Thursday, 30 October 2025

Tzetl: Shabbos Lech Lecha

6:32pm - Early candle lighting
7:36pm - Candle Lighting, Friday
8:37pm - Havdalah, Saturday
(Melbourne Australia)
Eruv Status: TBA cosv.org.au/eruv/
Good Shabbos!


PARSHAH IN A NUTSHELL
Genesis 12:1–17:27
The name of the Parshah, "Lech Lecha," means "Go Forth" and it is found in Genesis 12:1.

G‑d speaks to Abram, commanding him, "Go from your land, from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you." There, G‑d says, he will be made into a great nation. Abram and his wife, Sarai, accompanied by his nephew Lot, journey to the land of Canaan, where Abram builds an altar and continues to spread the message of a one G‑d.

A famine forces the first Jew to depart for Egypt, where beautiful Sarai is taken to Pharaoh's palace; Abram escapes death because they present themselves as brother and sister. A plague prevents the Egyptian king from touching her, and convinces him to return her to Abram and to compensate the brother-revealed-as-husband with gold, silver and cattle.

Back in the land of Canaan, Lot separates from Abram and settles in the evil city of Sodom, where he falls captive when the mighty armies of Chedorlaomer and his three allies conquer the five cities of the Sodom Valley. Abram sets out with a small band to rescue his nephew, defeats the four kings, and is blessed by Malki-Zedek the king of Salem (Jerusalem).

G‑d seals the Covenant Between the Parts with Abram, in which the exile and persecution (galut) of the people of Israel is foretold, and the Holy Land is bequeathed to them as their eternal heritage.

Still childless ten years after their arrival in the Land, Sarai tells Abram to marry her maidservant Hagar. Hagar conceives, becomes insolent toward her mistress, and then flees when Sarai treats her harshly; an angel convinces her to return, and tells her that her son will father a populous nation. Ishmael is born in Abram's eighty-sixth year.

Thirteen years later, G‑d changes Abram's name to Abraham ("father of multitudes"), and Sarai's to Sarah ("princess"), and promises that a son will be born to them; from this child, whom they should call Isaac ("will laugh"), will stem the great nation with which G‑d will establish His special bond. Abraham is commanded to circumcise himself and his descendants as a "sign of the covenant between Me and you." Abraham immediately complies, circumcising himself and all the males of his household.


HAFTORAH IN A NUTSHELL
Isaiah 40:27-41:16
The haftorah for this week discusses Abraham's journey to the land of Canaan at G‑d's behest, and touches upon Abraham's miraculous battle against the four kings, both of which are described in this week's Torah reading.

The prophet Isaiah addresses Israel's complaint: ""My way [of serving G‑d] has been ignored by the Lord, and from my G‑d, my judgment passes [unrewarded]."

Isaiah reminds Israel of the Creator's greatness. The time will come when "He will give the tired strength, and to him who has no strength, He will increase strength. Youths shall become tired and weary, and young men shall stumble, but those who put their hope in the Lord shall renew [their] vigor, they shall raise wings as eagles; they shall run and not weary, they shall walk and not tire." Nevertheless, "there is no comprehension of His wisdom," and as such, at times we cannot understand why He chooses to delay the reward of the righteous.

The haftorah then turns its attention to the idolatrous nations of the world. Isaiah reminds them of Abraham's greatness, how after arriving in Canaan he pursued and defeated four mighty kings. "The islands saw and feared; the ends of the earth quaked." Nevertheless, the nations who witness these miracles did not abandon their ways. "The [idol] craftsman strengthened the smith, the one who smoothes [the idol] with the hammer strengthened the one who wields the sledge hammer; the one who glues its coating says, 'It is good,' and he strengthened it with nails that it should not move..."

G‑d promises the Jewish nation to reward them for their loyalty to G‑d. "Do not fear for I am with you; be not discouraged for I am your G‑d. . . Behold all those incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded; those who quarreled with you shall be as naught and be lost."


SAGES ON THE PARSHAH

G‑d spoke to Abram (Genesis 12:1)

There was once a person who was traveling from place to place, and he saw a palace in flames. Said he: "Can it be that there is no master to this palace?" So the owner of the palace looked out to him and said to him: "I am the master of the palace." By the same token, because Abraham would go around saying, "Can it be that the world has no master?" G‑d looked out and said: "I am the owner, the master of the world."

(Midrash Rabbah)

https://w2.chabad.org/media/pdf/43431.pdf




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Property: Kosher House Share

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Tuesday, 28 October 2025

St Kilda Shule Events

Rabbi Glasman's Kabbalah Shiur


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Monday, 27 October 2025

Smile on Seniors: Rebbetzin Chanchkie Slavin



☕ You're invited to a special Afternoon Tea!

Join us for an uplifting afternoon with Rebbetzin Chanchkie Slavin as our guest speaker — sharing words of inspiration and connection.

Enjoy live musical entertainment, a mums & bubs playgroup, and a wonderful chance to relax, recharge, and connect with community.

📅 Wednesday, October 29
🕑 2:00–3:30pm
📍 347 Alma Rd, Caulfield North
💵 Cost: $10
🔗 RSVP: smileonseniors.org.au/daycentre

Come for the tea, stay for the warmth and smiles!

SAR-El Australia... Closing: Congress 8-10 Dec || Opening: The March of the Living 13-19 April

Sunday, 26 October 2025

Painting Services

St Kilda Shule Events

Rabbi Nagel TORAH Topics
St Kilda Hebrew Congregation
11 NOVEMBER, 25th November, 7:30pm
St Kilda Shule
No Cost
Passcode: stkilda
Office at 9537 1433, secretary@stkildashule.org

Property: Seeking kosher woman

Seeking a kosher keeping woman to share with other female guest in Short-term rental in St Kilda East, Melbourne 
🌸Charming Edwardian furnished Quiet Bedroom Kosher kitchen 5 min walk into Ripponlea Village, short walk to Elsternwick and Elwood beach and train stations. Available 26 Oct to 31 Dec.🌸  
What's app: 0426844770

Saturday, 25 October 2025

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Thursday, 23 October 2025

St Kilda Shule Events

Shabbat Guest Speaker: Daniel Tuksar
• St Kilda Hebrew Congregation
1 NOVEMBER 2025
• 9:00AM
• St Kilda Shule
• No Cost
• Office at 9537 1433, secretary@stkildashule.org



Comedy Whiskey Tasting
• St Kilda Hebrew Congregation
19 NOVEMBER 2025
• 7:15PM
• St Kilda Shule
• $80.00
• Office at 9537 1433, secretary@stkildashule.org

Caulfield Shule Events

Tuesday Schmoozeday
Tuesday 28 October 2025
10:30am

Tuesday, 21 October 2025

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Smile on Seniors, packing bee

Please join us this Wednesday night 7-8pm to help pack Shabbat hugs for our cherished  seniors. 

Sunday, 19 October 2025

Noach Car Rental in Israel

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Caulfield Shule Events

First session in Term 4 for mums and bubs with Rebbetzin Sarah & Daniella from Beats & Babble Music

St Kilda Shule Events

Author talk: Michael Visontay in conversation with Rachelle Unreich

Friday, 17 October 2025

Tzetl: Shabbos Bereshit & Mevarchim Cheshvam

6:21pm - Early candle lighting
7:21pm - Candle Lighting, Friday
8:21pm - Havdalah, Saturday
(Melbourne Australia)
Eruv Status: TBA cosv.org.au/eruv/
Good Shabbos!


This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim ("the Shabbat that blesses" the new month): a special prayer is recited blessing the Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") of the upcoming month of Cheshvan (also known as "MarCheshvan"), which falls on Wednesday and Thursday of next week.

Prior to the blessing, we announce the precise time of the molad, the "birth" of the new moon. See molad times.



Please click here to view the Yeshivah Shule Tzetel for Shabbos Mevorchim Cheshvan, Shabbos Bereishis. Please click here to view the PDFs of Weekly Publications


LAMPLIGHTER

ZICHRON YAAKOV

PARSHAH IN A NUTSHELL
Genesis 1:1–6:8
The name of the Parshah, "Bereishit," means "In the beginning" and it is found in Genesis 1:1.

G‑d creates the world in six days. On the first day He makes darkness and light. On the second day He forms the heavens, dividing the "upper waters" from the "lower waters." On the third day He sets the boundaries of land and sea, and calls forth trees and greenery from the earth. On the fourth day He fixes the position of the sun, moon and stars as timekeepers and illuminators of the earth. Fish, birds and reptiles are created on the fifth day; land animals, and then the human being, on the sixth. G‑d ceases work on the seventh day, and sanctifies it as a day of rest.

G‑d forms the human body from the dust of the earth, and blows into his nostrils a "living soul." Originally Man is a single person, but deciding that "it is not good that man be alone," G‑d takes a "side" from the man, forms it into a woman, and marries them to each other.

Adam and Eve are placed in the Garden of Eden, and commanded not to eat from the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil." The serpent persuades Eve to violate the command, and she shares the forbidden fruit with her husband. Because of their sin, it is decreed that man will experience death, returning to the soil from which he was formed, and that all gain will come only through struggle and hardship. Man is banished from the Garden.

Eve gives birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain quarrels with Abel and murders him, and becomes a rootless wanderer. A third son, Seth, is born to Adam; Seth's eighth-generation descendant, Noah, is the only righteous man in a corrupt world.


HAFTORAH IN A NUTSHELL
Isaiah 42:5-21
The haftorah of this week's reading opens with a statement by "the Almighty G‑d, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who laid out the earth and made grow from it." This echoes the Torah portion's recounting of the creation of the world in six days.

G‑d speaks to the prophet Isaiah, reminding him of his life's purpose and duty, namely that of arousing the Jewish people to return to being a light unto the nations, "To open blind eyes, to bring prisoners out of a dungeon; those who sit in darkness out of a prison."

The prophecy continues with a discussion regarding the Final Redemption, and the song that all of creation will sing to G‑d on that day. G‑d promises to punish all the nations that have persecuted Israel while they were exiled. The prophet also rebukes Israel for their errant ways, but assures them that they will return to the correct path and will be redeemed.


SAGES ON THE PARSHAH

In the beginning G‑d created the heavens and the earth (1:1)

Said Rabbi Yitzchak: The Torah ought to have started with "This month shall be to you . . ." (Exodus 12:2), which is the first mitzvah commanded to the people of Israel. Why, then, does it begin with "In the beginning [G‑d created the heavens and the earth]"? . . . So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are thieves, for having conquered the lands of the seven nations," they can reply to them: "The entire world is G‑d's; He created it, and He grants it to whoever He desires. It was His will to give it to them, and it was His will to take it from them and give it to us."

(Rashi, Genesis 1:1)

The above dialogue between the "nations of the world" and the "people of Israel" also takes place in the "miniature universe" within the heart of man.

The Jew serves G‑d in two ways: 1) by fulfilling the divine commandments (mitzvot) of the Torah, and 2) by living his or her ordinary life—eating, sleeping, doing business, etc.—as an exercise in experiencing the divine and serving G‑d's purpose in creation (as expressed by the ideals "All your deeds should be for the sake of Heaven" [Ethics of the Fathers 2:12] and "Know Him in all your ways" [Proverbs 3:6]).

It is regarding the second area that the Jew's internal "nations of the world"—his worldly outlook—argues: You are thieves, for having conquered the lands of the seven nations! What business have you commandeering the "secular" areas of life? Must you turn everything into a religious issue? Serve G‑d in the ways He has explicitly told us to serve Him, and leave the rest to their rightful, worldly owners!

To answer this argument, the Torah begins not with its first mitzvah, but with the statement "In the beginning G‑d created the heavens and the earth." The entire world is G‑d's; He created it, the Torah is saying—not just the matzah eaten on Passover or the percentage of one's income given to charity.

With its opening statement, the Torah is establishing that it is not merely a rulebook, a list of things to do or not to do. It is G‑d's blueprint for creation, our guide for realizing the purpose for which everything in heaven and earth was made. Every creature, object and element; every force, phenomenon and potential; every moment of time was created by G‑d toward a purpose. Our mission in life is to conquer the lands of the seven nations and transform them into a Holy Land—a world permeated with the goodness and perfection of its Creator.

(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)

https://w2.chabad.org/media/pdf/6205.pdf



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Caulfield Shule Events

First session in Term 4 for mums and bubs with Rebbetzin Sarah & Daniella from Beats & Babble Music
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St Kilda Shule Events

Author talk: Michael Visontay in conversation with Rachelle Unreich

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Invitation – Weekly Women’s Zoom Shiur

BS'D
You are invited to join our interactive women's study group exploring foundations of Judaism.
This week, we will be exploring
"Insights from Tishrei to take into the year Part 1"
When: Sunday 19th of October 2025
Time: 6pm-7pm
Speaker: Zipporah Oliver O.A.M.
In memory of Mrs Raizl Cylich OBM and Reb Yeshaya Yaakov ben Reb Baruch Yoseph A"H
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83767147952?pwd=ZDhaObggewEWrq86DGQZeVZbq1TZ3a.1
Meeting ID: 837 6714 7952
Password:  351548
Enquiries: 0438-345-770
I look forward to seeing you then!
Warmest regards,
Zipporah

Employment: Casual Personal And Administrative Assistant

Private Psychology Practice
St Kilda East, Melbourne VIC
$40 per hour
This job is only available to permanent Australian citizens and only applications with a cover letter will be considered.
For more information or to apply, please email your Cover Letter and CV to people@headwaytherapyonline.com.au

Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Handyman Services

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Monday, 13 October 2025

Cambridge Cellars wine packs

Tzetl: Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah 5786


(Melbourne Australia)
Good Yom Tov!
Chag Sameach!


Please click here to view the Yeshivah Shule Tzetel for Shabbos Chol Hamoed Sukkos, Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah.

Please click here to view the PDFs of Weekly Publications.



PARSHAH IN A NUTSHELL
SHEMINI ATZERET 
Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17; Numbers 29:35
A tenth of all produce is to be eaten in Jerusalem, or else exchanged for money with which food is purchased and eaten there. On certain years this tithe is given to the poor instead. Firstborn cattle and sheep are to be offered in the Temple and their meat eaten by the Kohen (priest).

The mitzvah of charity obligates a Jew to aid a needy fellow with a gift or loan. On the Sabbatical year (occurring every seventh year) all loans are to be forgiven. All indentured servants are to be set free after six years of service.

The portion then mentions the laws of the three pilgrimage festivals — Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot — when all should go to "see and be seen" before G‑d in the Holy Temple.

G‑d declares that the eighth day will be the festival of Shemini Atzeret, one bullock is offered, together with a ram and seven lambs. With each of the animals is brought the prescribed meal, wine and oil supplements: three tenths of an efah of fine flour, and half a hin each of wine and oil, per bullock; two tenths of an efah of flour and a third of a hin of each of the liquids for each ram; and one tenth and one quarter respectively for each lamb.


SIMCHAT TORAH
The name of the Parshah, "V'Zot HaBerachah," means "And this is the blessing," and it is found in Deuteronomy 33:1.

The Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret Torah readings are from Leviticus 22-23, Numbers 29, and Deuteronomy 14-16. These readings detail the laws of the moadim or "appointed times" on the Jewish calendar for festive celebration of our bond with G‑d; including the mitzvot of dwelling in the sukkah (branch-covered hut) and taking the "Four Kinds" on the festival of Sukkot; the offerings brought in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem on Sukkot, and the obligation to journey to the Holy Temple to "to see and be seen before the face of G‑d" on the three annual pilgrimage festivals — Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.

On Simchat Torah ("Rejoicing of the Torah") we conclude, and begin anew, the annual Torah-reading cycle. First we read the Torah section of V'zot HaBerachah, which recounts the blessings that Moses gave to each of the twelve tribes of Israel before his death. Echoing Jacob's blessings to his twelve sons five generations earlier, Moses assigns and empowers each tribe with its individual role within the community of Israel.

V'zot HaBerachah then relates how Moses ascended Mount Nebo from whose summit he saw the Promised Land. "And Moses the servant of G‑d died there in the Land of Moab by the mouth of G‑d... and no man knows his burial place to this day." The Torah concludes by attesting that "There arose not a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom G‑d knew face to face... and in all the mighty hand and the great awesome things which Moses did before the eyes of all Israel."

Immediately after concluding the Torah, we begin it anew by reading the first chapter of Genesis (the beginning of next Shabbat's Torah reading) describing G‑d's creation of the world in six days and His ceasing work on the seventh—which He sanctified and blessed as a day of rest.



HAFTORAH IN A NUTSHELL
SHEMINI ATZERET 
I Kings 8:54-66
The setting for the haftorah for the holiday of Shemini Atzeret is the dedication of the first Holy Temple by King Solomon. The dedication was a seven-day festive affair, which was immediately followed by the seven festive days of the holiday of Sukkot. And then, as we read in this haftorah, on the "eighth day" (i.e., Shemini Atzeret), Solomon sent the people off to their homes.

The reading opens immediately after King Solomon concludes a lengthy public prayer to G‑d. He then blesses the assembled Jewish people and encourages them to follow G‑d's will and observe the commandments—it is this blessing that occupies the bulk of the reading.

The King then inaugurates the Holy Temple by bringing various offerings: peace offerings, burnt offerings, and meal and fat offerings. And then, "on the eighth day he dismissed the people, and they blessed the King and went to their homes, rejoicing and delighted of heart for all the goodness that G‑d had wrought for David His servant and for Israel His people."


SIMCHAT TORAH 
Joshua 1:1-18
This week's Haftorah describes Joshua's succession of his master Moses, whose passing is discussed in the Torah reading.

G‑d reveals Himself to Joshua, and appoints him as Moses' successor. G‑d encouraged Joshua to lead the Israelites in to the Holy Land. "Every place on which the soles of your feet will tread I have given to you, as I have spoken to Moses. From this desert and Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the great sea westward shall be your boundary." G‑d assures Joshua that He will be with him just as He was with Moses and encourages him to be strong and brave, to study the Torah constantly and keep it close, so that he may succeed in all his endeavors.

Joshua orders his officers to prepare the Jewish people to cross the Jordan River. He then tells the members of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh, who had chosen to settle on the eastern bank of the Jordan, to go and assist their brethren in the conquest of the Canaanite mainland, after which they would return to their plot of land. The Jewish people pledge their allegiance to Joshua: "Just as we obeyed Moses in everything, so shall we obey you. Only that the L-rd your G‑d be with you as He was with Moses."



SAGES ON THE PARSHAH

If there will be among you a needy person, from one of your brothers in one of your cities... (15:7)

The poor of your city take precedence over the poor of a different city.

(Rashi)


Open, open your hand to him... (15:8)

Rabbi Elazar would give a coin to a pauper, and only then would he pray.

(Talmud, Bava Batra 10a)

https://w2.chabad.org/media/pdf/30336.pdf




Submission to Emmanuel's? See here

Sunday, 12 October 2025

Property: Short-term rental in St Kilda East 

Charming Edwardian furnished Quiet 3 Bedroom Kosher kitchen 5 min walk into Ripponlea Village, short walk to Elsternwick and Elwood beach and train stations.  Suits couple or small family. Available 22Oct to 1Jan. Minimum 1 month
What's app: 0452044770

Invitation Women's Shmini Atzeret Lunch Farbrengen




Employment: Casual Personal And Administrative Assistant

CASUAL PERSONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Private Psychology Practice
St Kilda East, Melbourne VIC
$40 per hour
This job is only available to permanent Australian citizens and only applications with a cover letter will be considered.
 
For more information or to apply, please email your Cover Letter and CV to people@headwaytherapyonline.com.au

Friday, 10 October 2025

Caulfield Shule Events

 

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Kiddush Guest Speaker: Lillian Kline - October 14th

VIRTUOSO

Tzetl: Shabbos Chol HaMoed Sukkot 5786

7:15pm - Candle Lighting, Friday
8:13pm - Havdalah, Saturday
(Melbourne Australia)
Eruv Status: TBA cosv.org.au/eruv/
Good Shabbos!


Please click here to view the Yeshivah Shule Tzetel for Shabbos Chol Hamoed Sukkos, Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah.

Please click here to view the PDFs of Weekly Publications.



PARSHAH IN A NUTSHELL
Exodus 33:12-34:26
G‑d agrees to Moses' request that His presence only dwell amongst the Jews. Moses requests to be shown G‑d's glory. G‑d agrees, but informs Moses that he will only be shown G‑d's "back," not G‑d's "face."

G‑d tells Moses to carve new tablets upon which G‑d will engrave the Ten Commandments. Moses takes the new tablets up to Mt. Sinai, where G‑d reveals His glory to Moses while proclaiming His Thirteen Attributes of Mercy.

G‑d seals a covenant with Moses, assuring him again that His presence will only dwell with the Jews. G‑d informs the Jewish people that He will drive the Canaanites from before them. He instructs them to destroy all vestiges of idolatry from the land, not to make molten gods, to refrain from making any covenants with its current inhabitants, to sanctify male firstborn humans and cattle, and not to cook meat together with milk.

The Jews are commanded to observe the three festivals — including the holiday of Sukkot, "the festival of the ingathering, at the turn of the year." All males are commanded to make pilgrimage to "be seen by G‑d" during these three festivals.

The maftir, from the Book of Numbers, discusses the public offerings brought in the Temple on this day of Sukkot.


HAFTORAH IN A NUTSHELL
Ezekiel 38:18-39:16
The subject of the haftorah of this Shabbat is the war of Gog and Magog that will precede the Final Redemption. Its connection to the holiday of Sukkot is that according to tradition the war will take place during the month of Tishrei, the month when the holiday of Sukkot falls. In addition, this war is identical to the one described in the fourteenth chapter of Zachariah, the haftorah read on the first day of Sukkot, which concludes by saying that the gentile survivors of this war will be required to go to Jerusalem every year on the holiday of Sukkot to pay homage to G‑d.

The prophet describes Gog's war against Israel and G‑d's furious response. G‑d will send an earthquake, pestilence, great floods and hailstones and fire—utterly destroying Gog's armies.

"And I will reveal Myself in My greatness and in My holiness and will be recognized in the eyes of many nations, and they will know that I am the Lord. . . . I will make known My Holy Name in the midst of My people Israel, and I will no longer cause My Holy Name to be profaned, and the nations will know that I, the Lord, am holy in Israel."

The haftorah concludes by saying that the weaponry of the defeated armies of Gog will provide fuel for fire for seven years! The Jews "shall carry no wood from the fields nor cut down any from the forests, for they shall make fires from the weapons."



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