The Rebbe, the Soldier and the Sikh

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HELP US BUILD THE CENTRE OF OUR COMMUNITY 24 hour all-or-nothing campaign Sunday June 24 click on video  The Rebbe, the Soldier and the Sikh in honour of Gimmel Tammuz, 24th anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe "The beard has to go!" So an Israeli soldier was told by his commanding officer during the Yom Kippur War. There was a serious fear that the Egyptians were poised to mount a chemical attack against Israel. Long facial hair would obstruct the gas mask that the soldiers would need to wear. A religious Jew, he knew that in a case of mortal danger one would be allowed to shave off the beard. The commandment to grow a beard is overridden by the commandment to preserve life. But the question was, is this indeed a situation of mortal danger? And if so, is shaving absolutely necessary? The soldier was given permission to seek rabbinical advice. So he asked these questions to the Rebbe. In his brief but brilliant response, the Rebbe wrote four points: 1. It is clear that there will be no chemical attack 2. Even if there would be, it is very easy to wear a gas mask over a beard. You should demonstrate this to your commander. 3. If these arguments are not accepted, then you can agree to carry around with you a pair of scissors, so if the need arises you can quickly cut off your beard, which will take no more than a minute. 4. During World War I, poison gas was widely used and all armies including the British used gas masks. Yet the Indian Sikhs, who fought in the British Army, were allowed to keep their beards and distinguished themselves in battle. I believe these four points are emblematic of the Rebbe's uniqueness. Each one expresses a different aspect of his majestic character and gives us a glimpse of his muitilayered personality. Only the Rebbe could say unequivocally "there will be no chemical attack." To take responsibility for the safety of thousands of people on your shoulders, you had better know what you're talking about. And the Rebbe did. History proved the accuracy of the Rebbe's prophetic vision again and again. There were indeed no chemical attacks. The Rebbe deeply believed that living a life consistent with the Torah and its commandments need not be contradictory to living a life in the here-and-now of the modern world. An observant Jew can contribute to society without compromising on their Judaism one little bit. You can keep your beard and wear a gas mask too.  While the Rebbe was a heavenly figure, he was also extremely down to earth. He was at once a man of unquestioning faith and a man of hard logic.  "Carry a pair of scissors." Who can argue with that? Some dilemmas are not dilemmas at all if you think a bit out of the box. And then, he cites the case of Indian Sikhs fighting for the British in World War I to prove that a Jew can keep his beard. This is a shining example of the Rebbe's acute awareness of the world outside of his milieu, and his ability to learn from everyone and everything. A man with higher vision, uncompromising values, clear logic and worldly wisdom. That, and so much more, is the Rebbe. Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss The Holy Korach a rebel's sincere intentions   Source: For more details see "My Story" (JEM) p107 Perhaps the Rebbe's four points correspond to the four worlds Atzilus, Briyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah. In Atzilus you don't need a gas mask, in Briyah you wear the mask and keep the beard, in Yetzirah you may need to shave the beard to save life, and in Asiyah the world itself tells you to keep the beard.    To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au        Going up!!!       Shabbat Shalom everyone- Have a great week! Brent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH    1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH   (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS TIMES & COMMUNITY INFO: KORACH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 15 June 2018 | 2 Tammuz 5778 Candle Lighting................................... 4:35pm Mincha............................................... 4:45pm Learning with the Bochrim.................... 5:30pm Kids Program ..................................... 6:00pm Shabbos Service................................. 6:00-6:50pm  Followed by Kiddush.   Shabbos Day, 16 June 2018 | 3 Tammuz 5778 In depth parsha class ..................... 9:00am Kids Program ............................... 10:30am Shabbos Service............................ 10:00am-12:20pm Special Gimmel Tammuz Lunch and Farbrengen sponsored in honour of the first yorzheit of Nissim Chai ben Yaakov a"h; Lechaim in honour of the yorzheit of Bluma Miriam bas Binyomin Zev Lechaim in honour of the birthday of Nechama Dina Moss.   Mincha and with Pirkei Ovos Chapter 4 followed by Seudah Shlishis .............. 4:30pm Gematria and Story by Rev Amzalak... 4:50pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss....................... 5:10pm Shabbos ends.................................. 5:34pm Followed by Havdalah   WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday ................................. 8:00am Mon- Fri................................. 7:00am Latest Shema this week........... 9:24am   MAZAL TOV Jeremy & Nikki Kinstlinger on the birth of a boy! Ralph Zeltzer & Jacqui Gubanyi on their upcoming wedding   HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nechama Dina Moss........ 6 Tammuz/ Tuesday 19 June Eli Moshe Lowinger......... 9 Tammuz/ Friday 22 June   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Gail & Danny Stein.......... 8 Tammuz/ Thursday 14 June   LONG LIFE Jodi Lowe for her late grandmother Violet Irene Collins, Tsipora bat Moshe... 2 Tammuz/ Friday 15 June Stephen Etkind and Di Moritz for their late father  David Julius Etkind...2 Tammuz/ Friday 15 June Ron Moss, Tom Moss and KAthy Penn for their late mother  Bluma Miriam bas Binyomin Zev... 9 Tammuz/ Friday 22 June SPONSORING A KIDDUSH IS SIMPLE!   FRIDAY NIGHT:  SOUP $75 | BASIC $120| DELUXE $200   SHABBOS DAY: STANDARD $350 | LUNCH *FROM $450   DATES AVAILABLE : Friday Night 29 June, Shabbos Day 30 June, Friday Night 6 July, Shabbos Day 7 July, Friday Night 13 July, Shabbos Day 14 July.    EMAIL US: office@nefesh.com.au

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