Rabbi Moss: Why Do You Wear a Hat?

Question of the Week:

I understand the reason behind wearing a Kippah is to acknowledge the presence of G-d above you. My question is, why do chassidim also wear a hat on top of that? Isn't the Kippah enough?

Answer:

There's above, and then there's above. Indeed G-d is above us. But He's not just above us, He is above being above us. However wondrous we think G-d is, He is way beyond that. However much we think we have understood G-d, there is an infinity we haven't even come close too.

But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. As beyond as G-d may be, He wants us to attempt to grasp Him as far as is humanly possible. This is why He gave us the Torah, His infinite wisdom expressed in terms that we finite beings can relate to. Through studying Torah we engage our minds in an intimate relationship with the Divine, we get to know G-d, all the while knowing that our minds can only go so far.

For the Jew, faith and reason do not clash. On the contrary they are two complimentary powers within the human character. Our mind explores the limits of the finite world, and our faith takes us beyond those limits to the world of the infinite. The logic in our brain analyses what's possible, and the faith in our soul opens us up to the realm of the impossible. And the Torah is the marriage of the two - infinity in a finite package.

This is perhaps why Jews have always been at the forefront of innovation, invention and the furthering of humankind. We encourage intellectual inquiry, but are not limited by the shackles of logic. When you are propelled by faith in that which we can't understand, the possibilities are endless.

This is also the symbolism of the dual headwear, the Kippah and the hat. The Kippah covers my head snugly, fitting to the shape of the skull. This represents the recognition that G-d is above us, but in a way that we can understand, appreciate and somewhat relate to. The hat, on the other hand, surrounds my head completely. It represents that light of G-d that is beyond our understanding, beyond our imagination, that I can't grasp with my mind, but I can touch with my soul.

Use your brain to think, but don't let your mind be your limit. Hats off to that.

Good Shabbos and Good Yomtov,

May we all receive the Torah with joy and internalise it,

Rabbi Moss

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HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SHAVUOS SPONSORS

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The Tsipris Family, Libby & Ron Moss, Leyat & Jack Reuben, Moshe David, Helene and Gerard Solden, Dana Levy, Michael Basserabie, Michael Singer, The Ezekiel Family, Vitali & Karen Broyda, Mark Van De Vyver, Richard Skimin, Josh Garber, Avi Rosencweig, David & Janet Kessler, Jeremy & Nikki Kinstlinger, Stephen Brookes, Liz and Ezri Lerba.

Good afternoon and welcome to another instalment of the weekly buildup.
This week we have concentrated on digging more holes and contending with more ground water. These are the footings that will be holding the weight of the building as the loads travel through beams and columns into the earth. A very crucial part of any building site. Speak again next week and hope to meet with all of you soon again in person.

Shabbat Shalom, Brent

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SHABBOS TIMES & COMMUNITY INFO: BAMIDBAR

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Friday, 18 May 2018 | 4 Sivan 5778

Candle Lighting............................................. 4:43pm

Mincha.......................................................... 4:50pm

Shabbos Service............................................. 6:00pm

Kids Program ................................................ 6:00pm

Followed by Kiddush.

Shabbos Day, 19 May 2018 | 5 Sivan 5778

In depth parsha class .................................... 9:00am

Shabbos Service............................ 10:00am-12:20pm

Kids Program .............................................. 10:30am

Followed by Early Mincha and Kiddush....... 12:18pm

SHAVUOS TIMES

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Saturday 19 May | 5 Sivan

Candle Lighting ........ (Light after)................ 5:40pm

Shavuos Evening Service............................... 6:00pm

All Night Learning........................... 9:30pm- 5:00am

Sunday 20 May | 6 Sivan

Shavuos, Day 1

Morning Service......................................... 10:00am

Kids Program and Ice Cream Party ............. 10:30am

EVERY MAN WOMAN AND CHILD SHOULD HEAR THE 10 COMMANDMENTS.....................................11:00am

Followed by Dairy Kiddush sponsored by the Tsipris family in honour of Sabrina's birthday- Mazal Tov!

Early Mincha after Kiddush

Candle Lighting.................................... .after 5:39pm

Shavuos Evening Service at 128 Wellington St with Kiddush sponsored by Jack and Leyat Reuben in honour of the completion of kaddish for Nissim Chai ben Yaakov a"h....................5:40pm

Monday 21 May | 7 Sivan

Shavuos, Day 2

Morning Service.......................................... 10:00am

Yizkor-Memorial Service.............................. 11:30am

Followed by Dairy Kiddush sponsored by Jack and Leyat Reuben in honour of the completion of kaddish for Nissim Chai ben Yaakov a"h.

Mincha........................................................ 4:40 pm

Shavuos ends & Maariv................................. 5:39 pm

WEEKDAY SERVICES

Tues- Fri............................................ 7:00am

Latest Shema this week....................... 9:17am

MAZEL TOV

Rob and Lana Goldshaft on the birth of a baby girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Lilah Hedges.....................5 Sivan/Saturday 19 May

Wayne Kaplan.................. 6 Sivan/ Sunday 20 May

Nicholas Maksimovich....... 9 Sivan/ Wed 23 May

Alison Brown.................. 10 Sivan/ Thursday 24 May

LONG LIFE

Gabor Palanszky for his late sister-in-law Georgina Palansky,

Georgina Bat David...... 5 Sivan/ Saturday 19 May

Judi Berman and Martine Springer for their late grandfather Hyman (Ray) Segal

Chaim ben Leib........... 6 Sivan/ Sunday 20 May

Richelle Goldshaft and Rob Goldshaft for their late father and grandfather Leon Israel Rosenthal Leib Yisrael ben Shmuel..... 7 Sivan/ Monday 21 May

Mark Gindin & Faina Strier for their late father Ilya Gindin

Eliyahu ben Mordechai........ 7 Sivan/ Monday 21 May

Rosalie Cohen, Lee-Anne Whitten and Gilda Cohen-Shapira for their late husband, father and brother Edward Cohen, Tuvia ben Moshe ... 8 Sivan/ Tuesday 22 May

Nicholas Levy for his late grandmother, Ruby Levy,

Rifka ben Daniel....8 Sivan/ Tuesday 22 May

Allen Rosenberg for his late wife Anita Louise Rosenberg,

Channah bat Laizer.......... 9 Sivan/ Wednesday 23 May

Abie Greengarten for his late mother Musia Greengarten,

Chana Miriam bas Shlomo Halevi.... 10 Sivan/ Thursday 24 May

Tina Moddel for her late mother Grace Tovah Bat Michael... 10 Sivan/ Thursday 24 May