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ד"בס MIZRACHI MATTERS

SHABBAT MIKKETZ (Vol 10, No 13) Rabbi Mottel Krasnjanski will speak from the Pulpit Friday night.

Friday, 11 December (29 Kislev) Plag Mincha (Mincha Only): 6:50pm followed by Chanukah & Shabbat Candles at home AFTER 7:10pm

Regular Mincha: 7:15pm followed by a Combined Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30pm

Light Chanukah candles followed by Shabbat candles, ALL BEFORE 8:17pm. Mincha at 8:25pm1.

Shkiyah minyan will be Kabbalat Shabbat only at 8:45 PM in Beit Haroeh.

1. Beit Yehuda 2. Beit HaRoeh 3. Kehillat Ohr David/Beit Midrash 4. Bnei Akiva 5. Elsternwick 6. Midrashah 7. Goldberger Hall

Shabbat

12 December ROSH CHODESH

Sunday 13 December

ROSH CHODESH

Monday 14 December

2 Tevet

Tuesday 15 December

3 Tevet

Wednesday 16 December

4 Tevet

Thursday 17 December

5 Tevet

Friday 18 December

6 Tevet

Shacharit 7:20am 1 9:30am 1 6:50am 1 8:00am 1 9:00am 4

6:20am 1; 7:20am 1 9:00am4

6:30am 1; 7:30am 1 9:00am4

6:30am 1; 7:30am 1

9:00am4 6:25am 1; 7:30am 1

9:00am4 6:30a 1; 7:30a 1;

9:00am4

Dawn 4:40am 4:40am 4:40am 4:41am 4:41am 4:41am 4:41am Tallit & Tefillin 4:49am 4:49am 4:49am 4:49am 4:49am 4:49am 4:50am Sunrise 5:52am 5:52am 5:52am 5:53am 5:53am 5:53am 5:53am Sh'ma (גר״א) 9:32am 9:32am 9:33am 9:33am 9:33am 9:34am 9:34am Earliest Mincha 1:51pm 1:51pm 1:52pm 1:52pm 1:53pm 1:53pm 1:54pm

Early Shabbat Early Mincha: Candle Between

6:55pm 7:15-7:20pm

Candles 8:21pm

Mincha followed by Maa'riv 8:10pm1 6:55pm1 6:55pm1 6:55pm1 6:55pm1 6:55pm1 7:15pm1 Plag HaMincha (גר״א) 7:03pm 7:04pm 7:05pm 7:05pm 7:06pm 7:06pm 7:07pm

Sunset 8:35pm 8:36pm 8:37pm 8:37pm 8:38pm 8:39pm 8:39pm Night 9:23pm 9:24pm 9:25pm 9:26pm 9:26pm 9:27pm 9:28pm

Second Ma'ariv 9:30pm3 9:30pm3 9:30pm3 9:30pm3 9:30pm3

SHIURIM

R’ Leor Broh 9:00am

R’ James Kennard 9:30am (Kinder)

Drashot R’ Leor Broh1

R’ Chezy Deren2

R’ Danny Mirvis3

Parashat HaShavua Shiur

R’ James Kennard 7:06pm

Daf Yomi 8:45am6

Post Bar Mitzvah Chabura with

R' Danny Mirvis In recess

Gemara Beginner Workshop with Doodie Bankier

8.30 pm

Daf Yomi 8:15am6

Ramban Shiur for Ladies with Rabbi

Danny Mirvis 9:30am6

Bein Haftara leParasha Shuir Adina

Bankier-Karp Shiur for post high

school girls 8:30pm6

R’ Chezy Deren Contemporary

Halacha 7/93 Hotham St

8:30pm Michal Kaufman (Lewis’ house)

9:00pm

Daf Yomi 8:15am6

Scotch & Shiur with Rabbi Danny Mirvis

12:00pm3 Hilchot Shabbat Shiur in Hebrew with Rabbi

Danny Mirvis 7:30pm

Daf Yomi 8:15am6

Lunch and Learn Chanuka Special Shiur with Rabbi

Danny Mirvis L1 Capital, Lvl 51

101 Collins Street, Melbourne

1:00-2:00pm LAST SHIUR BEFORE SUMMER HOLIDAYS

Daf Yomi 8:15am6

Gemara Shiur for Women

For women in high school and University

8:30pm Parasha Shiur

(Ivrit Kala) with Rabbi Danny Mirvis

8:45pm3

Daf Yomi 8:15am6

Mishnah Yomit

Nidah 4:3-4 Nidah 4:5-6 Nidah 4:7-5:1 Nidah 5:2-3 Nidah 5:4-5 Nidah 5:6-7 Nidah 5:8-9

8:00pm Between Mincha and

Ma'ariv Between Mincha and




Ma'ariv 6:45pm

EVENTS Seudah Shlishit: Farewell to Shnatties

Holy Bagel Not this week

Chillen Chulent 9:45pm3

YAHRTZEITS

Gary & Bruce Esterman (Mother)

Harry Wenig (Mother)

Peter Hornung (Father)

Miriam & Sam Tatarka (Son)

Vivienne Waysman (Father)

Michael Granek (Wife) Mark Granek

(Mother)

MAZAL TOV Mazel Tov

Aviva & Adam Muller on the BIRTH of a baby Girl.

Mazal tov to the Grandparents: Gail & Izzy Goldberg and Shirley & Alex Muller. Mazal Tov to the Great-Grandparents: Golda Rosenblum and Queenie Muller.

Mazel Tov Tory & Ilan Kraus

on the BIRTH of a baby Girl Mazel tov to the Grandparents: Adrienne & John Kraus and Zeta & Joe Gersh

Mazel tov to the Great-Grandparents: Hilda Meltzer

Mazel Tov to the Federal Bnei Akiva Hanhaga of 2016 Romy Hersham - Merakez, Gavi Pincus - Gizbar,

Danny Feigen - Rosh Chinuch, Mazkir - Jordy Cohn, Tova Vorcheimer - Rosh PR/Tarbut, David Rubin - Rosh Shnat,

Melanie Perch - Rosh Machane

BAR MITZVAH ANNIVERSARIES

Jeremy Hain

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Shabbat: David Greenberger, Florence Pyke

Sunday: Avi Paneth

Tuesday: Ari Esterman, Penina Lamm

Wednesday: Avi Paneth (HBD), Sam Seigel, Michelle Slonim

Thursday: Michael Granek, Norman Kappel

If you have an occasion or milestone event that you would like to be mentioned in Mizrachi Matters,

please email it to [email protected] by 12:00pm on Thursdays

[Type text]

mailto:[email protected]

NE W S L E T T E R F O R T H E

ELSTERNWICK JEWISH COMMUNITY

ס ב "ד 12 December 2015 30 Kislev 5776 Parshat Miketz

Yahrzeits during the coming week David Klein (Father-in-law) [15 December] Ron Sack (Mother) [17 December] Jacob Goldstein (Father) [15 December] Richard Codron (Aunt-in-law) [18 December]

Shabbat times Candle Lighting this week 8.17 pm Menorah & Candle Lighting time if attending Kabbalat Shabbat 7.02 pm Kabbalat Shabbat this week 7.20 pm Pre-Shacharit Shiur 9.00 am Shacharit 9.30 am Rabbi’s Shabbat Shiur 7.20 pm Mincha at 8.05 pm Shabbat ends at 9.22 pm Candle Lighting next week 8.22 pm Candle Lighting next week if attending Kabbalat Shabbat 7.07 pm Kabbalat Shabbat next week 6.45 pm

The Rabbi’s Shabbat Shiurim The early shiur (9.00am, before Shacharit) - come join the Rabbi for cake, coffee and an exploration of the mystical parsha

Mazal Tov Shirley & Alex Muller on the arrival of a new granddaughter, daughter for Aviva & Adam Muller Rabbi Cowen on his appointment as Head of Jewish Studies at Leibler-Yavneh College Chaya Cowen on her recent appointment as Head of Jewish Studies at Beth Rivkah Ladies College

In shule this week … Basil Krawitz will be leading Kabbalat Shabbat, Alon Symons will be leading Shacharit, Daniel Lowinger will be leining and leading Mussaf, and Jonathan Epstein will be saying the Haftorah.

Kiddush this Shabbat You are all invited to the kiddush, which will be co-sponsored by Shirley & Alex Muller in celebration of the arrival of their granddaughter, together with EJC.

At the Rabbi’s For the Young Adults – the Wick on Thursday evenings from 8.00 to 9.00pm at the Rabbi’s home, Unit 3, 301 Glen Eira Road, Caulfield North

Weekday times Sunday: Tefillin beginners class, including breakfast 8.00 am Monday and Thursday 6.30 am Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 6.45 am

Weekday and Sunday morning services will take a break over the holidays, from Thursday 24 December until Tuesday 26 January inclusive, there will be no Shacharit Service, however ALL SHABBAT SERVICES will run as usual. Morning services will resume on Wednesday 27 January 2016

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF! See Fiddler on the Roof with EJC on 21 February 2016. Contact Sally-Ann 0437-625-350 or [email protected]. Tickets $105 in A Reserve. All bookings and payments must be made by 21 December or you’ll miss out. Limited seats

Contact numbers Rabbi Rabbi Chaim Cowen

0433-308-584 [email protected] Chairman Mark Kras

0410-460-970 [email protected] Gabbai Elan Jacobs

0419-527-227 [email protected] Secretary Sally-Ann Jaye

0437-625-350 [email protected] Haftorah requests Dennis Max

9528-6865 [email protected]

Contributions to Newsletter (please) Sally-Ann

[email protected]



Dear Bnei Akiva Community,

Hashem I’Machem

We are coming to an end of a beautiful year, in which we created, experienced and brought Bnei Akiva to great heights. A year in which we emphasised the singularity and distinction but mostly we worked on bringing things together. In my eyes, this Parsha epitomises the ides of unity and solidarity.

In Parshat Miketz, we see how Yosef puts his brothers through a seemingly mean series of abuse. He puts Shimon in jail, he works hard in getting Binyamin down to Egypt, and then getting Binyamin in trouble. It feels as if Yosef is paying his brothers back, and wants to torture them. This doesn’t fit Yosef’s character, who is portrayed as a Tzaddik. But if one looks to see what Yosef is trying to do, try to understand his purposes, it is pretty clear that Yosef is trying to bring his brothers together. He is testing them, assessing if they’ve changed since they sold him. Yosef is testing them if they take responsibility for Shimon, who’s left behind in Egypt. Yosef wants to see if they care for Binyamin once he gets in trouble. All the sons of Yaakov were different, each one had his own colour, his own spice, but at the end of the day, we are only strong as a whole.

This year at Bnei Akiva we tried to accentuate the place of unification. We worked hard in giving every person who identifies with the values of the movement – Torah, Avodah and Aliyah, to feel accepted and a way to belong. We acted on different levels:

1. Our Madrichim body was very heterogeneous. Part of our Madrichim hadn’t grown up in the movement but fell in love with it and in the values it represents and wanted to take part. 60 Madrichim came each Shabbat to give Tochniyot, to educate and to deepen the connection with Chanichim. Each Madrich brought their flavour, and created a respectable deep dialogue with his peers and Chanichim, also when they disagree.

2. The number of Chanichim coming to Bnei Akiva each week has risen. Many of the Chanichim got to know the movement and its values in the past year. Part of our Chanichim come from homes that aren’t necessarily religious, and yet, these kids want to taste more and more from Torat Israel, and to build their spiritual world with the help of Bnei Akiva. Our Winter Camp was one of the biggest ever. We broke a record of 300 Chanichim.

3. The Super Tzevet is a platform for young adults that aren’t interested in Hadracha, but want to take part in the movement activities. The aim of the Super Tzevet is to act on behalf of and for the wider community and outside of the movement to make Kidush HaShem.

4. Our Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday night is something we pride ourselves with. We invited parents and different people for community to join us, to experience the

spiritual uplifting that we have every week. Some of those people have gotten hooked and continuously come every week.

5. We tried to distribute Positions within the Madrichim body. We shared many responsibilities. We truly believed that a Madrich that takes an additional role, feels more committed, feels empowered, and contributes more to the movement. All these add more the feeling of oneness and togetherness.

6. We created events that accentuated the feeling of togetherness. Yom Yerushalaim was one of them. We celebrated together with Hineni, that included a parade with Israeli flags, an interesting lecture for the older Chanichim, and fun activities for the younger Chanichim.

While in the Parsha we see the power of inclusiveness and bringing together, we also learn from Yosef the importance of strengthening values and staying true to one’s self. This year we worked hard on this point:

1. We toiled over strengthening our Limmud Torah and thought of new ideas of how to encourage Chanichim to come to learn. Madrichim created Chavrutot with their Chanichim and learned with them on a weekly basis in the Beit Midrash.

2. We created the Misgeret, a program that targets incorporating the values of Bnei Akiva and the foundations we believe in, in an orderly and built structure, so that no year level misses out on any idea and building block on which Bnei Akiva is built.

3. During the year we ran Chessed events that included aiding different groups of adults, kids, families, etc. We prayed at Emmy Monash, we gave blood, we participated in Mitzvah Day, and more.

4. We gave Shiurim in different schools regarding Torah areas.

At this moment in time, we are busy with our preparations for our Summer Camps. I truly believe that these camps will be extremely successful. The madrichim have put hours and hours of time and effort to make sure these camps are a highlight of the year, and amount of sign ups that we have already are astronomical.

This is the perfect opportunity to thank you, the parents, that believe in our movement’s education, and allow for our madrichim to be not only role models but also responsible for your children. Education is something incredible, it has an influence that can’t be measured, and the fact that you continue to send your kids to our movement week after week is not taken for granted.

I would personally like to thank, this years Hanhala and Hanhaga, who have worked with me throughout the past year. It was a great enjoyment to see you grow into your tafkidim and taking responsibility for your areas of the movement. There have been plenty of times this year when I have stood at the sidelines, and smiled to myself, full of pride for what you guys have achieved. The amount of love and strength you put into your work has inspired others. There have been times where you have amazed me, with your creativity, your naivety and the belief that we can do anything. At the end of the day, you guys made it to the border and then decided that the border, didn’t exist. You kept pushing and didn’t want to stop. These are the signs of true leaders.

So Thank you to:

Benji Jones – Merakez

Gilad Cohen – Sgan Merakez

Rache Joel – Gizbarit

Noa Bloch – Rosh Chinuch

David Rubin – Rosh PR

Josh Jones – Mazkir

Nathaniel Pizmony – Rosh Minyan

Adam Pincus – Rosh Tarbut

And Ari Fisher – Rosh Juniors

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom

B’virkat Chaverim Le’Torah V’Avodah V’Aliyah

Moriah Ben David

Shlicha of Melbourne Bnei Akiva

Kislev 25, 5776

Kvod HaRabbanim, Parents, Staff & Dear Students: Chag Chanuka Sameach!

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a Grade 6 Family Shabbat Lunch at Elsternwick Campus with over 150 people. We socialized, watched skits, participated in trivia with our children - Yavneh students of various ages, who somehow all know each other by name, played in the school yard, smiling, laughing, reveling in the spirit of Shabbat and perpetuating the essence of Yavneh – community and covenant.

More recently, I conducted a series of graduate exit interviews. They are the annual highlight of my role as Chairman because they unequivocally demonstrate that the Yavneh Difference is no cliché. When I talk to these wonderful young adults, I’m reminded that, in partnership with the home, we are doing something very, very right here at Yavneh. These graduates are, quite frankly, the crème de la crème of this

community’s Jewish day school alumni and we are justified in being enormously proud of them.

Tonight Roy provided an update on strategy execution, focusing on the what. I’d like to focus the next few moments on the “who”. I just suggested that Yavneh is about covenant and community. Well, communities don’t outsource, they collaborate with a common purpose and they build. I think the Yavneh community has always done that, and I certainly believe that if we want to continue to produce the superb graduates I just described, then we all need to step up and play a role, small or large as the case may be, in ensuring that this College always remains special. That’s how you realize vision.

And if we are to realize our vision, let me provide some examples of the “who” in the question “who is this Yavneh entity that will ensure we realize our vision for our students?”

The “who?” in Yavneh’s vision is the 32 year veteran ELC teacher who has taught Judaism to every child with the love of a Safta. It is the departing head of Limmudei Kodesh who gave 16 years of incredible service to the college and who openly acknowledges that her heart will always be at Yavneh. It is the VCE teacher who personally drops off marked practice exams to our students homes at 10pm on a Saturday night because she doesn’t just talk about educational excellence, she makes it happen. Yavneh is the principal who makes repeated home visits to a student in crisis, because school doesn’t end at Yavneh when

class is out. Yavneh is the Israeli informal team who make dancing during Birkat Hamazon the highlight of Grade 4 camp. But Yavneh is not just staff.

Yavneh is the soldier and college graduate who visits the school to teach our kids what leadership is all about. It is the YPO or Foundation personality who works tirelessly to raise funds for our children; and it is the generous donor who directs hard earned

money to the college because he or she believes that no child in this community should ever be deprived of an education. Yavneh is the student who was once deprived of a Jewish Education, but who now fully embraces Yavneh because her or his life has been irrevocably changed as a result of the gift of a Jewish Education granted. Yavneh is the member of our finance department who calls a family dealing with a life threatening illness, informing them that they will not be receiving regular fee invoices until health is restored. Because at Yavneh, menschlechkeit, absolutely matters.

Yavneh is the reality that what we lack in numbers we make up tenfold in quality of children, value of irreplaceable lifelong friendships, excellence in Jewish education, and depth of commitment to Israel.

So who is the Yavneh that will realise our unique and incredibly ambitious vision? Well, dear students, staff, parents and friends, that who is you because Yavneh is you. You all play an irreplaceable part in the Yavneh difference, you believe in covenant and you create community, and for that, Yavneh, we thank you.

Toda Rabbah

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Miketz - Channukah | 30 Kislev 5776 | December 12th, 2015 | Issue 629

Mazal Tov to Shmuel Grossbaum (Cape Town 2013-2014) on his engagement to Ro Yeger!

Daphna Kannai

Former Shlicha in Memphis (2005-2008)Currently history teacher and program coordinator of an educational religious arts program inJerusalem

From the Failure of "Go now and see to yourbrothers' welfare" to the success of "God will give

an answer [that will bring] peace to Pharaoh"

"I have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it" (41, 15).

After Pharaoh dreams his famous dream, his necromancers, the

Chartumim, offer interpretations, but he doesn't accept them.

The midrash tells us what solutions the Chartumim offer:

"Rabbi Yehoshua of Sichnin, in the name of Rabbi Levi: they did solve it

(the dream), but their voice did not enter his ears; The seven good cows –

you will have seven daughters. The seven bad cows – you will bury seven

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daughters. The seven good sheaves – you will conquer seven kingdoms. The

seven bad sheaves – 7 kingdoms will rebel against you". (Bereshit Rabbah,

89, 6)

Why did Pharaoh not accept these interpretations?

Nechama Leibowitz brings several explanations found in the

commentaries:

The Abarbanel says that Pharaoh knew that both dreams must have a

unified interpretation. He sees it as one dream: "and Pharaoh related to

them his dream" (not dreams). The Chartumim do not offer one

explanation, but two: "but no one interpreted them for Pharaoh".

The "Midrash HaGadol" offers a second reason:

"Yosef said to him: 'How do you know they did not solve it correctly?' He

said to him: 'just as I saw the dream, so too I saw its interpretation, so they

cannot fool me.'"

Pharaoh saw the interpretation of his dream but he forgot it, so when he

hears the solutions offered by the Chartimim he intuitively knows they are

incorrect.

After Yosef offers his explanation, immediately Pharaoh remembered the

solution, which was just as Yosef said.

Shada"l gives yet a third reason:

"…For what Pharaoh was looking for was that from his dream they would

predict what will befall his people, and how his fore-knowledge would help.

For he believed that there was a reason G-d sent him his dreams… and that

will also explain why Yosef gave the king advice, for that is what he

requested; not to know the future, but to know it in order to prepare

towards it.

The Shada"l's explanation will offer us a path to understand how Yosef's

tumultuous life journey and Pharaoh's intuition regarding his dream came

together.

The Shada"l asks why Yosef offered the king advice. Why was he (and not

the Chartumim) the right person in the right place? His answer is the

Pharaoh understood that if he is being given a glimpse of the future that

must be because there is something he must do in preparation towards that

future. Yosef provides not only a future prediction, but also a plan of action

to avoid the looming calamity.

I want to add – what led Yosef to do that? Where did he learn that merely

predicting the future is not enough?

As we know, up until this point Yosef suffered greatly from his dreams. Not

only did his dreams not come true, his entire life became a mirror image of



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the lofty dreams; instead of ruling over his brothers he becomes a slave

and prisoner. Hashem takes Yosef through a difficult process of maturation

and deepening understanding of reality, and through that, eventually, to a

process of Teshuva. In the past, as a spoiled favorite child, well aware of his

abilities and good looks, he failed to understand the significance of his

dreams. He cannot remain passive in light of this revelation. He must

actively work to fulfil it. Yaakov, as opposed to his son, did understand that

he must take the initiative and that he must carefully prepare himself so

that he may reach the prophesized goal. He realized that in order for the

dream to reach its fruition the entire family must stay united under Yosef's

leadership, and therefore Yosef must find a way to renew his relationship

with his brothers, he must 'go and see his brothers welfare'. That is why he

sends Yosef to find his brothers in Shechem. His mistake was in thinking

that merely sending Yosef to meet his brothers would lead to their

reconciliation. He paid dearly for that mistake, which teaches us that even

if we know where we need to get to in the end, there are many ways to get

there, some more difficult and painful than others. We must exercise care to

choose the correct path.

Pharaoh was lucky enough to meet Yosef after he already paid the price

and learnt the lesson of not taking responsibility for the fulfilment of his

dream. Yosef has learnt that a dream is not a promise, but rather a call to

action.

His interpretation of Pharaoh's dream is also a rectification of his own

misinterpretation of his dreams, and will lead to their fulfilment as well, as

he becomes the viceroy of Egypt.

The purpose of the dream is to give an answer that will "bring peace" to the

dreamer and that will allow him to safely overcome the obstacles along the

way. A true interpretation includes taking responsibility of the dreamer's

role in G-d's plan.

"Great are those who dream dreams and turn the dreams into reality"

(Rav Moshe Tzvi Neriyah)



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Rabbi Yisrael Krengel

Former Rosh Kollel in Johannesburg (2002-2003)Currently educator and Simcha Rabbi

Out of the Darkness

The ups and downs of life affect us all, both on an individual level and a

national one. We all know how to respond to the ups, the question is how

we approach and respond to the downs. We can glean some insight on this

topic by looking at how Yosef dealt with his downs, the stories of which

always happen to fall out during Channukah.

The theme of the pit (the downs) appears at two different stages in Yosef’s

life; when he is sold by his brothers and when he is thrown into prison.

The brothers could not decide if they should kill him or not, but one thing

was agreed upon by all – he would have to be thrown into the pit, because

dead or alive he deserved to be degraded. “And they took him and cast him

into the pit” (Bereishit 37:24). This was both a physical and metaphoric

statement. The brothers wanted to make him lowly not just physically but

also in stature.

This dark pit is a foreshadowing of things to come for Yosef in Egypt. The

Gemara (Shabbat 21B) states that: “The pit was empty, there was no water

(continuation of the verse above) – is it not obvious if it was empty that

there was no water? We learn that there may not have been water, but

there were scorpions and snakes.” I think this is not only referring to what

was, but also what will be. This alludes to the fact that Yosef in Egypt

would have to contend both with the fact that there was no Torah (water)

and with the evil around him (snakes and scorpions). However, even

though Yosef was down and out, he manages to rise from the ashes and

become a powerful force in Potiphar’s house.

But then, he is thrown into the pit (prison) again, as he puts it: “I have

done nothing, for which they have put me into the dungeon (the Hebrew



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word is Bor – literally pit). He sits rotting in this pit for two whole years,

until suddenly he is remembered and mentioned by the chief cupbearer

following Par’oh’s dreams: “So Par’oh sent and called Yosef, and they

rushed him from the dungeon (pit)” (Bereishit 41:14). In one split second,

Yosef is saved and uplifted from the pit to become the ruler of Egypt.

Midrash Tanchuma (Parshat Mikeitz 3) remarks: “Rabbi Yehoshua Ben

Levi said: From confinement comes vastness (this also can read; from

suffering comes relief); from darkness comes light; from the degradation of

the righteous comes their elevation.” The Midrash is saying that the

difficulties make us grow if we use them correctly. The continuation of the

Midrash emphasizes this point: “And Par’oh said to Yosef, ‘I have dreamed

a dream and there is no interpreter for it, but I have heard it said of you

that you understand a dream, to interpret it.’ And Yosef replied to Par’oh,

saying, ‘Not I; God will give an answer that will bring peace to Pharaoh’

(Bereishit 41:15-16) – Yosef attributed greatness to its owner. God thus

said: “Because you did not want to take greatness for yourself, I will raise

you up to great heights and royalty." Because Yosef was downtrodden, he

was able to nullify his ego, rise up and attribute all of the events in his life

to God.

This is why we read Yosef’s story on Channukah. The Channukah story has

a similar theme. We were downtrodden, in the pit of the Greek decrees and

reign of terror. The Midrash Rabbah (Bereishit 2:4) equates the Greek rule

with darkness, because the Greeks tried to darken our spirit with their

decrees. It was from the depths of despair which had fallen upon the

Jewish people that the Chashmonaim rose up and declared that Hashem

will be the one to make them victorious; just as Yosef had attributed his

salvation to Hashem. This is why we celebrate Channukah with Hallel and

Hoda’ah - praise and thanksgiving, to Hashem, for He alone is the one

who saved us.

It is interesting to note that the song 'Maoz Tsur' focuses on all the low

points in Jewish history (not just the Greeks); Egypt, Babylonia, Persia,

Greece and Edom. As we light the candles, we remember our difficulties

and how we were redeemed from them, and this causes us to give thanks to

God. This is how we bring light to darkness and is the key to Jewish

survival; our ability to turn to God and know that He can and will raise us

up.

Although the situation at present in our homeland is filled with grief and

terror, we need to turn to God and ask Him to once more turn suffering

into relief, degradation into elevation, darkness into light and exile into

redemption. May it come speedily in our days, Amen.



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Kurt Rothschild,President of the World Mizrachi Movement

Celebrates his 95th Birthday

This week Kurt Rothschild,

President of World Mizrachi,

celebrated his 95th birthday! Rav

Doron Perez, current Executive

Director of World Mizrachi, gave

words of greeting to the more than

forty co-workers, family members,

and friends in attendance. Among

the guests were three generations

of Rothschilds - Kurt, his daughter

Naomi and his granddaughter Shira. Kurt spoke about the significance of

birthdays and the special light of Channukah.

Kurt, 'the godfather of Canadian

Jewry' had been an active

philanthropist and Jewish leader

for decades. He retired from

business in 1987 to devote himself

entirely to community activity in

Israel, Canada and the United

States and made aliyah from

Toronto in 2012. He has since

been working at the Mizrachi

Olami offices in Jerusalem every day on a volunteer basis on projects for

many Religious Zionist and chessed organizations such as Yeshivat

HaKotel, Jerusalem Community Health Center (JCHC), Shaarei Tzedek,

Yad Sarah, Machon Lev, Machon Tal, and fundraising for the former

inhabitants of the communities of Gush Katif; In many of these

organisations Kurt serves as a board member.

Around The World

Chanukkah card making in Candle lighting with sufganiyot in



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Torah MiTzion Moscow the dorm of Cooper Yeshiva

High School in Memphis

Torah MiTzion Munich made

Chanukkiot, dreidels, and

sufganiyot in honor of

Channukah!

A Channukah play, singing, and

dancing with pre-schoolers in

Washington

In cooperation with:

'Lilmod' Coordinator and Head of European Desk in Torah MiTzion



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Safed (Tzfat) is a city rich in history,traditions, mysteries, legends, crisesand successes.

The Safed area has been inhabitedsince the Middle Canaanite period(2200 BC - 1200 BC). In 1099, theCrusaders arrived in Israel andcaptured Jerusalem from the Muslims.That same year the Crusaders took theremaining areas of the Land of Israel,including Safed. Safed quicklybecame a major urban center. The Crusaders began to fortify Safed in 1102, andon its summit a large fortress was built (whose remains are being uncoveredtoday).

In 1517 the Turks conquered the Land of Israel, including Safed. During this periodmany Jews who were exiled from Spain settled in Safed and turned the city animportant spiritual center. At the same time the city's financial situation improved. Inthe 16th century, the city's population reached 13,000, half of them Jews. Theseyears are the Golden period of Safed. Great Kabbalists gathered there: RabbiMoshe Cordovero, The "Ari HaKadosh" and his disciple Rabbi Chaim Vital, RabbiYosef Karo (author of the Shulchan Aruch), Rabbi Israel Nagara, Rabbi ShlomoAlkabetz (author of 'Yedid Nefesh') and other famous rabbis

After this period the city of Safed had many ups and downs. The import of cheaptextiles from England brought a financial crisis, which, together with a series ofepidemics and major earthquakes caused many Jews to leave for Jerusalem. Withthe arrival of disciples of the Ba'al Shem Tov, and then students of the Vilna Gaon,numbers went up again for a short time, until new epidemics, pogroms, looting andearthquakes brought the number of Jews down to only 1500.

Today there are over 35,000 residents in the city, which has a highly developedtourism industry. Please note, if you plan to visit the city remember to dressaccordingly. Safed is the highest and coldest city in Israel!

Yasher Koach to Batya Americus

for providing thecorrect answer

Where was this photo taken?

Please send answers to - [email protected]

The answer, further informationabout this location, as well as the



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first person to recognize this sitewill be published in next week's

edition.

Torah MiTzion was established in 1995 with thegoal of strengthening Jewish communities

around the globe and infusing them with thelove for Torah,

the Jewish People and the State of Israel. Over the past twenty years Torah MiTzion's

shlichim have inspiredand enriched their host communities through a

wide range ofhigh impact formal and informal

educational programs.

In cooperation with :

Our friend Benjy Singer has a very useful website, www.israelk.org, which contains accurate

and fresh information of what's going on in the Religious Anglo Community in Israel.



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