With our brothers and sisters all over the world, we mourn the tragic murders of Rabbi Moshe Twersky, Rabbi Kalman Levine; Aryeh Kupinsky and Avraham Shmuel Goldberg while praying Shacharis enrobed in their talleisim and tephilin – the victims of visceral Jew-hatred fomented by our so-called “partner in peace”, the Palestinian Authority. Images like those of this week have not been seen in Israel since the Hebron pogrom of 1929. Hashem yikom damam - May G-d avenge their blood. 

At the same time, we mourn and pay deep tribute to police officer Sergeant Zidan Seyf, who fearlessly sacrificed his life to save as many lives as possible. The righteous of the Nations of the World have a portion in the World to Come.

Tonight in shule, we will recite a memorial prayer for these holy martyrs al Kiddush Hashem, while praying for the injured, may Hashem grant them all a speedy recovery.. 

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On a happier note, we are honoured to host the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Rebbetzin Valerie Mirvis in Shul tonight. Rabbi Mirvis will address the congregation and will later also speak to five very fortunate BatMitzvah girls and their families at the beautiful BatMitzvah Graduation Banquet we have in store for this evening. 

And on Shabbos day, we will have the pleasure of hearing Shaul Goldstein, CEO of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, who is in Australia representing Israel at the International Congress for the Conservation of Nature.

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And here's a thought from this week's parasha:

What's Pulling Your Needle?

In this week's parasha we read something really quite shocking: Isaac has become old (senile?), his eyes have become dim (perhaps with cataract?), and as a result he wishes to bless his older son Esau - a man whose values are far removed from those of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. 

The obvious implication is that because Isaac has become old, senile and blind, he really doesn't know what he is doing. But hold on! Firstly, we are not talking about just any "old geyser" - this is our holy forefather Isaac! Secondly, what value could there be in the blessing of someone who is so past it that he doesn't know what he's doing?

Rashi therefore explains that he became blind because of the incense that his daughters-in-law burnt to honour their idols. This is no ordinary blindness, says Rashi. This is a spiritual malaise brought about his proximity to idol-worshippers. 

Rashi is telling us that in spite of Isaac's greatness - he was affected by his environment. When  you live in a spiritually negative environment, no matter how holy you are, it is impossible for your judgement to remain unaffected. That is why he wished to invoke blessings on Esau instead of on the more spiritually deserving Jacob.

Indeed, Ramban says the same thing when discussing Abraham's spiritual decline upon approaching Egypt. 

If even these spiritual giants are so affected - what can we possibly say? We may not always be able to extricate ourselves from a spiritually negative environment - but we should at least be cognisant of its effects on our thinking. If we begin seeing things differently it may not be because we have "matured" or "grown". It may simply be the effects of our environment subtly pulling the needle of our moral compass.

On behalf of the Rebbetzin and all of us at South Head, wishing you a peaceful, happy & inspiring Shabbos.

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

Communal Events
 

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