DVAR TORAH At the beginning of this week's parsha, Yehuda approaches the Viceroy of Egypt, "vayigash eilav Yehudah", unaware that this mighty right-hand man to Pharaoh was actually his long-lost brother, Yosef. According to Chazal, this was Yehuda's moment of greatness, as he rose to challenge the Egyptian ruler, ready to risk it all in order to save his younger brother, Binyamin.
The Vilna Gaon noted that this heroic moment is reflected in the trope on the first six words of the parsha (וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלָ֜יו יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּאמֶר֮ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒).
The first three notes are "kadma, v'azla, rivi'ee" - which, when translated from the Aramaic mean "the fourth one got and went" which refers to Yehuda who was the fourth son of Yaakov and who arose to challenge the Viceroy of Egypt (Yosef).
The next three notes are "zarka munach segol" - which translate to mean "he threw away his place with the treasured (nation)," which refers to Yehuda's promise to his father "If I don't bring him [Binyamin] to you, and set him before you, I will bear the blame to you forever."
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Asarah b'Tevet - The Fast of the 10th of Tevet - Tuesday, January 3, 2023 Asarah b'Tevet [the tenth of Tevet] commemorates the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, which led to the destruction of the first Beit HaMikdash In 1951, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel declared this day to be the day of mourning for all who perished in the Holocaust and whose yahrzeit is unknown – “Yom HaKaddish HaKlali.” [Yom HaShoah was not established by the Chief Rabbinate, but by the Knesset, and its date was chosen for its proximity to the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.]
Some Laws of this Fast Day: The fast begins 72 minutes before sunrise (5:49 a.m.) and continues until the end of the day (5:01 p.m. which is 30 minutes after sunset). Food and drink may be consumed any time during the preceding night, if one has not gone to sleep "for the night" (or if one planned to wake up early to eat before the start of the fast).
Although it is permitted to bathe on a fast day, it has become customary not to take a hot shower or bath [Aruch haShulchan 550:3].
The rabbis differ as to whether it is permitted to rinse one's mouth with water on the Asarah b'Tevet [Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chayim 567:3]. Some permit rinsing the front part of the mouth and even brushing one's teeth, taking care that no water enters the throat [Aruch haShulchan 567:3], while others allow this only when in distress [Mishna Berurah 567:11].
Prescribed medications may be taken on this fast day. One who has difficulty swallowing pills without water may even drink the amount of water required to swallow them [Nishmat Avraham, vol. 5, pg. 46 in the name of Rabbi S.Z. Auerbach].
If unintentionally one ate some food, the fast should be resumed and completed [Mishna Berurah 549:3].
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MAZAL TOV * to Dr. Yehuda and Yosefa Krohn on the birth of a granddaughter.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Rachel Silverman who is recuperating at home.
CONDOLENCES * to Dr. Vivian Gordon, Efrat Gordon-Grunin Schuster and Roselynn Roseman on the loss of their beloved husband, father and brother, Mr. Michael Gordon z’l. Shiva is being observed in Israel at the Gordon residence in Jerusalem, until Monday morning. Vivian can be reached at 011-972-2-52-586-1432 and Efrat can be reached at her US phone 1-347-699-4887. For more information contact the shul office
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here.
Kiddush at KINS North is sponsored by Chaim and Esti Ben-Porat in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Chaim’s mother, Adina Ben-Porat z’l.
A Donation to the Kiddush Fund was made by *Joel and Jenny Jacobson in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Jenny’s mother, Barbara Klein - Buba Pessa Dena bat Dov Ber z’l.
The Parent/Child Learning this week is sponsored by Dovid an Chammie Freedman
DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays at noon 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA - Wed. 8:00pm/Shabbat 8:30am
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wed. 8:15pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR – 3:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha
PARENT-CHILD LEARNING - 1 hour after havdala
SEFER YESHAYAHU - 9:00 am every Sunday
BIRTHDAYS Mr. David Yahav (12/31) Dr. Lenny Levitt (1/1) Mr. Nechemia Gershman (1/2) Mr. Steve Miretzky (1/2) Mrs. Aviva Matanky (1/3) Mrs. Sharon Chambers (1/4) Eden Medow (1/4) Mrs. Elaine Semer (1/4) Mrs. Sarah Ungar (1/4) Aharon Levitt (1/6)
ANNIVERSARIES Nechemia and Chani Gershman (12/31) David and Yonit David (1/3)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wed. 8:15pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR – 3:00pm 
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha
PARENT-CHILD LEARNING - 1 hour after havdala
SEFER YESHAYAHU - 9:00 am every Sunday