Question of the Week:

 If it rains during Sukkos, we don't have to sit in the Sukkah, correct? So why have I seen people who continue to sit in the Sukkah, even when it is pouring?

Answer:

Sitting in the Sukkah is the only mitzvah that if you're bothered by it, you're exempt from it. Usually, even if a mitzvah is hard, you have to do it. Like fasting on Yom Kippur. Some people are bothered by not eating or drinking for 25 hours. But you still have to do it. And yet if sitting in the Sukkah bothers you, like in wet weather, you can leave the Sukkah and eat inside the house. 

But many will never eat out of the Sukkah, no matter what the weather is. For them, eating inside in a dry home would bother them more than eating outside in a leaking Sukkah. When you understand what the Sukkah is, you'll see why.

The Sukkah is a holy space. You are sitting in a divine abode, under the heavens, with the stars shining down on you, surrounded by angels and the souls of our forefathers. Our sages teach that we are only worthy enough to enter the Sukkah straight after Yom Kippur, when our souls have been cleansed and we are at our spiritual peak. And the mystics say that the Sukkah may look like a hut made out of wood and branches, but in truth it is a made of holy names of G-d.

The weather may be a little unpleasant, it may be a little squashy in there, and your palm allergy may be flaring up. But the inner serenity, the love and feeling of connection with those around you, the sense of being embraced by G-d, all that should override any physical discomfort. I f you're still not enjoying the Sukkah, then you're not really in the Sukkah in the first place, and you can go inside. But if you know what your missing, you won't want to leave.

There are moments when we are called upon to transcend the material world. Sitting in the Sukkah is one of those moments. A little rain, or even a lot, can't stop that.

Good Yomtov,
Rabbi Moss

NOTE: On the first night of Sukkos, even if it is pouring with rain, we make Kiddush and eat a piece of Challah in the Sukkah according to all customs.

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A PROJECT OF THE NEFESH BOCHRIM
NEFESH SUKKOS SERVICES
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Erev Sukkos
Wednesday 4 October 2017
Light Candles....... 6:42pm
(Remember Eruv Tavshilin)
Mincha ................ 6:45pm
Evening service .... 7:00pm
Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Tom Moss, Ron Moss & Kathy Penn in honour of their father's yahrzeit Leslie Moss - Mordechai ben Aron Halevi a"h on 9 Tishrei- Long Life
 
First Day Sukkos
Thursday 5 October, 2017
Morning service ...  10:00am
Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Peter Irving and Libby Moss in honour of the Yorztheits of their late great-grandmother, Leah Bernhardt  on 6 Tishrei/ 26 September, and late father Henry Irving, Tzvi ben Reuven on 20 Tishrei/ 10 October- Long Life
 
Light Candles ................................. after 7:38pm
Mincha .......................................... 6:45pm
Evening service............................... 7:00pm
Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah
 
Second Day Sukkos
Friday 6 October, 2017
Morning service ..... 10am
Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by Shirley Sher in honour of her father, Samuel Smulowitz Ben Chava's yortzheit on 15 Tishrei- Long Life. 
 
Candlelighting...................... 6:43pm (*Earliest 5:46pm)
Friday Night Evening Service.. 6:30pm
Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored in honour of the Bat Mitzvah of Lila Greenberg- Mazal Tov!
 
Shabbos Chol HaMoed Sukkos
Shabbos, 7 October, 2017
Shabbos Morning Service...... 10:00am- 12:20pm
Children's program.............. 10:45am
Followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah sponsored by the Assouline family
 
Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ......  6:40pm
Gematria and story by Rev Amzalak....... 7:00pm
Shiur with Rabbi Moss........................... 7:20pm
Shabbos ends and Maariv.......................7:40pm
Followed by Havdalah
SIMCHAS TORAH
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One of the highlights of the Nefesh year is Simchas Torah, this year on Thursday night October 12 and Friday October 13.

Thursday 7:15pm Evening service
Huge Kiddush, Dancing, Somersaults, Festive meal, Dancing.

Friday 10am Morning service
Huge Kiddush, Dancing, Ending and beginning Torah, Festive Meal.

Special honours for the day:
Chosson Torah (last call up of the entire Torah) $1800  SOLD
Chosson Bereishis (first call up of the new reading) $900  SOLD
Chosson Kol Hanearim (call up with all the children) $770  SOLD
Chosson Maftir (final call up of the day) $360  SOLD
Hagbaah x2 (lifting the Torahs) $180 AVAILABLE
 
We are doing a second Kids Hakofos and Torah reading on the afternoon of Simchas Torah. Honours available:
Chosson Torah (last call up of the entire Torah) $500  AVAILABLE
Chosson Bereishis (first call up of the new reading) $500  AVAILABLE
 
Whiskey/Vodka sponsors: $50/$80/$120
Kiddush sponsors: $180 x 10

For any of the above email [email protected] now

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