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Candle Lighting

4:26p

Mincha

4:30p

Torah Reading

Pg. 170

Haftorah

Pg. 1141

Candle Lighting 12/8

4:25p

Parshas Vayishlach 14 Kislev | December 2, 2017

SHABBOS SCHEDULE Shabbos Night

4:26p Candle Lighting 4:30p Mincha followed by

Kabbolas Shabbos

Shabbos Day 8:15a Daf Yomi 8:35a Chassidus on the Parsha 9:00a Shacharis (9:32a KS) 3:40p Pathways of the Prophets: Insights into Neviim 4:20p Mincha followed by Shalosh Seudos 5:26p Maariv/Havdalah 6:30p Motzei Shabbos Learning

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Week of Sunday 12/3 - 15th of Kislev 7:15a,8:00a,9:00a Shacharis (9:33a KS) 4:30p Mincha/Maariv

Monday – Thursday & Friday a.m. 6:45a, 9:00a Shacharis 4:30p Mincha/Maariv 9:20p Maariv

“Jacob became very frightened and was

distressed, so he divided the people who were

with him and the flocks and the cattle and

the camels into two camps. And he said, ‘If

Esau comes to one camp and strikes it down,

the remaining camp will escape’.” (Bereishis

32:8-9)

Yaakov prepares for the overwhelming

reunion. Will Esav want war or peace? Has

Esav forgiven his brother or does he still

harbor animosity? These are the questions

swirling around Yaakov’s head. Rashi

explains that Yaakov prepared for this

encounter in various ways. He prayed to God

for help, split the camp in anticipation for

war and sent gifts to appease Esav. Although

Rashi mentions prayer first, Yaakov in fact

prepares for war first and only afterwards

prays. Rav Zalman Sorotzkin (1881-1966) in

his work titled Oznayim LaTorah asks a

simple question, “Why didn’t Yaakov pray

first? Isn’t prayer the most instinctive,

reflexive response to danger and difficulty?

Why does he first split the camp and then

only later turn to spiritual options?”

Rav Sorotzkin answers that Teffilah,

prayer, requires a certain level of “yishuv

ha’daas,” inner quietude and concentration.

When Yaakov hears that Esav is coming to

meet him with 400 men, he is consumed with

worry and fright for his children and wives.

He knows he can’t best Esav on the

battlefield and realizes that at this point

flight is no longer an option. Teffilah, true

dialogical connection with Hashem requires

concentration and some measure of inner

peace. Yaakov doesn’t have it and so he

doesn’t pray. It is only after he takes other

steps and feels a bit more “prepared” for this

encounter that he could reach out and

converse with Hashem.

Perhaps, the Torah is teaching us an

additional lesson as well. When we encounter

a challenge, perhaps the step before (or at

least concurrent with) prayer is action. When

we encounter difficult or tumultuous

circumstances we must ask ourselves, what I

can do to help myself? How can I own this

situation to make it better? All too often, we

rely on others to solve our problems and fix

that which is broken. If you want something

done in life, roll up your sleeves and get it

done yourself. To an extent, we must take

this approach with Hashem. The Ribbono

Shel Olam is always here to help us. But

what He wants more than anything is for us

to own our circumstances and engage in

dynamic activity to help ourselves and better

our world. He doesn’t only want us to pray;

He wants us to act. Hashem gives us the

incredible opportunity to partner with Him

to advance ourselves and our world. The

reality is, we can’t accomplish anything

without God’s assistance and providence. But

we must take the first step. We can’t ask

Hashem to act if we are unwilling to act.

Perhaps, this was the dynamic unfolding

with Yaakov Avinu. Yaakov realized he

needed to prepare in these three ways. He

understood that teffilah was an absolute

necessity. Yet, Yaakov understood that there

is decisive action he could take to help

himself, take ownership over his

circumstances and act. And so, he splits the

camps in preparation for war, sends a

beautiful gift to Esav and then says,

“Hashem, I have done everything I can, I

Continued on back >>

VAYISHLACH: TAKING THE REIGNS | RABBI SHMUEL SILBER

(Bereishis 32:8-9)."

WEEKLY SHIURIM

Online at suburbanorthodox.org

Sunday

8:00a Daf Yomi

Mon-Fri

5:45a Gan HaEmunah

5:55a Daf Yomi

Mon - Thurs | 8:30 - 10:15p

IJC Night Kollel*

Kol Hanearim Mondays at 8:30 - 9:15p

Monday

8:00a Business & Bagels

8:00p Aish Kodesh (for men)

Tuesday

8:15p Chassidus on Shabbos V’Yom Tom

(Rabbi Larry Ziffer)

Wednesday

9:30a Psalms for the Ages (for women)

8:00p Ethics & Ethos:

Lessons from the Parsha

Thursday

8:00p Likutei Moharan (for men)

MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

Out of Kavod HaTeffilah (respect for prayer) and Kavod Shamayim (respect for Hashem), and in oder to set the best example for our children, please

refrain from conversation during davening. We are thrilled to see the friendships and comradery among our members, but conversations, even in the social hall are disruptive to those in the shul. Please move conversations to rooms 2-3 keep it to a whisper.

Thank you for doing your part in elevating the sanctity of our Teffilos.

Kol Tuv and ah gutten Shabbos, Rabbi Shmuel Silber

2

MEMBER NEWS

MAZAL TOVS Julian & Lauren Hammond on the bris of their new son, Dovid Eliyahu

Yehuda Yoseph (Brian) and Chana Rus (Michelle) Masser on their beautiful chasunah

Dena Gerber (great-great grandmother) and Rabbi Dr. Ivan & Arleeta Lerner (great-grandparents) on the birth of a baby girl to Yosef & Gabi Miller of L.A.

Chaim & Shani Wolfish on the birth of a baby boy

BIRTHDAYS Lara Franks, Ben Rock, Benyamin Yehuda Teles, Chaim Dov Friedman, Mr. Dov Friedman, Sara Ehrenfeld, Rivky Topaz Kushner, Caroline Posner, Edward Wolf, Judy Minkove, Mr. Sheldon Rosen, Ari Ross, Brian Gold, Glicka Creeger, Rivka Fogel, Doni Weichbrod, Chaya Gittel Polirer, Joshua Cane, Moie Frand, Chava Bluman, Ariella Esterson, Brocha Silber, Rebecca Baruch, Shaya Pensak

YAHRZEITS Ben Goldner, Germaine Miller, Leonard Goldman, Jerome Levin, Lawrence Posner, Andrew Ettenberg, Rebecca Weiner, Yehoshua Yaakov Leeder, Sondra Itkin, Malvin Rae Ziv, Howard Shefter

TEHILLIM Please continue to daven for Tinok ben Avital.

To make a donation in memory of a loved one, or in celebration of a simcha: suburbanorthodox.org/payment.php

SPONSORSHIPS

DONATIONS Stuart & Robin Einbeinder, Ste-

phen Wolf, Edward & Faith Lisa Wolf, Heshy & Sandy Schoenfeld, Mayer & Brenda Katz, Yehuda & Chani Neuberger Thank you to Saeed & Sima Haken for do-nating a new fleishig oven to the shul.

SHIUR SPONSORSHIPS Avraham & Shaindy Kelman in memory of Shaindy’s father, Yeshaya Yosef ben Yoel

Motti & Chana Leah Margalit in memory of Chana Leah’s uncle, Yitzchok Avram ben Meir

MOTZEI SHABBOS LEARNING Dovid & Blimie Ehrenfeld in honor of Sa-rah’s 9th Bday: (Growth Sponsors)

TALMUD TORAH KISLEV Dr. Samuel & Mrs. Malka Esterson in memory of their parents, Ludwig Stiefel, Yitzchaq Leib ben Aharon HaKohen z’l, and Hinda Esterson, Hinda bas Henech Ephraim z’l

To Sponsor the Kiddush ($360) or Shalosh Seudos ($100) contact Juliya Sheynman

jsheynman@suburbanorthodox.org

REGISTER NOW!

New Members Melaveh Malka Motzei Shabbos 12/9 | 8:00 p.m.

Hosted by Jacob & Julie Blumenfeld suburbanorthodox.org/event/melavehmalka

Chanukah Dinner (fleish) Thursday 12/14 3rd night of Chanukah 6:30 p.m. suburbanorthodox.org/event/chanukah

SHUL HAPPENINGS

SOTC Book Club

Tues, Jan 9, 2018 | 2:00p

Review of And After the Fire by Lauren

Belfer. Feel free to bring a friend

COMMUNITY EVENTS

JCN Chanukah Toy Drive Drop off new toys and games at SOTC to

be donated this Chanukah through Jewish

Caring Network. Let's fill the box and light

up the world for children in need in our

community.

DVAR TORAH CONT.

need your help. Where my reach

ends, is where Yours begins. Hatzileyni Na,

save me and my family from these difficult

circumstances.”

We all encounter challenges in one way or

another. It is tempting to place the

responsibility to solve the crises of life on the

shoulders of others. It is even tempting to

place the full responsibility on God. Yaakov

Avinu teaches us that Hashem is always with

us and always ready to help. But it is our

sacred duty to try to help ourselves, to take

ownership over our lives and circumstances.

It is our responsibly to split the camp, make

decisions and try to become the masters of

our destiny.

Newly posted shiurim online and on

Podcast www.rabbisilber.org

THANK YOU FROM THE MASSERS

We want to thank everyone for the love and support we have received while on our journey of conversion to Juda-

ism. What a true blessing it was for our family to see all of you at our wedding.

We know many people were involved with the wedding and re-ception and we are deeply touched by outpouring of kindness and generosity that we were shown.

We felt very honored to celebrate our wedding with our Shul family and to be a part of the beautiful Surburban kehilla! A special thank you to Rabbi and Rebbitzen Silber for their com-mitment and continued support they have shared freely with us!

Thank you all for making our simcha the most amazing and holiest day of our lives. Sincerely,

Yehuda Yosef, Chana Rus and Shira Devorah Masser

The Shul would like to recognize and thank all those who helped make the Masser’s chasunah so beautiful: Saeed & Sima Haken, Jon Kaplan, Yona Lerner, Bernie Kozlovsky, Moishe Abramson, Rebbetzin Aviva Silber, Ari Lerner, Matt Schoenfeld, Eli Cohen, Dovi Ziffer, Gavi Brown, Shira Ocken, Nossi Gross.