The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for August, 2020

This past week has been an historic one for our congregation as our Management Committee approved the Transaction Documents between the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation and the developer of the new commercial tower behind the Synagogue fronting onto Mary Street. Please see more information below regarding this exciting project.

A story is recorded in the Talmud of a Roman nobleman who once challenged the famous Rabbi Akiva, “If your G-d is so concerned for the poor, why did He create them?”

“For the same reason that He didn’t create bread trees,” was the response of Rabbi Akiva. “G-d wants us to join Him in partnership to continue the work that He began. Through the act of giving, we become kinder and better people and contribute towards tikun olam – ‘building’ the world; Imagine a world in which we are all self-sufficient and never required the support of one another, a world void of gratitude and compassion.

In this week’s Parsha – Torah portion we read ‘destitute people will not cease to exist within the Land; therefore I command you, saying, “You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor, and to your destitute in your Land.”

Indeed, it is through the act of giving that humanity is elevated and the spark of G-d lying dormant in the soul becomes visible. The Torah teaches us that what we give away are the only things we really have.

This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim – during which we bless the incoming introspective month of Elul, the month of preparation for the New Year. We are encouraged to utilize this month as an opportunity to reflect on our lives and how we may enhance our relationships with each other and with Hashem. It is a also a good time to have one’s Mezuzot and Tefillin checked, particularly if this has not been conducted for the past few years. Please feel free to contact us if you require any assistance in this regard.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov, 

בברכת כתיבה וחתימה טובה, לשנה טובה ומתוקה​​​​​​​​​​​​​
May you to be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet new year.

Levi and Dvorah Jaffe