What's Nu?

B”H

What’s Nu @ Sydenham Shul?

At the Forefront of Jewish Life

Your Family Shul Where Everyone is Welcome

By Rabbi Yossy Goldman

Dear Friends,

What can I say? I’m in recovery now. I came home last night after the Fast quite drained, but it was coming from a good place. Perhaps I can describe it as feeling ‘exhilaratingly exhausted.’ Thank G-d, we really did experience an extraordinary Yom Kippur @ SydShul this year. Everything just clicked and worked at optimum level from the sermons to the davening to the congregational decorum and communal participation. The Boys Choir definitely added significant value. I loved watching them and seeing their enthusiasm. And I know Chazan Yudi felt that you were really with him and davening and singing along. I have been receiving heartwarming what’s apps from so many people sharing how they were educated, inspired, moved and yes, brought to tears at the finale of the holy day. As I always say, why should I cry alone? Please feel free to cry with me.

During the Kol Nidrei night service I visited the Youth who were upstairs in the Shtibl and spoke for them. It was great seeing our young people so involved. And yesterday at the beginning of Neilah I spoke in the Seeff Hall for Rabbi Stern’s Minyan. Their services went very well too, and everyone was very happy all around. Baruch Hashem! May all our prayers have been answered and may we all enjoy a wonderful new year together with Klal Yisrael.

A huge Yasher Koach for an outstanding Yom Tov to Chazan Yudi Cohen, Jose Stern & the Choir, Jarred Abelson, our Gaboim, Jonty Cohen & Ivor Resnick, our Page Boy Dovi Porter, Shirley Stein and Gabi Wineberg in the office, our dedicated Security volunteers, and a special mention to Norman and Michael Stein of Ukhuni for the very helpful gazebos that provided much-needed shade for our Security people out in the sun, to our hard-working cleaning staff, and to all of you for being such excellent, participating and appreciative congregants. We make a great community! And thank you to all of you who responded warmly to the Kol Nidrei Appeal! Finally, thank you, Chairman Stanley Seeff for your kind words about the Rabbi at the end of Neilah.

In the Shtibl Minyan we thank Rabbi Yehuda Stern, Chazonim Darryl Frankel and Steven Fredman, Gaboim Jared Landsman, Raymond Nerwich, and Phillip Gordon, as well as Ronnie Kassuto, Cliffy Graff, Itz Ginsberg, and Danny Nussbaum for the successful Seeff Hall logistics.

In the Youth Minyan we thank Ari Poyurs, Gilad Kohaly, Natanya Joseph and the Madrichim and Chazonim Gidon Erster and Saul Joseph.

And now it’s immediately on to the next Yom Tov in this busy season of Chagim. Sukkos begins this coming Sunday night and it’s not too late to get a Sukkah or a Lulav & Esrog set. Here is some helpful info:

Etrog Centre: Outside Kollel Books & Freshfellas; 066 444 9828.

Sukkah Mart: Genesis Centre & Norwood Mall; 074 727 8108.

For Sukkah only, Len Zlotnick’s Azco Engineering Works; 011 614-6871.

As I said on Yom Kippur, Shul is not only Fasting. It’s also fun and feasting! Please join us for the good times! Services are very musical (we usually get lots of visitors) but much shorter and we even feed you with delicious Brochas in the Sukkah. Come and bring a friend to Shul!

But first we have this Shabbos. Welcome to our guest Chazan Velvy Bokov. The Brocha is in the Seeff Hall and will be followed by one Shiur, my Halacha of the Week on the Laws of Sukkos.

MAZEL TOV to Dani and Liora Freidus on the birth of a son, and to the grandparents Lewis and Ava Freidus and Susan Blieden.

MAZEL TOV to Philip Milner on his 95^th birthday. Wow! Many more in good health, please G-d!

We wish a Refuah Shleimah to Hymie Lessick, Omri Gelgor, Alex Zwarenstein, Debbie Bartkunsky, Michelle Rabin and Barbara Sterne. Complete and speedy recoveries, PG.

Our Annual Simchat Torah Dinner is taking place on Monday 1 October in the Seeff Hall. It’s always a rousing and lebedig occasion. This year we will host the Great American Barbecue for only R180 per adult. The kids have their own Braai across the road for which there is no charge at all. Please make up tables with family and friends. Bookings to be made preferably online or through the office. Please ensure that your booking is paid before the dinner. Call 011 640 5021 or go to www.sydshul.co.za.

And our Annual Ladies Simchat Torah Breakfast is such an iconic event now that it attracts hundreds of women from around the area. Other Shuls have emulated our example. Imitation is indeed the highest form of flattery. Join your Rebbetzins for inspiration and delicious breakfast on Tuesday 2 October 10.15 a.m. in the Community Centre. Rochel will speak on “Men, Women & the Messianic Era” & Estee’s topic is “Another Holiday? Let’s Focus on the Finale.” No charge. Thank you to all our generous sponsors!

There are also lots of CHOL HAMOED ACTIVITIES for the Youth and Kids. On Thursday 27th September there’s a “Supper and Movie” in the Sukkah! 5.30-7pm. RSVP to Tali 076 680 8739 for both the movie night and the Sukkah Hop on Shabbat 29th September after Shul till 3 pm.

And there will be a Carnival and Dinner for the kids on Simchat Torah night and day.

Mazel Tov to our Chosson Torah, our Youth Director Ari Poyurs & our Chosson Bereishis, the Chairman of the Shtibl, Jared Landsman. Well deserved!

Our Annual Dis-Chem Golf Day is coming up in November. Players, sponsors and prizes wanted! Speak to Selwyn Kahlberg, Chairman, or be in touch after Yom Tov. Thank you.

By now I hope you have met Gabi Wineberg our Function & Events Co-Ordinator. To book your next simcha or function contact Gabi on simchas@sydshul.co.za or call her in the mornings at the Shul office on 011 640 5021. Remember, if you’re a SydShul member, you will get a discount on hire of all Shul halls including the new Bayit and Garden which is ideal for a smaller function.

The Shul is pleased to remind you that we have now signed up with SnapScan to assist you with all your payments. Please send all account related matters and proof of payment to accounts@sydshul.co.za.

Please remember to fill in your family details and preferred correspondence so you get all our Shul communications on ShulCloud. If you are struggling, you may feel free to email stephendruckman@gmail.com.

If you still didn’t get a new Calendar for 5779, very well-produced Jewish Calendars which go until next December are available and selling fast around town. This year, the theme is A Bissel Yiddish. Whether you understand some Yiddish or not, you’ll enjoy it. See Colin Shindler in Shul or our grandchildren who are selling them to raise funds for their school, Torah Academy Primary. There are desktop or wall hanging options.

My book, From Where I Stand, is now back in print and available in the Jewish book shops as well as from the Shul office. Happy to inscribe it for you.

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This week’s Parsha is Haazinu ("Listen In") consists of a 70-line "song" delivered by Moses to the people of Israel on the last day of his earthly life.

Calling heaven and earth as witnesses, Moses exhorts the people to "Remember the days of old / Consider the years of many generations / Ask your father, and he will recount it to you / Your elders, and they will tell you" how G-d "found them in a desert land," made them a people, chose them as His own, and bequeathed them a bountiful land. The Song also warns against the pitfalls of plenty -- "Yeshurun grew fat and kicked / You have grown fat, thick and rotund / He forsook G-d who made him / And spurned the Rock of his salvation" -- and the terrible calamities that would result, which Moses describes as G-d "hiding His face." Yet in the end, he promises, G-d will avenge the blood of His servants and be reconciled with His people and land.

The Parshah concludes with G-d's instruction to Moses to ascend the summit of Mount Nebo, from which he will behold the Promised Land before dying on the mountain. "For you shall see the land opposite you; but you shall not go there, into the land which I give to the children of Israel."

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Shul Schedule

Friday Candles: 5:45 pm

Friday Mincha: 5:40 pm

Shabbos Shachris: Both Minyanim at 8:45 am

Shul Brocha: Seeff Hall

Shabbos Mincha: 5:25 p.m. followed by Shalosh Seudos

Shabbos ends at 6:35 p.m.

Mincha during the week is now at 5:45 p.m.

Rochel and I wish you all a Gut Shabbos and a Gut Yom tov. Chag Sameach!

Regards,

Rabbi

Posted 11 Tishrei 5779 / 20 September 2018