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Service Times
g n i h t e Som e n o y r e v for E
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Parshat Shemini
Shabbat (Mevarchim) Kabbalat Shabbat
18:30
(Candle Lighting)
18:55
Shacharit
09:00
Leining
10:00
Mincha & Seudah
20:05
Shabbat Ends
21:18
25 Nissan 5777 21 April 2017
Security team: Green
Page No.s Artscroll Gutnick Hertz
Leining
Haftarah
588 674 443
1168 1428 454
Weekday Shacharit
Mincha & Ma’ariv
Sun
09:00
19:30
Mon
07:00
19:30
Tues
07:00
19:30
Wed*
06:45
19:30
Thur*
06:45
19:30
Fri
09:00
19:00*
Thought For The Week An Apple A Day A medical student was once watching
home and do whatever he wants, as there
a senior doctor examining his patients.
is no point in giving him all these things
* Rosh Chodesh ** Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat
The first patient came in and spent a few
to monitor. However, for the second man,
Chayim Arukim
minutes with the doctor. The doctor told
he is a strong, healthy man, with plenty
him, “go home, eat whatever you want, do
of years left. Therefore, I recommended a
whatever you want!”
course of living that will be beneficial to him
Candle Lighting
19:00
to all those who have Yahrzeit this week as follows שבת
Maurice Miller Aryeh Gradel
Mother Mother
Sun
Rita Leigh Mark Saperia Aubrey Greene
Mother Father Father
Mon
Rochelle King Angela Chalkin Ruth Benson
Father Sister Father
Tues
Ella Lentin Muriel Davies Martin Davies Gillian Cohen
Mother Husband Father Father
Sharon Buchalter
Father
28 April 2 Iyar
Ruth Rosenthal
Father
שבת
Anne Finestein Trevor Duschenes Helyn Orchant Lawrence Orchant
Mother Mother Husband Father
22 April 26 Nissan
23 April 27 Nissan
24 April 28 Nissan
25 April 29 Nissan
Thurs
27 April 1 Iyar
Fri
29 April 3 Iyar
Kiddushim 22 April Unsponsored
29 April Michelle & Ben Sallon 6 May Unsponsored
Shortly after, a second patient came in. The doctor examined him and said “You have
in the long run, even if it seems difficult to maintain”.
to exercise regularly. You have to eat three
In a similar vein, the details that form the
wholesome meals a day, but you may only
basis of our dietary rules are presented this
eat healthy foods, such as meat, chicken,
week. As with all mitzvot, they are given
fish and green vegetables. Drink lots of
to us for our physical and spiritual benefit,
water, and ensure to shower every day”.
even if they occasionally seem difficult to
The man was surprised. He said to the doctor, ‘I don’t understand! To one man you told him to go and do whatever he liked, whereas to the other man you gave him a
maintain. The important factor to remember is that kashrut nourishes us in a way that is beyond ‘healthy eating’ even if this does not always seem so obvious.
long list of things to do!’
Rabbi Nick Kett
The doctor responded, ‘When I examined the first man, I diagnosed him with a life threatening illness. He only has a couple of weeks to live. Therefore, I told him to go
Shabbat Weather AM Partly Cloudy 12o High 4o Overnight Low
Parsha
S L E W
verview
JE
First Aliyah - 16 verses Moses gathers all the Jews to the Mishkan to witness the Divine presence descending upon the Sanctuary. Aaron offers various sacrifices in preparation for this revelation. Second Aliyah - 7 verses After the offering of the sacrifices, Aaron blesses the people with the priestly blessing. Moses and Aaron bless the Jewish people that G-d’s presence dwell in their handiwork, and, indeed, the Divine presence visibly descends upon the Mishkan. Third Aliyah - 12 verses A heavenly fire descends and consumes the offerings on the altar. Aaron’s eldest two sons, Nadab and Avihu are consumed by a heavenly fire. Aaron and his remaining two sons are told not to observe the traditional laws of mourning, since they had to continue serving on behalf of the Jewish nation. The priests are instructed not to drink wine before performing Temple service. Fourth Aliyah - 4 verses Moses instructs Aaron and his sons to consume that day’s offerings, despite their mourning. Fifth Aliyah - 5 verses Moses expresses his displeasure that one of the sin offerings had been burnt, rather than eaten. Aaron explains his reasoning, and Moses humbly accepts Aaron’s explanation. Sixth Aliyah - 32 verses G-d gives the commandments, explaining how to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher animals, fish, and birds. The Torah then gives a list of species of nonkosher birds, kosher locust. Seventh Aliyah - 15 verses Foods and utensils can contract ritual impurity. A kosher animal improperly sacrificed can convey impurity.Insects and reptiles are forbidden for consumption. The Torah tells us abstention from forbidden foods keeps us holy.
The words that Kohanim bless the community with on Yamim Tovim are found in this week’s parsha.
M S I DA
U J F O
Delve into the deeper side of Judaism This week we take explore the negative connotations of the word ‘vayehi’
This Too Shall Pass The first word of this week’s parsha is ‘Vayehi’ (and it came to pass). According to some Sages the words ‘Vayehi bimei’ - always foreshadows a tale of woe. It is contracted from two Hebrew words ‘vay’ and ‘haya’, denoting “a woeful event came to pass”. Here the term ‘vayehi’ is used to allude to the tragic deaths of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, whose story will be related in the parsha. Other examples of fearful calamities introduced by this expression are: Bereshit 14:1 - “And it came to pass in the days of Amrafel”. These words introduce the war of the four kings against the five kings, during which Lot was taken prisoner. The king’s final aim was to take Lot prisoner in order to draw Avraham into battle and ultimately to slay him. This would have been a blow for the entire world. All families on earth were blessed in Avraham’s merit. Therefore, the Torah draws our attention to the fact that the great tzaddik’s life was threatened.
Esther 1:1 - “And it came to pass in the days
of Achashverosh”. The Book of Esther opens with these words since it relates the attempted genocide of the Jewish People through Haman. Haman was a worse enemy than the previous ones. Pharoah cast newborn Jewish males into the Nile, and Nebuchadnezzar exiled the Torah Sages from the Holy Land before anyone else, in the hope that the Jewish People would be lost without their guid-
Mankind was never given the benefit of the light created on the first day.
ance. However, Haman surpassed both in cruelty, since his aim was nothing less than the total annihilation of our people. Rabbi Yishmael asserted that the expression ‘vayehi’, even if not followed by ‘bimei’, always bears an unfortunate connotation. He was asked about the verse in the account of Creation, “And G-d said ‘Let there be light, and there was light’”. How was
this not a joyous event? He replied that the verse is hinting at a sad implication too. Mankind was never given the benefit of the light created on the first day. Hashem decided that the wicked people of coming generations were unworthy of enjoying it, and He replaced it with the much weaker sunlight which we possess nowadays. He then stored that brilliant light away for the righteous in the Garden of Eden. As for the use of ‘vayehi’ across the account of Creation, he explained that the Torah is revealing that Hashem did not fashion the physical universe in a state of absolute perfection. Rather, His works need improvement through human effort before they can be enjoyed. For example, grains cannot be consumed raw, but must be ground and baked to become edible. Based on ‘The Midrash Says’ by Rabbi M. Weiss
If you would like to share your words of wisdom, please submit your article of no more than 500 words to nick@hale-community.org.uk
Parsha Stats Shemini is the 26th of 54 sedras 3rd of 10 in Vayikra Written on 157.2 lines in a Torah 91 verses - ranks 41st (4th in Vayikra) 1238 words - ranks 41st (5th in Vayikra) 4670 letters - ranks 41st (5th in Vayikra)
Did You Know There are 17 mitzvot in this week’s parsha: 6 positive mitzvot and 11 prohibitions. In any Jewish Leap Year, Parshat Shemini will either coincide with Parshat Parah, or Parshat Hachodesh (the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan).
Tip #25 The ‘Key’ To Success
TEFILLAH TIPS
There is a widespread custom of baking challot for the first Shabbat after Pesach in the shape of a key. It is known by its Yiddish name ‘Shlissel Challah’, and is seen to be a positive omen for success in business.
The origin and reason for this practice are hotly contested. One reason is that historically, Manna ceased to be provided for the Jewish People just after Pesach, upon entering the Land of Israel, so the
key symbolises our request to Hashem to continue providing us with food.
Fundamentally, any ‘segulah’ or ‘omen’ is designed to align our consciousness to understand that Hashem is the Source of all livelihood and of all blessing. As Jews we don’t believe that if we bake challot in a certain shape then money will pour from Heaven. Rather, we continue with our efforts, but recognise that any success is also attributed to His Will.
There is an opinion that says since the Torah forbids a Kohen to drink wine ‘on the job’ immediately after reporting the death of Nadav and Avihu, it must be because Nadav and Avihu had been intoxicated when they brought their inappropriate incense offering.
Just For Fun Question: Why did Frank stop being a vegetarian? Answer: Because he realised his missed steak!
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KING AHEAD POST-PESACH
In The Spotlight Yom Hashoah 2017
EDUCATION
On Monday night, the annual commemorative ceremony for the Shoah will take place at the ‘Audacious’ Conference Centre in Salford. Entitled ‘Choices’, the programme will include the story of Ruth Lachs, a survivor, and an address by guest speaker, Laurence Rees. Laurence is a widelyknown historian, and the former Creative Director of History Programmes for the BBC. He is a documentary filmmaker and author or several books about atrocities committed by the totalitarian states of the Second World War. There will also be strong participation by people from Hale in the programme. As always, the Yom Hashoah event aims to honour the survivors who are still among us, remember the victims, and ensure that the Holocaust continues to be taught. A thousand people are expected to attend the 90 minute programme, and a coach has been organised from South Manchester. Further details can be found on the adjacent flyer.
Mazaltov to Louise & Harvey Burman on the birth of a granddaughter, a daughter to Rebecca and Simon.
If you would like to sponsor an edition of ‘Something For Everyone’, in honour of a simcha or for a yahrzeit, or for any reason, please contact the Shule office on 0161 980 8846 or admin@hale-community.org.uk
Vivienne & Barry Newgrosh on the birth of a granddaughter, a daughter to Mandy & Moosh.