Of all the mitzvot of the Torah, our Rabbis tell us that the mitzvah of Parah Adumah is the most enigmatic. So much so, that King Solomon, the wisest of all men, said: "I thought that I was wise, but (upon seeing my inability to comprehend the mitzvah of Parah Adumah - Midrash) I realized that wisdom was far from me. 

What is Parah Adumah? 

If a person came into contact with a corpse, he could only be purified through being sprinkled with the ashes of a perfectly red cow. Now, while that is strange enough, what is absolutely paradoxical is that those involved in preparing the ashes became impure. Or to quote our sages: "it made pure those who were impure, and made impure those who were pure!" 

As mentioned earlier, even King Solomon couldn't figure this one out! Nevertheless, Jews, who are never prepared to take "no" for an answer, have come up with a number of insights that can be derived from the conundrum of the Parah Adumah. 

Here is one: 

A Jew may feel that it his duty to achieve the highest levels of purity and holiness - to become as the Buddhists would have it, an "enlightened" individual. To do this, he absents himself from "worldly" pursuits and lives a monastic life of study and prayer. 

Very commendable! A holy man and a true saint! Then he hears that another Jew has fallen to a very low level - he has, metaphorically speaking, come into contact with a corpse and is spiritually "dead". The holy Jew may think to himself, "What has this got to do with me? Although I may be able to assist the fallen Jew, there is every chance that I will in the process become tainted by my contact with him! In the process of my lifting him up, it is possible that he will pull me down. All my years of spiritual elevation will then be compromised!" 

Comes the mitzvah of Parah Adumah and tells us. To save a Jew from spiritual death, you must bear the risk of falling a little even if it means becoming contaminated yourself. Holiness and "enlightenment" are not individual pursuits. G-d's interest is in the creation of "Goy Kadosh" - a holy nation. You must therefore never say, "I saved my own soul - and to heck with everyone else." G-d loves all His children - the fallen just as much as the enlightened. Just as a parent would expect his children to look out for each other, even at some risk to themselves, so too G-d. 

Pursue your goals of enlightenment, by all means. But be prepared to purify others, even if it means contracting a little impurity yourself.

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

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

A Visit with the Rebbetzin
Mrs Devorah Caytak

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".. When we sat down, she asked us our names and then she asked us some questions. It would have been natural for her to ask us to relate our personal stories — because we all came from non-religious homes — but she didn’t pry like that. Instead, she asked us each in turn what we liked to do, what were our hobbies, what kind of music we liked.."

Click here to read the full story.

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Why Kosher?
After Kiddush Shabbos Shiur

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We all know at least the basics of kosher practice  - no non-kosher animals, no mixing of meat and milk - but the reason for keeping kosher eludes most of us. It is one of those Jewish concepts which has no definitive human rationale; the ultimate reason we observe its laws is simply because they are G-d's commandments and we are Jews!

Join us straight after Kiddush in the Herbert Hall and learn how we assign some meaning and appreciation to kosher whilst discovering three approaches to understanding kosher that also relate to human relationships. 

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Brookie Reports

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South Head Children were treated to a science show this Purim. The children enjoyed watching all sorts of experiments including a nail chair, flying toilet paper, coloured shadows, fireballs and more! Upon entry each child gave Tzeddakah and they received Mishlaoch Manot at the conclusion of the show. The show was followed by 'Purim in China' which featured shabbat candle lighting and a delicious Chinese buffet for the family!

But now that Purim is over it's time to focus on Pesach!! Make a date for our traditional Children's Miniature Seder at 10.30 on First Day (Tuesday April 15th) and be part of our very exciting Pesach performance.  Every child will receive their very own South Head Youth Children's Haggadah as well as a kiddush cup and seder plate! 

Looking forward to seeing you all in Shul and wishing you a Good Shabbos]

Brookie and the Youth Crew

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Parasha Sheet
Shmini

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Q: We are told that we have each come down into this world to achieve a specific purpose. If we say that the ultimate purpose of creation is to serve Hashem, is this not a vain attitude on the part of our Creator? If we are to give to G-d and serve G-d, then are we not like robots?

A: It is against the Jewish religion to believe that all our actions and deeds are governed from above. Man, unlike other creations, has free choice. It would be silly to give man commandments to fulfill and then take away his ability to do them. If all was governed from above then man, indeed, would be like a robot, but G-d has given us the ability to choose; an ability no robot has. Man has the ability to perform Mitzvot with Divine inspiration and the ability to perform Mitzvot because he wants to perform them in order to become closer to Hashem. 

When Hashem asks us to perform Mitzvot, He is trying to get us to do Mitzvot for our own welfare. For example, Hashem comes to the farmer and tells him, ‘if you fulfill My commandments I will give you rain for your fields’. Of course, the farmer immediately begins to observe Hashem’s Torah and Mitzvot in order that his crop will grow. As he matures, the farmer begins to realize that these Mitzvot he is fulfilling are actually for his own benefit and wellbeing. It is the vehicle by which he is rising to higher levels and creating a greater connection with Hashem. It is the responsibility of a Jew to ascend from level to level and strive to be close to Hashem. 

The above lesson is based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and adapted by Brookie Milecki. 

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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Communal News

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Burger Centre Seniors Expo Sunday March 23rd 10.30am - 2.30pm. Click here or the pic for full info