| < More recent editions |
Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim
- 15 September, 2001
Series 2, Ed. 55
Candle lighting time: 5:50pm. Shabbos ends: 6:48pm.
Mincha & Kabalos Shabbos (Friday evening): 6:00pm.
Shacharis on shabbos in the Youth Minyan as usual at 9:45am.
* This is the final edition of the current series for this year.
* This week's speaker after davening in the Youth Minyan, will be Rabbi Leon Goldman.
* There will be a shiur (Gemorah Brachos) at Mark Franck's house on Shabbos afternoon at
4:45pm.
_______________________________________________
D'var Torah
The Apology Factor
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons (aish.com)
A few years ago I learned a valuable lesson about apologies. I was sitting in a classroom
and it was a few minutes past the time that the class was scheduled to begin. We were
waiting for the teacher to arrive, and when one of my fellow students walked in, I gave
him a warm and hearty welcome: "Hello, Alan!"
After the class was over, Alan came up to me and said: "I was so mad at you that I
wanted to punch you!" "What are you talking about?" I asked. Alan
explained. When he walked in and I said a loud "hello," he thought I was trying
to draw everyone's attention to the fact that he was late.
Of course, that wasn't my intention at all, and the only reason that my "hello"
bothered Alan was because he was feeling self-conscious about his own lateness! But then I
realized: It doesn't matter whether I'm right or wrong, and whether my insult was
intentional or not. The fact remains that I hurt someone's feelings. And for that I must
apologize.
Next time somebody harms you and then comes to apologize, notice how he does it. There are
two approaches people use - what I call the "sincere apology," and the
"selfish apology."
The sincere approach is short and sweet, and sounds something like this: "I'm sorry I
hurt you. I'll be careful to see that it doesn't happen again." Clean, direct, no
excuses. If you'd been hurt, wouldn't you feel better after receiving such an apology?
Next is the "selfish apology." It goes something like this: "I apologize.
But I didn't do it on purpose. I had a hard day and I didn't realize what I was doing. And
why are you so sensitive about this, anyway!?" This person has verbalized an
"apology," but it is hollow because they have no regret. They really feel
"it's not my fault and I didn't do anything wrong."
The type of apology not only fails to appease the person who was hurt, it actually makes
things worse. Why? Because this "apology" is in effect saying: "The fact
that my actions were hurtful to you is not really my problem. And since I don't regret my
actions, I will not make an effort to change them. Therefore if a similar circumstance
occurs in the future, I would do the same thing and hurt you again!" What came under
the guise of an "apology" actually turns into a great insult.
Apologizing can be a difficult, humbling experience. We may feel vulnerable, low and bad.
But it doesn't have to be this way...
Imagine your jacket got stained. Of course you have to take it to the cleaners. But do you
feel depressed when your clothes are stained? Of course not! You know that a stain is not
a permanent part of the fabric.
Judaism says it's the same thing when we make a mistake. Our soul is the garment that gets
stained. And we have to clean it. But making a mistake doesn't mean I'm inherently a bad
person! In fact, the Talmud (Yevamot 79) says that a sense of shame is essential to the
nature of a Jew.
A distinction needs to be made between "unhealthy" and "healthy"
guilt. Unhealthy guilt is where you feel like a bad person. Healthy guilt is where you
maintain the sense that you're a good person, while acknowledging that you used bad
judgment and made a mistake.
Think back to a time you apologized. How do you feel afterwards? Cleansed! Getting it out
is an expansive, cathartic, liberating release. We cleanse the stain and recapture that
lost purity. We rectify the past and move forward.
This week's Parsha begins: "You are all standing here today before God" (Deut.
29:9). Allegorically, this is referring to Rosh Hashana, the day when every Jew stands
before the Almighty and takes a long, hard look at who they really are.
This is the time of year to make a commitment to correct our mistakes. God is
"close" at this time, and as the verse in this week's parsha says: "God
will remove the barriers from your hearts" (Deut. 30:6).
There's a feeling in the air. Let's use it!
_______________________________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - NITZAVIM
On the day of Moshe's death he assembles the whole Jewish people and creates a Covenant
confirming the Jewish people as the Almighty's Chosen People for all future generations.
Moshe makes clear the consequences of rejecting God and His Torah as well as the
possibility of repentance. He reiterates that Torah is readily available to everyone.
Netzavim concludes with perhaps the clearest and most powerful statement in the Torah
about the purpose of life and the existence of freewill: "I have set before you this
day life and good, death and evil ... the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life
that you may live, you and your descendants."
______________________________________________
Other Developments
* After shule on shabbos, Ari Bergman spoke of his recent trip to Perth to help run camps
for Carmel College. Ari related how even in remote regional Buston, WA, he and the Carmel
College school children found links to Judaism. Shkoiach and welcome back.
* At Shalosh Seudos, given Selichos were to commence that evening, Danny Karp gave a
summary of the first two chapters of Rambam's Laws of Teshuvah. Yasher Koach.
* Last Friday night the Shule was treated by a visit from the Stropkover Rebbe Shlit'a. As
well as giving an inspiring Dvar Torah, the Rebbe also davened Kaballas Shabbos after
which many members took the opportunity to meet the Rebbe and receive his Brochos - which
he extended to all of Klal Yisroel.
______________________________________________
Elul Shiur Night Review
Last Motzei Shabbos, the annual pre-Selichos Elul Shiur Night was held. As well as the
well prepared, informative and inspirational speeches, a delicious Melava Malka was
enjoyed by all. Yasher Koach to the hosts, Yirmie & Jordi Elkus and to all those who
volunteered to speak; Moshe Shimon, Noah Fried, Simon Weinstein and Rabbi Meir Rabi. A
short summary of the speeches follow;
Moshe Shimon spoke about 'Nachamu Nachamu Ami' - 'Be comforted, Be comforted, My Nation'.
Moshe explained how the Children of Israel are one collective people and even though one
may experience a personal tragedy, he can be comforted by knowing that as a community,
Israel will triumph - 'Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker'. Moshe quoted from a series of letters
written at the time of the Second World War in which people found solace in the victory
and perpetuity of the people of Israel.
Noah Fried explained the famous Gemorah regarding Rabbi Yochanon Ben Zakai who managed to
escape the siege of Jerusalem (at the destruction of the Second Temple) and request three
things from the Roman Emperor; the city of Yavneh and its Rabbis, the family of Rabbon
Gamliel to preserve the lineage of King David and a doctor to heal the elderly Rav Tzadok.
Noah explained how these three things mirror the month of Elul, Rosh Hashona and Yom
Kippur. The similarities are the importance of Torah learning during Elul - as occurred in
Yavneh; the continual reign of the King - as on Rosh Hashona we accept the yoke of
Hashem's reign; and fasting on Yom Kippur - as Rav Tzadok was famous for fasting for 40
years.
Rabbi Meir Rabi spoke about the human psyche and its ability to routinize our performance
of Mitzvot and our feelings of Teshuvah during Elul. He explained that we become relaxed
by its regularity - taking shortcuts by 'highlighting' the days, rather than concerning
ourselves with their significance and underlying processes. Rabbi Rabi used the parable of
a person installing a faucet alone - without the requisite plumbing and infrastructure -
and then expecting water to flow from it. He provided a tangible action plan for
concentrating on routine things and infusing them with significance and meaning.
Simon Weinstein spoke about the Akaidas Yitzchok - read on second day Rosh Hashana.
According to the Vilna Gaon it represents the way a Jew should approach Avoidas Hashem.
Avraham, who personified loving kindness required a test which would span all facets of
his existence, otherwise people would have argued that all his good deeds were only due to
his natural characteristics. Only by testing Avraham with something so challenging and
contradictory to his entire being, could we be certain of his pure motives. By performing
mitzvot beyond that which suit our lifestyle, we are shown the proper approach to Avoidas
Hashem in the way we are meant to - B'chol Levavcha, U'Vechol Nafshecha, U'Vechol Meodacha
- 'With our hearts, with our souls and with our resources'.
______________________________________________
Announcements
- Katanga will be operating a creche on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (including Kol Nidrei
night). People wishing to enrol their children must do so as soon as possible. Children
must be pre-booked in order to participate so please register now. For details and
bookings, please call Jordi Elkus on 9528 6958.
- We take this opportunity to welcome all those who have come for Rosh Hashanah and
farewell all those who are travelling abroad. Boachem and Tzeitchem Leshalom.
- Rosh Hashanah begins this coming Monday (17 September) evening @ 5:53pm and ends
Wednesday evening at 6:51pm. Minyanim times listed below. Thursday (20 September) is Tzom
Gedaliah - "The Fast of Gedaliah" which begins 4:34am and concludes 6:39pm.
- A special Yasher Koach and thank you to Mr & Mrs Schulim Kopperschmidt for kindly
donating the new 'Hagbeh' seat in the Minyan. The Minyan looks forward to putting to great
use the new, stable and specifically designated seat for many years to come.
- Minyanim times for this coming week are:
Shacharis on Erev Rosh Hashana will be: first minyan @ 5am and second minyan @ 6am.
Shacharis on Rosh Hashanah at 8:00am.
Mornings: first minyan @ 5:45am, second minyan @ 6:30am
Mincha at 6:10pm followed by shiurim. Ma'ariv at 6:50pm.
- Please join us for our Katanga weekly Squash game on Sundays @ 6pm at Gardenvale Squash
Centre. If you are interested in attending, please let Mendi Slodowitz know.
_______________________________________________
Thoughts for the Week
"If you don't have a goal ... you can't fulfill it."
"You declare that you do not hate Jews, you are merely anti-Zionist. And I say, let
the truth ring forth from high on the mountain tops... When people criticize Zionism, they
mean Jews..." (Martin Luther King)
"Learning is not compulsory, but neither is survival." (W. Edwards Deming)
"He that will not reason is a bigot, He that cannot reason is a fool, He that dares
not reason is a slave." (William Drummond)
_______________________________________________
Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos, Kesivah Vachasimah Tovah and Shana
Tovah.
"The Editors"
Shabbos Parshas Ki Tavo
- 8 September, 2001
Series 2, Ed. 54
Candle lighting time: 5:44pm. Shabbos ends: 6:42pm.
Mincha & Kabalos Shabbos (Friday evening): 5:55pm.
Shacharis on shabbos in the Youth Minyan as usual at 9:45am.
* There will be a shiur (Gemorah Brachos) at Mark Franck's house on Shabbos afternoon at
4:40pm.
_______________________________________________
PRE SELICHOS SHIUR N' SNACKS
This Motzei Shabbat (8 September), will be our traditional pre-selichot shiur n' snacks
night. With an array of local and imported talents, it promises to be an inspiring and
fitting lead into the midnight selichos. Speakers hail from Caulfield to Modi'in - with
guest speaker, Rabbi Meir Rabi, Rabbi of Tiferes Yisroel Shule.
The shiur night will be held at Jordi & Yirmie's house @ 1 Hume Road, Caulfield and
begins at 9:15pm. Men and women invited to attend.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
_______________________________________________
D'var Torah
Who are You...?
by Rabbi Stephen Baars (aish.com)
"Hi. I'm a doctor, what are you?"
"I'm a lawyer, what are you?"
In truth, I am anything but a lawyer or a doctor. I don't even want to be thought of as
one. I am an individual. I'm me!
If you introduce yourself to other people as a "lawyer," then you take what is
unique to you and disregard it. It is dangerous to define yourself as something you do
from 9-to-5 (or any other time of the day). To think of yourself in terms of any single
activity is to severely hamper your self-image. Comparing yourself with all other lawyers
is making a clear statement: "I am not a person, I am a career."
Unfortunately, it's a problem we develop early in life. Every child is asked: "What
do you want to be when you grow up?" It's a question fraught with subtle
implications, extremely damaging to the developing personality of a child. Isn't the child
who is asked that question going to grow up thinking: "What's wrong with being 'me?'
Is 'me' so terrible that I have to 'become' something different when I grow up?"
Many of us have spent the last 20-30 years trying to "be" somebody. Now we are
starting to ask "Who am I?" Maybe, we are thinking, this whole rat race of
"being somebody" isn't worth it. Maybe I am somebody valuable already, I don't
need to be anybody else.
Hillel, the great Torah sage, said, "If I am only for myself, who am I" (Pirkei
Avos 1:14). This is to say, if I ask the question "Who I should be?" I will
eventually have to ask the question "What am I?"
Shakespeare's "To be or not to be" reflects the values of Western society. In
Judaism, "To be or not to be" is not the question. Rather, "What to do and
what not to do" - that is the Jewish question. Judaism says that only through
"doing" will a person "be." In other words, the more we do, the more
we become.
It is important to understand that "becoming more" is not defined in terms of
man hours or production, but rather in terms of direction and purpose. The greater our
purpose, the greater we become.
It is a natural consequence that whatever you believe in, like that thing you will become.
Whatever you imagine as the highest expression of life is what you will idealize, imitate,
seek and desire. If you think movie stars and professional athletes are the epitome of
life, then it is they who you will emulate. If you hold them in high esteem because of
their ability to toss a ball, then you will define your own life as well by such demeaning
definitions. If shallow people are your idols, then shallow will you be. If you think the
source of your energy is a dollar, then you'll become a hedonist.
It is no wonder, therefore, that in a world of rampant materialism, many people have no
more depth than the money they believe will solve all their problems.
The greater our purpose in life, the greater we become.
To find fulfillment, a person needs guidelines and a strategy. The quest for purpose and
meaning requires far more tools than is necessary to achieve emptiness. The laws of
physics tell us that all bodies follow the path of least resistance. Therefore, since we
are physical beings, we need a very effective strategy to break away from the "easy
yet meaningless" path.
To reach those depths, we need tools. This is why the Torah - in this week's parsha (Deut.
28:9) - tells us to emulate God. This technique enables us to see the world with a
"God like" vision.
Ask yourself: What would God do if He was in your position? Which path would He choose?
This identification with God enables you to raise yourself up out of life's pettiness. It
gives you a perspective that is impossible to achieve when you are trying to emulate a
movie star.
If we are striving for the greatest "being" we can be, it has to be a
"being like God." Such an achievement simply cannot be topped. How can a person
be greater than that?
If the source of life is some primordial soup, then all a person can become is a great
chef. But if the source is God Himself, then there is no limit to a person's reach.
_______________________________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - KI TAVO
This week's portion includes: Bringing to the Temple as an offering the first fruits of
the Seven Species special to the Land of Israel, Declaration of tithes, The Almighty
designating the Jewish people as His treasured people (Deut. 26:16 -19), The command to
set up in the Jordan River and then on Mount Ebal large stones which had the Torah written
upon them in 70 languages, The command to have a public ratification of the acceptance of
the Law from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal; The Torah then sets forth the blessings for
following the Law and the curses for not following it, and concludes with Moshe's final
discourse.
______________________________________________
Other Developments
* After shule on shabbos, Yisroel Alter Pacanowski discussed the importance of preparing
and eating all of our "Shabbosdikke" foods with the Kavanna "Lekovod
Shabbos Kodesh". We place extra effort and Hashem puts a special blessing and taste
into our Shabbos foods. Isi illustrated this with a story about R' Dovid of Lelov and
Divrei Torah from the Stropkover Rebbe (heard at a "Tish" last Shabbos in
Melbourne). Many of the shabbos foods we eat have a Gematria - numerical value - of 7,
alluding to 7th day that Hashem has chosen as Shabbos. Yasher Koach.
* Mazal Tov to Daniel Mainzer on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah and his first aliyah on
Thursday morning. Wishing his parents, sisters, grandparents and extended family much
naches and simchas in the future.
______________________________________________
Announcements
- From this Sunday (beginning with Motzei Shabbat selichot at 12am) we begin reciting
selichot before shacharis in the morning. Katanga minyanim times are listed below.
- Last week we welcomed back Family Katz after Nathan’s wedding in America. Sholom
Aleichem, Mazal Tov and Beruchim Atem Bevoiachem.
- Katanga will be operating a creche on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (including Kol Nidrei
night). People wishing to enrol their children must do so by next Wednesday (12
September). Children must be pre-booked in order to participate so please register now.
For details and bookings, please call Jordi Elkus on 9528 6958.
- Minyanim times for this coming week are:
Mornings: first minyan @ 5:45am, second minyan @ 6:30am
Mincha at 6:05pm followed by shiurim. Ma'ariv at 6:45pm.
- Please join us for our Katanga weekly Squash game on Sundays @ 6pm and 7pm at Albert
Park (Sports and Aquatic Centre). If you are interested in attending, please let Yirmie
Elkus know.
_______________________________________________
Thoughts for the Week
"Wealth brings anxiety, but wisdom brings peace of mind." (Rabbi Ibn Gevirol)
"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."
"Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." (Chinese Proverb)
"Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for truth."
(Benjamin Disraeli)
"I get enough exercise just pushing my luck." (Anon.)
_______________________________________________
Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos!
"The Editors"
Shabbos Parshas Ki Tetze
- 1 September, 2001
Series 2, Ed. 53
Candle lighting time: 5:39pm. Shabbos ends: 6:36pm.
Mincha & Kabalos Shabbos (Friday evening): 5:50pm.
Shacharis on shabbos in the Youth Minyan as usual at 9:45am.
* There will be a shiur (Gemorah Brachos) at Mark Franck's house on Shabbos afternoon at
4:35pm.
_______________________________________________
D'var Torah
The Inheritance...
by Rabbi Stephen Baars (aish.com)
Parents will warn their children to avoid drugs and teenage pregnancy. Yet why don't we
hear with such frequency a father instructing his child to refrain from being pessimistic
or unkind? I have yet to meet the person who said that his father pressured him more about
developing good character than he did about developing a high-paying career.
Do you want your child to be wealthier than you? What about more kind and generous, more
caring and considerate? If so, where is he going to learn these values from? Maybe you
think comments made now and again, such as "share your toys," or "be
nice" are the keys to generous and caring children. Or maybe you think they will
learn to be good people in school - from a school that in fact teaches there are really no
absolute values!! Unlikely.
Where do you think your child is going to learn values? Are you teaching them? Is the
school? Is not your precious child going to spend much (if not more) time with their
teacher than you? Would you place your child in the chair of an unqualified dentist?
When you select a school for your child, do you examine the teachers for their morals and
values as well as for their diplomas? Is the school even qualified to teach values?
You may claim that you don't want your child learning values in school. But there is no
such thing as a vacuum. Be assured that one way or another, your child is absorbing an
approach to life.
This week's parsha points out that a child is not punished for the crimes of a parent
(Deut. 24:16) nor a parent for a child. But the Torah also tells us (Deut. 5:9): Children
will suffer the consequences for crimes they commit, even if they have inherited such
delinquencies from their parents.
Will your child inherit your bad traits? Do you want to inflict your child with all the
pain that you have suffered? Will he not most certainly inherit these flaws from you... if
there is no instruction to the contrary?
It is true your child will probably inherit your good side, too. But does that mean you
should not try to make things better for him?
At the very least, we should worry over the dangers of him acquiring our traits of
selfishness, anger, pride and frustration. A child will see and imitate these traits, just
as a child will often imitate a parent's drinking habit.
The image of a pregnant women smoking is one for which we all have disdain. But what about
a pregnant woman being unkind? None of us seem too concerned! Yet what terrible harm is
awaiting that unborn child!
How noble it is to leave one's heirs a nest-egg in case of hard financial times. But are
we giving our children a similar repository of wisdom to know how to deal with the hard
times of life?
Does your child's school curriculum have a course on building relationships, a class on
personal crisis management, or a seminar on developing a system of personal values?
Are we living such wonderfully happy lives, care - and problem-free, that our only concern
is that our children's teeth are straight and the right college diploma hangs on the wall?
Shouldn't we be equally concerned that our children may lack the fortitude and wisdom to
deal with the kind of personal problems we have faced?
When we look back in our final days, will we say with confidence that we made the right
choice for each of our children's inheritances?
Aren't we just wishing upon a fallen star that against great odds our children will figure
all this out by themselves?
_______________________________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - KI TETZE
Another jam-packed Mitzvah parsha this week. Topics include: Women Captives, First-Born's
Share, The Rebellious Son, Hanging and Burial, Returning Lost Articles, The Fallen Animal,
The Bird's Nest, Guard-Rails, Mixed Agriculture, Bound Tassels, Laws of Marriage, Divorce
& Relationships, Ammonites & Moabites, Edomites & Egyptians, The Army Camp,
Sheltering Slaves, Deducted Interest, Keeping Vows, Worker in a Vineyard, Field Worker,
Kidnapping, Leprosy, Security for Loans, Paying Wages on Time, Testimony of Close
Relatives, Widows and Orphans, Forgotten Sheaves, Leftover Fruit, Flogging, Weights and
Measures, Remembering What Amalek Did to Us.
______________________________________________
Other Developments
* After davening on shabbos, Mark Franck gave a personal account of his recent trip to
Europe. Mark spoke at length about the oldest surviving shule in Prague - 'Altenai',
famous also for being the centre of the Golem story. Recounting famous Gedolim who
presided over the shule, Mark told of the current status of the Jewish community. Speaking
of the mass destruction of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe, he spoke of the eternal
prayers and optimism of the Jews even in times of intense distress - a poignant message
increasingly applicable in current times. Yasher Koach and welcome back.
* Mazal Tov to Steven & Tess Goldman on the ocassion of the Pidyon Haben of their son,
Moshe, last Sunday. Sheyigdol leTorah, leChuppah, uleMa'asim Tovim.
* At Shaleh Seudos, Mendi Slodowitz spoke about the reasons that the Torah was divided
into two parts - the Written Law and the Oral Law. Mendi explained why it was imperative
that part of the Torah was not 'confined' or 'limited' to a specific written formula.
Yasher Koach.
______________________________________________
Announcements
- Next motzei shabbos (8 September), Katanga will be hosting its annual Elul Shiur Night.
The shiurim provide a fitting prelude to the selichot which begin on the same evening (at
midnight in shule). Further details to follow. If you are interested in presenting a shiur
on the night, please contact Ezra May.
- Chayeinu for Women is having a Shiur this coming Wednesday (September 5th). The speaker
will be Rabbi Yonosan Abraham on the topic "The King & I: Monarchy in Democratic
times". The shiur will be held in the Ezras Nashim (Women's section) of Kollel Beth
HaTalmud at 362a Carlisle Street, Balaclava. Women are encouraged to attend. For further
details, please contact Devorah Levinson on 9527 3706.
- World renowned speaker Rabbi Lewis Furman (from Ohr Somayach South Africa) is currently
touring Melbourne (until September 4). There are still a few opprtunities to hear this
dynamic speaker on topics including; Dignity of Self, Passion and Intimacy, Uses and
Abuses of Anger. For a detailed itinerary of shiurim he will be giving, please email us
here.
- Minyanim times for this coming week are:
Mornings: first minyan @ 6:15am, second minyan @ 7am
Mincha at 6:00pm followed by shiurim. Ma'ariv at 6:40pm.
- Please join us for our Katanga weekly Squash game on Sundays @ 6pm and 7pm at Albert
Park (Sports and Aquatic Centre). If you are interested in attending, please let Yirmie
Elkus know.
_______________________________________________
Thoughts for the Week
"A friend doubles the joy and halves the grief."
"Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before
G-d; ...let thy words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
"He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses
faith, loses all." (Eleanor Roosevelt)
"A ship in harbor is safe - but that's not what ships are for." (John Shedd)
"We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart?"
_______________________________________________
Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos!
"The Editors"
Shabbos Parshas Shoftim
- 25 August, 2001
Series 2, Ed. 52
Candle lighting time: 5:33pm. Shabbos ends: 6:31pm.
Mincha & Kabalos Shabbos (Friday evening): 5:45pm.
Shacharis on shabbos in the Youth Minyan as usual at 9:45am.
* Mark Franck's Gemorah Brachos shiur will be back at its regular location (Franck
residence) on Shabbos afternoon at 4:25pm.
_______________________________________________
D'var Torah
The Final Stretch...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber
We've all been there. We are enjoying the first course at the wedding meal. There is light
music in the background, pleasant conversation and a beautiful setting. Suddenly the band
pumps up. With pomp and fanfare the music reaches a crescendo and a new beginning is about
to be announced. Everyone stands up. "Ladies and gentleman, for the very first time,
." The volume is deafening, we all get very excited and we dance like crazy.
If you've been to a bris you will have observed how everyone is shmoozing comfortably when
the Mohel will shout "Boruch HaBa!" A hush comes over the assembled as the week
old baby is brought into the room and officially welcomed into the Jewish community.
And of course the Bar Mitzvah! Our first grand entrance into manhood. Every one of us
remembers our Bar-Mitzvah. It was a milestone that we worked hard to reach and finally, on
that day, we were welcomed to be an adult part of the community - a real part of Klal
Yisroel.
We celebrate new beginnings. We have identified every milestone and have made it into a
holiday.
This week's Torah portion identifies the ends, the completion and the accomplishment of
our goals.
The Jewish people are setting up an army. There is a selection of soldiers. "Who is
the man who has built a house. planted a vineyard. been engaged to be married? They should
go home! Lest they get killed in the upcoming war and be unable to bring these beginnings
to fruition, they shall not fight with the nation."
Apparently, beginning or even intending to see these beginnings through, is not good
enough. The Torah is telling us that until we reach our individual goals, those grand
beginning remains meaningless. We would think that the Mitzvah of conquering Eretz Yisroel
takes precedence over our personal vineyard, orchard or home. When we consider the
national security of our people it may even be more important than my marriage. Yet the
Torah instructs us: go home! Finish what you started. Don't begin processes without
completing them. Experience Shleimus - completion.
All of us have paved quite a few roads with good intentions. There's a whole stretch of
road going towards mastering Tanach, an expressway leading to spending time with our
children, and an eight-lane highway staring us in the face each time we see our to-do
list. We all start projects with the intention of finishing them, but the path to fruition
is fraught with obstacles: self doubt, fear of commitment, fear of lost opportunity, fear
of putting in hard work that might not pay off, fear of failure - even fear of success!
G-d gives us the miracle of inspiration at the beginning of an endeavor, but then it's up
to us to recreate that miracle as soon as that initial burst of motivation starts to fade.
"Shalem", completion brings about "shalom" peace.
Laying a foundation to a house is great -- but seeing a HOME lit with Shabbos candles on
Friday night is shalem. It represents peace. Meeting a couple who just got engaged or
dancing at their wedding and feeling the incredible joy is a beautiful thing, but nothing
compared to seeing a mature couple look at each other with love and cooperation. The Torah
commands us to resist getting involved with new, apparently more important projects, and
to go home and finish what we started. Become a shalem, and G-d will grant us the ultimate
blessing: Shalom.
_______________________________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - SHOFTIM
This week's Parsha is jam-packed with commandments. Topics covered in this week's portion
include: Judges and Justice, Sacred Trees and Pillars, Blemished Sacrifice, Penalties for
Idolatry, The Supreme Court, The King, Levitical Priests, Priestly Portions, Special
Service, Divination and Prophecy, Cities of Refuge, Murder, Preserving Boundaries,
Conspiring Witnesses, Preparing for War, Taking Captives, Conducting a Siege and the Case
of the Unsolved Murder. This week we have the famous admonition: "Righteousness,
Righteousness shall you pursue, so that you will live and possess the Land that the
Almighty your God, gives you."
______________________________________________
Other Developments
* Last Shabbos the Shule combined the traditional Shabbos Mevorachim Kiddish with the
opportunity to wish Mazal Tov to Ronnie Jacobs & Karli Ciechanowski and their
respective families on their recent engagement. Katanga President, Mr Tom May elaborated
on the Mitzva of Tzedoka - Charity, mentioned in the weekly Parsha. This Mitzva also
includes lending money to someone in a time of need. Practising Tzedoka is a great zechus
and deserves our special attention with the approach of the Yomim Noraim. Caulfield Beth
Hamedrash has a Ge"Mach - Free Loan Fund, offering interest free loans to members.
All enquiries in confidence to Tom May.
* About 25 participants enjoyed a gala Boys Minyan Rosh Chodesh breakfast on Sunday at
Shule. A Siyum on Mishnayes Mesechte Pe'ah was also held. 'Caterers' Ezra Susskind and Eli
May outdid themselves with a menu including bagels with smoked salmon, sandwich maker
cheese treats, vegetable platters and assorted cakes. Special thanks to all helpers and to
the main Shule management for sponsoring this inaugural event.
* Professor Hasofer spoke at Shaleh Seudos about the Torah prohibition against Idolatory
and how in the modern context, with the Torah being eternal, refers to the secular
ideologies of Secularism, Reductionalism and other cults. He explained how the Torah
commands us to actively fight these false Ideologies.
* A Shloshim was held last Sunday evening for the late Mrs Jacobs. Rabbi Meir Rabbi
completed the Siyum Mishnayes and gave inspiring Divrei Torah, focussing on the great
rewards to come for Mitzvos in Olom Haba. The Siyum was made during a Seudas Mitzva and
Lechayim prepared by the family.
______________________________________________
Announcements
- World renowned speaker Rabbi Lewis Furman (from Ohr Somayach South Africa) will be
touring Melbourne from 31 August to September 4 beginning with a Friday night Shabbos meal
next week (31 August). Drawing huge crows everywhere he goes, Rabbi Furman will be
presenting a series of shiruim on diverse topics including; Dignity of Self, Passion and
Intimacy, Uses and Abuses of Anger. For a detailed itinerary of shiurim he will be giving,
please email us here.
- Welcome back to Mark & Chana Franck after their recent European vacation. Looking
forward to the resumption of the weekly shabbos shiur in its regular location. Sholom
Aleichem and Beruchim Atem Bevoiachem.
- Minyanim times for this coming week are:
Mornings: early minyan @ 6:15am, late minyan @ 7am
Mincha at 5:55pm followed by shiurim. Ma'ariv at 6:35pm.
- Anyone interested in joining the roster for presenting shiurim in the Youth Minyan
should speak to Ezra May, or email us here.
- Please join us for our Katanga weekly Squash game on Sundays @ 6pm and 7pm at Albert
Park (Sports and Aquatic Centre). If you are interested in attending, please let Yirmie
Elkus know.
_______________________________________________
Thoughts for the Week
"Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to
him." (Aldous Huxley)
"Two are better than one; for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe
to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up."
(Ecclesiastes 4:9)
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
(M.T.)
"Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'sir' without adding, 'you're making a
scene'." (Homer Simpson)
_______________________________________________
Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos!
"The Editors"
| < More recent editions |
Home Weekly Newsletter About Katanga Competitions Events at Katanga Post a Message
Shiurim on the Net Ezra's
opinion Column Useful Links Shabbat
& Chagim Times
Email Us