Torah: Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-35:29) Haftarah: (Obadiah 1:1-21)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hanukkah First night is Sunday, November 28, 2021/25 Kislev 5782
Hanukkah Celebration will be on Friday, December 3, 2021/29 Kislev 5782
Beit Chaverim will also have the New Torah Dedication and Shabbat “Short” Service!
This Shabbat the Torah continues with Jacob wrestling with a man-angel who changes his name to Israel. Jacob and meet and part peacefully at their father’s funeral.
The midrash(story based on Torah) is that Esau fell on his brother Jacob’s neck. The Torah has 5 stars, one for each letter describing this kiss on his neck. G-d hardened Jacob’s neck to prevent his brother, Esau from biting his jugular. So the marks symbolize Esau’s teeth.
Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, is violated by the King’s son, Shechem. Leah’s two brothers take revenge on the city of Shechem and kill all the males and plunder the city. Jacob was furious when hearing this news because their enemies may take revenge on them and their allies will not support them when trying to conquer the Holy Land.
Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin and is buried near Bethlehem. G-d punished her for having an idol in her baggage. She is the only Matriarch not buried at the Cave of Machpelah. The Israelites placed a stone on her grave. Today, Jews continue to place stones on their loved ones’ graves to show people visited and gave them respect.
Isaac dies and is buried in Cave Machpelah which is in Hebron near his parents Abraham and Sarah. The Parsha (portion) ends with the listing of the genealogy of Jacob and Esau.
Some of us have struggles in our lives, and each of us have the ability to overcome them. Sometimes one’s challenges are too heavy and that individual needs guidance or extra love and kindness to succeed. The Torah wrote Jacob, when he was struggling or unsure of himself succeeding in his endeavors. Oftentimes the Patriarchs asked the Matriarchs for their guidance. The Torah wrote Israel instead of Jacob to imply not only he fought with an angel or G-d and won, but Israel showed his inner strengths and succeeded. When one writes in Hebrew Ysrael it represents all the Patriarchs and Matriarchs first initials. Thus the Jewish people are called, “THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL” because together we are STRONGER!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
Latke Recipe:
4-6 White Potatoes, 2 eggs, 1 onion, salt and pepper to taste
I use about 3 Tbsp matzah meals. You may use flour, it will be heavier. You may add more matzah meal or flour for thickness.
Vegetable Oil
Wash and peel the potatoes, and place in cold water so they do not brown.
Grate potatoes and onions in a large bowl. Beat the eggs separately (one at a time just in case an egg may be bad) and add the eggs, salt and pepper, and matzah meal to the large bowl. Mix all ingredients. Heat oil in a large pan. Form a ball of the mixture and flatten in hand to form a small pancake. Put gently into hot oil. Be careful when adding pancakes. Let fry.Take a spatula to turn and brown both sides. Drain pancake (Latkes) onto a paper towel. The thickness of the Latkes can vary, however thicker ones need more time frying.
Don’t worry if you nick your hand while grating the potatoes and onions – this is the extra special seasoning. ONLY KIDDING! Please be careful if children are helping.
Sour cream to use is dairy ONLY! Applesauce is Parve (neither meat or dairy)!
Enjoy:)
Other recipes and items for the holidays are found in my book, “A Novice’s Guide Through The Jewish Holidays” and it makes a nice gift, too.
