As we move past Hanukkah, which ends as Shabbat begins this week, it is time to reflect on our weekly Torah portion, Miketz. This is a very special Parashat to me because it was my Bar Mitzvah portion and my father’s as well (as you all know we share a birthday). Sitting in my office studying the portion, I’ve been looking for something to convey to all of you. I was thinking about the tremendous honor you showed me this week by wishing me a happy birthday, and I want to thank you.
This week’s portion contains the only mention of a birthday in the Torah - when Pharaoh threw a party for his own birthday. Who knows, maybe he shares my birthday as well… But that is not the subject that I wish to speak of today. As I looked deeper and further, I found something that I hadn’t noticed before. In Genesis 41:14, we find that when Pharaoh called for Joseph from jail to interpret his dreams, the text does not say he is taken from jail but from a pit. His clothing was changed and he was prepared to see the Pharaoh and to help him.
There is a great symmetry to a previous event. When Joseph’s brothers sought to put him in his place or worse, to kill him, they threw him into a pit. Sometime later he was taken out of the pit and sold into slavery. What’s incredible is that his being thrown into a pit was linked both times to being liked too much by other people and to people being jealous of him. His brothers threw him into a pit because of their father, Jacob’s, gross favoritism. Potiphar sent him to jail (a pit) because of his (Potiphar’s) wife’s great “admiration” for Joseph. In both cases he was “pulled out of the pit” to serve others. In both cases, clothing was a part of the story (his brothers envied the special coat their father gave him and Potiphar’s wife tore off his clothing in her attempted seduction). The symmetry is so clear. It is clear that Joseph was in a pit in multiple times and was “lifted” and taken out of the pit. He was not able to do so himself. He was not able to fix his status on his own. He was not able to simply “escape.”
2020 has been quite a year. Calling it a pit is not an overstatement for the vast majority of humanity. We have witnessed many lives lost, quality of life diminished for so many, jobs vanishing, socializing replaced with isolation, travel ceasing and so much more. This year has been a pit that we have been trying to claw our way out of. We look forward to the days ahead when we are out of the pit and able to get back to something that resembles “normal.” The way to get there is to work together and to help each other. The way to get there is caring more about those around us. The vaccine is being delivered and it’s certainly miraculous and welcomed news. We need to stay the course together and work together to help each other out of the pit.
It is my hope that 2021 is better for all of us. It is my hope that we fix our society and our country to be more together and less apart. It is my prayer that as 2020 ends, we open our eyes to get out of the pit and to move forward into a brighter tomorrow.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen
Hanukkah Candlelighting via Zoom TONIGHT - Last Night December 17 at 6:00 pm
Join us for the last night of Hanukkah as we light all 8 candles. Join us on Zoom Passcode is Bureka1914
TONIGHT - National Sephardic Hanukkah Celebration Co-Sponsored by OVS
Please join us in offering condolences to Amy Maslia on the loss of her aunt, Annette Saidleman Goodman. Her obituary can be found hereand notes of condolence can be shared with the family. May the Almighty comfort her amongst the mournersof Zion and Jerusalem. Amen.
D'var Torah
Fridays on Facebook Rabbi Hearshen will be posting a D'var Torah each Friday on Facebook. Click here to visit our Facebook page.
Erev Shabbat Services
Friday, December 18 at 4:45 pm 5:11 pm Candlelighting time
Due to current caseload of Covid-19, OVS will not be offering in-person services until at least January 2, 2021. We will continue to offer Zoom Friday night services and Zoom Havdalahservices each Saturday night. We also have Zoom classes. We will let you know as soon as its safe to gather again in person.
Thank you for your understanding and your continued support of our Keilah.
Havdalah Services
Saturday, December 19 at 6:30 pm Join us on Zoom Passcode: Bureka1914
There will be no classes for Hebrew or Introduction to Judaism on December 23 or December 30. Classes will resume on Wednesday, January 6.
Birthdays Sunday Alan B. Cristal Martin Maslia
Monday Birdie Benator Lilly Franco Antebi
Tuesday Vicki Grosswald
Thursday Isaac Glasser Cohen
Friday Asher Samuel Benator Cynthia Morgan Danny Tourial Joel Nerenbaum
Anniversaries
Tuesday Martin and Doris Goldstein
Thursday Joel and Beth Arogeti
Meldados
Shabbat Jeffrey Clark for Father David Clark Sura Korol for Husband Leyzer Korol
Sunday Barry Shemaria for Grandmother Matilda Shemaria Hymie Shemaria for Mother Matilda Shemaria Jackie Krainin for Mother Judy Rubnitz Louie Shemaria for Mother Matilda Shemaria Merrill Shemaria for Grandmother Matilda Shemaria
Monday Beverly R. Merlin for Brother Jerome Merlin James Wolfe for Grandfather Harry Deaner Peter Gleichman for Mother Beverly Gleichman Ronald J. Merlin for Father Jerome Merlin Stanford Firestone for Grandfather Morris Baum
Tuesday Abraham Tache for Father Elias Tache David Falkenstein for Grandfather Jacob Aaron Steve Rothstein for Mother Sylvia Rothstein
Wednesday Carol Benator for Aunt Pearl Graetz David Franco for Sister Vida Rahel Franco Jack Arogeti for Grandmother Rachel Amato Franco Lenny Franco for Son Charlie Franco Marcy Franco for Son Charlie Franco Mark Tarica for Father Joe Tarica Miriam Wasileski for Sister Vida Rahel Franco Renee Arogeti for Mother Rachel Amato Franco
Friday Adam Kofinas for Friend Saundra Russo Alan Taranto for Mother Bette Taranto Carol Benator for Mother Lou Mae Cohen Cynthia Benator for Grandmother Rebecca Goldstein Cohen Elliott Penso for Father Sam Penso Ila Galanti for Father Morris Greenberg Leon Taranto for Mother Bette Papouchado Taranto Lyudmila Pinkhasova for Father Nikolai Yakubov Mark Pinkhasov for Grandfather Nikolai Yakubov Vicki Grosswald for Mother Bette Taranto
Help OVS While You Shop!
You can make an impact while you shop! Simply shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/58-0899565 and AmazonSmile will donate to Congregation Or Veshalom, at no cost to you.
Community Events
JScreen Genetic Testing A generous grant from NextGen-Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta gives those ages 18-45 living in the Atlanta metro area the ability to get tested for only $74, with insurance, by using the code NextGenATL at the JScreen.org checkout page. This testing is valued at over $1000 and can keep our future generations healthy.
Testing is simple, convenient, and done at-home on a saliva sample! The test is for a panel of over 200 genetic diseases, including those most common in people with Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi backgrounds. Follow-up genetic counseling is provided via telehealth to discuss the test results. Anyone considering starting or expanding their family should consider genetic screening.
Click here to find out about additional Jewish community events in our area.
Plant OVS for Tu B'shvat Sunday, Jan 24th 2:00p to 4:00p Celebrate Tu B'Shvat - the birthday of the trees and beautify our Kehila.
Activities for all ages. We'll be gardening, planting, painting flower pots and more.
Advanced registration required.
Masks are required and social distancing will be observed.
Sisterhood Book Club February 4, 2021 Thursday, Feb 4th 8:00p Join us for our next Sisterhood Book Club. The book will be The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner. Discussion on Zoom will be lead by Rubisa Carrie Hearshen. Join Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83261925390?pwd=eFBKVjQ2ZWVhTVVVcU9XK3NkTmNydz09.
Passcode: bureka1914
Meeting ID: 886 0316 7121
Kosher Super Bowl Sunday Takeout Sunday, Feb 7th (All day) Order Kosher Take Out for Super Bowl Sunday. Prepared by Chef Alex in the Congregation Or VeShalom kitchen.
Orders will be available for pickup at OVS on February 7 from noon - 2:00 pm.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Backpack Buddies, a program to supply economically disadvantaged elementary school children with food for the weekend.
Order deadline is Monday, February 1.
