Lift Your World!
19/10/2012 02:31:06 PM
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 Lift Your World!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. Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM
Featured at the Conference!
South Head is one of the largest and most successful centres in the world and I was recently asked to speak on the reasons why we do so well here for an International JLI Conference. Click on the image below to see the short YouTube video - it's really cool!
Contact Helen asap on 9371 7300 ext 4 or email secretary@southhead.org KosherChef - Now for Year 3 too!!
This unique 7 week culinary course will teach children how to cook, with a Jewish twist! Wednesdays: 3:45-5:30pm Oct 24 - Dec 12
A special time and place for Mum and Bub to spend quality time together in a warm Jewish environment. For ages 18mths to 3 1/2 yrs. A great beginning to your child's Jewish education! $15 per session or $90 for the Term (7 consecutive sessions). Contact Brookie on 0404 055 643 or book online www.southhead.org/mummyandme 
Parsha Sheet
Noach In this week's Parsha the world is corrupt and immoral, no one is nice to each other and so Hashem has decided to destroy the world with a flood. Read more about the flood in our Parasha sheet! All new to our Parasha sheets is the Mission of the week which directly relates to the weekly Parasha. Encourage your children to perform the Mission of the week and they will receive 5 Torah dollars!
-------------- Looking forward to seeing you in Shule. Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM Communal Events
Click here for full information |
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Mummy & Me |
666 Old South Head Rd Rose Bay, NSW 2029 (02) 9371 7300 |
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SHMINI
Rose Bay, NSW 2029
(02) 9371 7300