Times: Candlelighting for tonight Shmini Atzeret (15 Oct) is at 7:19pm; Candlelighting for Thursday night Simchat Torah (16 Oct) after 8:18pm; Candlelighting for Shabbat on Friday (17 Oct) at 7:21pm; Shabbat ends at 8:20pm. The weekly Torah Portion for Shabbat is Bereishis.
Remember to make an Eruv Tavshilin today.

Mincha in the CBD: Mincha is on today 1.45pm in the sukkah at 459 Collins St, and will continue back at Billing Bureau next week Mon-Fri at 1.45pm.

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

Kosher Food in the CBD: NEW!!! Nifla Kosher Catering is proud to offer Corporate Catering, specializing in individual and board room lunches. With a broad range to select from, we deliver direct to your door. No orders too big or too small. For further details visit www.nifla.com.au
Kosher sandwiches, muffins and salads are available to city fringe-workers at the café located in the Lowe Lipman building: In a Rush –  616 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne Other outlets to follow (KA Hechsher)

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 Yehuda Gottlieb. The very first verse of the Torah opens with an account of the creation of the world. Rashi comments the importance of this portion being chosen by Hashem as an opening, rather than the very first Mitzvah. The explanation given by Rashi (quoting Rav Yitzchak) is that the Torah was written with foresight to provide the Jews with a defence to the Nations of the World who may claim that the Land of Israel belongs to them. The Torah therefore begins by stating that the whole world was created by G-d and it is His to give to whomever is right in His eyes.
Rabbi Sorotzkin in Oznayim L’Torah notes that the above conclusion could be reached even if Hashem was to give each Nation their own undisputed piece of land. Therefore, there must be a particular purpose for the Jews to have to conquer the land and expel the seven nations. This is to teach us an additional lesson: not only does the whole world belong to Hashem, but also that maintaining possession of Eretz Yisrael is not something that is ‘given’, but rather something that is a privilege and can be taken away should the Jews not fulfil the role for which they were created.