Jewish Journeys Weekly Newsletter: Yom Kippur, Shabbat, Sukkot, Classes

Dear Friends,

Don't forget that Yom Kippur starts tomorrow, Tuesday at sunset.  We're offering the Yom Kippur Evening ('Kol Nidrei') Service at 7.00PM at the Queensland Country Women's Association Hall, corner of Young and Garden Streets in the Southport CBD.  We're asking a $15 per person donation, except for Jewish Journeys members.  Bookings not necessary.

We are NOT offering a Yom Kippur Morning Service.  Yom Kippur Afternoon/Yizkor/Closing Services starting at 2.00PM Wednesday, also at the QCWA Hall.  $15 per person donation except members.  Bookings not necessary.

When you come to the QCWA Hall, there is a carpark in front off Garden Street.  Please park as tightly as possible to make room for all the cars.  If you arrive to find all the bona fide carparks taken, just double-park and don't worry about it.  Since it's Yom Kippur and there's therefore no oneg after the service, everybody will be leaving fairly quickly!

After the Closing Service on Wednesday there will be a Break-the-Fast at the Levy home.  This will be an informal gathering, not a seated, formal meal.  $18 donation per person including members.  Please book for this if you're coming and have not yet done so.  If you don't know where we live, directions will be available at the Closing Service.

Although it is customary to fast - to refrain from consumption of all food and drink - from sunset to sunset, please do not even think of fasting if you have any health concern that would contraindicate it.  For example:  diabetes, hypoglycemia, or taking medications that require food or liquids with them.

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As soon as Yom Kippur is finished, it's time for Shabbat again!  Friday night service at 6.30PM at the Levy's, followed by dinner.  $15 donation except members.  Bookings appreciated.

Remember, there are NO Shabbat Morning Services this month.

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 Sunday Evening we open the festival of Sukkot with a gathering to pray and, of course, eat at 6.00PM at Paul's home, 142 Morala Avenue, Runaway Bay.  $30 per person donation, $15 (for the food) for members.  Bookings appreciated to help us plan for food quantities.

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Last week, I sent you an announcement of upcoming courses to start after the conclusion of all the holidays, in mid-October.  You can find the entire schedule posted on my blog at rabbidoninoz.blogspot.com.au.  Just in case it is not clear, the Tuesday online classes are conducted via Skype and are open to anybody, anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection with reasonable speed.  They are NOT exclusively for people in Queensland, or in Australia for that matter.  Anybody who is interested in taking the (Re-) Discovering Judaism course (either in person or online) for the purpose of conversion to Judaism should contact me and schedule an individual consultation BEFORE the start of class.

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In this week's newsletter I would like to address one more issue, that of timely arrival for services.  Everybody in our group usually arrives on time for services, and I appreciate that very much.  Apart from my being a bit obsessive about it, there's also no question that it's disruptive when people come in late.  This, no matter what the venue.  BUT...when the venue is my living room, it is difficult to enter without some disruption.

So, although throughout the Jewish world we poke fun at ourselves for habitually arriving late for shule, I thank you for your efforts to arrive on time.

First of all, thank you for respecting and supporting my wishes and the community's integrity with your timely arrival.  Sometimes, however, due to some unforeseen circumstances, we run a little late.  Perhaps traffic was heavier than expected, or you had a hard time finding a carpark, or perhaps your mother phoned just as you were leaving home.

When that happens, please keep several things in mind.  First of all, don't be embarassed and not come at all.  Better late than never, right?  So come, even if you're running late, because everybody knows you weren't late on purpose.

Second, try to minimise the disruption when you do arrive.  If the program is at my home, don't worry about the buzzer.  Just give the buzzer a BRIEF push, and then wait for someone to let you in...it might take a moment.  Please do not phone someone who's already inside - who might have 'forgotten' to turn off their mobile :-) - because that is more disruptive than a quick buzz.  And then, when you do enter, just do so with as little fuss as is possible.  Without any talk or greetings.  There will be plenty of time for that after the service!  Find a place to sit down and don't worry about anything else.  If there no prayer books within reach, as soon as practical someone will pass you one.

These steps are obviously particularly necessary when the service is in my home.  But the same principles hold, no matter where we're meeting.  If you arrive later...okay, too bad, try not to do it again.  But it is never necessary to make an Entrance.

On a related note, once you have arrived and enjoyed the program, we appreciate your remaining to the end where possible.  Stay for the final blessings.  If you have enjoyed G-d's blessings, then why not take a few extra minutes to express your gratitude, as well as your respect for the community, by staying in place for Birkat Hamazon?  As soon as the prayer is over, if you cannot stay to help clean up, we will understand; you can feel free to leave then.

Thanks for all your support during the past year as we struggled to get Jewish Journeys off the ground.  I think we've managed a great start and we pray that the Jubilee Year will only bring us to ever greater heights as we work to create a community and strengthen the Jewish presence in Queensland.  An easy fast, all!

Rabbi Don