Thursday, May 18, 2017

Must I Convert to My Own Religion?

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Question of the Week:

I have to admit, I am angry. I was brought up Jewish, attended a Jewish school, and have only known Judaism as my religion. Now I am told I have to convert, because my mother never formally became Jewish. Isn't it a little unfair that all my life I was more Jewish than my friends, was subjected to anti-Semitism, and then I am told I need to convert?
 
Answer:
 
I completely understand your frustration. It can't be easy to hear that you need to convert to your own religion. But please don't take it personally. This is not a reflection on you. The entire Jewish nation went through exactly what you are going through now.
 
After leaving Egypt, where they suffered as slaves and were tormented for being Jewish, the Israelites reached Mount Sinai. There they were told they had to formally accept the Torah, and convert to Judaism by immersing in a mikvah.
 
They could've had the same complaint as yours. We've always been Jewish, we have even suffered for it, and now we're told we need to become Jewish.
 
Indeed they were already Jewish in the ethnic sense, but they had not yet become Jewish in the religious sense. They were born into the Jewish clan, but they had not yet committed to the Jewish mission. Only by sincerely accepting the Torah did they take on the complete Jewish identity in body and soul.
 
The Israelites of old had a moment of truth. Am I ready to stand before G-d and commit myself to being Jewish? Not just for a day or a week or a year. Not just for my lifetime. For generations. And they said yes.
 
That power of that moment still reverberates to this day. All Jews alive today are descended from a mother who converted to Judaism, who took that plunge, either at Mount Sinai or sometime since then.
 
Now you have your moment of truth. You can be culturally and ethnically Jewish, as you already are. Or you can stand at your own Sinai and say yes to G-d.
 
Put aside the emotion and take this decision seriously. If you don't go ahead, you leave things hanging for your children and theirs. But if you do it, your commitment is forever, for all generations, once and for all.
 
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss
 
Sources: See Exodus 19:10, Rambam Hilchos Issurei Biah 13

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 SHABBAT SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, 19 May, 2017 | 23 Iyar 5777
Candle Lighting....................... 4:42pm  
Mincha................................... 4:50pm
Making Sense of the Siddur
(a class with Rabbi Moss)......... 5:30pm
Friday Evening Service............. 6:00pm
Followed by Kiddush.
 
Shabbos, 20 May, 2017 | 24 Iyar 5777
In depth Parsha Class.............. 9:00am
Children's program................. 10:45am
Shabbos Morning Service ........ 10:00am- 12:20pm 
Kiddush sponsored by t
he Barukh, Epstein and Caustill families in honour of the Yarzheit of their late mother, 
Esther Malka bas Yaacov on 24 Iyar- Long Life
.
 
L'Chaim in honour of the birth and naming of Danny and Samantha Meguideche's baby girl - Mazal Tov!
 
Mincha with Pirkei Ovos Ch 5
followed by Seudah Shlishis .................   4:35pm
Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak.......... 5:00pm
Shiur with Rabbi Moss........................... 5:20pm
Shabbos ends and Maariv....................... 5:39pm
Followed by Havdalah
 
WEEKDAY SHACHARIS SERVICES
Sunday.......................... 8:00am
Mon- Fri......................... 7:00am
Latest Shema this week.... 9:15am
 
NEW MOON/ MOLAD  
THURSDAY 25 MAY 8:32:12PM
ROSH CHODESH SIVAN FRIDAY 26 MAY
 
MAZAL TOV TO
Danny and Samantha Meguideche on the birth of a baby girl!
 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
Andrew Whitten........25 Iyar/ Sunday 21 May
Peter Goldshaft........ 28 Iyar/ Wednesday 24 May
 
LONG LIFE TO
Moshe Moses and Adee Moses for their late mother Matilda Moses
Masouda bat Toba..................... 25 Iyar/ Sunday 21 May
Lesley Judelman for his late brother David Ivan Steinhard
Itzchak Dovid ben Zalman .......... 1 Sivan/ Friday 26 May


KIDDUSH SPONSORSHIP
If you have a birthday, yorzheit, special occasion or just because, we'd love you to sponsor a kiddush. Just tell us the date and kiddush type you'd like and we look after the rest.

CURRENT DATES AVAILABLE
Friday Night 26 May
 
First Day Shavuos 31 May CHEESECAKES, BLINTZES AND SALAD BAR
 
Friday night 2 June
Shabbos Day 3 June
 
FRIDAY NIGHT KIDDUSH OPTIONS
Herring & L'Chaim-$60 + B.Y.O Whisky
HOT Soup kiddush- $75 | Basic Kiddush - $100  
Deluxe Kiddush - $180

SHABBOS DAY KIDDUSH OPTIONS
Herring & L'Chaim- $90 + B.Y.O Whisky  
Standard Kiddush - $300
  
Simply email office@nefesh.com.au 
 
For special or larger kiddushim, we recommend you engage an external kosher caterer to provide all the food, drinks and disposables. Just email the office for assistance with this option.  

Nefesh Shul, 54 Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 Australia
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