Can You Make this Stuff Up?

Chanukah Wonderland for Kids 0-8

Question of the Week: At my University a group of students from all faiths and religions, including Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists meet weekly to discuss many subjects. A recurring question often comes up: "Did man create G-d or did G-d create Man?" What would you have to say on that? Answer: Imagine a new colour. Not a new combination of existing colours, or a shade of another colour, but an entirely original colour that does not resemble any other.   You can't. It has never been done. It is beyond the human capability to conceptualise anything that has no basis in reality. All human creativity is the result of taking existing ideas and rearranging them, using ingredients that are already present and making a new combination. There is nothing completely new under the sun. Human invention is the mimicking and harnessing of nature. That's why airplanes are modeled on birds, with wings and tails, and cars are built like horses, on all fours with two eyes at the front and exhaust coming out the back. If you look at every human invention, you will find that nothing is absolutely original. Even in the world of fantasy, human imagination can only invent characters that somewhat resemble real creatures. The most outlandish aliens from the weirdest science fiction stories are no more than overgrown frogmen or human lizards with big ears. The scariest space monster looks strikingly similar to a giant lobster. The wildest imaginations have never been able to dream up an entirely original being. Even fictional characters are based on real life. This was also true of the gods of ancient mythology. The Babylonian, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman deities were all merely exaggerated humans or personifications of forces of nature. It is easy to see how they were man-made, a combination of mortal man's fears and hopes and fantasies. All ancient gods, like all human inventions, were creative depictions of familiar realities. The only exception to this is the G-d of the Torah. G-d is unlike any creature. A being that is infinite, above the limits of time and space, who can create something out of absolute nothingness has no parallel anywhere. G-d is the only being that is indescribable and incomparable, unequalled and unlimited. He is not made up of parts, not a combination of characteristics, not a magnified version of some other being. He is totally and utterly original. No human could have come up with that. Just as we can't invent a new colour that doesn't exist already, we can't invent a new being that has no basis in our reality. So the fact we are aware of an absolutely original being means we didn't make Him, He made us. We can't create G-d. But we can discover Him. Beyond the frontiers of our perceived reality lies not an army of giant lobsters, but a being that created us with love and purpose. When we have the humility to recognize our limits, we can perceive the unlimited.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW   Here is a summary of what we have done this week:     1) Piling machinery delivered on site 2) Roadbase delivered for trucks to drive on site 3) Steel delivered for piles 4) Platforms prepared for machinery and pile setup (lines and boundary markings) complete. 5) Drilling to commence G-d willing next week as we are awaiting a new specialized drill bit for machine SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH POP-UP 1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS SERVICES Friday, 1 December 2017 | 13 Kislev 5778 Candle Lighting................ 7:33pm (Not before 6:26pm) Mincha.............................6:15pm Shabbos Service...............6:30-7:20pm    Kids Program................... 6:30pm Teen Boys Davening......... 6:30pm   Followed by Kiddush   Shabbos Day, 2 December 2017 | 14 Kislev In depth Parsha Class..... 9:00am Shabbos Service .........   10:00am-12:20pm Kids Program ............... 10:45am Kiddush sponsored by Henry Apfelbaum in honour of the yortzeit of his late father, Simon Apfelbaum on 14 Kislev- Long Life Kids program and kids kiddush sponsored by Kevin Levine in honour of the yortzeit of his mother Maureen Levine, Malka bat Yosef - Long Life     Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ... 7:35pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak....7:55pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss....................... 8:15pm Shabbos ends and Maariv.................. 8:35pm Followed by Havdalah    WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday.............................. 8:00am Monday-Friday.................... 7:00am   Latest Shema this week....... 9:08am   MAZAL TOV TO Rabbi Benny & Leah Nechama Barukh on the birth of their baby boy, and to the entire Barukh and Levitansky families.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Rivka Moss........ 14 Kislev/ Saturday 2 December Mottel Moss....... 18 Kislev/ Wednesday 6 December   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO David & Jen Bighel.... 15 Kislev/ Sunday 3 December Michael & Deb Vitek... 20 Kislev/ Friday 8 December   LONG LIFE TO Benjamin and Henry Apfelbaum for their late father Simon Apfelbaum, Shimon Moshe ben Avraham .......... 14 Kislev/ Saturday 2 December Michael Gliksman for his late mother Hanka Ann Gliksman, Hannah bat David Ha'Cohen ........ 15 Kislev/ Sunday 3 December To make a donation for a birthday, an Aliyah, a Yahrzeit or anything else,  please click here.  Kiddush options: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday night: Soup $75 | Basic $120 | Deluxe $200 Shabbos Day: Basic $350 Lunch $750-$1200    Dates available: Sat 9 Dec, Sat 16 Dec, Fri 22 Dec, Sat 23 Dec, Fri 29 Dec, Sat 30 Dec   To arrange, just email office@nefesh.com.au

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How Does Traditional Dating Work?

Teen club this Friday night

Question of the Week:   I have a question about Shidduch dating. How is it possible that within the space of a few weeks and only a few dates a couple can get engaged? In modern secular dating couples may live together for a year or two before deciding to marry, and yet in traditional Jewish dating they never even live together and get married within months of meeting! From personal experience and anecdotal evidence, it seems to work. But how?    Answer:    Boy meets girl at a party. They like each other. He makes her laugh. She makes him feel good about himself. They hit it off. As the guy is about to get her a drink, she says, "Can I just ask you a question? Are you interested in marriage, or just something casual. Because I am looking to settle down and have children in the near future." After an uncomfortable silence, the guy says, "I was just going to ask if you want diet Coke or regular..." In the world of secular dating, there is no way you can bring up such heavy topics the first time you meet. In fact it may be six months or more into a relationship when you can start to even mention marriage and family and future. But by then you are emotionally entangled. If his priorities don't match hers, but they are in love, they are in trouble. He may not want to settle down for another five years, or not have children altogether. She will then be faced with an excruciating choice: give up her dreams, or give up her love. And she will very likely choose love, with sometimes tragic results. On the other hand, he knows nothing about her and her background. For all he knows, she is an axe-murderer on parole. That may also lead to problems later on. The traditional Jewish dating system helps avoid these issues. Before you even meet a prospective partner, you find out about them. What are their values and beliefs? What do they want to do with their life? How were they shaped by their family and upbringing? And most importantly, you only date for keeps. We will either get married or go our separate ways. No casual relationships. If all that sounds good and both parties are interested, the actual dating is to see if you click, if you can communicate, if you grow on each other.  The big questions have already been answered. You know you match on paper, so let's see if you match in real life. That doesn't take too long to tell. In secular dating the heart leads, and that can be very messy. In Shidduch dating the mind leads the heart. First it has to make sense, then it has to feel right. Because when we have feelings for someone, our emotions cloud our judgment, and can make us overlook problems. That is great in marriage, but a disaster in dating. The Shidduch system is not fool proof. But when followed correctly, it can save a lot of time and a lot of heartache. Because love is blind, you need to enter a relationship with eyes wide open.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au    Here is a summary of what we have done this week:     1. Footings removed    2. Land prepared for bulk excavation  3. Updated engineering plans completed   4. All machinery offsite and site awaiting auger for pier drilling starting Monday (please G-d) SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH POP-UP 1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS SERVICES Friday, 24 November 2017 | 6 Kislev 5778 Candle Lighting............. 7:27pm ................................... (Not before 6:20pm) Mincha......................... 6:15pm Shabbos Service........... 6:30-7:15pm    Kids Program................ 6:30pm Teen Boys Davening.......6:30pm   Followed by Kiddush sponsored by Nadine Saacks in honour of her father Clifford Sasson's birthday- Mazal Tov! L'Chaim sponsored by Nefesh' s Julie in honour of her birthday this weekend- Mazal Tov!   Shabbos Day, 25 November 2017 | 7 Kislev In depth Parsha Class..... 9:00am Shabbos Service and Bar Mitzvah of Maxime Tartour   10:00am-12:20pm Kids Program ...............10:45am Kiddush in honour of the Barmitzvah of Maxime Tartour- Mazal Tov!   Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ... 7:25pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss...................... 8:05pm Shabbos ends and Maariv................. 8:28pm Followed by Havdalah    WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday.................8:00am Monday-Friday.......7:00am   Latest Shema this week.... 9:08am   MAZAL TOV TO Frederic Tartour, Dana Levy & Arnaud Tartour and their extended families on the occasion of Maxime's Barmitzvah.   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Emma & David Stiles .... 8 Kislev/ Sunday 26 November Michael & Sophie Stern ...8 Kislev/ Sunday 26 November Sue & John Sznajer..... 10 Kislev/ Tuesday 28 November Gena & Tony Been ..... 14 Kislev/ Saturday 2 December   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Summer Lily Hasofer . 8 Kislev/ Sunday 26 November Sarah Meguideche .... 8 Kislev/ Sunday 26 November Eric Melman ............ 9 Kislev/ Monday 27 November   LONG LIFE TO Brian Schwartz for his late father Kurt Schwartz Aharon ben Avraham 7 Kislev/ Saturday 25 November Sue Sznajer for her late mother Irene Wiesner Rivka Rachel bat Kasriel 9 Kislev/ Monday 27 November Jackie Regos for her late mother Elizabeth Vertes Malka Bat Sarah 11 Kislev/ Wednesday 29 November   To make a donation for a birthday, an Aliyah, a Yahrzeit or anything else,  please click here.  Kiddush options: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday night: Soup $75 | Basic $120 | Deluxe $200 Shabbos Day: Basic $350 Lunch $750-$1200    Dates available: Fri night 1 Dec, Sat 2 Dec Fri night 8, Sat 9 Dec   To arrange, just email office@nefesh.com.au

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Are Seances Real?

Building report - large machinery left the site

Question of the Week:   My family suffered a great loss with the passing of my grandfather almost 2 years ago. Since then, some members of the family have found great comfort and solace in consulting with a psychic medium to get messages from 'the other side'. The psychic is often very accurate and it is chilling how the messages are able to come through. I worry though what the Jewish perspective is on this all. Does Judaism believe in this practice at all? Is there any harm to her or to ourselves?   Answer:   Death does not end a relationship. It just changes the mode of contact. The Torah specifies ways that we can connect to souls on high, and ways that we shouldn't.   We are forbidden to call upon them through mediums, not because it doesn't work, but because it's simply not nice. We should not disturb their rest. There is a reason that souls move on to higher places - that is where they belong. By using spiritual tactics to communicate with them we drag them back down here, and impede their journey upwards.    But there are gentle ways of connecting with the departed without disturbing them. If we visit their grave, it is like leaving a message in their supernal inbox. They will get it. And they may even respond, in their own way. But we mustn't force it.   More than that, we can send them love packages. Every time we do something good in their memory - an act of charity, a prayer, kaddish, or any mitzvah that is done in honour of their soul - this gives them a spiritual lift, and eases the elevation of their soul to higher places of rest.   I am sure the family would rather elevate your grandfather's soul than drag it down. It is not worth the temporary solace it may provide if it means harming the soul of a loved one. So they should rather honour him by doing more good. That will benefit the doer, the receiver and the soul of your grandfather.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au    Here is a summary of what we have done this week:     1. Building has now been completely removed    2. Topsoil has been removed 3. Large machinery has left the site 4. Removal of footings begin    SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH POP-UP 1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS SERVICES Friday, 17 November 2017 | 28 Cheshvan 5778 Candle Lighting............ 7:20pm ................................. (Not before 6:15pm) Mincha.........................6:15pm Kids Program............... 6:30pm Teen Boys Davening..... 6:30pm Shabbos Service...........6:30-7:15pm  Followed by Kiddush.   Shabbos Day, 18 November 2017 | 29 Cheshvan In depth Parsha Class..... 9:00am Kids Program .............. 10:45am Shabbos Service...........10:00am-12:20pm Kiddush sponsored by Stuart Shaw in honour of his birthday on 29th Cheshvan- Mazal Tov!   Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ... 7:15pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak.... 7:35pm Shiur............................................... 7:55pm Shabbos ends and Maariv................... 8:21pm Followed by Havdalah    WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday.................. 8:00am Monday-Friday........ 7:00am   Latest Shema this week.... 9:09am   MAZAL TOV TO Michael Green & Kerri Chesler and their extended families in honour of Michael's Aufruf this Shabbos and forthcoming wedding next week.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Arlene Schwartz....... 30 Cheshvan/ Sunday 19 Nov Batya Moss............. 2/3 Kislev/ Mon/Tues, 20/21 Nov   LONG LIFE TO Gilda Cohen-Shapira for her late father Maurice Jacob Cohen, Moshe Ya'cov ben Haim Dovid HaCohen 30 Cheshvan.. Saturday/18 Nov Isaak Krutik for his late mother Lyubov Levitanus Yubov bat Yisrael......... 6 Kislev/ Friday 24 November To make a donation for a birthday, an Aliyah, a Yahrzeit or anything else,  please click here.  Kiddush options: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday night: Soup $75 | Basic $120 | Deluxe $200 Shabbos Day: Basic $350 Lunch $750-$1200    Dates available: Fri night 24 Nov Fri night 1 Dec, Sat 2 Dec Fri night 8, Sat 9 Dec   To arrange, just email office@nefesh.com.au

Nefesh Shul, 54 Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 Australia SafeUnsubscribe™ shmuly77d@gmail.com Forward email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au in collaboration with Try it free today