Lost Child Finds His Family

Question of the Week:   I feel like I am a Jewish soul born in a non-Jewish body. I have always been surrounded by Jewish friends, loved the religion, and after years of study I just fulfilled my dream and converted to Judaism. My family has no Jewish roots whatsoever, I descend from Vikings on both sides, so it is all a bit of a mystery. Any explanation? Answer: Many people from all different walks of life have reported feeling an affinity to Jews and Judaism. Some leave it at that. Others take it further. For them, it is more than just a curiosity with Jewish things or a taste for Jewish cooking. It is in their soul. The first Jewish couple, Abraham and Sarah, were married for decades before they were blessed with a child. But the Kabbalists say that although no physical children had been born to them, they had given birth to many spiritual children. Every time husband and wife are together a soul is born. Sometimes that soul comes down into a body, and is born as their child. Other times, the soul remains in the heavens. Abraham and Sarah for all those years were in fact giving birth to souls without bodies. Those souls were then distributed among the nations of the world and spread over history. These are the souls of converts to Judaism throughout the ages. When a non-Jew feels within them a pull towards the Jewish faith and the Jewish people, it may be a latent Jewish soul wanting to return to its community, a long lost child of Abraham and Sarah reuniting with its family. This is why when a convert to Judaism chooses a Hebrew name, they are called the son or daughter of Abraham and Sarah. This is describing a true fact, their Jewish soul came directly from the first Jewish couple. While a born Jew is a distant descendant of Abraham and Sarah, a convert is their actual child. Now there are plenty of non-Jews who have Jewish taste. Just because you like Jewish humour, enjoy Jewish food and shop at Costco, doesn't mean you have a hidden Jewish soul.  But someone such as yourself, who studies Judaism and is enthralled by it, keeps the laws of Torah and just wants to do more, felt a deep calling to join the Jewish people and made the long and hard journey to do just that  - it must have been Abraham and Sarah calling you home.  Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au   This email sponsored by:            Meaningful Motherhood presents a series of discussions:   Feb 24 Are We Paranoid? - the freedoms we deny our kids with Nechama Dina Moss   March 3 Managing Difficult Behaviours with psychologist Jodie Wassner   March 10 Dress Ups and Deeper with Michelle Eisenberg   March 24 Decluttering 101 - organising yourself and your kids with Karen Koedding of www.alittleelf.com   Mondays 10:00 - 11:00am at Nefesh 54 Roscoe St Bondi Beach   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   KABBALAH   Faith - Losing it, Finding it and Keeping it Do you have faith? Can you get it? Can you live without it? The Kabbalah's fresh perspective will surprise skeptics and bolster believers... TUESDAY Feb 25, 8:15pm - 9:15pm at Nefesh with Rabbi Moss - ALL WELCOME  CLICK TO PREBOOK BY 5PM TODAY. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR. SERVICES AT NEFESH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday Night, 21 February 2014 Candle Lighting: 7:24 pm (not before 6.20pm) Mincha:  6:10 pm Shabbos Service: 6:30pm followed by dinner with Rabbi Cowen BOOKINGS CLOSED   Shabbos Day, 22 February 2014 Shabbos Service: 10:00am-12:15pm Followed by Kiddush sponsored in honour of Elana Castle as a tribute of thanks from the extended Moss family   Mincha 7:15 pm followed by Seudah Shlishis Shabbos ends and Maariv: 8:19 pm   WEEKDAY SERVICES Shacharis Sunday: 8:00am, Monday-Friday: 7:00am   Latest Shema this week: 9:53am   WEEKLY CLASSES The Spiritual Parsha   Shabbos 9:00 am Chassidus Monday & Thursday: 8:00-8:45 am  Meaningful Motherhood Monday 10:00am

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Something to Worry About?

Question of the Week:   I am a constant worrier. I worry about everything and I know it. Everyone tells me to chill out but I can't. The problem is, I always feel if I don't worry and something bad happens, I will feel guilty forever more that I wasn't worried enough. Now I'm pregnant and am obsessing about what may go wrong. But if I don't worry, doesn't that mean I don't care? I am in therapy, but do you have any Jewish strategies for me to get out of this cycle? Answer:   There is wonderful old Yiddish proverb, which is also said to be an ancient Chinese proverb, and a more recent Indonesian proverb, sometimes attributed to Winston Churchill, Socrates or Dr Seuss:   "There are two things you should never worry about. One is something that you can't help, because you can't help it. The other is something you can help, because you can help it."   Some matters are simply out of your hands. Life and death, weather patterns and parking availability are G-d's domain, not yours. Worrying about these is not just pointless, it prevents you from achieving in the areas where your efforts are needed. The precious energy wasted on being anxious would be better saved for more important pursuits.   An expecting mother's frame of mind has a direct impact on her unborn child. Your positive thoughts and trust in G-d are as vital for your baby as pre-natal vitamin supplements and pregnancy pilates. Worrying, even with good intentions, is not really caring for yourself or your baby.   When something worries you, meditate on this question: Is there anything I can do about this, or do I need to leave up to G-d? Is it my business or His business? If it's mine I need not worry, I need to do something. If it's His, I need not worry, He knows what He's doing.   Worrying is no more than a useless diversion from your real mission. Don't get lost in it. Those Yiddish Chinese Indonesians were right, leave G-d to do His job, and you do yours.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au   Experts, Know-It-Alls and Quacks - when to take advice, and when to ignore it Discussion Group for Mothers and Babies with Mrs Nechama Dina Moss and Shterny Dadon Mondays 10:00 - 11:00am at Nefesh 54 Roscoe St Bondi Beach   KABBALAH   Faith - Losing it, Finding it and Keeping it Do you have faith? Can you get it? Can you live without it? The Kabbalah's fresh perspective will surprise skeptics and bolster believers... TUESDAYS Feb 18 and 25, 8:15pm - 9:15pm at Nefesh with Rabbi Moss - ALL WELCOME  CLICK ON FLYER TO BOOK CLICK ON FLYER TO BOOK CLICK ON FLYER TO BOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To advertise here contact office@nefesh.com.au  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    SERVICES AT NEFESH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Friday Night Candle lighting 7.32pm (not before 6.26pm) Mincha 6:10pm Shabbos service 6.30pm   Shabbos Day Class - The Chassidic Parsha 9am Service 10am -12:15pm followed by Kiddush to welcome to the Nefesh team Rabbi Chanoch Sufrin and his family, sponsored by Friends of Nefesh   Mincha 7.25pm followed by Seudah Shlishis   Shabbos ends 8.28pm   Shachris Sun 8am, Mon - Fri 7am   Chassidus  Mon and Thur 8am-8:45am   Latest Shema 9.50am     FRIENDS OF NEFESH is the fund that comes from Nefesh tzedaka boxes. Thanks to all those who fill them and send them in for the Kiddush this Shabbos.

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A Can of Worms at the Shabbos Table?

NEW KABBALAH SERIES STARTS THIS WEEK see below   Question of the Week:   I have a question and promised my 7-year-old daughter that I would check with a Rabbi. My 9-year-old son has been learning to say the Friday night Kiddush. It has been a very very slow process and he has found it very difficult. I am extremely proud of his persistence and effort he has put in and told him he can say the Kiddush at Shabbos tonight. His younger sister is the opposite, she finds reading Hebrew very easy and demanded that she be allowed to say the Kiddush as well. I told her girls aren't allowed to do it. She was horrified and told me to check with the Rabbi if that is true. I feel like I've handled this badly and opened a can of worms. Are girls allowed to do say the Kiddush? Are kids allowed to say the Kiddush?  Answer:   You should indeed be proud of your son's hard work and achievement, as well as your daughter's talent and enthusiasm. You should be even more proud that this is an issue for your kids - may you always have such problems!   Now let's get technical. Kiddush is a mitzvah that both men and women are obligated in once they turn bar/bat mitzvah. One person can recite it, and those who hear it and say 'amen' have done the mitzvah too.   When a man over bar mitzvah is present, he makes Kiddush. When no man is present, a woman over bat mitzvah makes Kiddush. A child can make Kiddush, but not on behalf of an adult. A child is not yet obligated in mitzvos, so cannot perform a mitzvah on behalf of someone who is.   So in your case, your son can make Kiddush for himself, but not instead of you. As an adult, you should make the official family Kiddush.   Now in theory your daughter can make Kiddush for herself too. But I would encourage her not to do that. Rather she should light one Shabbos candle each week and say the bracha.   Both Kiddush and candle lighting serve the same purpose, to acknowledge the sanctity of the day. Kiddush is a masculine way of doing it, making a verbal statement proclaiming the holiness of Shabbos. Lighting candles is a feminine way of doing it, creating an atmosphere and aura of holiness.   One day, with G-d's help, your son will be the father and make Kiddush for his family, and your daughter will be a mother and light the candles for hers. The idea of education is to prepare each child for those obligations that will apply to them when they are older.   But there's another reason to gently steer your daughter away from making Kiddush. She may upstage your son. When his younger sister recites with ease what he worked so hard to do, he may feel belittled. Better they each flourish in their own distinct ways without any competition or comparison.   You didn't open a can of worms, you have opened the opportunity for a great teaching moment. Not only can you guide your children in observing mitzvos, you can teach them an important lesson in sensitivity too.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au   Experts, Know-It-Alls and Quacks - when to take advice, and when to ignore it Discussion Group for Mothers and Babies with Mrs Nechama Dina Moss and Shterny Dadon STARTS THIS MONDAY FEB 10 Mondays 10:00 - 11:00am at Nefesh 54 Roscoe St Bondi Beach   KABBALAH   Faith - Losing it, Finding it and Keeping it Do you have faith? Can you get it? Can you live without it? The Kabbalah's fresh perspective will surprise skeptics and bolster believers... TUESDAYS Feb 11, 18 and 25, 8:15pm - 9:30pm at Nefesh with Rabbi Moss - ALL WELCOME  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To advertise here contact office@nefesh.com.au  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    NEW AUDIO LECTURES Noisy Souls - the symbolism of the kohen gadol's garments Remember Amalek - a maamar of the Tzemach Tzedek War in Judaism - ancient cultures' views on war To receive new audio classes on your phone download the free SoundCloud app and follow Rabbi Moss     CLICK ON FLYER TO BOOK CLICK ON FLYER TO BOOK CLICK ON FLYER TO BOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To advertise here contact office@nefesh.com.au  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    SERVICES AT NEFESH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Friday Night Candle lighting 7.38pm (not before 6.31pm) Mincha 6:10pm Shabbos service 6.30pm followed by Kiddush sponsored by Friends of Nefesh   Shabbos Day Class - The Chassidic Parsha 9am Service 10am -12:15pm followed by Kiddush sponsored by Friends of Nefesh   Mincha 7.35pm followed by Seudah Shlishis   Shabbos ends 8.35pm   Shachris Sun 8am, Mon - Fri 7am   Chassidus NEW MAAMAR Mon and Thur 8am-8:45am   Latest Shema 9.47am

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Is Circumcision Barbaric?

GOLF DAY, FILM NIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER WITH SPECIAL GUEST  click on flyers below to book   Question of the Week:   We had a baby boy and we are very excited. But we are still undecided about the Bris. I have issues with it. I am aware of the spiritual significance of the circumcision, but I have much more practical concerns: 1) Is it not barbaric to put my baby through the pain of a medically unnecessary operation? 2) He was born uncircumcised, why should I mess with his natural state? 3) My son has no say in this, and can never reverse it. Shouldn't I let him choose later on in life if he wants this done to him? Do you have any rational answers?  Answer: Imagine the following scenario. Your baby is born, healthy and well. But there's something unusual. He has six fingers on each hand. An extra little growth protrudes right next to each pinkie. What would you do about it? Have the extra fingers surgically removed? Or leave them? After all, he was born that way. And he can live with twelve fingers. Maybe the child should be allowed to choose whether or not he wants his extra fingers later in life. Can you think of anything more barbaric than chopping someone's fingers off?   And yet I suspect you would do what most parents have done in such circumstances. Better remove the extra fingers now, when it is relatively painless and quick to heal, than subject the child to feeling like an anomaly in his future life. He has no use for them anyway, and would later resent the fact that his parents didn't remove them for him. And so, kind and loving parents will unflinchingly put their babies under the surgeon's knife. The short term pain is worth it to avoid any long term discomfort. All other concerns would quickly dissolve. What is called barbaric in one context is quite humane in another.  If this logic works for removing extra fingers, a purely cosmetic operation, how much more should it work in favour of the infinitely more meaningful act of circumcision. I am not suggesting that being uncircumcised is the same as being twelve-fingered. But for a Jewish child there are several similarities. An uncircumcised Jew often feels like an outsider among his own people. He will always be a Jew, but may come to feel ambivalent about it, knowing that to actively embrace his Jewishness entails undergoing an operation - one that is minor at eight days old, but quite a bit more daunting in adulthood. I have attended adult circumcisions, and it is inspiring when someone makes that choice. The actual procedure is not such a big deal. But the decision to go through with it is.  So putting all spiritual considerations aside, from a purely practical perspective, here's the equation. Leave your son uncircumcised, and you leave him with a psychological barrier to exploring his own identity. Give your son a Bris, and he loses nothing more than a bit of skin. But he gains immediate entry into the four thousand year old covenant of Abraham. That is a gift you will never regret giving. Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au   Meaningful Motherhood Discussion Group for Mothers and Babies with Mrs Nechama Dina Moss and Shterny Dadon STARTS FEB 10 Mondays 10:00 - 11:00am at Nefesh 54 Roscoe St Bondi Beach ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To advertise here contact office@nefesh.com.au  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    SERVICES AT NEFESH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Friday Night Candle lighting 7.44pm (not before 6.36pm) Mincha 6:10pm Shabbos service 6.30pm followed by Kiddush sponsored by an Anonymous friend   Shabbos Day Class - The Chassidic Parsha 9am Service 10am -12:15pm followed by Kiddush sponsored by Steven and Karen's parents Shirley Sher and Clifford and Evelynne Sossen on the occasion of Steven's Aufruf.     Mincha 7.40pm followed by Seudah Shlishis   Shabbos ends 8.41pm   Shachris Sun 8am, Mon - Fri 7am   Chassidus NEW MAAMAR Mon and Thur 8am-8:45am   Latest Shema 9.39am

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