Rabbi's Message

Dear <~~First~~>,

Tu B'Shevat and JLI

This Shabbat is Tu B'Shevat, New Year for Trees. Our Sages and Rabbis have expounded on the many similarities that exist between Trees and Humans.

Among my favorites is the following: It is only possible to ignite a large piece of wood by first getting the fire going with small branches and chips. So too, explain our rabbis, the teachers of the generation depend for their inspiration on their students. It is the constant questioning and probing of students which enables their teachers, rabbis and professors to achieve the clarity they require for new discoveries. Or as our rabbis have so succinctly put it: "I have learnt much from my teachers, even more from colleagues, but from my students, most of all".

In this regard, it is worth quoting one of the most famous physicists of our time - John Wheeler.

A journalist once approached Wheeler with the following question:

You have educated many leading physicists, both in nuclear physics and in general relativity, at Princeton. Do you have some thoughts about educating students?

Wheeler: Shouldn't you rephrase your question? After all, I'm sure that it is really the students who educate me! We all know that the real reason universities have students is to educate the professors. But, in order to be educated by the students, one has to put good questions to them. You try out your questions on the students. If there are questions that the students get interested in, then they start to tell you new things and keep you asking more new questions. Pretty soon you have learned a great deal.

In a similar vein, I have gained at least as much from my students at JLI as they have from me. It is an incredible opportunity for learning and mutual interaction.

Our new JLI course - Portraits of Leadership begins this week- is a breathtaking tale of enduring wisdom and character. I look forward to welcoming the many new delegates to Jewish Learning at South Head. May we truly enjoy our newest journey together!

For more information on Tu B'Shevat, please click here

Shabbos with Avraham Fried

Anyone with an ear for music knows that Avraham Fried is no less than a superstar of the Jewish music world. As you would be aware - see the advertisement at the bottom of this week's South Head News - Avraham Fried is one of the stars of Yeshiva Centre's Three Legends  concert to be held on February 18.

The Yeshiva has generously allowed us to host Avraham Fried on the Friday night following the concert and it promises to be a treat!

Please join us on Friday night February 19th for a truly special Shabbos Dinner. At the hot price of $38 adults & $18 kids tickets will be snapped up quickly - so if you would like to attend please contact Karen on 9371 7300 ext 1 or email asap.

On behalf of the Rebbetzen and all of us at South Head

Wishing you a Good Shabbos

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

Coming Events

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Hey there everyone! Childrens' Services are back tonight! Raizel, Lauren, Erin, Atara and Shira can't wait to see you all - be in Shul by 6.10 and have a great Shabbos! Dear Parents - do you have old vinyl records at home that you would like to see put to good use? If you want to donate them to us so we can use them for a very special Purim activity please phone Rivky on 0404 055 643. Good Shabbos from Rabbi Yossi and Rivky Shuchat. For more information about youth programs, contact Rabbi Yossi or Rivky Shuchat at 9371-7300 ext 3, or 0425-323-770  or email Youth@southhead.org

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Friday the Rabbi Laughed!

Sick Leave

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss would not allow me to take leave.

I thought that maybe if I acted 'Crazy' he would tell me to take a few days off. So, I hung upside-down on the ceiling and made funny noises.

My co-worker (who's blonde) asked me what I was doing. I told her that I was pretending to be a light bulb, so that the boss might think I was 'Crazy' and give me a few days off.

A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked, 'What in the name of good G-D are you doing? So I told him I was a light bulb.

He said, 'You are clearly stressed out.' Go home and recuperate for a couple of days.'

I jumped down and walked out of the office.... When my co-worker (the blonde) followed me, the Boss asked her, 'And where do you think you're going'?

She said, 'I'm going home, too. You can't possibly expect me to work in the dark!