Shabbat - 12/29/07 (20 Tevet 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Shemot (Exodus 1:1-6:1). Topics in Shemot: The generation passes, Pharaoh’s plot, Infanticide, The birth of Moses, Moses identifies with his people, Moses marries, G-d concludes that the time of salvation has arrives, The burning bush, Moses’ doubts and G-d’s reassurance, The Names of G-d, The request to the Egyptians, Moses doubts the people’s faith, Moses’ desperate plea, G-d’s response, Moses’ objections are overridden, Moses embarks for Egypt, Zipporah circumcises her son, Moses and Aaron come to Pharaoh, Pharaoh increases the burden on the people, Egyptian taskmasters and Jewish foremen, Protesting in vain, The Jews complain to Moses and Aaron; Moses complains to G-d, Portent for the future For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 12/22/07 (13 Tevet 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Vayigash (Genesis 47:28-50:26). Topics in Vayiechi: Jacob’s end draws near; his request of Joseph, Jacob’s illness, The blessing of Manasseh and Ephraim, Reuven, Simeon and Levi, Judah and a tiny glimpse at the Messianic era, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin, Jacob’s final request, Jacob is mourned by all Egypt, Permission for burial, The burial procession, Joseph reassures his brothers, Joseph lives out his years, Signs of the redemption For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 12/15/07 (6 Tevet 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27). Topics in Vayigash: Judah steps forward, Joseph identifies himself and conciliates his brothers, Pharaoh joins in the welcome, Joseph dispenses gifts and sends his brothers off, Jacob receives the news, Jacob undertakes the journey to Joseph, Israel’s descendants journeying to Egypt, The grand total of seventy descendants, Jacob arrives in Egypt, Joseph ensures his family’s settlement in Goshen, Joseph reports his father and brother’s arrival to Pharaoh, Jacob and Pharaoh meet, Joseph and the famine For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 12/08/07 (28 Kislev 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17). Topics in Miketz: Pharaoh’s dream, The Chamberlain of the Cupbearer’s “remembers Joseph”, Joseph is summoned, Pharaoh recapitulated his dream, Joseph’s interpretation, Joseph becomes Viceroy, Joseph’s plan is implemented, Joseph’s children: Manasseh and Ephraim, The famine devastates Egypt, Jacob sends his sons to Egypt, The brothers bow to Joseph, Joseph stands his ground, but offers his brothers a way out, The brothers’ regret, Joseph chooses his hostage, Joseph sends them back—with their money, The dialogue with Jacob, The brothers request that Jacob send Benjamin to Egypt, Joseph sees Benjamin and tests his brothers’ sincerity, The final test: Benjamin is accused of thievery, Judah, the leader of the brothers, speaks on behalf of all For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Happy Chanukah!

Chanukah, the festival of lights, is a Rabbinic clebration that begins on 25 Kislev (in November or December). Chanukah celebrates the miracle of the oil in the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees’ defeat of the Greek army as well as the Jew’s freedom in the current time. Chanukah is not mentioned in the Hebrew Scripture but is related in the book of Maccabbees, which Jews do not accept as scripture. The only religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a chanukiah that holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shamus (servant) at a different height. It is traditional to eat fried foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes), on Chanukah because of the significance of oil to the holiday. Gift-giving is not a traditional part of the holiday, but has been added in places where Jews have a lot of contact with Christians, as a way of dealing with our children's jealousy of their Christian friends. It is extremely unusual for Jews to give Chanukah gifts to anyone other than their own young children. The only traditional gift of the holiday is gelt, small amounts of money (often chocolate coins). Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or gelt.