Parashat Vayeshev (and he lived) Genesis 37:1 - 40:23
HafTorah Zachariah 2:14 - 4:7
Dear friends,
The long-anticipated holiday of Hanukkah has finally arrived and although this year is more restricted than any we have previously known, we will celebrate it in fine style as we begin this special Shabbat weekend. We start tonight (Thursday) at 6:30 pm with the lighting of the first candle.
We will gather on Zoom only (NOT AT THE SYAGOGUE) as a spiritual family to perform this mitzvah together. After lighting the candle and reciting the appropriate prayers including the Shehecheyanu for giving thanks for living to see this holiday once again, we will sing Rock of Ages (Ma'oz Tsur) and any other Hanukkah tunes you would like to share with our Zoom audience. You'll find the blessings and some Hanukkah tunes with their transliterations and translations below. Chris and I are so looking forward to sharing this wonderful time with our synagogue family. Here is the Zoom link:
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1st Night of Chanukah
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Thursday 12/10, 6:30 pm
Time: Dec 10, 2020 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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We continue the Shabbat/Hanukkah weekend with services in person at the synagogue and on Zoom on Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 9:30 am.
On Friday, we are privileged to read from the Book of Maccabees. Our Torah reading this Shabbat is Vayeshev and begins the saga of the life of Joseph. We learn once again of the consequences of favoring one child over others following Cain vs. Abel, Ishmael vs. Isaac, Esau vs. Jacob, and all of Jacob's sons vs. Joseph. We'll discuss how we can re-examine our own lives and learn the lessons of the Torah to help heal our personal, spiritual, and community worlds. In celebration of Hanukkah, we will chant Hallel (psalms of praise) and a very special Haftorah authored by the prophet Zechariah which concludes with the powerful oft-quoted passage
Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit—said the LORD of Hosts.
לֹ֤א בְחַ֙יִל֙ וְלֹ֣א בְכֹ֔חַ כִּ֣י אִם־בְּרוּחִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
So please join us for services as we continue to celebrate this special time of the year.
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FRIDAY
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service
Time: Dec 11, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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Saturday
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Morning Service
Time: Dec 12, 2020 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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BLESSINGS AND SONGS
The First Blessing
Hebrew: .ברוך אתה יי, אלוהינו מלך העולם, אשר קידשנו במצוותיו, וציוונו להדליק נר של חנוכה
Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Translation: Praised are You, Our God, Ruler of the universe, Who made us holy through Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukah lights.
The Second Blessing
Hebrew: .ברוך אתה יי, אלוהינו מלך העולם, שעשה נסים לאבותינו, בימים ההם בזמן הזה
Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, she-asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Translation: Praised are You, Our God, Ruler of the universe, Who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season.
The Third Blessing (First Night Only)
Hebrew: .ברוך אתה יי, אלוהינו מלך העולם, שהחיינו, וקיימנו, והגענו לזמן הזה
Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu la’zman hazeh.
Translation: Praised are You, Our God, Ruler of the universe, who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.
MA'OZ TZURMAOZ TZUR YESHU'ATI
THE ROCK OF AGES
THE ROCK OF AGES IS MY SALVATION
Ma'oz tzur yeshu'ati,
Lecha na'eh leshabe-ach.
Tikon beit tefilati
Vesham todah nezabe-ach.
Le'eit tachin matbe-ach,
Mitzar ham'nabe-ach
Az egmor beshir mizmor
Chanukat hamizbe-ach
(repeat last two lines)
Rock of Ages, let our song Praise thy saving power. You amidst the raging foes Were our sheltering tower. Furious, they assailed us, But your armour veiled us. And thy word broke their sword When our own strength failed us. (repeat last two lines)
Oh Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah Come light the menorah Come to our party We'll all dance the hora Gather 'round the table We'll give you a treat, Dreidels to play with and latkes to eat
And while we are playing The candles are burning low One for each night, they shed a sweet light To remind us of days long ago One for each night, they shed a sweet light To remind us of days long ago
Yiddish versiion:
Oy Chanukah oy Chanukah, A yontif a sheiner, A lustiker a freylicher Nito noch a zeyner. Alle nacht in dreydlech shpiln mir Zudik hesse latkes essen mir Geshvinder tsindt kinder di Chanukah lichtelech on. Zol yeder bazunder bazingen dem vunder un tantzen freylech in kohn (2x)
SEVIVON SOV SOV SOV
SPINNING TOP
Sevivon, sov sov sov chanukah hu chag tov chanukah hu chag tov sevivon, sov sov sov. Sov na sov, ko vacho, nes gadol haya po/sham nes gadol haya po/sham sov na sov, ko vacho.
Spinning top, spin spin spin, Chanukah is a great holiday. Chanukah is a great holiday. Spinning top, spin spin spin, Spin here and there, A great miracle happened here/there, A great miracle happened here/there Spinning top, spin spin spin.