Saturday, December 15, 2018

Havdalah 5:36 p.m.

Shabbat Shalom! 7 Tevet, 5779

This week’s parashah is Vayiggash.

Sunday, 12/16 ~ 8 Tevet

8:00 am Morning Service, Homestead Hebrew Chapel 10:00 am Sisterhood Hanukkah Party, Eisner Commons 1:00 pm Zone 28 with BSUSY & BGUSY, 525 Freeport Road 2:00 pm Intro to Judaism, Zweig Library 7:00 pm Evening Service, Helfant Chapel

Monday, 12/17 ~ 9 Tevet

7:30 am Morning Service, Homestead Hebrew Chapel 9:15 am Talmud Study, 61C Café, 1839 Murray Avenue 6:00 pm BSUSY Lounge, Helfant Chapel 7:00 pm Evening Service, Helfant Chapel 7:15 pm Latin Cardio, Samuel and Minnie Hyman Ballroom 7:30 pm Religious Services Committee Meeting, Lehman Center

Tuesday, 12/18 ~ 10 Tevet Asara BeTevet - Fast of Tevet (Fast from dawn until dark, 25

minutes after sundown)

7:30 am Morning Service, Homestead Hebrew Chapel 4:15 pm J-JEP, Classrooms 7:00 pm Evening Service, Helfant Chapel 7:30 pm Board of Trustees Meeting, Zweig Library

Wednesday, 12/19 ~ 11 Tevet 7:30 am Morning Service, Homestead Hebrew Chapel 11:00 am Coffee with the Cantor, Lehman Center 7:00 pm Evening Service, Helfant Chapel

Thursday, 12/20 ~ 12 Tevet

7:30 am Morning Service, Homestead Hebrew Chapel 4:15 pm J-JEP, Classrooms 7:00 pm Evening Service, Helfant Chapel 7:30 pm Pa. Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) Listening Campaign, Lehman Center

Friday, 12/21 ~ 13 Tevet Candle lighting 4:38 pm

7:30 am Morning Service, Homestead Hebrew Chapel 6:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat, Helfant Chapel

Saturday, 12/22 ~ 14 Tevet Havdalah 5:39 pm

6:30 am Early Morning Shabbat Service, Homestead Hebrew Chapel 9:30 am Shabbat Service, Samuel and Minnie Hyman Ballroom 10:00 am Youth Tefillah, Meet in Gym, then to respective services 10:30 am Shabbat Morning Discussion Service, Weinberg Pavilion 12:15 pm Congregational Kiddush, Samuel and Minnie Hyman Ballroom 4:10 pm Minhah, Homestead Hebrew Chapel 4:35 pm Discussion / Se’udah Shelishit, Eisner Commons 5:20 pm Ma’ariv, Homestead Hebrew Chapel

ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY, LIFELONG JEWISH LEARNING, & SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Please look for this symbol inside for info on accessible entrances at Beth Shalom.

THE WEEK AT A GLANCE

FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 15 - 21, 2018 7 - 13 TEVET, 5779 Yahrzeits

Abe M. Anish Esther R. Anish Rae Barent Sophie Bastacky Edith Fleegler Belle Israel Blumenfeld Benjamin H. Bonn Joseph J. Broida Milton Burechson Herbert B. Burechson Aaron Canter William H. Cohen Sally S. Daniels Mary Darling Bertha Diulus Edward John Eggleston Hyman Feld Shirley Feldman Louis Fischer

Itskhok Fisher David Flamm Jeanne Hydovitz Glick Abe Goddy Samuel Goldblatt David K. Goldblum Helen S. Goldman Jerome Goldstein Rose Goodman Fannie Goodstein David Jay Gould Esther Ann Green Simon Greengard Selma Greenhouse Irving Halpern David Hausrath Myra Kohn Hausroth Saul A. Jacobson Sam Kalson

Rose Katz Harry Kaufman Emanuel Klee Doris Klein Yetta Krovitsky Leonard L. Launer Richard Lebovitz Harry Lembersky Burton Lerner Edgar L. Levenson Rose Levine Melvin F. Levy Samuel Lewis Leo Lubetsky Max Maharam Maurice A. Markley Norman Mazerov Andrew Meyers Israel Meyerson

Sol Mintz Johanna B. Noven Max Osofsky Bert Prince Jacob M. Rapport Jechezkel Ratchkauskas Harry Reuben Abe Robin Samuel Rofey Harry D. Rosen Chaya Rosenberg Mendel Rosenfeld Tamar Rosenfeld George Rosenthal Samuel Roth Nathan Roth O. Louis Rubenstein Max Saul Leah C. Savage

Abraham Segal Louis Sesler Jerome Silverman Edith B. Slayton Sanford Slutsky Lillian Stone Leah Tapley Henrietta Topolsky Julius Trachtenberg Sadie Ungar Bella Wein Samuel J. Weinberg Eugene Weinberger Miksa Weisz Frommie Harris Whitman Lawrence Yahr Lyba Zaltsman

5915 BEACON STREET ° PITTSBURGH, PA 15217 ° 412.421.2288 ° BETHSHALOMPGH.ORG

Please refrain from using electronic devices in the

synagogue during Shabbat and holidays. Thank you.

The following Yahrzeits will be observed today and in the coming week. This list comprises those dear departed for whom there are dedicated plaques in our praying spaces, and those for whom contributions have been made to have their names listed here.

Early Morning Shabbat Service 6:30 am Homestead Hebrew Chapel

Youth Services

Saturday

10:00-10:30 am - Gym is closed be-fore Youth Tefillah. Please go to the

Youth Lounge.

Infant - Kindergarten with Manny Theiner

10:30 am - 12:00 pm Hoffman & Zweig Libraries, 3rd floor

1st - 4th Grade Youth Tefillah

10:30 am - 12:00 pm Eisner Commons, 2nd floor

5th - 6th Grade Youth Tefillah

10:30 am - 12:00 pm Homestead Hebrew Chapel, 2nd floor

Friday, December 14, 2018

Candle lighting 4:36 pm

Shabbat Morning Service 9:30 am Faye Rubenstein Weiss Sanctuary

Congregational K iddush 12:15 pm

Back of the Faye Rubenstein Weiss Sanctuary

Ma’ariv 5:15 pm Helfant Chapel

Minhah, including Daniel Berger becoming a bar mitzvah 4:30 pm

Helfant Chapel

Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 pm Helfant Chapel

Mazal Tov to

Toby & Laura Gershon on the bir th of their son on Thur sday, December 6th, weighing 9 lbs. 10 oz., and measuring 20.5 inches long! Mazal tov also to Big Sister Talya Gershon and

grandparents C.J. & Bob Liss.

Do you know your Hebrew Name?

Do you know your Hebrew Name? Can you spell it in Hebrew? Do you know the names of your relatives, of those before you and those younger than you? After whom were you named? Do you spell your name the

same way? Do you need help with this? We are here. Please collect your family’s full Hebrew names and keep them somewhere safe. We can keep them for you, as well.

Volunteer to Lead Services!

Take an active role in Beth Shalom services! Contact Sheldon Catz at sheldoncatz50@gmail.com.

Observances

If you are observing something special - a birthday, anniversary, yahrzeit, e.g., please let one of the ushers or gabbayim know so that we might offer you an honor if one is available.

Rabbi Adelson joins the Officers and Trustees in welcoming all members and guests to our Shabbat Services. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

All are welcome to the congregational Kiddush , in the back of the Faye Rubenstein Weiss Sanctuary immediately following services.

In deference to the celebration of Daniel Berger becoming a bar mitzvah, there will be no Se’udah Shelishit (Third Meal) this week.

OUR CONGREGATIONAL FAMILY

SHABBAT SHALOM

Kiddush Sponsorship

Celebrating a simhah or honoring the memory of a loved one? To sponsor a catered Kiddush, contact Michelle Vines, at 412-421-2288 x113, or catering1@bethshalompgh.org

Se’udah Shelishit / Third Shabbat Meal

Every Shabbat afternoon from now until Pesah, we dine together at se’udah shelishit (the third Shabbat meal). Free to attend; all are welcome. We meet in the Eisner Commons, starting one and a half hours before

havdalah time (check this Bulletin or the website for the schedule).

To sponsor the a third meal, please contact Ira Frank: 412-281-4064 or natfabira@juno.com

LOCATING THE MOST ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE

Palkovitz Lobby, Helfant Chapel, ELC, Front Offices: Enter at Beacon Street or Rear Parking Lot Entrance Eisner Commons, Homestead Hebrew Chapel: Enter at Beacon Street, take elevator to 2nd floor Faye Rubenstein Weiss Sanctuary: Enter at Beacon Street, take elevator to 3rd floor Shear Youth Lounge, Rice Auditorium: Enter at Beacon Street, take elevator to 3rd floor Samuel and Minnie Hyman Ballroom: Enter at Shady Avenue

OUR LEADERSHIP

The Rabbi’s Assistant answers questions that someone might be too shy to ask.

Who Was Nelly Sachs?

What would we do without Google, which reminded us to remember Nelly Sachs? Born December 10, 1891, in Schöneberg, Berlin, Germany, Nelly Sachs was a poet who went on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1966) and the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.

Nelly Sachs was named Leonie by her parents, Georg and Margarete Sachs. Georg was a wealthy rubber manu-facturer, and Nelly took to writing both poetry and prose. She began writing verse at age 17, admiring the Romantics. Some of her early work was published in the 1920s in newspapers.

Her first book of prose, Legenden und Erzählungen (Legends and Tales), was published in 1921, and she sent a copy to the Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf (who was the first female Literature Nobel laureate), and the subsequent correspondence and strong connection later saved Nelly’s life.

Nelly Sachs and her work were very much shaped by the Holocaust. In 1940, when Nelly was almost 50 years old, the Gestapo stormed the home where she lived with her mother. They were scheduled for deportation to a labor camp that week, but Selma Lagerlöf appealed to the royal family of Sweden on their behalf, and mother and daughter were able to escape to Sweden. Nelly went on to earn a living translating between German and Swedish.

But the horrors and the loss of friends, family and home stuck with her, leaving her temporarily unable to speak while also majorly informing her writing. Her first poetry collection, In the House of Death, was published in 1946, and contains her most famous poem, “O the Chimneys.” She published another collection in 1949, Eclipse of Stars, illuminating the suffering of the Jewish people. In 1951 she wrote a radio play Eli: A Mystery Play of the Sufferings of Israel, which was broadcast on West German radio.

Nelly Sachs’ mother died in 1950, instigating in Nelly a series of nervous breakdowns, but she continued to create and also became a Swedish citizen in 1952. Still her country of birth afforded her a series of honors and awards. When she received the Nobel, at age 75, it was alongside Israeli writer Shmuel Yosef Agnon, which served to solidify her as a Jewish writer, even though she was at that time attempting to return to Romanticism. She did illustrate the most negative aspects of humanity clearly for the ages. She noted that Mr. Agnon was writing toward the future of the Jewish people, and she was illuminating the darker past.

Nelly Sachs died in Stockholm on May 12, 1970.

We look forward to your questions. We now have these columns online at http://bethshalompgh.org/ive-always-wondered/ .

Volunteer to Help with Kiddush! Really, we need YOU!

Please volunteer to help make the Kiddush happen - setup, cleanup, everything in between.

Please contact Michelle Vines, at 412-421-2288 x113, or catering1@bethshalompgh.org. Clergy Rabbi Seth Adelson, Ext. 115, rav@bethshalompgh.org Rabbi Mark Staitman, Rabbinic Scholar

Officers Deborah Firestone, President, Ext. 106 Joe Jolson, Vice President Arlene Shapiro, Vice President Mitch Dernis, Treasurer Steve Albert, Secretary

Staff Ḥazzan Rob Menes, Executive Director, Ext. 226, rmenes@bethshalompgh.org Dale Caprara, Controller, Ext. 109 Anthony Colaizzi, Communications & Design Manager, Ext. 108 Audrey Glickman, Rabbi’s Assistant, Ext. 112, rabbiasst@bethshalompgh.org Kate Kim, Assistant JJEP Director, Ext. 323 Rabbi Jeremy Markiz, Director of Derekh and Y outh Tefillah, Ext. 111 Hilary Huelsman, Early Learning Center Director, Ext. 390 Marissa Tait, Director of Y outh Programming, Ext. 463 Michelle Vines, Events Coordinator, Ext. 113 Lonnie Wolf, Cemetery Director, Ext. 293

Auxiliary Presidents Ira Frank, Men’s Club Judy Kornblith Kobell, Sisterhood Amallia Rascoe, USY

Honorary President Ruth Ganz Fargotstein

A summary of this week’s parashah, from Hazzan Rob Menes, www.HazzanMenes.info

Picking up directly from where last week’s portion ends, Benjamin stands before Joseph accused of the theft of a chalice. In a very moving plea on behalf of his youngest brother, Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin, so that Jacob should not be bereft of both of his two youngest sons, the only sons of his beloved Rachel. Moved by this act of selflessness, Joseph clears the room and emotionally reveals himself to his brothers. He alleviates their guilt over their past actions by revealing God’s hand in all that has happened. Joseph arranges for the entire family to be reunited under his protection in Egypt. The brothers are provided with generous provisions and sent back to Canaan to tell Jacob about Joseph. Jacob decides he must go see his lost son immediately, and he and his entire family, a total of 70 people, along with all their livestock and possessions, go down to Egypt, where Jacob and Joseph are reunited after 22 years. Jacob and some of his sons are introduced to Pharaoh, who settles the family in the Egyptian region of Goshen. The portion concludes with a review of the story of Joseph’s experience in Egypt.

SHABBAT - 7 TEVET 5779

PARASHAT VAYIGGASH

Aliyah Verses Readers Hertz

Etz

Hayim

1st ראשון Genesis 46:28-30 Irene Kaplow 174 283

2nd 46:31-34 שני Irene Kaplow 174 283

3rd 47:1-6 שלישי Irene Kaplow 175 284

4th 47:7-10 רביעי Irene Kaplow 175 285

5th 47:11-19 חמישי Marlene Behrmann Cohen 176 286

6th 47:20-22 ששי Dave Held 177 287

7th 47:23-27 שביעי Dave Held 177 288

Maftir 47:25-27 מפטיר Dave Held 177 288

Haftarah הפטרה Ezekiel 37:15-28 Connie Pollack 178 291

At this week’s Minhah service, Saturday at 4:30 p.m., the Torah reading will be chanted by bar

mitzvah Daniel Berger, son of Jody Berger and Steven Berger. Parashat Vayehi, Genesis 47:28-48:9

1st 47:28-31 Daniel Berger 2nd 48:1-3 Daniel Berger 3rd 48:4-9 Daniel Berger and Leah Ackner

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Sisterhood Book Club

The Sisterhood Book Club will discuss This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel on a Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Pat’s house (6714 Forest Glen Road).

For more information, please contact the main office at 412-421-2288.

Sisterhood Hanukkah Party

Sunday, December 16, 10:00 a.m., Eisner Commons Fun and refreshments! Cost $5 at the door.

Bring a wrapped gift to get a $10-value gift, or regift is welcome! Also asking attendees to contribute new or gently used hats, scarves, gloves, to donate.

RSVP to Judy Kobell at jayeko@msn.com or 412-422-3226.

Sisterhood Judaica Shop - Great Gifts!

Open Friday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (except holidays), or by appointment

Barbara Kaiserman, 412-422-5677

December - 30% off all Jewelry

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ROOTS OF STEEL Community Benefit Concert

Thursday, December 27, Auction at 6:00, Concert at 7:00 p.m., Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland This concert, benefiting the three congregations involved in the negative activities of October 27th, features Tony-award-winner Billy Porter and other tremendously talented individuals.

Silent auction and gift-card raffle donations from the Steelers and many other generous donors are available for bidding beginning

at 6:00 p.m. An all-volunteer presentation.

For more about performers and donors and to purchase tickets, please go to

www.rootsofsteel.org.

Fabric Fence and Hope Tree

Marking the 6th anniversary of Sandy Hook, Chicago's Schools Say Enough Sidewalk Challenge is in Pittsburgh to honor the victims of the Tree of Life massacre and all the victims of gun violence across the country. The installation, created by students of local schools and youth groups, includes a Hope Tree at

Frick Park Blue Slide Park, dedicated the morning of December 14th. The Sidewalk Challenge features 13K strips of orange fabric representing all the kids who have been gunned down since Sandy Hook and stretches an entire city block at Pitt’s Student Union, Forbes & Bigelow in Oakland. Community members are invited

to chalk on the sidewalk the names of victims, survivors, or schools that have suffered gun violence, or simply the word ‘Enough.’ Then the project will be installed at Calvary Episcopal Church,

315 Shady Avenue, Shadyside, residing through the Women’s March in January.

The Schools Say Enough Sidewalk Challenge has been at many locations across the country. Pittsburgh's installation represents a broad-based citywide effort to turn anguish into action.

Formerly the Learners’ Service, the next service will be December 22nd, 10:30 a.m., in Weinberg Pavilion. Rabbi Adelson leads a discussion-oriented service for

all ranges of davener, from the uninitiated to the veterans. We seek meaning behind the words, and personal connections within tefillah. Please note that

the November session will be superseded by the Pizmon Shabbat, from which we can learn as well. This program is free; all are welcome.

UPCOMING EVENTS For additional information, please see the flyers in the racks, or go to our website.

Check the calendar on our website for daily event information at http://www.bethshalompgh.org

Every Monday morning at 9:15 a.m. at the 61C Café you can find Rabbi Jeremy Markiz learning Masekhet Rosh Hashanah,

a tractate of the Talmud about the many new years that fill out the Jewish calendar. Find it online at: https://www.sefaria.org/Rosh_Hashanah.4b?lang=bi.

Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Adelson! Next sessions are January 8 Downtown / January 15 at Beth Shalom

This year’s topic is “Jewish Law for Today: Five Key Teshuvot of the Conservative Movement.”

This session will cover “Y om Tov Sheni Shel Galuyot / The Second Day of Yom Tov.”

Ever wonder why you don’t have to park three blocks away from a Conservative synagogue on Shabbat? Or whether your rabbi can marry a gay couple? The Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has been reviewing contemporary halakhic issues for the Conservative movement for over 90 years, and has a long-standing tradition of issuing thoughtful, sensitive responsa to the challenges of

keeping Jewish tradition in today’s world. You should get to know these teshuvot.

Downtown sessions graciously hosted by David Horvitz at 535 Smithfield Street, Suite 800. Further information at www.tinyurl.com/LunchLearnJan2019

Coffee with the Cantor - a stimulating discussion group led by our Executive Director, Hazzan (Cantor) Rob Menes.

Discussing "Jewish Influence in the Secular World." We ask the question, how has Judaism affected the non-Jewish world? Although some of the discussion will look at historical

influences, much of the time will be spent on current interactions. Coffee provided! Every Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

in the Lehman Center. Signup not required.

December 19th will be the last session for several weeks.

Remaining classes: 12/16, 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, at 2:00-4:00 p.m. We invite you to this non-denominational class. The six-week course will

cover an overview of Creation, Bible, diversity, holidays, and Shabbat. Beth Shalom members $80 (includes book); non-members $100 (includes book).

Thursday, December 20, 2018, at 7:30 p.m., in the Eisner Commons

Congregation Beth Shalom is looking to establish a Social Justice Corps for Tikkun Olam / Repairing the World.

Please come share your passions and priorities in this Listening Campaign facilitated by Pastor De Neice Welch of Boswell United Presbyter ian Church (also President of the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN)) and Jamaal Craig, Executive Director of

PIIN. RSVP to Lisa Schlar at lisalan@verizon.net, or simply arrive at the event.

Saturday, January 5, at 12:45 p.m., in the Helfant Chapel The Homestead Hebrew Chapel on the second floor contains the yahrzeit plaques, war

honor roll tablets, Torah scrolls, and other Judaica from the Homestead Hebrew Congregation (1894-1993). Tammy Hepps, local historian and descendant of one of

Homestead Hebrew’s founders, will take the artifacts usually in the background of our praying space and foreground them to review the history of Homestead’s Jewish

community and the ways this room, like many such memory spaces throughout Pittsburgh, recalls the legacy of those who came before us.

Please RSVP to Chris Hall at derekhcbs@gmail.com. The event is free to attend.

Saturday, January 12, at 12:45 p.m., in the Helfant Chapel Climate change is happening, its effects are already being felt in Pittsburgh and around the world. Global initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement, seek to limit

the global temperature rise, but can they be effective in their present form? Mr. Schwartz has decades of experience from across the U.S. energy industry, including playing a key role in creating renewable energy, carbon offset, and carbon capture and

storage solutions. He offers his unique perspective on this global problem. Please RSVP to Chris Hall at derekhcbs@gmail.com. The event is free to attend.

————————- The Beth Shalom Solar Initiative seeks to gather money to install renewable energy at Beth

Shalom. By going solar, we take advantage of matching funds to repair our preschool’s roof, cut energy costs long term, and reduce greenhouse emissions.

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ZONE 28 with BSUSY & BGUSY

Sunday, December 16, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., 525 Freeport Road Grades 6-12 $20 The event includes access to Suite 28, unlimited bowling, laser tag, game card, and so

much more! RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/Zone28-12-16. If you want to attend this event and need a scholarship, please contact your advisor.

Family Ice Skating at Schenley Ice Rink

Sunday, January 6, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m., 10341 Overlook Drive, Schenley Park Congregation Beth Shalom and Rodef Shalom Congregation

All are welcome to celebrate winter with ice skating! Eat lunch at Rodef Shalom or meet at the rink. $10 per person provides lunch, skate time, and skate rental.

$5 per person provides skate time and rental OR lunch and skate time. For information, Marissa Tait, youthdirector@bethshalompgh.org.