Do We Still Need Second Day Yomtov?

KIDDUSH IN SUKKAH TONIGHT we hope....

LATE TORAH DANCE FOR KIDS TUESDAY 5PM see below YOM TOV ALIYAH OR YIZKOR DONATIONS PLEASE CLICK HERE  Question of the Week      Why on earth do we still keep two days of Yomtov outside of Israel? I know the history: in ancient times people didn't have calendars on their phones, because the calendar was not set in advance, but rather month by month. When witnesses saw the new moon they reported it to the rabbis in the Temple, and the rabbis would declare that a new month had begun. It would take a couple of weeks for the message to reach outlying communities, so they could never be sure of the correct date to celebrate the festivals. So the diaspora communities kept two days to be on the safe side.    That made sense back then, but for heavens sake, we have calendars today! Why do we still keep two days in the diaspora for every festival that is one day in Israel?   For me, this is one of the most ridiculous laws. It's like the World Jewish Council of Rabbis can't be bothered to overturn it or discuss it. Or perhaps they fear a backlash from Jewish bakers, butchers and grocers around the world who like having more Jewish festivals with more meals....   Can't we update this one already?   Answer:   I remember I had a teacher who had little patience. If a student missed out on what he said, he got furious and thundered, "Why can't you listen the first time? I will not repeat myself."   This is not fair. Not everyone can grasp an idea all at once. There are some gifted individuals who are sharp enough to get it the first time. But many of us need to hear something twice before it sinks in. a good teacher should no this.   G-d is the greatest teacher, and time itself is His classroom. Every festival in the Jewish calendar is like a lesson G-d teaches to the world. On Pesach we learn about freedom, and G-d beams a light of freedom into the world. On Sukkos we study the meaning of true happiness, and G-d sends the gift of joy into our hearts. Each festival and its observances are the way we receive the lesson, the light and wisdom of the day.   When you live in the Holy Land, its very air makes you wise, it opens you up to spiritual wisdom. Like a gifted student, you get the lesson the first time. You need only celebrate one day of each festival, and its message hits home straight away.   In the diaspora, we just don't get it so fast. We need more time for the lesson to sink in, as the air here is not as spiritually refined as Israel air. And so we are given a second day, another chance to fully absorb the power of the festival and for the message to hit home.   Our sages prophesied that one day in the future, the holiness of Israel will cover the entire earth, and then we will all get it the first time. Until then, we in the diaspora can enjoy the extended holiness of an extra day.    Make sense? If not I am happy to repeat it...   Good Shabbos and Good Yomtov, Rabbi Moss Source: Likkutei Torah Shmini Atzeres 92c To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  We are offering the following honours for the late Torah reading, first come first served: Chosson Torah $1000 Chosson Bereishis SOLD Chosson Maftir SOLD Chosson Kol Hanearim $360 Respond now to this email if you are interested MAZEL TOV TO OUR SIMCHAS TORAH HONOREES! Chosson Torah.......................Jack Reuben Chosson Bereishis..................Rabbi Sufrin Chosson Maftir.......................Vitali Broyde Chosson Kol Hanearim...........Mike Barel Hagbaah................................Dan Barnett Hagbaah................................Jeremy Waine SHABBAT SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 21 October 2016 | 20 Tishrei 5777 Candle Lighting........................ 6:55 pm (*Earliest 5:55pm)   Mincha..................................... 6:10 pm Kids program ........................... 6:30 pm Friday Evening Service (NEW SUMMER TIME)............... 6:30-7:20 pm Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Larnce Gold in honour of his birthday on the 19 Tishrei- Mazal Tov; and Libby Moss and Peter Irving in honour of the 40th yarzheit of their father, Tzvi ben Reuven a"h - Long Life. Shabbos, 22 October, 2016 |20 Tishrei 5777 Shabbos Morning Service.................... 10:00am-12:30pm Barmitzvah of Arnaud Tartour Children's program............................ 11:00am Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah in honour of the barmitzvah of Arnaud Tartour- Mazal Tov!   Mincha.......................................................   6:50 pm Seudah Shlishis Gematria and Story by Rev Amzalak............. 7:10 pm Shiur:......................................................... 7:30 pm Shabbos ends and Maariv............................. 7:53 pm Followed by Havdalah.   WEEKDAY SHACHARIS SERVICES Sunday ...................................................... 8:00 am Wed, Thurs & Fri......................................... 7:00 am Latest Shema this week.............................. 9:21 am   MAZAL TOV TO Frederic Tartour, Dana Levy, Maxime Tartour and the extended family on Arnaud's Barmitzvah.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Larnce Gold.............................. 19 Tishrei/ Friday 21 Oct Maya Segre.............................. 23 Tishrei/ Tuesday 25 Oct   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Bella & Reuven Barukh............. 26 Tishrei/ Friday 28 Oct   LONG LIFE TO Libby Moss and Peter Irving for their late father, Henry Irving, Tzvi ben Reuven  20 Tishrei/ Saturday 22 Oct YOM TOV SERVICE TIMES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOSHANA RABBA | Sunday 23 October, 2016 Shachris .......................... 8:00am Candle Lighting................. 6:57pm (*Earliest 5:56pm) Mincha ............................ 7:05pm SHEMINI ATZERES Yom Tov evening service... 7:30pm followed by Kiddush in Sukkah (sponsor needed) and Hakofos dancing Shemini Atzeres | Monday 24 October, 2016 Morning service ............... 10:00am Yizkor ............................. 11:30am (followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah - sponsors needed) Mincha ............................... 7:00pm SIMCHAS TORAH SERVICE... 7:30pm Huge Kiddush and Hakofos, dancing till late Candle Lighting........... after 7:55pm Simchas Torah | Tuesday 25 October, 2016 Morning service................. 10:00am Big Kiddush 11am sponsored anonymously, Hakofos dancing, completing Torah and starting again Late Kids Hakofos and dancing 5pm-6pm see flyer above Mincha................................7:00pm Yom Tov Ends..................... 7:56pm MAZAL TOV TO OUR SIMCHAS TORAH CHOSSONIM! Chosson Torah.................Jack Reuben Chosson Bereshis.............Rabbi Sufrin Chosson Maftir.................Vitali Broyda Chosson Kol HaNe'arim.....Mike Barel Hagbah........................... Dan Barnett Hagbah........................... Jeremy Waine SHABBOS PROJECT SAVE THE DATE Friday night 11 November ......Shul service followed by dinner Shabbos day 12 November ....Shul service followed by lunch Shabbos afternoon ............... Activities for children Saturday night...................... Kumzitz & music for the whole family

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