What If You Were Born Buddhist?

Question of the Week:

You are obviously very passionate about the Jewish religion. But that is because you were born into it. Had you been born a Hindu, a Muslim, a Catholic or a Zoroastrian, you would be equally as passionate. So how can you take your beliefs seriously, or see them as truth, when really they are no more than an accident of birth?

Answer:

There are some big assumptions behind your question.

You are assuming that I was born. That is a fair assumption. But you also assume that I am Jewish by accident. That is false. There is no such thing. The very premise makes no sense.

The postulation "what if I would be born someone else" is as absurd as asking what if a tomato was actually a carrot, or an apple was a Samsung. I am what I am and I can be no one else. My family, my birthplace, my heritage - this is me. If I would be born someone else, I would be them, not me. 

My soul was chosen to be born into a Jewish family. This means that I am the product of thousands of years of Jewishness. I may question it. But it is who I am. All the questions in the world can't change that fact.

Sometimes a question is a question. And sometimes a question is a cop out. Asking "what if I were someone else?" is an example of the latter.

And even that probably comes from your Jewishness. Questioning everything is an age old Jewish practice you inherited from your forebears. You are born Jewish and you are born questioning. And with all the questions and all the challenges over all the generations, Judaism is still standing strong.

You'll never be someone else. Neither will they. So stop worrying about who you aren't. Celebrate who you are. 

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

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IMPORTANT UPDATE:
We are now very near completing the new building. Within weeks the construction and fit out will be done. The last steps before occupation are the electrical and water connections. The timing of these are out of our hands. We need to wait for Ausgrid and Sydney Water to do their thing. While we were disappointed to miss a January opening, we really are not long off. A little more patience and we will be there!

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FEATURED VIDEO

    YOUR THREE FACES - Tanya Meditation

 

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: BESHALACH
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PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND SHUL.
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Friday 29 January – 16 Shevat  
Candle lighting..... 7:44pm (after 6:40pm)
Mincha ................6:15pm
Evening Service ...6:30-7:20pm
Followed by Kiddush 

Saturday 30 January – 17 Shevat 
Morning Service... 10:00am-12:20pm
Kids Program... 10:30am 
Followed by Kiddush 

No Mincha at Francis st this week
Shabbos ends & Maariv 8:42pm

Latest Shema this week...... 9:38am

MAZAL TOV
Rabbi Aron & Nechama Dina Moss and the entire family on Mendel's Bar Mitzvah this Shabbos. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Zac Weinberg... 17 Shevat/Saturday 30 January
Mitchell Deubler... 18 Shevat/Sunday 31 January

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Janet & David Kessler... 20 Shevat/Tuesday 2 February 
Robert & Natalie Dabscheck... 23 Shevat/Friday 5 February
Kelly & Jodie Moses... 23 Shevat/Friday 5 February
Michael & Linda Lenn... 23 Shevat/Friday 5 February

LONG LIFE FOR THE FOLLOWING YORTZHEITS
Nick Hedges for his late grandmother Irene Stark
Rachel bat Jacov... 17 Shevat/Saturday 30 January

Jacqueline Rosenberg, David Eliovson & Natalie Lipson for their late husband and father
Peter John Eliovson Perach ben Ezra... 18 Shevat /Sunday 31 January

Ashley Bierman, Josh Susskind and Jodie Susskind for their late mother Susan Ann Susskind
Ruth bat Sarah... 22 Shevat/Thursday 4 February

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.

This week's newsletter is sponsored by:

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What Makes a Mensch?

What Makes a Mensch?

There was a sharp thinker who lived in 19th century Poland called Rabbi Mendel of Kotzk. He was known for his short, profound witticisms, among them the following pearl. I will share with you the original Yiddish, and then translate:

 

A frumer iz a rosho.

A kluger iz an apikores.

A gutter iz a naar. 

Alle drei, a shtickl mensch.

 

If you're pious, then you're wicked.

If you're smart, you're a heretic.

If you're kind, you're a fool.

But if you're all three, now that's a mensch!

 

In this pithy little riddle, the Kotzker at once summarises the highest ideals of Judaism, and warns of the pitfalls that lurk on the path of those who try to discover truth.

Being pious, being smart or being kind all sound wonderful. But each one on its own comes with a risk.

People who are very pious can sometimes miss the point. Righteousness can turn into self-righteousness. Love of G-d may come at the expense of care for humanity. Religion can be used as a fire to burn rather than a light to illuminate. Some of the greatest evils in history have been perpetrated in the name of religion. If you only care about religious piety, at the expense of love for your fellow, you are wicked.

But then there are the intellectuals, who reject faith in favour of clear thinking. They become so impressed with their own brilliance, so stuck in their own minds that they see logic as the ultimate arbiter of truth. Anything that can't be explained, can't exist. I think it, therefore it is. These people are too smart for G-d. But intellect without absolute morality can rationalise the worst evil. Once you deny G-d, there is no good and evil. If you are a thinker who relies on logic alone, you are a heretic.

So if piety can lead to wickedness, and rationality can lead to heresy, what possible danger is there in being kind? Well, often the most goodhearted people are also the most naïve. They fall for every scam, give in to every request, allow themselves to be walked all over, and never stand up against those who do wrong. Ultimately, it is the overly kind person who allows evil to prosper, because all evil needs to succeed is for good people to do nothing. Sometimes we have to be mean and fight wrongdoing. If you are too kind to say no, you are a fool.

But someone who has all three - religious piety, rigorous thinking and gentle kindheartedness - now that is a complete person. Each trait enhances the others. Their righteousness will be thoughtful and sensitive. Their thinking will be infused with the humble recognition that not all can be known. And their kindness will be directed to worthy recipients. They can love those who differ with them, without compromising their own strongly held positions. They can question and explore without losing their firm faith. And they can be tough in fighting evil, all the while maintaining their warmth and positivity.

There aren't many people who have mastered this balance. But the Rebbe certainly did. He was an extremist in all three qualities. In him these opposites were not in conflict, but seamlessly combined to form a uniquely wise, empathetic and pious human being. He never compromised on religious observance, and yet was accepting of all, regardless of their level of observance. He had a towering intellect and mastered many fields of scholarship, and yet his entire outlook was founded on unquestioning faith. He spoke out against moral relativism and did not

The Rebbe didn't keep his approach to himself. He blessed us with volumes and volumes of his teachings, every page of which is saturated with those three powerful traits: profound piety, deep thought and boundless love. Study his works and join his revolution.

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss
This Shabbos marks 70 years since the Rebbe took on leadership of the Chabad movement. Read more here

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Our custom-made hand washing basin has been fabricated and is ready to be installed in the foyer.

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Nefesh Community WhatsApp Groups
Nefesh Shul has two WhatsApp groups to keep you connected and up-to-date all week. Our Schmooze Chat group is an open forum for all Nefesh news and discussion, whilst our News group is only used to broadcast Nefesh News to the community. If you would like to be added to either of these chats simply WhatsApp message the word ' Schmooze' or ' News' to Rabbi Moss: 0425309755.  

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New Kiddush options at Nefesh!
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush- we have a number of dates available in February. 
Friday Night
$75 -   Basic
$200 - Deluxe

Shabbos Day
$180- Basic
$350- Deluxe

Email office@nefesh.com.au to book your kiddush. 

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: BO
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PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND SHUL.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. www.nefesh.org.au/register

Friday 22 January – 9 Shevat  
Candle lighting... 7:48pm (after 6:43pm)
Mincha... 6:15pm
Evening Service... 6:30-7:20pm
Kiddush sponsored by Malka Kurta in honour of the yortzheit for her father Alexander Rees, Shlomo Ben David HaLevi- Long Life. 

Saturday 23 January – 10 Shevat 
Morning Service... 10:00am-12:20pm
Kids Program... 10:30am 
Followed by Kiddush & Lunch sponsored by Friends of Nefesh to celebrate 70 years since the Rebbe took on leadership of Chabad. 

Shiur with Rabbi Sufrin... 6:50pm
Mincha... 7:50pm
Shabbos ends & Maariv... 8:47pm

Latest Shema this week...... 9:34am
 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Valerie Smaller... 14 Shevat/Wednesday 27 January
Mendel Moss... 15/16 Shevat/Thu 28/Fri 29 January

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Stephen & Robyn Brookes... 7 Shevat/20 January
Gaby & Terri Anger... 7 Shevat/20 January

LONG LIFE FOR THE FOLLOWING YORTZHEITS
Estella Kantor for her late husband Louis Kantor
Leiba ben Shimon... 10 Shevat/Saturday 23 January

Les Pozniak for his late father Maurice Pozniak
Moshe Ben Yeshiou... 14 Shevat/Wednesday 27 January 

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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Would Vegans Enjoy a Steakhouse?

Question of the Week:

Why are there so many different synagogues in our community? I know of six within a one kilometre radius of my house! Wouldn't it be more economical if we pool our resources into one big shul rather than so many smaller ones?

Answer:

I was just thinking a similar question: Why are there so many restaurants in our neighbourhood? Shouldn't there just be one place to go eat? I have counted a dozen on one street!

Would we be better off with just one big restaurant? I don't think foodies would agree. Some love Thai, others prefer Italian. The formal dining experience in one place suits some, while others seek a casual night out. Family-friendly fast food joints will not attract the fine diners, and fancy plates with a tiny little gourmet morsel in the middle will not go down well with hungry adolescents. Vegans don't seem to enjoy steak houses. Carnivores don't always go for quinoa burgers.

The wide choice of restaurants caters to all the varied tastes and moods. Imagine if there was only one restaurant in town, and you didn't like it. There can't be a one-size-fits-all eatery.

It's the same with synagogues. Each one presents Yiddishkeit with a different taste and unique angle. There are Sephardi and Ashkenazi variants, shuls that sing and shuls that don't, informal and intimate communal synagogues and grand pompous ones, kid friendly and mature audience only. Long sermon, short sermon, no sermon. Hebrew speaking, Russian speaking, no speaking. Every community style fills a niche and attracts different souls. Each custom has its customers. This is not factionalism or doubling resources. It is opening doors and giving options.

The Jewish people are made up of twelve tribes. Each had their own slightly different way of praying, and yet were all one people with one common Torah. Even the Temple in Jerusalem had twelve different gates for each tribe to enter in their own way. But everyone ended up in the same Holy Temple. Every shul, with its unique style, is a gateway to that Temple.

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

PS. The discussion above applies to sizable communities with a critical mass that can sustain many shuls. Smaller communities may not have that luxury. When we are committed to Torah observance and Jewish unity, not politics, we can pray all together or in our own communities and remain one people. 

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FEW SPOTS LEFT FOR THIS SUNDAY - BOOK NOW! www.nefesh.org.au/fishing 

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Light makes a space. Here is a little taste of what we installed this week. 

 

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FEATURED VIDEO

TANYA MEDITATION - the promise your soul made

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: VA'EIRA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND SHUL.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE.  www.nefesh.org.au/register 

Friday 15 January – 2 Shevat 
Candle lighting .................. 7:51pm (after 6:44pm)
Mincha.............................. 6:15pm
Evening Service.................. 6:30-7:20pm
Followed by Kiddush

Saturday 16 January – 3 Shevat
Morning Service ............... 10:00am-12:20pm
Kids Program.................... 10:30am
Kiddush sponsored by Danny Meguideche & Jesse Meguideche in honour of Aviel Meguideche's 11th birthday- Mazal Tov!

Shiur with Rabbi Sufrin................ 6:50pm
Mincha...................................... 7:50pm
Shabbos ends & Maariv .............. 8:51pm
Latest Shema this week.............. 9:30am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
David Tobin.................. 5 Shevat/Monday 18 January
Naomi Ziv.................... 6 Shevat/Tuesday 19 January
Golda Moss.................. 6 Shevat/Tuesday 19 January
Linda Lenn................... 6 Shevat/Tuesday 19 January
Evelyn Tobin................ 6 Shevat/Tuesday 19 January
Natalie Dabscheck........ 7 Shevat /Wednesday 20 January
Alessia Rachel Maksimovich.... 8 Shevat/Thur 21 January
Jeremy Kinstlinger........ 9 Shevat/Friday 22 January

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Debbie & Jeremy Parker........ 7 Shevat/Wed 20 January
Nikki & Eyal Kirshner............ 9 Shevat/Friday 22 January
Dani & Adam Goldwater........ 9 Shevat/Friday 22 January

LONG LIFE FOR THE FOLLOWING YORTZHEITS
Tina Moddel for her late brother Juan Carlos 
Yonatan ben Arye... 4 Shevat/Sunday 17 January

Harry Kornfeld for his late mother Regina Kornfeld
Rivka bas Alexander... 5 Shevat/Monday 18 January

Malka Kurta for her late father Alexander Rees
Shlomo Ben David HaLevi ... 7 Shevat/Wednesday 20 January

Jonathan Isdale for his late father Nathan Israel
Natan Ben Avraham... 9 Shevat/Friday 22 January

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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What is Kaddish?

Question of the Week

I am confused by all the different types of Kaddish said in our prayer services. There is the Mourner's Kaddish, Rabbi's Kaddish, Complete Kaddish, Half Kaddish, Discounted Kaddish, Closing-Down-Sale Kaddish. What is going on here?! If Kaddish is supposed to be said in memory of someone, why do we say it throughout the service?

Answer:

All the various versions of Kaddish do the same thing. With its mystically powerful words, Kaddish transports a soul upwards, from one level to the next. What distinguishes between the different Kaddishes is exactly who is being elevated.  

The Mourner's Kaddish is recited for the departed, to assist in their soul's journey upward. For eleven months after the passing, the soul ascends gradually to its place of rest. And then each year, on the anniversary of its passing, the soul graduates to an even higher place in Heaven. The Kaddish said down here by the living helps ease the journey of the soul up there. 

For this exact same reason we say Kaddish at different junctures in the prayer service. Our prayers are a ladder up. We begin on earth and we slowly climb heavenward, each section of the service a step higher. The Half Kaddish is inserted between sections of the service, when the soul of the person praying is about to ascend to the next level. The Complete Kaddish is said at the end of a service, to deliver the prayers just said to higher realms. And the Rabbi's Kaddish is recited after studying a Torah passage. Just as the Complete Kaddish delivers our prayers on high, the Rabbi's Kaddish delivers our Torah study heavenward. 

So next time you hear Kaddish, envisage this : your own soul, the souls of your loved ones, your prayers and your Torah study are ascending into heaven. No discounts, only up up up. 

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

 

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One classroom ready to go!

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THIS WEEK'S PODCAST

 

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: SHEMOS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND SHUL. Masks are now mandatory in NSW, and will be available at the door.  
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 

Friday 8 January – 24 Teves  
Candle lighting.... 7:52pm (after 6:44pm)
Mincha ...............6:15pm
Evening Service ...6:30-7:20pm
Followed by Kiddush

Saturday 9 January – 25 Teves 
Morning Service.... 10:00am-12:20pm
Kids Program........ 10:30am 
Kiddush sponsored by the Garber family in honour of the first Yahrzeit of Moshe ben Yehuda.

Shiur with Rabbi Sufrin... 6:55pm
Mincha .........................7:55pm
Shabbos ends & Maariv... 8:53pm

Latest Shema this week.. 9:25am
New Moon/Molad........... Wed 13 Jan 5:35:3pm
Rosh Chodesh Shevat......Thursday 14 Jan

MAZAL TOV
Reverend and Mrs Amzalak and the entire family on the upcoming marriage of their grandson Mendy Amzalak to Lior Abesidon this Tuesday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Richelle Goldshaft... 25 Tevet/Saturday 9 January
Cade Lessem... 25 Tevet/Saturday 9 January

LONG LIFE FOR THE FOLLOWING YORTZHEITS
Carol Melman for her late father Arnold Shapiro
Aron Ben Yitzchak... 25 Tevet/Saturday 9 January

Judy Traub for her late husband David Traub
David ben Yaacov... 26 Tevet/Sunday 10 January

Libby Moss for her late mother Joan Cohen
Chana Bas Yesse... 27 Teves/Monday 11 January 

Jack Klein for his late mother Grace Helen 
Klein... 27 Tevet/Monday 11 January 

Elana Castle for her late grandmother Celia Freed
Chanah Tzvia bat Moshe... 28 Tevet/Tuesday 12 January

Rosie Stern for her late mother
Leah Friedman... 28 Tevet/Tuesday 12 January

Tauba Tanchum for her late brother Percy Kaplan
Pesach ben Tevia... 1 Shevat/Thursday 14 January

Annabel Sherell De Florence for her late father
Isaac Leo Sherrel de Florence... 1 Shevat/Thursday 14 January

Adam Ensly for his late father Gideon Ensly
Gideon ben Shlomo... 2 Shevat /Friday 15 January

 

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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This email is sent from Nefesh Shul. We'd love to stay in touch with you, but if you wish to be unsubscribed from this list please click here, or click here to manage your subscriptions.

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