Thursday, October 17, 2019

What Your Wife DIDN'T Say

Question of the Week:

My very devout wife says I shouldn't miss Simchas Torah, as it is the most important festival of the year. I countered that the Torah speaks of no such festival, so how could it be so important? She said I should ask the rabbi. So I am.

Answer:

There are two types of good husbands. I'm not sure which one you are.

One is the type of husband that does whatever his wife asks. If she says, "Can you pick up some eggplants?" he says "Sure." If she asks for a new watch, he buys it. If she says "This house needs painting" he calls a painter. If she complains that the air-conditioning is on too strong, he turns it off.

He is a good husband. But he is not an amazing husband.

An amazing husband doesn't only do what his wife asks. He does things for her without her asking. He knows what makes her happy, and just goes ahead and does it. She still has to express her needs, because even an amazing husband can't read her mind. But he can intuit what she likes, and do it without being asked.

The Jewish people are in a marriage-like relationship with G-d. We don't just do what we are asked, but go beyond to do things we know would make G-d happy. In Judaism there are straight out rules that G-d has asked us to keep, like eating kosher and giving charity. They are called commandments, what G-d needs from us, and we do them as any loyal partner would.

And then there are customs, like wearing a kippah and dipping apples in honey. We were not commanded to do these things, but we ourselves intuited that G-d would like it, so we do it.

Among the festivals, there are those that we were commanded to keep, like Yom Kippur, and then there are those that we developed on our own, like Simchas Torah. Nothing we do on Simchas Torah is commanded in the Torah. The dancing, the Torah readings, the somersaults and the songs are all an expression of our love for G-d, doing what we know would make Him happy. And nothing makes Him happier than seeing us all dancing together in joy, celebrating the gift of the Torah, the gift of being Jewish.

Doing what we are told is good. Doing what makes G-d happy without being told is even deeper. That's why the most intensely loving moment between G-d and the Jewish people is Simchas Torah.

I'm not sure if you are a good husband or an amazing one. But either way you need to come celebrate Simchas Torah. Because it's what G-d would like, or because your wife told you to.

Good Shabbos and Good Yomtov,
Rabbi Moss

Source:
Siddur im Dach Shaar Sukkos


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SHABBOS SERVICE TIMES & COMMUNITY INFO: SHABBOS CHOL HAMOED SUKKOS
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Friday, 18 October 2019| 19 Tishrei 5780
Candle Lighting.......... 6:52pm (not before 5:49pm)
Shabbos Service
NEW SUMMER TIME ....................... 6:30-7:20pm
Kids Program .............................................. 6:30pm
Festive Kiddush in the Rooftop Sukkah sponsored by Richard Skimin.
 
Shabbos Day, 19 October 2019 | 20 Tishrei 5780
(No Parsha class)
Shabbos Service......................... 10:00am-12:20pm
Kids Program ............................................ 10:30am
Kiddush in the Rooftop Sukkah sponsored by Libby Moss & Peter Irving in honour of the yortzheit for their late father, Henry Irving (Tzvi ben Reuven) on 20 Tishrei/ 19 October- Long Life
 
Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis .........6:50pm
Gematria and Story by Rev Amzalak........ 7:20pm
Shiur with Rabbi Moss............................ 7:35pm
Shabbos ends....................................... 7:50pm
Followed by Havdalah
 
WEEKDAY SERVICES
Sunday Hoshana Rabba............ 9:00am
Latest Shema this week..... 9:23am
 
See below for Shemini Atzeres & Simchas Torah Times
 
HAPPY JEWISH BIRTHDAY
Maya Segre........... 23 Tishrei/ Tuesday 22 October
 
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Bella & Reuven Barukh... 26 Tishrei/ Friday 25 Oct

LONG LIFE
Libby Moss and Peter Irving for their late father Henry Irving
Tzvi ben Reuven... 20 Tishrei/ Saturday 19 October
   
If you would like Nefesh to include your Birthday, Anniversary or Yortzheit in our newsletter and send you an email reminder, just fill in this quick ONLINE FORM.
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PLEASE NOTE: Sunday Night (Shemini Atzeres) evening service at Wellington St, everything else at Francis St

HOSHANA RABBA
Sunday 20 October, 2019
Shachris ................................................. 9:00am
Candle Lighting........................................ 6:54pm
 
SHEMINI ATZERES
Mincha and Yom Tov Evening Service
(this service only at Wellington St).......... 7:00pm
followed by Kiddush in Sukkah and Hakofos dancing
 
Shemini Atzeres 
Monday 21 October, 2019
Morning service ....................... 10:00am- 1:00pm
Children's program........... ....... 10:30am
Yizkor ............................ ........ 11:30am
Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Jack & Leyat Reuben, and Larnce Gold in honour of his birthday- Mazal Tov!
 
Mincha ............................ ....................... 7:00pm
 
SIMCHAS TORAH SERVICE... ..................... 7:30pm
Huge Kiddush, Hakofos dancing, somersaults, Lechaim and Yom Tov meal till late.
Candle Lighting................................ after 7:51pm
 
Simchas Torah
Tuesday 22 October, 2019
Morning service................ ..................... 10:00am
Big Kiddush 11am, Hakofos dancing, completing Torah and starting again, honouring the Chassanim, and some cheeky pranks at Mussaf.
 
Mincha.................................................. 7:00pm
Yom Tov ends and Maariv........................ 7:52pm
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