Can You Lockdown a Soul?

ROSH HASHANAH WITH NEFESH CLICK HERE

Question of the Week:

We are enjoying another Melbourne lockdown in all its confinement. I am trying to remember the concept in our religion about the person who has had a more troubled past doing good vs the person who was always well behaved . It reminds me of my feelings towards this lockdown. If we can happily evolve past this hardship, and overcome this wall of difficulty, I feel it is sort of akin to the more troubled person making themselves better…. If you have the time, please would you point me in the right direction?
 

Answer:

You are thinking of the Talmudic quote: The place where a reformed sinner stands, a saint can ever reach.

It's a bit like a bow and arrow. The further back you pull the bow, the further and faster the arrow flies. Similarly, when someone realises they have fallen low, they have a determination and resolve to get back up. Someone who has never fallen can't muster this rebound energy. Only after being pulled down by failure do we generate the momentum and velocity to fly back up.

This happens in marriage too. Things can be bumbling along nicely in your relationship, you're getting on well and that's nice. But even in the best of marriages, the connection can at times become a little stagnant. When does a couple really become closer? What is the greatest catalyst for deepening a connection? An argument.

In a moment of tension, when one of you said the wrong thing or did the wrong thing, it can sometimes seem like the love is lost. There's a point when you realise you have hurt the one you love, and you are gripped with terror that you may never be able to fix what you have broken. It is at that moment that you reach deeper within to find a love that transcends the hurt, you apologise from the depths of your soul and are willing to do anything to restore the relationship to what it was. 

But it never goes back to what it was. It's deeper now. After surviving a challenge, you see just how strong the connection really is. You wouldn't have learnt that had the tension never arisen. 

Similarly, the perfectly righteous person is in a smooth relationship with G-d. It's nice, but untested. We naughty people who have done wrong have an opportunity to go far deeper than that. If after all I've done, I still come back to my soul and my G-d, that proves just how innate my bond with G-d is. 

Take a look at the Jewish people today. Most of us have been disconnected from Jewish spirituality for generations, and yet we tend to come back home. And often those who return come with a greater passion and fervour than those who never left the fold. The Jewish spark was always there. The further your soul is pulled away, the more powerfully it yearns to return.

I like your parallel to our current global challenge. The restrictions are the bow pulling us back, and we are the arrow ready to fly. The more we have been separated, the more we yearn to connect. The greater the isolation, the more we find creative means to reach out. You can't lockdown a soul. The more our bow is pulled, the higher our soul will fly. 

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

Sources:
Talmud Brochos 34b

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SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: KI SEITZEI
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Here are some instructions for praying at home. Page numbers are from the blue Chabad Siddur. 
Don't have one? You can download it here and print it.

We will hold services for those who would like to attend, 5:30pm Friday and 10am Shabbos morning.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 

Friday 28 August – 8 Elul
Light Candles........... 5:17pm
Before 5:35pm:........ Mincha p101
After 6:00pm........... Shabbos evening service p154
Kiddush.................... p179

Saturday 29 August – 9 Elul  
Morning Service for Shabbos:  p5-25, p181-219, Torah reading for Ki Seitzei, Mussaf p234, Kiddush p248.  

Followed by Kiddush sponsored Anonymously.

Before 5:35pm ... Mincha p253
Pirkei Avos ... Chapter 1 & 2 p271
After 6:00pm ... Maariv p161
Shabbos Ends... 6:13pm
Havdala p297
Latest Shema this week... 9:05am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Paloma Rochat........9 Elul/Saturday 29 August
Hania Skimin........ 10 Elul/Sunday 30 August
Deborah Graham... 10 Elul/Sunday 30 August
Mem Eichenblatt.... 14 Elul/Thursday 3 September
Kevin Smaller........ 15 Elul/Friday 4 September
Claude Sandler..... 15 Elul/Friday 4 September

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Daniel & Stephanie Nadel...15 Elul/Friday 4 September

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Beth Lipovic for her late mother
Ruth bat Avraham...11 Elul/Monday 31 August

Mildred and Tanya Stocks for their late husband and father Alfred (Freddy) Stocks
Avrom ben Hiam...14 Elul/Thursday 3 September

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I Was Scammed. Now What?

NOTE ABOUT HIGH HOLIDAYS:
Nefesh will be offering various ways to celebrate Rosh Hashana with us this year, both in shul and at home.
You will be able to choose the option that suits you best. Look out next week for details.  

Question of the Week:

I feel like an absolute idiot. I wanted to give some charity, as I have been a bad boy recently. And I fell for a scam. This guy was supposedly helping orphans who live on the street and I felt so bad for them. But turns out this fellow is living it up off other people's stupidity. People like me. So it seems even when I try to do a good deed it turns out bad. What does that say about me? 

Answer:

This is the best news you could possibly hear right now.  You see, it is important to make sure that your charity goes to worthy recipients. But if by mistake it didn't, then you are the recipient of Jeremiah's curse. Which is a great blessing.

Let me explain. 

The prophet Jeremiah was persecuted by the people of his home town, Anatot. So he cursed them, but in a rather strange way: "When you give charity, it should be to unworthy recipients!"

Seems an unusual choice of curse. I could think of some worse evils to wish upon your enemies. There are some great old Yiddish curses, like: "You should lose all your teeth except one. And then you should get a toothache." That's what I call a curse. What's the big deal if they give charity to people who don't deserve it?

But Jeremiah was a holy man. With this cryptic curse he was in fact offering his enemies a blessing.

There is a spiritual law of reciprocity. G-d mirrors our actions. When we give charity to the needy, G-d reciprocates and gives us our needs. Fill the lack in the lives of others, and G-d will fill your lack.

If we are careful to only give to those who truly deserve, G-d does the same and only gives us according to our worthiness. However, when we carelessly give to an unworthy recipient, G-d is a little careless too, and He gives us even if we are not deserving. 

Jeremiah understood this. He looked at these men who had treated him so badly, and knew they were not deserving of any goodness from above. But being a true leader, Jeremiah loved his people, even those that hurt him. So he prayed that they give charity to unworthy recipients. This way, unworthy as they may be, they too will be looked after by G-d. 

Who knows? Maybe being scammed just before Rosh Hashana means you'll be blessed beyond what you deserve. Next time be careful who you give to. But let misplaced generosity be your biggest sin. So you were scammed. May that be your proverbial toothache. 

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

Sources:
Talmud Bava Basra 9b. It states there that misplaced generosity is not rewarded. For indeed a reward needs to be earned. Here you receive blessing unearned.

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SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: Shoftim
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Here are some instructions for praying at home. Page numbers are from the blue Chabad Siddur. 
Don't have one? You can download it here and print it.

We will hold services for those who would like to attend, 5:30pm Friday and 10am Shabbos morning.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 

Friday 21 August – 1 Elul
Light Candles............ 5:12pm
Before 5:30pm:.........Mincha p101
After 5:56pm........... Shabbos evening service p154
Kiddush................... p179

Saturday 22 August – 2 Elul
Morning Service for Shabbos:
p5-25, p181-219, Torah reading for Shoftim, Mussaf p234, Kiddush p248.  

Kiddush sponsored by Shirley Sher in honour of the recent yortzheit for her late husband Hilton Sher, Yona Ben Avraham on 30 Av- Long Life.

Before 5:30pm ... Mincha p253
Pirkei Avos .........Chapter 6 p291
After 5:51pm ......Maariv p161
Shabbos Ends...... 6:08pm
Havdala p297
Latest Shema this week...... 9:10am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Pia Ink............... 3 Elul/ Sunday 23 August
Joshua Waine...... 3 Elul/ Sunday 23 August
Lexie Berkovits.... 4 Elul/ Monday 24 August
Danny Lessem..... 6 Elul/ Wednesday 26 August
Yossi Segre......... 8 Elul/ Friday 28 August

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Kerry & Sean Kramer... 5 Elul/ Tuesday 25 August
Michelle & Ronny Haughton... 8 Elul/ Friday 28 August

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Michelle Brenner for her late mother Stella Brenner,
Esther Chaya bas Dovid...2 Elul/ Saturday 22 August

Linda Zilber for her late father Horst Illing,
Yitzchak ben Kalman...4 Elul/ Monday 24 August

Larnce Gold for his late grandfather Bernie Lazarus
Berel ben Avraham... 5 Elul/ Tuesday 25 August

David Stern for his late wife Linda Frances Stern,
Leah bat Yosef... 6 Elul/ Wednesday 26 August

Tauba Tanchum for her late father Tevia Kaplan,
Tevia ben Eliezer... 8 Elul/ Friday 28 August

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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Are Pirated Videos Kosher?

Question of the Week:

We are stuck at home a lot these days, so we end up watching a lot of videos. My parents don't like us watching random YouTubes, and all our DVD's are scratched, so we mostly rent Jewish videos online. But today my friend sent me a link that has heaps of Jewish videos for free! I was so excited that we don't have to rent anymore. But then my father said it might be stealing to watch these videos. I can't see the problem. The videos are there anyway even if we don't watch them. And all my friends do it all the time. So what's the issue? My father said I should ask you.

Answer:

What do your parents have against YouTube? It's free and easy. Why would they spend their hard earned money on Jewish rentals when there is a convenient option that costs nothing?

Let me take a guess. It's because they want your young mind to be filled with good values, they want you to look up to admirable role models, and they want you to be surrounded by positive influences. YouTube is not famous for any of that. While there are many worthwhile videos on YouTube, there is also a lot of junk. Your parents have wisely chosen to serve you kosher entertainment. 

Just like the food we eat has to be kosher, the ideas we expose ourselves to need to be kosher too. But keeping kosher is about more than just the food. The plates and cutlery need to be kosher too. Same with kosher entertainment. The way you acquire your video needs to be squeaky clean. 

Watching pirated Jewish videos is a contradiction. It's like stealing a Bible, or pushing your way into a line to see a lecture on selflessness, or shouting at someone for being intolerant. It makes no sense. You can't learn good values by watching a video that someone worked hard and invested huge amounts to make, and you just went at took it without paying. You can't become a good person by wronging another person. It's just not kosher.

It may be hard to imagine you are doing anything wrong by clicking a link. It may seem like no one is getting hurt. But perhaps this is the biggest lesson you can learn. Every act we do has an impact, that  often we can't see. When you do good, you bring more goodness into the world. And the opposite too. Whether you see it or not , you are making the world better or worse with every choice you make, even a click. I hope you make the right choice. As your father, I trust you will.

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

Sources:
Igros Moshe Orach Chaim 4:40:19

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SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: Re'eh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are some instructions for praying at home. Page numbers are from the blue Chabad Siddur. 
Don't have one? You can download it here and print it.

We will hold services for those who would like to attend, 5:30pm Friday and 10am Shabbos morning.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 

 

Friday 14 August – 24 Av
Light Candles... 5:07pm
Before 5:25pm... Mincha p101
After 5:51pm... Shabbos evening service p154
Kiddush... p179

Saturday 15 August – 25 Av  
Morning Service for Shabbos:  p5-25, p181-219, Torah reading for Re'eh, Mussaf p234, Kiddush p248.  
Before 5:25pm ... Mincha p253
Pirkei Avos ... Chapter 5 p286
After 5:51pm ... Maariv p161
Shabbos Ends... 6:04pm
Havdala p297
Latest Shema this week... 9:15am

MAZAL TOV
Reverend and Mrs Amzalak and the entire family on the wedding of their granddaughter Esther Lever in New York to Shneur Volfman this Thursday 20 August/ Rosh Chodesh Elul.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Anna Segre... 26 Av/ Sunday 16 August
Yisrael- Shemaya Ezekiel... 26 Av/ Sunday 16 August
Liorah Kessel... 28 Av/ Tuesday 18 August
Carmelle Hedges... 28 Av/ Tuesday 18 August
Romy Lessem...29 Av/ Wednesday 19 August

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Reverend & Mrs Amzalak... 1 Elul/ Friday 21 August

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Pia Ink for her late brother Zachariah Wolanski
Zachariah ben Shoshana Rivka... 25 Av/ Sat 15 August

Rene Bermeister for her late father Gerald Bernard Benson
Yaakov ben Natan ...28 Av/ Tuesday 18 August

Leslie Tanchum for his late father Benzion Tanchum
Benzion ben Natan Nota... 30 Av/ Thursday 20 August

Shirley, Brian, Steven and Jeffrey Sher & Rolene Markson for their late husband and father
Hilton Sher, Yona Ben Avraham... 30 Av/ Thurs 20 August

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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Is a Soulmate Forever?

Question of the Week:

If a widow remarries, what happens when Moshiach comes and the dead come back to life? Will she reunite with her first husband, or the new guy? What if she was happy with one more than the other?  

Answer:

This fascinating question has been asked by many. But the best answer is found in an unusual source: the diary of an 18^th century American priest.

Ezra Stiles, a Congregationalist minister in Rhode Island, became close friends with Rabbi Raphael Chaim Yitzchak Carregal, believed to be the first rabbi to set foot on American soil. A question Stiles asked Rabbi Carregal at one of their meetings was this very issue: if a widow remarries, who will she be married to when the resurrection happens?

Stiles records Rabbi Carregal's response in his diary:

"The Rabbi was at a loss and could not determine. He said there were various opinions about it - G-d almighty only could determine - he was contented to know that the resurrection state would be happy and glorious, though he did not pretend to be able to answer and solve all questions and Mysteries concerning the Circumstances of the Resurrection."

If we investigate the earlier sources on this fascinating question, we'll see just how wise this response was.

However, there is a source, a clear source, on the topic of spouses in the resurrection. The Zohar clearly states: "A woman who married twice, will return to her first husband in the next world."

So it's settled. Or maybe not.

Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (1835-1909) points out that the Zohar is not talking about the resurrection, but rather about Heaven. After she passes away, her soul and the soul of her first husband will be together in the Garden of Eden. But who's to say that the same applies to the resurrection? Perhaps she returns to the husband she was married to at the time of her passing.

Indeed, other sources state that if a widow remarries, she will return to be with her second husband upon resurrection.

So where does that leave us? Some say the first husband, others say the second. They can't all be right.

Or maybe they can.  

The great 16^th century Kabbalist, the Arizal, taught that most souls these days are reincarnated, and for each lifetime we may have a different soulmate. It could therefore even happen that someone marries twice in one lifetime, and both are soulmates – one from a previous lifetime, and another for this lifetime. This is why a second marriage can be as happy as the first, and in no way diminishes the connection that was there before. Each soul has its place.

At the resurrection, a part of our soul will be with one soulmate in our previous body, and another part with the other soulmate in another body. How exactly does that work? We'll know when it happens. And we will all be happy.

Perhaps that's what Rabbi Carregal meant when he said, "the resurrection state would be happy and glorious." He was assuring the questioner that whatever happens, it will be the best and happiest solution.

This was a wise response. Especially considering another important detail to the story as recorded in Ezra Stiles' diary. He asked the rabbi this question in the presence of Mrs Rivera, a widow, and Mr Rivera, her new husband. The rabbi had the tact and wisdom to know that in such delicate matters, we need to trust that G-d knows what He is doing. All we need to know is that "the resurrection state would be happy and glorious" and we will all be reunited with all of our loved ones.

May it happen soon.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Moss

Sources:

Zohar Bereishis 21b

Ben Ish Chai Rav Pealim, Sod Yesharim 2

Other sources: Anaf Yosef beginning of Perek Chelek, and Sefer Nitzachon quoted in Hagahos Yad Shaul, Yoreh Deah 366:3

Arizal Shaar Hagilgulim 8

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He tried to get revenge on the girl who snubbed him. But she had the last laugh....

 

 

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SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: EIKEV

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are some instructions for praying at home. Page numbers are from the blue Chabad Siddur. Don't have one? You can download it here and print it.

We will hold services for those who would like to attend, 5:30pm Friday and 10am Shabbos morning. PLEASE REGISTER HERE. Face masks will be available for those who wish. 

 

​Friday 7 August – 17 Av

Light Candles....... 5:02pm

Before 5:20pm.... Mincha p101

After 5:47pm...... Shabbos evening service p154

Kiddush..............p179

 

Saturday 8 August – 18 Av  

Morning Service for Shabbos:

p5-25, p181-219, Torah reading for Eikev, Mussaf p234, Kiddush p248.  

Kiddush sponsored in honour of the IDF.

Before 5:20pm ... Mincha p253

Pirkei Avos ........ Chapter 4 p291

After 5:47pm .... Maariv p161

Shabbos Ends.... 5:59pm

Havdala p297

Latest Shema this week... 9:19am

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Jaime Kaplan..................... 20 Av/ Monday 10 August

Taylor Kaplan..................... 20 Av/ Monday 10 August

Hannah Jones.................... 20 Av/ Monday 10 August

Jared Stein........................ 20 Av/ Monday 10 August

Yair Morris......................... 21 Av/ Tuesday 11 August

Todd Gothelf.................... 23 Av/ Thursday 13 August

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Craig & Sheryl Deubler......... 19 Av/ Sunday 9 August

 

CONDOLENCES

David Kessler and family on the passing of his aunt Joy Balkind OAM, Simcha bat Zorach a"h

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS

Jonathan Isdale for his late mother Stella Israel

Sara bas Max... 20 Av/ Monday 10 August

 

David & Julian Cappe for their late father Peter Cappe,

Pinchus ben Shimon ... 21 Av/ Tuesday 11 August

 

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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