Herzlia – Adas Yeshurun Synagogue Weekly E-Blast 18 Shevat 5775 February 6 - 7, 2015 ‫בע"ה‬ Shabbat Parashat Yitro 5:13 pm 6:14 pm Friday Candle Lighting Kabbalat Shabbat 5:13 pm 5:15 pm Shabbat Shacharit Latest Time for Shemah Earliest Time for Minchah 9:30 am 10:17 am 1:07 pm Havdalah (Shabbat Ends) 6:14 pm Weekday Services Sunday Morning Shacharit Monday & Thursday Shacharit 9:00 am 7:00 am Thursday Talmud & Tefillah 7:00 pm This week’s Kiddush is sponsored by Orna & Lorne Stoller in honour of the Anniversary of Avichai’s Bar Mitzvah ANGEL FOR SHABBAT Listening, Not Just Hearing: Thoughts on Parashat Yitro This week's Torah portion begins with the words "Vayishma Yitro"--and Yitro heard. News had reached him about the miraculous salvation of the Israelites at the Red Sea and about their battle with Amalek. A Hassidic master asked: why did the Torah specify that Yitro heard about these things? Everyone, not just Yitro, had heard about the exploits of the Israelites. The Rebbe answered: others heard, but Yitro listened. Yitro was special because he drew conclusions from the news he received. He realized that he should meet with Moses and the Israelites, that he should stand in solidarity with them, that he should find ways of helping them. We are barraged by news, by demands, by problems, by requests: many people hear these things, but then tune them out. Special people listen. They try to understand what is at stake and what role they can play. And they act accordingly. Those who hear are those who stand back, who are "the silent majority". Those who listen are the ones who enter the fray and change the world for the better. The parasha includes the Ten Commandments. Significantly, the Ten Commandments are in the singular--not plural--form. God speaks to each individual. The Midrash comments that God's voice reached each person according to his/her ability to comprehend. God wanted every person to listen to His words and take them personally; he did not want them simply to hear Him. My wife Gilda taught me long ago: it is important for a rabbi to be a good speaker; it is even more important for a rabbi to be a good listener. This is wise advice for all people, not only rabbis. Listening is a quality that demands that we pay close attention to what is being said, that we be attuned to the feelings and needs of others, that we come to feel a genuine empathy with them. By listening, we then can decide on appropriate words and actions that may be helpful. Yitro's ability to listen, not just to hear, distinguished him from so many others of his generation. So, too, each of us can learn to be better listeners, more sympathetic helpers, and more constructive participants in building better families, communities and society as a whole. Shabbat Shalom! Angel for Shabbat by Rabbi Marc Angel is presented by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals (www.jewishideas.org) Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Ellis Wednesday, February 18 12:15 - 1:15 pm RBC Convention Center Please join us for a lively discussion over a delicious lunch RSVP by Tuesday, February 17 to [email protected] The Adam Anhang Memorial Fund The Jewish Renaissance Learning Series Bringing Jewish Wisdom into Everyday Life Mishnah 101 Sundays 9:45 - 10:30 am Explore the roots of our tradition with a weekly Mishnah class and coffee on Sunday mornings after Shacharit. Journey through the Talmud Thursdays 7:00 - 8:00 pm Join us on Thursday evenings for a weekly Talmud class as we plunge into the depths of the Talmud. One on One Learning with Rabbi Ellis or Rebbetzin Tikvah Ellis Whether in your home, place of business, or at the synagogue, it’s a wonderful opportunity to study what interests you most. Individual sessions are available by appointment. For more information please contact Rabbi Ellis or the Shul office.