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An open letter from the Rabbi to the Community |
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This is an open letter to the members of Wellington Hebrew Congregation, the leaders of the Community and especially to the Jews who are living in Wellington, but who are not members to our Shul.
Dear readers shalom to you all.
On Shabbat, after the Torah reading the Chazan blesses the entire congregation, those who study the Torah and those who provide the means and services for the general good. We always know to think highly of all who study Torah. Nevertheless we also know how great is the reward to those who provide means in order to enable the others to do this. We mention all those who dedicate and provide synagogues for prayer together with those who enter and use them to pray. Both are important and each one needs the other.
It is not a secret, that together with many other organisations, the Wellington Hebrew Congregation is facing financial difficulties (when was this not the case?)
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As we are near to SHAVUOT I want to talk about the Jewish attitude to converts.
On one hand we never try to convince or force a gentile to be a Jew. On the other hand, the Torah commanded us to love them. It is forbidden to taunt the proselyte by reminding him of his non-Jewish past, or to tell him that he is unfit to study G-d’s Torah. Who more than a Jew should understand the hurt felt as an unwanted stranger? There is a special commandment to love the Ger/(Leviticus 19 34) But sometimes even the Rabbi can’t help. |
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To be a Rabbi in Wellington |
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This article was send recently to a U.S.A. Rabbinical magazine.
My role is the Rabbi of the Wellington orthodox community Beth El, a community that is more than 165 years old and currently numbers approximately 1000 members. My association with this community began in 1987 when my wife, five children and I first came here as Shlichim. During the course of our four year contract my role was redefined and I became the Rabbi and Sochet. In 1991, on the completion of our contract we returned to Israel.
Three years ago the Wellington Community was in a state of crisis; lacking any Rabbi. I was approached to return as interim Rabbi for a period of three months. Given our previous experience of Beth El, my wife and I made a decision to continue our Shlichut and came back to Wellington and have remained here to date. Being in New Zealand is we believe, real ‘Shlichut’ and not just another ‘job’. Our role demands the utmost of us both. Without my wife’s support, encouragement and active participation my role would be impossible.
The challenges we face stem from:
The tiny size of the community; the mix of reform and orthodox (through the community’s social activities); the extreme sense of isolation we experience (intellectually, physically and spiritually) as a result of New Zealand’s geographical position Beth El sits under the umbrella of the Sydney Bet Din (Australia) which is a three hour (international) flight from Wellington.
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Birkat Hachama ("Blessing for the Sun") refers to a Jewish blessing that is recited in appreciation of the Sun once every twenty-eight years, when the vernal equinox as calculated by tradition falls on a Tuesday at sundown.
With around 40 people turning up early on a Wednesday morning - Wellington NZ was one of the first places in the world to experience this rare Mitzvah! |
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From the Rabbi: Pesach 2009 message |
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The Jewish calendar is very interesting and full of variety. We have a different celebration nearly every month. Every household is aware of the fact that the menu has to be changed and that something new must be prepared each time. As a reminder, this includes latkes and doughnuts on Chanukah, fruit cake on Tu Bishvat, hamantashan on Purim and we are now exchanging recipes for Pesach kneidlach!
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