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Rosh Chodesh Tevet & Chanukah Shabbat
This Week's Torah Portion is

Miketz

D'var Torah From Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham

Our Torah portion this week, Parashat Miketz, focuses on Joseph’s rise to power and what transpires when he encounters his brothers after a lengthy hiatus. My focus has always been on the “what goes around, comes around” aspect of the story. The brothers are tricked by Joseph multiple times as he gets a semblance of revenge for their action of selling him into slavery. This allows his family to all come to Egypt and eventually for Joseph’s dreams to become a reality, as he ultimately rules over them. However, it also contains a salient aspect to our story, which is not only their reconciliation but our people being able to thrive in a foreign country. 

One question often asked is, “Why did the rabbis choose Miketz to always be read on the Shabbat during Chanukah?” The core of our Chanukah story focuses on the Greeks trying to oppress us and not allowing us to practice Judaism. Rabbinic commentaries bring down that Joseph had deviated from Judaism by becoming an Egyptian (by force), and it is only when he meets his brothers again that he actively resumes practicing as a Jew. Even with all of the temptations of the assimilated, non-Jewish world, both Joseph in our Parsha and the Maccabees in
the Chanukah story choose to actively remain Jewish.

This is an important lesson for each of us. During this time of the year, in particular, and certainly in our world in general, there are numerous temptations that can pull us away from our Judaism and our core Jewish values. My hope and prayer for each of us is that we heed the lessons from this week and be reminded that we should both be proud to be Jewish and also take the sometimes difficult steps to remain active in our Jewish religion and our Jewish community.
 
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah!

Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham
rabbi.abraham@bnaiamoona.com

314-576-9990 x136

Shabbat Service Schedule
& Candle Lighting Times

Shabbat Candlelighting:

Friday, December 3 at 4:22 pm

Havdallah, Saturday, December 4 at 5:10 pm 

This Shabbat we welcome Shauna Kruger to the Bimah for her Bat Mitzvah. Shauna is the daughter of Nicole Kruger from Denver, CO and Warren Kruger from Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the youngest of 3 children, one of nine first cousins, and the youngest grandchild in both her mother and father’s families. Shauna was born in Des Moines, Iowa and at the age of 2 moved to St. Louis, MO.

To read more about Shauna, please click HERE .

Friday, December 3
EKS (Early Kabbalat Shabbat) Dreidel Spin Off For Young Children & Their Families in the Guller Chapel Lobby: 5:15 pm

• We look forward to Chanukah and Shabbat songs with Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham and Morah Brandi Roach. We'll meet in the lobby outside of the Guller Chapel and of course Rabbi Abraham will bring his special puppet friends.
  
  

Friday Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Main Sanctuary: 6:00 pm

• Pre-Bat Mitzvah Participation of Shauna Kruger

In-Person, Livestream, FB Live, Kosher Zoom (Password: Shabbat)

Saturday, December 4
Tefillah with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose,  Cantor Sharon Nathanson and Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham in the Main Sanctuary: 9:00 am

• Bat Mitzvah of Shauna Kruger

Torah For Today with Rabbi Neal Rose in the Mendelsohn Library: 10:00 - 11:30 am

Joseph and Judah: Two Distinct Spiritual Typologies

In-Person and Kosher Zoom (Password: Shabbat)

Shabbat Afternoon/Evening Services with Rabbi Neal Rose and David Kantor in the Main Sanctuary: 3:45 pm

• Torah Study with Rabbi Neal Rose
• Pre-Bar Mitzvah Participation of Lior Birka

In-Person, Livestream, FB Live, Kosher Zoom (Password: Shabbat)

Tribe MeCA Chanukah & Havdallah: 5:30 pm

• Please meet at the Banquet Hall back patio at 5:30 pm where Eitan Kantor will lead Havdallah. We will then continue our fun indoors and outdoors throughout the evening.
• Thank you to all who registered, registration is now closed.

Havdallah: 5:10 pm

Kosher Zoom Information:

Kosher Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/113973471?pwd=OThFbDdQcmI5UWpnc2pEaEJBV0lmUT09
Meeting ID: 113 973 471
Password: Shabbat

Ways To Give Back This Chanukah

In Our Community

MAZEL TOV TO...

Shelby and Rolf Cooke, John Grimm III, and Amber Bollinger on the birth of their grandson, Raiden Edwin Grimm. Proud parents are Hannah (Gabi) and John Grimm IV.

WE MOURN THE LOSS OF...

Audrey Gershenson; beloved wife of Harvey Gershenson; dear mother and mother-in-law of Shelley Sarver (Jay), Dean Gershenson (Debbie), Bradley Gershenson (Z"L) (Michelle Bowers), Mark Gershenson (Caryn), and Beth Manlin (Mark); dear grandmother of Michael (Ingrid), Kevin (Melanie), Alex (Elena) and David (Lily) Sarver, Scott Gershenson, Sarah Gershenson (fiancé Andrew Andereck), Ellie and Meredith Gershenson, Corey and Brette Gershenson, Ben, Sam and Max Manlin; dear great-grandmother of Madeleine, Leo and Noah Sarver, Isla Sarver, and Asa Sarver; dear sister and sister-in-law of Monte Nissenholtz (Z"L) (Analee).
Dear wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and sister-in-law and friend to many. 

Karen Lee Techner Silverman; beloved wife of Charles Silverman (Z"L); dear daughter of Siegmund (Z"L) and Helene (Z"L) Halpern; dear sister and sister-in-law of Gerry Trilling (Howard); dear aunt of Micah Trilling (Ortal Kirson-Trilling), Abby Trilling and Sara Trilling (Matt Sosnow). Dear great-aunt, cousin and friend to many. 

Skip Erwin; beloved husband of Jeannette Erwin; dear father and father-in-law of Allegra Firestone (Dennis), George Erwin and Lee Erwin; dear grandfather of Daniel (Kristin), David and Jennifer Firestone; dear great-grandfather of Ethan and Eli Firestone. Dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to many.  

Leah Cohen; beloved wife of Joseph B Cohen (z'l), loved by her children, Sheryl Sherman (Joel), Bob Cohen (JoEllen), Barbara Rosenfield (Bob), her grandchildren, Scott Sherman, Jeff Cohen (Julie), Beth Cohen (Dean Bogner), Joshua Rosenfield (Michelle), Lindy Ariff (Ben), Becca Tumarinson (Alex), and great grandchildren, Kali Cohen (Fede Gandelman Ibarra), Zara Cohen, Sophie Rosenfield and Sequoia Ariff, sister to Ann Klein (Sam z'l), Maurice Siegel (z'l) and Helen Klein (z'l) (Bill z'l).  She was loved by her many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Weekday Minyan Information
Join us In-Person or on Zoom, BA Livestream or Facebook Live

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

Additional Torah Commentary Resources

Please click the links below for this week's Torah and Haftarah commentary
USCJ Torah and Haftarah Commentary, TORAH SPARKS
JTS Torah Commentary Podcast
AJU Ziegler School Rabbinic Studies Weekly Torah Portion Commentary