Are You a Good Husband or an Amazing One?

Simchas Torah at Francis St

LAST SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR SIMCHAS TORAH:                                                                                             Kids Lolly Bags $60                                Shmini Atzeres Kiddush $120                                               Bottle of Lechaim $80        Simchas Torah Night Huge Kiddush 10 x $180     CHOSSON TORAH $1800       MAZEL TOV TO OUR CHASSANIM: Brent Maksimovich - Chosson Bereishis Michael Singer - Chosson Kol Hanearim Avi Rosencweig - Chosson Maftir  Question of the Week: My very devout wife says I shouldn't miss Simchas Torah, as it is the most important festival of the year. I countered that the Torah speaks of no such festival, so how could it be so important? She said I should ask the rabbi. So I am. Answer: There are two types of good husbands. I'm not sure which one you are. One is the type of husband that does whatever his wife asks. If she says, "Can you pick up some eggplants?" he says "Sure." If she asks for a new watch, he buys it. If she says "This house needs painting" he calls a painter. If she complains that the air-conditioning is on too strong, he turns it off. He is a good husband. But he is not an amazing husband. An amazing husband doesn't only do what his wife asks. He does things for her without her asking. He knows what makes her happy, and just goes ahead and does it. She still has to express her needs, because even an amazing husband can't read her mind. But he can intuit what she likes, and do it without being asked. The Jewish people are in a marriage-like relationship with G-d. We don't just do what we are asked, but go beyond to do things we know would make G-d happy. In Judaism there are straight out rules that G-d has asked us to keep, like eating kosher and giving charity. They are called commandments, what G-d needs from us, and we do them as any loyal partner would. And then there are customs, like wearing a kippah and dipping apples in honey. We were not commanded to do these things, but we ourselves intuited that G-d would like it, so we do it. Among the festivals, there are those that we were commanded to keep, like Yom Kippur, and then there are those that we developed on our own, like Simchas Torah. Nothing we do on Simchas Torah is commanded in the Torah. The dancing, the Torah readings, the somersaults and the songs are all an expression of our love for G-d, doing what we know would make Him happy. And nothing makes Him happier than seeing us all dancing together in joy, celebrating the gift of the Torah, the gift of being Jewish. Doing what we are told is good. Doing what makes G-d happy without being told is even deeper. That's why the most intensely loving moment between G-d and the Jewish people is Simchas Torah. I'm not sure if you are a good husband or an amazing one. But either way you need to come celebrate Simchas Torah. Because it's what G-d would like, or because your wife told you to. Good Shabbos and Good Yomtov, Rabbi Moss Source: Siddur im Dach Shaar Sukkos SIMCHAS TORAH CELEBRATIONS THIS MONDAY 6:30PM UNTIL LATE AT FRANCIS ST details below To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au        SEE YOU IN THE SUKKAH TONIGHT!    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH    1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH   (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS TIMES & COMMUNITY INFO: SHABBOS CHOL HAMOED SUKKOS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 28 September 2018 | 19 Tishrei 5779 Candle Lighting.................................... 5:37pm Mincha................................................ 5:45pm Shabbos Service................................... 6:00-6:50pm Kids Program....................................... 6:00pm Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Libby Moss & Peter Irving in honour of the yortzheit for their late father, Henry Irving (Tzvi ben Reuven) on 20 Tishrei/ Saturday 29 September; and by Dan and Lisa Helfand in honour of Rabbi Moss and Nechama Dina and family.   Shabbos Day, 29 September 2018 | 20 Tishrei 5779 Shabbos Service............................ 10:00am-12:20pm Kids Program ............................... 10:30am Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah   Mincha......................................... 5:35pm Seudah Shlishis in the Sukkah Maariv and Shabbos ends................6:33pm Followed by Havdalah   WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday Hoshana Rabba................................ 8:00am Wed- Fri..................................................... 7:00am Latest Shema this week............................... 8:39am CONDOLENCES Isaac, Michelle, Michael and David Barel on the passing of their wife and mother, Wendy Barel A"H   HAPPY BIRTHDAY Larnce Gold... 19 Tishrei/ Friday 28 September Maya Segre... 23 Tishrei/ Tuesday 2 October   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Bella & Reuven Barukh... 26 Tishrei/ Friday 5 October   LONG LIFE Libby Moss and Peter Irving for their late father, Henry Irving Tzvi ben Reuven... 20 Tishrei/ Saturday 29 September SERVICE TIMES FOR SHEMINI ATZERES & SIMCHAS TORAH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sunday, 30 September 2018 - Erev Shemini Atzeres Light Candles.................................. 5:39pm Mincha........................................... 5:50pm Shemini Atzeres Evening Service....... 6:00pm Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Michael & Linda Lenn and Hakafos/Dancing.   Monday, 1 October 2018 - Shemini Atzeres Morning Service................................ 10am - 1pm Yizkor.............................................. 11:30am (approx.) Kiddush in the Sukkah   Mincha .......................................... 5:50pm Simchas Torah Evening Service......... 6:30pm Huge Kiddush, Hakafos/Dancing, Kids Special Feature, Somersaults, Yom Tov meal (till late) Light Candles............. after 6:35pm   Tuesday, 2 October 2018 - Simchas Torah Morning Service................................ 10:00am Big Kiddush ......................................11:00am  Hakafos/Dancing, Completing Torah and starting again, Lunch    Mincha............................................. 5:50pm Yom Tov ends and Maariv....................6:36pm   THANK YOU TO OUR SIMCHAS TORAH SPONSORS: Richard Skimin, Jared and Nicole Gersun, Dovi and Janine Diamond, Moshe David, Nick and Lilach Weininger, Moshe Moses, Jack and Leyat Reuben, Ron & Libby Moss and Maxine & Lance Radus!

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What Does Pe-Pe-Pe Mean?

Last Simchas Torah Honours

Question of the Week: I am hoping you can explain something about my grandmother. Every time she would give me a compliment she would add "pe pe pe." (Nice haircut pe pe pe/I like your dress pe pe pe/Well done on your test pe pe pe)  I was too young to ask her what that meant and no one in my family has the faintest idea what she was doing. Do you? Answer: Yes, I know exactly what she was doing. She was spitting in your face. In a nice way. She meant it with love. Her pe pe pe was saving you from the Evil Eye. There is a belief that when someone's virtues are highlighted, there is a risk of harm from the forces of evil. Heaping praise or speaking too much good about you could invite the Evil Eye, the destructive powers of the universe, to counter the praise by hurling negative energy and bringing into question whether you really are so good. But the Evil Eye only poses a risk when you give praise and praise only. You can block the Evil Eye if you spit at the person you are praising. The insult of being spat at serves to counter-balance the praise, thus neutralising the powers of evil. A full blown spit is not necessary. I little pe pe pe does the job. That's what your grandmother was doing. And she didn't make it up. This custom is mentioned by the holy master Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev in a curious context. He used it to explain the rain on Sukkos. Something that has baffled meteorologists around the world is the sudden weather change after Yom Kippur. As Sukkos arrives we seem to always get an unexpected downpour. This is so reliable that my non-Jewish neighbour brings her pot plants inside as soon as she sees us build the Sukkah. It seems a little ironic. How can G-d let it rain on the one festival when we eat outdoors? Rabbi Levi Yitzchok explained that rain on Sukkos is actually a blessing. Sukkos is the celebration of the cleansing of our souls that happened on Yom Kippur. As we sit in the holy shade of the Sukkah, celebrating the new year and our newly purified souls, the Evil Eye may look at us with an accusing glance. We have it too good. We don't deserve to be forgiven for our sins. We aren't worthy of such special treatment. We are spoilt. So it rains on Sukkos. G-d is spitting on us. After showering us with blessings on Yom Kippur, the rain is G-d saying pe pe pe. The Evil Eye should leave us alone. We do deserve to be forgiven, and we do deserve to celebrate in G-d's Sukkah, because no matter what we do, we are His children. The rain, like your grandmother's pe pe pe, is all an expression of love. Good Shabbos and Good Yomtov, Rabbi Moss Source: Yashresh Yaakov on Shema Shlomo (Karlin) Parshas Kedoshim. This explanation reconciles the Chassidic custom to remain in the Sukkah in the rain with the Talmudic statement that rain on Sukkos is an expression of divine displeasure. Indeed, pe pe pe is an insult. But who would walk away from such a loving insult?    To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au        OUR SUKKAH IS GOING UP - WITH THE BEST VIEWS IN BONDI!    JOIN US RAIN HAIL OR SHINE (see Sukkos times below)   SUKKOS SPONSORSHIPS AND SIMCHAS TORAH HONOURS  click here Help make this Sukkos one to remember. Sponsor a Kiddush, a Lechaim, or purchase an honour for Simchas Torah.  The perfect gift for someone dear to you, these honours bring great blessings to the purchaser and receiver.       Still available: Kiddush in the Sukkah     Chosson Bereishis     Simchas Torah night Kiddush           Chosson Kol Hanearim (aliyah with all the kids)    Bottle of Tequila    Bottle of Whisky   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH    1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH   (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS TIMES & COMMUNITY INFO: HA'AZINU ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 21 September 2018 | 13 Tishrei 5779 Candle Lighting.................................... 5:32pm Mincha................................................ 5:40pm Shabbos Service................................... 6:00-6:50pm Kids Program....................................... 6:00pm Followed by a HOT soup kiddush   Shabbos Day, 22 September 2018 | 14 Tishrei 5779 In depth parsha class .................................... 9:00am Shabbos Service............................ 10:00am-12:20pm Kids Program .............................................. 10:30am Followed by Kiddush   Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ........................ 5:30pm Gematria and Story by Rev Amzalak............. 5:50pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss................................. 6:10pm Shabbos ends............................................ 6:28pm Followed by Havdalah   WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday..................................................... 8:00am Wed- Fri................................................... 7:00am Latest Shema this week.............................. 8:45am   HAPPY BIRTHDAY Leon Goldshaft...... 15 Tishrei/ Monday 24 September Joshua Lever......... 16 Tishrei/ Tuesday 25 September Cassia Partane...... 18 Tishrei/ Thursday 27 September Tali Whitten.......... 18 Tishrei/ Thursday 27 September   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Suzy Moss & Todd Gothelf..... 13 Tishrei/ Saturday 22 September   LONG LIFE Tauba Tanchum for her late mother Rose Kaplan Rose bat Avraham...13 Tishrei/ Saturday 22 September Magda Schaffer for her late father Chayim Ben Avraham...13 Tishrei/ Saturday 22 September SERVICE TIMES FOR SUKKOS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sunday, 23 September 2018 - Erev Sukkos   Light Candles ............................................................ 5:34pm Mincha.......................................................................5:45pm     Sukkos Evening Service ...............................................6:00pm     Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Rachel Ezekiel in honour of her Dad Zac's birthday and her Mum Jessey's unwavering strength. May they go from strength to strength.   Monday, 24 September 2018 - Sukkos, Day 1 Morning Service....................................................... 10am - 1pm Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by....CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR   Mincha ........................................................................ 5:45pm Sukkos Evening Service.................................................. 6:30pm   Light Candles........................................................... after 6:30pm   Tuesday, 25 September 2018 - Sukkos, Day 2 Morning Service....................................................... 10am - 1pm Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by....CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR   Mincha.........................................................................5:45pm Yom Tov ends and Maariv.............................................. 6:30pm   CHOL HAMOED SUKKOS Wed-Fri, 26-28 September 2018 - Sukkos, Chol HaMoed Shacharis ................................................................... 7:00am

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This was the worst Rosh Hashana of my life

Yom Kippur/Simchas Torah Honours

Question of the Week: This was my worst Rosh Hashana ever. I come to shul to pray for a good year, and I take it very seriously. I truly believe that if Rosh Hashona goes well, the year will go well too. But someone ruined it for me this year. Everything was going fine, the chazan was singing beautifully, your sermons were right on the mark, but the seat I was given spoiled everything. The person sitting next to me didn't give me a moment of peace. He couldn't sit still. He was fidgeting and moving around all the time. He had to go out every five minutes and each time I had to stand up to let him pass by. His kids kept coming up to him and asking for snacks and making a mess. He had the sniffles and was blowing his nose loudly to the point that I am not sure if I was hearing the Shofar or him. But the final straw was when he fell asleep on my shoulder and started snoring. That's when I lost it. I pushed him away and told him that he should find somewhere else to take a nap. What type of a year am I going to have if I couldn't pray in peace? Answer: Oh no! Oy oy oy! I think you may have missed your moment! There is a certain point over Rosh Hashana that each one of us has our moment of truth. It is the moment when we stand before G-d to be judged. As we say in the prayers, "And every creature passes before you one by one as a flock of sheep." We each get our turn, when the light shines on us and we are judged. And we have no idea when our turn is up. It could be during the prayers, or it could be during the festive meal. It may be when we are at home or it may be on the street as we are walking to services. But there is a hint for us to know when that moment comes. Wherever and whenever that moment comes, we ourselves are being tested. In that moment, we are presented with a situation where we must pass judgment on another person, and the way we judge, whether harshly or kindly, is the way we ourselves are judged. I think you know when your moment was. It was when your neighbour in shul fell asleep on your shoulder. Rather than judge him favourably ("who knows what's going on in his life? who knows what may have kept him up last night? who knows what struggles he is facing at home?") you just got annoyed. No one can blame you for getting frustrated. You are human. But it is in the annoying moments like those that our character is really tested. If you take Rosh Hashana seriously then you need to be very alert not just to the prayers but to every interaction with every person. We never know when our moment will arrive. It's not too late. G-d in His kindness gave us an extension, from Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur, to fix those little misjudgments and clear the air. So make sure you sit next to that same guy on Yom Kippur. Apologise for your outburst. Give him a bit of slack, and a shoulder to lean on. Then G-d can do the same for you. Good Shabbos and Good Yomtov, may we all be sealed for a blessed year! Rabbi Moss    To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au       YOM KIPPUR AND SIMCHAS TORAH HONOURS  click here The perfect gift to honour someone dear to you, there are several honours and sponsorships on Yom Kippur and Simchas Torah that can be yours.      Still available: Opening ark for Neilah Breaking Fast after Yom Kippur Chosson Bereishis Chosson Kol Hanearim (aliyah with all the kids)  Simchas Torah night Kiddush        A FEW SEATS IN SHUL LEFT FOR YOM KIPPUR - CLICK HERE TO BOOK   NEFESH YOM KIPPUR TIMES (FLOOD ST AND ROSE BAY ARE THE SAME) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kol Nidrei & Yom Kippur Tuesday 18 September, 2018 Mincha (at Flood St only).................................3:00pm Candlelighting and Fast Begins..........................5:30pm Evening Service: ........................................... 6:00pm - 8:00pm Children's Program ........................................ 6:00pm   Yom Kippur Day   Wednesday 19 September, 2018 Morning Service: ............................................. 9:30am Children's Program, ages 0-12 yrs: ................... 10:30am Yizkor: .......................................................... 12:15pm Mincha: .......................................................... 4:30pm Neilah: ........................................................... 5:30pm Final Shofar:.................................................... 6:26pm Fast ends and Maariv........................................ 6:26pm Followed by Havdalah

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SHABBOS SERVICES AT NEFESH    1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH   (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS TIMES & COMMUNITY INFO: VAYELECH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 14 September 2018 | 5 Tishrei 5779 Candle Lighting.................................... 5:28pm Mincha................................................ 5:40pm Shabbos Service................................... 6:00-6:50pm Kids Program....................................... 6:00pm Kiddush sponsored by Tom Moss, Ron Moss and Kathy Penn in honour of the yortzheit for their late father, Leslie Moss (Mordechai ben Aron Halevi) on 9 Tishrei/ 18 September; and by Libby Moss and Peter Irving in honour of the yorztheit for their late great-grandmother  Leah Bernhardt on 6 Tishrei/ Saturday 15 September - Long Life.      Shabbos Day, 15 September 2018 | 6 Tishrei 5779 In depth parsha class ........................... 9:00am Shabbos Service.................... 10:00am-12:20pm Kids Program ..................................... 10:30am Followed by Kiddush   Mincha and Seudah Shlishis ........................ 5:25pm Gematria and Story by Rev Amzalak............. 5:45pm Shiur with Rabbi Moss................................. 6:05pm Shabbos ends............................................ 6:23pm Followed by Havdalah   WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday..................................................... 8:00am Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri................................ 7:00am Latest Shema this week.............................. 8:52am   MAZEL TOV Liz and Ezri Lerba on the birth of a baby boy!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY William Feuermann... 7 Tishrei/ Sunday 16 September Rabbi Moss.............. 7 Tishrei/ Sunday 16 September Luke Lipovic............. 7 Tishrei/ Sunday 16 September Nicola Rosenberg.............. 9 Tishrei/ Tuesday 18 September Yvonne Coburn....... 11 Tishrei/ Thursday 20 September Amielle Hedges....... 11 Tishrei/ Thursday 20 September   LONG LIFE Libby Moss and Peter Irving for their late great-grandmother Leah Bernhardt ....... 6 Tishrei/ Saturday 15 September Ron Moss, Tom Moss and Kathy Penn for their late father Leslie Moss Mordechai ben Aron...... 9 Tishrei/ Tuesday 18 September

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