Articles – Camps Bay Shul

A Thought for Shabbat March 25, 2020 1056Views 0Likes

Rabbi Yossy Goldman, Sydenham Shul The Day After Some years ago, here in Johannesburg, the United Nations held the International Summit on Sustainable Development. The Summit was a great success. One wonders, though, whether all the wonderful decisions and resolutions that were adopted were ever implemented. In other words, were they themselves sustainable? Good ideas and worthwhile projects are suggested regularly. The question is, do they get off the drawing board? And if they do, how long do they last? What degree of permanence do they enjoy? Moses gathered the assembly of the Children of Israel – these are the opening words of Parshat Vayakhel. Rashi tells us that this day of assembly was the day after Yom Kippur. Moses came down from Mount Sinai on Yom Kippur bearing the message of G-d’s forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf. The next day, he gathered the people and commanded them to build the Sanctuary. Why is it important to know that this was the day after Yom Kippur? Perhaps it is because while on Yom Kippur everyone is holy, the challenge is to be good after Yom Kippur. It is relatively easy to be holy on the holiest day…

Davening Notes

ShareLike Tweet

This Shabbat, 21st March,2 Sifrei Torah are brought from the Oren HaKodesh: Sedrah Vayakheil Pekudei is read from the 1st Torah Shabbat Hachodesh Maftir is read from the 2nd Torah The Haftorah for Shabbat Hachodesh is a special Haftorah No Hazkarot are recited on this Shabbat. During the Month of Nissan, no Tachanun is said.

Haftorah Hachodesh in a Nutshell

Haftorah Hachodesh in a Nutshell March 25, 2020 305Views 0Likes

ShareLike Tweet

Ezekiel 45:18-46:15 This special haftorah is a prophecy regarding the Paschal Offering that will be brought during the Messianic Era, reflecting the theme of the Hachodesh Torah reading—Moses’ command to the Israelites in Egypt to prepare and bring the Paschal lamb. This haftorah is part of Ezekiel’s prophecy regarding the third Holy Temple—its structure, inauguration and some of the practices that will be observed therein. The haftorah begins with a description of the various sacrifices that will be offered during the Temple’s seven-day inauguration ceremony, and then mentions that on the 14th of Nissan we shall bring the Paschal offering. Much of the rest of the haftorah is devoted to the sacrifices that will be brought by the “leader,” and prescribes his entry and exit from the Temple.

Maftir Hachodesh

Maftir Hachodesh March 25, 2020 322Views 0Likes

ShareLike Tweet

This week, in addition to the regular Parsha, we read the section known as HaChodesh. The additional sections of Shekalim, Zachor, Parah, and Chodesh are read prior to Pesach for both commemorative and practical reasons. This additional section from Shemos, Parshas Bo, Chapter 12, is read on the Shabbos before the month of Nissan, or on the Shabbos of Rosh Chodesh Nissan. This section is an account of the very first Mitzvah given to the Jewish people as a nation. It includes the concept of Rosh Chodesh – the New Moon, as well as the basic laws of Pesach and the Pascal Lamb. Being that Pesach starts on the 15th of Nissan, this section is read about two weeks before Pesach begins. As with Parshas Parah, Chazal wanted the reading of this Parsha to be a reminder that Pesach is almost upon us! Only two more weeks to make the necessary arrangements to get to Yerushalayim and bring the Paschal Lamb! Only two more weeks and your house had better be in order! (are you panicked yet?) It is interesting that Hashem selected the Mitzvah of the New Moon as the first national Mitzvah. Basically, the Mitzvah required two eye-…

Articles Sedrot Vayakheil & Pekudei in a Nutshell

Sedrot Vayakheil & Pekudei in a Nutshell

Articles, Sedrot Vayakheil & Pekudei in a Nutshell March 25, 2020 280Views 0Likes

ShareLike Tweet

Exodus 35:1-40:38 & 12:1-20 Moses assembles the people of Israel and reiterates to them the commandment to observe the Shabbat. He then conveys G-d’s instructions regarding the making of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The people donate the required materials in abundance, bringing gold, silver and copper; blue-, purple- and red-dyed wool; goat hair, spun linen, animal skins, wood, olive oil, herbs and precious stones. Moses tells them to stop giving. A team of wise-hearted artisans make the Mishkan and its furnishings (as detailed in the previous Torah readings of Terumah, Tetzaveh and Ki Tisa): three layers of roof coverings; 48 gold-plated wall panels, and 100 silver foundation sockets; the parochet (veil) that separates between the Sanctuary’s two chambers, and the masach (screen) that fronts it; the Ark and its cover with the Cherubim; the table and its showbread; the seven-branched menorah with its specially prepared oil; the golden altar and the incense burned on it; the anointing oil; the outdoor altar for burnt offerings and all its implements; the hangings, posts and foundation sockets for the courtyard; and the basin and its pedestal, made out of copper mirrors. An accounting is made of the gold, silver and copper donated by the…

Articles CBS Chesed Group

CBS Chesed Group

Articles, CBS Chesed Group March 25, 2020 342Views 0Likes

ShareLike Tweet

In Judaism, we have a beautiful mitzvah called Bikur Cholim, visiting the sick. This mitzvah helps our fellow Jews to stay positive in a time of illness and to help them in their recovery process. While it’s against Jewish law to visit people when you could expose them to a contagious disease, that shouldn’t stop you from calling them. For every person who’s going stir crazy in their apartment, the good news is that you’re not alone and can easily call a friend, family member, colleague, or neighbor who’s stuck in the same boat. This fulfills the mitzvah of and reminds us that we are never alone. The Chesed group has been established to share opportunities to support Camps Bay Shul individuals and families through good times (simchas, etc..) or bad (illness, etc.). To join this group please email Rabbi Yochi Ziegler on yochi@glytrading.co.za

Haftorah Shemot in a Nutshell

Isaiah 27:6–28:13; 29:22–23

Haftorah Shemot in a Nutshell February 19, 2020 262Views 0Likes

ShareLike Tweet

This week’s haftorah parallels the week’s Torah reading on many levels. One of the parallels is the message of redemption conveyed by Isaiah—“and you shall be gathered one by one, O children ofIsrael”—that is reminiscent of the message of redemption that G-d spoke to Moses at the burning bush, a message that Moses then communicated to Pharaoh. The haftorah vacillates between Isaiah’s prophecies concerning the future redemption, and his admonitions concerning the Jews’ drunken and G-dless behaviour. Isaiah starts on a positive note: “In the coming days, Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom, filling the face of the earth.” He mentions G-d’s mercy for His nation, and the measure-for-measure punishment He meted out upon the Egyptians who persecuted them. And regarding the future redemption: “You shall be gathered one by one, O children of Israel. And it will come to pass on that day that a great shofar will be sounded, and those lost in the land of Assyria and those exiled in the land of Egypt will come, and they will prostrate themselves before the L-rd on the holy mount in Jerusalem.” The prophet then proceeds to berate the drunkenness of the Ten Tribes, warning them…

Sedrah Shemot in a Nutshell

Exodus 1:1–6:1

Sedrah Shemot in a Nutshell February 19, 2020 330Views 0Likes

ShareLike Tweet

The children of Israel multiply in Egypt. Threatened by their growing numbers, Pharaoh enslaves them and orders the Hebrew midwives, Shifrah and Puah, to kill all male babies at birth. When they do not comply, he commands his people to cast the Hebrew babies into the Nile. A child is born to Yocheved, the daughter of Levi, and her husband, Amram, and placed in a basket on the river, while the baby’s sister, Miriam, stands watch from afar. Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the boy, raises him as her son, and names him Moses. As a young man, Moses leaves the palace and discovers the hardship of his brethren. He sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, and kills the Egyptian. The next day he sees two Jews fighting; when he admonishes them, they reveal his deed of the previous day, and Moses is forced to flee toMidian. There he rescues Jethro’s daughters, marries one of them (Tzipporah), and becomes a shepherd of his father-in-law’s flocks. G-d appears to Moses in a burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, and instructs him to go to Pharaoh and demand: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.” Moses’ brother, Aaron, is…