W E E K O F D E C E M B E R 3 0 - J A N U A R Y 5 1 2 - 1 8 T E V E S , 5 7 7 8

V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 1 3

There is a universal Jewish custom for fathers to bless their children on Friday night at the

start of the Shabbos dinner. The blessing that is offered to our daughters is “ May G-d bless

you like Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah.” That is quite understandable that in blessing the

daughters of Israel, we emulate the matriarchs of Israel. That is the gold standard of a

blessing. What is interesting is the choice of role models used in the blessing of the sons.

“May G-d bless you like Ephraim and Menashe.” Now Ephraim and Menashe were the two

sons of Yosef and two of the several dozen grandchildren of Yaakov. How were their names

chosen for this distinct and worthy moment? It seems a bit puzzling that they became the

gold standard of the universal Jewish blessing!

I once heard a fascinating insight into the unique quality associated with Ephraim and

Menashe. All of the children and grandchildren of Yaakov were born into an environment

that was insulated from values and ideas that were alien to them. They were raised in a

home where the Torah values and tradition were front and center to their lives. The only

exception to that was Ephraim and Menashe who were born in Egypt whose values and

priorities were opposed to the tradition of their ancestors. Despite the clash of cultures,

Ephraim and Menashe were able to excel both as young people who were committed to

their family values and members of a modern and progressive society. In a sense, we face

very similar challenges that Ephraim and Menashe experienced. Our commitment to

Judaism is challenged in an ever progressive society. Small wonder that it’s precisely

Ephraim and Menashe whom we hope and pray that our children emulate.

Have a great Shabbos,

MESSAGE

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29

Candle Lighting 5:17PM

Mincha 5:20PM

SHABBOS MORNING

Daf Yomi Class 7:45AM

Shacharis 8:30AM

Sephardic Minyan 8:30AM

Latest Shema 9:56AM

Following services everyone is

invited to kiddush in the social hall.

SHABBOS AFTERNOON

Class with

Rabbi Fieigenbaum 4:15PM

Mincha 5:00PM

Followed by Seuda Shlishis

Maariv and Havdallah 6:19PM

SERVICES THIS WEEK:

SHACHARIS

Sunday 8:15AM

Monday (Legal Holiday) 8:15AM

Tuesday-Friday 6:45AM

MINCHA

Sunday - Thursday 5:25PM

Yaakov lives the final 17 years of his life in Egypt. Before his passing, he asks Yosef to take an

oath that he will bury him in the Holy Land. He blesses Yosef’s two sons,

Menashe and Ephraim, elevating them to the status of his own sons as progenitors

of tribes within the nation of Israel.

The patriarch desires to reveal the end of days to his children, but is prevented from doing

so.

Yaakov blesses his sons, assigning to each his role as a tribe: Yehuda will produce leaders,

legislators and kings; priests will come from Levi, scholars from Yissacher seafarers

from Zevulon, school teachers from Shimon, soldiers from Gad, judges from Dan, olive-

growers from Asher, and so on. Reuven is rebuked for “confusing his father’s marriage

bed”; Shimon and Levi, for the massacre of Shechem and the plot against Yosef. Naphtali is

granted the swiftness of a deer, Binyamin the ferociousness of a wolf, and Yosef is blessed

with beauty and fertility.

A large funeral procession consisting of Yosef’s descendants, Pharaoh’s ministers, the

leading citizens of Egypt and the Egyptian cavalry accompanies Yaakov on his final journey

to the Holy Land, where he is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Hebron.

Yosef, too, dies in Egypt, at the age of 110. He, too, instructs that his bones be taken out of

Egypt and buried in the Holy Land, but this would come to pass only with

the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt many years later. Before his passing, Yosef conveys to the

Children of Israel the testament from which they will draw their hope and faith in the

difficult years to come: “G-d will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land to

the land of which He swore to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.

SYNOPSIS

TORAH READINGS

Parasha Vayechi Page: 268

Haftorah Vayechi Page: 1145

A D U LT E D U C ATI O N E VE N TS

Chaburah after Shacharis

7:30 pm Talmud Class with Rabbi Rabinowitz

7:30 pm New Mini-Series - Sfashkenaz with Rabbi Fisch

9:00am Yom Limmud -A Day of Exploring

I Know G-d Exists But Is He in My Life? with World Famous Lecturer Charlie Harary

Etz Chaim is proud to present its annual Yom Limmud – A day of studying & exploring. The Yom Limmud is

designed to offer you the opportunity to develop a deeper connection to the fundamental concepts of Judaism, in

an intellectually challenging atmosphere. Special Thanks to The Kanter Family for sponsoring this event!

Babysitting will be provided during lectures.

7:30 pm Practical Halacha with Rabbi Weiss

7:30 pm New Mini Series Chasidic Journeys with Dr. Elliott Rosenbaum

Join Dr. Elliott Rosenbaum for a 4-part series on the Nesivos Shalom. The Nesivos Shalom is a series of writings by

the Slonimer Rebbe which enjoys enormous popularity. The Slonimer Rebbe zt”l seems to have found the perfect

mix of passionate and inspiring teachings that speak directly to the individual. As a seasoned leader, he

understood people with all their contemporary challenges, incorporating even the negatives into a roadmap that

leads to a path of personal development, love for others and a deeper and more satisfying connection to G-d.

Mondays, February 12, February 19 and February 26

10:00 am Unlocking the Closed Book with Rabbi Feigenbaum

8:45 am Java For the Soul

11:30 am Morning Club with Rabbi Schochet

7:30 pm Nosh & Drash with Rabbi Fisch

12:00pm Join us for the celebration of the dedication of the new Torah Scroll.

Dedicated in memory of Yehuda Ohayon, Esther Ohayon and Meir Benoliel

Yom Rishon Enrichment Program-Sunday, December 31 from 9:15am-10:15am

Fun and friendly enrichment class on Sunday morning. Rabbi Mayer Rabinowitz will be teaching this class. The

class is open to boys and girls of the entire Jewish community in grades K-2. Students will learn about the

weekly Torah portion, Prayer, Basic Mitzvos, Middos, and Jewish Holidays. To register, please contact the Etz

Chaim office at 904-262-3565 x7.

Parent & Child -Shabbos, January 6 at 7:30pm

Join Etz Chaim youth in reclaiming family night. Parents and grandparents are invited to bond with their

children of all ages over a sefer. The evening begins with a forty-five minute learning session with your children

and continues with pizza, soft drinks, a story, and prizes for everybody. Sponsored by Rabbi Yaakov and Henny

Fisch in honor of their children. Sponsorship opportunities are available for future programs, please contact

Rabbi A.Y. for more information.

Torah and Pizza will return after winter break on January 8 from 7:30pm-8:30 pm

Grades 8-12 Join Rabbi A.Y. on Monday evenings as we debate how Torah knowledge relates to contemporary

issues. This brand new class is open to boys and girls in grades 8-12. Piping hot pizza and drinks will be

served!!

B'nei Mitzvah Enrichment Program will return after winter break on Tuesday, January 9 from 4:15 pm-5:15 pm

All parents are strongly encouraged to register your children for this class. Rabbi A.Y. teaches the class and

focuses on building a strong Jewish knowledge on various topics such as the weekly Torah Portion, Mitzvos,

and the Holidays. This class is open to boys and girls in grades 5-7. Snacks and drinks are served.

NCSY JUNIORS WINTER SHABBATON- January 12-14, 2018. Grades 5-8: Register now for this epic weekend of

adventure and fun Savannah, GA. Contact Rabbi A.Y. Cohen for more information.

Babysitting is a supervised free play program for boys and girls ages infant through 3 years old and

is staffed by professional sitters.

Gan Shabbat is for boys and girls in nursery and Pre-K and is led by Sara Brown. The children are

entertained with stories, games, songs, and organized activities.

Tot Shabbat is for boys and girls in 'K' and 1st grade. The children are entertained with stories and

songs; they pray together and play together with organized activities led by our teenage group

leaders Nechama Finkelstein & Carlie Rosenthal.

Junior Congregation now meets with distinct groups for boys and girls. The boy's group is led by

Rabbi A.Y. Cohen and is for grades 2-3, and the girl's group is led by Rachel Shyken and is for

grades 2 through B'nei Mitzvah. The children begin their morning with group morning prayers and

continue with questions on the parsha, stories, and other activities.

Emtza is our newest group and is for boys in grades 4 through B'nei Mitzvah. The group is led by

Joey Hamaoui. The boys begin their morning with group morning prayers and continue with

discussions about the parsha and other activities.

NCSY Tefillah Workshop is a discussion based group dedicated to giving deeper insight into the

Parsha and general hashkafa and is for boys and girls b'nei mitzvah through 12th grade. This group

is currently studying Ethics of Our Fathers and is led by Joey Hamaoui. This group meets from

11:15am-12:00pm.

DAILY CLASSES

Daf Yomi Weekdays 6:00AM Shabbos 7:45AM Sundays & legal holiday 7:30AM Please join us each morning before services in the Mirkis Chapel. Hot coffee is served. Limud Yomi Rabbi Fisch will teach a brief lesson on gratitude following Minyan every morning. Mishna Yomi Rabbi Fisch will teach a brief Mishna between Mincha & Maariv every evening. We are studying Tractate Kiddushin

NCSY teens gather together for a learning experience of a lifetime at the NCSY National Yarchei Kallah in Stamford, CT

SPOTLIGHT ON A PROGRAM

Sephardic Customs. Ashkenazic Rituals. It seems that many of us define ourselves by our Sephardic or

Ashkenazic ethnicity. Many times this evolves into not only cultural difference but also varying halachic

practices. Hence, Sephardim are eating rice on Pesach as Ashkenazim abstain. The recitation of Yizkor is

considered sacred in Ashkenazic liturgy and nonexistent in Sephardic practice. If we are all

descended from the same ancestors and believe in the same Torah -- how are our customs and traditions so

different? Please join us for this fascinating mini-series as we discover the historical and cultural journeys of

Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jewry.

Mazel Tov to Jimmy & Irene

Jaffa on the Bar Mitzvah of their

grandson Ezra Vinger in

Toronto.

Gad Lee

Sruli Shapiro

Ellen Wald

Yehuda Leib Brown

Yaakov Miller

Joseph Hamaoui

Elizabeth Hamaoui

Aleksander Vaynman

Iris Kraemer

Eva Smith

Jake Gould

Sara Smolensky

Robert Zang

Mariya Tulchinskaya

Lon & Sara Smolensky

Mercedes Phillips

Murray Husney

Elizabeth Hamaoui

Louis Shapiro

Martin Schwartz

Jay Lipper

Abe Goldenthal

Phyllis Sprecher

Susan Goldman

Bertica Hubsch

Wilma Levine

Lein Saroff

Alfred Frisch

Esther Ohayon

Boston, Mass.

We moved here in the summer of 2008.

Technically we are here because of Navy orders

but we are really here because of G-d’s Kindness!

Right away!

It’s hard to say one memory, but the Purim

seudot are definitely at the top of the list.

My hobbies are learning Torah, exercising and

having fun with my family and friends.

SUBMITTING PAYMENTS BEFORE YEAR-END

December shul account balance statements have gone out via

email. We hope you will consider supporting Etz Chaim

Synagogue in your year-end giving by fulfilling your outstanding

pledges and charges before December 31.

Checks should be received in the office by

Thursday, December 28, while online payments can be made

until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 31.

If you have any questions about your outstanding balance, or if

you wish to pay online and have forgotten your password, please

contact the shul office, ecoffice@etzchaim.org, 904-262-3565.

Thank you for your prompt payment of outstanding obligations

and for your support of Etz Chaim.

CORNER

The Gemara (Pesachim 76b) teaches that it is a sakana (danger) to eat fish and

meat together. As it is extremely difficult to clean a grill, the same grill rack should

not be used for meat and fish. Either the fish should be double wrapped in

aluminum foil or separate grill racks should be used.

Source: OU Kosher

The newest Times Higher Education survey ranks the Technion-Israel

Institute of Technology in Haifa as the world’s top academic institution in

terms of preparing students for leading positions in the digital revolution, as

reported by Israel21c. Survey respondents from global companies ranked

University College of London second and Korea Institute of Science and

Technology third. The only American school in the top 10 was

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in sixth place. “This is a badge of

honor for Technion,” said Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie. “In recent

years, Technion has placed considerable emphasis on training its students

to meet the changing needs of the digital revolution. As a result, Technion’s

interdisciplinary research is expanding and advancing by leaps and bounds,

in a process integrating life sciences and engineering.”

Scot Ackerman, MD Receives the 2017 Community Service Award from the Duval County Medical Society

Scot Ackerman, MD, was recognized by the Duval County Medical Society with the 2017 Community Service Award at their Annual Gala. The award is given to a local physician who has shown a commitment to improving the health of the Northeast Florida community.

Dr. Ackerman first received the Community Service Award from the DCMS 20 years ago, and is now the only Duval County physician to be recognized twice. The DCMS panel selected Dr. Ackerman for his long-standing commitment to improving the health of the entire Duval County population, and to recognize the importance of a lifelong commitment to service.

The Torah in this week's reading records for us the end of the Egypt of our patriarchs and matriarchs. The era ends on

a note of serenity, family harmony and bountiful success. The Jewish family is enjoying the best that the Egyptian

civilization and economy could offer. However, nothing in human life that is physical is permanent.

In a century or more, all of this goodness and security will disappear, to be replaced by slavery, idolatry and the

crushing of the Jewish spirit and body. Yaakov is aware through the divine spirit that has been restored to him that

difficult times will come to visit his descendants. Yosef is also well aware that there are bad years ahead. In effect, he

is reliving the interpretation of the dreams of Pharaoh that catapulted him to greatness and power.

There will be a period of good years for his children and grandchildren in Egypt but they will be followed by years of

persecution and slavery. So much so that the good years will be forgotten and only the bitter memories will remain

and be etched in the Jewish psyche forever.

However, he promises his family that they will be redeemed and restored to the national and spiritual greatness, and

that when that happens they should remove his remains from Egypt and bring him home with them to the land of

Israel. This poignant request marks the defining final moment of the era of our patriarchs and matriarchs. It becomes

the symbol for all later generations… that no matter how dark the night of exile may be, eventually we will all return

home to our promised land – even the bones of the dead will be brought back.

The Egyptians thought that they would hold the Jewish people in eternal slavery and that the bones of Joseph could

be held as hostage to Jewish attempts to leave Egypt. They embalmed him, placed his remains in a lead casket and in

true mafia style, sank it in the Nile River.

The Egyptians were not willing to let Joseph go, just as the Ukrainians today are not willing to let the remains of Rav

Nachhman of Breslov leave Uman. After all, without Umann there really is very little tourist industry active in today's

Ukraine. How ironic it is that the Ukraine with its bloody history of anti-Semitism and Jewish persecution for

century’s, profits from the grave of a very Jewish leader and holy man! But I digress.

Joseph's interpretations of the dreams of Pharaoh are meant to give us an insight into the progression of Jewish

history throughout the ages. Even when we forgot what our homeland looked like, when we felt like we wanted to go

home, we always knew where that home was located. Even when others lived in our home we still believed that the

bones of Joseph and those of his descendants would guide us to our true home.

This perhaps the greatest legacy that Jacob and Joseph have left us and for all future generations. Both Jacob and

Joseph still live.

Shabbat shalom

Rabbi Berel Wein

PARSHAS VAYECHI

Scot Ackerman, M.D. President 904.571.9000

Rabbi Yaakov Fisch Senior Rabbi

262.3565 ext. 8 I 904.616.8955 cell

rabbifisch@etzchaim.org

Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum Education Director

262.3565 ext. 5 I 913.230.6448 cell

rabbifeigenbaum@etzchaim.org

Rabbi A.Y. Cohen Youth Director

262.3565 ext. 12 I 908.922.0268 cell

rabbicohen@etzchaim.org

Terri Velazquez Office Manager

ecoffice@etzchaim.org

Jeannie Wright Administrative Assistant

Jeannie@etzchaim.org

10167 San Jose Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32257 I Office 904.262.3565 I Fax: 904.292.0524 I www.etzchaim.org