TORAH READING FOR 4 TEVET 5785 Jan 3-4, 2025
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM Jan 3, 2025
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur” p.180
Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom alëinu, v’al kōl Yisraël, v’al kōl yoshvëi tëvël, v’imru: Amën.
May the One who makes peace in the high heavens make peace for us, for all Israel and all who inhabit the earth, and let us say: Amen.
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayigash
Vayigash (וַיִּגַּשׁ— Hebrew for “And [Judah] Approached [Joseph]”) – Gen. 44:18-47:27
Judah now approached him and said, “By your leave, my lord, please give your servant a hearing, and do not let your anger flare up at your servant–for you are like Pharaoh”. – Genesis 48:18
SUMMARY:
- Judah pleads with Joseph to free Benjamin and offers himself as a replacement. (44:18-34)
- Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and forgives them for selling him into slavery. (45:1-15)
- Although the famine still rages, Pharaoh invites Joseph’s family to “live off the fat of the land.” (45:16-24)
- Jacob learns that Joseph is still alive and, with God’s blessing, goes to Egypt. (45:25-46:33)
- Pharaoh permits Joseph’s family to settle in Goshen. Pharaoh then meets with Jacob. (47:1-12)
- With the famine increasing, Joseph designs a plan for the Egyptians to trade their livestock and land for food. The Israelites thrive in Egypt. (47:13-27)
HAFTARAH
Ezekiel 37:15-28
From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayigash
The parashah and the haftarah both tell stories of the reconciliation of Jacob’s progeny … [and] of the relationship of Judah and Joseph, in the parashah as individuals, and in the haftarah as representatives for the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel.
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the NEW Shazoom schedule below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.44.18-47.27 and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.37.15-28.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayigash
Approaching Another: On Judah’s Lack of Self-Righteousness
By: Rabbi Dr. Wendy Zierler
PRAYERS
FOR OUR COUNTRY p.376
THUS SAYS ADONAI, This is what I desire: to unlock the fetters of wickedness, and untie the cords of lawlessness; to let the oppressed go free, to break off every yoke. Share your bread with the hungry, and take the wretched poor into your home. When you see the naked, give clothing, and do not ignore your own kin.
O GUARDIAN of life and liberty, may our nation always merit Your protection. Teach us to give thanks for what we have by sharing it with those who are in need. Keep our eyes open to the wonders of creation, and alert to the care of the earth. May we never be lazy in the work of peace; may we honor those who have [served, suffered or] died in defense of our ideals. Grant our leaders wisdom and forbearance. May they govern with justice and compassion. Help us all to appreciate one another, and to respect the many ways that we may serve You. May our homes be safe from affliction and strife, and our country be sound in body and spirit. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL p.552
O HEAVENLY ONE, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel which marks the dawning of hope for all who seek peace. Shield it beneath the wings of your love; spread over it the canopy of Your peace; send Your light and truth to all who lead and advise, guiding them with Your good counsel. Establish peace in the land and fullness of joy for all who dwell there. Amen.
FOR HEALING – El Na R’fa Na Lah!
We recite MI SHEBËRACH for the victims of abuse, brutality, conflicts, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, tragedies, violence of all kinds especially directed at individuals and specific communities including us, and war; for all those at home alone or lonely; for all those in need of physical, emotional, and mental healing. “R’fuah sh’lëmah” – a complete recovery!
YAHRZEITS/ANYOS
We say KADDISH YATOM for those of our friends and families who have died and been buried this last week; those in the period of Sh’loshim (30 days since burial); those who have died in the last year; and those whose Yahrzeits/Anyos occur at this time; as well as the victims of brutality, conflict, disease, natural disasters, pandemics, tragedies, violence of all kinds, and war.
This coming week, 4 Tevet through 10 Tevet, we lovingly remember:
Alfredo Espinoza
Father of Mary Caron
Leo Blumberg
TKH Memorial Board, founding member
Those victims of the Sho’ah (Holocaust) who died at this time of year.
“ZICHRONAM LIV’RACHAH” – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE FOR BLESSING.
SHAZOOM ONLY
We will meet for Shazoom ONLY this evening, Friday, January 3, 2025. Please see the NEW Shazoom schedule below.
Zoom regularly updates its security and performance features. If a screen pops up when you first join Shazoom asking permission for the Host to unmute you during the meeting, for everyone’s ease and comfort, click on Allow. Making sure you have the latest version of Zoom, please join us online this evening with wine/grape juice for Kiddush and Challah for Motzi.
Shazoom – Erev Shabbat Service
Time: Jan 3, 2025 06:30 PM Arizona
To join Shazoom click on the following link [you may need to copy it into your browser]: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/72510500854?pwd=Z3VQZWF4U1BBZytNYmh3aHFTWkFDZz09
Meeting ID: 725 1050 0854
Passcode: 4NrMk0
Hint: The last character of the password is the number zero.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos
-Ruben
PS – NEW Schedule through January 2025 for Shazoom (Arizona Time Zone):
January 3, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
January 10, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
January 17, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
January 24, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
January 31, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm