Vayeira 5777

Sponsored in loving memory of Lord Leonard Steinberg z”l Eliezer ben Yitzchak z”l

Service Times

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

Parshat Vayeira

17 Cheshvan 5777 18 November 2016

Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat

15:50

(Candle Lighting)

15:50

Shacharit

09:15

Leining

10:15

Mincha follows Kiddush Shabbat Ends

17:01

Ma’ariv

17:20

Weekday Shacharit

Ma’ariv

Sun

09:00

19:30

Mon

07:00

19:30

Tues

07:00

19:30

Wed

07:00

19:30

Thurs

07:00

19:30

Fri

07:00

Candle Lighting

Security team: Blue

1134 1379 76

16:00

the youth, and anyone else for that matter.

their eyes, they had only one choice.

15:40*

I relish the challenge. Most of the time, I

to Alex and Jeremy Arnold on the loss of Linda, to Brian and Hannah Freeman on the loss of Norma, and to all those who have Yahrzeit this week as follows

1918 November Cheshvan

Brenton Walshaw

Brother

Sun

Mildred Stratton Andrew Stratton Jenny Hymanson

Husband Father Father

Wed

David Sheldon Peter Kaye

Father Father

24 November 23 Cheshvan

Victor Brim

Mother

‫שבת‬

Ben Solomons Marie Lewis Susan Kaitcer Helen Morris

Brother Father Mother Mother

26 November 25 Cheshvan

78 94 63

they were the sole survivors. Therefore, in

ing the questioner disappointed that he

Thurs

Haftarah

I am always keen to accept questions from

Chayim Arukim

23 November 22 Cheshvan

Leining

A ‘Lot’ To Think About

have a suitable answer close to hand, leav-

20 November 19 Cheshvan

Page No.s Artscroll Gutnick Hertz

Thought For The Week

* Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

‫שבת‬

d"sb

Mazaltov to Sara & Raymond Crammer, and Shirley Horwich on the engagement of Hannah to Josh Woolf.

Nikki & Stephen Lee, Linda & Barry Price, and Rosalind & Eddie Price on the engagement of Robyn and Josh.

hasn’t been able to ‘stump’ me. However, in my second year here in Hale, I was asked a question that I was totally unprepared for.

Secondly, the genealogical descendant of one of the unions is Ruth, the progenitor of King David, and eventually, the Moshiach.

Hashem wanted to teach us a crucial lesson. Our greatest leaders, Moshiach included, were not born with a silver spoon. Even

The basis for this question was taken from

if you have skeletons in your closet, and a

this week’s parsha. We read about Lot and

deep, dark past, you still have the potential

his daughters escaping from Sodom and

to become great. The Moshiach descends

taking refuge in a cave. During their time

from one of the most tainted taboos imag-

in the cave, Lot and his daughters ‘misbe-

inable, and yet he will lead our people from

have’, and as a result of that, two children

darkness to light, and unite the world in

are born.

peace.

The question was simple: How could G-d

May we merit to greet him in the very near

allow for such a forbidden act to take

future. Shabbat Shalom.

place? I told him I would come back with

Rabbi Nick Kett

an answer. Six months later, I told him the following two points: Firstly, Lot and his daughters were absolutely convinced that they had just witnessed the annihilation of mankind, and

Shabbat Weather AM Partly Cloudy 6o High 2o Overnight Low

Parsha

verview

First Aliyah - 14 verses While recovering from his recent Brit, G-d pays Avraham a visit.

Avraham interrupts the moment to show hospitality to three strangers, who were actually angels. The angels inform Avraham and Sarah that they will give birth to a child one year. Sarah laughs because they are too old for childbirth.

Second Aliyah - 19 verses The angels move on to their next mission: to destroy the five cities and rescue Lot. When G-d informs Avraham of the impending destruction, he unsuccessfully barters with G-d to try and spare Sodom on account of the righteous people who live there.

Third Aliyah - 20 verses Lot invites the angels into his home. The Sodomites learn that he is hosting guests, and they demand he hands them over. He refuses, and the angels tell him to flee with his wife and daughters, and not to look back.

Fourth Aliyah - 40 verses Sodom is destroyed, and Lot’s wife dies from looking behind.

Lot and his daughters hide in a cave, where they get him drunk and seduce him. They give birth to sons. Avraham moves to Avimelech’s kingdom. Avimelech is punished with a plague for trying to take Sarah. Sarah gives birth to Yitzchak at 99, and he is circumcised on the 8th day.

Fifth Aliyah - 17 verses Sarah demands for Yishmael to be sent away because of his negative influence. G-d agrees, and he leaves with his mother to the desert. Just as she thinks there is no water, an angel reveals with location of a well.

Sixth Aliyah - 13 verses Avraham makes a peace pact with Avimelech, and seals ownership of a well he dug in Be’er Sheva.

Seventh Aliyah - 24 verses The story of Avraham taking his son, Yitzchak, to sacrifice him. The Torah traces Rebecca’s lineage, who we see next week becomes Yitzchak’s wife.

to lie Hashem had so that am to Avrah t get he would no by his d e d n be offe ent. wife’s comm

S L E W

JE

M S I DA

U J F O

Delve into the deeper side of Judaism This week we focus on Avraham sacrificing his son Yitzchak

Did G-d Really Mean It? Avraham was now a hundred and thirty seven years old. He had successfully passed nine trials of ascending difficulty. Now he was to face the crucial test that was equal to all the nine previous tests combined.

These trials were imperative, not in order to reveal Abraham’s righteousness to G-d, but rather to elevate Abraham himself, and to demonstrate to the world how great he is.

Even after nine trials, the nations complained, “Why should Hashem distinguish Abraham above all other human beings?

Why is it that He delivered Abraham from the burning oven, saved him from the enemy’s army, and performed miracles for him?”

Hashem answered, “I will give you proof that Abraham is worthy of My special protection. Even if I tell him to sacrifice his own son, he will obey!”

This episode raises many fundamental questions, foremost of which is how G-d can ‘permit’ murder and human sacrifice, when

in every other instance He forbids it? Furthermore, this comman directly contradicts the Divine promise that Isaac would become his heir? These questions, and others, also arose in Abraham’s mind, but he refrained from voicing them. Instead, he unhesitatingly undertook the steps neccessary to fulfill Hashem’s commandment.

Ultimately, this was the root of Hashem’s test; will he still commit Himself to serving G-d, even

How can G-d permit murder and human sacrifice?

when he is commanded by that G-d to do something which seems to contradict everything he had been told reviously?

This is why the tenth test was equal to the others, as it had the potential to completely uproot the accomplishments of the previous nine.

There are several basic Torah principles that may be derived from study-

ing the narrative of the Akeidah.  It teaches us that someone who loves Hashem must be prepared to give up what is most precious to him, even his own life or the lives of his children.

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac on the basis of Hashem’s word alone demonstrates that a prophet is clearly cognisant of the truth of the prophecy he receives.



 It shows that our forefathers presupposed the existence of another world beyond this one. If not for Abraham’s belief in the World to Come, he certainly would not have agreed to sacrifice his only son and continue living a life without hope and without a future. He was ready to listen to G-d’s commandment knowing that for his sacrifice in this world, G-d would repay him well in Olam Habah.

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

Parsha Stats Vayeira is the 4th of 54 sedras 4th of 12 in Bereshit Written on 252 lines in a Torah (ranks 5th) 147 verses - ranks 7th (4th in Bereshit) 2085 words - ranks 2nd (1st in Bereshit) 7862 letters - ranks 3rd (2nd in Bereshit)

Did You Know

Magen David Adom UK

There are 17 Parshiyot in the Torah that do not contain a single mitzvah. Vayeira is one of them. However there are plenty of lessons about character development.

The annual Magen David Adom UK dinner takes place on Sunday 4th December at The Lowry, featuring legendary comedian, Hugh Dennis.

Over £40,000 of donations has been raised

by Hale Shule members, which has gone towards the refurbishment of an MDA station in East Jerusalem, which services all local residents. This fantastic sum has been raised over three years at the Yom Kippur appeal and from other donations by Hale Shule members.

Tip #4 You Have The Power

Sharon & Jeremy Hart, Linda & Barry Price, and Rabbi Portnoy, pictured with the team from the MDA station

If you would like any further information about MDA UK or the upcoming dinner, please contact Jeremy Hart.

TEFILLAH TIPS

A-list celebrities have the power to ask anyone for anything, and most of the time they will get their way immediately. If they talk, they can be guaranteed an audience listening to their every word. As Jews, we are supposed to imagine that we are each the most important person in the world. This doesn’t mean that we should put aside all modesty.

However, one needs to accept, understand, and totally believe that, as individuals, our prayers will actually make a difference to world events.

Your davening actually can make a difference in what happens to you, to your family, to you entire community, and with the appropriate degree of kavanah, the entire Jewish People.

The mitzvah of ‘P’ru U’rvu’ (being fruitful and multiplying) is mentioned three times in this week’s parsha, whereas it was only mentioned once last week.

The seventh portion of this week’s Torah reading is the longest in the Torah.

The Moshiach is descended from the child born from Lot and his daughter.

Just For Fun When Lot’s wife looked back as she was walking, she turned into a pillar of salt.

When I looked back as I was driving, I turned into a lamppost!

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KING AHEAD

In The Spotlight Shabbat UK

WIDER KEHILLAH

EDUCATION This Week!

Last week, the community came together to celebrate Shabbat together, joining with thousands across the country, and several thousands more across the world, including countries such as Ethiopia and Ghana.

We would like to thank the whole community for their participation. From the Friday night dinner for over 200 people, a rather special Shabbat Morning service complete with Bat Chayil, some 150 at Shabbat lunches, including a lunch for 20 young families in the Shule, and a Grand Havdalah event, held jointly with Shaare Hayim...it was wonderful that the community came together in such a special way.

We thank all those who contributed to the weekend’s organisation, particularly Michelle Sallon and her team for a beautiful Friday night dinner and our inspirational Guest Speaker, Rabbi YY Rubinstein, for his words throughout Shabbat.

Kiddushim 19 November Unsponsored 26 November Jennifer & Steven Berman 3 December Unsponsored

The Unveiling For 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

Angela Chalkin’s sister will take place tomorrow - 11am at Southern Cemetery with L’Chaim at Shaare Hayim, Didsbury afterwards.