Dear [first_name],

JLI (Jewish Learning Institute) is the Jewish World’s premier Jewish Adult Education programme. Internationally it attracts tens of thousands of students weekly with new offerings all the time.
Our local South Head branch is one of the best attended in the world. The course that we have just concluded, “How Success Thinks”, was exceptionally well received by the almost 90 students in attendance.

JLI has now introduced a new initiative - a 60 second video on the week’s parasha. It’s short, to the point and with a powerful message.

Here is this week’s video entitled “The Power to Walk Alone”. Enjoy and Learn!

The Battle Within

In Jewish thought Jacob and Esau are compared to the Yetzer Tov and the Yetzer Hara (the good inclination and the evil inclination) that reside simultaneously within the bosom of each of us.

Just as it was with Jacob and Esau who fought each other in Rebecca's womb, so too life is a constant battle between the urge to do good and the urge to do evil.

This battle is not an easy one. The difference between good and evil is at times so subtle as to be almost imperceptible. We may think that we are doing good, when in fact we are doing evil.

Furthermore, no one ever "loses" the battle in one swoop. The moral fall to depths we never thought possible is in small incremental steps.

As our Sages have taught us:
"Today he (the Evil Inclination) tells you to do this;
And tomorrow he tells you to do that;
Until he finally says to you, 'Go serve idolatry'.

In life we are constantly confronted by external challenges, attacks or even wars.

These, according to our rabbis, are life's "small" battles. Life's "big" battles - the ones which truly test our mettle - are internal.

The Sages put it very succinctly when they said:
"Who is truly a warrior? One who defeats his Evil Inclination".

Although subtle, this victory is the most significant of all.

Achieving it requires constant vigilance.

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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President's Message
Nesharim

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I want to share an uplifting story with you. This past September I was in New York for the wedding of my nephew, Richard Hochroth, and Rachel Maier. I had met Rachel’s parents, Peter and Rene Maier (who live in Los Angeles), about a year earlier, when they visited Sydney after attending a simcha in Melbourne. I think the simcha was the bat mitzvah of the granddaughter of one of the “Nesharim.”

Peter’s father, Franta (short for “Frantisek,” in English “Francis”) (1922-2013), came from Brno and was a talented soccer player. When he 18 years old, he went to Prague to do a teacher training course, soon becoming a teacher at a large Jewish orphanage. He saw that the children needed someone to listen to them and care about them; he sought to be a leader who instilled discipline while demonstrating concern. Read More

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South Head Events
Shabbat Mevarchim Lunch & JLI

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Our Next Shabbos Mevorchim sit down lunch will be next Shabbos, the 24th of December. The entire community is invited to a delicious three course Shabbos lunch!

This past week we held the last course of JLI’s How Success Thinks. The course was on overcoming procrastination and was interesting, informative and very well attended. We are also pleased to announce the next series of JLI courses will be starting in February 2017. The course is titled The Dilemma and examines modern conundrums through Talmudic debate.  

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Friday Night Kiddush Sponsor
Reuven Assouline

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This weeks Friday night Kiddush has been kindly sponsored by Reuven Assouline in celebration of his engagement to Bianca Levy. 

Mazal Tov to the Assouline and Levy families!

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
Camp Shalom is Next Week!

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We are so excited for Camp Shalom next week! We have a few spots left, so if you haven't yet booked, click here to register your child/ren.

Wishing you and your family Shabbat Shalom!
Elimelech & Shimi

For all information on upcoming activities please contact us on 9371 7300 ext 3 or 0434 811 770

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Chain Reactions
Rabbi Yossi Groner

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I also called one of my biggest supporters – State Senator Marshall Rauch – and he recommended that I approach the local Jewish Foundation again about the building in Shalom Park. He said I should tell them that we have a place but that we are giving them a final chance at last refusal. And this is what I did – I called the lawyer who was in charge of the Jewish Foundation and told him exactly that. Read More

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Parasha Sheet
Parashat Vayishlach

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Q. I am generally an observant Jew. However, I am involved in a business which makes it difficult to observe Shabbat. I am thinking of giving up this business, but this will not be an easy decision for me. What should I do?

 

Read More

 

 

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Communal Events
Support the Community!

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