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GOOD MORNING! It has been said that every Jew thinks that he is at the perfect level of religiosity and observance - anyone more religious and observant is a fanatic, anyone less is a disbeliever. However, one thing for sure, underneath the perhaps displeasure and even disbelief that everyone can't have the same intelligence to be on one's own level, there is a love and warmth towards the rest of the tribe.
Hanukah is coming. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to touch the lives of those who don't have your love and appreciation of our heritage? The eternal question - how do you share with others without turning them off? Well, in addition to subscribing them to the Shabbat Shalom Weekly email at http://www.ShabbatShalom.org (with their permission, of course!) you can get a surefire, easy means at http://www.ProjectInspireOnline.com.
To quote the website:
"Project Inspire is a campaign to unify the Jewish People by means of monthly/ bimonthly initiatives to share the richness and wisdom of our heritage in simple and inspiring ways. Our united efforts this year will, with God's help, be the seeds to infuse light, love and inspiration into the entire Jewish People."
There are 2 tracks:
Track 1 - Throughout the year (until Rosh Hashanah), we will provide you with easy outreach campaigns on a monthly/bi-monthly basis, that will help you touch the lives of those you know. Included will be: gourmet gift baskets, one-minute e-films, books, CDs, articles from the award-winning web-site aish.com, and more.
Track 2 - In this track, you can learn one idea per month that will enable you to share some of the most insightful concepts in Judaism with others. At the beginning of each month, you will receive an e-mail with a 15-minute video insight from our world-class educators, as well as a brief outline. Learn and share with friends, family and colleagues!
This is your big chance to reach out and touch someone's life. Check it out!
Last week I left you with the following question: If enough oil was found to burn in the Temple menorah for one day and the oil lasted for eight days, then the miracle was really only for the seven additional days of lighting. Why then do we celebrate Chanukah for eight days and not seven?
Here are a few answers mentioned in the Book of Our Heritage (available at your local Jewish bookstore, at judaicaenterprises.com or by calling toll-free to 877-758-3242):
It is fascinating that most of what Western Culture holds dear - sports, art, music - comes from the Hellenistic influence. Hanukah was not a nationalistic battle for political independence. It was a war for values. Ever wonder what the world would have lost had the Jews not beat the Greeks?
All of the values that we hold dear for an utopian society come from our Torah heritage: (a) Respect for Life, (b) World Peace,(c) Justice and Equality, (d) Universal Education, (e) Family Values, (f) Social Responsibility. If you are intrigued, then check out the free downloadable Aish Hanukah movie at .
For more on "Hanukah" go to ShabbatShalomAudio.com!
Torah Portion of the Week
Vayeshev
This week's portion includes four stories:
Dvar Torah
based on Growth Through Torah by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
When the brothers saw Joseph approaching them in Dotan, they plotted to
kill him. The Torah states:
"And Reuven heard and he saved him from their hands. And he said, 'Let us not hit a mortal blow.' And Reuven said to them, 'Do not shed blood.' " (Genesis 37:21-22)
What can we learn from Reuven that will develop our skills of convincing others?
Rabainu Bachya comments that Reuven wanted to save his brother, Joseph. If he were to have said, "Let us not hit him," he would have shown his brothers that his motivation was compassion for Joseph and they would not have listened to him. Therefore, Reuven added the word nefesh, a mortal blow. Reuven was saying, "I don't want you to commit murder regardless of who the person is." Similarly, in verse 22 he said to them, "Do not shed blood." He did not say "his blood." This implied, "I, too, hate him and it is not his blood that I am concerned about. Rather, I am concerned that you should not become murderers."
From this observation of Rabainu Bachya we see a very important principle when it comes to influencing someone. The focus of your arguments should be on points that the listener will accept even though your own focus might center on a different aspect of the situation. Reuven's goal was to prevent the shedding of blood. He wanted to save Joseph. If he would have told them to have mercy on Joseph, they would have disregarded his pleas. He wisely showed them that their behavior was not in their own best interests since they would lower themselves by their actions.
A person will only do what he or she perceives is in his or her best interest. Therefore, it is always more effective to present ideas and suggestions from that point of view.
Dvar Torah
based on based on From Living Each Day by Rabbi Dr. A. Twersky
Hillel, the great Jewish rabbi, taught that on the first night of Chanukah we light one candle and each successive night we add an additional candle until on the eighth night there are eight candles.
Why did Hillel prescribe this method for commemorating the eight days of Chanukah? Wouldn't it have been more impressive to light eight candles each night?
There are two important lessons for us to learn:
CANDLE LIGHTING - December 23:
(or go to http://www.aish.com/shabbat/candlelighting.asp)
Jerusalem 4:06
Guatemala 5:21 Hong Kong 5:27 Honolulu 5:37
J'Burg 6:41 London 3:36 Los Angeles 4:30
Melbourne 8:25 Mexico City 5:45 Miami 5:19
New York 4:15 Singapore 6:48 Toronto 4:26
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Love is, above all else,
the gift of oneself
.
-- Jean Anouilh
In loving memory of my father |