OCTOBER 28– NOVEMBER 3 , 2016 • 26 TISHRI - 2 Cheshvan 5777

BERESHIT

CONGREGATION MOGEN DAVID

9717 W PICO BLVD, LA, CA 90035 • 310.556.5609 •

RABBI GABE ELIAS, Senior Rabbi/Executive Director

NOEY JACOBSON, Cantor

RABBI YEHUDA MOSES, Rav Kehila, Sephardic Minyan

RABBI MICHAEL ABRAHAM, Assistant Rabbi/Hazan

SEPHARDIC MINYAN

Erev Shabbat

Candle lighting: 5:46pm

Mincha: 5:45pm

Shabbat

Shacharit: 8:45am

Mincha: 5:35pm

Arvit: 6:30pm

Havdalah: 6:35pm

Sunday

Shacharit: 8:00am

Mincha: 5:45pm

Mon—Fri

Shacharit: 6:30am

Tues & Wed Rosh Chodesh

Mon—Thurs

Mincha: 5:45pm

Erev Shabbat

Light Candles 5:39pm

Mincha/Arvit: 5:40pm

PLEASE, MAKE AN EFFORT TO JOIN US FOR EVENING MINYAN

OCTOBER—NOVEMBER

Daphna & Benjamin Gerendash •

David & Jessica Abian • Eliyahu & Gila Hazani

David & Amy Minc • Sheldon & Harriet Markman

Abraham & Parstoo Kashani • Neil & Rachel Sheff • • • • • • • •

ASHKENAZI MINYAN

Erev Shabbos

Candle lighting: 5:46pm

Mincha: 5:45pm

Shabbos

Shacharis: 9:00am

Mincha/Ma’ariv: 5:40pm

Ma’ariv: 6:30pm

Havdalah: 6:35pm

Sunday

Shacharis: 8:00am

Mincha: 5:45pm

Mon—Fri

Shacharis: 6:30am

Tues & Wed Rosh Chodesh

Mon—Thurs

Mincha: 5:45pm

Erev Shabbos

Light Candles 5:39pm

Mincha/Ma’ariv: 5:40pm

PLEASE, MAKE AN EFFORT TO JOIN US FOR EVENING MINYAN

OCT 28—NOV 3

• Noa Ezran • Seymour Pressman •

• Daniel Dallal • Ayva Kashanian •

• Sarah Ryzman • Dina Moses • Elizabeth Grunfeld •

• Eliyahu Hazani • Robert Millman •

• • • • • • • • • AVY AZEROUAL, President

BIRCHAT HACHODESH ROSH CHODESH

Important Halalhic Times

Earliest Talit & Tefillin

Last Time for Shema

Last time for Shacharis

Earliest time for Mincha

6:24am

9:16am

10:48am

1:04pm THIS WEEK WE THANK OUR SPONSORS

Kiddush is sponsored by Avishai and Aliza Shraga in honor

of the birth of their new son.

Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by the Shul.

the Simchat Torah lunch was co-sponsored by Haim &

Helen Dayan, Amram Azeroual, Oved Anter, and Marty

and Evelyn Pollack. The Goodie-Bags for the kids were

donated by Avraham Moradi.

*We are in need of additional co-sponsors for the Simchat Torah

Lunch—Please contact the office to help co-sponsor this event.

To Sponsor or Co-Sponsor Kiddush or Seudah Shlishit in honor of a Birthday, Anniver-

sary, Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, New Baby, Simcha, New Job, or honor a Memory of a

loved one; contact the office 310-556-5609

IN MEMORIAM:

OCT 28—NOV 3 / 26 TISHRI—2 CHESHVAN

Aleksander Skowron • Eliyahi Sadetski • Miriam Safren •

Beatrice Wacht • Pearl Mogtader • Rabbi Chaim Rand •

• Lawrence Friedrich • Sigmund Kreuz • Jack Port •

Theodore Pariser • Salvatore Piha • Jacob Karasik•

• • • • • • • •

Honorees for the 30th Anniversary ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL;

Academy Award Winning—Actress—Filmmaker

Natalie Portman, Award Winning - Actress -

Humanitarian Sharon Stone and Jay Sanderson, President

of the Jewish Federation of Greater L.A.

PLEASE REDEEM YOUR PLEDGES FROM YOM KIPPUR

Please remember to give us a SEPARATE CHECK to pay a

Gmach pledge. Thank you so much for your support

REFUAH SHLEIMAH:

Yosef Lev ben Sarah • Alfredo ben Petra •

Mordechai ben Simcha • Reuven Ben Goel •

Haim Menachem ben Hena Raizel •

Baruch Pelech ben Chana • Avraham Meir ben Batya •

Avraham ben Dolat • Shimon Dov ben Shifra •

Shalom bat Chana • Yitzchak ben Kalomeera •

Moshe Mordechai ben Rachel •

Raphael Dovid ben Ella • Aaron Yosef ben Chana •

Yisrael Meir ben Esther • Ruven ben Raisel •

Efriam ben Ida • Ozer ben Leah •

•Rochel bat Miriam • Esther bat Chana • Matana bat Rachel •

Sara bat Etta • Tzvia Nechama bas Chana Rochel •

Sarah bat Elka • Dafna bat Sima • Chana Ruhal bat Selma •

Rivka Devorah bat Haya Sarah •

Chava Golda bat Rachel Leah •

Neima bat Sara • Silvia Neche bat Rosa • Rachel bat Chana •

Shifra bat Chaya Esther • Yona bat Pesiah • Esther bat Gital •

Miriam bat Sarah • Chaya Rachel bat Simcha •

Elana bat Rachel •Shayna bat Chave • Rivkah bas Chemda •

Bracha bat Niktzan Rina • Sara bat Rachel •

• Sara Chana bat Tziporah •

Rivka Devorah Brainah bat Avigyil Faiga •

LA ERUV Appeal – Take Action Now! We all partake & benefit

from having a well-constructed Eruv. Our Eruv now needs our

support. Funds are used for operations and maintenance. LAERUV

must raise an annual budget of $160,000. We ALL need to

participate and help fund the eruv. Weekly sponsorships are

available for $250. Consider one of the following • Send a check

to LA ERUV at 8950 W Olympic Blvd, Suite 179, Beverly Hills, CA

90211, 310.876.0320 • Donate one-time $54 minimum request, or

monthly; by check, credit card or PayPal at www.LAERUV.com •

to arrange a personal donation, email: info@laeruv.com .

contact: Howard Witkin hwitkin@lead.net or Elliot Katzovitz el-

liot@elliotkinsurance.com

MAZAL TOV !

to parents Avishai and Aliza Shraga

on the birth of their son

to siblings Liel, Eyal and Gabriel,

And the whole family.

May they raise him up to

Torah, Chupa, and Massim Tovim.

MOTZI SHABBAT, AVOT U’BANIM PROGRAM BEGINS SOON !!

WATCH HERE FOR FALL/WINTER 2016-17 SCHEDULE

BERESHIT

We have just completed the Holiday period that marked

the beginning of the Jewish calendar year. This parsha of

Bereshit is the beginning of another important event in the

religious cycle of the year. It is the time when the first par-

sha in the Torah is read in its entirety in the shul. Part of the

parsha, the first chapter and three verses of the second,

were just read on Simchat Torah following the conclusion

of the reading of the last portion of the Torah. Thus, on the

happiest holiday of the year, we conclude one round of

public reading and immediately begin another. This im-

pressive and inspiring scene is enacted year after

year. We learn from this that one never really completes

the Torah, that one never knows all the profound mean-

ings that are expressed on its scrolls. A second reason is to

teach us that we have yet another chance beginning

with Bereshit to start anew, correct ways, and make up for

what we missed or underachieved during the past year.

The parsha begins with "in the beginning Hashem created

the heavens and the earth."

I heard an interesting point made by one of my col-

leagues. Just after the Crusades when the Crusaders were

locked in battle with the Muslems for control of Jerusalem,

Jewish hopes were in tatters.

In light of the existential crisis facing the Jewish people, at

that time, the last thing one would expect would be for

the famous commentator on the Torah, Rashi, to have em-

phasized in the very first comment on the Torah the Jewish

claim to the land of Israel. Notwithstanding, Rashi pointed

to the Jewish claim on the Holy Land as the reason for the

Torah's beginning with the creation of the world. Because

the earth is the Lord's, it is His alone to distribute. Because

he gifted Israel to the Jewish people, no subsequent claim

to that land by other peoples can have validity regardless

of UNESCO or the UN or any other entity deciding other-

wise

More than a thousand years since his commentary, coun-

ter claims are being made on the land and Jerusalem, its

eternal capital. There is dispute about sovereignty and

borders. There are many who feel that boundaries need

to be delineated as to their exact locations. Unfortunate-

ly, even Jews are not united on our historical right to the

land and Jerusalem. Is this what Rashi had in mind? Will

the Jewish people, at least finally take prophetic com-

ment seriously?

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Gabe Elias

PARASHAH BERESHIT

The creation of the world is introduced to us in two different

ways: Each of the days of creation is prefaced by the

phrase, "vayomer Elokim," and the entire account begins

with, "Bereishit bara Elokim" ; the shem Hashem is not used.

However, when the Torah repeats the story, the shem Ha-

shem is used, as it says, "Hashem Elokim" (2:4-21). Rashi (1:1)

explains that originally the world was to be created

through middat hadin - the strict attribute Divine Justice, as

the name Elokim implies. However, the world could not

function on such terms and was eventually created ac-

cording to the rules of justice and mercy combined. This

partnership of middat hadin and middat harachamim is

alluded to in the description of Hakadosh Baruch

Hu as, "Hashem Elokim". Elokim refers

to din, and Hashem to rachamim.

The culmination of creation also occurred in two stag-

es: Chazal teach us that the entire creation of the world

was dependant upon whether the Jewish people would

accept the Torah. The first kabbalat hatorah occurred un-

der the rules of middat hadin, so that when Benei Yisra-

el sinned they should have immediately been de-

stroyed. Middat hadin dictates that immediate and com-

plete punishment be meted out to one who sins. Eventual-

ly, Hashem gave Benei Yisrael another chance and instruct-

ed them in the 13 middot shel rachamim , thereby enabling

a second kabbalat hatorah. It is this second kabbalat hato-

rah that binds us today a world of the combined middot.

This change from a pure middat hadin to one tempered

by middat harachamim is not an event that occurred only

at the time of creation or at the time of matan torah- this

shift takes place every year. Rosh Hashana is the yom

hadin in the strict sense. Corresponding to the original crea-

tion, the world should be judged according to the middat

hadin. Yet, Hakadosh Baruch Hu knows that we cannot

withstand judgement under those terms so He gave us Yom

Hakippurim as a chance to be judged according to middat

harachamim.

As the Chagim have officially come to a close, and as we

begin the Torah anew with Sefer Bereishit, we should re-

member the lesson of balancing the middat ha-din (justice

and judgment) with the middat ha-rachamim (mercy and

comnpassion). One of the ways we accomplish this is to

[when possible] view others in a favorable light--dan l'kaf

zechut. I look forward to beginning the Torah and all our

learning opportunities in the Kehilla as we begin another

season of learning Torah together.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yehuda Moses

KOLLEL & CLASSES

Daily Classes

SUN-FRI: Chok Le’Yisrael w/Haim Dayan

SUN@ 8:45am; Mon—Fri @7:30am

Weekly Classes

SUN:

Shiur: w/R’Adler following Shacharit

Guide to Belief: @9:30am w/David Sacks

MON:

Parsha Class: w/R’Elias @Pico Café 7:45am

Next Class OCTOBER 31, NOVEMBER 7

TUES: 11.8.16

7:45pm The 613 Mitzvot w/R’Moses

WED:

12.00pm Lunch & Learn:(Weekly Parsha) w/R’Elias

Next Class Nov 2, 9

THUR: 11.10.16

Gemara Class: @8:00pm w/R’Moses

Beginning Talmud Shiur: @8:00pm w/R’Elias

Kollel Classes are Sponsored by Avy and Sandra Azeroual;

Dedicated in memory of ADA BAT HANNA AZEROUAL; and to

the memories of JACK E. GINDI and

ESKANDAR RASHIDI DOOST.

We offer the opportunity to sponsor a week of Kollel learning for $180 as a

way to commemorate a Yahrtzeit or Hazkarah, to celebrate a joyous

Simcha, or to help and support the Torah learning at our Shul. Please call

or email the office to choose a week to sponsor a class.

BERESHIT

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bnei Akiva Events-Shabbat 10/29 Snif Shluchot-5:20pm-Beth Jacob

(walking group leave Canfield/Airdrome at 5:00pm; Snif Saad-5:30pm

at Yavneh contact Eyal at (310) 220-1459 or efridman@bneiakivala.org

Moshava California Open House! Tues. Nov 1 at the Prero home,

6:30pm. Summer 2017 registration open. Info 855-MOSHAVA or

office@moshavacalifornia.org

HARKHAM-GAON ACADEMY, OPEN HOUSE is around the corner! Join

prospective students & parents to learn about innovative, affordable

program offering WASC accredited A-G classes to superior Judaic

Studies, Model UN to Town Hall, and Fine Arts to Sports. Nov. 10, 2016,

7:30 - 8:30pm 5870 W. Olympic Blvd. 90036 RSVP @ 310-556-0663

NCSY CONNECT ALUMNI (21+): ALL NCSY/JSU ALUMNI AROUND THE

WORLD!!!! Nov. 3-7:30pm “Worldwide Latte & Learning” brings togeth-

er old & new friends. Learn Torah, connect & drink coffee on the

same day; Israel, LA, Seattle, Las Vegas and SanDiego. Info-details:

Denise 310 229-9000 xt202 at www.westcoast.ncsy.org/world-wide-

latte-learning. NCSY CONNECT ALUMNI “THROWBACK THURSDAY” Nov

10-7:30pm Laughter & Learning at the Luxe Sunset Hotel 11461 W. Sun-

set Blvd. Info www.westcoast.ncsy.org/throwback-thursday/ Info-

details: Denise 310 229-9000 xt202

Los Angeles Israel Gap Year Fair, Thurs Nov 17 6:30 to 9:30 pm @ Bnai

David-Judea. Parents & Students can meet over 40 diverse Israel gap

year providers all together. Free!!! But advance registration makes

you eligible for a great travel prize. https://www.eventbrite.com/

e/2016-losangeles-israel-gap-year-fair-tickets-28464073811 or face-

book@israelgapyear, email: info@aigya.org

YULA Boys High School Open House; November 9, 6:30pm at YULA

Boys Campus -9760 W. Pico Blvd LA. Info, contact Sandy Roessler at

sroessler@yula.org