Please Note: Due to the Fast of the 10th of Tevet,  Mincha this Friday evening is at 6:15 - Kabbalat Shabbat will be at 6.40pm  Even if you are not fasting, come to shule and hear Bat Mitzvah girls, Sarah and Micaela Blau, share with you some inspiring thoughts on the significance of this important day.

We have just finished a fascinating JLI lecture series - Life in the Balance. The overwhelming response of students was amazement at how extraordinarily well it integrated the Jewish and modern approaches to Medical Ethics.

With less work pressure, and more time to relax, summer is a time to think about what is really important in life - family, community and for us as Jews, our unique place in the world.

• What does freedom mean in Jewish life?
• How has modernity affected our understanding of identity?
• What sort of claims does Jewish identity make on modern life?
• Are Jews required to turn their back on modern-day liberties?

The onset of the modern age can, to paraphrase Dickens’ famous line, be called "the best of times, the worst of times”. One side of the coin promised security, acceptance, and affluence with the escape from antisemitism and discrimination; while the other threatened assimilation, confusion of loyalties, and the possibility of disappearing as a nation.

In some quarters  the freedom of the age has meant a freedom to discover profound meaning in a life that includes full commitment to Jewish values and teachings.
 
Is it possible that an ancient tradition and the new age might actually bring out the best in each other?

JLI's To Be a Jew in the Modern World explores these issues through the prism of six historical events and phenomena and examines the personal and religious struggles that individuals and communities confronted as they faced the challenges of changing times. 

Through stories that provoke debate and shed insight into what it means to live as a Jew today, and by showing how key issues of the past were answered, while adding questions of our own, we might learn from these experiences what it actually means to be a Jew in the free world.

Please accept this is my personal invitation to join us in February for this illuminating Course. 

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The Bat Mitzvah Banquet last Friday night was a beautiful and uplifting event, organised by Brookie, magnificently catered by the Rebbetzen (with able assistance from Michele Goldman, Marilynne Mill and Maree Smith) with decor arranged by Bernice Charif. The evening was replete with inspiring Divrei Torah from each of this term’s Bat Mitvah girls.  Mark Braham, son of the shule’s founders Manny and Polly Braham, was so affected by the event that he asked to address the girls. Mark expressed the utter pride that his parents would have had from seeing the way that the shule has thrived and flourished from its humble beginnings.

If you know any girls ready to celebrate their Bat Mitzvah in the coming year - please get them to contact Brookie so she can share details of our interesting, educational and fun Bat Mitzvah prep programme.

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Finally, sincere thanks to Chazan Yehoshua and son Aharon for the wonderful musical accompaniment to our Friday night Chanukah celebration and for the uplifting Havdalah service at the teen event on the Saturday night of Chanukah.

On behalf of the Rebbetzin and all of us at South Head, I wish you a Good & Peaceful Shabbos. 

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

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Mazal Tov Lotte
Weiss Family Honoured

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At a party honouring her’ 90th birthday, Lotte Weiss was awarded the prestigious Chasam Sofer Medal by the Slovakian Consul General.  We wish Lotte many more years of health and nachas, biz 120!

 through our history.

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Light in Pretoria
Mrs Jill Katz

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We applaud the great Kiddush Hashem of Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein who, in a remarkable address honouring Nelson Mandela, compared the late leader to Joseph. 

This week we share with you another inspiring story of determination for moral freedom in South Africa’s (and later in the America’s) prison system. Click here

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Parenting With Precision
After Kiddush Shabbat Shiur

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Three Insights into Tailored Education

Each of the three Jewish giants bequeathed a fundamental parenting principle that worked for them.

What were their secrets? And will their ancient wisdom work today?

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Summer Break
Office Closures

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Please note the South Head office will close on Friday December 20th and re-open Monday January 6th.

Youth Services will be in recess from Dec-20 until January 30th

All Staff wish our members and their families a Happy & Healthy Summer break.

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Brookie Reports

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Camp Shalom is almost here and we are so excited! Not to mention almost booked out! Only a few spaces Monday and Friday to book visit Camp Shalom Page.

This week saw the last Mummy and Me for this year and what a great time we had (as you can see from the great pics below). If you want to get in early for next year I would love to hear from you. Call me on 0404-055-643 or email youth@southhead.org

But of course we'll see you in Shule this Shabbos for all our great Youth Services and you better believe we've got some really special things in store for our last Shabbos of the year so make sure you join us. NB: Friday night from 6.40 and Shabbos morning from 10.30. See you in Shule!

Brookie and the Youth Crew 

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Mummy and Me
See you early February

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It's been a great year for Mummy and Me developing a wonderful core of regular families.

Hope you can join us next year starting February 6th for loads of fun and early Jewish learning. Call Brookie on 0404 055 643 to register for Term 1 of 2014

Check out all our great pics from this year. Click here

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Camp Shalom 
Starting Monday

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Embody and to celebrate the "brit" (covenant) between God and the 

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Parasha Sheet
Vayechi

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Q. When speaking about the passing of our forefather Yakov, the Torah does not state that 'he died'. The Rabbis have declared that Yakov did not die, 'just as his children are alive, so is he alive'. What can this possibly mean? 

A. It is the spirit of man which forms the basis of love between two friends; a husband and wife and between family members. Although these feelings are expressed through our physical body, they are the characteristics of our spirit, of our soul, that are the true essence of man. Our limbs merely act as tools designed to help communicate the thoughts and feelings of our soul to others. 

A bullet or sickness can damage the physical body, but they cannot hurt or affect the soul. They can also cause death, but death is only a separation between the body and soul. After death, the soul continues to live. It continues to have a connection with the family, particularly those who were especially dear. It shares in the distress of the family and rejoices at every joyous event of the family. It derives pleasure from seeing the members of his family recover from the tragedy and make every effort to continue on with their lives, acting as an inspiration and with encouragement to others. Although the living members of the family cannot physically see the departed, for the physical connection has been broken, the soul of the departed family member is still there together with the family, watching them and caring for them from above. The soul, the Neshama particularly derives satisfaction from seeing his children, grandchildren and all of his descendants being educated in a Torah way and through their performance of good deeds.

From a letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, apparently written to a war widow in Israel

To learn all about the Parasha, download our Parasha sheet! 

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

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