The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for January, 2021

Due the three-day lockdown, commencing this evening at 6pm, services will not be conducted at the Brisbane Synagogue this Shabbat and the delicious Cholent, which was scheduled for this Shabbat, in honour of late Adela and Ellis Goldman OBM, will be served, please G-d, next Shabbat instead. We extend our wishes to the Goldman and Jacobson families for a long life in commemoration of the Yahrtzeit of late Ellis OBM, who was a great stalwart of our congregation and community. May his neshamah be elevated.

Bernie Goldman was scheduled to deliver a talk this evening from the pulpit in honour of the Yahrtzeit of his late father Ellis. Due to the lockdown, we have included Bernie’s talk in the ‘Tradition’ section below.

Please see important information below from Qld health regarding the lockdown.

Not withstanding the challenges we are currently facing, we are truly blessed to be living in such a technologically advanced era, which affords us the opportunity to communicate and connect easily via social media and other mediums. This will enable us to maintain our Erev Shabbat zoom sessions, which will be held this afternoon at 5.30pm via Zoom, and our Monday morning Shacharit (morning service) will also be conducted via Zoom at the usual time of 6am.

Please make a special effort to light the candles this evening at the proper time of 6.30pm, and may we suggest that we pray the Kabbalat Shabbat service together following candle lighting, from the comforts of our own homes.

This week we begin a new chapter of our early history with the second book of the Torah, Shmot, often referred to as the book of ‘Exodus’, containing the well-known story of our miraculous exodus from ancient Egypt.

May we indeed experience these abundant miracles, and may all of humanity be blessed with healing, comfort and the ultimate blessing of eternal peace and redemption!

Shabbat Shalom

Levi and Dvorah Jaffe

As we come to the conclusion of the first book of the Torah, which contains the foundational stories of the world and of our nation and the characters  who continue to inspire our lives, we draw strength from their examples. Following the final words of the book, “and they put him (Josef ) in a casket in Egypt” we proclaim “Chazak Chazak Venitchazek” – “Be Strong, Be Strong, Let’s be Strong”, as we are about to enter the challenging new chapter of our history, as slaves in the foreign land of Egypt.

How are we to draw strength from such a morbid ending to the book, “And they placed him (Josef) in a casket in Egypt” ?

Among the explanations for this is, that the passing of Joseph and his burial in Egypt served as a constant reminder for the Jewish people, throughout their many years of slavery, that the time will come when they, along with the remains of Joseph, will be taken out of Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel, as was proclaimed by Joseph himself.

Our declaration of Chazak Chazak Venitchazek, immediately following these concluding words are thus a perpetual reminder to us all that, not withstanding the challenging circumstances and vicissitudes of life, Hashem is always right there with us and provides us with the light and guidance of Torah to help us navigate through the tough times, as we draw strength and inspiration from the lives and times of our founding fathers and mothers of the Jewish people.

This past year has been a most challenging one for us all, with many unexpected twists and turns, we have in a sense become slaves to a foreign force over which we seem to have little or no control. These unprecedented circumstances have taken, and continue to take their toll on the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of billions of people around the world.      

May we transition from the book Genesis to the book of Exodus, leading us from darkness to light, from slavery to redemption, with the transformation of all challenges and struggles, into the most profound and uplifting opportunities for growth, healing and success, materially and spiritually.

Please see information below regarding our upcoming enlightening JLI course, entitled “Journey of the Soul”, commencing in four weeks.

While we are still in the holiday season, with several regular attendees away, please make an effort to join us at Shul so we can ensure a regular Minyanim for services on Shabbat and during the week.

For those of you will be heading off for a well-deserved summer break. I encourage you to consider adding more meaning and depth to your summer holiday and take along a meaningful Jewish book, Siddur, Tefillin and/or travelling Shabbat candles.

Shabbat Shalom and may 2021 usher in much peace, health, happiness and prosperity, and the ultimate redemption!    

Levi and Dvorah Jaffe