Torah: Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23) Haftarah: (Amos 2:6-3:8)
Hag Urim! Happy Festival of Lights! Happy Hanukkah
First Night of Hanukkah will be sundown, Sunday, December 18, 2022/ 25 Kislev 5782
This Shabbat the Torah continues with Joseph’s dreams, which caused jealousy among his brothers. Joseph’s brothers sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelites. The story of Judah and Tamar. Joseph rejects Potiphar’s wife. Joseph is thrown into prison, and interprets dreams of Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker.
In ancient times, dreams have tantalized people with their inner secrets. Today, dreams are used to explore the inner thoughts of the dreamer’s mind. In ancient times, however, dreams were thought to be signs from the divine powers exposing their intent. During this time frame in Mesopotamia and Egypt there were professional dream interpreters. This Torah portion has six dreams. Two are by Joseph, two by the prisoners, and two by Pharaoh added to the suspense of the Joseph story. Joseph attributes his ability of interpreting dreams to G-d, the ultimate Interpreter
(Genesis 40:8). Joseph throughout his life gave all the honor to G-d.
Another important mitzvah is Nichun Aveilim: Comforting mourners. It is a religious duty to visit mourners and to offer them comfort and consolation to one who lost a loved one. In our Torah portion, when Jacob believes his son Joseph died, he rends his garment and mourns for his son many days. All of his sons and daughters rose up to offer him comfort. (Genesis 37:35).
Today, when comforting a mourner, you are not permitted to open the conversation before the mourner has spoken, and if you perceive that the mourner wants you to leave, you must do so. The traditional phrase of comfort that one addresses to a mourner is:
“ May G-d comfort you along with the rest of the mourners of Zion.”
If you notice the night sky each night, you view the moon. On Sunday night there will be no moon thus no LIGHT. Hanukkah is the celebration of our Religious Freedom! Our ancestors’ the Maccabees’ righteous actions to fight Hellenisitc ways of the Greek Assyrian Empire had brought the LIGHT back into the dark world. It was as if a bright light came to their minds that with G-d’s help they would win a victory against the Greeks. This week Jews around the world will be celebrating Hanukkah and they will kindle their Hanukkiot/menorahs.
Each of us has the ability to do a mitzvah or mitzvot every day, and these righteous actions bring more LIGHT into the community and world.
May the lights from the candles bring that Ruach:spirit into our life and a better closeness to G-d.
Instructions for Kindling the Hanukkiah
Say the blessings before lighting the candles.
Kindle the Shamash (Helper candle) first. Remember candles are placed like reading Hebrew, right to left, however the kindling is done with the newest candle first (left to right).
Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha’Olam, Asher kiddushanu b’mitzvotav
V’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Blessed are You, O Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah Lights.
Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha’Olam she’asah nissim la’avotaynu
Ba’yamim ha’hem baz’man hazeh.
Blessed are You, our Lord, our G-d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in days gone by in this season of the year.
This final blessing is for the FIRST NIGHT ONLY!
The other two blessings are recited each night!
Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam, Shehekheyanu,V’ki’manu,
V’higiyanu laz’man hazeh.
Blessed are You, O Lord, our G-d, King of the universe, who has kept us in life and enabled us to reach this day.
On Erev Shabbat (Friday night) of Hanukkah, December 23, 2022/ 29 Kislev 5783
Kindle the Hanukkiah First, open your gifts and then kindle the Sabbath candles!
Why this way? If one kindles the Sabbath candles first, you cannot light the Hanukkiah because on the Sabbath nothing can be created (kindle of candles)
On Saturday night Jews recite Havdalah blessings First, and then they kindle the Hanukkiah.
Remember to recite both blessings for Hanukkah!
I have also written the Maoz Tzur in Hebrew transliteration and English for you to enjoy singing on Hanukkah. We will be singing a few songs on Sunday to really show our RUACH! For those that will not be joining us, enjoy your CELEBRATION of HANUKKAH!
MA-OZ TZUR Y’SHU-A-TEE Rock of ages, let our song
L’cha ns-e l’sha-be-ah Praise Thy saving power;
Ti-kon bet t’fee-la-tee Thou, amidst the raging foes,
V’Sham to-da n’za-be-ah Was our sheltering tower:
L’et ta-chin mat-be-ah Furious they assailed us,
Mee-tzar ha-m’na-be-ah. But Thine arm availed us,
V’az eg-mor b’shir miz-mor And Thy word broke their sword
Ha-nu-kah ha-miz-be-ah. When our own strength failed us.
V’az eg-mor b’shir miz-mor And Thy word broke their sword.
Ha-nu-kah ha-miz-be-ah. When our own strength failed us.
Enjoy eating your latkes/potato pancakes, Sufganiyot/jelly donuts and all your singing 🙂
Shabbat Shalom, and Hag Urim/Happy Festival of Lights/Happy Hanukkah,
Rabbi Helene and Michael and the whole Ainbinder family to yours!
