THE JEWISH WELFARE BOARD

Upcoming events

 The 5th session of the  JLI course on Jewish Business Ethics, entitled “Money Matters” will continue on Monday 20th of February. Money Matters will present Judaism’s approach to practical economic  dilemmas and monetary quandaries that we face daily in both our  personal and professional lives. To register and for more info, visit the website at www.myjli.com

- A memorial service will be held on Tuesday 21 February at the Choa Chu Kang Jewish Cemetery after the morning services to commemorate the yahrzeit of the late Girgee Ballas o.b.m.  The Hatima will be held on the same day at the JBC after the evening services.

-Security volunteers meeting - Pleae join us for learning security procedures and access control training. 28th February 8:30 pm, JBC 5th floor. RSVP to singaporejews.com/rsvp.html

- SAVE THE DATES-

· Wednesday night 7th of March, Megilah reading and dancing

· Wednesday night 7th of March, Teens Purim Party

· Thursday 8th of March, Megilah reading and party at the Shooker home

· Saturday Night 10th of March, Adults purim Party

· Sunday 9th of March, Purim Family day

More details to follow for all Purim Events.

Parasha in a Nutshell

 Mishpatim Exodus 21:1-24:18

Following the revelation at Sinai, G-d legislates a series of laws for the people of Israel. These include the laws of the indentured servant; the penalties for murder, kidnapping, assault, and theft; civil laws pertaining toredress of damages, the granting of loans, and the responsibilities of the "Four Guardians"; and the rules governing the conduct of justice by courts of law.

Also included are laws warning against mistreatment of foreigners; the observance of the seasonal festivals, and the agricultural gifts that are to be brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem; the prohibition against cooking meat with milk; and the mitzvah of prayer. Altogether, the Parshah of Mishpatim contains fifty-three mitzvot -- 23 imperative commandments and 30 prohibitions.

G-d promises to bring the people of Israel to the Holy Land, and warns them against assuming the pagan ways of its current inhabitants.

The people of Israel proclaim, "We will do and we will hear all that G-d commands us." Leaving Aaron and Hur in charge in the Israelite camp,Moses ascends Mount Sinai and remains there for forty days and forty nights to receive the Torah from G-d.

Weekly Shabbat lunch sponsor

The Jewish Welfare Board in memory of the late Girgee bat Habiba o.b.m. whose yahrzeit will be commemorated on Tuesday 21 February 2012.

And

 Victor & Michelle Sassoon in memory of Victor’s late father  Mordehai Hayeem Sassoon o.b.m. whose yahrzeit will be commemorated on Wednesday 22 Feb 2012.

The Seudah Shelishit is sponsored partially by:

David and Caren Srolovitz in memory of davids late father Huna Chaim Srolovitz O.B.M

Our Shabbat lunches offer a beautiful opportunity to meet fellow
Jews from all over the world as well as much needed hospitality to
young students, guests and visitors who would not otherwise enjoy
the Shabbat experience. We hope that you will partner with us in
sponsoring these lunches and help us provide much
needed hospitality every Shabbat. Please contact us at :enquiries@jwb.org.sg

Main article

 A matter of ethics

A large part of the story of the Jews' acceptance of the Torah is actually found at the end of this week's Torah portion—Mishpatim (Exodus 21-24). This includes the famous statement by the Jewish people, Na'aseh venishma—"We will do (first) and (then) we will hear and understand"—a complete acceptance of G‑d without caveats.

But why is this important element not included in its seemingly proper place in the Torah reading of Yitro (Exodus 18-20)—which tells the story of the Giving of the Torah?

I believe the answer lies in a concept expounded by Rabbi Judah Halevi in his great work, the Kuzari. He discusses the statements by prophets such as Jeremiah, Isaiah and Amos, apparently denigrating and belittling the sacrifices offered by many of the Jews at the end of the First Temple period. How are these statements reconciled with the explicit commandments in the Torah regarding offering sacrifices? And after all, we pray thrice daily for the restoration of the Holy Temple and its sacrificial service!

The Kuzari posits that the Torah was given to a nation comprised of whole, decent human beings. Otherwise, we would not have been worthy of receiving this precious gift. This is why the prophets criticized the sacrifices of those who did injustice to others. They were not opposed to the sacrifices; they recognized that a korban – which in Hebrew literally means to "draw close," not "sacrifice" – is about coming closer to G‑d. If we care about G‑d, however, we do not trample those created in His image. And if we do not care about G‑d, why bring a sacrifice? Can He be bribed? G‑d derives pleasure from our sincere desire to draw close to Him—not a holy barbeque. If we are stuck in moral mire, we cannot rise to the heights of heaven.

So too in our case: the Torah reading of Mishpatim discusses the basics of civil law. How we treat each other, how we fulfill our financial and fiduciary obligations, etc. It is about justice and equity to other human beings.

G‑d inserted the reading of Mishpatim before going back in time to discuss key elements of the narrative of the giving of the Torah. This is His way of saying: "Before you can receive the Torah fully—study Mishpatim! Be good, decent, upright human beings who respects others' selves, dignity and property. When you have done that, then I can give you the Torah and uplift you to be a 'goy kadosh,' a holy nation."

If we are not properly developed human beings, "mentschen," there is no vessel for the Torah to rest upon—we cannot build a lasting building on swampland.

But if our humanity and decency and honesty are present, then we are a solid foundation upon which we can build the edifice of Torah and Judaism

Elite kosher shop

The Kosher shop stocks a wide range of products such as meats (imported from Australia),
poultry, dairy products, as well as a large variety of wines. 

                        
The Kosher Shop also just received a wide range of products form Israel at very affordable prices such as popular snacks (Bissli etc…), canned foods and much more.

 The Awafi Restaurant

Open for Lunch and Dinner To make a reservation call 6336. 5166
Also serving breakfast every morning after Shacharit.Awafi also provides for outside catering.
 Feel free to contact us at: 6336 5166 

Halacha Corner

 Forbidden Foods

All water creatures are forbidden except for those having fin and scale, as it says "And they shall be an abomination for you; from their flesh you shall not eat", and it says "Anything in the water... that has fin and scale you may eat". For swarming water creatures there is a further prohibition based on "You shall not abominate yourselves with any swarming thing that swarms".All creatures that crawl on the land (reptiles, insects, etc.) are forbidden, as it says "And any swarming thing that swarms on the ground is an abomination, it shall not be eaten"; they are forbidden even if they do not [visibly] procreate, as it says "And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground".They are also forbidden if they grow in food and go out onto the ground, as it says "Of all the swarming things that swarm on the ground [you shall not eat for they are an abomination] but if they grow in food not attached to the ground or in a confined liquid and never leave it they are permitted

Growing Each Day-With Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski

 One nation shall be mightier than the other (Genesis 25:23).

These words were part of God's explanation to Rebecca, when she asked why her pregnancy was so difficult. God told her that the two children she carried, Jacob and Esau, were struggling within her, and prophesied that this struggle would be an eternal one. At some points in history, Jacob would triumph; at other times, Esau would triumph.

The Tanya (Chapter 9) states that this struggle is not only between the Jewish nation and its adversaries, but that it also exists within each individual. Within each person are a Jacob and an Esau - a Divine soul which strives for sanctity and an animal soul which strives for physical gratifications. Like wrestlers, one may have the superiority at one time, and the other at others.

I strongly disagree with the author of those books which assert that people can attain inner peace and be free of struggle in life. Those who do not attain this desired tranquility therefore feel deprived. They may try many ways - even alcohol or drugs - to attain this assumed freedom from internal strife and tension.

The truth, however, is that inner peace is not even supposed to occur during our earthly existence. Our lives are an eternal struggle between opposing forces. Like opponents in a boxing match, we may get only a brief respite between rounds, only to come out fighting again

Arseth

 25 Shvat/18 February

Abraham Ezra ben Rivka

28 Shvat/21 February

Girgee bat Hababa

29 Shvat/22 February

Mordehai Hayeem Sassoon

30 Shvat/23 February

Eliyahu ben Aziza

Today in Jewish history...

 25 Shevat

-The French gov't gave financial support to Jewish institutions on a par with Christian institutions, 1831.

-Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, 1883, dynamic leader of the Mussar Movement, which came about to fight against the inroads of assimilation in Europe.

-First ship with "illegal" immigrants broke through the British blockade, 1934.

26 Shevat

-Yahrzeit of the TAZ, author of the popular commentary on Shulchan Aruch, 1667.

28 Shevat

-Antiochus V lifted the siege of Jerusalem, 163 bce (observed as a holiday).

-Massacre of Jews of Norwich, England, 1190.

30 Shevat

-Jews of Rome had been subjected to a humiliating medieval practice of running a race in the Roman carnivals, scantily clad, amid insults and blows. This practice of "Black Monday" (the day of the weekly carnival) ended in 1667.

1 Adar

--Yahrzeit of Ibn Ezra, 1164.

-Private Purim of Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller, Rav of Cracow, 1643.

-Yahrzeit of the "Shakh" (major commentator of the Shulchan Aruch), 1662.

-Yahrzeit of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov, 1827. (He was the leader of the Aliya of the followers of the Vilna Gaon to Eretz Yisrael. This is significant because of the many Minhagei Yerushalayim that were established by that Ashkenazi community).

Ask the Rabbi

 Question:

I notice that lighting candles is a big part of Judaism. We light candles every Friday forShabbat, we light candles on every festival, and Chanukahis all about candles. What is the connection between candles and spirituality?

Answer:

There is something about a candle that makes it more spiritual than physical. A physical substance, when spread, becomes thin. Spirituality, when spread, expands and grows.

When you use something physical, it is diminished. The more money you spend, the less you have; the more gasoline you use, the more empty your tank becomes; the more food you eat, the more you need to restock your pantry. But spiritual things increase with use. If I use my wisdom to teach, the student learns, and I come out wiser for it; if I share my love with another, I become more loving, not less. When you give a spiritual gift, the recipient gains, and you lose nothing.

This is the spiritual property that candles share. When you use one candle to light another, the original candle remains bright. Its light is not diminished by being shared; on the contrary, the two candles together enhance each other’s brightness and increase light.

We sometimes worry that we may stretch ourselves too thin. In matters of spirit, this is never the case. The more goodness we spread, the more goodness we have. By making a new friend, you become a better friend to your old friends. By having another child, you open a new corridor of love in your heart that your other children benefit from, too. By teaching more students, you become wiser.

Keep lighting your candles. There is an endless supply of light in your soul. You will never run out of goodness.

Recipe of the week

Brolied honey mustard salmon

ingrediants

4 large salmon fillets (about 1 pound each)
2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons dill
2 teaspoons cumin

Directions

Preheat broiler. Cover a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Lay salmon on top of foil. Spread mustard and then honey over salmon. Sprinkle dill, then cumin on top. If you’re a cumin fan, add a little more). Broil for 5 minutes; then bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes more. Can be served hot or at room temperature.

Ongoing Events & Programs

Weekly Minyan, stories and snacks for children after reading of the Torah. For more info contact The boys.
One on one learning with the Yeshiva Boys for adults and children. Contact Mrs. Rivni@ 92327095.
Lunch & Learn Tuesdays at Awafi, JBC. Contact Rabbi Abergel
Talmud class every Wednesday@ 9:00pm in tractate Sanhedrin. Contact Rabbi Abergel
Mikva: Mrs. Simcha Abergel 9673 9184
Mrs. Odelia Rivni 9232 7095
(Appointments at least one day before)

Yeshiva Boys

• Mendy Ash: 9459 8690
• Yisroel Drihem: 9459 8125
• Dovid Knapp: 9459 8152
• Sroli Gutnick: 9384 3236
• Mendel Kranz : 9488 8610
• JWB Offices, Julia: 6337 2189 ext 103
• Awafi Restaurant, Sushil: 6336 5166
• Kosher Shop, Maya: 6337 2189 ext 107

www.singaporejews.com
enquiries@jwb.org.sg