Times: Candlelighting is Friday 4:55pm; Shabbat ends Saturday 5:56pm. The weekly Torah Portion is Balak.

Mincha in the CBD: Mincha continues at our usual location at Level 5 South, 459 Collins St, at 1.00pm Mon-Thu.

Study: Mon 12.30 @ East Melb Shule; Wed 1.15 @ Billing Bureau.

Kosher Food in the CBD: Kosher sandwiches and snacks provided by Sidewalk Cafe under Kosher Australia hashgacha are available at the following locations:
-CBW Express- 181 William Street (Open late until 9pm)
-Pronto on Flinders – 335 Flinders Lane
Kosher sandwiches and snacks delivered daily to the CBD.
SANDWICHES: egg mayonnaise and tomato, tuna mayonnaise and pickles, smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced cheese, tomato, cucumber and salad. SNACKS: natural berry yogurt with oat cluster crumble, fresh fruit salad, mixed berry muffin

Thought of the Week with thanks to Gaby Silver. Fuelled by an unquenchable, senseless hatred of Jews, Balak & Bilaam sought to defy G-d by cursing the Jewish nation. Their epic failure and brutal demise should serve as a warning to our enemies. What converted curse to blessing, hatred to admiration? Jews being Jews: Modest, caring, peaceful and faithful.

We live in a topsy-turvy world that views propagators of hatred and death as victims, while vilification, persecution and slaughter of lovers of peace and holiness elicits responses from indifferent silence to raucous celebration.

We must continue our path of righteousness and pray with anguished fervour for the day when darkness will be eradicated by light. The day the world will finally look at us and see “a nation that rises like an awesome lion” and exclaim: “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your dwelling places O Israel”.

May Hashem avenge the blood of those departed and redeem His Nation immediately.