Vezot Habracha 5777

In loving memory of Morris Ingber z”l Menashe ben Yehudah z”l

Service Times

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

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Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot

Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat

18:15

(Candle Lighting)

18:15

Shacharit

09:15

Leining

10:15

Mincha

18:10

Shabbat Ends

19:20

Weekday

17 Tishrei 5778 7 October 2017

Security team: Red

Page No.s Artscroll Art. Siddur Gutnick Hertz

Leining

Maftir

Haftarah

504 961 574 362

894 971 1968 697

1243 973 1528 979

Shacharit

Mincha & Ma’ariv

Sun

08:30

18:30

Mon

07:00

18:30

Tues

07:00

18:30

Wed

06:30*

18:05

Thur

09:15

18:05

One of the four plant species that we are

pregnant women in some communities to

Fri

09:00

18:00

instructed to use to celebrate Sukkot is the

bite the pittom off an Etrog (after Sukkot!)

Etrog – a large yellow citrus fruit, which is

to ensure an easy birth.

Candle Lighting

18:00

* Hoshana Rabba See timetable for full Yom Tov times

beautiful tree. One of the requirements for a

to all those who have Yahrzeit this week as follows 8 Oct 18 Tishrei

Mon

9 Oct 19 Tishrei

Tues

which it was attached to the tree – called

Naomi Wright

Mother

before the fruit grew – the pittom or sho-

11 Oct 21 Tishrei

Sonia Lee

Father

Thurs

Colin Gee Adrienne Paul Wendy Knopf

Father Father Mother

Harvey Burman Mark Mattison

Sister Brother

12 Oct 22 Tishrei

Thurs

13 Oct 23 Tishrei

meaning that it still has both the nodule by

Father Father

Father

Wed

kosher Etrog fruit is that it must be perfect,

Stephen Morris Leonard Morris

Mark Rubin

10 Oct 20 Tishrei

It Takes Two

described as ‘pri etz hadar’ – the fruit of a

Chayim Arukim Sun

Thought For The Week

Kiddushim 5 October Community Kiddush 7 October Nikki & Stephen Lee 14 October Community Kiddush 21 October Sarah & Darren Massel

the uketz – and the bud which appeared shanta – 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 ‘tree’ from which we originate – our family,

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.

Rabbi Joel Portnoy

our heritage and our roots. We must also hold on to the key to our future. The pittom is what remains of the flower which produces the fruit and it represents reproduction. There is even a custom among

Shabbat Weather AM Scattered Showers 14o High 8o 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.

During the weekdays of Chol Hamoed, we do not read a Haftarah since many people have to get to work!

S L E W

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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

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 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.

Tip #48 Extra Special

TEFILLAH TIPS

So far, we have examined the chapters that comprise the Pesukei Dezimra section of the morning service. On Shabbat, this section is extended with additional chapters that reflect the unique character of the day.

The Zohar teaches that the prayers of Shabbat morning symbolise the special spiritual bliss that adorns the Jewish People.

This heightened holiness is expressed by these additions. The choice of chapters is based on three fundamental concepts related to Shabbat: the remembrance that G-d finished creating the world in six days and rested on Shabbat; the remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt; and the idea that Shabbat is a taste of the World to Come.

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!

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KING AHEAD

In The Spotlight Josh Lee & Robyn Price This week’s kiddush is in celebration of Josh’s aufruf and forthcoming marriage to Robyn Price. Their wedding will take place in Israel after Sukkot, and after a frantic week of re-booking nearly 100 flights, they are delighted to confirm that they will actually be there!

Josh and Robyn, both 27, have known each other for many years, but only started dating four years ago.

They will be settling in town after the wedding, but hope to move to Hale in the next few years.

Josh works in property, and is an avid golfer and United fan (in a family of City supporters!) Robyn is an area manager for Aldi.

Josh will be joined in Israel by friends and family from all over the world, including England (!) and Australia. He is delighted to be celebrating with his grandma, Ann Lee, and it is at this time that we remember David Lee, and Leonore & Warren Winetroube z”l.

We wish Mazaltov to Josh’s parents Nikki & Stephen, Robyn’s parents, Linda and Barry, and grandparents Rosalind and Eddie Price, and we thank Nikki and Stephen for their hospitality.

Mazaltov to

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

Nikki & Stephen Lee, and to Linda & Barry Price, and to Rosalind & Eddie Price on Joshua’s aufruf and Joshua & Robyn’s forthcoming marriage in Israel.