Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts 30 December 2022 - Vayigash

Hello Friends!  A quick reminder that our services in January will be on the evening of the 6th at 7:00PM and our Midrash (Torah Study) will be on the 7th at 10:00AM both events at the shul.  Hope to see you!

Parsha Vayigash

This week we read Parsha Vayigash (Gen. 44:18 - 47:27) which means, "and he drew near".  It is the first Hebrew word: "Then Judah drew near and said..." What is amazing is that Judah is now talking to his brother Joseph the very person Judah sold into slavery years earlier but he does not recognize him.  After all, Joseph looks and speaks as an Egyptian. Judah is trying to make a deal with Joseph to allow Benjamin to go free and make himself a captive. The reason is because Judah fears that if something happens to Benjamin it would break the heart of Jacob their father.

And, so it is that Joseph now makes it a point to invite Jacob and the entire tribe to come to Egypt.  After all there is famine in Canaan and there is plenty in Egypt.  When the brothers go and tell Jacob of this offer Jacob is fearful but G-d speaks to him and says that should they go to Egypt He will go with them and will make them a mighty people.

And Hashem delivers.

Joseph Reveals

The brothers still had no idea that they were speaking with Joseph. Not being able to restrain himself any longer Joseph orders all of the Egyptians out of the room. After doing so he speaks to his brothers in Hebrew and then does something remarkable. He tells them not to feel guilty about selling him into slavery saying, "Do not reproach yourselves for selling me here this was the plan of G-d that I become the provider for my family..." Oh how not to carry a grudge.  

Once again...hope to see you on the 6th and the 7th.

Thank you for reading and Shabbat Shalom!

 

Torah Thoughts 23 December 2022 - Mikeitz

Torah Thoughts is from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. This week we read from Parsha Miketz ("the end" in Hebrew) Genesis 41:1 - 44:17 . "It came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh was dreaming, and behold, he was standing by the Nile."

Here we begin he story of how Joseph rose to great power in Egypt. It is when Pharaoh has a dream and it is the butler who remembers that a guy sitting in jail has the ability to interpret dreams. Joseph is that person and he correctly interprets the dream and ascends to a position of power.

I've always found it interesting that it was a butler...a servant...who remembered Joseph. It wasn't a royal councilor or a priest of the cult. It was a servant.

It reminds us that discovery isn't reserved for the powerful and elite. We all play a part.

We continue in this Parsha as ten of Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food, Joseph recognizes them, but they don't recognize him. Joseph accuses them of being spies and puts them through a series of machinations in order to get them to bring his brother Benjamin to Egypt. Then Joseph frames Benjamin for stealing his special wine goblet.

The Shamash 

Here is another interesting aspect of the servant. (see above) The candle we use to light the other candles in the Menorah during Chanukah is called the Shamash. That word is Hebrew for...servant. It serves to light the other candles. It is, I believe, a reminder to those in power, be they elected officials or rabbis or the boss, that they are in their position not only to direct and even create...they are there to serve others.  Some might call this "servant leadership". It is when we realize we are in a place where we can truly be a servant to others by listening and lifting them up. To be a Shamash is to be treasured. 

Chanukah

The celebration of "rededication" which is what the word "Chanukah" means.  Here are a couple of facts about Chanukah that you may not know...

• The Chanukah celebration, which began with the rededication of the Temple, took place on the 25th of the Jewish month known as Kislev. The 25th of Kislev was already very significant in ancient Jewish history. The temporary Temple that the Jewish people constructed under the direction of Moses during their 40 years of wandering the Sinai desert was completed on the 25th of Kislev. Additionally, the foundation stone for the Second Temple (515 BCE) was laid on the 24th of Kislev and the celebration took place that evening (the 25th of Kislev);
• The 25th word in the Torah is "ohr - light." This is most fitting for the holiday known as the "Festival of Lights";
• Maimonides (the great codifier of Jewish law and well known doctor and philosopher of the 11th century) writes that the mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah candles is greatly beloved and one must make every effort to fulfill this mitzvah. He ends with the following beautiful sentiment, "Light in the home promotes shalom (peace) and the Torah was given in order to promote peace in the world."

Services and Midrash

A reminder that in January our service will be on Friday the 6th starting at 7:00PM and then on Shabbat we'll hold our Midrash or study session at 10:00AM.  The Parsha we'll be discussing Parsha Vayechi  (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26). Both events will take place at the Shul.

One final item. We don't often ask for donations but if you are moved to assist our little congregation consider doing so. One of the nice things about donating to Adas Israel is that every dollar that is given is matched. So if you give $50 that turns into $100.  Thank you, in advance.  Our address is Adas Israel, Post Office Box 621, Mason City, Iowa 50402-0621

Shabbat Shalom and see you in Shul! 

Torah Thoughts 16 December 2022 - Vayeshev

Hello Friends and welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. Before we get started mark your calendars for January 6 & 7 for services on Friday evening at 7:00PM and our Midrash on Shabbat starting at 10:00AM both events at the Shul. Hope to see you and if possible bring a friend to either event.  We won't try to convert anybody we're just interested in teaching about our faith.

Parsha Vayeshev

This week we read from Vayeshev (Gen. 37:1 - 40:23). The word Vayeshev means "he settled". "Jacob settled in the land of his father's sojournings...". We can glean much from that one line. There is a deep contrast between "settling" and "sojourning' , which implies wandering.  Now Jacob was all about settling down and living in peace. But the kidnapping of Joseph jarred him. And what does Rashi say about tranquility? "Are the righteous not satisfied with what awaits them in the World to Come that they expect to live at ease in this world too?"

Four Stories

In this week's portion we find four stories: 1) The selling of Joseph (Yosef) as a slave by his brothers, which eventually positioned Joseph to be second in command in Egypt and enabled him to save the known world from famine 2) The indiscretion of Judah (Yehuda) with Tamar 3) The attempted seduction of Joseph by Potifar’s wife, which ends with her framing Joseph and having him imprisoned 4) Joseph interpreting the dreams of his fellow prisoners, the wine steward (who was reinstated and forgot to put in a good word for Joseph) and the baker (who was hanged).

It's a busy Parsha full of family drama. Take some time to read it...

Chanukah

This Sunday, after dark we will begin to celebrate the eight days of Chanukah. It is truly interesting that  that, after the Passover Seder, the holiday of Chanukah is the second most widely observed Jewish holiday. To many, Hanukah is just a Jewish version of Christmas. I have heard countless parents say some version of the following to their children: “No honey, we don’t celebrate Christmas – we’re Jewish and we have Chanukah.”

In many ways, the Greeks of antiquity were a very open-minded society and their goal was to integrate everyone into it. In order to achieve this, they demanded that everyone conform to their vision. They used both guile and violence to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, for the Jewish nation this meant abandoning Judaism, the Torah, and everything that they stood for. Sadly, many Jews became “Hellenized” and surrendered their religion.

The story of Chanukah celebrates those who maintained their Judaism and the triumph of the holy Torah and its ideals over paganism and secularism. I have often wondered if those who celebrate Hanukah today would have actually chosen Judaism and a Torah way of life had they lived some 2,300 years ago.

The History

Yes, this is an historical holiday and not one found in the Bible.  In 167 BCE, the Syrian-Greek and Hellenistic emperor, Antiochus Epiphanes, set out to destroy Judaism and incorporate the Land of Israel and its inhabitants into his empire. His soldiers descended upon Jerusalem, massacring thousands of people and defiling the city’s holy Second Temple with idol worship by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs within its sacred walls.

However, the evil Antiochus knew that a mere physical attack on the Jews would not accomplish his goal. He therefore mounted an attack on the very structure of Judaism. First, he prohibited studying and teaching the Torah. By prohibiting the study of Torah he was attempting to eliminate the spiritual backbone of the Jewish people.

He then issued a ban prohibiting the practice of three mitzvot (commandments): 1) Shabbat observance 2) Sanctifying of the new month (establishing the first day of the month by testimony of witnesses who saw the new moon) 3) brit mila (entering the Covenant of Abraham through Torah-ordained circumcision).

Why These Three?

Shabbat signifies that G-d is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe and that His Torah is the blueprint of creation, sharing with the world meaning and values. Without a functioning calendar there would be communal chaos. Brit mila (circumcision) is a sign of our special covenant with the Almighty. These three mitzvot form a foundation for the structure of Judaism. Without them our cultural integrity would quickly deteriorate and dissolve, and we would slowly assimilate and submit to the Greek culture.

Then a family of Jewish priests – Matityahu and his five sons, known as the Maccabees – would not have it. They started a revolt and three years later succeeded in evicting the oppressors. The victory was a true miracle – on the scale of present day Israel being able to defeat the combined forces of all of today’s super-powers (this might also explain why the emblem of the State of Israel is a menorah). Once the Jewish people regained control of the Temple in Jerusalem, they wanted to rededicate it immediately. The symbol of this rededication was to be the lighting of the menorah on the newly recaptured Temple Mount.

It is a fascinating and historical account of "right vs. might". And the word "Chanukah" means "dedication" in Hebrew.

Today

In homes all over the world we place a menorah in a window that faces the street and begin the custom of lighting one candle each night of Chanukah. There are nine candle holders on every menorah. The tallest is the "lighter" candle.  We light that first and use it to light the others.

And then it is the retelling of the Chanukah story, playing games and eating latkes.  And, yes there will be small gifts opened each night.

Thanks for reading, Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah to you all!   

 

Torah Thoughts 8 December 2022 - Parsha Vayishlach

Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. I see that we have some weather on the way for Northcentral Iowa but hope things are cleared out by Friday afternoon.  If so, services will be at 7:00PM and our Midrash (Torah Study) will be on Shabbat starting at 10:00AM. Where we'll learn more about this Parsha and discuss Chanukah. Both events will be at the shul. Hope to see you!

Parsha Vayishlach

This week we read Vayishlach (Gen. 32:4 - 36:43) which means "and he sent" as in, "Then Jacob sent angels ahead if him to Esau his brother..." This begs an interesting question. Why does the Torah say, "...Esau his brother.." after all Jacob had only one brother and that was Esau? We'll answer that in just a bit.

Three Things

Having been told that Esau is coming to kill him Jacob does three things:  First he prepares for battle then he prays and finally he sends a lavish tribute to Esau hoping to cool him off.

On the surface these three things seem to be in conflict: Aggression and servitude would not be necessary if one believes in the power of G-d. What is at play here is that Jacob is betting on both the human and spiritual.  He gets ready for battle, as he should, and works on Esau to show a bit of fear.  This tells us that Israel, in any situation, must rely on what is before us...and strengthen ourselves with prayer.

Dividing the Camp

Then Jacob does something else that has served the Jewish People for thousands of years. He divides the camp.  "If Esau comes to the one camp and strikes it down, then the remaining camp shall survive." (Gen. 32:9) Jacob's foresight was meant to save at least part of his family in case Esau attacked. Thus, Jacob laid the foundation for one of the principles that would ensure Jewish survival during our turbulent, painful years of exile. We see the pattern of sunset and sunrise throughout our history; following are just two examples for us to ponder:

As the First Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, the great Jewish community of Babylon (where the Talmud was arranged) was born. Many centuries later, as the sun set upon European Jewry, it rose in America and Israel. Our forefather Jacob laid the foundation well, for no matter what our enemies sought to do, their plans came to naught. Am Yisrael Chai! - The Jewish nation lives!

Furthermore, Upon confronting Esau, Jacob cried out, "Rescue me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau...." (Gen. 32:12). Our Rabbis discuss the meaning of these two hands, and the meaning of "my brother ... Esau." After all, Jacob had no other brother, and we know that nothing is redundant in the Torah, so why did Jacob use these apparently repetitive phrases? Our Sages explain that the Patriarch is teaching us a lesson for survival. Esau will confront us in two different guises: There are times when he will extend to us the hand of a brother in friendship, and in so doing, will attempt to destroy us through assimilation; there are times when he will attack us with Esau's hand, the ruthless hand of oppression.

The Kiss 

Esau greets Jacob with a kiss, but the word "kiss" is dotted; the Sages teach us that the kiss was really a bite. (Gen. 33:4) What seemed to be an act of friendship on Esau's part disguised a threat to Jacob's life. The Midrash tells us that God, in His infinite mercy, changed Jacob's neck into a pillar of marble, thereby preventing Esau from injuring his brother. While we must be vigilant in regard to both hands of Esau, Jacob feared the hand of friendship more, pleading first for rescue from the hand of his brother. The danger from the hand of Esau is clear; it attempts to destroy our very lives, but the brother's hand, the hand of friendship, is the more dangerous, for when that hand is outstretched, we may be taken unawares, and can, G-d forbid, lose our identity, our heritage, our very Jewishness. The hand of friendship can make it very easy to forget that we stood at Sinai and are bound to G-d by an eternal covenant. So let us treasure the awesomeness of our survival and protect our identity, our Torah, our Judaism with vigilance and love.

Thank you for reading and Shabbat Shalom!

 

Torah Thoughts 2 December 2022

Hello friends and welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel, the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. This edition is incredibly late and for that I am sorry.  It has been quite the week both professionally and personally.  Nothing at all bad...just many hands to hold and conversations about life, faith, politics and business. Whew!  A reminder that we will hold services on Friday the 9th of December at 7:00PM and our Midrash on Shabbat (the 10th) at 10AM. Both events will be at the shul. Hope to see you there.

Parsha Vayetzei

This week we read Parsha Vayetzei (Gen 28:10 - 32:3) the word means "and he left" as in "Jacob departed from Beer-Sheba and went toward Haran." (Gen. 28:10). Here we learn that Jacob starts his journey that, unknown to him at the time would include 20 years in the home of Laban a scoundrel of the highest order. But, before going he spent 14 years studying at the academy of Shem and Eber. Why?

Truly a wise man who had studied with his father Isaac for sixty-three years did not need more training. (A reminder that no matter how stepped in Torah we are...we can always use more study.) But he was with Shem and Eber for another reason. Jacob was about to go to Haran among people who were as dishonest at Laban. Shem and Eber had also faced evil as they were alive during The Flood...and knew how to cope.

The Evening Prayer

" And Jacob departed from Beer-Sheba and went to Haran. He encountered the place and spent the night there because the sun had set .." ( Gen. 28:10-11). What is this "place"?  It was a place to...pray to communicate with G-d. It was the same place that Abraham took Isaac and bound him on the alter and it is the same place that the Temple would be built.

And so Jacob had a dream and rested there...and prayed.

Jews pray three times each day.

The sages teach that the three prayer services (Shacharit – morning service, Mincha – afternoon service, and Ma’ariv – evening service) were established by the three forefathers: Abraham instituted Shacharit, Isaac instituted Mincha, and Jacob instituted Ma’ariv.

Yet this seems a little odd. We know that in Judaism every day begins with the onset of the prior evening. That is, Monday begins at sunset on Sunday. Thus, the first prayer that we pray each day is Ma’ariv. Wouldn’t it be more logical for Abraham, being the first of the forefathers, to have instituted the first prayer service of Ma’ariv? Moreover, Ma’ariv was originally established as a non-obligatory prayer. Why should Jacob, who is considered the greatest of the forefathers, institute a prayer that is not even obligatory?

The purpose of the prayers being established by our forefathers is that they leveraged their relationship with the Almighty to establish an “appointment,” as it were, for their children to speak and connect with the Almighty.

The Answer

Daytime is the period in which mankind goes out and contributes to the functionality of the world, while nighttime is the period when man reaches out to connect.

In Hebrew, the word “yom – day” is masculine and “leila – night” is feminine. Day is the time for people to do and night is the time to connect. This is also why when a woman tries to express an issue to a man he focuses on trying to solve it (the do/give aspect) even though what she really wants is for him to just listen (the connect aspect). Sound familiar?

So much more is in this Parsha...I hope you will take the time to study.

Thank you for reading and Shabbat Shalom!