Must Admit, This is Impressive

DIY Shabbos Course

Question of the Week:  Do you think this coronavirus crisis strengthens faith in G-d or weakens it? Like is it proving there is a G-d or the exact opposite? Answer: There are only two possible ways of looking at what's happening now. Either there is a G-d and this crisis is a part of His big plan. Or there isn't and it isn't.  If it is, then you have to be impressed. Within the space of a few weeks, the world has changed forever. Every single person on the planet has had to pause, stop the way they've been living their life until now, re-evaluate their priorities and what's really important, spend more time caring for their loved ones and less time in empty pursuits.  We've come to realise that money and fame and possessions and arrogance are all worth zero. The only currencies that have any true value are our relationships and our faith. We have learnt that everything we do, even staying home, has a purpose and a meaning, and every individual impacts everyone else. The world is more united than it has ever been.  You have to admit, it's a pretty impressive move on the part of G-d to achieve all this with a tiny virus. What's even more impressive is that the world has been transformed without any miracles. We have come to these realisations on our own, without being forced, with our free choice in tact. That is an amazing act of G-d. Or maybe not. The other option is that there is no G-d, this is just one of those things that happen every now and then. No meaning, no message, no moral lessons to be learnt. Just random stuff.  I'd say the first explanation is way more compelling. G-d, you got our attention. We are all listening now. And we won't go back to life as it was before. No way. It's going to be much better, because we are better.  Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  SHABBOS SONGS AUDIO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In these crazy times, you have to recreate the holy energy of shul in your home. To help you learn songs, here are recordings of the Friday night tunes we sing at Nefesh, created by the super-talented Zalmy Okunov. Download and listen to them during the week, so when it comes to Shabbos, you can be the chazan! Note: they are not to be played on Shabbos itself - nothing can replace your own voice on Shabbos! CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE BELOW. ENJOY! SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: ACHAREI/KEDOSHIM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nefesh will not be holding any services until further notice.  Please find instructions for praying at home. Page numbers are from the blue Chabad Siddur. This Shabbos is also Rosh Chodesh, so there are some additions and variations from a usual Shabbos.  SHABBOS SERVICES: Friday 1 May - 7 Iyar Light Candles...............4:56pm Before 5:14pm:........... Mincha p101 After 5:14pm Shabbos evening service p154 After 5:41pm Count Omer................ Day 23 p136 Kiddush...................... p179 Saturday 2 May - 8 Iyar - Shabbos Parshas Acharei/Kedoshim Morning Service for Shabbos: p5-25, p181-219, Torah reading Acharei & Kedoshim, Mussaf p234, Kiddush p248   Virtual Lechaim 1:30pm - raise a glass and have us all in mind!   Before 5:30pm ................................. Mincha p253 Pirkei Avos ...................................... Chapter 3 p277 After 5:41pm ................................... Maariv p161 Count Omer ..................................... Day 24 p136 Shabbos Ends................................... 5:52pm Havdala p29 Kiddush Levana p301 Latest Shema this week...................... 9:09am   HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nathan Peles................ 12 Iyar/ Wednesday 6 May Carol Melman............... 13 Iyar/ Thursday 7 May Jonathan Isdale............ 13 Iyar/ Thursday 7 May Layla Bando................. 14 Iyar/ Friday 8 May   LONG LIFE Larnce Gold for his late grandmother Naomi Frere  Nechama bas Ester 8 Iyar/ Saturday 2 May Marlene Franks for her late father Aaron Jacob Wolman, Aharon Yaakov.................. 10 Iyar/ Monday 4 May David Bermeister for his late father Yitzchak Ben Zeev.............. 11 Iyar/ Tuesday 5 May Frank Dreyer for his late mother Eva Dreyer Chava bat Avraham...... 12 Iyar/ Wednesday 6 May Anne Sarzin for her late grandfather Ha Rav Avraham Ben Elimelech Halevi........................... 12 Iyar/ Wednesday 6 May Jack Klein for his late father Shimon Klein................................................. 13 Iyar/ 7 May Theresa Bengis for her late husband Baruch ben Lasar.................. 14 Iyar/ Friday 8 May   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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My Wedding Plans Out the Window!?

Trivia Night next week

Question of the Week:  We were so excited about our wedding. We had picked a date that seemed perfect, but before we could plan any further this pandemic hit. Now we have a tough choice: to hold a small gathering of just very close family sooner, or postpone for who knows when and have the whole celebration. To me both seem like second best. How can I look at this positively when I won't have the wedding I planned, on the date I chose and with the guests I wanted? Answer: I have news for you. You never chose the date of your wedding. Nobody does. A wedding is too holy for mere mortals to plan. It is decreed in heaven whom you marry. It is also decreed in heaven when your wedding will take place, and who will be there.  We may think we picked a date because it has some sentimental significance, or because the hall was available that day. No. It was the day you had to get married. That's why the hall became available, or why that day took on meaning. It was your day all along, picked for you by G-d Himself.  Each day has its own personality, its unique energy and its particular blessings. There is one day that is for you. You will always be led to choose it as your wedding day, because it is. Sometimes it takes a pandemic to move your wedding to the date it was meant to be.  And the guest list is also divinely ordained. Every person at your chuppah adds their soul energy, their particular aura and presence to the occasion. And only those who should be there will be there. We can never know why some people make it and some don't. The right balance is created by having the perfect combination of souls for your chuppah. Sometimes that's a smaller crowd, sometimes bigger. But always right.  Getting married means believing that you have met the one that G-d made for you. It also means believing that the date and the guest list are exactly right for you too. Whether you do it smaller sooner, or bigger later, it will be perfect. Mazel tov! Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  SHABBOS SONGS AUDIO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In these crazy times, you have to recreate the holy energy of shul in your home. To help you learn songs, here are recordings of the Friday night tunes we sing at Nefesh, created by the super-talented Zalmy Okunov. Download and listen to them during the week, so when it comes to Shabbos, you can be the chazan! Note: they are not to be played on Shabbos itself - nothing can replace your own voice on Shabbos! CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE BELOW. ENJOY! SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: TAZRIA/METZORA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nefesh will not be holding any services until further notice.  Please find instructions for praying at home. Page numbers are from the blue Chabad Siddur. This Shabbos is also Rosh Chodesh, so there are some additions and variations from a usual Shabbos.  SHABBOS SERVICES: Friday 24 April - 30 Nissan Light Candles............5:04pm Before 5:22pm:........ Mincha p101, Add Yaaleh Veyavo for Rosh Chodesh in Amida After 5:48pm........... Shabbos evening service p154, Add Yaaleh Veyavo for Rosh Chodesh in Amida Count Omer............. Day 16 p136 Kiddush................... p179 Saturday 25 April - 1 Iyar - Shabbos Day Rosh Chodesh Iyar - Parshas Tazria/Metzora Morning Service for Shabbos: p5-25, p181-217, Add Yaaleh Veyavo for Rosh Chodesh in Amida Half Hallel p307, Song of the Day and Borchi Nafshi p218-220 Torah reading Tazria & Metzora, Rosh Chodesh Mussaf p320-326, End p242-247 Kiddush p248 Virtual Lechaim 1:30pm - raise a glass and have us all in mind!   Before 5:22pm ......... Mincha p253 Add Yaaleh Veyavo for Rosh Chodesh in Amida Pirkei Avos ............... Chapter 2 p273 After 5:48pm ............ Maariv p161 Count Omer .............. Day 17 p136 Shabbos Ends............ 5:58pm Havdala p297 Latest Shema this week.............................. 9:06am   MAZAL TOV Reverend & Mrs Amzalak on the birth of their great-grandson in Israel! Mazal Tov to parents Mendel & Chanie Moskovitz. Michael and Linda Lenn on the birth of a baby girl. Dan and Tegan Barnett on the birth of a baby girl. Robert and Mandy Geller on the birth of a baby boy.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY Benjamin Hoch............ 5 Iyar/ Wednesday 29 April Sheryl Deubler............ 6 Iyar/ Thursday 30 April   LONG LIFE Jack Reuben for his late father Joseph Reuben Yosef Ben Reuven............. 4 Iyar/ Tuesday 28 April   Danny Meguideche for his late mother Sarah Meguideche............ 4 Iyar/ Tuesday 28 April   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.

Nefesh Shul, PO Box 7349, 0416 822 832, 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 email marketing for free today!

You Really Believe in This?

Learn the Shabbos songs!

Last week I sent out a video urging everyone to pray for the coming of Moshiach during the Pesach Seder. It evoked some interesting discussion. Here are a few challenges I received, followed by my responses: Can you honestly see a Jewish guy suddenly appearing and being looked upon by all humanity as the world's saving guide and the answer to all our salvation?  I am sure you are aware that over a billion people around the world just celebrated Easter. Do you know what that's about? A Jewish guy who suddenly appeared and people believed he was the world's saving guide. So when another Jewish guy comes along and actually does the job, it will be no surprise to anyone.  If opening the door for Elijah is our time to make any wish directly to G-d, surely wishing for world peace, or a cure for Covid-19 would be far more practical and realistic than a prayer for the Messiah? Why is world peace realistic? It hasn't ever happened before. And why is it realistic to pray for a cure for Covid-19? What makes you think there is a cure?  Neither of these are realistic, they are utopian. You see world peace and the discovery of a cure as possible, even inevitable, because you have inherited the quintessential Jewish optimism: the conviction that the world is heading for better times, that there is a solution to every problem, that we will beat war and sickness and even death one day. This belief is not rational or realistic, it's messianic.  Anyone who thinks "there must be a cure" and "one day we will all live in peace" has faith in the coming of Moshiach. You've got it, even if you didn't know it.  As as result of C-19 humanity is being brought together as never before as we really are "all in this together". Unless this human Messiah can solve the potential slip into mass poverty, cure C-19 and many other deadly potential pandemics with the wave of a hand then a call for "Moshiach now" feels ridiculous. I think you may not grasp what the Jewish concept of Moshiach is. It is the culmination of history, an end to all suffering and pain, when finally it all makes sense and the fight is over. All the good deeds of all generations accumulate together and evil is finally vanquished. We enter a new way of living, when we all work together, are totally united and loving each other, are completely beyond being materialistic and petty and selfish. We will know what's really important and forget about the silliness.  The man Moshiach will teach us this wisdom, and will introduce us to this new way of living. He will reveal knowledge that was never known before, and this will end poverty and sickness and competition. There will be plenty for everyone. We will be free to live a spiritual life, as our physical needs will be met.  Can you see why there is really nothing more to pray for than this?  Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss SHABBOS SONGS AUDIO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In these crazy times, you have to recreate the holy energy of shul in your home. To help you learn songs, here are recordings of the Friday night tunes we sing at Nefesh, created by the super-talented Zalmy Okunov. Download and listen to them during the week, so when it comes to Shabbos, you can be the chazan! Note: they are not to be played on Shabbos itself - nothing can replace your own voice on Shabbos! CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE BELOW. ENJOY! SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: SHEMINI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nefesh will not be holding any services until further notice.  Please find instructions for praying at home. Page numbers are from the blue Chabad Siddur.  SHABBOS SERVICES: Friday 17 April - 23 Nissan Light Candles.......5:12pm Before 5:30pm: Mincha p101 After 5:55pm Shabbos evening service p154 Count Omer Day 9 p136 Kiddush p179   Saturday 18 April - 24 Nissan - Shabbos Mevorchim Iyar - Parshas Shemini Morning Service for Shabbos: p5-25, p181-219, Torah reading Shemini, Bless the New Moon p231*, Mussaf p234 Kiddush p248 *Rosh Chodesh next Friday and Shabbos  Molad/ New Moon...Wed 22 April 10:58:12pm Before 5:30pm Mincha p253 Pirkei Avos Chapter 1 p271 After 5:55pm Maariv p161 Count Omer Day 10 p136 Shabbos Ends............6:06pm Havdala p297   Latest Shema this week......9:04am   Rabbi Moss' virtual shiur this week sponsored by Reverend Amzalak in honour of his 80th birthday- Mazal Tov!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY Meir Moss.................... 24 Nissan/ Saturday 18 April Elad Ziv........................... 27 Nissan/ Tuesday 21 April   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.

Nefesh Shul, PO Box 7349, 0416 822 832, 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 email marketing for free today!