Wellington Jewish Community Centre

<a href="http://www.capitaltimes.co.nz/article/3100/MovealltheJewstothemoon.html">Click here to read a good article in the Capital Times about Rabbi Dovrat's tenure in Wellington.</a>

<a href="http://www.capitaltimes.co.nz/article/3100/MovealltheJewstothemoon.html">Click here to read a good article in the Capital Times about Rabbi Dovrat's tenure in Wellington.</a> From the Rabbi: To Dig or Not To Dig 2010-06-01T09:10:28Z 2010-06-01T09:10:28Z http://www.beth-el.org.nz/index.php/synagogue/rabbi/167-to-dig-or-not-to-dig Rabbi Dovrat hdovrat@gmail.com

One of the current topics for discussion in the media is whether to allow mining in certain areas of New Zealand.  Experts believe that there are places rich with gold and other precious metals that could be used to help the New Zealand economy. I have spoken to geologists who are familiar with this and asked them how they know where to find these when they can’t see them with the naked eye.  Why has it only been discovered recently?  From the answers that I received I understood that firstly there are outside signs like stones or the colour of rocks that can tell you if there is something buried underneath.  Also if they dig deep and take samples to the laboratory, they can determine what the layer of land consists of.  After the tests, they make a map according to the signs that have been found and can prepare a report on the probability of the quantity of minerals to be found.   What interested me in this subject is the question of why others did not know about this for many years and I came to the conclusion that we are not able to look inside things and really understand what we have around us.  Sometimes because of obstacles (perhaps sand, weeds and rocks) it prevents us seeing the treasures that lie underneath.  This was found to be the case with people who had a similar experience in America.

In many congregations there is a minhag to read one chapter from the book of Pirkey Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) every Shabbat between Passover until Rosh Hashanah. This book is not a book of halachot or mitzvoth.   As you all know the Torah comprises the entire code of Jewish  life- civil, religious, ritual law and ethical behaviour. The Pirkey Avot primarily deals with moral and practical teachings. In this article I will try to explain one or two sentences of one of the greatest Rabbis: HILLEL. He said: “Do not say when I am free I will study, for perhaps you will not become free” He also said a short sentence ?? ?? ????? ??????  (Im lo achshav ematay?) If not now when? What does it mean? What did Hillel want to teach us? It’s contrary to the saying: don’t do something today that you can do tomorrow. Hillel is trying to teach us to act soon after you have decided that you have to do something.

Here is the job description for a vacant position If you are a man with inspiration Fully skilled in communications Blessed with a good co-ordination We need your application. From the Rabbi: Kosher Co-Op as an example 2010-04-05T23:25:24Z 2010-04-05T23:25:24Z http://www.beth-el.org.nz/index.php/synagogue/rabbi/161-from-the-rabbi-kosher-co-op-as-an-example Andrew Cohen andrew.l.cohen@gmail.com

In this month’s article I have decided to comment on “The Kosher Co-op has new management”, as published in the Centre News last month. 1. First of all I would like to thank Ari (and his mother, Jayne) for taking on the responsibility and hard work of continuing to maintain this crucial service for our Community. I really think that we are blessed to have Ari’s experience. Together with this, I think we must also thank the members of the Board for devoting so much time to running this Community. I personally know how many hours they take off from their own work and businesses and family in order to improve all aspects of Community life, especially during the Pesach period when we are all so busy.

Sale of Chametz for all of New Zealand Jewry - Wellington 8.15am <img src="http://www.beth-el.org.nz/images/stories/p1016102.jpg" border="0" width="341" height="257" />

Sale of Chametz for all of New Zealand Jewry - Wellington 8.15am <img src="http://www.beth-el.org.nz/images/stories/p1016102.jpg" border="0" width="341" height="257" /> From the Rabbi: Four Sons 2010-03-09T22:04:18Z 2010-03-09T22:04:18Z http://www.beth-el.org.nz/index.php/synagogue/rabbi/159-from-the-rabbi-four-sons Andrew Cohen andrew.l.cohen@gmail.com

The number “4” repeats itself four times on the Seder night. The famous time, no doubt is the part that deals with the duty of the father to relate and explain the Exodus to his sons and to answer their queries regarding this narrative. These sons, according to the Hagaddah, may be grouped into four classes – namely the wise, the wicked, the simpleton and the one who doesn’t know how to ask. According to our Rabbis there are at least four different ways to explain and teach our children according to their understanding. In every age, in every situation, we are asked to tell the story in a suitable way to the appropriate son but all children in a family must be treated as unique individuals. What is good and appropriate for one child might be a disaster for the next. Serious parenting demands that unique needs of each of the children be identified early in life, thus providing each child with the maximum opportunities to meet his or her potential. This is true regarding educating towards proper social behavior as well as cultivating ones spiritual dimension. In areas of strictness versus leniency and potential versus actual, the uniqueness of each and every individual child must be carefully considered. This is the Mt. Sinai educational mandate to every parent as given over by Moshe.

Last month world leaders gathered in Copenhagen to try and find ways to overcome global warming, which has become a very serious issue. Because we are close to Tu B’Shevat, which is also known as “The New Year for Trees” I would like to try to explore the Jewish approach to environmental ethics. Many people would think that this is not a halacha issue but there is no doubt that the Bible and the Talmud are full of examples dealing with environmental ethics as we believe they are important Jewish issues.

<a href="http://www.newswire.co.nz/2009/12/perseverance-faith/">Click here to see a great article about the Chanukah, the Rabbi, and the WJCC.</a>

<a href="http://www.newswire.co.nz/2009/12/perseverance-faith/">Click here to see a great article about the Chanukah, the Rabbi, and the WJCC.</a> From the Rabbi: Daf Yomi 2009-12-08T04:25:24Z 2009-12-08T04:25:24Z http://www.beth-el.org.nz/index.php/synagogue/rabbi/151-from-the-rabbi-daf-yomi Rabbi Dovrat hdovrat@gmail.com

Nearly every Shabbat in our synagogue we meet visitors from different places in the world. Recently we have seen people from Israel, America, Britain, Europe, South America and elsewhere. We know that we have a different style of prayer and they may not be exactly familiar with the tunes that we use but one thing for sure is that they know exactly what sedra they are going to read in every synagogue every Shabbat. Every visitor knows what the Rabbi’s drasha will be about. There is another common shiur which is called “Daf Yomi”.