kindness. In Hebrew we call this chesed. Chesed is not just kindness it is the belief in G-d  and doing that which emulates the kindness of G-d.

So, what happens? Eliezer and his ten camels get close to a well and it is Rebecca who runs to water the ten thirsty camels -- an act which she was not even asked to perform. This act of chesed indicated that she was worthy of being Abraham's daughter-in-law.

The lesson? Remember to look for kindness in choosing a spouse.

Shabbat Services

We will hold our November Sabbath Services on Friday the 16th at 7:15pm and then our Midrash, or Torah Study, on Saturday the 17th starting at 10:00AM.

Everyone is welcome and may you have a peaceful Shabbat.

One More Thing

We would be remiss if we did not thank the thousands of people from around the globe that have offered words and prayers in the wake of the murder of eleven Jews in Pittsburgh just last Shabbat. As a people who are all too familiar with hate we, and our friends, must stand together against hate and be loud that it will not be for us. We remember when a year ago so many people came to the Shul to worship and stand with us when there was hate being spewed in Mason City.  Thank you.

There is a sickness in our society and when people do not speak out against hate, no matter to whom it is directed, we are all diminished.

Shabbat Shalom