Shabbat Vayechi 5786 e-Bulletin

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OrMenorah Congregation

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Dec 31, 2025, 2:42:45 PM (13 days ago) 12/31/25
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 Kehilat

Kehilast
Or Menorah
www.ormenorah.com

Rabbi Doug Zelden – Rav
R’ Simcha Lefton, Asst. Rabbi
Dov Steinberg- Shul President
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
7006 N. California Ave. Chicago, IL 60645
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Shabbat Parshat Vayechi 5786

Friday Erev Shabbat Candle lighting 4:11pm
Friday – Mincha/Kabalat Shabbat:  4:21pm

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Sof Zman Kriat Shma: (Say Shma before davening by)  9:37am
Shabbat Chazak

Shabbat Mornings:  9:15am

A Cholent Kiddush is being sponsored by Dov Steinberg and family 
in observance of his father’s Yortzeit on 18, Tevet this week, for   
Menachem Mendel ben Avraham Yaakov z”l. 

.....................
Shabbat Afternoon:
Shiur 15 minutes before Shabbat Mincha weekly with R’ Simcha Lefton

Shabbat Afternoon Mincha4:01pm
followed by Divre Torah and Rabbi Yehuda Kovacs’ Torah Lesson

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SHABBAT SHALOM!
…………………………………………..

Saturday Night:

Motz’ei Shabbat Maariv: 5:05pm   followed by Havdallah after 5:22pm
(Maariv begins no earlier than 33 minutes after sunset)

……………………………………………………..…………………
(If you are able to sponsor a future Shabbat or Kiddush please contact the Rabbi)
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SIMCHA NEWS

Mazel Tov to:
-The Tuby & Grumet-Morris family on Ziv Tuby’s Bar Mitzvah.
-Shoshana (Kott) & Roni Alswang and family on the birth of a daughter.
-Aviva (Kanter) & Rueven Isaacs and families on the birth of a daughter.
-Riki Smith & Gavi Domsky and families on their marriage.

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Happy Birthday to:
Steven Greenberg
Leo Bromberg
Richard Jacobson
Devorah Lefton
Pam Holman
Michael Gerstein
Yoel Dvorin
Yerachmiel Ben-Zeev
Zenia Cohen
Sari Zatz
Amy Levin
Mordy Smith
Phil Birn
Stuart Blum
Yuval Hava
Tracy Fisher
Shira Gordon
Naomi Kurland
Judy Arvey

Yom Huledet Samayach!

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CONDOLENCE NEWS:
BARUCH DAYAN EMET!
Condolences to the families of:
-Marshall Fisher z“l
-Robert Bauer z“l
-Biranit Hilary Kohn Cohen a“h
-Cheryl Gluckman a“h
-Amy Blumofe a“h
-Sarah Fried a“h
-Helen Pinsky a“h
Hamakom Yenachem Etchem B'Toch Sh'ar Avele Tzion Virushalayim!
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Torah Thoughts from Rabbi Doug…
Parshat Vayechi
In Parshat Vayechi, part of the blessing that Yaakov gives to his son Yehuda is that “His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk” (49:12), a hint of the royal lineage of the Jewish people. While wine has always been associated with royalty, what does the color white and milk have to do with the future kings of the Jewish people?  The Gemara (Kesuvos 111a) has a fascinating interpretation of this verse; "Better is the one who shows the white of his teeth (i.e. in a smile) to his friend, than the one who gives him milk to drink." In other words, giving someone a smile is better than giving them milk. This is because one who provides milk to the poor provides a physical gift that sustains the person for a little while. However, the one who comforts others with a smile and encouraging words gives that person an everlasting feeling of self-worth. Perhaps this is the inspiration for all the great smile quotes,
and could help inspire us to "give" more smiles
.
SHABBAT SHALOM!
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Or Menorah - Weekday Schedule of Services
Weekday Minyanim with Rabbi Doug

*During the Pandemic Or Menorah is holding Minyaim on Erev Shabbat, Shabbat, and Motz’ei Shabbat (& Yom Tov)
all other davening will temporarily be as scheduled below.

~ Sunday-Friday Shacharit: 8:30am at  Poalei Zedek*
~ S-TH Mincha/Maariv : 
15 minutes before sunset at Poalei Zedek*
~Friday Mincha: 10 min. after Candle Lighting at 
Or Menorah
~ Motz'ei Shabbat Maariv: 33 minutes after Sunset at 
Or Menorah

*(Poalei Zedek in 4 blocks South of Or Menorah at 2801 W. Albion Ave. in Chicago)

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If you have a birthday, a Yahrtzeit, a simcha,
a baby coming, or you are a chiuv....
PLEASE inform Rabbi Doug and one of the Gabbayim when you come into shul so that the appropriate honors can be handed out and the appropriate announcements made.

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See the only weekly Jewish TV show in the midwest!

"Taped With... Rabbi Doug"

See www.tvrabbi.com to watch on-line 24/6 and
for more info and schedules
!

This week's show with Rabbi Doug:
Chanukah 5786 at Bnei Ruven w/Rabbi Reiss, Rabbi Robinson, & Rabbi Hertz
On-Line Link to watch this episode on the web: http://www.tvrabbi.com/
   Chicago - Channel 19 Mondays at 8:30pm and Tuesdays at 3:30pm.


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Be sure to check the
WRP Eruv Hotline
every Erev-Shabbat at
1-773-74-ERUV-2
or on-line by clicking below: http://chicagoeruv.tripod.com
Also:
A green sign on the window of Or Menorah
indicates the Eruv is Up & Kosher to use
.
~~~
(A RED SIGN MEANS THE ERUV IS PUSUL
AND SHOULD NOT BE USED)
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Please make sure Rabbi Doug has your email address, and if you are not in the Achenu, please make your home address and phone number available also.
PLEASE EMAIL US TO GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES.
Rabbi’s Email: rabb...@ormenorah.com
R’ Simcha Lefton email: rabbi...@ormenorah.com
Dov Steinberg’s email: pres...@ormenorah.com
(Shul phone: 773-299-8022)

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Please take care of your 5786 membership,
and any outstanding yizkor pledges
or past due donations.

 
To donate with a credit card, go to:
 
http://donate.ormenorah.com
  Please be up to date! We need your support
!
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Or Menorah
 
www.ormenorah.com



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Summary of Parshat Vayechi                                    By,  Rabbi Doug Zelden

Genesis  47:28                                                                    Hertz Bible pg. 180

  1st Aliya: In the year 2255, Yakov was 147 years old and Yoseph was 56. Yakov had been living in Mitzrayim for 17 years. (Note that Yoseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery and that the numerical value of the word "Vayichi" is 34.) Yakov summoned Yoseph to his bed-side. Yoseph came with his 2 sons. Yakov greeted them and appointed Menashe and Ephrayim to the status of "Tribe". Yakov then insisted that Yoseph "swear" that he would bury him in Canaan, and not in the land of Mitzrayim. Ch. 47:28  pg.180

2nd Aliya: The parsha relates the famous scene of Yakov crossing his arms in order to place his right hand on the head of Ephrayim (who was standing to Yakov's left) and his left hand on the head of Menashe. Yakov blessed his grandchildren with the renown blessing of (48:16) Hamalach Hagoel.  Ch.48:10 pg.181

3rd Aliya: Yoseph attempted to straighten Yakov's hands. Yakov resisted and told Yoseph that, although Menashe was destined for greatness, Ephrayim would be even greater. The classic blessing of a father to his son (48:20) is stated. Ch.48:17 pg.182

4th Aliya: Yakov summoned his twelve sons and begins to bless each one. Ch.49:1 pg.183

5th Aliya: Yakov continues to bless his sons. The picture symbols we see for each tribe is based on Yaakov’s blessings. Ch.49:19 pg.186


6th Aliya:
After completing the blessings of each tribe(son), Yakov instructed all of his sons to bury him in Canaan, next to his wife Leah, and then he passed away. Mitzrayim mourned Yakov for 70 days. Yoseph arranged with Pharaoh to bury Yakov
in Canaan. After sitting Shiva (50:10) and the burial, the 12 sons returned
to Egypt. Following Yakov's death, the brothers expressed their concern to Yoseph
that he would now take revenge against them for having sold him into slavery.
Yoseph cried as he heard their concerns and assured them that he bore no
grudges against them.
Ch.49:27 pg.187

7th Aliya: Yoseph ruled over Egypt for another 54 years. He made his brothers promise that at the time of their exodus from Egypt his bones would be transported for re-burial in Canaan. Yoseph died in the year 2309 at the age of 110. We end with Chazak Chazak V’Nischazek. Ch.50:21 pg.190

 Maftir Aliya: We repeat the last few verses. Ch.50:23 pg.190

Haftorah Vayechi                Hertz Bible  pg.191                          I KINGS 2:1

The Talmud in Bava Matzia 87a tells us that Yakov Avinu [our father] was the first person to "get weak" prior to dying. In fact, he asked Hashem for this "gift" so that he would have the time to put his affairs in order. This week's Haftorah is from Kings I Chap. 2 which relates Dovid Hamelech's final instructions to Shlomo prior to his death. Just as Yakov arranged his final affairs with his children, so too Dovid finalized his personal affairs with his son. Dovid's unfinished business dealt with situations of personal loyalty and treachery. In order for the succession of the throne to be secure and peaceful, Dovid identifies two key individuals who had betrayed him during his 40 years as King - King David's General, Yoav ben Tzeruah, and Shlomo's own Rebi, the great scholar Shimi ben Gera. In addition, he set apart the family of Barzillai the Gileadite for special royal consideration and reward. Dovid Hamelech was not interested in revenge. Dovid, the father of Mashiach, was not consumed with anger. Dovid, the sensitive poet and magnificent singer, was interested in justice and the future well being of his nation. It was essential that he teach the young Shlomo the meaning of strong leadership and how to care for a problem, before it becomes a crisis. Undoubtedly, it would have been easy for Dovid Hamelech to forgive those who had betrayed him, especially at the very end of his life; but that isn't the quality of leadership, which brings eventual redemption, and the building of the Bais Hamikdash. As the King,
Dovid and Shlomo had to be devoted to Hashem's Torah, social justice, and the eternity of the nation.

 

  www.ormenorah.com

 


Rabbi Doug

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Jan 2, 2026, 4:57:07 PM (11 days ago) Jan 2
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