Rabbi's Message

Dear [first_name],

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Almost everyone is familiar with the multi-academy award winning movie, “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”, starring Harrison Ford.

It’s an imaginary story about the Holy Ark of the Covenant that once resided in the Temple in Jerusalem.

But what about the real Ark of the Covenant? Does it still exist, and where is it now?

In his magnum opus, Mishne Torah, Maimonides fills us in on the true story:

“There was a stone (believed by many to be the present-day rock within the Dome of the Rock) in the Holy of Holies on which the Holy Ark was placed. When Solomon built the Temple, he knew that it would ultimately be destroyed. He therefore constructed a place for the Holy Ark to be entombed below the Holy of Holies in deep, convoluted vaults.”

Indeed, years later, sensing the imminent destruction of the Temple, King Josiah relocated the Holy Ark amid great fanfare to its secret hiding place in the bowels of the Temple Mount.

No need to travel around the world looking for the Ark - it is where it always was on, or in, the Temple Mount! Sure, it is deep underground in a place that’s almost almost impossible to find. (And a good thing too. Over the past two decades the Muslim Wakf, in their bid to destroy anything associating the Temple Mount with its Jewish heritage, has caused irreparable damage to Temple Mount antiquities - see here. http://www.jcpa.org/jl/vp483.htm) But why did King Solomon hide it in the Temple Mount? Surely he could have found an even more secure refuge?

Basing himself on Maimonides, the Lubavitcher Rebbe demonstrates that the Ark was so integral to the Temple, that its removal from the holy site would have meant that the Temple could no longer function as a Temple. On the other hand, as long as the Ark lies in the secret vault constructed for it by King Solomon, the Temple itself continues to remain a Temple even after its destruction!

People often visit the Western Wall in homage to our ancient past. They are missing the point! When we visit the Wall, indeed when we pray in the direction of Jerusalem from wherever we are in the world, we are praying towards a Temple that in essence still exists! Not merely spiritually, but physically and materially too! The essence of the Temple - the Holy Ark of the Covenant - is as much here today as it always was!

And when we pray for the rebuilding of the Temple, we are not praying for a totally new Temple. We are asking G-d to germinate the essential seed that has never been destroyed so that it blossoms into the wondrous and glorious Temple that will soon be the joy of all mankind. May it come speedily in our days!

With best wishes from the Rebbetzen and all of us at South Head

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

Aaron has been volunteering in MDA since he was 15 as a youth volunteer. He trained in the "Maglan" unit, and served during the 2nd Lebanon War as a Paramedic. Aaron has been involved with MDA as an adult since 2009 as an ambulance driver, instructor, Paramedic and volunteer First Responder and Wish Ambulance Paramedic. Aaron's MDA Medicycle, has been donated by the students of Moriah College and the NSW Jewish Community.

President's Message

Last Friday night South Head Synagogue was a happening place. There were about 250 people in shul, many of them especially for the bat mitzvah of Tayla Hechter, including some overseas visitors (I met her uncle from Los Angeles). Tayla spoke movingly about many of her grandmothers and great-grandmothers and their lessons for her – mazal tov to Tayla and her family.

At the end of the Maariv service we held our inaugural Friday night Kiddush in the entrance area of the shul. The Kiddush featured good whisky, soft drinks and light snacks (chips, nuts, cakes); there was a warm feeling and a chance to socialise with other congregants before heading home to Shabbos dinner. The Kiddush was co-sponsored by Murray Spiro and Norman Chilchik in honour of yahrtzeits. It was organised by our Shmuly Kleiner, our Pastoral and Communal Engagement Manager. Please talk to him if you are interested in sponsoring a Kiddush or you have other suggestions. Read More

This weeks Friday night Kiddush has been kindly sponsored by Steven & Shelley Sher and Clive & Nikki Sher in honour of the Yahrtzeit of their father, Morris Sher. South Head wishes the Sher families long life.

If you would like to sponsor a Kiddush in honour of a Simcha or a Yahrtzeit please contact Shmuly on 0401 558 223 or shmuly@southhead.org.

This week is Bless the Kids Shabbat! The children will make edible Kotel's to commemorate the 3 weeks of mourning of the Beit Hamikdash. The children will also receive a special blessing and treat from the Rabbi and participate in many exciting activities!

See you in Shule!

Wishing you and your family Shabbat Shalom,
Tzemach, Roli & Yeruchum

For all information on upcoming youth events please contact us on 9371 7300 ext 3 or 0412 482 770 or youth@southhead.org

As part of our Bat Mitzvah Experience program the girls were taught about, and taken on a tour of our Mikvah with Rebbetzen Milecki. The girls had fun immersing clothed while the Mums were treated to a special tour by our amazing Mikvah attendant Rivkah Ray. The girls had such a great experience that they cannot wait to go to the Mikvah before they get married!

Our Bat Mitzvah girls love their classes being taught by Shternie Althaus who has many years of teaching experience.

Wednesday evening saw the South Head Kollel continue. We had eleven learning groups studying topics including, Jewish law, parasha, Jewish philosophy and mysticism as well as a group shiur on Astronomy in Jewish tradition.

The Kollel is a weekly event from 7:30-8:30pm Wednesday evenings. All are invited to attend and participate in learning that is of interest to them with our Kollel instructors. For more information, please be in contact with Shmuly Kleiner on 0401 558 223.

"I’ll never forget that moment if I live to be a hundred. As I walked in, he stood up. He had these penetrating, crystal clear, blue eyes. His presence was so intense and yet so peaceful at the same time. I mean you could feel such energy there, and there was also such serenity and peace. It was a very, very strange combination of factors that was most impressive. And the memory of this meeting remains a very vivid part of my life experiences." Read More

Q. In Parashat Pinchas, Hashem once again commands Moshe to take a census of the Jewish people. While all the other censuses were counted by Moshe alone, when Moshe took this census he was required to have the tribal leaders assist in the count of the other tribes. Why is this so?

A. There were two aspects to this census. The singular aspect of the census required the counting of each tribe separately. The leader of each tribe was required to take part in the count of his own tribe. However, the second aspect of this census required the leaders of every tribe to assist in the count of the other tribes as well. Read More