The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for May, 2024

We currently find ourselves during the unique transformational days between Passover and Shavuot, as we have begun a new count-down. For seven complete weeks, we count the Omer, until we finally reach the summit on Shavuot. This counting is not merely a counting of days, rather it is meant to also be a spiritual accounting, as we work to refine ourselves. The Kabbalists explain that each of these seven weeks, we ought to be working on another of the seven Middot, the traits and drives of the human psyche. So, for example, the first week, we develop our trait of chessed, love. Every day of this week we refine that drive, as it is complimented and tempered by the other Middot, (for example: love tempered by discipline, empathetic love, enduring love, humility in love, bonding love, etc.) for a total of seven times seven days and traits. According to mystical Jewish tradition we each possess seven powers of the heart—love, awe, beauty, ambition, humility, bonding and regality—and that each of these seven powers includes elements of all seven. These are represented by the seven weeks and forty-nine days of the Omer count. Every Passover, we are granted a treasure chest containing the greatest gift ever given to man—the gift of freedom. So on the second day of Passover, after we’ve taken home our treasure, we start counting. We count seven times seven, because the gift of freedom has been given to each of the seven powers and forty-nine dimensions of our soul. Indeed, what use is a capacity for love, if it is a slave to external influences and internal neurosis? Of what value is ambition, if we are its pawn rather than its master? We count them all—and then we present ourselves at Mount Sinai. With all the negativity currently being spread out there, it is more important than ever that we dig deeper within ourselves to discover our personal treasure chests and bring them to the fore. Please see article below regarding various aspects of counting the Omer, and may we experience personal growth, and true freedom, along with global redemption and the transformation of all darkness to light! During these challenging times for Israel, we extend our prayerful wishes for the safe return of the remaining hostages and may Hashem protect the brave ChaYaLim,- Israeli soldiers and bring them all back safely to their families. Shabbat Shalom and may we share good news. Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe Thank you Rabbi Yanky Tauber for extracts of the above message

Last week we commenced the counting of the Omer which is not merely a simple exercise of counting days rather, as with regards to all Mitzvot, it contains within it many deeper insights and lessons, as it serves as a spiritual and psychological road map in refining and elevating each of our character traits. As we travel along on our seven-week journey from the liberating festival of Pesach – Passover towards the spiritually uplifting festival of Shavuot, which celebrates the receiving of the Torah on Mt Sinai, we engage in developing another one of the Seven Middot – emotional attributes of our soul.

This journey commences with the attribute of Chesed – kindness which, if not directed in the proper manner, can often evolve into unholy and destructive ‘kindness’, which has historically led to some of the world’s worst atrocities, which have been perpetrated in the name of, or evolved from, misguided ‘kindness’. This is currently being manifest by the international preoccupation with humanitarian issues which, in its purest form reflects a moral imperative to protect all human life and dignity, though it has ironically ended up, for many, in undermining the legitimacy and necessity of Israel to provide the very same for its own citizens. This highlights how so-called kindness towards certain individuals or groups becomes the direct cause of the opposite for others.

As in all Jewish matters, only by adhering to the age-old authentic definition of kindness, can we really be certain that our activities remain positive and productive, leading to true goodness, and thus become a source of blessing to all.

In good old Jewish spirit, may we fight darkness with light, by increasing our Jewish observance and, through our additional acts of goodness and kindness, we will surely merit enduring peace in Israel and throughout the world.

It is our pleasure to welcome various delegates from the annual Anesthetic Conference, being held in Brisbane this weekend, who will be joining us for the service.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov and (as my good friend Yakov put it) may the 4th be with you this Shabbat!

Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe