Rabbi Moss: Why Is Seder Night Always a Full Moon?

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Pesach times below

Question of the Week:

I am very connected to the zodiac and was wondering if there is a link between the stars and the timing of Pesach. I have also noticed that the Seder always coincides with the full moon. What is the significance of all this?

Answer:

There is deep astrological significance to the date of Pesach. We celebrate the festival of freedom on the night of the 15th of Nissan in the Hebrew calendar, the night the Israelites were freed from Egypt. This is the full moon of the month of Aries, the ram.

The Egyptians worshipped the ram as a god. Aries is the leader of the star signs, the first and most powerful, and the Egyptians saw themselves as the leaders of the world, receiving their strength and fortitude from their god, the ram.

So the strongest time for the Egyptians would have been the month of Aries, when their god is ascendant. And the strongest day on that month would be its full moon. Egyptian power would reach its zenith on the 15th of Nissan.

And that is exactly when the Israelites left Egypt. Aries was rendered impotent at its very moment of strength.

But there's more. The Israelites ate a festive meal on the night before the exodus, and the main course was a lamb roasted on a spit. They were eating the Egyptian deity, the ram, under the full moon of the month of the ram, in the eyes of all Egypt, and they got away with it.

The message is unmistakable. The world is not run by capricious forces and amoral star signs. There is a G-d who rules heaven and earth, who cares for the innocent and exacts justice from the corrupt. To the stars, our actions make no difference. To G-d, our actions do matter. The zodiac demands nothing from us. G-d demands we live a life of goodness.

The Jews themselves didn't always get this message. After the exodus, some in the Israelite camp suggested that while the ram of Egypt (Aries) had indeed been trumped, it was not G-d's doing, but rather the next star sign, Taurus, the bull who had beaten Aries. And so they made an idol honouring Taurus, known as the Golden Calf. It's very tempting to fall back on idolatrous beliefs, because they relieve us of responsibility. But they also rob us of our freedom.

Pesach is a celebration not only of freedom of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, but also freedom from being bound by destiny. Our lives are not subject to the impersonal forces of the zodiac. We are free to rise above the limitations of fate and conquer our birth sign. Your fortunes may predict one course for your life. You are free to create another. This idea was brought home on the night of the full moon of Aries.

Good Shabbos and a Happy and Kosher Pesach,
Rabbi Moss

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The Magic Number of the Seder

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Good Afternoon everyone,

We have spent some time this week fine-tuning the final layout of the Shule and are awaiting some responses from other consultants. As soon as we have the plans finalised, we will proceed, until then, we will continue planning in advance for other important parts of the build coming up when we get out of the ground. Until then, we can enjoy the view with this interesting weekly photo, can you spot the Shul? Have a great weekend. Brent.

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SHABBOS SERVICES

Friday, 23 March 2018 | 7 Nissan 5778

Candle Lighting....... 6:45pm (Not before 5:51pm)

Mincha.................. 6:15pm

Shabbos Service..... 6:30-7:20pm

Kids Program ................................... 6:30pm

Kiddush sponsored by Judi Berman in honour of her late mother's yorztheit, Ellen Schuftan (Leah Bat Yehuda) on 11 Nissan/ 27 March.

Shabbos Day, 24 March 2018 | 8 Nissan 5778

In depth parsha class ............ 9:00am

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

Kids Program ..................... 10:30am

Kiddush sponsored by Dan and Tegan Barnett in honour of the birth of their daughter Noa- Mazal Tov!

Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ....... 6:40pm

Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak....... 7:15pm

Shiur by Rabbi Moss......................... .. 7:30pm

Shabbos ends................................. ... 7:39pm

Followed by Havdalah

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

Monday-Friday............................ 7:00am

Latest Shema this week............... 9:59am

SEE BELOW FOR PESACH TIMES

MAZAL TOV

Shaun Klein and Lara Horak on their upcoming wedding.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Natalie Cromer............... 7 Nissan/ Friday 23 March

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

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Monique & Daniel Krochmalik........... 12 Nissan/ Wednesday 28 March

Gaby & Dylan Shatter..................... 13 Nissan/ Thursday 29 March

LONG LIFE

Brent Maksimovich (grandfather) Alexander Mekler,

Alexander ben Yaacov v'Sima.......... 8 Nissan/ Saturday 24 March

David and Rene Bermeister(son) Wayne Bermeister

Zeev ben David............................. 9 Nissan/ Sunday 25 March

Gail Simpson (mother) Freda Kloss

Fruma Hannah bat Avraham........... 9 Nissan/ Sunday 25 March

Charlene Klein (father) Zelig Ber..... 9 Nissan/Sunday 25 March

Judi Berman and Martine Springer (mother) Ellen Schuftan

Leah Bat Yehuda......................... 11 Nissan/ Tuesday 27 March

Leslie Tanchum (brother) Nathan Tanchum

Natan Nota ben Bentzion.......... 12 Nissan/ Wednesday 28 March

Adam Pisk (grandfather) Erich Pisk

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PESACH TIMES

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EREV PESACH| Friday, 30 March 2018 | 14 Nissan (Public Holiday)
Shacharis ................................................................ 7:00am
Followed by Siyum for Fast of the Firstborn
Eat Chometz until ................................................... 11:00am
Burn and sell before ................................................ 11:59am

Candle Lighting ........................................................ 6:35pm
Mincha ................................................................... 5:45pm

Pesach/Shabbos Evening Service ................................ 6:00-6:50pm

*Kiddush should only be made .................................. from 7:19pm

PESACH, DAY 1

Shabbos, 31 March 2018 | 15 Nissan

Morning Service ........................................................ 10:00am - 12:45pm

Children's Program .................................................... 11:00am

Priestly Blessing ....................................................... 12:30pm

Mincha ..................................................................... 6:30pm

Earliest Candle Lighting 7:29pm - No second Seder preparations before this time.

Evening Service ........................................................ 7:00-7:30pm

Begin counting the Omer

PESACH, DAY 2
Sunday, 1 April 2018 | 16 Nissan

(*DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ENDS* ALL TIMES BELOW ARE ACCORDING TO THE NEW WINTER CLOCK, SO YOU GET AN EXTRA HOUR'S SLEEP!)

Morning Service ....................................................... 10:00 am - 12:45pm
Children's Program ................................................... 11:00am
Priestly Blessing ...................................................... 12:30pm

Mincha followed by words of Torah.............................. 5:30pm
Yom Tov ends and Maariv .......................................... 6:28pm

CHOL HAMOED SHACHRIS
Monday (Public Holiday) 2 April -................................... 8:00am

Tuesday-Thursday, 3-5 April 2018 - ............................. 7:00am

EREV YOM TOV
Thursday, 5 April 2018 | 20 Nissan
Eruv Tavshilin
Candle Lighting ........................................................... 5:27pm
Mincha ....................................................................... 5:40pm

Pesach Evening Service ................................................ 6:00-6:30pm

SHEVII SHEL PESACH (DAY 7)
Friday, 6 April 2018 | 21 Nissan
Pesach Morning Service ............................................ 10:00am - 12:45pm
Children's Program .................................................. 11:00am
Priestly Blessing ...................................................... 12:30pm

Candle Lighting not before .......................................... 5:26pm
Mincha ..................................................................... 5:40pm

Shabbos/Yom Tov Evening Service .............................. 6:00-6:50pm

ACHARON SHEL PESACH (DAY 8)
Shabbos, 7 April 2018 | 22 Nissan
Pesach Morning Service ............................................ 10:00am - 12:45pm
Children's Program .................................................. 11:00am
Yizkor Memorial Service ........................................... 11:30am
Priestly Blessing ..................................................... 12:45pm

Mincha ....................................................................4:45pm

Seudas Moshiach
Yom Tov ends and Maariv ....................................... 6:20pm

Please allow half an hour before eating chometz that was sold.