Thursday, May 17, 2012

What Are You High On?


NEW TIME WINTER FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICE 6PM

Question of the Week:

 

I read an article by a professor in Israel who suggests that the revelation at Mt Sinai was actually a drug-induced hallucination. I thought it was a ridiculous proposition, but it did get me thinking. How do we know that it was indeed G-d who spoke to Moses and not some mind-altering mushroom?

Answer:

I read that article too. I am not sure what that professor was smoking when he wrote it.

There are several ways to test whether a revelation is truly divine or just the product of human imagination. One of them is by examining the content of the message. G-d never tells you what you want to hear. When people make up their own revelations, the message they convey tends to be very convenient and comfortable. But if it is indeed G-d talking, He most probably will demand from you something you never would have asked from yourself.

Imagine Moses came down from the mountain and said, "Ok guys, here's the deal. G-d wants us to chill out. He thinks we are just fine as we are. Eat whatever you want, be loose in your relationships, and live a life that feeds your every whim and fancy. Don't fuss over petty things like being honest in your business dealings or being nice to strangers. As long as you are good deep down in your heart and are true to yourself that's fine. We are here to have fun, not stress over little moral scruples."

Had Moses brought us this message, we would be justified to suspect that G-d may not have said that. But Moses did not bring us a message of self-assurance and convenience. Rather, he came down from the mountain and said the following (not an exact quote):

"Ok guys, here's the deal. G-d created the world as an unfinished project. And we have to do the rest. We are not here to serve ourselves, we are here to serve a higher purpose. We are naturally selfish, and we have to become selfless. We are physical and hedonistic, and we must become soulful and sensitive. We need to care for the poor and down-trodden, we need to love our neighbours even when they annoy us. We need to practice acts of goodness even if we are not in the mood. We have a huge mission to achieve - to change the world by changing ourselves. There is no promise that things will be easy for us. But this is our mission. So get to work."

The demands that G-d makes of us in the Torah are steep. They challenge us to our very core. This fact alone, while not proving anything, certainly indicates that Moses received the Torah when He was high on the mountain, not on anything else.

 

Good Shabbos,  

Rabbi Moss

   

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MEANINGFUL MOTHERHOOD - The Mystery of Men and Women Discussion for mothers and babies with Nechama Dina Moss and Sherny Dadon Mondays 10am-11:15am at Nefesh

KABBALAH OF PURPOSE Why Are We Here? Tuesday May 22, 8:15pm at Nefesh 

 

 

 

SHAVUOS ALL-NIGHTER AT NEFESH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Celebrate the giving of the Torah at our all night learning program. Come for part or come for the whole night, there will be plenty of coffee and cake and inspiration to keep you up....

Sleeping

First night Shavuos, Saturday May 26 at Nefesh, 54 Roscoe St Bondi Beach

PROGRAM:

9pm - 9:45pm The Secrets of Numerology with R' Aaron Amzalak


10pm - 10:45pm 40 Day Radical Diet - why Moses not eating was a big deal with Rabbi Moss

 

11pm - 12:15pm Debate: A Chazan is a Waste of Time - let's cut out the singing in shul and get on with it!

 

12:30am - 1:15am From Sinai to Canberra - the role of religion in a democratic state, including a discussion on changing the marriage legislation with Rabbi Moshe Gutnick

 

1:30am - 2:30am Zohar study session - a taste of real Kabbalah from the source

 

2:30am - 3:30am Do the Dead Hear Us? A Talmudic textual study

 

3:30am - 4am Ask the rabbi - you won't believe what comes up at this time of night


4am - 5am Short speeches from community members (more volunteers needed)

 

FRIENDS OF NEFESH TRIVIA NIGHT
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trivia

Saturday June 2nd at Nefesh Shul, 7.30pm for 8.00pm start

 

Only 20 tables available, organise your team and book via email friendsofnefesh@gmail.com

 

Table charge only $180 for up to 8 team members or book individually $25 each and we will allocate you a table on the night.

  

Lots of great prizes, fun raffle, muffins and barista coffee.  

  

Purchase a deluxe package and have drinks or sushi on your table. Enquire when booking.

 

Looking forward to seeing you for a fun night that also supports ongoing activities at Nefesh.

 

Book now - friendsofnefesh@gmail.com

SERVICES AT NEFESH
 
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Friday Night

Candlelighting 4:43pm

Mincha 4:55pm

 

Shabbos Service 6:00pm followed by Kiddush sponsored by Jordan Wainer and Jody Levinthal in loving memory of their grandmother Doreen.

 

Shabbos Day 10am -12:20pm Morning Service with Kids' program followed by Kiddush in honour of the wedding of Greg Schreeuwer and Nataly Szasz- Mazel Tov! 

 

Mincha 4:40pm followed by Seuda Shlishis and Maariv

 

Shabbos ends 5:39pm.

 

Sunday

8am Shachris followed by breakfast and beginners' Talmud 9:00-9:45am

 

DAILY MINYAN

Monday to Friday 7am

 

Rosh Chodesh Sivan on Tuesday

 

Chassidus Monday and Thursday 8am-8:45am

This email was sent to shmuly77d@gmail.com by rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au |  
nefesh | 54 roscoe st | bondi beach | NSW | 2026 | Australia

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