What's Pulling Your Needle?

In this week's parasha we read something really quite shocking: Isaac has become old (senile?), his eyes have become dim (perhaps with cataract?), and as a result he wishes to bless his older son Esau - a man whose values are far removed from those of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. 

The obvious implication is that because Isaac has become old, senile and blind, he really doesn't know what he is doing. But hold on! Firstly, we are not talking about just any "old geyser" - this is our holy forefather Isaac! Secondly, what value could there be in the blessing of someone who is so past it that he doesn't know what he's doing?

Rashi therefore explains that he became blind because of the incense that his daughters-in-law burnt to honour their idols. This is no ordinary blindness, says Rashi. This is a spiritual malaise brought about his proximity to idol-worhshipers. 

Rashi is telling us that in spite of Isaac's greatness - he was affected by his environment. When  you live in a spiritually negative environment, no matter how holy you are, it is impossible for your judgement to remain unaffected. That is why he wished to invoke blessings on Esau instead of on the more spiritually deserving Jacob.

Indeed, Ramban says the same thing when discussing Abraham's spiritual decline upon approaching Egypt. 

If even these spiritual giants are so affected - what can we possibly say? We may not always be able to extricate ourselves from a spiritually negative environment - but we should at least be cognisant of its effects on our thinking. If we begin seeing things differently it may not be because we have "matured" or "grown". It may simply be the effects of our environment subtly pulling the needle of our moral compass.

Looking forward to seeing you in Shule.

On behalf of the Rebbetzin and all of us at South Head wishing you a Good Shabbos

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

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Friday Night in Shul
Guest Speaker from ZAKA

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Mr Yossi Fraenkel is the Operations Officer for ZAKA's International Unit, is with us in Shul this Friday night (Nov-16) to raise awareness of this unique group of people whose focus is "Saving Those who Can be Saved" and "Honouring Those who Can't" .

Over 1,500 volunteers and paramedics spread around Israel are permanently on call and ZAKA is now the dominant non-governmental rescue, life-saving and recovery organisation in Israel.

These volunteers fulfill the biblical commandments focused on the burial of the dead, overcoming the horror of terrorist attacks and other tragedies and recovering human remains to ensure that burial can take place in the traditional way.

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Please also join us on Friday night as we recite Tehillim (Psalms) for the protection of our brothers and sisters in the south of Israel and for the soldiers of Israel's Defence Forces, may Hashem protect them.

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Camp Shalom
Rego open!

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Camp Shalom Summer Day Camp

For Yrs K-6:

Mon Dec-17 until Fri Dec 21.

Book early! With these exiting new excursions it will fill up very quickly!!

 

• THE CIRCUS FACTORY
• WANNABEES FAMILY PLAY TOWN
• BIG BLAST

To Register, visit our Camp Shalom Homepage here   Early Bird Discount Prices till Dec-5th

Contact Brookie on 0404 055 643 or email youth@southhead.org 

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Brookie's Message

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Really looking forward to both Birthday Club and Bless the Kids coming up in the next couple of weeks at South Head.

Next Friday Nov-23rd we will be celebrating the birthdays of all those children under bar/bat Mitzvah (and over 3) whose Jewish birthdays are in the months of Av, Tishrei and Cheshvan.

On Shabbos Dec-1st we will welcome all children aged 0-10 to participate in our Bless the Kids Shabbat. The children each receive a blessing and a treat from the Rabbi, and create their own edible treat, corresponding to the Parasha of the week.

And put this date in your Diary: Friday Dec-14th when get together for the most exciting Chanuka event yet!!

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Parasha Sheet
Toldot

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Welcome to this week's Parasha Sheet - Parashat Toldot. 

* Yakov and Esav are born
* Esav sells his birthright to Yakov
* Yakov dresses up like Esav in order to receive Esav's blessing's from their father Yitzchak.

Download our Parasha sheet to read the Parasha in more detail!

Please share our Parasha sheet around your Shabbat table and let your family and friends explore the Parasha of the week together with you. 

Dont forget to do the mission of the week!

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Communal Events

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• Nov 23-25: Limmud Fair
• Nov-Dec 2012: Mission to Israel - HonestReporting & NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

Click here for full information

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