Question of the Week:
I have often heard it said that Judaism believes that women are more spiritual than men. This is supposed to explain why men have more religious obligations than women - men need these things to become closer to G-d, women are there already. But do we really believe that? Is it not just a patronising way to avoid the question of the different gender roles in Judaism?
Answer:
I remember as a child being told that men and women are equal. I had a big problem with this. I asked, "If men and woman are equal, why do men and women never compete with each other in sports? You never see a man playing against a woman in tennis, or women's soccer teams facing men's, or a mixed gender 100 metre sprint. If we are all equal, why can't we compete together?"
The answer I received was unsatisfying. "Men are on average stronger physically than women. It would not be fair for them to compete against each other in sports which require bodily strength, because men would always win. But in every other way, men and women are equal.
This did not sit well with me. If men are superior to women in physical strength, but equal in all else, then men and women are not equal. Men have an edge. Unless there is some other area of human endeavour in which women are superior, we are not equal.
This bothered me for years. Until I learnt Judaism's attitude to women.
Women are more soulful than men. While men may excel in physical prowess, women are far ahead when it comes to spiritual strength. Women are more sensitive to matters of the soul, more receptive to ideas of faith, more drawn to the divine than men. The feminine soul has an openness to the abstract and a grasp of the intangible that a male soul can only yearn for. This is why G-d told Abraham, the first Jewish man, "Whatever Sarah your wife tells you, listen to her voice." She was the greater prophet, her soul more intuitive than his.
When I first heard this idea, it suddenly all made sense. There is indeed a balance between men and women. Men have stronger bodies, women have stronger souls.
Of course there are exceptions. Some women could beat any guy in an arm wrestle. And some men are more spiritually attuned than the women around them. But for the most part, men have bigger muscles, women have deeper feelings.
The Torah gives men more physical mitzvos, to tame the body and give the soul extra power. Women don't need this help. Because although men can jump higher in the air, women can reach higher into the heavens.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss
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SUMMER LEARNING EXPERIENCE 2014
25 December 2014 to 1 January 2015 at BINA
Session 1
10am - 11am
Choose from 1 of 4 amazing classes on offer each day
- Men's Talmud Shiurim
- Women's Textual Shiurim
- The Best of Personal Growth for Men and Women
25 December - 31 December
Session 2
11am - 12noon
Lectures and Panel discussions on a wide variety of topics
- Join Rabbis and Lecturers from across Sydney for an hour of inspiration
25 December - 31 December
NEW YEAR
SHIUR & SHMOOZE
"Shame" Positive or Negative?
Constructive shame as an engine of growth
A special live video lecture with renowned USA psychologist
Dr David Pelcovitz
1 January 2015
11am onwards
BINA SUMMER LEARNING EXPERIENCE FULL SCHEDULE
Session one: 10:00 - 11:00am
Choose from one of these four amazing classes each day;
Men's Talmud Shiurim with Rabbi Yaacov Chaiton
Thursday 25 December - Wednesday 31 December
An Ancient Land with Ancient Laws in a Modern Era
A text based analysis of some of the greatest Halachic complexities Israel has faced over the past 7 decades
OR
Women's Textual Shiurim:
Monday 29 December - Parsha Secrets with Dina Gourarie
Tuesday 30 December - Hidden Meanings of the Amidah with Rivka Aaron
Wednesday 31 December - More Parsha Secrets with Dina Gourarie
OR
"Personal Growth" Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living for Men & Women with Rabbi Michoel Gourarie
Monday 29 December - Forgiveness - Do I have to forgive everyone?
Tuesday 30 December - Courage and Consideration - how to combine them
Wednesday 31 December - How many friends do I need?
Session Two - Lectures and Panel Discussion 11am- 12noon
Monday 29 December
So many different Jewish groups - which one has got it right?
with Rabbi Michoel Gourarie
Tuesday 30 December
A King, Two Mothers and a Baby - What you didn't know about the most well-known court case.
with Rabbi Yaacov Chaiton
Wednesday 31 December
Modern Halachic Case Studies
with Rabbi Yoram Ulman
SHIUR AND SHMOOZE
Thursday 1st January 2014
"Shame" - Positive or Negative?
Constructive shame as an engine of growth
A special live video lecture with renowned USA psychologist
Dr David Pelcovitz
There will be a children's program available
Ages 1 to 12 years
Booking is Essential - Please call the office for details
Cost: $15 per day or $70 for the entire week
Summer Learning Experience Cost: $12 per day or $50 for the week
SERVICES AT NEFESH
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SHABBOS SERVICES
Friday Night, 26 December 2014
Candle Lighting: 7:49pm (*Not before 6:37pm)
Shabbos Service 6:30pm
Followed by Kiddush sponsored by Jack & Leyat Reuben in honour of their recent wedding anniversary- Mazal Tov!
Shabbos Day 27 December | 5 Teves
Parshas Vayigash
The Chassidic Parsha Class: 9.00am
Shabbos Service:10:00am-12:15pm followed by Kiddush sponsored by Neil Heymann & Lara Abelsohn and their families in honour of the birth and naming of their baby daughter- Mazal Tov!
Mincha:7:45pm
Shabbos ends and Maariv: 8:51pm
WEEKDAY SERVICES
Shacharis Sunday: 8:00 am, Mon - Wed 7am,
Thurs & Fri (public.hol) 8am
Fast of Teves
Thursday 1 January 2015
Fast commences: 4:17am
Fast Ends: 8:38pm
Latest Shema this week: 9:23 am
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO
Danielle & Gidon Weinstein for 7 Teves/ 29 December
Gavin & Beatrish Gordon for 9 Teves/ 31 December
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
Vera Feuermann for 5 Teves/ 27 December
LONG LIFE FOR THE FOLLOWING YORZHEITS
Irmiyahu ben Shlomo (Edmond Castle) 4 Teves/ 26 December marked by his granddaughter Elana Castle
Simcha bat Aharon (Joyce Vilensky) 4 Teves/26 December marked by her daughter Linda Isdale
If you have a life cycle event not listed here, we don't have your info. Please email [email protected] to update us.