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ב"ה

Can You Explain My Wife to Me?

Friday, 15 May, 2015 - 1:26 pm

DO DRUG DEALERS DESERVE DEATH? All night learning next Sat - see below 

The Beauty of a Broken Heart 

Tanya Chapter 29

Should Lawyers Be Held to Higher Standards? Tanya Chapter 30

Should Lawyers Be Held to Higher Standards?

Tanya Chapter 30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Question of the Week: 

I'm wondering if you can explain my wife to me. She complained last night that I am not helpful around the house. She claims that yesterday I came home and plonked myself on the couch to relax, leaving her to look after the kids and dinner and everything else. When I pointed out to her that I actually offered to help, she says it wasn't sincere. I am at a loss. What more can I do? Is it my fault if she ignores my offer to help?

Answer:

You think you are being sincere. And you probably are. But sometimes what you say and what your wife hears are miles apart. You need to appreciate how your words come across. The message she hears may be the opposite of what you meant.

So when you say: "If you need any help I am happy to help you." You thought that was being nice. But your wife hears:

"I am going to the couch to chill. If you really desperately need me, then you will have to come and disturb my peace and I will reluctantly come and cut up a few vegetables like a martyr."

Not a very convincing offer. Even though you didn't say it those words, between the lines you implied a willingness to help, but not an eagerness. You are not presenting yourself as being at her service, but rather as not opposed to doing your bit if it is absolutely necessary.

Your wife does not feel supported by this offer because it is passive. You are making her feel as if you are doing her a favour, and she should be forever indebted to you for your heroic gesture of bothering to get off the couch to cut up a salad. No wonder she doesn't feel you are sincerely offering to help her.

Here's a different way of saying it: "OK, I am here for you. Tell me what I can do to help."

The words are only slightly different. But the meaning is worlds apart. Here you are making yourself available, putting yourself at her service. There is no 'if', you are not requiring her to interrupt you, you are there for her, at her beck and call ready for instructions. When you offer help in this way, the offer is received graciously because it was presented sincerely. Let's call it an active offer, rather than a passive one.

We learn the idea of active offering from an event that happened over 3000 years ago, the Jewish people's acceptance of the Torah at Mt Sinai. G-d wanted to give them His laws, but before they even heard the first commandment, the Israelites committed themselves to fulfilling His will. They said Naaseh Venishma - "We will do whatever You want from us. Now let's hear what it is that You want. Without knowing what You are about to ask of us, the answer is already yes."

I have no doubt that you truly want to support your wife. So try expressing that in a way that she will hear it. Actively offer your help so she feels you are not just there for the salad, you are there for her.

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss  

 

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LISTEN TO SHAVUOS MAAMAR SHIUR HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

SERVICES AT NEFESH

 

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SHABBOS SERVICES

 

Friday, 15 May 2015 | 26 Iyar 5775 

Candle Lighting 4:45 pm 
Mincha 4:55 pm 
Followed by NEW WEEKLY SHIUR 'The Kabbalists Speak'- thoughts on the Parsha from Arizal, Zohar, Shelah (every week after mincha)


Friday Night Shabbos Service (with kids program) 6:00-6:50 pm 
followed by Kiddush sponsored by Pearl Weinberger in honour of Jessey Bat Rosa.  


Shabbos Day, 16 May 2015 | 27 Iyar 5775   

Parshas Behar-Bechukosai

Shabbos Mevorchim Sivan
The Chassidic Parshah Class 9:00 am 

Shabbos Morning Service 10:00 am-12:15 pm 
followed by a Communal Shabbos Lunch, cosponsored by friends of Nefesh to give thanks to Rabbi Moss; and by Edith Laurence and Rick Lawton in honour of their upcoming wedding in Israel - Mazal Tov!

  

Mincha 4:10 pm

Pirkei Ovos Chapter 5

Seudah Shlishis with A Gematria and a Story by Rev Amzalak 4:30pm

SHABBOS AFTERNOON SHIUR - THE MEANING BEHIND HAVDALA 4:50PM

Shabbos ends and Maariv 5:42pm  
  

NEXT WEEK- DAIRY LUNCH AFTER SHUL

SUNDAY 24 MAY- ALL WELCOME

(Cosponsors still required, any amount is appreciated- email [email protected] if you can help)


 

MAZAL TOV TO

Baila and Reuven Barukh, Kathy Barukh, Herschel and Chana Goldman and the entire family on the birth and Bris of Rafael Ewaz!

  

 

WEEKDAY SERVICES

Shacharis

Sunday 8:00 am 

 

 

Monday-Friday 7:00 am

 

 

Latest Shema this week 9:13 am


 

ROSH CHODESH SIVAN - TUESDAY 19 MAY

Molad/New Moon Monday 18 May 2:11:5pm


 

SHAVUOS SCHEDULE


 

Friday, 22 May 2015 | 4 Sivan
Candle Lighting........................ 4:41pm
Mincha...................................... 4:50pm
Friday Night Service................ 6:00 pm
Followed by a Kiddush


 

Shabbos, 23 May 2015 | 5 Sivan
Parshas Bamidbar
Morning Service.................... 10:00 am
Followed by a Kiddush 

Mincha..................................... 1:00 pm


 

Candle Lighting........................ 5:38pm
Shavuos Evening Service....... 6:00 pm
 

All Night Learning......... from 9:00 pm


 

Sunday, 24 May 2015 | 6 Sivan

Shavuos, Day 1
Morning Service.................... 10:00 am
Reading 10 Commandments 
and Ice Cream Party ............ 10:30 am
Followed by Dairy Luncheon!

Mincha...................................... 4:45pm

 

Candle Lighting............... after 5:37pm
Shavuos Evening Service....... 6:00 pm
 
 

Monday, 25 May 2015 | 7 Sivan
Shavuos, Day 2
Morning Service.................... 10:00 am
Yizkor-Memorial Service...... 11:00 am
Followed by a Kiddush

Mincha...................................... 4:45pm
Shavuos ends & Maariv......... 5:37pm



 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

Peter Goldshaft for 28 Iyar/ 17 May 

     

 

 

LONG LIFE TO THE FOLLOWING WHO HAVE YORZEITS THIS WEEK

Sara Bos for her late father, Isaac Barel, Yitzchok ben Eliahu on 29 Iyar/ 18 May

Lesley Judelman for his late brother David Ivan Steinhard, Itzchak Dovid ben Zalman on 1 Sivan/ 19 May  


 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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