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The Talmud lists certain specific mitzvahs that have greater reward associated with them than other mitzvahs: “Honoring one's parents, performing acts of kindness, attending prayer services at shul morning and evening, hosting guests, visiting the sick, assisting a bride in getting married, escorting the dead, proper concentration in prayer, and bringing peace between friends and between husband and wife.” Then the Talmud concludes: “And the study of Torah equals them all!”
There are many explanations as to why Torah study is considered to be such an important mitzvah; perhaps the most important mitzvah. This is not the forum to delve into this very worthwhile and interesting discussion. One of the basic explanations is this: Torah study acts as a motivation for the performance of all the other mitzvahs because it gives the person an understanding as to the meaning of it all. Without understanding, how much excitement can we expect to have in the observance of Judaism? True, we perform the mitzvahs and celebrate Judaism because it's the right thing to do and it is what Hashem wants of us. However, as human beings, we need inspiration. We do things differently when we have been explained the deeper meaning behind them and understand the purpose in the endeavor.
 In this spirit, I invite you take advantage of the Torah classes offered at Chabad House. Most specifically, please consider signing up for our new course on the book of Exodus: Shemot – Birth, advertised on this email and on our website. This is a 10 week course that will give you a good overview of the second book of the Torah (Bible) as well as a meaningful running commentary on what its underlying message was and is to each of us, here and now.
On behalf of the “regulars” at our Sunday classes, I invite you to join us for this special course. Go ahead and sign up now by clicking here (it costs a few bucks, so you're sure to show up if you sign up)... Just do it! Give it a try. I promise you won't regret it. For the next 10 weeks (beginning January 14th) start your week with an exciting Torah Lecture (along with bagels and coffee). It is sure to make a difference in your entire week.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Shalom M Paltiel
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NEW! GRAB A BAGEL!
We are happy to announce that beginning this Sunday there will be bagels and spreads in the library – in the front lobby area of the Chabad House – for the pleasure of the Hebrew School parents or congregants at Chabad. Please feel free to drop by and enjoy a fresh delicious bagel, coffee, hang out and chat or just grab and run!
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MAHJONG CLUB - FOR WOMEN
 Chabad Women's Circle invites you to another evening of Mahjong! Our fist Mahjong evening was such a smashing success and there has been tremendous interest in doing this on a regular basis. We are happy to announce our next Mahjong evening Tuesday, January 9th, 7:30 pm. This will be the last “Mahjong for Dummies” evening (Last chance to learn the game). After this, we plan to meet for a monthly Mahjong evening. RSVP by emailing [email protected].
SIGN UP FOR SHABBAT DINNER - NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT!
 Take advantage of a beautiful opportunity to spend Shabbat together each month! Our second Shabbat dinner for the year will take place next Shabbat, January 12th, led by Rabbi Weinberg and family! Join us for meaningful & enjoyable Shabbat experience, complete with song, stories, insight and of course great food and fabulous company!
Services: 6:00 p.m. • Dinner: 7:00 p.m. $20 Adults; $10 Children; $60 Family Maximum. RSVP required by the Wednesday prior to each event. Call us at 516-767-8672 ext. 1 or email [email protected]. New! Click here to RSVP! Please mark your calendar with the dates of the Shabbat dinners: January 12, 2007 • February 2, 2007 • March 16, 2007 • April 20, 2007 • May 18, 2007 • June 8, 2007.
ADULT EDUCATION COURSE: THE BOOK OF EXODUS
We're pleased to present a new, exciting course by Torah Studies "Birth: The Book of Exodus, Shemot." Every Sunday Morning, Beginning January 14, 10:00 am – 11:20 am at Chabad of Port Washington. The fee is $50 for the complete 10 week course (textbooks included) or $7 per individual class (plus textbook fee of $13). It's now as simple as can be to register: simply log on to www.chabadpw.org/458931 and submit your registration and payment. For more information, please call: 516-767-TORAH (8672) or email: mailto:[email protected]. The book of Shemot begins the story of the Israelites' forty-year journey to the Holy Land: From slavery in Egypt and miraculous escape to receiving the Torah at Sinai and the episode of the golden calf; restoring their relationship with G‑d to building the Tabernacle as a dwelling for the divine. In ten weekly classes, the Exodus Series extracts essential lessons that will change the way you look at leadership, liberty, livelihood, law, giving and personal growth. Join Us!
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Mirror of Trust
The heavens above mirror the earth below.
Trust in Him and He will fulfill your trust.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe; words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman. To order Tzvi's book, "Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.
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The Parshah In a Nutshell |
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Parshat Vayechi
Jacob lives the final 17 years of his
life in Egypt. Before his passing, he asks
Joseph to take an oath that he will
bury him in the
Holy Land. He blesses Joseph's two sons,
Menasseh and
Ephraim, elevating them to the status of his own sons as progenitors of
tribes within the nation of Israel.
The patriarch desires to reveal the
end of days to his children, but is
prevented from doing so. Jacob blesses his sons, assigning to each his role as a tribe:
Judah will produce leaders, legislators and kings; priests will come from
Levi, scholars from
Issachar, seafarers from
Zebulun, schoolteachers from
Shimon, soldiers from
Gad, judges from
Dan, olive growers from
Asher, and so on.
Reuben is rebuked for "confusing his father's marriage"; Shimon and Levi for the massacre of Shechem and the plot against Joseph.
Naphtali is granted the swiftness of a deer,
Benjamin the ferociousness of a wolf, and Joseph is blessed with
beauty and
fertility.
A large funeral procession consisting of Jacob's descendants, Pharaoh's ministers, the leading citizens of Egypt and the Egyptian cavalry accompanies Jacob on his final journey to the Holy Land, where he is
buried in the Machpeilah Cave in
Hebron.
Joseph, too, dies in Egypt, at the age of 110. He, too, instructs that his
bones be taken out of Egypt and buried in the Holy Land, but this would come to pass only with the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt many years later. Before his passing, Joseph conveys to the Children of Israel the testament from which they will draw their hope and faith in the difficult years to come: "G‑d will surely
remember you, and bring you up out of this land to the land of which he swore to
Abraham,
Isaac and
Jacob."
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