Archive for June, 2019
From The Rabbi – Parshat Shlach 5779
As we prepare for Shabbat and reflect on the beautiful words of the Eishet Chayil (woman of valour), traditionally recited by many prior the Kiddush on Friday night, our community is mourning the loss one of one of our most cherished members, a true Eshet Chayil, Michelle Zavelsky, whose kind and caring spirit touched and inspired the lives of so many within our community and beyond. Our Congregation and community were extremely close to late Michelle’s OBM heart, and her immense contribution will live on indelibly in our midst. May her memory be a blessing, and may Hashem comfort her husband, Phillip, and children Rebecca and Elan and their family.
The QJBD is conducting a Queensland-wide Jewish Communal survey, in order to gain a better understanding of the needs of our community. Please see information in this regard below and we encourage you to participate in the survey.
Our usual Shabbat Mevrochim Kiddush will be deferred until next Shabbat, Parshat Korach when we will, please G-d, enjoy a special Kiddush with guest Rabbi Chazzan Eliyahu Gorman from the UK, who will grace us with his beautiful voice from the Bimah.
Please see information below regarding our inaugural children’s Friday night Shabbat service and dinner on July 19, 2019.
As this Shabbat is Mevarchim (blessing) the incoming month of Tammuz, we will gather early at Shul tomorrow morning at 7.30am for the recital of Tehillim (psalms). All welcome!
Shabbat Shalom, Chodesh Tov and we look forward to seeing you in Shul.
Rabbi Levi and Dvorah Jaffe
From The Rabbi – Parshat Behaalotecha 5779
Much media attention is currently being focused on protesters employing extreme measures to express their views.
Judaism encourages us to ‘live with the times’ meaning, that we should look into the weekly Parsha (Torah portion) for guidance on how to conduct our lives.
Interestingly, this week we read of a protest by a handful of people, who complained to Moshe that they felt left out of the Mitzvah to offer the Korban Pesach (Paschal lamb), due to their impure status as a result of their involvement in another important Mitzvah namely, carrying the remains of Yosef (Josef) to the Promised Land. There is no mention of these individuals gluing themselves to the sand, or any other extreme measures in order to have their views heard. They simply appealed to Moshe, the leader and, upon consultation with Hashem, a special holiday was introduced, named Pesach Sheni (second Passover), affording those who missed out the first time, a second opportunity.
We learn from this episode that it is quite acceptable and, sometimes our duty, to protest when we feel that injustice is being served however, this should be conducted in a civilized and legal manner that does not infringe on society and cause unnecessary loss of tax-paid funds.
Shabbat Shalom and we look forward to seeing you in Shul.
Rabbi Levi and Dvorah Jaffe