Is Equality a Myth?

Question of the Week:  I have often heard it said that Judaism believes that women are more spiritual than men. This is supposed to explain why men have more religious obligations than women - men need these things to become closer to G-d, women are there already. But do we really believe that? Is it not just a patronising way to avoid the question of the different gender roles in Judaism? Answer: I remember as a child being told that men and women are equal. I had a big problem with this. I asked, "If men and woman are equal, why do men and women never compete with each other in sports? You never see a man playing against a woman in tennis, or women's soccer teams facing men's, or a mixed gender 100 metre sprint. If we are all equal, why can't we compete together?" The answer I received was unsatisfying. "Men are on average stronger physically than women. It would not be fair for them to compete against each other in sports which require bodily strength, because men would always win. But in every other way, men and women are equal." This did not sit well with me. If men are superior to women in physical strength, but equal in all else, then men and women are not equal. Men have an edge. Unless there is some other area of human endeavour in which women are superior, we are not equal. This bothered me for years. Until I learnt Judaism's attitude to women. Women are more soulful than men. While men may excel in physical prowess, women are far ahead when it comes to spiritual strength. Women are more sensitive to matters of the soul, more receptive to ideas of faith, more drawn to the divine than men. The feminine soul has an openness to the abstract and a grasp of the intangible that a male soul can only yearn for. This is why G-d told Abraham, the first Jewish man, "Whatever Sarah your wife tells you, listen to her voice." She was the greater prophet, her soul more intuitive than his. When I first heard this idea, it suddenly all made sense. There is indeed a balance between men and women. Men have stronger bodies, women have stronger souls. Of course there are exceptions. Some women could beat any guy in an arm wrestle. And some men are more spiritually intuned than the women around them. But for the most part, men have bigger muscles, women have deeper feelings. The Torah gives men more physical mitzvos, to tame the body and give the soul extra power. Women don't need this help. Because although men can jump higher in the air, women can reach higher into the heavens. Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH POP-UP 1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS SERVICES Friday, 29 December 2017 | 11 Teves 5778 Candle Lighting........................... 7:51pm ............................................ (Not before 6:42pm) Mincha....................................... 6:15pm Shabbos Service.......................... 6:30-7:20pm  (Kids Program on summer break) Teen Boys Davening..................... 6:30pm Followed by Kiddush.   Shabbos Day, 30 December 2017 | 12 Teves No parsha class this week Shabbos Service.................. 10:00am-12:20pm (Kids Program on summer break) Followed by Kiddush.   Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ......... 7:50pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak......... 8:15pm Shabbos ends and Maariv....................... 8:53pm Followed by Havdalah    WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday & Monday day (Pub.hols)... 8:00am Tuesday-Friday............................ 7:00am Latest Shema this week................ 9:19am   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Shai Behrman.......... 17 Tevet/ Thursday 4 January   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Gavin & Beatrish Gordon...... 9 Tevet/ Wed 27 Dec Gilda & Jonathan Shapira..... 12 Tevet/ Sat 30 Dec Sarah & Benjy Reid............. 12 Tevet/ Sat 30 Dec Greg & Leah Weinstein........ 13 Tevet/ Sun 31 Dec   LONG LIFE TO Libby Moss and Peter Irving for their late grand mother  Jesse Stanley... 13 Teves/ Sunday 31 Dec Harold Judelman for his late mother Esther Judelman, Sheina Ester bat Chaim Guttel ... 14 Tevet/ Monday 1 January Michelle Brenner for her late father Alexander Brenner...18 Tevet/ Friday 5 January To make a donation for a birthday, an Aliyah, a Yahrzeit or anything else,  please click here.  Kiddush options: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday night: Soup $75 | Basic $120 | Deluxe $200 Shabbos Day: Basic $350 Lunch $750-$1200    Dates available: Fri 5 Jan, Sat 6 Jan, Fri 12 Jan, Sat 13 Jan.   To arrange, just email office@nefesh.com.au

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Would You Turn Down a Billion Dollars?

Bina Summer Learning Program next week

Question of the Week: Is our family rich? (From my 7 year old daughter) Answer: Our family is extremely rich. I'll tell you why. If someone came to me and said, "I'll give you ten thousand dollars to buy your daughter," what do you think I would say? Would I sell one of my children for ten thousand dollars? No way! So what if they offered a hundred thousand? I wouldn't do it, right? And if they offered a million? Ten million? A billion dollars to buy my daughter? I wouldn't even need to think it over. I would not sell you for all the money in the world. A child is more precious than anything. And thank G-d, our family has a few. Each one of you makes our family richer than anyone with a lot of money. So yes we are very rich. Some people think kids are expensive. I think they are our wealth. Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH POP-UP 1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS SERVICES Friday, 22 December 2017 | 4 Teves 5778 Candle Lighting............... 7:48pm ................................ (Not before 6:40pm) Mincha............................6:15pm Shabbos Service............. 6:30-7:20pm  (Kids Program on summer break for two weeks) Teen Boys Davening....... 6:30pm Followed by Kiddush sponsored by Josh and Orly Borenstein in honour of the birth of Leah Chai to Grant and Elana Smuts in New York - Mazal Tov!    Shabbos Day, 23 December 2017 | 5 Teves In depth Parsha Class........... 9:00am Shabbos Service.................. 10:00am-12:20pm (Kids Program on summer break for two weeks) Kiddush sponsored by Friends of Nefesh to thank Rivka Leah Popack for her amazing contribution to the Nefesh Kids Program and wish her all the best for the future!   L'Chaim in honour of Gavi Sufrin's Birthday- Mazal Tov!   Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ......... 7:50pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak.......... 8:10pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss............................. 8:30pm Shabbos ends and Maariv........................ 8:50pm Followed by Havdalah    WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday- Tuesday (Pub.hols)........ 8:00am Wednesday-Friday..................... 7:00am Latest Shema this week.............. 9:19am   Fast of Tenth of Teves | Thursday 28 December Fast Begins: 4:08am | Fast ends 8:38pm   MAZAL TOV TO Grant Smuts & Elana Castle on the birth of a baby girl in New York!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Vera Feuermann...... 5 Tevet/Sat 23 Dec Willow Glick............ 9 Tevet/ Wed 27 Dec   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Danielle & Gidon Weinstein.. .7 Tevet/Mon 25 Dec Dale & Tal Levin.................. 7 Tevet/ Mon 25 Dec Gavin & Beatrish Gordon...... 9 Tevet/ Wed 27 Dec   LONG LIFE TO Linda Isdale for her late mother Joyce Vilensky Simcha bat Aharon.... 4 Tevet / Friday 22 December Peppi Glick for his late mother Ettie Glick ......... 10 Tevet/ Thursday 28 December To make a donation for a birthday, an Aliyah, a Yahrzeit or anything else,  please click here.  Kiddush options: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday night: Soup $75 | Basic $120 | Deluxe $200 Shabbos Day: Basic $350 Lunch $750-$1200    Dates available: Fri 29 Dec, Sat 30 Dec, Fri 5 Jan, Sat 6 Jan, Fri 12 Jan, Sat 13 Jan.   To arrange, just email office@nefesh.com.au BINA Summer Learning Experience 2017/2018 *********************************************************************** Warm Up Learning 8:00 AM - Shacharis followed by Breakfast 9:20 AM - Learn with a Chavrusa the laws of Shabbos   10:00 AM - Pick A Class Men: A Textual Talmudic Analysis on the war & self defence against terrorists, civilian casualties & the place for compassion in the fight against terror - Rabbi Yaacov Chaiton Women: An in-depth look at stories in Tanach - Rabbi Levi Gourarie (25 to 27 December) - Mrs Rivka Aaron (28 and 29 December) Men & Women: Living with Kabbalah - Explore your daily routine through Kabbalah & Meditation - Rabbi Michoel Gourarie ************************************************************************* 11:00 AM - Panel Discussions & Lectures 25 December - Fix the Building without Becoming Homeless Addressing problems in the religious world Presenter: Rabbi Michoel Gourarie   26 December - "Coffee with Levi" A sit in conversation with Rabbi Michoel & Levi Gourarie Relax and listen while you enjoy a coffee from "Cap Away Coffee Cart."   27 December - Dilemmas During Wartime Halachic Questions in the IDF Presenter: Rav Shua Solomon   28 December - Jews & the ADF Spreading the message Presenter: Rabbi Yossi Friedman   29 December - The Amazing Story of the Jews of USA Presenter: Rabbi David Freedman   Special Program on the 1 January from 10am to 11noon - TBA Cost - $12 per day or $50 for the week ************************************************************************ While you learn, we take care of your Kids: $18 per Day, $70 for the week 0-2 Years - Babysitting 3-6 Years - Cook craft, learn, arts and crafts, baking, games, davening, stories and more! 7 - 12 Girls - 'Create and connect' crafts, baking, scrap-booking and learning! 7 - 12 Boys - Fun and learn! Booking essential! call the BINA office 9365 4421 or email office@bina.com.au BINA 337 Old South Head Rd North Bondi | 02 9365 4421 | office@bina.com.au| bina.com.au

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Do You Believe the Statistics?

NOTE later service tonight for Chanukah

TONIGHT light Chanukah candles followed by Shabbos candles after 6:36pm, then: Question of the Week: I fear for the future of the Jewish people. When I look at my family and where they are headed it is not very promising. My grandfather was a rabbi, but I am not sure my grandchildren will even be Jewish. What is the secret to keeping Judaism alive? Answer: I can't tell you how often I hear, "My grandfather was a rabbi." I once read that 87% of the Jewish population today have at least one rabbi in their family tree. I also read that 93% of all statistics are made up on the spot. It's impossible that three generations ago everyone was a rabbi. What people probably mean is that their grandfather was an observant Jew. He may have had a beard, he prayed every day, and was knowledgeable in Torah. He could have been a cobbler or merchant or baker, not a rabbi. But he was a committed Jew. Anyone who identifies as Jewish today only need go back three or four generations to find observant Jews in their family. And from there an unbroken chain of observance that goes back three thousand years. Not that everyone has always been observant. There have always been unobservant Jews. But we don't know their grandchildren. They have been lost to the Jewish community. Jewishness without Jewish observance cannot last more than a couple of generations. Unless they rebel and turn to Judaism, the children of unobservant Jews will stop being Jewish altogether and assimilate. A family of unobservant Jews will lose one or the other - either the Jewishness, or the unobservance. You can't have both. This is not a new phenomenon. Throughout Jewish history there have been individuals and groups who tried to keep a Jewish identity without Jewish practice. It has never worked. A vague Jewish ethnic feeling, devoid of any spiritual purpose and with no compelling message that is relevant to life, cannot last long. Only proud and authentic Judaism, that offers relevance and meaning, direction and inspiration, will stand the test of time. In the Chanukah story, a small band of faithful Jews stood up against the assimilationist forces of Hellenism. They were overwhelmingly outnumbered, not just by the enemy, but among their own people. The vast majority of Jews subscribed to Hellenism, and wanted to assimilate. We celebrate Chanukah today because we descend from the faithful few. The solution to Jewish continuity is no secret, it's obvious. Living breathing Judaism produces living breathing Jews. Do for your grandchildren what your grandfather did for you - be a living example of what it means to live an actively Jewish life. They don't need their grandfather to be a rabbi, but they need him to be a proud and practicing Jew. Good Shabbos and Happy Chanukah, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au          Shabbat Shalom everyone! I thought this week I will give you a few fun facts about the piles we are digging. Currently we have dug more than half a kilometre of piles into the ground, using 11 tons of steel and 150 tons of concrete. It has taken us so far 10 days or 50 man days to get this far. G-d willing, our estimated completion date will be Wednesday, 10 January next year. Today we have had our second delivery of steel, 11 tons of it! It took us approximately 1.5 hours to offload it and bring it on site. Hard hard work!  Have a great weekend everyone and Chag Sameach!!!! SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH POP-UP 1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS SERVICES Friday, 15 December 2017 | 27 Kislev 5778 Candle Lighting .................. Earliest 6:36pm No Mincha this week Special Menorah Lighting with Latkes and Doughnuts!... 7:00pm Sponsored by Shirley Sher in honour of her late mother Rivkah Samuels bat Jane's yortzheit on 27 Kislev - Long Life   Followed by Shabbos Service..... 7:30pm   Kids Program........................... 7:30pm Teen Boys Davening..................7:30pm   Shabbos Day, 16 December 2017 | 28 Kislev In depth Parsha Class............ 9:00am Shabbos Service.................. 10:00am-12:45pm Kids Program ........................10:45am Communal Lunch in honour of Shabbos Chanukah - all welcome!   Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ........ 7:40pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak........ 8:00pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss........................... 8:20pm Shabbos ends and Maariv...................... 8:41pm Followed by Menorah Lighting and Havdalah   WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday........................... 8:00am Monday-Friday................. 7:00am Latest Shema this week......9:12am   MOLAD/ NEW MOON: MONDAY 18 DEC 1:41:1PM ROSH CHODESH TEVES: MONDAY/TUESDAY 18/19 DEC   MAZEL TOV TO Guy and Karli Lazar and their families on the birth of Netanel Yehudah!    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Aviv Farhy......... 2 Tevet/ Wednesday 20 December Amber Lessem... 3 Tevet/ Thursday 21 December   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Julia & Jarred Rubin..... 27 Kislev/ Friday 15 December Rachael & Brett Kaplan. 29 Kislev/ Sunday 17 December Adam & Jodi Karpas..... 29 Kislev/ Sunday 17 December Jack & Leyat Reuben...... 2 Tevet/ Wednesday 20 December Lina & Richie Barel......... 3 Tevet/ Thursday 21 December   LONG LIFE TO Reverend Amzalak for his late brother Avraham ben Yitzchak 28 Kislev / 16 December Gavin Krawchuk for his late grandfather David Sandler David ben Mordechai 3 Tevet / Thursday 21 December To make a donation for a birthday, an Aliyah, a Yahrzeit or anything else,  please click here.  Kiddush options: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday night: Soup $75 | Basic $120 | Deluxe $200 Shabbos Day: Basic $350 Lunch $750-$1200    Dates available: Fri 22 Dec, Fri 29 Dec, Sat 30 Dec, Fri 5 Jan, Sat 6 Jan.   To arrange, just email office@nefesh.com.au

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Should Doctors be Trusted?

Chanukah Wonderland for Kids 0-8 WEDNESDAY

Question of the Week: My doctor has prescribed more medication for me, but I am not sure I need it. I sometimes suspect that these doctors give blanket diagnoses and dish out medicine rather than really trying to get to the core of the issue. Does Judaism teach us to trust whatever a doctor says, or should we exercise caution? Answer: Your skepticism may be wise. Or it may be preventing you from getting better. The Talmud teaches that G-d gave permission to doctors to heal. Having faith in G-d means having faith in doctors and their medicine. This doesn't mean doctors are infallible. They can make mistakes, misdiagnose, and be lazy like the rest of us. And so while we can assume that most doctors are doing their utmost to help their patients, it can sometimes be prudent to get a second opinion. The Rebbe often advised people when facing major medical decisions to seek the opinion of a doctor who is also a friend. Like all professionals, doctors can come to see you as just another number. A friend who has medical expertise and also cares for you personally will never view you as a statistic, and have your best interest at heart. But another advantage of a doctor who is a friend is that you trust them more. Trust is itself an essential element of healing. A doctor you believe in has far greater chance of helping you than a doctor you mistrust, even if they both prescribe the exact same medicine. So you need to manage your skepticism. Put your faith in G-d, who sends us angels to cure us, in the form of doctors and friends.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW   Here is a summary of what we have done this week:     Drilling of piers has begun and will continue now for three weeks solid. SHABBOS SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH POP-UP 1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS SERVICES Friday, 8 December 2017 | 20 Kislev 5778 Candle Lighting................. (Not before 6:31pm) 7:39pm Mincha.............................. 6:15pm Shabbos Service................ 6:30-7:20pm  Kids Program.................... 6:30pm Teen Boys Davening.......... 6:30pm Kiddush sponsored by Catherine De Picarda to mark a new chapter- we wish her much success and bon voyage!   Shabbos Day, 9 December 2017 | 21 Kislev In depth Parsha Class.............................. 9:00am  Shabbos Service...................... 10:00am-12:20pm Kids Program ........................................ 10:45am Kiddush sponsored by Michael & Karen Martin in honour of their recent wedding anniversary- Mazal Tov!   Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ... 7:40pm Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak... 8:00pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss.......................8:20pm Shabbos ends and Maariv................. 8:41pm Followed by Havdalah    WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday............................ 8:00am Monday-Friday.................. 7:00am   Latest Shema this week...... 9:10am   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Jake Glick.......... 24 Kislev/ Tuesday 12 December Levi Diamond..... 24 Kislev/ Tuesday 12 December Jonah Ink.......... 25 Kislev/ Wednesday 13 December   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Jeremy & Nikki Kinstlinger... 22 Kislev/ Sunday 10 Dec Jonathan & Joanne Capal .... 24 Kislev/ Tuesday 12 Dec Julia & Jarred Rubin ........... 27 Kislev/ Friday 15 Dec   LONG LIFE TO Linda Isdale for her late father Lionel Eric Vilensky Elia Leib...23 Kislev/ Monday 11 December Rene Bermeister for her late mother Malcha bat Hillel ...  25 Kislev/ Wednesday 13 December To make a donation for a birthday, an Aliyah, a Yahrzeit or anything else,  please click here.  Kiddush options: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday night: Soup $75 | Basic $120 | Deluxe $200 Shabbos Day: Basic $350 Lunch $750-$1200    Dates available: Fri 22 Dec, Sat 23 Dec, Fri 29 Dec, Sat 30 Dec, Fri 5 Jan, Sat 6 Jan.   To arrange, just email office@nefesh.com.au

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