The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for February, 2022

This week we commence a series of four special Shabbatot, in the lead up to the Jewish month of Nissan. During these four weeks we remove an additional Torah from the Aron Hakodesh – Ark, and read a dedicated portion of the Torah, relating to various themes.

The first one, this Shabbat, Parshat Shekalim, discusses the half Shekel financial contribution of the Jewish people towards the maintenance of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). This is similar to the concept of today’s Synagogue membership.

So what is the Jewish view about money?

In Fiddler on the Roof, a film filled with memorable moments, the scene of Perchick’s proclamation, “Money is the world’s curse” and Tevye’s defiant reply, “May the Lord smite me with it,” stands out as prominent. Indeed, money is the source of humanity’s greatest friction. Most marital disputes revolve around money. Most disagreements brought before the world’s courts are about financial matters.

Yet money is also a source of inspiration. Philanthropy begets philanthropy. Pledges of matching grants to charitable institutions rarely fail to inspire generosity on the part of others. Indeed, money can serve to ennoble and inspire.

Money is neither a curse nor a blessing. It is our attitude that determines the outcome. When we view money as an agent that provides only our needs, comforts and luxuries, it inspires greed. But when others use money to spread happiness, blessing and goodwill, our entire perspective changes; their example inspires us to overcome our greed and to join them in their beneficence.

This idea is connected to the opening words of this week’s Parsha – Torah portion of Vayakhel (and he gathered). The gathering was by Moses of the entire nation to congregate before the Tabernacle was built. Having experienced an incredible moment at Sinai, where the nation melded into a single entity with total unity of purpose, Moses wanted to replicate this singularity but, in the Tabernacle. Moses knew that the single most potent barrier to unity is money and therefore addressed this barrier before all others.

Before announcing the fundraising campaign to build the Tabernacle, Moses shared a law, “You shall not kindle a fire in all your dwellings on the day of Shabbat.”

Fire is a metaphor for passion. Our passion on Shabbat must not be kindled by or invested in prosaic matters such as the beauty or security of our dwelling places. From Shabbat this ethic must spill over into the rest of the week. Money should not be viewed as an agent that provides the needs, comforts and luxuries of our dwelling places. Rather it is meant to be a vehicle through which holiness and goodwill are delivered.

When we recognize that money is a vehicle that serves the Divine, it ceases to be a source of friction.

When our ancestors embraced this truth and were inspired to the heights of unity and collective generosity, then Moses initiated the construction of the Mishkan – the Sanctuary, which also refers to the inner sanctuary we create within our own hearts and homes for the Divine presence.

Next week we commence the second Adar, for another month of Simchah – happiness and the celebration of the joyous holiday of Purim.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov .  

Levi and Dvorah Jaffe

Thank you Rabbi Lazer Gurkow for the above message

Last week we posed the question of why so many people in this day and age, of relative prosperity than ever before, seem to be suffering more and more from heightened levels of anxiety, misery and discontent.

At the Kiddush last Shabbat, following the Shabbat morning service, we opened up the floor for suggested responses to the above question and among the comments we received from several people were that modern technology, which is designed to make our lives easier and less stressful, is actually the cause for much of the problem. Social media and the bombardment of information overload is responsible for consuming much of our attention, providing a glimpse into the superficial aspects of everyone else’s life, generating a culture of keeping up with the Jones’s or the Cohen’s, thus creating an unhealthy environment and attitude of entitlement and dissatisfaction with what we don’t have, rather than focussing and being happy with, and grateful for the many blessings that we do have.

One of our younger attendees commented that many of her contemporaries feel overwhelmed and despondent about the ability to be able to ever afford to live the great Australian dream of owning their own home and raising a family. In addition, loneliness and lack of community, is a growing concern as, for many, their friends and community are the virtual superficial relationships they develop online, rather than though face to face interactions with real people, who sincerely care for one and other.

Does Judaism have anything to contribute to this discussion? We believe that it absolutely does as, through nurturing our faith and building meaningful and enduring relationships within our families and communities, we have the ideal framework with which to counter these destructive forces from our lives. We are not suggesting that modern technology should be shunned, as there are tremendous benefits in harnessing the tools that we we currently have at our disposal for positive purposes, such as sharing and spreading goodness, education and spirituality.

There are are no simple answers to address this growing global pandemic, however we believe that crucial keys to deal with this issue are contained in the opening words of this week’s Parsha – Torah portion, namely the obligatory contribution, required equally from all members of the community of a half a Shekel toward the upkeep of the Temple service, and the institution of traditional Shabbat observance.

It is a well-known fact that one of the most beneficial therapies for depression and feelings of melancholy, is to volunteer of ourselves to assist others, and make a meaningful contribution to society. If we are not careful and discerning with their use, our IPhone and IPad turn into the instruments of the “I’ generation, focussing on the ego, rather than reaching outward and acknowledging the responsibility that we have for one and other. We avail ourselves of this opportunity to pay tribute and salute the many members of our community, who graciously volunteer themselves for a whole host of communal endeavors and, in particular, our many members and friends who regularly attend Synagogue services.

Regarding the traditional manner in which we observe Shabbat, where in modern western culture does there exist a formulated  framework, which encourages us to spend quality time together with family and friends, sit down to a candle-lit meal, without the distractions of our mobile devices, forcing us to interact with each other on a personal and intimate level. Boy, do we need Shabbat today more than ever before!

Kol Hakavod to the many members of our congregation and community who are attending the current  and profound “Meditation from Sinai” JLI course, which is providing valuable tools for an elevated, happy and more meaningful life.

With less than four weeks to Purim, please look out for information regarding various Purim activities on offer at our Synagogue and around the community.

Shabbat Shalom and may we share good news.  

Levi and Dvorah Jaffe