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SHAVUN
‫ב"ה‬
Vayera
Parshat Vayera – Giving is everything
Worldwide, Tzedakah is responsible for
the critical support of the needy as well as
for maintaining the Jewish community’s
infrastructure – schools, synagogues,
mikvaot (ritual baths), hospitals, and
orphanages, etc. A 2010 study at the
University of Indiana revealed that
individual Jewish philanthropy in the US
far exceeds that of any other group...
Dear Friends,
If you were asked what is the highest
achievement of Avraham Avinu, our great
father in his lifetime, most of us would say
his connection with G-d:
“Hashem appeared to him in the plains of
Mamre, while he was sitting at the
entrance of the tent, in the heat of the
day” (Bereshit 18, 1).
Rashi explains that Hashem had come to
visit Avraham, as he was still sick after his
Brit Milah (circumcision) earlier, and
Hashem “just came” over to say “hi” and
to visit the sick person.
Hashem “gave” his precious time just to
visit Avraham, and yet Avraham finds
something more important even than G-d
himself: “He lifted his eyes and saw three
men were standing over him. He perceived
so he ran toward them... ” Rashi brings a
profound idea (based on the Talmud
Shabbat 127b) that Avraham told Hashem
to wait for him until he would finish with
the hospitality of these strangers!
G-d has waited patiently while Avraham
Avinu engaged in the messy business of
washing feet, slaughtering animals,
running back and forth to serve these
strangers.
As a result of that the Talmud continues
and teaches us another profound
message: “hospitality to wayfarers is
greater than receiving the Divine
Presence”!
Avraham's greatest achievement is not by
talking to G-d, but rather by helping
people.
If this principle was applicable for a
complete bunch of strangers (although
they were angels Avraham didn't know it
yet) – What should our approach be to
those we know, and are close to us and
are in need?
Hospitality is just an example for any act
of Tzedakah:
The generous giving of Tzedakah (charity)
is one of the extraordinary attributes of
the Jewish people.
That's in the US, the second biggest Jewish
community in the world.
What do we have here in Auckland NZ, in
one of the smallest Jewish communities in
the world?
-----------------------------------------------------As you all know, we are delighted to have
a special visit from the Chief Rabbi of the
Commonwealth – Rabbi Mirvis on 1
December 2014.
In honour of his visit, and in a spirit of
unity to our Kehilah, it would be very
much appreciated if you consider a
contribution to the Rabbi's Gemach Fund.
We know we have the Shule and the
school to give to, which are our main
institutions; but for the help of the
individuals from our community, we only
have the Gemach Fund.
Helping people in their time of Simchas or
G-d forbid in grief; or just when it's a
struggle, is ultimately the best feeling we
can have.
Giving to the Rabbi's Gemach Fund is also
participating in the highest Mitzvah of
Tzedakah - giving anonymously - without
the giver or the receiver knowing of each
other, what a great merit!
Let’s act like Avraham Avinu: Giving to
each other is far and foremost our highest
achievement in life!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Nathanel Friedler
Rabbi’s Gemach Fund
ANZ 010102 0073059 00
1
Thursday 6 November 2014
13 Cheshvan 5775
AHC Contact
Details:
Office: 09 373 2908
office@ahc.org.nz
www.ahc.org.nz
Rabbi Natti Friedler
021 714 157
Mikveh Bookings:
021 714 158
Yair Jablinowitz: 021 488 030
Shifra Jablinowitz: 021 488 050
AHC BoM 5775
Chair & Human Resources:
Bronwen Klippel
Treasurer & Kashrut Certification
Garth Cohen
Religious & Head Gabbai:
Gavin Berman
Social:
Sharon Brokensha
Mark Kantor
Security:
Sara Nevezie
GAD:
Henri Eliot
Youth & Young Marrieds:
Steven Hofman
Mark Kantor
Property:
Joshua Arieli
Future Planning and Kadimah Liaison
Rachel Lerner
Contents
Mazel Tovs
2
Rabbi’s Shiur
2
Kadimah Fundraiser
2
Yahrzeits
4
Calendar
4
Monday 1 Dec 2014 @ 6:30pm Cocktail Party
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis’ first visit to
Auckland (including Rabbi Friedler’s Inauguration)
Invitation to follow soon
Rabbi’s Shiur @ RFL
Including Mincha / Maariv
Thursday 6 Nov (Tonight!!) 7:00 pm:
“The binding of Isaac – A G-d fearing act or child abuse?”
Coffee, Tea & Cake provided courtesy Raye Freedman Trust
Yom Huledet
Sameach!!
Happy Birthday!!
Dorothy Davis
Joshua Katz
Lesley Scher
Sara Stone
Daniel Friedlander
Victoria Berry
Isadore Davimes
Richard Keys
Michael Nimkovsky
Ethan Noah
Peter Bolot
Stephen Goodman
Peter Feinberg
Gillian Horowitz
Martyn Levy
Auckland
16 & 23 Nov 2014
SUNDAY 16 —
12:30pm Run Boy Run
2:45pm Gett, the Trial of
Vivian Amsalem
5:10pm Night Will Fall
7:15pm The Farewell Party
SUNDAY 23 —
12:30pm Young Perez
2:45pm Zero Motivation
5:00pm The Decent One
7:15pm Above & Beyond
http://jiff.com.au/
2
THE COUNCIL OF
CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
Invites you to attend our next
programme
THE PLIGHT OF THE ANCIENT
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES OF
THE MIDDLE EAST
St John’s Theological College
Meadowbank (opp. Shalom
Court) on Sunday 9 November
at 2.30pm
SPEAKER: Dr Francis Kassir, an
Iraqi Christian dentist living in
Auckland, whose family in
Mosul have recently fled their
ancient city – a story to which
we Jews can certainly relate.
All welcome, no charge.
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YAHRZEITS FOR THE
WEEK:
We wish you Long Life…
Our thoughts are with all
our congregants who are
unwell at the moment.
Name:
Remembered by:
Samuel Chaimowitz
Michael Fisher
Esther Goldstein
Devorah Hahn
David Harris
Rene Nevezie
Jack Phillips
Louis Segall
Beatrice Solomon
Harry Svirskis
Shmuel Tenenbaum
Cassie Weinberg
Godfrey Chaimowitz
Janet Hepi
Hannah Brodsky
Claire Nates
Kay Harris
Sara Nevezie
Cyril Nevezie
Danny Phillips
Charlotte Maram
Natricia Adler
Margaret Hannah
Tessa Horowitz
Freda Narev
Shlomo Tenembaum
Arlene Weinberg
Relationship:
Father
Grandfather
Sister
Mother
Brother
Mother
Mother
Father
Father
Mother
Husband
Son-in-law
Cousin
Father
Father
YOUR WEEKS AHEAD:
FRI
7
14 Cheshvan
SAT
8
15 Cheshvan 9
SUN
16 Cheshvan 10
MON
17 Cheshvan
TUE
11
18 Cheshvan
WED
12
19 Cheshvan
THUR
13
20 Cheshvan
Shacharit: Greys Ave
Shacharit @
& AHC Stiebel:
Greys Ave: 9am
9:15am
B/Mitzvah classes
Kabbalat Shabbat
Greys Ave 7pm
Stiebel 6:30pm
7:41pm
14
21 Cheshvan
Rabbi’s Shiur @
AHC 7pm
8:42pm
15
22 Cheshvan 16
23 Cheshvan 17
24 Cheshvan
18
25 Cheshvan
19
26 Cheshvan
20
27 Cheshvan
Shacharit: Greys Ave
Shacharit @
& AHC Stiebel:
Greys Ave: 9am
9:15am
B/Mitzvah classes
Bar-Mitzvah:
Michael Berman
Kadimah Kabbalat
Shabbat Yr 8
Kabbalat Shabbat
Greys Ave 7pm
Stiebel 6:30pm
7:48pm
Rabbi’s Shiur @ RFL
7pm
8:49pm
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