V'zot Habracha 5776

In loving memory of Simon Rothburn z”l Shimon Zvi ben Menachem Mendel z”l

Service Times

g n i h t e Som e n o y r e v for E

Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot 19 Tishrei 5777 21 October 2016

Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat

17:40

(Candle Lighting)

17:40

Shacharit

09:00

Leining

10:15

Mincha followed by Seudah & Ma’ariv

17:35

Shabbat Ends

18:46

Weekday

Sun*

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Shacharit

Ma’ariv Only

08:00

17:35**

Mon

As per the Yom Tov

Tues

Timetable

Security team: Purple

Page No.s Artscroll Art. Siddur Gutnick Hertz

Leining

Maftir

Haftarah

504 961 574 362

894 971 1968 697

1243 973 1528 979

Thought For The Week It Takes Two

Wed

07:00

19:30

One of the four plant species that we are

among pregnant women in some commu-

Thurs

07:00

19:30

instructed to use to celebrate Sukkot is

nities to bite the pittom off an Etrog (after

Fri

07:00

17:25

the Etrog – a large yellow citrus fruit,

Sukkot!) to ensure an easy birth.

17:25***

which is described as ‘pri etz hadar’ –

Candle Lighting

* Hoshanah Rabbah ** Mincha & Ma’ariv *** Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

the fruit of a beautiful tree. One of the requirements for a kosher Etrog fruit is

Chayim Arukim

to all those who have Yahrzeit this week as follows

‫שבת‬ 22 October 20 Tishrei

Sun

Mark Rubin Ivor Harris

Father Wife

23 October 21 Tishrei

Sonia Lee

Mon

Colin Gee Adrienne Paul Wendy Knopf

Father Father Mother

25 October 23 Tishrei

Harvey Burman

Sister

Fri

Behjat Sarir Marilyn Segal Sonia Lee Adrienne Paul Avril Sapier

Brother Father Mother Mother Mother

24 October 22 Tishrei

Tues

28 October 26 Tishrei

Father

that it must be perfect, meaning that it still has both the nodule by which it was attached to the tree – called the uketz – and the bud which appeared before the fruit grew – the pittom or shoshanta – so called because of its rosette shape.

Should either of these fall off, the Etrog is no longer considered beautiful and kosher for use on Sukkot.

Our Rabbis draw an important lesson from this requirement. It is not enough that we are connected to the past and true to the

Children are the key to the future of our families, our Community, and indeed the entire Jewish people. Every year statisticians announce how many Jewish people there are in the world, and how many live in Israel, where the demographic balance is crucial for the survival of the Jewish State.

When we sit in the Sukkah and celebrate the festival of Sukkot, it is not enough to reflect on the past – our glorious history and heritage. We have to make sure that we are also investing ourselves in our glorious future. Our children should be our priority.

Kiddushim

‘tree’ from which we originate – our fam-

22 October Sara & Eugene Esterkin

ily, our heritage and our roots. We must

29 October Unsponsored

The pittom is what remains of the flower

Shabbat Weather

which produces the fruit and it represents

AM Clear

reproduction. There is even a custom

13o High

5 November Unsponsored

Rabbi Joel Portnoy

also hold on to the key to our future.

6o Overnight Low

Parsha

verview

First Aliyah - 7 verses Shortly before he passes away.

Moses blesses each tribe individually. Reuven and Judah are the first tribes to be blessed: Reuben with life in this world and the next one; Judah with success and victory in the course of his battles.

Second Aliyah - 5 verses The holy tribe of Levi is blessed next. Moses praises them as the only tribe to remain faithful to G-d throughout the trials and tests the Israelites encountered in the desert. Benjamin is acknowledged as “G-d’s beloved”. The Holy Temple will be situated in its portion of Israel.

Third Aliyah - 5 verses The Tribe of Joseph are blessed with a portion that will be blessed with ample rain, dew, produce, and delicacies. Joseph is also blessed with unusual strength which he would use to vanquish his enemies.

Fourth Aliyah - 5 verses Zevulun is blessed with success in business and Yissachar in his Torah studies. Gad is blessed with the strength of a lion, and an expanding portion in the Holy Land. Gad is also praised for choosing a portion near to Moses’ final resting place, and for leading the troops in battle in the conquest of Canaan.

Fifth Aliyah - 5 verses Dan is also blessed with strength.

Naftali’s portion is filled with G-d’s blessing. Asher is blessed with sons and an abundance of olive oil. Moses concludes the individual blessings, and addresses the nation as a whole.

Chattan Torah Aliyah - 14 verses Moses notes that the G-d who dwells in the heavens is always ready to come to their assistance.

Moses ascends Mount Nevo.

G-d shows him all of the Land of Israel. Moses dies at the age of one hundred and twenty. The Israelites mourn Moses for thirty days, and Joshua immediately assumes the mantle of leadership.

The Torah concludes with a eulogy for Moses.

kdays During the wee we do of Chol Hamoed, arah not read a Haft le op since many pe have to get to work!

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Delve into the deeper side of Judaism This week, we examine the unique mitzvah of the Four Species

All Fours On Sukkot it is a mitzvah to pick up four kinds of plants: a lulav, an etrog, two aravot (willows), and three hadassim (myrtle) branches.

In the Temple, these Four Species were taken each day for seven days.

However, outside the Temple, according to Torah law, they were taken only on the first day of Sukkot.

After the Temple’s destruction, Rabbi Yochanan instituted that the Jews should take the Four Species on each of the seven days of Sukkot in memory of the Holy Temple.

Why are we commanded to take the Four Species on Sukkot? There are several reasons.

1. On Sukkot, G-d determines how much rain will fall in the coming year.

Hashem orders us to take the Four Species to grant merits so that there will be plentiful rains during the year.

All four species grow by the water. Etrogim prosper by the water. Aravot

are described by Scripture as “aravot of the river” since they grow mainly by brooks. Hadassim grow well by lakes, and lulav palms grow in valleys with good water supplies.

2. Moreover, the Four Species allude to our forefathers and mothers in whose merit G-d bestows blessing upon us.

Etrog is associated with Avraham and Sarah. The

We need to embrace every type of Jew as an equal member of the nation. lulav alludes to Yitzchak and Rivka. Hadassim are associated with Jacob and Leah. Aravot are connected to Joseph and Rachel.

The etrog is both edible and has a pleasant fragrance, corresponding to a Jew who possesses both Torah knowledge and mitzvot.

The lulav stems from the fruit-bearing palm tree but has no sweet smell itself.

It represents the Jew who studies Torah but does not perform mitzvot.

The hadass disseminates a fragrant smell but is not edible, similar to a Jew who observes the mitzvot but lacks Torah knowledge.

The aravot are neither edible nor do they exude a good aroma, comparable to a Jew who is devoid of Torah and mitzvot (but still clings to the Jewish community).

When taking the Four Species, we should bear in mind that we want to model our deeds after those of our great ancestors.

By taking the four items together, we promote the idea that we need to embrace every type of Jew as an equal member of the nation. This unity brings immense pleasure to Hashem.

3. The Four Species also represent four types of Jew.

Based on ‘The Midrash Says’,

by Rabbi M. Weissman

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

-- For Ladies -Come along to our new weekly dance class, starting Monday 5th December, from 8-9pm in the Pearl Suite, led by our very own Debbie Hilton.

Samba, Jazz Dance and Zumba those winter blues away!

Pre-register with Gillian Cohen on 07785 270 044 or email voiceconnect1@aol.com Limited spaces.

No charge - a service to the community.

Parsha Stats V’zot Habracha is the 54th of 54 sedras 11th of 11 in Devarim Written on 92 lines in a Torah 41 verses - ranks 52nd (9th in Devarim) 512 words - ranks 54th (11th in Devarim) 1969 letters - ranks 54th (11th in Devarim)

Did You Know Starts Wednesday 2nd November Ladies Class 7.45pm at the Zemmels, 19 Hill Top Men’s Class 8.45pm at the Marks, 18 Broad Lane or Rabbi Aharon 07817 780 193

QA &

Read through the Parsha in English and find answers to the questions.

LOLLIPOPS WILL BE AWARDED TO ANYONE WHO READS THROUGH IT, AND TELLS RABBI NICK THE CORRECT ANSWERS!

Which hand did Moses use to present the Torah?

Which Tribe is blessed with the bounty of the moon’s yield?

What type of animal is Dan blessed as?

Which Tribe will be the ‘most blessed’?

How old was Moses when he died?

How could Moses have written the final eight verses of the Torah?

The final parsha of the year is not read individually on a Shabbat, like normal. Rather, it is incorporated into the readings for Simchat Torah. Parshat Bereshit will be the next public Shabbat reading.

Since the custom is to give every male an aliyah to the Torah, the first five portions of V’zot Habrachah are repeated continuously until everybody has been given a chance.

The final reading includes the remaining verses, and completes the annual cycle of the entire Torah.

On Simchat Torah we immediately commence the first portion of Parshat Bereishit in order to emphasise that the study of Torah can never really end. Instead, there are new levels of depth to unravel with each cycle.

Just For Fun Question: When does a lulav greet everyone?

Answer: At the “hi” holidays!

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS: 1. Four. 2. In a desert. 3. Yeshurun (The Jewish People).

4. Sodom.

5. Merivat Kadesh.

BONUS: 32:3 - “When I call out the Name o Hashem, ascribe greatness to our G-d.

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KING AHEAD

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COMMUNITY

In The Spotlight Maurice Esterkin & Laura Saunders

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TRUST PROGRAMMES

Simchat Torah in Hale

Tuesday 25th October

Ma’ariv & Hakafot at 6.10pm

Wednesday 26th October

Hakafot at 10.15am Aliyot for all men and boys post-Barmitzvah All the children will be called up to the Torah together

Kiddunch in honour of this year’s Chattanim Chattan Torah: Daniel Maslin Chattan Bereishit: Barry Price No booking needed, everyone welcome!

This week we highlight the forthcoming marriage of Maurice to Laura.

Laura is originallly from Maida Vale, and is a casting director in the West End. Maurice works as a solicitor.

They met through Laura’s brother, who is a friend of Maurice. The couple will be settling in West Hampstead after the wedding, whcih takes place on Sunday 30th October at the Landmark Hotel.

We welcome Laura’s parents Regine and Philip Saunders to Hale this Shabbat.

Maurice is honoured to be celebrating with his grandparents, Lord Alliance and Alma Alliance, and it is at this time that we remember the late Pearl and Maurice Esterkin, after whom the groom is named.

We wish Mazaltov to Maurice’s siblings Elora, and husband Doniel, to Daniel and to Jade, as well as to Sara and Eugene, and we thank them for their hospitality.

Mazaltov to Elaine & Gerald Adlestone in celebration of their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

Jenny & Steve Berman and to Linda & Paul Berman on the birth of a daughter and granddaughter.

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

Sara & Eugene Esterkin on the occasion of Maurice’s forthcoming marriage to Laura Saunders.