Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

1)         This week at Midreshet Moriah

2)         Faculty Dvar Torah – Rabbi Yitzchak Lerner

3)         Mazal Tov

4)         Mi SheBerach

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

This Week at Midreshet

What a festive week here at Midreshet, where nes gadol haya poh!!

Thursday night we danced and sang at our annual Chanukah Chagigah, with everyone experiencing an intense ruach and achdut which was a great kick-off to our Shabbat together "BaBayit".  The girls spent the shabbat together singing, davening, learning and sharing divrei torah about miracles, light and seeing yad hashem in all that happens around us. It was so nice to be together - all of us, including our shannah bet girls who are leaving soon – and just spend some fun and relaxing time together. We had two alumnae join us for Shabbat as well and they spoke at Seudah Shlishit about how they are implementing all they learned in Midreshet in their respective universities in England, their pride in their Judaism and shmirat HaMitzvot, the importance of learning Torah and the need for a good chevra that shares your values.

Sunday night we had the special opportunity to watch the film 'Home Game' and hear from the producer Avi Abelow. This 65 minute film brings us to the last few days before the disengagement from Gaza in the summer of 2005. We watch the Jews of the settlement Netzer Chazani struggling with the changes, and we watch the army's grief at having to ask people to leave their homes. Students were riveted by the film and by Avi's discussion afterwards about achdut and the ability we have  - the obligation we have – to get involved and help when possible. We will be raising money for the brides of Gush Katif families, helping them to set up homes.

Tuesday night, the last night of Chanukah, each rakezet had her group over to her house for a cozy Chanukah dinner and inspirational divrei torah, a highlight of the Chanukah festivities this week!

Wednesday night, we were privileged to have Rav Willig speak to us in the Beit Midrash about the leadership of Yehuda vs. the leadership of Yosef. He explained that we are called Yehudim, to remember Yehuda's admirable and important middot of recognizing sin and doing teshuva.

Everyone is excited and talking about the upcoming Yom Iyun on Tzniut, Monday January 2^nd…stay tuned.

See our photos on our website: http://midreshetmoriah.com/galleries/

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Staying Alive

Rabbi Yitzchak Lerner       

This weeks parsha, Vayigash, finishes the saga of the sale of Yosef. When Yosef reveals himself, he does it with a very odd phrase.

He says:
" I am Yosef, is my father still alive"?

What do you mean is my father still alive?!! Did you not just hear Yehuda's Soliloquy about his father being alive in Canaan? Perhaps it was not a question about his fathers well being, but it was a different type of question. I have been away from you for so long; do you still see my father being alive in me? Do you still recognize me with the values of a Jew? Have I been affected while I was here in Egypt? 

When Yosef was tempted with Potiphar's wife, Rashi tells us he saw his fathers image and that helped him refrain. Do you still see that image in me, he asked his brothers?

May we merit to continue in our Fathers ways and hold onto our own Jewish values.

Have a great Shabbos.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Mazel Tov!               

Births:

Elisheva (Muchnick) ('01-'02) and Darren Edelstein on the birth of a baby boy, Shmuel Yair/Samuel Oliver!

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadlo lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim.

Cindy (Nathanson) ('91-'92) and Jamie  Salter (Midreshet tour guide) on the birth of a son (brother to Noam).

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadlo lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim.

Engagements:

Tamar Ackerman ('04-'05) and Moshe Tenenbaum on the occasion of their engagement
Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

Reena Rosenberg ('07-'08) and Jason Bloom on the occasion of their engagement
Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

Racheli Waltuch ('07-'08) and Reuben Atlas on the occasion of their engagement

  

Please help us stay informed - http://midreshetmoriah.org/send-mazaltov.asp

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Mi SheBerach List

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add. 

Chane Chaim HaCohen ben Perel (29/12)

Zelda bat Rachel (20/12)

Hayeled Eitan Ze'ev HaCohen ben Leah Binah (29/12)

Batya Emunah bat Bracha Chaya (22/12)

Yosef Dov ben Frieda (22/12)

Chana Fraida bas Faiga Zelda (22/12)

Dorit Chaya Bat Geulah (15/12)

Briget Joan bat Marion Patricia (15/12)

Dorit Chaya bat Geula (15/12)

Dovid Chaim ben Brina (15/12)

Avraham ben Esther (15/12)

Adina bat Rivka (15/12)

Moriel Raizie bat Feige Kaylee (13/12)

Rachel Yehudit bat Mancha Zaisel (8/12)

Aron ben Reizel (1/12)

Yehudah ben Shoshanna (1/12)

Haddasah Leah bat Shoshana (24/11)

Baruch Yehudah ben Leah (17/11)

Charna Leah bat Shaindel (17/11)

Mazal bat Pircha (3/11/11)

Malka bat Tova (10/10/11)

Shimon Dovid Yehoshua bat Rena (6/10/11)

Rifaela Chana Rivka bat Shayna Dena (6/10/11)- diagnosed with Non-Hodgken's Lymphoma

Rachel bat Mindel (6/10/11) - Lymphoma

Tzuriya Kochevet bat Sara - mother of 4 with inoperable stomach cancer (25/9/11)

Chaya bat Zecil (22/9/11)

Perel bat Malka (21/9/11)

Rachaylle bat Turan (21/9/11)

Miriam Leah bat Reizel Dena (21/9/11)

Zechariya Kalman Hakohen ben Yael Margolit (18/9/11)
Refael Matityahu Yaakov ben Gittel Rivka (18/9/11)

Tzipora Sara bat Esther Leah (18/9/11)

David ben Miriam (18/9/11)

David ben Rachel (18/9/11)

Rachel bat Kochava (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)

Chana Gitel bat Sarah Chana (18/9/11)
Sarah Sipora bat Shifra (18/9/11)

Moshe Eliezer ben Esther Miriam (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)
Moshe Yitzchak ben Shoshana (18/9/11)

Aviva Miriam bat Esther ( 11/9/11)

Osnat bat Clara (11/9/11)

Avraham Yehuda ben Davida Yehudit (11/9/11)

Tziporah Faiga Bat Sima Shaindel (11/9/11)

Chava Deena Etya Bat Chaya Tziporah Sheva (11/9/11)