Shabbat Shalom, Beth Torah!
Saturday | 9:30 a.m.
We are delighted to be open and holding Shabbat morning services onsite. Please join us, no registration is necessary.
Those unable to attend in person are invited to join us online for our livestreamed services.
Shabbat Info
Friday, November 15 | Cheshvan 14, 5785
4:34 p.m. Light Shabbat candles
Saturday, November 16 | Cheshvan 15, 5785
9:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service
5:37 p.m. Shabbat ends
Parshat – Vayerah
Torah Reading
Genesis 18:1 – 22:24
Vayerah in a Nutshell
The name of the Parshah, “Vayera,” means “And He appeared.”
G-d reveals Himself to Abraham three days after the first Jew’s circumcision at age-ninety-nine; but Abraham rushes off to prepare a meal for three guests who appear in the desert heat. One of the three—who are angels disguised as men—announces that, in exactly one year, the barren Sarah will give birth to a son. Sarah laughs.
Abraham pleads with G-d to spare the wicked city of Sodom. Two of the three disguised angels arrive in the doomed city, where Abraham’s nephew Lot extends his hospitality to them and protects them from the evil intentions of a Sodomite mob. The two guests reveal that they have come to overturn the place, and to save Lot and his family. Lot’s wife turns into a pillar of salt when she disobeys the command not to look back at the burning city as they flee.
While taking shelter in a cave, Lot’s two daughters (believing that they and their father are the only ones left alive in the world) get their father drunk, lie with him and become pregnant. The two sons born from this incident father the nations of Moab and Ammon.
Abraham moves to Gerar, where the Philistine king Abimelech takes Sarah —who is presented as Abraham’s sister—to his palace. In a dream, G‑d warns Abimelech that he will die unless he returns the woman to her husband. Abraham explains that he feared he would be killed over the beautiful Sarah.
G-d remembers His promise to Sarah, and gives her and Abraham a son, who is named Isaac (Yitzchak, meaning “will laugh”). Isaac is circumcised at the age of eight days; Abraham is one hundred years old, and Sarah ninety, at their child’s birth.
Hagar and Ishmael are banished from Abraham’s home and wander in the desert; G‑d hears the cry of the dying lad, and saves his life by showing his mother a well. Abimelech makes a treaty with Abraham at Beersheba, where Abraham gives him seven sheep as a sign of their truce.
G-d tests Abraham’s devotion by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. Isaac is bound and placed on the altar, and Abraham raises the knife to slaughter his son. A voice from heaven calls to stop him; a ram, caught in the undergrowth by its horns, is offered in Isaac’s place.
Kiddush Sponsor
This weeks kiddush is sponsored by: Dorothy Gordon and Robert Ringwald in honour of their son, Jake Ringwald and his fiancee Jessica Arfins’ Aufruf.
Mazel Tov
Mazel Tov to Jake Ringwald and Jessica Arfin on their Aufruf.
Yahrzeit
Week of November 16th Yahrzeit Listings
Bonnie Genser, Mother of Naomi H. Cohen, November 16, 2024.
Linda-Jaye Comm, Sister of Sheri Fisher, sister-in-law of Harold Fisher, November 17, 2024.
Morris Cyment, Father of Freda Yermus, father-in-law of Leon Yermus, November 17, 2024.
Alan Mandel, Father of Stuart Mandel, father-in-law of Tami Sherman, November 17, 2024.
Lisa Miller, Daughter of Robert Miller, November 18, 2024.
Agneta (Agi) Rabinovits, Mother of Daniel Rabinovits, mother-in-law of Barbara Greenspoon,
November 18, 2024.
Hanina Ezerzer, Mother of Samy Ezerzer, mother-in-law of Frances Ezerzer, November 19,
2024.
Marty Cohen, Husband of Evy Strasberg, November 20, 2024.
Harry Donsky, Grandfather of Thea Greenspan, November 20, 2024.
Moses Yermus, Father of Leon Yermus, father-in-law of Freda Yermus, November 20, 2024.
Sidney (Sid) Adler, Father of Sharyn Adler-Gitalis, father-in-law of Simon Gitalis, November
21, 2024.
Howard Cohen, Father of Jill Gaffe, father-in-law of Lorne Gaffe, November 21, 2024.
Sally Presement, Mother of Barry Presement, mother-in-law of Carol Presement, November
21, 2024.
Sarah (Sue) Turk, Mother of Marvyn and Stephen Turk, mother-in-law of Debby Turk and
Maura Levine, sister-in-law of Harry, Pnina and Alina Turk, grandmother of Drew (Andrew),
Goldie, Alix, and Ashley Turk. November 21, 2024.
Esther Schwartz, Mother of David Schwartz and Rhona Shulman, mother-in-law of Barbara
Miller-Schwartz, and Ken Shulman, November 22, 2024.
Chaia Turkienicz, Sister of Harry Turk, sister-in-law of Pnina and Alina Turk, Aunt of Stephen
and Marvyn Turk, November 22, 2024.