Must I Convert to My Own Religion?

Shavuos Dinner, All Nighter, Ice Cream Truck

WE NEED THREE MORE TABLES of 8 FOR TRIVIA NIGHT - and one table needs 2 players - see below and BOOK NOW 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 To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW  SHABBAT SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 19 May, 2017 | 23 Iyar 5777 Candle Lighting....................... 4:42pm   Mincha................................... 4:50pm Making Sense of the Siddur (a class with Rabbi Moss)......... 5:30pm Friday Evening Service............. 6:00pm Followed by Kiddush.   Shabbos, 20 May, 2017 | 24 Iyar 5777 In depth Parsha Class.............. 9:00am Children's program................. 10:45am Shabbos Morning Service ........ 10:00am- 12:20pm  Kiddush sponsored by t he Barukh, Epstein and Caustill families in honour of the Yarzheit of their late mother,  Esther Malka bas Yaacov on 24 Iyar- Long Life .   L'Chaim in honour of the birth and naming of Danny and Samantha Meguideche's baby girl - Mazal Tov!   Mincha with Pirkei Ovos Ch 5 followed by Seudah Shlishis .................   4:35pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak.......... 5:00pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss........................... 5:20pm Shabbos ends and Maariv....................... 5:39pm Followed by Havdalah   WEEKDAY SHACHARIS SERVICES Sunday.......................... 8:00am Mon- Fri......................... 7:00am Latest Shema this week.... 9:15am   NEW MOON/ MOLAD   THURSDAY 25 MAY 8:32:12PM ROSH CHODESH SIVAN FRIDAY 26 MAY   MAZAL TOV TO Danny and Samantha Meguideche on the birth of a baby girl!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Andrew Whitten........25 Iyar/ Sunday 21 May Peter Goldshaft........ 28 Iyar/ Wednesday 24 May   LONG LIFE TO Moshe Moses and Adee Moses for their late mother Matilda Moses Masouda bat Toba..................... 25 Iyar/ Sunday 21 May Lesley Judelman for his late brother David Ivan Steinhard Itzchak Dovid ben Zalman .......... 1 Sivan/ Friday 26 May KIDDUSH SPONSORSHIP If you have a birthday, yorzheit, special occasion or just because, we'd love you to sponsor a kiddush. Just tell us the date and kiddush type you'd like and we look after the rest. CURRENT DATES AVAILABLE Friday Night 26 May   First Day Shavuos 31 May CHEESECAKES, BLINTZES AND SALAD BAR   Friday night 2 June Shabbos Day 3 June   FRIDAY NIGHT KIDDUSH OPTIONS Herring & L'Chaim-$60 + B.Y.O Whisky HOT Soup kiddush- $75 | Basic Kiddush - $100   Deluxe Kiddush - $180 SHABBOS DAY KIDDUSH OPTIONS Herring & L'Chaim- $90 + B.Y.O Whisky   Standard Kiddush - $300    Simply email office@nefesh.com.au    For special or larger kiddushim, we recommend you engage an external kosher caterer to provide all the food, drinks and disposables. Just email the office for assistance with this option.

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Should Jews Be Invisible?

Got your trivia team ready?

KEEP QUIET trailer - showing next Saturday night, book below Question of the Week: What is the Lag Baomer Parade about?   Answer:   The first Lag Baomer Parade was in New York in 1953. And it shook the Jewish world.   This was just a few short years after the war. In those times, many Jews lived by the saying, "incognito ergo sum" - we can only survive as Jews if we keep our Jewishness to ourselves. A public display of Judaism was asking for trouble. Lie low, don't make waves, keep your head down and try to blend in as best you can.   Jews went to great lengths to hide their Jewishness. A kippa would never be worn in public. Mezuzas had to be almost invisible if there at all. Jewish names were changed to sound less Jewish, and you wouldn't dare speak Yiddish in the street.   But it didn't work. Even if Chaim Greenstein changed his name to Hank Goyishman, he still wasn't allowed to join the country club. Everyone saw right through it.   This culture of hiding was an understandable reaction to the horrors of the Holocaust. But it only perpetuated the damage. The next generation learnt that Jewishness is a badge of shame, and many opted not to wear that badge altogether, leaving the Jewish fold.   Along came the Rebbe, himself a survivor, with a radically different response. He taught that we will only be respected if we respect ourselves. And that means being proud of who we are regardless of what anyone else thinks. This approach is epitomized by the Lag Baomer Parade - Jewish children taking to the streets and marching in pride, waving banners promoting mitzvah observance and celebrating being Jewish, publically and for all to see. The Rebbe's answer to defensive and self-conscious Judaism was to offer another version that was open, positive and unapologetic. And it worked.   Thousands of children have marched in hundreds of Lag Baomer Parades since that first one. And no child will ever forget the life-changing feeling of singing through the streets wearing our Judaism on our sleeves, waving happily to passers by. We don't need to hide anymore. The haters will hate, but we don't. We love being Jewish, and we are not afraid to say it. There is no greater victory of our people than that.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   Join us at the Lag Baomer Parade this Sunday (see below) or find one near you   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  AUDIO SHIURIM:  Your Sixth Sense  The Reincarnated Students of Rabbi Akiva CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW SHABBAT SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 12 May, 2017 | 16 Iyar 5777 Candle Lighting.................. 4:47pm   Mincha.............................. 5:00pm Making Sense of the Siddur  (a class with Rabbi Moss) ...  5:30-6:00pm Friday Evening Service......... 6:00pm Kiddush sponsored in memory of Suzy Raymond, for Mother's Day.   Shabbos, 13 May, 2017 | 17 Iyar 5777 In depth Parsha Class......... 9:00am Children's program............ 10:45am Shabbos Morning Service ... 10:00am- 12:20pm  Kiddush sponsored by Steven Clemans in honour of the yortzheit of his father, Julian Clemans, Yaakov ben Moshe on 20 Iyar- Long Life.   Mincha with Pirkei Ovos Ch 4 followed by Seudah Shlishis .................   4:40pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak.......... 5:05pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss............................ 5:25pm Shabbos ends and Maariv....................... 5:43pm Followed by Havdalah   WEEKDAY SHACHARIS SERVICES Sunday............................. 8:00am Mon- Fri............................ 7:00am Latest Shema this week....... 9:12am   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Eitan Meguideche................... 17 Iyar/ Saturday 13 May Avishai Kessel........................ 18 Iyar/ Sunday 14 May Jonathan Shapira.................... 22 Iyar/ Thursday 18 May   LONG LIFE TO Alex Bartos for his late mother Rachel Bat Avraham............... 15 Iyar/ Thursday 11 May Carol Melman her late brother Brian Shapiro Baruch ben Aaron.................. 18 Iyar/ Sunday 14 May Mrs Amzalak for her late mother Bracha bat Moshe ...18 Iyar/ Sunday 14 May Fiona, Wayne and Tami Kaplan for their late husband and father Alan Kaplan 19 Iyar/ Monday 15 May Steven Clemans for his late father Julian Clemans Yaakov ben Moshe 20 Iyar/ Tuesday 16 May KIDDUSH SPONSORSHIP If you have a birthday, yorzheit, special occasion or just because, we'd love you to sponsor a kiddush. Just tell us the date and kiddush type you'd like and we look after the rest. CURRENT DATES AVAILABLE Friday Night 19 May Friday Night 26 May Shavuos 30 May-1 June (details to come)   FRIDAY NIGHT KIDDUSH OPTIONS Herring & L'Chaim-$60 + B.Y.O Whisky HOT Soup kiddush- $75 | Basic Kiddush - $100   Deluxe Kiddush - $180 SHABBOS DAY KIDDUSH OPTIONS Herring & L'Chaim- $90 + B.Y.O Whisky   Standard Kiddush - $300    Simply email office@nefesh.com.au    For special or larger kiddushim, we recommend you engage an external kosher caterer to provide all the food, drinks and disposables. Just email the office for assistance with this option.

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Why Do I Suffer from Mental Illness?

Amazing documentary May 20

Question of the Week:     Can you tell me why G-d gave me a mental illness? Why has he made me suffer? I am not a bad person.   Answer:   Every soul journeys down into this world with two suitcases. One is full of the challenges the soul has to face during its lifetime. The other is full of the talents and strengths necessary to withstand those challenges. The first suitcase is opened for you; the second you have to open yourself.    Your soul's challenge is mental illness. I don't know why. But I do know that your mission is to use your talents, to turn the pain and frustration into a positive force.    Because of your openness and willingness to share your experiences, you are an inspiration to others who have mental illnesses. You bring hope and light to those who are not as strong as you, by showing them just how much they can achieve if they focus on their abilities.    You can also bring understanding and insight to those who have not themselves experienced the pain of mental illness. I for one have learnt an invaluable lesson from speaking to you.    Do you remember our conversation, when I asked you what was the hardest thing about having a mental illness? You said it was the silence. When people discover that you suffer from mental illness, they don't know what to say, and the conversation comes to an abrupt and awkward end.    So I asked you, What would you like them to say? Your answer amazed me.    You said, "I wish they would ask me questions about my illness. I wish they would show an interest to understand what I am going through. I wish they would give me the chance to share what I am experiencing, rather than let me suffer alone."   I'm sure not everyone is as willing to talk as you are, but I suspect that for many the stigma of mental illness hurts more than anything else. Thank you for letting me see it from your perspective. I promise to pass on the lesson. G-d has presented your soul with a challenge, but He has also given you a bright and warm personality, and a strength of character that can stand up to the challenges you face. This is a gift that I hope you will share with the world.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  AUDIO SHIURIM: The Background of Yedid Nefesh (2 mins) The Kabbalah of Clicking Fingers - Parsha CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW SHABBAT SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 5 May, 2017 | 9 Iyar 5777 Candle Lighting................ 4:53pm   Mincha............................ 5:00pm Making Sense of the Siddur  (a class with Rabbi Moss)...5:30-6:00pm Friday Evening Service...... 6:00pm Kiddush sponsored by Jacqui and Andrew in honour of the birthdays of Linda, Daniel and Jett Weinman- Mazel tov!   Shabbos, 6 May, 2017 | 10 Iyar 5777 In depth Parsha Class.............. 9:00am Children's program................. 10:45am Shabbos Morning Service ........ 10:00am- 12:20pm  Kiddush sponsored by Stuart Shaw in honour of his grandfather's yahrzeit, Leib Yehuda ben Yehoshua on 11th Iyar- Long Life.   Mincha with Pirkei Ovos Ch 3 followed by Seudah Shlishis ...............   4:45pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak........ 5:10pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss.......................... 5:30pm Shabbos ends and Maariv..................... 5:48pm Followed by Havdalah   WEEKDAY SHACHARIS SERVICES Sunday.............................. 8:00am Mon- Fri............................. 7:00am Latest Shema this week......... 9:10am   MAZAL TOV TO Shimon Weiss and Talia Quittner on their engagement!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Nathan Peles........ 12 Iyar/ Monday 8 May Carol Melman....... 13 Iyar/ Tuesday 9 May Jonathan Isdale.... 13 Iyar/ Tuesday 9 May Layla Bando......... 14 Iyar/ Wednesday 10 May   LONG LIFE TO David Bermeister for his late father Yitzchak Ben Zeev........................ 11 Iyar/ Sunday 7 May Frank Dreyer for his late mother Eva Dreyer Chava bat Avraham.................... 12 Iyar/ Monday 8 May Anne Sarzin for her late grandfather Rev Abraham Levy...................... 12 Iyar/ Monday 8 May Jack Klein for his late father Shimon Klein.............................. 13 Iyar/ Tuesday 9 May KIDDUSH SPONSORSHIP If you have a birthday, yorzheit, special occasion or just because, we'd love you to sponsor a kiddush. Just tell us the date and kiddush type you'd like and we look after the rest. CURRENT DATES AVAILABLE Friday Night 12 May Friday Night 19 May Friday Night 26 May   FRIDAY NIGHT KIDDUSH OPTIONS Herring & L'Chaim-$60 + B.Y.O Whisky HOT Soup kiddush- $75 | Basic Kiddush - $100   Deluxe Kiddush - $180 SHABBOS DAY KIDDUSH OPTIONS Herring & L'Chaim- $90 + B.Y.O Whisky   Standard Kiddush - $300    Simply email office@nefesh.com.au    For special or larger kiddushim, we recommend you engage an external kosher caterer to provide all the food, drinks and disposables. Just email the office for assistance with this option.

Nefesh Shul, 54 Roscoe Street, 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 it free today