LATE TORAH DANCE FOR KIDS TUESDAY 5PM see below

YOM TOV ALIYAH OR YIZKOR DONATIONS PLEASE CLICK HERE 

Question of the Week
     
Why on earth do we still keep two days of Yomtov outside of Israel? I know the history: in ancient times people didn't have calendars on their phones, because the calendar was not set in advance, but rather month by month. When witnesses saw the new moon they reported it to the rabbis in the Temple, and the rabbis would declare that a new month had begun. It would take a couple of weeks for the message to reach outlying communities, so they could never be sure of the correct date to celebrate the festivals. So the diaspora communities kept two days to be on the safe side. 
 
That made sense back then, but for heavens sake, we have calendars today! Why do we still keep two days  in the diaspora for every festival that is one day in Israel ?
 
For me, this is one of the most ridiculous laws. It's like the World Jewish Council of Rabbis can't be bothered to overturn it or discuss it. Or perhaps they fear a backlash from Jewish bakers, butchers and grocers around the world who like having more Jewish festivals with more meals....
 
Can't we update this one already?
 
Answer:
 
I remember I had a teacher who had little patience. If a student missed out on what he said, he got furious and thundered, "Why can't you listen the first time? I will not repeat myself."
 
This is not fair. Not everyone can grasp an idea all at once. There are some gifted individuals who are sharp enough to get it the first time. But many of us need to hear something twice before it sinks in. a good teacher should no this.
 
G-d is the greatest teacher, and time itself is His classroom. Every festival in the Jewish calendar is like a lesson G-d teaches to the world. On Pesach we learn about freedom, and G-d beams a light of freedom into the world. On Sukkos we study the meaning of true happiness, and G-d sends the gift of joy into our hearts. Each festival and its observances are the way we receive the lesson, the light and wisdom of the day.
 
When you live in the Holy Land, its very air makes you wise, it opens you up to spiritual wisdom. Like a gifted student, you get the lesson the first time. You need only celebrate one day of each festival, and its message hits home straight away.
 
In the diaspora, we just don't get it so fast. We need more time for the lesson to sink in, as the air here is not as spiritually refined as Israel air. And so we are given a second day, another chance to fully absorb the power of the festival and for the message to hit home.
 
Our sages prophesied that one day in the future, the holiness of Israel will cover the entire earth, and then we will all get it the first time. Until then, we in the diaspora can enjoy the extended holiness of an extra day. 
 
Make sense? If not I am happy to repeat it...
 
Good Shabbos and Good Yomtov,
Rabbi Moss

Source:
Likkutei Torah Shmini Atzeres 92c


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We are offering the following honours for the late Torah reading, first come first served:
Chosson Torah $1000
Chosson Bereishis SOLD
Chosson Maftir SOLD
Chosson Kol Hanearim $360
Respond now to this email if you are interested



MAZEL TOV TO OUR SIMCHAS TORAH HONOREES!

Chosson Torah.......................Jack Reuben
Chosson Bereishis..................Rabbi Sufrin
Chosson Maftir.......................Vitali Broyde
Chosson Kol Hanearim...........Mike Barel
Hagbaah................................Dan Barnett
Hagbaah................................Jeremy Waine


SHABBAT SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, 21 October 2016 | 20 Tishrei 5777
Candle Lighting........................  6:55 pm (*Earliest 5:55pm)  
Mincha..................................... 6:10 pm
Kids program ........................... 6:30 pm
Friday Evening Service
(NEW SUMMER TIME)............... 6:30-7:20 pm
Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Larnce Gold in honour of his birthday on the 19 Tishrei- Mazal Tov; and Libby Moss and Peter Irving in honour of the 40th yarzheit of their father, Tzvi ben Reuven a"h - Long Life.

Shabbos, 22 October, 2016 |20 Tishrei 5777
Shabbos Morning Service.................... 10:00am-12:30pm
Barmitzvah of Arnaud Tartour
Children's program............................ 11:00am
Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah in honour of the barmitzvah of Arnaud Tartour- Mazal Tov!
 
Mincha.......................................................   6:50 pm
Seudah Shlishis
Gematria and Story by Rev Amzalak............. 7:10 pm
Shiur:......................................................... 7:30 pm
Shabbos ends and Maariv............................. 7:53 pm
Followed by Havdalah.
 
WEEKDAY SHACHARIS SERVICES
Sunday ...................................................... 8:00 am
Wed, Thurs & Fri......................................... 7:00 am
Latest Shema this week.............................. 9:21 am
 
MAZAL TOV TO
Frederic Tartour, Dana Levy, Maxime Tartour and the extended family on Arnaud's Barmitzvah.
 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
Larnce Gold.............................. 19 Tishrei/ Friday 21 Oct
Maya Segre.............................. 23 Tishrei/ Tuesday 25 Oct
 
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO
Bella & Reuven Barukh............. 26 Tishrei/ Friday 28 Oct
 
LONG LIFE TO
Libby Moss and Peter Irving for their late father, Henry Irving, Tzvi ben Reuven 
20 Tishrei/ Saturday 22 Oct

YOM TOV SERVICE TIMES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOSHANA RABBA | Sunday 23 October, 2016
Shachris .......................... 8:00am
Candle Lighting................. 6:57pm (*Earliest 5:56pm)
Mincha ............................ 7:05pm

SHEMINI ATZERES
Yom Tov evening service... 7:30pm
followed by Kiddush in Sukkah (sponsor needed) and Hakofos dancing

Shemini Atzeres | Monday 24 October, 2016
Morning service ............... 10:00am
Yizkor ............................. 11:30am
(followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah - sponsors needed)

Mincha ............................... 7:00pm
SIMCHAS TORAH SERVICE... 7:30pm
Huge Kiddush and Hakofos, dancing till late
Candle Lighting........... after 7:55pm

Simchas Torah | Tuesday 25 October, 2016
Morning service................. 10:00am
Big Kiddush 11am sponsored anonymously, Hakofos dancing, completing Torah and starting again

Late Kids Hakofos and dancing 5pm-6pm see flyer above

Mincha................................7:00pm
Yom Tov Ends..................... 7:56pm


MAZAL TOV TO OUR SIMCHAS TORAH CHOSSONIM!

Chosson Torah.................Jack Reuben
Chosson Bereshis.............Rabbi Sufrin
Chosson Maftir.................Vitali Broyda
Chosson Kol HaNe'arim.....Mike Barel
Hagbah........................... Dan Barnett
Hagbah........................... Jeremy Waine
SHABBOS PROJECT SAVE THE DATE

Friday night 11 November ......Shul service followed by dinner
Shabbos day 12 November ....Shul service followed by lunch
Shabbos afternoon ............... Activities for children
Saturday night...................... Kumzitz & music for the whole family