Kehillat Ohr Yisroel - Paarl Shul

24/08/2026

MY THOUGHTS PARSHAS KI SEITZE 5786

"Prevention is better than Cure" as the saying goes.

We are rapidly approaching Rosh Hashono (Jewish New Year) and it would be wise to improve our relationships with G-d and with those with whom we interact.
This week, we read a rather strange law.
It describes that when we want to remove eggs from a birds nest, we are commanded to first chase the mother bird away...“so that it should be good for you, and you should lengthen your days” (22:7).
What makes this law so enigmatic that we read it in this month of Elul, close to the Day of Judgment?

According to the great Rambam, quoted by the Ksav Sofer, when we repeatedly perform actions, we are likely to change.
By being kind and considerate to the mother bird, to animals and to the planet etc. then we ourselves become more like what we put out.
It's not always easier to be more tolerant and caring to people than it is to innocent creatures, but it trains our very being in this way to become so.

At this important juncture of the year, we want to become better people. We become happier overall as we support others in need.
In turn, we believe that this will reflect back to ourselves when Hashem sees our efforts and results.
This system of well-being leads to a long and virtuous life.

Then we will have a New Year of life, happiness and prosperity.

Good Shabbos

14/08/2026

MY THOUGHTS - Parshas Shoftim 5786
- Dovid Jubiler -

Many, many years ago, I began a career selling Life Assurance & B"H I did very well.
I was extremely fortunate to have one of the best managers to train me and credit to him for a major lesson that he shared with me.

He said: Dovid'l, you have:-
2 legs & 2 arms, 2 eyes, 2 nostrils and 2 ears... but you have only
ONE mouth.
USE YOUR MOUTH IN THAT PROPORTION!!!

In this Parsha we read Moshe (Moses) instructing the Nation to place Judges and Police at all your gates.

We can read this literally and we can also derive a lesson by understanding it as a hint in the following way:
Eyes, nostrils and ears are facets that can be compromised by perhaps looking at , listening to and sniffing into the wrong things, or arms and legs to run to things we should avoid and to put our hands where they should not be... I didn't forget the mouth which is humans unique power to speak badly (loshon horo).

The Torah tells us to use discernment "Judges" and also force "Police" at all these "Gates" to our soul.

We can think and consider that something is wrong, but kinda can't help ourselves and do these bad acts anyway.
We need to actually police ALL of our gates: the pairs of legs & hands, the pair of eyes, nostrils & ears and most of all ... to use our mouths with judgement and caution.

Wishing you a wonderful new month of Elul as we head toward Rosh Hashana in a few short weeks.

Good Shabbos ❤️

12/08/2026

🚕💥🤯
- Parshas Re'Eh -
MY THOUGHTS
By DOVID JUBILER

Just as I was leaving a (mourner's) shiva house last night, I had a severe flat on a new tyre. I drove slowly to the closest filling station, less than ½ km away, filled out and went home.
This morning, it wasn't looking too low and decided to have the leak repaired.
😲!...It needed complete replacement! A significant unexpected expense.
I thought to myself: "I did a mitzvah to visit the bereaved and now, as reward ... this!?!
After Shabbos, I'm driving over 400km through the dark country night to a town where I need to be at a project starting 4am in the early morning.
What if I had left into the night and then got the problem tyre?
Upon reflection, it really was a blessing.
This week's Torah reading starts:
"See...I place before you a blessings and a curse.
The blessing, when you keep the mitzvot and the curse of you do not"

My take is that that 1st word "See..." tells us that it is up to us to judge the incidents as either a Blessing or a a Curse.
We need to realise that whatever we are given can always be viewed as good.

Good Shabbos💜💙🩵

22/07/2026

TISHA B'OV
On this, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar we fast and soul search in the belief that each of us will do a small part to bring about the rebuilding of our Holy Temple.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JgdnQJFNS/

27/06/2026

Shavua Tov
A follower has posted the following message:
"Hi I’m looking for a copy of the Food Frolics recipe book that was compiled by the ladies of the community in 1960. Does anyone have a copy? I’m happy to borrow and return. Thanks"
Barbara

Please reply to this if you are able to assist.

07/05/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Amir Avila

01/05/2026

Kehillat Ohr Yisroel - Paarl Shul 🖐🏼Five ideas before Shabbat Emor 5️⃣ by Sivan Rahav-Meir.

1) This Shabbat we will read *Parashat Emor*, the eighth parsha in the Book of Vayikra.

2) Our parasha contains 63 mitzvot. The first section of the parasha focuses mainly on the Kohanim and their service in the Beit HaMikdash, and the second section on the cycle of the Jewish year. How moving it is to read about festivals that we are still celebrating today, thousands of years after the Torah was given: Sukkot and the Four Species; the fast of Yom Kippur; eating matzah on Pesach; blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah; Sefirat HaOmer; Shabbat; and Shavuot.

3) Over the past few weeks, we have been observing the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer, as we count each day between Pesach and the receiving of the Torah on Shavuot. Next Monday night we will celebrate Lag Ba’Omer.

4) The haftarah of Parshat Emor is taken from the Book of Yechezkel. The prophet Yehezkel addresses the kohanim and urges them to teach the people about mitzvah observance and good deeds in addition to overseeing the sacrificial service in the Beit HaMikdash.

5) Today, *Friday*, the fourteenth of Iyar, is known as “*Pesach Sheini*.” The background for this holiday is an incident that took place when the Children of Israel were in the desert. A group of men approached Moshe Rabbeinu and told him that they were unable to participate in the original Pesach because they had been ritually impure. They asked for a second chance. In an unusual and unprecedented move, God accepted their request. Ever since that time, Pesach Sheini has served as a reminder that we should never give up. Second chances are always possible, and we may always turn to God with our requests and pray for His salvation.

Good Shabbos & Shalom al Yisroel 🌞🕊️💫👋💫🕊️☀️

07/04/2026

Hi my dear friends,

Just a reminder that tonight and tomorow night are Yom Tov—the final days of Pesach. These days are just as important as the first, and in a sense, they complete them.

While the first days mark the Exodus from Egypt, our redemption was only fully realized at Kriyat Yam Suf—the splitting of the Sea (often called the Red Sea, but more accurately the Reed Sea). It was there that the Egyptian army was finally defeated, and our freedom became complete. That moment stands as one of the great miracles that solidified our relationship with Hashem.

In many ways, we find ourselves today in a similar place—facing challenges from without, struggles from within, and at times feeling as though we are standing before a sea with no clear way forward.

Yet the message remains timeless: “Daber el Bnei Yisrael v’yisa’u”—“Speak to the children of Israel and let them move forward.” Even in uncertainty, we are called upon to act with faith and courage.

Especially now, as our brothers and sisters in Israel are sitting in shelters facing bombs raining down on them , let us strengthen ourselves through tefillah. Let us come together in shul—praying with one another and for one another.

Let us ensure that our shuls, too, are filled—with people, with spirit, with connection, and with the deep and enduring relationship we share with Hashem. To be cherish means to feel the pain of other Jews.

Wishing you all many blessings.With love and gratitude let us alll celebrate and daven for our own splitting of the sea.

Chag Sameach.
CREDIT - Reb ARYEH/ Lewis FURMAN

Good Yomtov - Dovid Jubiler

Egypt persues the Jews in the wilderness.