The Rebbetzin and I are thrilled to announce the birth of the latest addition to our family - a baby boy to our son Shmueli and Sora in New York.
In honour of his birth, let me share with you a thought on the importance of bringing up our children in a balanced way.
This week we celebrated Purim Katan - the small Purim which during a Jewish leap year falls a month before the main Purim.
Unlike other books of the Bible, in the Megillah, the Jews are referred to exclusively as Yehudim.
The central importance of gratitude (hoda'ah) in Judaism can be seen from the fact that the word Jew (Yehudi) derives from it. Indeed, our foremother Leah named her fourth child Yehuda as an expression of thanksgiving to G-d. (Yehuda [Judah] is the source of the word Yehudi as most Jews come from that tribe).
True gratitude comes from a deep sense of humility - a feeling that what I receive in life are undeserved gifts from above. It therefore behoves me to accept them in awe and gratitude.
It is impossible to be grateful if one has an attitude of entitlement.
A question: For a generation now we have been focused on building self-esteem in our children - making them feel really good about who they are and what they achieve. Has this been balanced with developing humility and gratitude? How else can we ensure that their sense of self-importance does not come at the expense of those (both G-d and humans) who have given them the very ability to achieve? How else can we ensure that they do not ride rough-shod over others?
With best wishes for a Good Shabbos on behalf of the Rebbetzin and all of us at South Head,
If you want to know more about Mikvah observance, feel free to contact either Rebbetzin Henya on 0421 770 770 or Mikvah Manager Rivka Ray on 0439 479 315.
Youth Crew We're Here for You!
It's been such a great week here at South Head Youth! Mums and bubs had such a fun time with Morah Danit at our Mummy & Me program.
Also, with Purim coming up we are so excited to announce "Purim with the Minions", a Minion themed Purim carnival, with Jumping Castles, Plaster Master, Cupcake decorating and so much more!
Oh BTW we're in New York City taking a group of lucky Teens to the annual Cteen Jewish Leadership Conference, at which our very own Mark Sonnenschein has been given the honour of representing our Shule by speaking in Times Square in front of thousands of Jewish Teens from around the world! Pictures to follow soon!
And finally, due to popular demand Camp Shalom Autumn registration has just opened! We have three very exciting and all-new trips and adventures in store for our youth (as seen below). The Camp dates are Monday April 11 - Thursday April 14. Our camps are regularly booked out, so book early before it's too late! Click here to register!
Wishing everyone Shabbat Shalom from New York City!
Tzemach, Roli & Yeruchem
For more info on all programs: youth@southhead.org Tzemach Yemini 0412 482770, Roli Abrahams 0412 542770 or Yeruchem Lipszyc 0431 928 608
From Flames to Riches Rabbi Shloma Majeski
"As soon as the car was hit, it burst into flames. The middle doors jammed, and the three fellows in the middle seats were burned quite severely. One of those from the front who had managed to get out tried to help them to open the door but, as soon as he grabbed the handle, he burned all of his fingers. Eventually, he managed to open the door and everyone got out. Several of the guys had to roll on the grass to put out the flames still licking their clothes but, thank G-d, everyone was okay". full story
Parasha Sheet Parashat Ki Tisa
Q. Our Parasha this week speaks about Moshe’s brother Aharon. The Great Torah commentators say about Aharon and his students, "..be like the students of Aharon - loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures, and drawing them close to the Torah." What can we learn from this?
A. Two lessons are contained in this statement. First, the use of the unusual word ‘creatures’ rather than ‘people’ implies that we are to positively approach and love all people, even those corrupted by negative influences. Aharon treated all men with love, including those of questionable character for the simple reason that we are all Hashem’s creations. Although Aharon was the High Priest, he did not consider it beneath him to reach out to a fellow Jew, a mere ‘creature’ and bring him close to Torah.
The second lesson concerns the way in which we are to approach others. Each of us has an obligation to bring our fellow Jews closer to a complete, perfect and uncompromised Torah. In doing so however, we need to be aware of being drawn away from the staunchness of our own position in Judaism. In approaching others, we also need to ensure that we do not compromise the Torah and Mitzvot. Of course if someone is ‘drowning’ we must come to his aid, yet we must also be careful that in the process of rescuing him, we do not ‘drown' ourselves. You should not allow your love for you fellow ‘creatures’ to cause you to manipulate the Torah to suit their needs. We need to bring them close to Torah, not bring the Torah close to them! Don’t water down the Torah to their level, but present the Torah in its pure form without compromise.
L'CHAIM! Inspiring & Uplifting Divrei Torah to enhance Life-Cycle Events for the Jewish Home & Family. Selected & Edited by Rabbi Ben- Zion Rand.
This collection of short essays was published to provide Torah messages & concepts for special occasions such as birth of a baby, bris, marriage and also at a house of mourning. When called upon to talk at a special event a "Dvar Torah" will often enhance your speech. This book is an excellent resource for speeches at these milestones in our lives.
South Head wishes Mazal Tov to Rabbi Benzion & Rebbetzin Henya Milecki on the birth of a grandson on Feb-21 / 12 Adar I in the USA; to parents Rabbi Shmueli & Sora; to grandparents Shaul & Julie Margolis; to great grandparents Alex & Lily Milecki and Rabbi Mendel & Rebbetzin Rosa Marsow
Wednesday
Geoffrey Levy AO
Ilan Ben Nissan
Joseph Weinreich
Thursday
Ariella Spivak
We wish "long life" to...
Friday
Alan Brener for father Chippy Brener
Barbara Katz for father Hymie Light
Charles Gordon for brother-in-law Harry Israel
Haley Carr for father Alwyn Sherman
Marny Rosen for father Alwyn Sherman
Shabbos
Nechama Dina Milecki for father Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind
Vera Goldberg for father Otto Winter
Sunday
Aneta Weinreich for grandmother Rachela Baral
Jeff Strumpman for sister Adelle Pezaro
Oscar Finkelstein for mother Sylvia Finkelstein
Monday
Albert Epstein for mother Yocheved Epstein
Michael Wyner for brother-in-law Simon Shiffer
Sorrel Sher for mother Chana Bacher
Tuesday
Jonathan Anstey for father Max Anstey
Julie Levine for husband Alan Lewis Levine
Lisa Shabtay for grandmother Dora Schneiderman
Maureen Diamond for mother Frances Klugman
Robert Krochmalik for father Benjamin Krochmalik
Roger Kaye for mother Dorothy 'Dot' Kaye
Ruth Levine for father Alan Lewis Levine
Wednesday
Colleen Shein for mother Francine Katz
Connie Sher for father Wolfie Latinsky
Jonathon Katz for mother Francine Katz
Lionel Katz for wife Francine Katz
Sandi Meyerowitz for father Percy Wisnovitz
Yvonne Sontag for brother-in-law Kurt Saltman
Thursday
Hymie Hyman for father Isaac Hyman
Irma Levett for husband Samuel Levett
Judah Finkelstein for father Charlie Finkelstein
Mark Levett for father Samuel Levett
Neill Miller for mother Ann Miller
Shelley Watson for grandfather Soul Inspektor
South Head Sandra Bransky Library & Youth Synagogue
