Times: Shabbat starts tonight with candle lighting at 5:34pm, and ends Saturday night at 6:32pm. The weekly Torah portion is Ki Teitzei

Mincha in the CBD: Whisky and Kugel Fridays is on today at 1.00pm using the SMS system to confirm numbers. Mincha (Mon-Fri) continues next week at 1.00pm with the SMS reminder.

Study: The Wednesday shiur & lunch continues this week at Billing Bureau, following 1.00pm mincha.

Thought of the Week with thanks to Michelle Coleman. This week’s Torah reading opens with the words כִּֽי־תֵצֵ֥א לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֶ֑יךָ וּנְתָנ֞וֹ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ בְּיָדֶ֖ךָ וְשָׁבִ֥יתָ שִׁבְיֽוֹ – “If you go out to war against your enemies, and the Lord, your God, will deliver him into your hands…” (Devarim 21:10).

Many commentators hold that this verse refers to the continual battle each of us must wage with our yetzer hara (evil inclination). Indeed, our sages say a person’s yetzer hara is so strong that it overpowers him every day and were it not for the fact that G-d helps, he would not be able to overcome it (Kedushim 30b).

In such circumstances of repeated failure, it would be natural for us to give up in our quest to conquer the yetzer hara. However, in this opening verse, we receive a pledge: “If you go out to war against your enemies” – if you will just commit to the battle and take up arms – then you can proceed with the confidence and assurance that G-d will “deliver him into your
hands” and you will be victorious.

Wishing you repeated victories and a Shabbat shalom.