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SHABBAT SHALOM HAGESHER!!!
 
Candle lighting: 4:30 pm
Havdalah: 5:31 pm
 
This week we read Parashat Va'era.  This week's d'var was written by the
amazingly talented Rel/Ed RGB member Tyler Dratch!
 
 In this week’s parasha, Va'era, Moses is instructed by God to go with his
brother Aaron to Pharaoh and demand that he let the Israelites go. This is
one of the first times in the torah that a man actually questions god. "I am
of impeded speech, how then should Pharaoh heed me?" (Exodus 6:30). It is
incredible that any man would ever question a command given by god. Most
would think that god would not put anyone in a situation he or she could not
handle. So, after god permits Moses to take Aaron to speak for him, to
Pharaoh, they are off.

    Later in the parasha, god sends plagues on Egypt. During the worst of
each plague Pharaoh promises he will free the Israelites, but when the
plague dies down, he takes back his promise and declares that the Israelites
must remain slaves. This action shows one of Pharaoh’s  huge weaknesses.

    It’s hard to believe, but all of us share this weakness with Pharaoh.
Have you ever done poorly on a test and vowed to study harder, only to blow
off studying next time when you forgot about your low grade from before?
Have you ever panicked and made a promise, then later didn’t keep the
promise when the circumstances were not as severe? There are many times when
we say things that we truly mean at a time when things are not so good.
Later when things get better, we take back our promise.

    In the case of Pharaoh taking back his promises, the Egyptians ended up
being punished with ten plagues, the last being the death of every first
born child. In our lives, situations like this can start fights and even
ruin friendships. This Shabbat, I challenge you to question yourself.

Do I really mean the things I say?
Do I stay true to all of my promises?

Questions
1. How old is Moses when he is sent to Pharaoh? (3 points)
2. True or False: Pharaoh's magicians make water turn to blood just like god
did? (3 points)
3. Name a situation in which you might make a promise that you would take
back later in a different situation. (5 points)

**please send all responses to sarahjaye1@aol.com**

Once you can ask yourself these questions you will be one step closer to
being a better Jew, family member, and friend. Shabbat Shalom!

B'vracha,
Sarah Richman
Religion/Education VP

Hey Hagesher,

    In the rest of this email you will find important instructions
regarding the Hagesher Regional Shekel Challenge, so READ CAREFULLY.
    In this email, you will find Israel Trivia Questions. These are
to test your knowledge of certain facts in Israel. Now that the
International Israel Challenge is over, I ask you to send your
responses to only 1 email address, Hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com.
    By the Way...In the international Israel Challenge, our AMAAAZING
hagesher region placed second out of 17 regions! So way to go to all
of you who have participated in any way, and I look forward to your
future participation as well...
    ANYWAYS, When answering the Israel Trivia, You must answer ALL
QUESTIONS CORRECTLY in order to receive credit for your chapter. In
your email, please INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CHAPTER, and of course, your
answers. Also, there are bonus shekalim (points) awarded to the first
four correct responses, so get your answers in as promptly as
possible. THE COMPETITION STARTS AT 9PM TONIGHT (Monday night), and
ENDS BEFORE SHABBAT ON FRIDAY!

This Weeks Israel Trivia is:

1. What region does Israel's best selling brand of wine come from?
2.
Which internationally well-known shoe wear item received its name from
the Hebrew
   word for nature?
3. Who was the Israeli Prime Minister during the Six-Day War?

ALSO, there is plenty of time left to sign up for USY Pilgrimage, so
if you are thinking about it and would like to speak to a past
pilgrim, please contact me at hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com and I
would be happy to help.

Lastly, an update on recent news regarding Israel!:

Bush says US would defend Israel if Iran attacks:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080106/pl_afp/mideastdiplomacyusiranbush_080106094335

A new breed of Israeli filmmaker:

http://web.israel21c.net/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El1865&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Culture&

That's all for this week...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
B'Hatzlacha,
Daniel Berdugo
Hagesher Israel Affairs Vice President
2007-2008

SHABBAT SHALOM HAGESHER!!
 
Candle lighting: 4:37pm
Havdalah: 5:38pm
 
This week we read parashat Bo.  This weeks' d'var was written by the one and 
only Rel/Ed RGB member Becka Lefkoe!!:
 
This is week is the infamous parsha Bo we all know and love, the story of 
Passover! 
God sends the last three plagues upon the Egyptians: locust, darkness, and 
the death of the first born. The Jews are instructed to kill a lamb and smear 
it's blood on the door posts of their houses so the Angel of Death would know 
the difference between an Egyptian and a Jewish house. The Angel of Death 
would "pass over" the jewish houses, if you will.
 
Obviously, Pharoah was not let on to the lamb blood trick, and the Angel of 
Death visits his house that night. God's last plague finally does the trick; 
Pharoah is so distraught over his son's death that he forces the Jews to flee 
from Egypt. But they don't have time to pack their belongings or make fully 
cooked bread. 
 
The Jews are commanded by God to remember the anniversary of their exodus 
by retelling the story and eating unleavened bread. So this is why every spring 
when Passover rolls around, we gather up our families and read from the 
Hagadah the story of our brave ancestors and their freedom from slavery. 
 
Passover does not come for a few more months this year, because there is an 
extra month in the Jewish calender in 5768. But that does not mean that we 
can't remember our ancestors and their perseverance through slavery now. 
Especially this month, when every is stressing over midterms and grades, just 
think of the amazing gift we were given of freedom. Be happy that you have 
the opportunity to learn and go to school, some kids don't have that chance. 
 
Questions: 
 
1. Name the ten plagues (3 points, double if you name them in Hebrew)
 
2. What were the Jews supposed to do with the lamb they slaughtered for the 
blood on their doorposts? (3 points)
 
3. What Disney movie is a re-enactment of the Passover story, and what song 
do they sing as they leave Egypt? (5 points)
 
**Please send all answers to sarahjaye1@aol.com**
 
Have a wonderful shabbat!!

B'vracha,
Sarah Richman
Religion/Education VP

Hi Hagesher!,
By now, you have probably caught on to the way that this trivia
works...so i wont take to long to explain it. One change in the way
you should answer the trivia is that it should only be sent to one
e-mail address, Hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com. Remember to include
your name and chapter, and of course, your answers. Without further
ado, I give you this weeks Hagesher Israel Trivia!!!
This weeks questions are:

1. What Israeli town/city holds an annual International Jazz Festival?
2. What is the Hebrew name of the Israeli matriculation exams?
3. What type of stone is the Kotel built with?

Remember, you must answer all questions correctly to get credit. The
competition starts at 9PM tonight (Wednesday night) and will end
before Shabbat on Friday.

Now, Whats going on in Israel?

Israel's post-tsunami work in Sri Lanka bears fruit:

http://web.israel21c.net/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El1895&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Democracy&

Israel tourism jumps 25 pct in 2007 to 2.3 million:

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080116/tbs-israel-tourism-955c2a1.html

ALSO, attached is the Hagesher Regional Israel Challenges that can be
completed at any time until spring convention...The competition is
getting fierce, so talk to your chapter president or Israel Affairs VP
about doing one!

Thats all for this week.
Todah v'B'hatzlacha,
Daniel Berdugo
Hagesher Israel Affairs Vice President
2007-2008

SHABBAT SHALOM HAGESHER!!!
 
Candle lighting: 4:45pm
Havdalah: 5:46pm
 
 
This week we read parashat B'shalach.  This week's d'var torah was written
by the lovely and beautiful Rel/Ed RGB member Rebecca Kossman!
 
Hooray! The Israelites are finally free and ready to make their way over to
Israel. Unfortunately, things don’t seem to be going as easily as they had
all hoped, and whenever something goes wrong they automatically start
complaining, and wishing that they’d never left Egypt.

            The first setback is the well-known story of the parting of the
Red Sea. The Israelites are caught between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea,
and of course they start to panic. Moshe tells them not to worry, lifts his
rod, and the sea splits. Not only do all the Israelites get across safely,
but the Egyptians were all drowned when the sea when back to its normal state.

            After having seen Hashem perform this miraculous feat, you would
think that the Israelites would have perfect faith in Him. And they did,
until they realized that they were thirsty and had no water to drink. After
Hashem gives them water to drink, He gave them a rule: “If you will heed the
Lord your G-d diligently, doing what is upright in His sight, giving ear to
His commandments and keeping all His laws, then I will not bring upon you
any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I the Lord am
your healer.”

            Things seem to be going well for a little while, until that is,
the Israelites realize that they’re hungry, and have no food to eat. So what
do you think they did? If you guessed complained, then you are absolutely
correct!!  They immediately start complaining and wishing that they had died
in Egypt instead of starving in the wilderness. Of course Hashem proves
Himself to them again, by giving them the manna that would sustain them for
the rest of their wonderings in the desert.

            All seems to being going well, until the Israelites become
thirsty again. With no water source in site, Moshe started to become nervous
about what the Israelites would do if he did not find them some water soon,
so Hashem tells him to hit a rock with his rod (remember this, because it
will come up later!!!), and when he does it produces water.

            Throughout his parsha, we see the Israelites constantly loosing
faith in G-d, and G-d constantly proving his power. When we read this story,
it may seem absurd to us that these people could lose faith so quickly when
such miracles, as a sea splitting and food just appearing, occur, but its
human nature. What we need to do is learn to trust each other. For example,
your chapter may be planning an event that requires multiple people to do
some work at home. Everyone is dependent on those people completing their
work, and although it may be our first instinct not to trust that the work
will get done, we have to have faith in each of those people to complete
their assignments. However this works both ways, because in order to gain
trust we must be responsible and not break our promises.

Questions:

1) Which prayer that we say every day, appears in this parasha, and during
which service do we say it? (3 points)

2) How does G-d protect the Israelites in the wilderness? (Hint: it’s
different for day and night)(3 points)

3)Name a time that you have not had faith in someone, and in the end
realized that there had never been any reason to worry? (5 points)
**please send all answers to sarahjaye1@aol.com**

Have a wonderful and relaxing Shabbat!!

B'vracha,
Sarah Richman
Religion/Education VP

Hey Hagesher Seniors:

If you are interested in or know you will be attending Rutgers next Fall
there is a perspective student Hillel Shabbaton.  Attached is the
application.  If you are interested please contact the name on the
application right away to let them know your application is on its way as
the due date has already passed.

SHABBAT SHALOM HAGESHER!!!          

Candle lighting: 4:53 pm
Havdalah: 5:54 pm

This week we read parashat Yitro:

    The parasha begins with Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, bringing Moses’
wife and sons to join him in the desert.  Moses told Yitro about all of the
kindness God had shown the Israelites, and Yitro rejoiced with him.  In
observing Moses in his daily tasks, Yitro advises that he delegate some of
his many responsibilities to some other worthy people so that Moses would
only have to deal with issues that 100% require his attention, and Moses
listens to this advice.

            At this point, the Israelites are beginning to prepare for God’s
Revelation.  Moses tells the Israelites what God expects of them, and they
respond “all that Hashem will command we will do!”  Moses tells the
Israelites to bathe themselves in the Mikveh and to not sleep with their
spouses for 3 days.  No one is allowed to climb Mt. Sinai until after the
Revelation.

            Three days later, the Revelation begins with thunder,
lightening, and the sound of the shofar.  As Mt. Sinai becomes engulfed in
smoke, clouds, and fire, Moses tells the people of Israel to gather at the
foot of the mountain.  God tells Moses to ascend Mt. Sinai, and then sends
him back down with specific instructions to come back up with Aaron, but to
make sure that no one else even tries to come up Mt. Sinai.  Then God
recites the Ten Commandments. 

            I'm sure all of you are familiar with the Ten Commandments, so I
want to focus on another part of the parasha: the part where Moses agrees to
delegate some of his responsibilities.  This teaches us the very important
lesson of teamwork.  It is okay to get people to help you out if you need
it, and you should always be sure to help out others, because what may seem
like a small, easy task to you might be a big load off of someone else’s
shoulders.

Questions:

1. What are the names of Moses' sons? (3 points)

2. Name all Ten Commandments? (3 points)

3. In your opinion, what is the hardest commandment to follow? (5 points)

Have a relaxing and restful Shabbat!

B'vracha,
Sarah Richman
Religion/Education VP

Attention Chapter Presidents and Advisors!

Be on the look out for the 2008 Mem/Kad Challenge. 

Project 900 will be starting, Hagesher's goal to reach 900 members for the
2007-2008 year is set, and ready to begin!!! 

Once you receive the information this week start talling your points and
send it back to the regional mem/kad the last thursday of the month!

Emily Sherrin
Hagesher Region
Membership and Kadima VP
2007-2008

Erev Tov Hagesher!,

Of course by now you know what time it is. ISRAEL TRIVIA TIME! You
MUST answer all questions correctly, and include your name and chapter
when you email them to hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com. This weeks
Trivia is:

1. Where does the Israel philharmonic orchestra play?
2. What does the word "negev" mean in Hebrew?
3. What is the name of the Israeli music Genre that combines Israeli
music with flavor of Arabic, Turkic, or Greek music?

Just a reminder, the competition begins at 9 PM tonight (Tuesday
night), and ends before Shobbas on Friday.

On another note, here is a ISRAELI NEWS UPDATE!!!

Ancient glass mosaic restored in Israel:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2008-01-28-ancient-glass-israel_N.htm?csp=34

Israel asks Beatles to 'let it be' after 1965 brush-off:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080128/od_afp/israelmusicbeatlesoffbeat_080128202935

LAST, But definitely not least, I want to inform you that there is an
Israel band in the city this weekend that is putting on a concert for
Jewish Youth. The band is named Coolooloosh. The concert is at the
Sedgwick Theatre this Saturday night at 8 pm. To buy tickets online or
find out more about the band and concert, please go to
http://www.jewishphilly.org/section.html?id=34. It should be a really
fin time!

Well that's all for this week. I hope to see you all at some point soon!,
Daniel Berdugo
Hagesher Israel Affairs Vice President
2007-2008