A Weird Fear of Death?

TONIGHT SERVICE AT FRANCIS ST 6PM
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Question of the Week

I have a fear of dying. But it expresses itself in a weird way. I have read stories of people doing one mitzvah and then dropping dead, because that one good deed was their life mission. So now every time I do something good, I think maybe this is my last. This freaks me out and it isn't good. Should I try not to fulfill my mission so I can live, or do good deeds and die?

Answer

There are two types of workers: employees and contractors. A contractor is there to do their job, and that's it. As long as I have completed the tasks given me, as long as the items on my to-do list are all ticked off, I have done my bit and I can go home.

But an employee has to work until the day is over. It is not enough that my immediate tasks are completed, I have to seek out more work and ensure every moment of the day is productive. Otherwise I am short-changing my employer. 

We live in G-d's big factory, and we are all workers, each with a specific role to play. We each contribute our part to the grand scheme of creating a better world. And we have a choice. We can either suffice with fulfilling our obligation alone, and no more, or we can go beyond that. As long as the job is not yet done, as long as the world is not yet full of goodness, we still have work to do.

If you choose to work like a contractor, only seeking to fulfill your mission, once your job is done you have nothing more to offer, and it is time for you to leave this world. But if you choose to be an employee, to serve G-d not for your own self-fulfillment but for His sake, then there is no end to the good you can do. And so even once you have fulfilled your personal mission, you go on to another task, and then another, until your day is up.

Never say you've done enough. And don't be scared of running out of good deeds to do. There's still plenty of work out there. Go do it.

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

PS. There are rare cases when a soul is sent down here with one single mission to achieve, and once that is done, they are free to go back to heaven. Sad for us, these special souls leave us early, and we should be thankful for ever having met them.

Source:
A Letter of the Rambam

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: NASO
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Friday, 21 May 2021 | 10 Sivan 5781
Candle Lighting................. 4:41pm 
Shabbos Evening Service ... 6:00-6:50pm
Kiddush sponsored by Elli Bobrovizki in honour of the yortzheit for his father Baruch ben Elli Haim - Long Life. 

Saturday, 22 May 2021 | 4 Sivan 5781
For this week only- morning service at 36 Flood St Bondi
Shiur with Rabbi Moss......... 9:15am
Shabbos Morning Service with Bar Mitzvah of Mark Greenberg ...10:00am - 12:20pm
Children's Program............ 11:00am
Kiddush in honour of Mark's Bar Mitzvah- Mazal Tov!
 

Mincha with Aufruf of Sam Weiss ...4:30pm (back at Francis St)
Seudah Shlishis in honour of Sam's Aufruf and his upcoming marriage to Natalie Adler- Mazal Tov!
Pirkei Ovos....................... Chapter 1 
Shabbos ends and Maariv... 5:42pm 
Latest Shema this week..... 9:15am

MAZAL TOV
Ofer Greenberg, Rachel Nemes and the entire extended family on Mark's Bar Mitzvah. 
Natalie Adler, Sam Weiss and their families on the Aufruf and upcoming wedding. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Batsheva Ezekiel... 16 Sivan/Thursday, 27 May
Aviya Musael........ 16 Sivan/Thursday, 27 May

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Moshe & Lucy Greengarten... 17 Sivan/Friday, 28 May
Adam & Loren Blumgart....... 17 Sivan/Friday, 28 May

CONDOLENCES
Sheli Hersch on the passing of her mother Miriam Bat Sana

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Jenny Kantorovich for her late grandfather Semion Kantorovich 
Shlomo ben Shalom... 11 Sivan/Saturday, 22 May

Danny Kidron for his late father Leslie Kidron
Zalman ben Zwi... 13 Sivan/Monday, 24 May

Elias Reuben for his late father Solomon Reuben,
Sholmo Reuven ben Eliyahu... 14 Sivan/Tuesday, 25 May

Judi Berman, Martine Springer & Karen Schuftan for their late father
Ralph Schuftan... 14 Sivan/ Tues 25 May

Alex Bartos for his late father Chaim Ben Shmuel HaCohen... 16 Sivan/Thursday, 27 May

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Israel's Hidden Weapons

Question of the Week

It's a lovely idea to do a mitzvah for Israel. But honestly, why would my lighting candles or giving charity make any difference to Hamas? They will keep on sending rockets no matter how many mitzvahs I do. Is the mitzvah campaign there just to make us feel like we are doing something?

Answer

We feel far away and helpless when we see Israel under attack.

This is not the case. We are never far from Israel. And we are never helpless. 

Israel is a land like no other. It is called the Holy Land by all peoples.  So while we may not be physically in the land, we are always connected to it. Because holiness is everywhere, and holiness is beyond the limits of physical space.

Most of us can do little to help protect the land militarily. That is the job of the IDF and the Israeli government. We pray that they have the strength and vision to defend the land and its people.

But our sages teach that each one of us is a microcosm. There is an entire world in each human being. So just as the world has one country called the Holy Land, so too we all have a Holy Land inside us. That is our spiritual life.

The mitzvahs you do, the Torah you learn, the pockets of holiness you create in your home and in your day, that is your Israel, your Holy Land. During those sacred moments, no matter where you are, you are in Israel. 

Your Israel, like the land itself, needs secure borders, a clear resolve and an unquestioning sense of purpose. That means now is the time to reinforce our Jewish pride and Jewish practice. If our enemies want less Jews, we will respond by being more Jewish. If they wish to break our resolve, we will redouble it.

When we boost our own Israel, our spiritual life, we send strength to Israel, our spiritual homeland. There is a collective Jewish spirit that we are all part of. When we fortify ourselves, we fortify the whole.

This is not just a mystical concept. It's scientific. The greatest defensive weapons are faith, determination, positivity and belief in your cause. When we display our solidarity with Israel, by being prouder and more active Jews, we lift the morale of the soldiers, leaders and citizens of Israel. They can face this testing moment with extra confidence, knowing that millions around the world are behind them.

Israel is under attack. We need to help secure it, by strengthening our own Holy Land. Let's add a new mitzvah, or improve one we do already. Learn an additional piece of Torah in our day or our week, give more charity, and deepen our love for our fellow.

May G-d bless Israel with peace. 

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL     MITZVAH CAMPAIGN FOR ISRAEL     BUY A LETTER IN THE TORAH FOR ISRAEL

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HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SHAVUOS SPONSORS:
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Festive Dinner: Jack & Leyat Reuben
Dairy Desserts: Malka Kurta & Shaulmeir Ezekiel
All Night Learning Snack Bar: Charlotte Ziff, Avi Rosencweig & Shoshana Koncepolski
Kids Ice Cream Party: Madeleine North, Elli Bobrovizki, Stephen & Robyn Brookes
Shavuos Day Dairy Kiddush: Ron & Libby Moss

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New Kiddush options at Nefesh!
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush- we have a number of dates available in May. 
Friday Night
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Shabbos Day
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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: BAMIDBAR
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Friday, 14 May 2021 | 3 Sivan 5781
Candle Lighting................. 4:45pm 
Shabbos Evening Service.... 6:00-6:50pm
Count Omer...................... Day 48
Followed by Kiddush.

Saturday, 15 May 2021 | 4 Sivan 5781
Shiur with Rabbi Moss .........9:15am
Shabbos Morning Service... 10:00am - 12:20pm
Children's Program............ 11:00am
Kiddush sponsored by Warren & Iryna Balouka in honour of the birth of their son Ilan on 29th of  Adar, and by the Sperling and Hurwitz families in thanks and honour of the arrival and naming of Baby Girl Sperling - Mazal Tov!

Mincha after Kiddush
Pirkei Ovos........ Chapter 6 
Shabbos ends ... 5:42pm 

Count Omer........ Day 49
Latest Shema this week... 9:13am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Lilah Hedges ..... 5 Sivan/Sunday, 16 May
Wayne Kaplan ... 6 Sivan/Monday, 17 May
Nicholas Maksimovich ... 9 Sivan/Thursday, 20 May
Alison Brown ..............10 Sivan/Friday, 21 May

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Eric Borecki for his late brother David Borecki,
David Ben Osher... 4 Sivan/Saturday, 15 May

Gabor Palanszky for his late sister-in-law Georgina Palansky,
Georgina Bat David... 5 Sivan/Sunday 16 May

Judi Berman for her late grandfather Hyman (Ray) Segal,
Chaim ben Leib... 6 Sivan/Monday, 17 May

Richelle Goldshaft & Robert Goldshaft for their late father and grandfather Leon Israel Rosenthal
Leib Yisrael ben Shmuel... 7 Sivan/Tuesday, 18 May

Mark Gindin & Faina Strier for their late father Ilya Gindin,
Eliyahu ben Mordechai... 7 Sivan/Tuesday, 18 May

Rosalie Cohen, Gilda Cohen-Shapira and Lee-Anne Whitten for their late husband, brother and father Edward Cohen,
Tuvia ben Moshe... 8 Sivan/Wed 19 May

Nicholas Levy for his late grandmother Ruby Levy
Rifka ben Daniel... 8 Sivan/Wednesday, 19 May

Allen Rosenberg for his late wife Anita Louise Rosenberg
Channah bat Laizer... 9 Sivan/Thursday, 20 May

Abie Greengarten for his late mother Musia Greengarten
Chana Miriam  bas Shlomo Halevi...10 Sivan/Friday, 21 May

Tina Aviles for her late mother Grace
Gittel Bat Carl Michael... 10 Sivan/Friday, 21 May

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SHAVUOS TIMES 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 16 May | 5 Sivan
Candle Lighting ………………….... 4:44pm 
Shavuos Evening Service…….. 6:00pm
All Night Learning................ 9:15pm-5:00am

Monday 17  May | 6 Sivan
Shavuos, Day 1
Morning Service.....................10:00 am
Reading 10 Commandments 
and Ice Cream Party ............10:30 am
Followed by Dairy kiddush!
Mincha after Kiddush

Candle Lighting...................after 5:41 pm
Shavuos Evening Service
at Mosses Wellington St............. 5:45 pm

Tuesday 18 May | 7 Sivan
Shavuos, Day 2
Morning Service.........................10:00am
Yizkor*-Memorial Service.........11:00am
Followed by Kiddush and Mincha

Yomtov ends................................5:40 pm
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*YIZKOR is recited on Second Day Shavuos, Tuesday 18 May at approximately 11am.
If you would like a name mentioned please email RabbiMoss@nefesh.com.au 
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=?utf-8?Q?"We love you. We=E2=80=99ll meet again soon.=E2=80=9D?=

OUR RESPONSE TO THE MERON TRAGEDY

The Jewish nation is hurting. The unfathomable loss of 45 innocent souls in the Meron tragedy has touched us all.

Now is not the time for finger-pointing and blame. Now is not the time for explanations and justifications. Now is the time to comfort the grieving families.

But what can we say to comfort them?

Nothing. And that is fine.

The mitzvah to comfort mourners is performed by paying a visit and listening. Jewish law dictates that when visiting a mourner, the visitor should not open the conversation. We leave it to the mourner to set the tone. The visitor should just listen, acknowledge, respond where appropriate and take to heart what the mourner says.

So let's do that now. Let's pay a virtual visit to the mourners, some of the families who lost loved ones in the Meron tragedy. And let's listen to what they are saying.

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Yedidya Chiyut celebrated his bar mitzvah just two weeks before Lag Baomer. He was excited to accompany his father, Rabbi Avigdor Chiyut, to visit Meron for the first time. Yedidya was one of the holy souls who was returned to its Maker in the Meron tragedy. His father, who was injured, left his hospital bed on Saturday night to attend the funeral.

And this is what he said:

"Yedidya, we will be strong and we will move forward, you will never part from us. Tonight, both your mother and I bought burial plots next to you.

"In the meantime we have sent you as an ambassador to heaven, to meet your little sister who died immediately upon birth. You will get to know all the sages and holy people you've learned about. I only wish that we could achieve a small fraction of what you've achieved in your studies and in your devotion to holiness.

"Yedidya, you always did whatever your father requested of you, so I'm asking you for one more thing: Go to G‑d and tell him, 'Enough! Enough!' Yedidya we love you, I love you. We'll meet again soon."

Rabbi Avigdor Chiyut concluded with a call for unity: "Yedidya was righteous and holy. If he wanted me to say anything, it would be this: 'We all have something in common, we are all Jews. This is the time and the place to unite.'"

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Ruti Anakava was left speechless as she heard the stories pouring out about her late husband Yisroel. Always caring for others, always thinking of others. As a husband and father, Yisroel dedicated his life to make his wife and kids happy. But when a stranger named Binyamin came in and said this, she couldn't hold back her tears anymore:

"We were crammed there, and we couldn't breathe. I was next to Yisroel. He was a powerful man and he could have thrown himself over the fence. But then he saw me. And with superhuman powers, he pulled me out of the pile of death and threw me over the fence."

Binyamin emotionally explained that Yisroel saved his life, a complete stranger. Moments later, Yisroel was crushed to death.

Ruti said, "My husband lived for others, and he died for others."

"He was a good soul, a generous heart, and was always the first to help everyone with kindness and joy," says Yisroel's brother-in-law. "He distanced himself from arguments and saw the good in everyone. Yisroel loved nature very much, and especially caring for animals and flowers, with his gentle and good soul. We should learn from his ways and see only the good in others. That is how we can honour his soul."

Ruti said, "If you want to honour my husband, go learn another page of Torah."

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Simcha Bunim Diskind, 23, a father of two living in Beit Shemesh, was amongst those who lost their lives in the Meron disaster.

"I know it's good up there for Simcha Bunim," said his brother. "I'm sure he's sitting up there right now, studying Zohar with Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, waving goodbye to me, with his neverending smile. We remain here with shattered hearts, broken and in pain. I promise you that we will do everything for little Mindy and Moishe," he said about Simcha Bunim's two young children.

"We can't understand Hashem's ways, but we can show Him how we respond as a nation during times of tragedy."

"He radiated joy and made everyone happy. Everyone felt close to him, no matter who they were," says his father, Yaakov Diskind. "Our son was a gift, and we thank G‑d for the years that we had the privilege of raising him. Just as we do not ask why G‑d gives us a gift, we do not ask why he takes it from us."

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The pain of this tragedy has brought together people of all stripes. The shiva homes in Israel have been inundated with visitors, often complete strangers who have been moved to offer their comfort. One such visitor, a non-religious young man, posted the following on social media after he left the Engrald home:

I have just experienced one of the most significant moments in my life.

I am currently leaving the shiva home of the Engrald family, who lost their two children in the Meron disaster, Moshe Natan Neta (14) and Yehoshua Engrald (9). And my heart is bursting with a mix of feelings. My eyes are full of tears of sadness, but my heart is flooded with joy.

When my friend Maor and I, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, entered their house, we stuck out in the Haredi landscape. Some of the eyes were raised towards us, and two charming Haredim got up straight from their seats and let us sit right in front of Menachem Mendel, the father who lost his two sons a few days ago. He caught our eye and immediately stopped speaking Yiddish with the rest of the comforters and turned to us in Hebrew. We froze, given the size of the group.

"I'm glad you came," he says, his eyes wet with tears but his face radiates a glow:

"When would we have gotten to meet, you and me?" Maor and I look at him with his sparkling eyes as if an angel is talking to us.

"You will know that what is happening here is the truth. You and I are in pain together over the great loss and are strengthening each other. It does not matter if you are secular or religious. We are Jews."

The whole crowd of comforters quietly began to shake back and forth as if in prayer as they listen to Menachem Mendel speak to us.

"I want you to invite me to your simchas (celebrations)!" he exclaims. "And I will invite you to my simchas!"

The tears just erupted spontaneously.

A few seconds of silence, he looks down and mumbles, "Who is like Your people Israel ..."

After the prayers ended, we approached him and before we could say the words of consolation he said to us: "Thank you for coming, you strengthened me"

Maor and I leave the house, looking at each other and unable to talk. I do not absorb what just happened. And as I write these lines I still do not fully absorb it.

This encounter represents the truth of our people, the endless love that exists between us.

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There is nothing more to say. The mourners have spoken, with a call for faith that is unbreakable, love that is unconditional, courage that is unassailable and positivity that is inexplicable. We comfort them by heeding their words and by doing another mitzvah.

Who is like Your people Israel. 

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

Read these stories and more at Chabad.org 

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New Kiddush options at Nefesh!
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush- we have a number of dates available in May. 
Friday Night
$120 - Basic
$200 - Deluxe
Shabbos Day
$180 - Cholent only
$350- Standard  
Email office@nefesh.com.au to book your kiddush. 

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: BEHAR & BECHUKOSAI
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PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 

Friday, 7 May 2021 | 25 Iyar 5781
Candle Lighting............................ 4:51pm
Shabbos Evening Service .............. 6:00-6:50pm
Count Omer................................. Day 41
Kiddush sponsored by Jenny Kantorovich in honour of the yortzheit for her late grandmother, Riva Kantorovich (Rivka bat Aharon) on 27 Iyar/9 May – Long Life.

Saturday, 8 May 2021 | 26 Iyar 5781
Shiur with Rabbi Moss......................... 9:15am
Shabbos Morning Service... 10:00am - 12:20pm
Children's Program ........................... 11:00am
Kiddush in honour of Hannah and Sarah Ezekiel's birthdays – Mazal Tov! 

Mincha ................ after Kiddush
Pirkei Ovos........... Chapter 5
Shabbos ends....... 5:47pm
Count Omer.......... Day 42

Latest Shema this week...... 9:10am
New Moon/Molad............... Tuesday 11 May 8:31:7pm
Rosh Chodesh Sivan........... Wednesday 12 May

CONDOLENCES
Lance, Anton and Justin Rosenberg  on the passing of their mother Pauline OBM.
Nicki Ensly, Eva, Gary and Geoff Lang on the passing of their father and husband Andrew Lang OBM.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Chaya Ezekiel ................... 27 Iyar/Sunday 9 May
Peter Goldshaft ................. 28 Iyar/Monday 10 May
Sabrina Tsipris.................... 2 Sivan/Thursday 13 May

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Jenny Kantorovich for her late grandmother Riva Kantorovich,
Rivka bat Aharon...27 Iyar/Sunday 9 May

Sara Bos for her late father Isaac Barel
Yitzchok Ben Eliahu...29 Iyar/Tuesday 11 May

Tina Aviles for her late father Leo Arya
Ben Jonatan... 29 Iyar/Tuesday 11 May

Lesley Judelman for her late brother David Ivan Steinhard,
Itzchak Dovid ben Zalman...1 Sivan/Wednesday 12 May

Judy Amzalak for her late father Moshe Tuvia ben Abraham Aaron... 2 Sivan/Thursday 13 May

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Have I Lost My Mind?

FOR THIS WEEK ONLY
SHABBOS MORNING SERVICE AT 36 FLOOD ST BONDI. 10AM

Question of the Week:

I grew up hearing that to learn Kabbalah you have to be married, over forty, and an accomplished scholar. Otherwise you will go mad. Yet these days it seems everyone and anyone studies Kabbalah. So is what I heard not true or have the rules changed? Or have we all gone mad?

Answer:

The origin of the belief that Kabbalah study is dangerous seems to be a Talmudic tale.

There were four rabbis who shared an out-of-body mystical experience, where their souls wandered off into the higher realms. They were Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Elisha ben Avuya and Rabbi Akiva.

Each of these scholars was impacted differently by the experience. For three of them, it was not a happy ending.

Ben Azzai died. Ben Zoma went mad. Elisha ben Avuya lost his faith. Only Rabbi Akiva was able to internalize and process this mystical experience, and come back down to earth unharmed.

They all shared the same vision, yet they were impacted so differently. When we analyze some biographical details of these four scholars we can understand why.

Ben Azzai was a permanent bachelor. He refused to get married, feeling that having a family would interfere with his spiritual life. His celibacy left him unattached to the here and now, so when he tasted the bliss of heaven he didn't want to come back. He had nothing to come back for. So he didn't. He died.

Ben Zoma was a promising young scholar. But he was undeveloped. He didn't have the maturity and stability to handle such high levels of revelation. His gifted but unripe mind was overloaded, and he went crazy.

Elisha ben Avuya was a brilliant man. But he had a weakness. He mingled his Kabbalistic ideas with concepts from Greek philosophy. He diluted the purity of the Torah by trying to fit it into worldly wisdom. And so in the end his confused spirituality led him astray. He misinterpreted the visions he saw and became a non-believer.

Why was Rabbi Akiva different? We know about Rabbi Akiva that unlike Ben Azzai, he was married. We also know that unlike Ben Zoma, he was a mature late bloomer. Until he was forty, he could not even read Hebrew. It was his wife Rochel who inspired him to start at the beginning and learn Torah from scratch. And unlike Elisha ben Avuya, he studied Torah in purity.

So from Rabbi Akiva we learn that safe entry into the mysteries of Kabbalah requires the maturity and groundedness of a married scholar who is over forty. Anyone else who dares to wander into the esoteric orchard risks losing their mind, or their faith, or even their life.

So can young, unripe and uninitiated novices study Kabbalah? Absolutely. Because there is a difference between Kabbalistic study and Kabbalistic experience. These three scholars were harmed because they were experimenting with out-of-body journeys, using divine names to enter higher worlds. You've got to be a Rabbi Akiva to dabble in that.

But studying the wisdom of Kabbalah is a different story. It doesn't matter so much who is learning Kabbalah, the question is more who is doing the teaching. If you have a pious teacher with authentic training, you can study Kabbalah anytime. If you plug in to the right sources, Kabbalah won't drive you mad. On the contrary, it will give you a taste of spiritual sanity in an otherwise mad world. 

Good Shabbos and Happy Lag Baomer,
Rabbi Moss

Sources:
Talmud Chagiga 14b. See also  Zohar I 26b and Tikkunei Zohar, Tikkun 40

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS OF A MASS CASUALTY ACCIDENT IN MERON ISRAEL DURING LAG BAOMER CELEBRATIONS . TEHILLIM CHAPTER 20:

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New Kiddush options at Nefesh!
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush- we have a number of dates available in May. 
Friday Night
$120 - Basic
$200 - Deluxe
Shabbos Day
$180 - Cholent only
$350- Standard  
Email office@nefesh.com.au to book your kiddush. 

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: EMOR
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PRIOR REGISTRATION STILL REQUIRED.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 

Friday, 30 April 2021 | 18 Iyar 5781
Candle Lighting ...............4:58pm 
Shabbos Evening Service ...6:00-6:50pm
Count Omer Day 34
Followed by Kiddush 

Saturday, 1 May 2021 | 12 Iyar 5781
For this week only at 36 Flood St, Bondi
Shabbos Morning Service with Bar Mitzvah of Daniel Super... 10:00am - 12:20pm
Children's Program.......................................................... 11:00am
Kiddush in honour of Daniel Super's Bar Mitzvah – Mazal Tov! 

Mincha after Kiddush
Pirkei Ovos Chapter 4 

Shabbos ends........... 5:53pm 
Maariv at the Mosses..6:00pm
Count Omer Day 34

Latest Shema this week... 9:08am

MAZAL TOV 
Gideon & Rita Super and their families on Daniel's Bar Mitzvah.
Mel Licker & Claudia Mangel on their wedding.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Jonathan Shapira... 22 Iyar/Tuesday, 4 May
Suzy Moss............ 23 Iyar/Wednesday, 5 May
Andrew Whitten.... 25 Iyar/Friday, 7 May

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Tami Kaplan and Wayne Kaplan for their late father Alan Kaplan... 19 Iyar/Saturday, 1 May
Steven Clemans for his late father Julian Clemans Yaakov ben Moshe... 20 Iyar/Sunday, 2 May
Moshe Moses Adee Moses for their late mother Matilda Moses, Masouda bat Toba... 25 Iyar/Friday, 7 May
Theresa Bengis for the late Tess Barnett, Naomi bat Avraham... 25 Iyar/Friday, 7 May

We are currently migrating to a new database system. Thank you to all those who have filled in their details for us to update. If we don't have your details yet, please fill in this quick ONLINE FORM . We can then wish you a happy birthday, happy anniversary or long life for yortzheits.  

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I'm Completely Shaken By This

BONFIRE, BBQ DINNER & DRUM CIRCLE- NEXT THURSDAY FOR LAG BA'OMER
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Question of the Week

Why will my rabbi not shake a woman's hand? I find it highly offensive. I would think in this day and age women could be treated equally to men, not as inferior untouchables. Why can't a religious man have the basic courtesy to shake hands with me?

Answer

Does anyone shake hands anymore? I thought the hand shaking tradition died a quiet death during the pandemic. People stopped shaking hands, a nd curiously, no one took it personally. 

When someone refuses to shake hands for health reasons, it is like saying, "Lovely to see you. If you don't mind I won't touch you because you may be infected, or unhygienic, or both. I'd rather not get sick from you."

This is completely acceptable. No one takes offense at you suspecting them of being dirty or diseased. 

When someone refuses to shake hands with the opposite gender, it is like saying, "Lovely to see you. If you don't mind, I reserve physical touch between genders for members of my immediate family. The only woman who is not my blood relative that I will touch is my wife.  There's nothing wrong with you. It is actually nothing to do with you. It's about keeping the magic power of touch within my marriage."

And it goes both ways. Just as your rabbi won't shake a woman's hand, his wife won't shake a man's hand. This is equal opportunity non-shaking. So please take no offense. You are not being avoided like the plague. And even that isn't offensive.

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

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New Kiddush options at Nefesh!
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush- we have a number of dates available in May. 
Friday Night
$120 - Basic
$200 - Deluxe
Shabbos Day
$180 - Cholent only
$350- Standard  
Email office@nefesh.com.au to book your kiddush. 

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 

Friday 23 April 2021 | 11 Iyar 5781
Candle Lighting........................... 5:05pm
Shabbos Evening Service ............ 6:00-6:50pm
Count Omer................................ Day 27
Followed by Kiddush

Saturday, 24 April 2021 | 12 Iyar 5781
Shabbos Morning Service ....... 10:00am - 12:45pm
Children's Program ................ 11:00am
Kiddush & Lunch sponsored by Tzvika, Bev, Dafy and Shai Behrman to farewell the Nefesh community before their return to Israel- Hatzlacha Raba! 

Dessert sponsored by Nefesh community to thank and farewell the Behrman family. 

Mincha ............... after Lunch
Pirkei Ovos.......... Chapter 3

Shabbos ends...................6:00pm
Count Omer..................... Day 28

Latest Shema this week..... 9:06am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Nathan Peles......... 12 Iyar/Saturday, 24 April
Carol Melman........ 13 Iyar/Sunday, 25 April
Jonathan Isdale......13 Iyar/Sunday, 25 April
Layla Bando......... 4 Iyar/Monday, 26 April
Eitan Meguideche...17 Iyar/Saturday, 17 April
Avishai Kessel....... 18 Iyar/Friday, 30 April

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Frank Dreyer for his late mother Eva Dreyer
Chava bat Avraham... 12 Iyar/Saturday, 24 April

Anne Sarzin for her late grandfather
Ha Rav Avraham Ben Elimelech Halevi...12 Iyar/Saturday, 24 April

Jack Klein for his late father
Shimon Klein... 13 Iyar/Sunday, 25 April

Theresa Bengis for her late husband
Baruch ben Lasar...14 Iyar/Monday, 26 April

Alex Bartos for his late mother
Rachel bat Avraham...15 Iyar/Tuesday, 27 April

Judy Amzalak for her late mother
Bracha bat Moshe... 18 Iyar/Friday, 30 April

Carol Melman for her late brother Brian Shapiro
Baruch ben Aaron... 18 Iyar/Friday, 30 April

If you would like Nefesh to include your Birthday, Anniversary or Yortzheit in our newsletter and send you an email reminder, just fill in this quick  ONLINE FORM .

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Why Are You Always Late?

SHUL TONIGHT - NEW WINTER TIME 6PM

Question of the Week:

I have a friend who is never on time for any social arrangement, and is often outrageously late. He is otherwise a great guy. His tardiness drives me crazy and is affecting our friendship. Does our sensible religion have something to say on why it is wrong to be late? I suspect that if Judaism promotes punctuality, he might lift his game...

Answer:

The Kabbalah teaches that people come under two personality types: chessed or gevurah.

A chessed type is someone who is giving and outward, generous and expressive. They are easy-going, spontaneous and free-spirited. But sometimes a bit all over the place. 

A gevurah type is more inward and disciplined, controlled and contained. They are focused, predictable and dependable. And can tend to be a little square.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. A gevurah person can organize a party. A chessed person will be the life of it. A gevurah person is good at writing budgets. A chessed person spends the money. You'd rather get a gift from a chessed person. You'd rather get a lift with a gevurah person. 

When they work together, a chessed person and a gevurah person make a great team. Their opposite talents compliment each other, and the one's strengths compensate for the other's weaknesses. But when it comes to time management, they will clash. A gevurah type arrives five minutes early. A chessed type is just getting ready to leave when they're already five minutes late.

Your friend sounds like a chessed type. He may find it hard to restrict himself in order to be on time. It may go against his very nature. This is not an excuse, just an explanation. Asking a chessed person to be on time is like asking a gevurah person to chill out and throw away their schedule. It's possible, but not so simple. We can't just change our nature.

But we can change our behaviour. If your friend would contemplate on the inconvenience his lateness causes to others, it may help him overcome it. We all have our nature, whether we tend toward chessed or gevurah. But even an extreme chessed person has some gevurah there deep down. And that latent gevurah can be activated by employing a third power in the soul, called tiferes.

Tiferes is empathy, our sensitivity to others. It is the ability to transcend our nature by becoming more attentive to the needs of those around us. Instead of acting from my own instinct, tiferes allows me respond to my surroundings. 

When a chessed person taps in to tiferes, he is no longer stuck in his own instinctive pattern of lateness. He can awaken some inner gevurah. His chessed nature won't go away, but he can at least force himself to come on time, out of consideration for those gevurah people who will  otherwise be waiting around for him.

Indeed your friend is a chessed person, and his challenge is to work on his gevurah, discipline himself and get his act together. But you have a challenge too. You're a gevurah person. So channel some chessed. Ease up a bit on your friend. His lateness is a part of the package, the fun-loving over-the-top spur-of-the-moment friend that you love. Teach him some gevurah, and learn a bit of chessed. He might still be late sometimes, but at least you'll be more chilled about it. 

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss

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This innocent looking green box has caused quite a fuss for our building. We need a new one to provide the necessary electricity, and just as Ausgrid (the electricity provider) was about to install it, Council stepped in to block them, saying they no longer allow them on the footpath. We stood back to watch the clash of two titans, as Ausgrid insisted they want the box on the street and Council insisted they won't let it. The debate continues, but in the meantime we want to move on with our building, so we have agreed to allow the box to be on our property. After this little hiccup we are back on track. Now we just have to wait for Ausgrid to do their thing. After that, not much more to go....

 

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New Kiddush options at Nefesh!
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush- we have a number of dates available in May. 
Friday Night
$120 - Basic
$200 - Deluxe
Shabbos Day
$180 - Cholent only
$350- Standard  
Email office@nefesh.com.au to book your kiddush. 

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SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: TAZRIA-METZORA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 
Friday, 16 April 2021 | 4 Iyar 5781
Candle Lighting........................ 5:13pm
Shabbos Evening Service .......... 6:00-6:50pm
Count Omer............................. Day 20
 

Saturday, 17 April 2021 | 5 Iyar 5781
Shabbos Morning Service ....... 10:00am - 12:45pm
Children's Program ................ 11:00am
Kiddush and Lunch sponsored by:
- Rabbi Laibl & Leah Wolf in memory of Leah's father Berel Kesel, Dov Aryeh ben Moshe Abbo veChanah on his yortzheit this Shabbos - Long Life.   
- Gavin Shnier in honour of his Bar Mitzvah anniversary - Mazal Tov!
- Mel Licker & Claudia Mangel in honour of Mel's Aufruf and their upcoming wedding - Mazal Tov!
- Helene & Gerard Solden on the birth and naming of their baby daughter - Mazal Tov!

Mincha .......... after Lunch
Pirkei Ovos..... Chapter 2

Shabbos ends......................... 6:07pm
Count Omer............................ Day 21

Latest Shema......................... 9:04am

MAZAL TOV
Helene & Gerard Solden on the birth of a baby girl!
Mendel & Chana Michla Deitz on the birth of a baby girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Benjamin Hoch.........5 Iyar/Saturday, 17 April
Nikki Kinstlinger....... 5 Iyar/Saturday, 17 April
Sheryl Deubler......... 6 Iyar/Sunday, 18 April

LONG LIFE FOR YORTZHEITS
Larnce Gold for his late grandmother Naomi Frere
Nechama bas Ester... 8 Iyar/Tuesday 20 April

Nikki Kaplan for her late father Errol Raphael Kaplan,
Aryeh... 7 Iyar/Monday 19 April

Marlene Franks for her late father Aaron Jacob Wolman
Aharon Yaakov... 10 Iyar/Thursday 22 April

David Bermeister for his late father
Yitzchak Ben Zeev... 11 Iyar/Friday 23 April

If you would like Nefesh to include your Birthday, Anniversary or Yortzheit in our newsletter and send you an email reminder, just fill in this quick  ONLINE FORM .

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This email is sent from Nefesh Shul. We'd love to stay in touch with you, but if you wish to be unsubscribed from this list please click here, or click here to manage your subscriptions.

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