Weekly Update and upcoming events! PARSHAT MIKETZ

WEEKLY BULLETIN
PARSHAT MIKETZ
DECEMBER 28th, 2019/ל׳ כסלו תש״פ

Dear <<First Name>>,

There is something so subtle, yet powerfully unique about Chanukah that really brings home the goal of Judaism. I’ll give you a hint: While strong Jewish institutions, schools, or even shuls are important, they do NOT guarantee a strong Jewish future.

There is no mitzvah to light the menorah in school. There is no mitzvah to light the menorah in the office, or at a Jewish event. In fact, if we do light the menorah in any of these places, we must still light it again afterwards! Strange… I can fulfill my obligation to blow the shofar, shake a lulav, eat matzah or read the megilla anywhere; so why can’t I light the menorah in any of these places?

The answer, I believe, is at the very heart of Jewish continuity:

Chanukah is really about the battle against Jewish assimilation. The Greeks did not start a physical war against us, as they were out to destroy not the Jew, but his or her Judaism. The Maccabees battled against assimilation, and we continue to battle today, and the way to do that is in the home. And so, we must ignite the flame in our houses.

Judaism must be strongest and brightest within the four walls of one’s home. If one succeeds, then like the candles on our menorahs, the light will shine brightly from the window for all to see, while providing inspiration and warmth for those inside. However, if we only light the menorah outside as a ceremonial gesture, chances are that the light will not translate beyond that event, and will fail to illuminate the next generation.

Our goal as adults is to learn the depth and shining beauty behind the messages, traditions, and values of our heritage and have them inspire us to translate those same ideas and ideals into our own homes (or condos!) enriching our lives and those around us.

Wishing everyone a Chag Urim Sameach and a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Rafi Lipner

THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1ST FOR NEW YEARS DAY

LAST CHANCE: Membership Contribution 2020
If you would like to pay your 2020 Membership online prior to end of
the year, we can issue you a tax receipt for it for 2019.  

We are proud to maintain the same dues once again for the 4th year in a row at
$2000+$250 Building Fund for a family and $1000+$125 Building Fund for a single member. 

To make a payment online click HERE, otherwise for other forms of payment you can contact the office at office@shaareitefillah.com or (416)787-1631 x.0

We Need You - Join our Whatsapp group!

With the winter months ahead and Mincha/Maariv getting earlier, we need your help especially to ensure that those saying Kaddish have a minyan. While we know that many people cannot commit every evening, if you live in the area you might be able to “pitch in” from time to time. The Rabbi created a whatsapp group to help spread the word and ensure we get a minyan if we see we are going to be short.

To join this group & mitzvah, please email Rabbi Lipner at ravlipner@gmail.com

Thank you to those of you who have already joined our Whatsapp group.

SHABBAT DAVENING TIMES

EREV SHABBAT \| FRIDAY NIGHT
EARLY CANDLE LIGHTING	3:51 PM
CANDLE LIGHTING	4:29 PM
MINCHA/MAARIV	4:35 PM
SHABBAT DAY - 6TH DAY OF CHANUKAH/ROSH CHODSH TEVET
MORNING SERVICES	9:00 AM
MINCHA/SEUDAT SHLEISHIT	4:20 PM
HAVDALAH	5:36 PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Parsha Sheet is generously sponsored by Frances Sadoway, Diane Miles, and Harold Sadoway. Wishing the Rabbi and Rebbetzin and the whole Kehila a happy and healthy Chanukah.

Seudat Shleisheit is generously sponsored by Mark Heitin in loving memory of his beloved mother Esther Heitin A”H, whose Yahrzeit is on the 30th of Kislev. May her Neshama have an Aliyah

Seudat Shleisheit is generously sponsored by Howard & Olga Wolfe in loving memory of Olga’s beloved father Shmuel ben Tzvi A”H, whose Yahrzeit is on the 4th of Tevet. May his Neshama have an Aliyah.

Last week, Seudat Shleisheit was sponsored by Jake & Vivian Anhang in loving memory of Jakes mother Mina Anhang A”H, whose Yahrzeit was on the 26th of Kislev. May her Neshama have an Aliyah.

SHABBAT YOUTH GROUPS

NURSERY
Under Grade 1
In Grade 11 Classroom
10:00am-11:30am

THE MAKER SPACE
In Circle
Grade 1 - Grade 3

JUNIOR MINYAN
In Apter Hall
Grade 4 - Grade 8

THIS WEEK’S YOUTH SHABBAT ACTIVITIES

In this week’s parsha, Yosef’s Prison sentence ends when he interprets Pharaoh's dream. Pharaoh loves Yosef’s interpretation so much that he appoints him chief advisor. Soon after, there was a big famine across the land. Yosef’s brothers travel to Egypt because it is the only place where they could get food. Yosef recognizes them, but they don’t recognize him. Yosef plays a nasty trick on his brothers and accuses his youngest brother, Benyamin, that he is a thief and now he must be his slave.

This week is also Shabbat Chanukah! In groups we will be playing special Chanukah themed games to really feel the Festival of Lights!

- Batya & Ryan Jenah (Shaarei Tefillah Youth Directors)

RIDDLES OF THE WEEK

Nursery-Gr. 3: The more that there is of this, the less you see. What is it?

Gr. 4-8: What kind of doctor is Dr. Pepper? (Submitted by Alex Wolfe)

Adults: What makes more as you take them?

If you would like to submit your own riddle to be featured in the announcements, please email us at styouthdirector@gmail.com.
We can't wait to see what you come up with!

WEEKLY DAVENING TIMES

WEEKLY MINCHA	4:35 PM
SUNDAY - 7TH DAY OF CHANNUKAH/ROSH CHODESH TEVET
DAF YOMI	7:00 AM
SHACHARIT	8:00 AM
MONDAY - TUESDAY
DAF YOMI	6:00 AM
SHACHARIT	7:00 AM
WEDNESDAY - NEW YEARS DAY
DAF YOMI	7:00 AM
SHACHARIT	8:00 AM
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
DAF YOMI	6:30 AM
SHACHARIT	6:30/7:30 AM

CLASSES & PROGRAMS FOR THE WEEK:
Wednesday:
Rabbi Alex Hecht (YU Kollel) - Off until January 8th
Friday:
Rabbi Rafi Lipner - 9:00 AM
The Ladies Morning Jolt

Mondays: 1:30-2:30pm
AND
Wednesdays: off until January 6th
Circle of Care Fitness Class for Seniors instructed by a Circle of Care professional.

Tuesday:
The Shaarei Tefillah Knitters Club

YAHRZEITS FOR THE WEEK

Deceased Name	Relationship	Member Name
Murray Freed	Father	David Freed
Jerry Applebaum	Husband	Chana Applebaum
Esther Heitin	Mother	Mark Heitin
Susan Levy	Sister	Vivian Anhang
Morris Henry	Father	Maxine Gutzin
Hinde Leah Myrovitch	Mother	Joe Myers
Dinah Cooper	Sister	Molly Lazarus
Lily Cohen	Sister	Naomi Cohen
Walter Alkin	Father	Roy Alkin
Alexander Engel	Father	Olga Wolfe
Abraham Isaac Shniffer	Father	Leslie Shniffer
Max Cohen	Brother	Irving Cohen
Philip E. Band Q.C.	Husband	Freda Band
Bernard Weiss	Father	Allan Weiss

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Shaarei Tefillah Congregation · 3600 Bathurst St. · Toronto, On M6A2C9 · Canada