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December 12, 2025 - `22 Kislev 5786
Dear Friends, Hanukkah began Sunday evening and we’re helping to lead the Fort Lee town Menorah lighting, Sunday afternoon at 4PM. I will lead the blessings with Rabbi Finkel of the JCC and sing some traditional holiday songs. Please see below for details and join us on Sunday to make sure the Fort Lee Jewish community has a good turnout and shows a strong presence. We would like to thank Susan & Allan Borkowski for sponsoring this week’s Kiddush in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter, Kaia Rivera. We thank the Borkowski’s for their generosity and look forward to celebrating Kaia’s Simcha tomorrow morning! Coming off the sharp contrast between twin brothers Jacob and Esau, the combination of this week's Torah portion and an event we'll be privileged to celebrate together this Shabbat offer us another set of virtually opposite images. Parashat Vayeshev introduces the chronicles of Joseph, beloved son of Jacob/Israel, as the first born to his beloved wife, Rachel. As his father's favorite, Joseph is gifted the famous K'tonet Passim, the "dazzling coat of many colors" so many of us remember from the musical about him. His elevated status in the eyes of his father engenders dreams of grandeur, allegorical images of sheaves of wheat and stars in the sky that bow low to his own representation. What's worse is he has the Chutzpah to share these visions with the very brothers whom the dreams say will be subservient to him! The text tells us they hated him so much that they couldn't even pretend to be kind to him and ask after his health! When he comes upon them far away from their home, the brothers conspire to throw him in a pit, and eventually he is sold into slavery. Joseph's arc, which covers the rest of the opening book of B'reshit, is, among other things, an eventual movement from youthful arrogance and haughtiness to a place of divinely-inspired significance, of approaching the world with an eye towards being moral, truthful, and productive for the good. But his beginnings are not exactly auspicious, as they paint him in a completely self-absorbed light. On the other end of the spectrum is a young woman who has chosen to become a Bat Mitzvah with our sacred community this coming Shabbat morning. Kaia is incredibly sharp and talented, and even more, she has a heart of gold and a work ethic to match. She is kind and caring, incredibly thoughtful and considerate of others in her world, whether family, friends, or folks in the community she doesn't yet know. She is a natural leader, whether on her many softball teams or in school. With everything she has going on in her world, it is deeply meaningful and significant to her that she celebrates becoming a young adult in the eyes of our tradition, all the more so in the crazy world we inhabit today as Jews. I have been working with Kaia for several months now, and have gotten to know the amazing young adult she already is and is still becoming. I am proud and honored to share the Bimah with Kaia and her family, and to celebrate this wonderful milestone, in her life as well as the life of our congregational family. It is people like Kaia and her family that inspire us to continue fanning the flames of our people and to pass our sacred traditions on L'dor Vador, from generation to generation. This is how we ensure that Am Yisrael Chai (the Jewish people) continues to live and thrive in each generation! I hope you will join us to enhance their and our celebration of Shabbat and of Kaia becoming a Bat Mitzvah with the Center Avenue Synagogue! Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Joshua Strom
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