Rabbi Ralph's Page - CHC The Place To Be

Shalom Chaverim,

As I mentioned last Shabbat there is a joke doing the rounds about how the economic crisis is affecting the Jewish community:

A Gabbai approaches a guest in the Shule and says, 'I want to give you an 'Aliyah' what is your name?'

The man answers, 'Esther ben Moshe.'

The Gabbai says, 'No, I need your name.'

'It's Esther ben Moshe,' the man says.

'How can that be your name?'

The man answers, 'I've been having financial problems, so everything is now in my wife's name.’

The global financial market continues to dominate the news and our lives. Its impact on Australia is only beginning to be felt and there is a lot of anxiety about the implications for our community.

Financial crises, like other cataclysmic changes, are not new to the world and the fear they generate is also not new (“There is nothing new under the sun”). Roosevelt, who knew something about financial disasters, gave us one piece of advice for coping with such a situation. In his famous inaugural address in 1933 he said: “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…. unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

The Torah gives us another insight: keep your perspective – life may get tough but if you keep your eye on what really counts you will get through. This is the message at the end of Parashat Vayeira. After Avraham has lived through the most traumatic experience of his life, the Akeida, or near sacrifice of Isaac, the Torah records a banal list of births: “After these things…Avraham was told, Milka had borne children to Nachor…” In other words even though you have suffered a deep trauma, life goes on, pick yourself up, you can do it! This week’s Parasha Chayei Sarah reminds us of the reality of relationships and the joy of finding a life’s partner (click here for parasha perspective on Chayei Sarah).

And life goes on at CHC…On Friday night we will have our third pre-Shabbat L’Chaim sponsored by Daniel Teller. Do join us at 6.10pm for a L’Chaim followed by Mincha and Shabbat Tefillah from 6.30pm-7.30pm.(click here for your personal invitation).

This Shabbat we celebrate the forthcoming marriage of Larissa Freeman and Joel Wertheimer with Joel’s aufruf. Mazeltov to Larissa, Joel and their families.

On Shabbat the summer Parasha Shiur is at 7.00pm and our guest speaker at Seudah Shlishit is Hilton Rubin, former principal Mount Scopus College now at Yesodei HaTorah.

Mazeltov to Tibor Winter on his 90^th birthday last week!

Mazeltov to Lauren and Joshua Fleischmann on the birth of a daughter. Mazel to grandparents Esther and Alan Rothschild and Judy and John Fleischmann and great-grandparents Rose and Bernard Rothschild and Olga and Paul Fleischmann.

On a sadder note on Sunday there are several consecrations and we extend an arichut yamim, wishes of a long, healthy and blessed life to the families of Ros Smorgon and Adela Werber.

Next Wednesday evening I will be holding another CLAL (Caulfield Shule Live n Learn) shiur for young adults and young marrieds. (click here for invitation and details)

On Thursday night Professor Pelkovic who is being brought out by the Jewish Taskforce Against Violence is giving a communal talk at CHC (click here for details). Professor Pelkovic is also our guest speaker next Shabbat (29 November) morning.

Finally a reminder about an exciting initiative by CHC, Inkr572 Friday night dinner and drinks with guest speaker Lincoln Hall. Launch date is 5 December for 24-34 year olds (click here for invitation and details).

Be bold, maintain perspective and have an enjoyable Shabbat!

Shabbat Shalom,