Question of the Week:
 
My family very much enjoyed being at your Shabbos table, thanks again for the invite. I meant to ask you a question that has bothered me for years. It's about prayer. Looking through all the praises of G-d's greatness in the prayer book, it seems to be a big ego trip for G-d. Is G-d so insecure that he needs his creations to pray to him 3 times a day, telling him how great he is? 
 
Answer:
 
We loved having your wonderful family over. You should be very proud of them all. 
 
But one thing disturbed me. Your children behaved really well, but I am a little concerned about your wife.
 
Every time your wife gave your son anything, like a piece of chicken, a drink, or a toy to play with, she insisted that he say thank you to her.
 
Your son acquiesced, and each time she told him to, he said thank you. This went on throughout the meal, at least a dozen times.
 
This is a worry. Is your wife so insecure that she needs her son to constantly acknowledge her? Is it normal to almost force someone to thank you, for even basic needs like food and drink, just to build up your own ego?
 
I think you get my point...
 
Your wife was being an exemplary mother, teaching her children gratitude and humility. When you are given something, big or small, you must acknowledge the giver. Her request to be thanked was not for herself, it was for her children. She got nothing out of her son's thanks, other than the pride in seeing her child developing his character. But your son was learning a precious lesson.
 
G-d trains us to thank Him, like a devoted parent who wants the best for His children. He doesn't need our thanks as much as we need to thank Him. Because everything we have, including life itself, is a gift. The minute we forget that, the minute we take even the simplest pleasures for granted, we stop living a life of wonder. 
 
Parents who do not impart the trait of appreciation to their children are not only making life difficult for themselves, they are robbing their children of a basic tool for life. Only when I see everything as a gift, can I be happy with what I have rather than miserable about what I don't have.
 
So we should thank G-d for everything, even for asking us to thank Him. Gratitude is a gift too.
 
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss
 
Sources:
Siddur, Modim derabbonon
See Talmud Sotah 40a "We thank You G-d for the fact that we thank You."


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SHABBOS SERVICE TIMES & COMMUNITY INFO: SHABBOS CHUKAS
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Friday, 12 July 2019| 9 Tammuz 5779
Candle Lighting..................................... 4:44pm
Shabbos Service .................................. 6:00-6:50pm
Kiddush sponsored by Tom Moss, Ron Moss and Kathy Penn in memory of their mother Bluma Miriam bas Binyomin Zev on 9 Tammuz/12 July- Long Life.

L'Chaim sponsored by the Shnier family in honour of the yahrzeit of Leib Bergman A"H

Shabbos Day, 13 July 2019 |10 Tammuz 5779
In depth Parsha class...................... 9:00am
Shabbos Service............................ 10:00am-12:20pm
Kids Program ................................ 10:30am
Kiddush sponsored by Michael & Karen Martin in honour of Harper's 1st birthday- Mazal Tov!
 
Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishis ............ 4:40pm 
Pirkei Ovos .............................................. Chapter 5
Shiur with Rabbi Moss................................ 5:25pm
Shabbos ends........................................... 5:43pm
Followed by Havdalah
 
WEEKDAY SERVICES
Sunday...................................................... 8:00am
Weekday Shachris....................................... 7:00am
Latest Shema this week............................... 9:28am
 
MAZAL TOV
Rabbi Aron & Nechama Dina Moss, grandparents Ron and Libby Moss and Esther Sosover, on the birth of a baby boy!
 
HAPPY JEWISH BIRTHDAY
Adam Pisk.................... 10 Tammuz/ Saturday 13 July
Esti Regos.................... 11 Tammuz/ Sunday 14 July
Ethan Klein...................13 Tammuz/ Tuesday 15 July
Greg Schreeuwer.......... 15 Tammuz/ Thursday 18 July
Erykah Skimin.............. 15 Tammuz/ Thursday 18 July
Finley Zev Hasofer........ 16 Tammuz/ Friday 19 July
 
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Brian & Arlene Schwartz... 10 Tammuz/ Saturday 13 July
Eric & Carol Melman........  13 Tammuz/ Tuesday 16 July

LONG LIFE
Michael Franks for his late mother Rose Franks... 10 Tammuz/ Saturday 13 July

Robert Dabscheck for his late father Ronald Samuel Dabscheck
Shmuel Hanan Ben Yisroel... 11 Tammuz/ Sunday 14 July

Tom Meyer for his late step-mother Eva Meyer
Chava bat Avraham... 11 Tammuz/ Sunday 14 July

Sam Sharp for his late father Monty Sharp
Monish ben Zelik Ha'Cohen... 12 Tammuz/Monday 15 July

Carol Melman for her late mother Miriam Shapiro
Miriam bat Zoendal... 13 Tammuz/ Tuesday 16 July

Jacqueline Eliovson for her late father Victor Behrman
Avigdor ben Dov Getzel... 14 Tammuz/ Wednesday 17 July

Moshe Moses and Adee Moses for their late father Sasoon Moses
Sason Hai ben Mazal... 14 Tammuz / Wednesday 17 July

David Kessler for his late sister Nanette Kessler
Genenda bat Avraham... 15 Tammuz/ Thursday 18 July

Evelyn Tobin and Chaya (Clara) Ezekiel for their late father Abraham Ezekiel
Avraham ben Menashe... 16 Tammuz / Friday 19 July

Erna Frankfurter and Ruth Cromer for their late husband and father
Harold Frankfurter... 16 Tammuz/ Friday 19 July

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