Reminder: Fast of the Tenth of Teves ends tonight @ 8:37pm (Sydney time)
Recite Friday Night Kiddush and commence meal only after this time
Question of the Week:
I have to admit, I am angry. I was brought up Jewish, attended a Jewish school, and have only known Judaism as my religion. Now I am told I have to convert, because my mother never formally became Jewish. Isn't it a little unfair that all my life I was more Jewish than my friends, was subjected to anti-Semitism, and then I am told I need to convert?
Answer:
I completely understand your frustration. It can't be easy to hear that you need to convert to your own religion. But please don't take it personally. This is not a reflection on you. The entire Jewish nation went through exactly what you are going through now.
After leaving Egypt, where they suffered as slaves and were tormented for being Jewish, the Israelites reached Mount Sinai. There they were told they had to formally accept the Torah, and convert to Judaism by immersing in a mikvah.
They could've had the same complaint as yours. We've always been Jewish, we have even suffered for it, and now we're told we need to become Jewish.
Indeed they were already Jewish in the ethnic sense, but they had not yet become Jewish in the religious sense. They were born into the Jewish clan, but they had not yet committed to the Jewish mission. Only by sincerely accepting the Torah did they take on the complete Jewish identity in body and soul.
The Israelites of old had a moment of truth. Am I ready to stand before G-d and commit myself to being Jewish? Not just for a day or a week or a year. Not just for my lifetime. For generations. And they said yes.
That power of that moment still reverberates to this day. All Jews alive today are descended from a mother who converted to Judaism, who took that plunge, either at Mount Sinai or sometime since then.
Now you have your moment of truth. You can be culturally and ethnically Jewish, as you already are. Or you can stand at your own Sinai and say yes to G-d.
Put aside the emotion and take this decision seriously. If you don't go ahead, you leave things hanging for your children and theirs. But if you do it, your commitment is forever, for all generations, once and for all.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss
Sources:
See Exodus 19:10, Rambam Hilchos Issurei Biah 13
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IS ATTRACTION NECESSARY FOR LOVE?
New Kiddush options at Nefesh
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush - we have a number of dates available in January.
Friday Night
$75 - Vegetable Platter, Dip & Crackers
$200 - Sushi, Fruit & Cake
Shabbos Day
$100- Cholent & Crackers
$180- Cholent, Crackers & Cake
$300- Sushi, Cholent, Crackers, Cake & Fruit
Prices are for 40 people.
Email office@nefesh.com.au to book your kiddush.
SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: VAYIGASH
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PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND SHUL.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
Friday 25 December – 10 Teves
Candle lighting... 7:49pm (after 6:41pm)
Evening Service... 6:30-7:20pm
Recite Kiddush at home (after Fast Ends: 8:37pm)
Saturday 26 December – 11 Teves
Morning Service... 10:00am-12:20pm
Kids Program....... 10:30am
Lechaim in loving memory of Chaim Shedlezki sponsored by his granddaughter Sarah Grossman Haba and family.
Shiur with Rabbi Sufrin... 6:50pm
Mincha......................... 7:50pm
Shabbos ends & Maariv... 8:52pm
Latest Shema this week... 9:17am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Gary Lazarus... 12 Teves/Sunday 27 December
Shai Behrman... 17 Tevet/Friday 1 January
Debbie Parker... 17 Tevet/Friday 1 January
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Gilda & Jonathan Shapira...12 Tevet/Sunday 27 December
Sarah & Benjy Reid... 12 Tevet/Sunday 27 December
Greg & Leah Weinstein... 13 Tevet/Monday 28 December
Daniel & Megan Lazarus... 17 Tevet/Friday 1 January
Vicky & Joel Kahn... 17 Tevet/Friday 1 January
LONG LIFE FOR THE FOLLOWING YORTZHEITS
Rene, Josh, Shannon and Dyllan Garber for their late husband and father Maurice Garber,
Moshe ben Yehuda... 12 Tevet/Sunday 27 December
Libby Moss for her late grandmother
Jessie Stanley... 13 Teves/ Monday 28 December
Theresa Bengis for her late father
Yosef ben Emmanuel... 13 Tevet/Monday 28 December
Janice, Leanne & Naomi Shedlezki for their late
husband and father Chaim Shedlezki
Chaim ben Moshe... 13 Tevet/Monday 28 December
Harold Judelman for his late mother Esther Judelman
Sheina Ester bat Chaim Guttel... 14 Tevet/ 29 December
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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