Rabbi Moss: I Have to Eat

Sukkos Times - Simchas Torah Honours - Sukkah Building - see below

Question of the Week:

My husband has a medical condition that does not allow him to fast. His rabbi has told him that he needs to eat on Yom Kippur, but he feels terrible about it. Knowing how important this day is and how fasting is the main way we gain forgiveness, what can I say to my husband to make him feel less guilty about eating on Yom Kippur?

Answer:

Jewish law is clear that if by fasting someone's health will be at risk, they must consult a competent rabbi for advice. This advice may be to stay in bed and try to fast, or to drink minimal amounts, or to ignore the fast completely and eat as needed. This will depend on the circumstances, and each case is different and needs to be analysed from both a medical and a halachic standpoint.

But where the rabbi's verdict is that someone should eat on Yom Kippur, then eat they must. And they must do it with joy. The same G-d who commanded us to fast on Yom Kippur, commanded us to eat on Yom Kippur when necessary. Your husband is fulfilling a mitzvah by eating just as he would be by fasting. Just as refraining from eating is doing G-d's will, eating is equally doing His will.

Almighty G-d, who is like Your people Israel? You command them to afflict their souls and not eat or drink for an entire day. They listen. Not only that, but when someone has a valid reason not to fast, he feels not relief but regret!

May G-d look upon us all, eating or fasting, with a smile, and bless us with a year of health so we can do His will joyfully.

May you be sealed in the book of life,

Rabbi Moss

To subscribe email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au

NEFESH HIGH HOLYDAY SERVICES fully booked ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fri 17^th September Erev Yom Kippur

3:00pm Mincha at Roscoe St

5:29pm Candle Lighting and Fast Begins

Yom Kippur Services at Hakoah

Fri 17^th September

5:45 - 7:45pm Kol Nidrei and Evening Service

Shabbos 18th September

9:00am Morning Service

10:00am Childminding starts

11:30pm Yizkor

2:30pm Break

4:00pm Afternoon Service

6:25pm Fast Ends

Who is the Groom?

There are three people who can have the honour of being chassanim (grooms) during Simchas Torah. Tradition says that these bring huge blessings for the new year, both for the one who buys it and the one for whom it is bought.

In most shuls they go for thousands of dollars each. Nefesh has made it much more affordable for whoever responds first. They can be bought by a single person or a syndicate. This really is an ideal gift for the man who has it all, and a beautiful way to honour special people in the community.

Simchas Torah (Friday October 1):

Chosson Torah - last call-up in the entire Torah: $540
Chosson Bereishis SOLD - first call-up in new cycle of the Torah: $540
Chosson Maftir - last call-up of the day: $360

Please respond now to this email to reserve one of these honours. Although only men can perform them, women can buy them and thus the honour is theirs to give. They can also be purchased anonymously.

NOTE: Although anyone can buy the honours, Nefesh policy is that no one person can receive an honour two years in a row, and no one person can receive any one of the three honours more than once.

The proceeds will go towards our Sukkos celebrations, to which everyone is invited:

Sukkos and Simchas Torah Events and Service Times

All services at Nefesh, 54 Roscoe St Bondi Beach

Sukkos:

Remember to make an Eruv Tavshilin

Wednesday September 22,

Candle lighting 5:33pm, Mincha 5:45pm, Yomtov Evening Service 6:30pm

Thursday September 23, 10am service followed by Kiddush and lunch in the Sukkah all welcome, no charge, donations appreciated
Candle lighting not before 6:28pm, Mincha 5:45pm, Maariv 6:30pm

Friday September 24, 10am service followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah,

Candle lighting 5:34pm, Mincha 5:45pm, Shabbos evening service 6:30pm

Shabbos day September 25, 10am service followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah

Mincha 5:25pm followed by Sholosh Seudos and Maariv

Chol Hamoed Services

Sunday - Wednesday 8am

Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah:

Remember to make an Eruv Tavshilin

Wednesday September 29,

Candle lighting 5:37pm, Mincha 5:45pm, Yomtov Evening service 6:30pm with Kiddush and dancing

Thursday September 30, service 10am, Yizkor 11:30am, followed by Kiddush
Candle lighting not before 6:33pm, Mincha 5:45pm

Simchas Torah evening service, big Kiddush and dancing with the Torah 6:30pm till late, followed by dinner at home of Rabbi and Nechama Dina Moss

Friday October 1, Simchas Torah service 10am, Kiddush, dancing with the Torah,

Candle lighting 5:39pm, Mincha 5:45pm, Shabbos evening service 6:30pm

Shabbos day October 2, Morning service 10am followed by Festive Lunch, $20 per person, $10 per child, $60 per family, to book email office@nefesh.com.au by Monday September 27

Mincha 5:30pmfollowed by special Sholosh Seudos to end the month of Tishrei and Maariv

A message from our Sukkah Building Committee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nefesh needs your help building our communal Sukkah this Sunday from 10am. If you can't make it you can still help by sponsoring any of the following:

1. Palm branches - $50 part sponsor, $300 full sponsor

2. New tarp wall - $50 part sponsor, $300 full sponsor

3. Anti-rusting poles - $100 part sponsor, $500 full sponsor

Any contribution is of course welcome.

Contact Eli Ariel arieleli@gmail.com

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