The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for October, 2022

This email is being prepared from an altitude of 37000ft over the Indian Ocean, as I am returning from the UK, where I had the pleasure of joining my parents and family in the celebration of my mother’s 80th birthday ka”h.

In honour of the occasion, upon the request of my mother, our family have launched BBC (Bubba’s Birthday Club), on three continents. The purpose of the club is to encourage all of our friends and acquaintances to appreciate the value of their Jewish birthday, and to celebrate this uniquely personal and powerful day, to spiritually uplift ourselves and our loved ones. This year in particular, being a Shnat Hakhel – a Year of Gathering, is particularly auspicious to conduct Jewish gatherings, for the purpose of enhancing our Jewish identity and connection to Hashem,

We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Dovi Jaffe and Shmuli Amzalak for their assistance last week in conducting services and preparing the Cholent, which were enjoyed by all.

This week we read in the Torah of the great flood of Noach, which engulfed the entire world, the only survivors being Noach and his family and the animals, which they brought with them into the Tevah – Ark.

In today’s world in particular many people are struggling with anxiety and depression, which in many circumstances requires competent professional guidance and support, as these are serious conditions which must be handled with extreme care and sensitivity.

As a baseline, overall positive approach which can be of assistance in this regard is a seminal essay penned by a great Chassidic master over 200 years ago,based on the storyline of this week’s parshah.- Torah portion.

A conventional reading presents us with a pretty straight forward description: the waters lifted the ark off the ground. But in the Chassidic rendering, these words reveal much more; they speak of how raging waters, a monsoon of inner anxiety can, in fact, be something that not only doesn’t cripple you, rather, it “lifts your ark off the earth.”

This is the “raging waters of Noah.” It’s the tormented, anxious mind.

So what do we do when plagued with unhealthy worrying and debilitating thoughts?

Do what Noah did. Build an ark.

In Hebrew, the word for ark is “teivah” (תבה). Another translation for this word is, well, “word.” And so, the Baal Shem Tov taught, when G‑d told Noah “enter the teivah,” an alternate translation of those words is, “enter the words”—the words of prayer.

Noah had a rescue plan. It was the precious, serene, and calming words of prayer that offered him solace, hope, and rescue.

You, too, can take advantage of the same rescue plan. You, too, can “enter into the words of prayer,” pour out your heart to G‑d, and thereby find comfort and, more importantly, rescue.

But the good news doesn’t stop there. Referring back to the description in the verse, the raging waters “lift the ark off the earth.” In other words, when escaping the internal monsoon of anxiety and finding refuge in the words of prayer, it’s not just “refuge” or “escape” that you’re netting; you’re netting far more. Your prayer, your dedication, your connection to the Divine is now enhanced and enriched by the experience.

It is such prayers that G‑d cherishes, and He’s listening out for them.

No one wishes to have “raging waters” in their life, but inevitably, they will come. They could very well crash over your mind and heart one day like a tsunami threatening to knock you entirely out of your senses.

If and when they do, remember the powerful refuge you possess. Remember that the words of prayer and Torah study offer a potent lifeboat that can carry you above those waters.

Please consider joining our upcoming fascination and spiritually uplifting JLI course, ‘My G-d’ – Defining the Divine, which will address some of the fundamental questions about Hashem, including philosophical questions, such as ‘Do bad things happen to good people?’    .

Dvorah and I wish you and your family a restful and peaceful Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom!      

Levi Jaffe

Thank you Rabbi Aharon Loschak for the above message 

What a nachas – pleasure it was to witness so many children, along with their parents and grandparents for our Simchat Torah celebrations, experiencing the joy and exuberance of the Simchat Torah spirit. How lovely for all those children to identify the Shul and Judaism with such uplifting joy and dancing Judaism.Kol Hakavod to all concerned, and we extend our Mazal Tov wishes to the Chatan Torah and Chatan Bereshit honorees, Noga Erlbaum and Eddy Berkovitz, respectively and for their kind sponsorship of the kids lolly bags and the Simchat Torah Kiddush, which was enjoyed by all.

This week we begin reading the Torah again from ‘Bereshit’ – ‘In the Beginning’ and, as the well-known Yiddish adage goes “Vi Mir Shtelt Zich Avek Shabbos Bereshis, azoy geit der Gantzer Yor” – “the way we establish ourselves Shabbat Bereshit, so follows the whole year”. Let us therefore infuse this Shabbat with a spiritual injection of added prayer and study and communal support, and a little extra Cholent.

We extend our thanks and warm welcome to Shmuli Amzalak and Dovi Jaffe who have come from Melbourne to assist in leading the services this week in our absence, which we are sure will be uplifting, along with a delicious Cholent. Please make the most of this very special Shabbat!

As we commence the new  cycle of the Torah, we avail ourselves of this opportunity to extend our heartfelt wishes to you and your family for a year filled with much good health, happiness and prosperity and may we share many Simchot!

We wish you and your family Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov