Category: Rabbinic Thoughts
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2019 is a year of celebration and a chance in bringing South Africa together
Chaverim Yakarim I have been asked to share my sermon from last Friday via the AdKan with all of you. Please let me and/or ManCom know what your thoughts are on the subject, and please join the conversation. Shabbat Shalom—Rabbi Adrian M SchellWelcome back – and it is good to be back.Summer in Johannesburg is…
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Parashat Bo: Fighting the gods of Egypt
Chaverim Yakarim As many scholars have noted, the plagues that struck Egypt during the Exodus can be interpreted as being assaults on the various gods of Egypt: the Nile, the sun, even to the firstborn of Pharaoh. But after the “official” plagues have ended, one more Egyptian god will come under assault. “Speak to the…
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2018 is coming to its end …
Chaverim Yakarim —dear friends 2018 is coming to its end, and while we traditionally use the High Holy Days to look back, I’d like to invite you to do so, one more time. 2018 came with hopes, hopes for freedom, success and growth—some became true, but we also have to carry forward some of them to…
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Chanukah is where we take one step beyond
Chaverim,There is also a very strong link between our portion of Mikeitz and Chanukah (besides that it is read during the chanukah week almost every year). At the beginning of this week’s reading, Pharaoh has a dream about seven cows coming up from the river. These cows were healthy looking, robust, full of flesh. Following them were…
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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR “MITZVAH MAKERS“
Under the leadership of Rabbi Sa’ar Shaked, Rabbi Adrian Schell and Reeva Forman, members ofthe Gauteng Progressive Jewish community came together twice to help the less fortunate ofHillbrow as part of the Mensch Mitzvah Day (17/18 November).After celebrating Havdalah together at the new Bet David Campus, around 50 Mitzvah-Makers made more than 1,000 sandwiches and collected soft…
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One Mitzvah leads to another, while one sin leads to another,and when one acts justly it is very good. – Pirkei Avot 4:2 Chaverim,This Saturday evening and Sunday morning, we join forces with our friends from Temple Israel and Beit Emanuel to help others. Every year in November, Jews world-wide dedicate one Sunday to do…
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Parashat Toledot: Never again
Chaverim,Water is life. Our bodies are mostly water. Our planet is able to sustain life largely due to its abundant supply of water. The symbolism of water flowing and nourishing the thirsty land is easily understandable, even by those who have never lacked rain. So, what can we learn from the image of a well, that…
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Because they lived, we will too
Chaverim—Beloved Friends, Normally, when Jews die, we recite a prayer: ‘baruch dayan ha’emet’ – blessed is the True Judge. It’s a way of saying: “the good and the bad they did, can pass with them — their soul is in God’s hands now“. When Jews are slaughtered by anti-Semites, however, there is a different prayer: ‘hashem…
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Statement on Horrific Synagogue Attack
Dear congregants,We are saddened and horrified by the hate crime and act of terrorism which happened yesterday at the Eitz Chayim – Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, USA.Our thoughts go out to the families of the victims, the staff and members of the Synagogue, the Jewish Community, and all who mourn. We are grateful for…
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Happy pride day Johannesburg
Chaverim—Friends, This weekend, Johannesburg is celebrating Pride day, and by that diversity in our South African society. While the legal position of people, who identify as LGBTI* in South Africa, is not bad at all (not only in comparison to other African states but also in comparison to Worldwide standards), still many of the queer, gay…
