Dear [first_name],

This Tuesday marks the Seventh of Cheshvan. In the times of our Holy Temple, when pilgrims would return from Jerusalem after the holiday period, the Seventh of Cheshvan represented the day that those who lived furthest from Jerusalem would reach their homes.

In a symbolic kind of way, today too, the Seventh of Cheshvan represents a return to the "Real World" after the euphoria of the High Holy Day period and the Festival of Succot which follows it.

If one achieved a heightened sense of spirituality - as I believe many of us at South Head did during these High Holy Days - returning to the more mundane aspects of life can be a bit of a downer. I would therefore like to share with you an insight from this week's parasha, Noah, to give us a lift.

The parasha of course refers to Noah's Ark riding the waves of the Great Flood. Yet, while we do believe that the events described actually occurred, there lies within this story deeper levels of meaning.

The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, explained that the flood-waters refer to the overwhelming difficulties of this world - making a living, maintaining relationships, dealing with the inevitable crises that arise in the course of all human lives.

The Ark - in Hebrew "Tevah" - refers to the words of Torah and the words of Prayer. ("Tevah" in Hebrew can also mean "Word"). And just as Noah was commanded to enter the Ark in the face of the flood waters, so too does G-d ask us to enter the words of Torah and the words of Prayer to escape from the raging worries of this world.

Of course, he did not mean that we escape permanently into a life of ascetiscm. On the contrary, it was the Baal Shem Tov who taught us the necessity of engaging the world and uplifting it. But in order to uplift the world, rather than become overwhelmed by it, it is necessary to "escape" for a little time each day into G-d' world so that one can emerge refreshed and invigourated with the energy to tackle the outside world once more.

The Alter Rebbe - Rabbi Schneur Zalman, founder of the Chabad movement - goes even a step further. The Torah says, "And the Ark was uplifted over the water." The Alter Rebbe explains this to mean that the flood waters - all the apparent difficulties of this world - have the capacity to "uplift" the Ark - the words of Torah and the words of Prayer. When a person is engaged in this world, and yet still finds time to pray and to learn, the challenge of worldliness makes the few minutes snatched away for prayer and learning far more precious before G-d than one who is solely engaged in the spiritual. So much so, that such a person's prayer is truly uplifted and exaulted to the highest levels.

In the same light we have often seen some of our busiest business people making the effort to accommodate a JLI Course into their busy schedules and feeling gratified and strengthened by the experience, as though they have been rewarded for rising to the challenge. So anyone out there who thinks they simply don't have the time - make the time and see how much you get back!

On the surface, it would be wonderful if the whole of life would be one big inspirational month of Tishrei. But this angelic ideal was not G-d's idea of a world. G-d wanted a world of challenges - in which we bring a little bit of the inspiration of Tishrei into each day of our busy and often hectic lives. In this way, we uplift the world - and in turn, are uplifted by it.

With best wishes for a Good Shabbos on behalf of the Rebbetzin and all of us at South Head.

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

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Shabbat Project
Celebrate an EXTRA-Ordinary Shabbat!

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Join us at South Head for a Shabbat Project to remember!!

Challah bake for the kids and women, special guest speakers, deliciously catered breakfast and lunch and whisky tasting.

In its fourth year, this global initiative is in over 900 cities, bringing together Jews from all backgrounds and traditions to celebrate ONE Shabbat together.

Click here for the full timetable and to book.

Be part of something special next Shabbat!

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President's Message
Baseball and Grieving

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Six weeks ago I wrote about my friend Ike, a prominent New York psychiatrist, a son of Holocaust survivors who grew up in the Washington Heights neighbourhood of Manhattan. Dr Isaac Herschkopf is a good and interesting writer and below I share two of his recent articles.

The first is about baseball. Like Ike, I am a dyed-in-the-wool Yankee fan. I grew up in the Bronx just a mile north of Yankee Stadium. The great players in my formative years (the early 1960s) were Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris (he set a home-run record) and left-handed pitcher Whitey Ford. As I write (on Thursday) the Chicago Cubs have just beaten the Cleveland Indians tow in the 2016 World Series: it was a thrilling game 7, the Cubs having come back from losing three of the first four games. The Cubs are one of the oldest baseball teams; they last won the World Series in 1908. Read More

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Kiddush Sponsor
Michaelis Family

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This weeks Friday night Kiddush has been kindly sponsored by Bev Michaelis in commemoration of her husband, Henry Michaelis's, yahrtzeit.

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

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Youth News
Ready, Set Dough!

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What an incredible grand opening we had on Sunday night for our very own South Head Teen Scene, together with a goodbye party for our dedicated Youth Director Shmuli Rosenbaum. 

   

UP NEXT…. READY, SET, DOUGH!! Don’t miss out on our Camp Shalom Challah Bake where the children will get a chance to reunite with their Camp Shalom counsellors, and experience making their own Challah followed by a kids movie. Spaces are limited. To register just visit us on our South Head website.

That’s just the beginning, For the Shabbat Project Children’s Services we will be having our very own EXTRAORDINARY Miniature golf course, followed by a Shabbat in the park at the Dudley Page Reserve.

   

Wishing you and your family Shabbat Shalom!
Elimelech & Shimi

For all information on upcoming youth events please contact us on 9371 7300 ext 3 or 0432 876 770 or youth@southhead.org

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Paradigm Shift
Professor Reuven Or

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Because of the Rebbe’s advice, this young husband called our department and, by Divine Providence, it was me who answered his call that day. After describing the cancer, the treatments and the subsequent failures, he told me that he was turning to us on the instruction of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. This got me thinking and I decided that, despite the failures of the previous doctors to remedy the situation, I would have to find an avenue which nobody had considered earlier. I said, “Let me confer with my staff. Come with your wife tomorrow, and we will have an answer.” Read More

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Parasha Sheet
Parashat Noach

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The Torah portion relates how G-d tells Noah that because he was righteous he and his family would be saved. Although all mankind would be punished for their wickedness and annihilated in a terrible flood, Noah and his descendants would be saved. It was for this purpose that Noah built an ark according to G-ds specifications. When the rain waters came, Noah and his family entered the ark. Read more

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Communal Events
Support the Community!

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