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Shabbat starts on Friday at 6:03pm and ends on Saturday at 7:01pm. The weekly Torah portion is Nitzavim-Vayeilech. Selichot starts on Saturday night.

Mincha 1pm continues at Ainsworth Property – GF/459 Collins Mon & Tue. Join the WhatsApp group where we take a count to confirm each day.

Weekly sushi & shiur is in recess next week for Rosh Hashana. Usually Wed at about 1.10pm (after mincha) at A-P GF/459 Collins – and via zoom. Current topic: collecting on debt security. Details here and on the WhatsApp group.

Thought of the Week with thanks to Josh Wasbutzki.

This week Torah reading includes the heart-wrenching verse –כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאוד, בפיך ובלבבך לעשותו.

Indeed, the verse is telling us that the Torah is very close to us, and that it is a whisker away – that we all have the capacity to be incredibly close to G-d and Torah if we open our minds and hearts. We all have the infinite potential to get closer and be the best ‘us’ we can be – it is in our hands.

This message is timely, given the proximity to Rosh Hashanah. The Torah, in all its infinite wisdom, is reminding us to take the time for introspection, to consider what type of person and Jew we want to be in this coming year.

Changing ourselves, whether it be our character traits, or taking an additional mitzvah on, however hard we think it is – it is very close to us! We just need to want it.