וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָהַ֤ב אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִכׇּל־בָּנָ֔יו כִּֽי־בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים ה֖וּא ל֑וֹ וְעָ֥שָׂה ל֖וֹ כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים׃ “Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age. Thus he had made for him an ornamented, multicolored tunic”. (Genesis 37:3)
I have to admit that I have always been intrigued by Joseph’s famous coat of many colors, which is mentioned in this week’s Torah portion of Vayeshev. In part, it is a result of my own preoccupation with haberdashery; one of my few guilty pleasures. But more consequentially, because it appears that it is this striped tunic that serves as the straw that breaks the proverbial “camel’s back” in the already fraught relationship between our patriarch Joseph and his siblings.
Clearly, tensions existed between Joseph and his brothers long before Jacob bestowed this gift upon his favored child. However, it is only with the gifting of the coat that their aggravation and antipathy shift from strong dislike to abject hatred. In fact, when the brothers kidnap Joseph, their first act is violently stripping him of this garment as a way in which to dispossess him of any sense of himself as special, unique and elevated.
Some commentators suggest that the reason the tunic created such antagonism was because it became an outward symbol of Jacob’s yearning to strip his first born, Reuven, of his birthright and hand it over to a favored younger child; a theme that repeats itself many times over in our sacred writ.
The great Biblical Commentator Rashi, quoting earlier Midrashic sources, points out that the four letters of the word Pasim (striped coat) presages many of Joseph’s future predicaments.
The name Potiphar, whose wife attempted to seduce Joseph, begins with the letter Pay, the first letter in the word Pasim, the striped coat.
The word Socharim, Merchants, to whom Joseph was sold as a slave by his vengeful brothers, begins with the letter Samech.
The name of those who acquired Joseph from the Midianites, the Ishmaelites, opens with the letter Yud.
And finally, the word Midianites, the people who first traded for Joseph, begins with the letter Mem.
Of course, for us post-moderns there must be more to this explanation than simply a quaint dissection of the use of Hebrew letters to form a somewhat opaque word in the Bible. So what might we learn, existentially, from this Rabbinic insight?
Likely, there are several important lessons to be garnered. However, for me the most consequential is the notion that we, often unwittingly, accept gifts that may at first blush appear to be deserved and beneficial, given earnestly and with love and true admiration, and yet sadly, turn out to be unwelcomed albatrosses. In our case, we have to wonder how the tale of Joseph and his clan might have turned out had Joseph refrained not from graciously accepting the well-intentioned gift of his father, but rather from flaunting it in front of his already resentful siblings. Though the narrative ends with Joseph as the Viceroy of the Egyptian Empire and thus able to sustain the Levant, the road to prosperity for the region and liberation four our people is a protracted and circuitous one. We can only wonder what might have been had Joseph shown a bit more modesty and a modicum of restraint.
As we return once again to the Bible’s engaging tales of Joseph, let us be open to the possibility that our predecessors not only teach by the acts they commit, but also by reminding us of those actions from which we should consciously refrain. For often, it is measured self-control that leads not only to clarity, but also to elevation of our deepest, most refined expressions of self.
With blessings for a Shabbat filled with insight and discernment. Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose ravroseba@bnaiamoona.com
314-576-9990 x105
Shabbat Service Schedule & Candle Lighting Times
Shabbat Candlelighting:
Friday, November 26 at 4:24 pm
Havdallah, Saturday, November 27 at 5:12 pm
Friday, November 26 Musical Friday Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Main Sanctuary: 6:00 pm In-Person, Livestream, FB Live,Kosher Zoom (Password: Shabbat)
Saturday, November 27 Tefillah with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose and Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Main Sanctuary: 9:00 am
Night Three: Light Up the Night Tuesday, November 30 at 4:45 pm (5:15 pm Chanukah Candle Lighting) Join us for a Home Run Chanukah with our special guest, Fredbird! Activities include art and craft tables and music provided by students and families of the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. We'll light the Chanukiah together at 5:15 pm. This event will take place outdoors on the Mirowitz side of our parking lot.
This event is co-sponsored by Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School.
Night Four: Sisterhood Menorahs & Mahjongg Wednesday, December 1 from 6:45 pm - 8:30 pm BA Sisterhood welcomes you to bring your Chanukah Menorah and 2021-2022 Mahj card (and set if you have one) and celebrate the fourth night of Chanukah at B'nai Amoona. It will be an evening of laughter and light! This program will take place at B'nai Amoona, please clickHERE to register.
Night Four: BAUSY Chanukah Celebration Wednesday, December 1 from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm A Chanukah party - BAUSY style! All teenagers in 9th-12th grade are invited to join in the festivities!
Contact Liessa Alperin at liessa@bnaiamoona.com or call 314-576-9990 x116 for more information.
Night Five: Chanukah Happy Hour for Individuals 30ish-50ish Thursday, December 2 Beginning at 7:30 pm A grown-up wine and cheese Chanukah celebration full of good eats, good conversation and a white elephant gift exchange.
Todah Rabbah to Rachel Armoza who will be preparing our delicious appetizers and desserts and to an anonymous donor who is generously sponsoring this event.
Online registration is required, please clickHEREto register.
Night Six: EKS Dreidel Spinoff! Friday, December 3 from 5:15 pm - 5:45 pm All the fun usually packed into our EKS Services with a Chanukah spin! A Dreidel spin that is! We will join together in the Main Sanctuary on the upper and lower Bimah for this festive Service full of Chanukah fun! Online registration is required, please clickHEREto register.
Night Seven: Tribe MeCA Chanukah + Havdallah Saturday Night, December 4 from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Gather 'round the fire pit with your friends for Chanukah and Havdallah. Chef Jon is preparing an incredible lineup of heavy hors d'oeuvres, desserts and drinks.
This event will take place indoors and outside. You do NOT want to miss this amazing evening!
Online registration is required, please clickHEREto register.
Night Eight: Cones, Cocoa & Candles Sunday, December 5 with time slots from 3:00 - 5:00 pm A Sweet Chanukah treat is in store for the eighth night! We'll enjoy Chanukah inspired ice cream from Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery and hot cocoa at the Town Square Pavilion in Town and Country, Missouri and light the final candle with our special guest, Louie, the mascot for the St. Louis Blues. Chanukah activities are provided by PJ Library.
Thirty minute time slots begin at 3:00 pm and online registration is required. Please clickHEREto register.
Beverly Stuhlman on the birth of her great-granddaughter, Evelyn Roemer. Proud parents are Laura Beth Goldin Roemer and Josh Roemer. Grandparents are Marla and Jim Goldin.
Michelle and Jeffrey Reiser on the birth of their son, Judah Alexander Reiser. Proud big brother and sister are Aviva and Ira Reiser. Grandparents are Tracey Smith and Charlie Smith, Jr., and Larry (Z”L) and Trude Reiser. Great-grandparents are Frances Reiser, and Lester and Betty Bertels
WE MOURN THE LOSS OF...
Rabbi Clifford Librach, son of Max M. Librach (Z”L) and Eveline B. Librach (Z”L). Husband of Miriam Case Librach; father of Giliah Librach Nagar (Erez) and Max Librach (Ashley); grandfather of Lavi and Shai Nagar; brother of Austan Librach (Diane) and Mathew Librach (Phyllis Brasch); brother-in-law of Joel Case and James Case; dear uncle, colleague, and teacher.
Weekday Minyan Information Join us In-Person or on Zoom, BA Livestream or Facebook Live
Special note about Minyan this week: Morning and Evening Minyan will take place in person in the Main Sanctuary. Additionally, we will continue to offer virtual options on Zoom, Facebook Live and our BA Livestream Page.
Regular Morning Minyanim Sunday Morning Minyan: 9:00 am Monday - Friday Morning Minyan: 7:00 am In-Person, Zoom, Livestream, and FB Live Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201 Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201 This Zoom link is for all morning Minyan Services
Regular Evening Minyanim
Sunday - Thursday Evening Minyan: 6:15 pm via Zoom, Livestream, and FB Live Zoom Link:https://zoom.us/j/97924715014 Meeting ID: 979 2471 5014 This Zoom link is for all evening Minyan Services
