B’nai Shalom Bulletin B’nai Shalom 135 Roseland Avenue Waterbury, CT 06710 203-754-4159 office@bnaishalomwaterbury.com Rabbi Yosef Sonnenschein Parshas Vaeira/January 17, 2015/26 Teves 5775 Shabbos Schedule Parshas Vaeira January 17: Likras Shabbos 4:10 pm Candles/Mincha 4:30 pm Shacharis 8:00/9:00 am Latest Shema 9:03/9:39 am Ladies’ Shiur – See opposite page. Navi Shiur 3:40 pm Mincha/Shalosh Seudos 4:10 pm Maariv 5:39 pm Avos Uvanim (yeshiva) 6:50 pm followed by milchig melave malka. Rosh Chodesh falls on Wednesday. Weekday Schedule January 18-23: Sunday Shacharis: 8:00/9:00 am Mon-Friday Shacharis 7:00 am Mincha times advance from 4:35 on Sunday to 4:40 on Thursday. Additional Maariv at 8:00 and 9:30 Wednesday Ladies’ Shiur 8:30 pm ‫בעקבות הפרשה‬ ,‫"דרך שלשת ימים נלך במדבר" (ח‬ :‫ כתב הגרא"א דסלר זצוק"ל‬.)‫כ"ג‬ ‫אין דברים אלה אמורים כדי‬ ‫ אלא נאמרו כלפי‬,‫לרמות את פרעה‬ ‫ שירגישו כאילו נשארה להם‬,‫יצרם‬ .‫דרך פתוחה לשוב למצרים‬ ‫והכוונה – כדי להקטין את הנסיון‬ ‫ כך‬.‫הקשה של ההליכה במדבר‬ ,‫היא הדרך במלחמת היצר‬ ‫ וכשבא לעכב‬,‫להשתמש בטכסיסיו‬ ‫ "אך‬:‫ לומר לו‬,‫עשיית מצוה‬ .‫הפעם" או "אך מעט" וכדומה‬ .)392 '‫(מכתב מאליהו ח"ג עמ‬ Musings from the Rav “Go to Pharoh in the morning,” Hashem instructed Moshe. “Behold he will go out to the water.” Rashi explains that Pharoh wanted to give the appearance that he was a god and that he did not need to attend to his bodily needs. He therefore frequented the Nile early in the morning to take care of his needs in secret. It was during this visit to the Nile that Moshe would demand the emancipation of Klal Yisroel. Every single fragment of information that the Torah shares with us is relevant. Why is it important that we know that Pharoh would go to relieve himself specifically at the Nile River? The pesukim in Parshas Eikev inform us that Eretz Yisrael is different from Mitzrayim. In Mitzrayim, water is always readily available through the Nile, which flows through it. Eretz Yisrael, on the other hand, is completely reliant on rain for its survival. On the surface, it would seem that its secure water supply makes the land of Mitzrayim a superior place to live. However, with a deeper perspective, we can understand that through living in Eretz Yisrael, with its dependency upon rain and constant need for tefillah, we are encouraged to build a constant and real relationship with Hashem. It is so much easier to connect with Hashem when one is completely reliant on his kindness. The Nile, therefore, represents man’s ability to delude himself into thinking that he is control of his own destiny. All he needs is right there at his feet in the rushing waters of the Nile. He has no real need to cry out to Hashem, to beg for His kindness, and to await His divine assistance. Only someone whose water comes from the readily available Nile can be so misguided as to mislead people into believing that he is a god. His apparent lack of reliance on Hashem allows him to start claiming, and perhaps believing, that he is all-powerful. For this reason, the Torah informs us that the place of Pharoh’s deception was the Nile River itself. Sometimes Hashem reminds us that even the Nile is in His control…like when He turned the waters of the Nile into blood…or when any of us experience the unforeseen surprises that sometimes make our lives unpredictable. At such a time, we must remind ourselves that we were never really in control of our destiny to begin with. The “Niles” of this world are only a mirage. Forgetting that, we may end up using it to fuel our delusions and false sense of security, as Pharoh did when he headed out to the Nile early every morning. Deep under the pulsating, bubbling waters of the Nile, rested the coffin of Yosef – the same Yosef who reminded Pharoh, "‫"האלקים יענה את שלום פרעה‬, “[only] Hashem will provide the answers that will be for Pharoh’s welfare.” Unfortunately for Pharoh, the plentiful waters distracted him from this timeless message. !‫למטר השמים תשתה מים‬ Shul News We welcome the Rosh Kollel and his Rabbi and Mrs. Jeremy Bekritsky invite the community to a Shalom Zachar tonight at 71 Tower family to Waterbury for Shabbos. Rav Cohen will speak at Shalosh Seudos at Bnai Shalom. Rd. ‫!תזכו לגדלו לתורה לחופה ולמעשים טובים‬ The “8:00” Kiddush is sponsored by R’ Shimmy Yahrtzeits Handelsman in honor of the CTC. Thank you to all who helped make the inaugural night a great This Shabbos is the yahrtzeit of Abraham Yitzchak success! Folman (ben Shmuel David and Ziporah), observed by The “9:00” Kiddush is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Sruly Kolodny. The Shalosh Seudos is sponsored by Rabbi and Mrs. Raphael Nemetsky. The Ladies’ Shabbos Shiur will be given by Rebbetzin M. Cohen at the Merenstein’s at 2:30. Save the date! The Annual Bnai Shalom Melave Malka Honoring: Rabbi & Mrs. Menachem Chaifetz Mr. & Mrs. Doniel Wisnicki And paying tribute to the memory of HaRav Moshe Don Scheinkopf ztz’l Rav of the Waterbury Kehillah (1927-1941) February 28, 2015 his daughter Noa Miller. Sunday is the yahrtzeit of Becky Bertha Gensberg (Breina), observed by Barbara Dallin. Monday is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Seymour Gewirtz (Abba Zalka ben Yonah and Chaya Rivka), rabbi of Waterbury from 1943 to 1968. Tuesday is the yahrtzeit of Lena Levine (Lyuba), observed by her granddaughters Saralie Pennington and Andrea Tuber; and of Lena Sachs (Yenta Leah bas Yitzchak Yaakov), mother of gabbai Reuben Sachs, observed by her grandson Jeremy Sachs; and of Anna Marcus Peshkin Trauner (Chana Zelda bas Yitzchak), observed by her grandson Dr. Emil Friedman; and of Taube Gittel Udelowitz (Taube Gitl bas Kadosh), observed by her great-grandson Jeremy Sachs. Wednesday is the yahrtzeit of Pauline Freedman, observed by her niece Gloria Lynch of Marco Island, Fla.; and of Jules Schick, brother of Evelyn Karpel; and of Aranka G. Zelinger (Golda bas Chaim Mordechai), observed by her children Susan Wise and Robert Zelinger. Thursday is the yahrtzeit of Steven Bogen (Stas Kacenelenbogen), husband of Gloria E. Bogen, observed by his daughter Leslie Bogen; and of Gary Friedman (Gavriel), observed by his daughter Sharon Friedman; and of Rose Harris, observed by her son, our former Rabbi Judah J. Harris; and of Harry A. Solomon (Aharon ben Zelig Mordechai), whose name is inscribed in the Potoff Sanctuary rotunda. Friday is the yahrtzeit of Arlene Dolores London (Devora bas Mordechai Hirsch and Mikla), observed by her husband Sherman London. This bulletin has been sponsored by Town & Country Pediatrics & Family Medicine, PC·380 Main Street·Watertown, CT 06795·860-274-8891 B’nai Shalom 135 Roseland Avenue Waterbury, CT 06710 203-754-4159 office@bnaishalomwaterbury.com