Rabbi Moss: Should Jews Be Invisible?


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Question of the Week:

What is the Lag Baomer Parade about?

Answer:

The first Lag Baomer Parade was in New York in 1953. And it shook the Jewish world.

This was just a few short years after the war. In those times, many Jews lived by the saying, "incognito ergo sum" - we can only survive as Jews if we keep our Jewishness to ourselves. A public display of Judaism was asking for trouble. Lie low, don't make waves, keep your head down and try to blend in as best you can.

Jews went to great lengths to hide their Jewishness. A kippa would never be worn in public. Mezuzas had to be almost invisible if there at all. Jewish names were changed to sound less Jewish, and you wouldn't dare speak Yiddish in the street.

But it didn't work. Even if Chaim Greenstein changed his name to Hank Goyishman, he still wasn't allowed to join the country club. Everyone saw right through it.

This culture of hiding was an understandable reaction to the horrors of the Holocaust. But it only perpetuated the damage. The next generation learnt that Jewishness is a badge of shame, and many opted not to wear that badge altogether, leaving the Jewish fold.

Along came the Rebbe, himself a survivor, with a radically different response. He taught that we will only be respected if we respect ourselves. And that means being proud of who we are regardless of what anyone else thinks. This approach is epitomized by the Lag Baomer Parade - Jewish children taking to the streets and marching in pride, waving banners promoting mitzvah observance and celebrating being Jewish, publically and for all to see. The Rebbe's answer to defensive and self-conscious Judaism was to offer another version that was open, positive and unapologetic. And it worked.

Thousands of children have marched in hundreds of Lag Baomer Parades since that first one. And no child will ever forget the life-changing feeling of singing through the streets wearing our Judaism on our sleeves, waving happily to passers by. We don't need to hide anymore. The haters will hate, but we don't. We love being Jewish, and we are not afraid to say it. There is no greater victory of our people than that.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Moss

Join us at the Lag Baomer Parade this Sunday (see below) or find one near you

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SHABBAT SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO

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Friday, 12 May, 2017 | 16 Iyar 5777

Candle Lighting.................. 4:47pm

Mincha.............................. 5:00pm

Making Sense of the Siddur

(a class with Rabbi Moss) ... 5:30-6:00pm

Friday Evening Service......... 6:00pm

Kiddush sponsored in memory of Suzy Raymond, for Mother's Day.

Shabbos, 13 May, 2017 | 17 Iyar 5777

In depth Parsha Class......... 9:00am

Children's program............ 10:45am

Shabbos Morning Service ... 10:00am- 12:20pm

Kiddush sponsored by Steven Clemans in honour of the yortzheit of his father, Julian Clemans, Yaakov ben Moshe on 20 Iyar- Long Life.

Mincha with Pirkei Ovos Ch 4

followed by Seudah Shlishis ................. 4:40pm

Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak.......... 5:05pm

Shiur with Rabbi Moss............................ 5:25pm

Shabbos ends and Maariv....................... 5:43pm

Followed by Havdalah

WEEKDAY SHACHARIS SERVICES

Sunday............................. 8:00am

Mon- Fri............................ 7:00am

Latest Shema this week....... 9:12am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

Eitan Meguideche................... 17 Iyar/ Saturday 13 May

Avishai Kessel........................ 18 Iyar/ Sunday 14 May

Jonathan Shapira.................... 22 Iyar/ Thursday 18 May

LONG LIFE TO

Alex Bartos for his late mother

Rachel Bat Avraham............... 15 Iyar/ Thursday 11 May

Carol Melman her late brother Brian Shapiro

Baruch ben Aaron.................. 18 Iyar/ Sunday 14 May

Mrs Amzalak for her late mother Bracha bat Moshe ...18 Iyar/ Sunday 14 May

Fiona, Wayne and Tami Kaplan for their late husband and father Alan Kaplan 19 Iyar/ Monday 15 May

Steven Clemans for his late father Julian Clemans Yaakov ben Moshe 20 Iyar/ Tuesday 16 May

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