From the Rabbi
DEVAR TORAH - Shemot 5786
Hinda and I send greetings from Ulladulla where we are enjoying a relaxing few days with the kids. I hope everyone is getting to enjoy some downtime in what has been a very challenging period. This Shabbat Rabbi Feldman will be leading the services, as always, and be giving the sermon, and I want to thank him for looking after the congregation while I am away.
On Shabbat (Saturday) evening at 7:30pm, Rabbi Feldman and Mushki are hosting the Shabbat Schmooze in their home, when our member Dr Bruce Lachter, will give a talk and lead a discussion on dealing with trauma. Bruce is a highly experienced psychiatrist and published author and lecturer on psychiatric themes. This is an important opportunity that I think can be of benefit for many people in our community. For location details, please contact the synagogue office.
This Shabbat we start a new book of the Torah, Shemot, known in English as Exodus. It begins with the descent into slavery in Egypt and the first stirrings of the redemption. The hero of Shemot, and indeed the rest of the Torah, is Moses, and we first see his mettle when he came across an Egyptian beating an Israelite. Seeing that no one is able to rescue the Israelite, Moses killed the Egyptian and buried his body in the sand. The next day, Moses saw two Israelites fighting and intervened to separate them. Brazenly, one of the Israelites retorted, 'are you going to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?'
At this point the Torah records that Moses thought, 'what I did must have become known', and that seems straightforward enough, but Rashi gives a surprised interpretation, Moses meant, 'I was wondering what sin the Jews committed to be punished with hard labour, but now I see that they deserve it'. What was the precise sin that Moses had identified?
Don Isaac Abarbanel gave this explanation: when Moses saw that no Israelite was coming to the defence of their brother being beaten by an Egyptian, he thought it was because none of them knew how to fight. He reasoned that if they had been capable of assisting, they would have done so, but as it was, they were simply unable. Once Moses saw two Israelites fighting, he understood that they knew very well how to fight, but they chose to fight with each other instead of defending each other against their enemies. The sin was a lack of ahavat Yisrael, love and concern for fellow members of the Jewish People, which led to callousness and indifference to the helpless suffering of a brother Israelite.
We are all full of skills and abilities; the question is how we choose to use them. As a community (and I mean that broadly speaking -- happily this does not apply to the community of The Great Synagogue) are we using our capabilities to fight with each other, or to take on the enemies, opponents and challenges that we all face? Are we motivated by hostility towards each other, or concern for each other? Do we step up to defend each other, or only to bicker amongst ourselves? If we are propelled by these negative feelings, then the teaching is clear: the punishment is exile and suffering that will impact us all. But if we choose to love, support and champion each other, then the reward is nothing less than redemption.
From The President
Dear Friends
The Shule continues to receive messages of support from far and wide across Australia and overseas. Heartfelt letters and cards of support continue to arrive at the Synagogue office. Today, we would like to share one message in particular --- left at our gates with beautiful flowers, shortly after the Bondi attack. Our thanks to everyone who has taken the time to write, to express their feelings and solidarity with our community.
To the Rabbi, Community leaders, and members of this synagogue.
We are leaving these flowers as a small gesture of love and solidarity after the recent evil attack. My partner and I are Iranian, and we want you to know that majority of us carry a deep respect and love for the Jewish people and for Israel, not just politically and as our ally, but culturally and historically. Our stories and traditions have been intertwined for centuries, and in our heart, Jews will always be our people, our brothers and sisters.
What happened was not only an attack on Jews, it was an attack on decency, on freedom, and on basic human rights! As you mark Chanukah, we are thinking of the meaning of it, light in darkness, resilience, and the miracle of hope continuing even when the world feels heavy. We are praying that your community feels protected, supported and surrounded by love.
With sincere condolences, respect and solidarity!
On behalf of Farbod and Sareh, and in the spirit of many Iranian people who stand with you.
We were delighted to welcome Mushki Feldman's parents in Shule last week and were fortunate the choir could attend to support the Chazzan. Rabbi Shmulik and Chani Kuperman were very generous in their praise for our service, the choir and our community and we look forward to their next and hopefully longer visit.
A big thank you to Jaquerli and Gilad Serafim for hosting last week's summer shmooze, and to our speaker Zac Levi, who brought to life some of the more interesting stories from the Shule's very early history. This week's event will be at Rabbi Menachem and Mushki Feldman's home with special guest speaker Dr Bruce Lachter who will lead a discussion dealing with trauma
For those marking life cycle events, we wish you Mazal Tov and members marking Yahrzeits, Long Life.
Wishing you all Shabbat Shalom.
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