New Initiative:

This week I am excited to launch my “Running with the Rabbi” initiative. Some of you may remember that two years ago I held a four week, pre-City2Surf training session on four consecutive Sunday mornings and it was really well attended. We started with a group stretch, enjoyed a run/walk for half an hour and finished with a locks and bagels breakfast and a short ‘thought for the week’!

Well, this year we are expanding on this idea by entering the City2Surf as a team and walking, jogging or running for a cause! In memory of Dalia Isman OBM, daughter of Evelyn Ordman, we are raising money and awareness for the McGrath Foundation to support women with breast cancer. We have ordered two large boxes with pink socks and we plan to all wear these during our training sessions and on the big day. This initiative is supported by Mount Sinai College and Coogee Synagogue and Rabbi Gestetner will be participating in some of the training sessions. I call on everyone in our community, young and senior, to join us for some exercise, some fun, and for what I believe is a very worthwhile cause in memory of a young mother; truly beloved in our community.

Education:

We also have a number of educational classes taking place at the moment.

We also have a number of educational classes taking place at the moment.
1. We have just concluded the second session of our five week Talking About Israel (TAI) course that is being conducted by members of the Jewish Board of Deputies. If you wish to partake in any of the remaining sessions please let me know. You are more than welcome.
2. I will also be delivering classes for young family age group and seniors this coming week. Please be in touch for more information on these.
3. We are in the midst of our 8 session Barmitzvah course for fathers and sons. On Sunday learned about the writing of Torah scrolls, Tefillin and Mezuzah and on Thursday after school we visited patients of the Wolper Hospital!

Bnei Akivah Fundraiser:

I also ask members to support our youth group, Bnei Akivah, who will be conducting a fundraiser this coming sunday. Supporting our youth will not allow them to enlarge their supply of activities but will also strengthen the future of our community.

Final thought:

As you can see, Thank G-d, there is a lot happening at the Shule! While I may have run out of room in this message for an in-depth thought (don’t worry, I will make up for it over Shabbat!), I will leave you with a short, yet powerful anecdote:

As you can see, Thank G-d, there is a lot happening at the Shule! While I may have run out of room in this message for an in-depth thought (don’t worry, I will make up for it over Shabbat!), I will leave you with a short, yet powerful anecdote:

A popular speaker started off a seminar by holding up a $20 note. A crowd of 200 had gathered to hear him speak. He asked, “Who would like this $20 note?”

200 hands went up.

He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He crumpled the note up.

He then asked, “Who still wants it?”

All 200 hands were still raised.

“Well,” he replied, “What if I do this?” Then he dropped the note on the ground and stomped on it with his shoes.

He picked it up, and showed it to the crowd. The note was all crumpled and dirty.

“Now who still wants it?”

All the hands still went up.

“My friends, I have just showed you a very important lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, life crumples us and grinds us into the dirt. We make bad decisions or deal with poor circumstances. We feel worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special – Don’t ever forget it!”

Wishing all you ‘special people’ out there a Shabbat Shalom!!

Rabbi Yossi and Chana Raizel Friedman