the sydney jewish report - June 2022

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VOL. 87 Tuesday, 21 June, 2022 / 22 Sivan 5782

Fostering a closer Jewish community

The Queen and the Jews p8

CELEBRATING COA’S VOLUNTEERS p6

THE RABBINATE’S CHANGING FACE p10

MOSES’ CHILDREN: THE SUCCESSION p11

10 JEWISH INVENTIONS

p14

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Community and education

JCA JCA funding for education is key to building engagement and continuity in our community. The future rests with the young people that inspire their peers. For JCA’s campaign on 3rd June, there were different activities and celebrations at Jewish day schools across Sydney. All expressed what community and Tzedakah mean in ways relevant to the students. Madrichim and school captains at Sydney's Jewish day schools were asked what it means to be a leader, how they feel about their Jewish identity, Tzedakah and their hopes for the future. Their responses were inspiring and heartfelt and demonstrated that the future of our community is in safe hands. Toby Schwartz – School Captain, Mount Sinai College "One of the reasons why Mount Sinai is special to me and my family, is because my mum was one of the first students at this school. And my grandma was one of the people who helped make the school. My mum and her sisters went here and now my sister and I go to the school. I've learned that anybody can be a part of any community and you might not think of it, but people are part of many communities all at the same time.”

Emanuel School madrichim Victoria Miller and Myles Cohn

Eve Arber – School Captain, Mount Sinai College “The Jewish community is really important to me because it's my whole entire history. Being a Jew is a part of me. When I think about the Jewish community, I think about people helping each other. Here, at Mount Sinai, we are all part of the Jewish community and we all help each other. At Mount Sinai, they teach us that you can be in the community no matter where you are." Victoria Miller – Senior Madricha, Emanuel School “As a Jew, I think Tzedakah is really important, because Tikkun Olam is at the heart of everything we do. I think it really drives our need for social change and social justice in the actions we take not just internally and in the community, but also outside the community. Part of the values I've been taught at Emanuel School are to follow my passions to strive to be the best that I can be. That’s not just for me, but for the community around me and for all of us to grow and learn together and be in that space where we can value each other as well as ourselves.” Myles Cohn – Senior Madrich, Emanuel School “I think one of the most important things that we strive for at Emanuel is a sense of belonging and making sure that everyone is included. Community is very important because when we reach really tough times we'll be able to support each other and be there. So, just having the knowledge that there are others out there makes the community incredibly strong.”

Toby Schwartz, Mount Sinai College school captain Tali Kaplan – School Captain, Moriah College “I think a strong community is so important because it provides that support system and allows people to reach out and actually ask for help.” Daniel Jankelowitz – School Captain, Moriah College “I think what's so amazing about Jewish education is that it teaches us our values and they've been our values for 2,000 plus years. It's the combination of values I learned at home, with the values I learned in school. And this is all brought together through the chaggim at school, the informal Jewish education and that in the classroom. My hope for the future is that as a community we can build a stronger foundation and connections from which we can bond and support each other even more than now."

Roni Oren (Head Madricha, Masada College) “JCA is very important to our community because not only do they support Masada and the other Jewish schools, but they also support a lot of really important organisations. I speak of Wolper Jewish Hospital, the Sydney Jewish Museum and Montefiore, which link all our families, so they encompass us and our whole community. I think volunteering from a young age, in and out of school, helps us to learn and appreciate what we have and how important it is for us to give back and help other people who are less fortunate.” Jaida Walt, Junior Madricha, Masada College “My Jewish identity is important to me because as a leader at the school I love teaching the of younger children lots of traditions and passing these on for generations to come. I want to be a strong Jewish woman, a leader and

role model when I'm older to help bring justice to the world.” Ashira Bass, Junior Madricha, Masada College “I think JCA is important to our community because they can help us grow. We know we're being cared for and loved and they help with aged care, social justice and education.” By donating to JCA Campaign 2022 you support Jewish day school students and those Jewish students attending public schools that participate in BJE's education programs. Last year BJE engaged almost 600 students by delivering 1,250 special religious education programs per term in schools across NSW. In addition, funding from JCA's campaign supports children with special needs with their education. Last year, more than 1,000 students received support. You can make a difference by going to: https://donation.jca.org.au/ donation-2.0

DONATE NOW

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On a wing and a prayer

BOOK LAUNCH A former rabbi at Central Synagogue, Rabbi Chaim Ingram, this week launches his fifth book, Lattices of Love. The collection of 68 brief, easily readable, interrelated essays is the rabbi’s first book on prayer, mostly those said daily. (His previous publications have been about the parsha and the festivals.) Among plaudits from the rabbinate in Australia and abroad, the work has received praise from Commonwealth chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase on Sunday, 26th June between 2 and 4pm at Bet Yosef, 243 Old South Head Road, Bondi. The buffet tea event coincides with Rabbi Ingram’s 70th birthday and 30 years as a rabbi and cantor in Sydney. For more information, contact the rabbi at judaim@bigpond.net.au

Rabbi Chaim Ingram

Yoni Glatt’s JEWISH SPELLING BEE How many common words of five or more letters can

you spell using the words letters inof the5hive? Every letters answer can How many common or more must use the the centre letter at you spell using letters inleast theonce. hive?Letters Everymay answer be reused in a word. At least one Jewish word will use all seven must use the center letter at least once. Letters may letters. be reused in a word. At least one word will use all 7 Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. letters and have a direct Jewish connection. Score 1 point for each answer and 3 points for a Jewish-related word that uses all 7 letters.

Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. Score 1 Rating: point for each9=answer, points for a 6=Good; Excellent;and 11= 3 Genius Jewish related word that uses all 7 letters. Rating: 9=Good; 17= Excellent; 25= Genius

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES Friday, Jun 24, 2022

4:37 pm

Shabbat ends, Jun 25, 2022

5:36 pm

Friday, Jul 1, 2022

4:39 pm

Shabbat ends, Jul 2, 2022

5:38 pm

Friday, Jul 8, 2022

4:42 pm

Shabbat ends, Jul 9, 2022

5:41 pm

Friday, Jul 15, 2022

4:46 pm

Shabbat ends, Jul 16, 2022

5:45 pm

Friday, Jul 22, 2022

4:51 pm

Shabbat ends, Jul 23, 2022

5:49 pm

Yoni Glatt has published more than 1,000 crossword puzzles worldwide, from the LA Times and Boston Globe to The Jerusalem Post. He has also published two Jewish puzzle books: "Kosher Crosswords" and the sequel "More Kosher Crosswords and Word Games". ANSWERS PAGE 12

Here is a list of some common words (Yes, we know there are more words in the diction

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Living with intention the day. Holding your breath or short, shallow breathing high in the chest are

ANNE-MARIE ELIAS

indicators of stress and anxiety.

How often have you found that you set goals for your health and wellbeing and either not followed through or gave up? New Year’s resolutions fall into this category. You may have heard about SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) goal setting. Here’s an example if you follow the SMART principles: The goal could be set at walking three morning a week (specific) at 7am. It is measurable using a pedometer. It is achievable because it fits into your schedule. It is realistic because after a period of inactivity the exercise is a walk, not a run and you are not starting to do so daily. It is timely because you are committing to a start date and putting that into your calendar. For some people goal setting is like doing homework. It needs to be done but you hate it and therefore you procrastinate, thereby causing unnecessary anxiety. It may be more helpful to live life with intention. An intention is a guiding principle for how you want to live. Intentions are mental states in which one commits to a course of action. The action plan is the content and the commitment is the attitude. I recommend that health and wellbeing intentions include variety.

9. Meditate. Even a five-minute daily meditation session (formal or informal e.g. in the shower) can aid wellbeing. 10. Take the time to chill out. 21st century living is indicative of busy, busy syndrome. Take the time to relax. 11. Sleep and re-energise. Practice good sleep hygiene. If sleep is elusive then find techniques to rest your mind and body. 12. See the light. Make sure that you get enough natural light. Open those blinds and curtains. 1. Add some spice to your life. “Boring” results in complacency and engagement in unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. Ensure that you include excitement to propagate healthy behaviour that gives you an adrenaline and dopamine boost, which is pleasurable, nourishes and lifts mood. 2. Moments of Movement. Any form of movement aids wellbeing (physical and psychological), so walk, swim, dance, go to a gym or find some other mode of activity. 3. Nourish your brain and body. Food is not only energy and fuel for our bodies, but also our brains. Eating well is a key to managing wellness. 4. Smell the roses. Spend time outside and delight in the aromas of nature. Science informs us that time in nature calms our body,

quiets our mind, helps to dispel troubling and traumatic memories, and enhances our mood. 5. Become masterful with one new habit at a time. When making change, do so progressively. When we try to upend too many things at once it can be overwhelming and set us up for failure. 6. Creativity. Use your mind in creative ways and “no” I am not saying become a professional artist or published writer. 7. Live in the moment. Remember to stay focused in the present, instead of spending countless hours ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. 8. Breathe. Start your day by breathing deeply and regulate your breathing during

Light exposure is good for our mood. 13. Talk it out or write it out. Let go of worrying thoughts. Either find another person to talk with or create a journal to write these things down. There is truth in the adage that a problem shared is a problem halved. 14. Gratitude. Start a gratitude journal or be aware of consciously being grateful on a daily basis. 15. Sustainability. The new buzz word can be applied to ourselves. Living with intention ensures that we can sustain a wellbeing regimen. Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.

Fact and belief YERACHMIEL ISACOWITZ I would like to address a common misconception. It is said that science is fact and Torah is belief. Whilst there is some truth to this assertion, it doesn’t present the whole picture. Firstly, we need to understand the meaning of the terms fact and belief. It is safe to say that as humans we can’t have a complete knowledge of anything. Our interaction with the world is through our senses and intellect, both of which can be fooled. All our knowledge, including scientific, is based, at some level, on belief. An example of this is knowing with certainty the age of the universe and its inhabitants. Scientists use carbon dating, or the movement of stars to determine what they believe to be true. But the stars may not have always moved at the same rate, nor were all

Photo: https://www.123rf.com necessarily formed at the same time, so

Hashem

scientific belief can be questioned.

resemblance to primates is due to the

There are four levels of creation –

from

the

earth.

So,

our

fact that we share atomic makeup.

mineral, plant, animal and human. Each

Modern science is almost exclusively the

is more advanced that the level before it.

study of the physical world. Torah is the

According to the Oral Torah, only

study of truth, including the physical world.

humans

were

directly

created

by

Scientific research is about uncovering

facts. Torah research, no less vigorous, sophisticated or accurate, is about uncovering truth. Truth is incontrovertible. Scientific fact is only fact as long as the model upon which it is based is correct. Time and increased knowledge can change facts. Each of the Thirteen Tenets of Faith of Maimonides start with the words: “I believe with full faith.” Belief here is emunah (faith), which is rooted in the word eim (mother). It is the kind of complete faith a baby has in its mother. Through learning and tradition, Jews have complete faith that the Torah is God-given and true. Science asks “can we do it?”, philosophy questions whether we should do it, whilst Torah asks “may we do it?”. Only the third question leaves the answer with the One who created the universe. Yerachmiel Isacowitz is an independent Torah educator. E: risacowitz@optusnet.com.au W: torahconcepts.com FB: The Mem Channel

The imperfect world has perfect dimensions. The perfect world has no dimensions torahconcepts.com

The Mem Channel

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Celebrating COA’s volunteers

COA SYDNEY COA Sydney provides many daily services to seniors in our community through the fine efforts of 300 registered volunteers that work at all levels of the organisation. They attend the COA Krygier Centre, engaging members in conversation, playing games and other activities, as well as making and serving lunches. Volunteers provide outreach to frail aged and isolated members at home and in residential care. They do this through phone calls, by in-person visits, in Shabbat candle lighting and with delivery of kosher food services. They work in the office. undertaking tasks such as data entry and creating mailouts. They help in administration. Volunteers take care of financial reporting, they create policies and procedures, and ensure COA meets all government requirements for aged care services. COA traditionally thanks its small army of volunteers annually at a formal event, but sadly this has had to be cancelled for the past two years due to COVID restrictions. Finally, last month the organisation again was given that opportunity. So, between downpours of rain and COVID outbreaks, it gathered together

COA volunteers Sue Mcartney, Judy Amzalek, Natasha Gehrmann and Roy and Anne Butt volunteers to say a proper “thank you” for their endeavours during a most difficult period. It was a wonderful occasion. It felt like a return to normal, after the social isolation and fear that have permeated our society since 2020. COA’s volunteer coordinator Sam Pierson orchestrated a cocktail party

and offered her (and the organisation’s) gratitude to those presents and others that couldn’t be there. Respected musician Eddie Bronson and COA’s Leisure and Lifestyle Manager Mordechai Levin provided entertainment. COA staff served drinks and nibbles. Volunteers are compassionate, empathetic and

considerate. This year the organisation celebrates

40

years

of

community

service. Some volunteers have been working with COA for all four decades. This is the kind of dedication that has helped COA remain a force in social connection and kosher food services for Sydney’s Jewish seniors.

Forging a positive future UIA Since February, we have witnessed the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe since WWII. Tens of thousands of Jews have been displaced, not just from Ukraine, but from Russia, Belarus and other former Soviet Union (FSU) countries too. Many seek refuge in Israel. Our strategic partner, The Jewish Agency for Israel, continues to work tirelessly on the frontline, rescuing thousands of Jewish refugees. Our global UIA family has generously provided financial support to assist with this emergency operation. More than 18,000 immigrants have already made aliyah from the FSU. That represents 86 per cent of all olim so far this year – a 424 per cent increase over the same period in 2021. The majority of immigrants (9,431) arrived from Ukraine, 10 times the total in 2021. A total of 8,052 new immigrants came from Russia, 479 from Belarus and 370 from other FSU countries. These olim are currently being supported in Israel through absorption services and programs provided by Keren Hayesod-UIA (KH-UIA) in partnership with The Jewish Agency. Many more are expected. In addition, over the past few months, more than 85,000 calls from Jews in

Thanks to UIA Australia, Jewish Ukrainian refugees are arriving in Israel these countries have been fielded through The Jewish Agency for Israel assistance hotline. Four hundred buses have taken thousands of refugees out of Ukraine to one of six border crossings for processing before they made aliyah. Eighteen facilities at six border crossings have accommodated in excess of 2,000 refugees daily while their paperwork was processed. Moving from the emergency phase to long-term planning requires substantial funding to address demand. KH-UIA

is proud to be part of this operation and is continuing to focus on providing these olim with the tools to ensure they become productive members of Israeli society. This is evident through the plethora of absorption programs and services provided. These include Hebrew classes, fast tracking professional qualifications, mentoring services and integration support. Successfully integrating and empowering these olim is paramount to ensuring they find meaningful

employment opportunities in Israel. KH-UIA is assisting them in seeking employment across different sectors through special training programs. The Jewish Agency – in partnership with local municipalities and businesses – has created a new online resource focused on connecting new olim to training and employment. At the request of the Prime Minister’s Office’s, KH-UIA is also helping 2,500 young people that have fled Ukraine, Belarus and Russia through a six-month program. Many of them are professionals and the focus is on converting their skills to ensure a successful transition. KH-UIA is grateful for the generosity of its supporters that enable it to perform its life-saving work. This emergency campaign is in addition to the daily work of the organisation. That includes supporting 6,000 at-risk youth, 7,000 elderly Holocaust survivors, 11,000 MASA participants and hundreds of lone soldiers and single mothers. The war in Ukraine and the increased influx of olim requires more funding. As the end of the financial year approaches, please consider donating at uiaaustralia.org.au/donate-now For updates on how the UIA is supporting new olim, follow the organisation on Facebook and Instagram (@uiaaus)

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Paving the way for future education MASADA COLLEGE Masada College, together with The University of Sydney, recently welcomed 80 Jewish educators from across Sydney to the inaugural Jewish Educators’ Professional Learning Symposium. Sponsored by the Fund for Jewish Higher Education and the Education Heritage Fund, the gathering focused on the future of Jewish education in NSW. Guest speakers included Mr David Gonski AC, Mr Robert Goot AO SC and Professor Emerita Suzanne Rutland OAM. Delegates had the opportunity to pose questions to Mr Gonski, arising from the JCA education review titled “Survive to

From left: Dr Michael Abrahams-Sprod, Mrs Mira Hasofer and Mr Robert M Goot AO SC

Thrive”. They heard from Mr Goot about what educators should be doing to prepare students for their understanding and appreciation of Israel post school. Professor Rutland addressed delegates on attracting, retaining and mentoring future leaders of Jewish education. Dr Michael Abrahams-Sprod, lecturer in Jewish education at The University of Sydney, commended the get together. “It was great to have representatives from all of the key stakeholders talking and working together,” Dr AbrahamsSprod said. Principal at Masada College, Mira Hasofer said she was pleased to host educators from every Sydney Jewish day school, as well as 10 other Jewish organisations involved in education. “The symposium gave delegates a forum to formulate thoughts and contribute to an action plan. Most importantly, they spent time together – networking, sharing and talking. “The event served to develop, shape, contribute to and ultimately lay the foundation for future collaborative efforts,” Mrs Hasofer said. “It was the first time we had the opportunity to collectively focus on the main themes for the future of Jewish education, along with specific initiatives to develop and cultivate excellence among our existing cohort and attract new talent.”

J-Jobs, changing lives for the better JEWISHCARE NSW In a win for community collaboration, the J-Jobs program through JewishCare NSW has seen Michael Karseboom finally start his job as a kitchen hand at Montefiore in Randwick. The program facilitates customised employment for young Jewish adults with intellectual disabilities. After more than 12 months of planning and some delays due to COVID-19, Michael has taken a big step. Montefiore serves more than 500 meals each week and Michael’s job is to ensure that fresh salad is prepared and portion controlled for every meal. All of Michael’s tasks have been customised to his skills and abilities. That includes support while he learns the routines and requirements of his role. Montefiore has made all reasonable adjustments to ensure he settles in well. He starts at 9:30am to accommodate his travel time. Montefiore has altered his uniform so Michael can change easily when he gets to work. The organisation also allows him regular short breaks to ensure he keeps up his energy levels. Michael was welcomed by the director of catering and the head chef, so he could feel like he was a valued

member of its team. Apart from a uniform, he was given a locker and staff access card, before being shown to his workstation in the prep room of the kitchen, where his supervisor introduced him to his new colleagues. Michael has the help of a task list and a photo journal of him undertaking each task (prepared by J-Jobs). His colleagues have greeted him warmly and he joins them for a tea break in the staff room each morning. Michael works four-hour shifts. Getting to and from work requires a big commitment as he travels 90 minutes each day each way by train and bus. J-Jobs program manager Shelana Silver said Michael has reaffirmed how important the job is to him. “When I asked him if it was worth it, he told me that for 10 years he has wanted to be a kitchen hand and no one has ever given him the opportunity … until now. He feels valued and part of an important team. He uses his time on the train and bus to read, listen to music and snack.” JewishCare CEO Gary Groves was effusive in his praise. “We acknowledge Montefiore and thank them for their support of the J-Jobs program and JCA’s The Choice Foundation for making it possible to change lives,” Mr Groves said.

Connect to Your Community every week at

Club COA

Monday & Wednesday every week, drop-in and discover why Club COA is simply irresistible! Warm family atmosphere Play games Chair exercises Shiurim

Live entertainment Kosher lunches Coffee/Tea available all day Transport for members

All presented in the fully kosher COA Krygier Centre where Jewish culture is celebrated and all nationalities are welcomed.

Take advantage of our “First Time Free” offer to those who have not come to Club COA before, so you can sample before you join! COA Krygier Centre 25 Rowe St Woollahra For further information please call us on 9389 0035 or email coa@coasydney.org or go online to www.coasydney.org

End the financial year with a mitzvah and support the People of Israel today! Donate at uiaaustralia.org.au/donate-now or contact UIA on 9361 4273 or info@uiansw.org.au All contributions of $2 and over are tax deductible

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CO NS I D E RE D

OPINION

The Queen and the Jews

DR YVETTE ALT MILLER COURTESY AISH.COM With Queen Elizabeth II having recently completed her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Dr Miller takes a look at her tumultuous relationship with Jews. Over three quarters of Britons report feeling admiration and approval for the Queen. In fact, a recent survey found that the most popular dream in Britain is having tea with the monarch. On her 90th birthday, in 2016, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, then Britain’s Chief Rabbi, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, spoke for many when he said that “the respect she has shown for all religions has enriched our lives.” In her 70 years on the throne, her Royal Highness has provided encouragement to many, including her nation’s Jews. Here are six little-known facts. Childhood “Heil Hitler” Gaffe One of the major plot elements in The Crown is the alleged Nazi sympathies of Elizabeth’s uncle, King Edward VIII, who reigned for less than a year in 1936. (He abdicated to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson. She was a divorcee and at the time the Church of England didn’t allow the monarch to wed someone who’d been previously married.) Rumours have long swirled that Edward and Wallace – who took the titles Duke and Duchess of Windsor – sympathised with the Nazis in the lead up to World War II. There’s plenty of evidence that the rumours do have some substance. In her 2008 book Edward VIII, biographer Frances Donaldson notes that in 1937, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor visited Hitler at his holiday home and Edward saluted Hitler throughout their stay. After World War II, the Allies found evidence of a top-secret German project nicknamed “Operation Willi”, which was about overthrowing Edwards’s successor (and Queen Elizabeth II’s father) King George VI and reinstalling Edward on the throne. It seems that the pro-Hitler feelings of some of her relatives influenced a very young Queen Elizabeth. In 2015, Britain’s newspaper The Sun released a private royal family video of a seven-year-old Elizabeth, along with her younger sister Princess Margaret, her mother Queen Elizabeth and her uncle Edward VIII performing Nazi salutes. When the video came to light, Queen Elizabeth was said by the Palace to be “livid” and emphasised her extreme youth in the video. At age seven, back in 1933, she could hardly have been aware of how vile it was to make a Nazi salute. Her Mother-in-Law Saved Jews During the Holocaust The third season of The Crown features a Greek-speaking, tough talking nun. Shockingly, that nun was Queen Elizabeth II’s mother-in-law, Princess Alice of Battenberg. Even more surprisingly, The Crown never explores Princess Alice’s heroism during the Holocaust, when she saved Jews by sheltering them in her home in Nazi-occupied Athens. It’s an amazing story that ought to be known. Born in Windsor Castle in 1885, Princess Alice was Queen Victoria’s great granddaughter. She was deaf – a fact

that the royal family hid – and learned to lip read as a child. Historians have speculated that this might have made Princess Alice more sensitive to other people who were different from the mainstream. When Alice’s brother Edward was crowned King Edward VII in 1902, one of the guests at his coronation was a dashing Greek prince named Andrew. The two fell in love and married. Alice moved to Greece where she had four children: three daughters and a son, Philip (Queen Elizabeth II’s husband). The family was riddled with dysfunction. Alice’s husband became a dissolute playboy and eventually moved away. Her three daughters all became ardent supporters of Hitler and each one married a senior Nazi. Only her son, Prince Philip eschewed Nazism and spent time with Jewish friends and his British relatives. When World War II broke out, Prince Philip volunteered for the British navy and battled Nazis with distinction. Princess Alice resisted in more secret ways. Remaining in Athens, she invited the Cohens, a distinguished Greek Jewish family, with whom she and her husband had long been friends, to hide in her house. Rachel Cohen, her daughter Tilde and her son Michel moved in with the princess. The apartment was small and located just yards from Athens’ Gestapo headquarters. Once, Princess Alice was even brought in for questioning, but she refused to divulge the fact that she was sheltering Jews in her home. After the war, Princess Alice founded an order of nuns. She returned to London in 1967 and died there in 1969. She requested that her remains be interred in Jerusalem and in 1988 they were buried on the Mount of Olives. In 1993, Princess Alice was declared Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. Prince Philip travelled to Jerusalem for the ceremony, where he planted a tree in his mother’s memory.

Queen Elizabeth II Hired Jewish Mohel to Circumcise Prince Charles Queen Elizabeth II hired an Orthodox Jewish mohel to circumcise her son, Prince Charles. Rabbi Jacob Snowman (1871-1959) was a London mohel of great renown and it’s said that the Queen was impressed with his skill and experience. The tradition of British royals to ask Jewish mohels to circumcise their sons goes back to King George I, who was born in Hanover, Germany and reigned from 1714-1727. Back in Germany, some aristocratic parents hired Jewish mohels and George I brought the custom with him to England. Years later his great great granddaughter, Queen Victoria, hired Jewish mohels to circumcise all of her sons. She is said to have believed that her family tree went directly back to the biblical King David. Coincidentally, Queen Elizabeth’s mohel Rabbi Snowman had another royal connection: his younger brother Emanuel Snowman was chairman of Britain’s renowned Wartski jewellery dynasty, which sold wedding rings both to Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and to Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. British Jews pray for the Queen every Shabbat It’s a Jewish custom around the world to recite a prayer on Shabbat for government leaders. In Britain, this means praying for the welfare of Queen Elizabeth II and her family. British Jews ask God to “preserve the Queen in life, guard her and deliver her from all sorrow.” The prayer goes on to ask that the Divine “put a spirit of wisdom into her heart and into the hearts of all her counsellors”. The Queen has never visited Israel Despite travelling all over the world, Queen Elizabeth II has never made an official visit to the Jewish State. Over the long decades of her reign, this has come to be seen as a painful omission by some British Jews.

However, in 2018 the Queen’s grandson Prince William did make such a visit and in 2000 Prince Charles represented Britain at the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem. (He’d visited Israel several times before, but never before in an official capacity.) While her son and grandson might have warmed to the Jewish State, it’s unclear exactly how Queen Elizabeth II feels about it herself. The Queen made troubling remarks on an official visit to Jordan in 1984. Shown a map of the disputed West Bank, which has been in Israeli control ever since the Six Day War in 1967, Queen Elizabeth called it “depressing” and described Israeli planes flying in the West Bank as “frightening”. On that visit, she also laid a wreath at a memorial to Arab soldiers who died attacking Israel. The Queen Departed from Royal Protocol to Listen to Holocaust Survivors While Queen Elizabeth II seems notably cool towards the Jewish state, when it comes to Britain’s Jews recent years have found her conciliatory. The royal family has shown a particular interest in the welfare of Holocaust survivors of late. On January 27, 2005, the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Queen Elizabeth hosted a group of Holocaust survivors in St James’s Palace. Notably punctual, on this occasion the Queen threw protocol out the window. As she mingled with the survivors, one of her aides informed her that it was time to wrap up the event. Instead, the Queen continued to talk, to listen and to reassure, a fact recounted by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who was present. In January 2022, Prince Charles commissioned a series of portraits of Holocaust survivors. He explained that “as the number of Holocaust survivors sadly but inevitably declines, my abiding hope is that this special collection will act as a further guiding light.” The portraits are to be displayed in Buckingham Palace.

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the sydney jewish report | June 2022

JUD AIC A

QUIZ

RABBI DAVID FREEDMAN This month’s Judaica Quiz, created and shared by Rabbi David Freedman, will have readers weaving and winding through all-things-Jewish. Your knowledge will be tested on subjects as diverse as Torah, Israel, pop culture, sport, history, music and more – all constructed via a Jewish lens. Thank you for the positive feedback, it really makes this endeavour a true pleasure to present. Make sure you have a copy handy for your Shabbat table, together you’ll have fun and learn so much too – the best combination! 1. The blessing known as Birkat Ha’ilanot is said when we see what natural feature? 2. Identify the type of geographical feature where Moses was buried? 3. Which organisation was formed (technically for the second time) by former nurse, Dr Meshulam Levontin in 1930? 4. In the event that the President of the State of Israel is abroad, which of the following serves in the acting role as President: a) The Prime Minister b) The Speaker of the Knesset

Test your knowledge c) The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces d) All of the above? 5. According to the Bible, the fringes of a tallit should be composed of which two colours? 6. Which athlete won 7 gold medals, all in world record time, at the 1972 Munich Olympics? 7. The 5th century BCE documents known as the Elephantine Papyri came from:

11. Name the only two African countries which voted for partition in the UN vote on Palestine in November 1947. 12. Place the following kings in their correct chronological order: King Herod, King David, King Ahab. 13. The Jewish month of Tammuz falls in which season in Israel? 14. What do the following people have in common? David Gruen, Moshe Shertok and Levi Shkolnik?

Good luck. Enjoy. Hopefully, learn something new about your Jewish heritage and tradition. a) Egypt b) Israel c) Babylon? 8. Associated with the Ziegfeld Follies and born Fannie Borach: a) What was her stage name? b) What was the name of the 1968 movie about her life? 9. Who created Seinfeld? 10. Which is the only biblical heroine described as an Eshet Chayil – a Woman of Valour?

15. The Ohel Leah Synagogue, named after Leah Sassoon, is found in which former British colony? 16. What is the meaning of the name Deborah: a) Deer b) Lion Cub c) Bee 17. Israel’s second largest airport is known as the Ramon Airport. Where is it located? 18. Emanuel Goldenberg and Issur Danielovitch became famous

Hollywood actors. By what names are they better known? 19. According to archaeologists, Jericho is the oldest city in the world with over 20 layers or settlements unearthed. Is it approximately 5000 years old, 9000 years old or 11,000 years old? 20. For what are the following Jewish Australians well-known? a) Harry Seidler b) Sir Peter Abeles c) Jessica Fox d) David Helfgott 21. What was the name of Rabbi Akiva’s wife: a) Sarah b) Rebecca c) Rachel, or d) Leah? 22. The JE, a work of 12 volumes, was compiled in the first decade of the 20th century; the EJ, a work of 16 volumes, in 1972. What do these abbreviations refer to? 23. Where is the centre of the diamond industry in Israel? 24. Which American Jewish record producer created the ‘Wall of Sound’? 25. In which book of the Bible would one find the following: ‘The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD’: a) The Book of Psalms b) The Book of Job c) The Book of Lamentations?

ANSWERS PAGE 12

Empowering young leaders AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF SHAARE ZEDEK More than 170 youth leaders from seven Zionist organisations across Australia and New Zealand attended a training webinar last week to prepare youth leaders to respond to eating disorders in winter camps. The Australian Friends of Shaare Zedek in collaboration with the Australian Zionist Youth Council introduced Dr Toni Pikoos (pictured), clinical psychologist and postdoctoral researcher, to address concerns about the issue and outline practical strategies. Eating disorders in teenagers can occur when families and carers least expect them. Responding appropriately and accessing the right help remain critical challenges that can have profound implications. Dr Pikoos said about nine per cent of Australians will experience an eating disorder some time in their lives. Further, nearly a third of adolescents engage in disordered eating in any given year, a figure that is increasing. “Madrichim are in an important and privileged position. Young people may develop trust to share their concerns and anxieties with them. The madrichim may notice negative body image or disordered eating at weekly meetings or on camps, Dr Pikoos said.

“Given how common eating concerns are, some leaders may be experiencing these issues themselves, want to know how to navigate them and act as strong role models for their chanichim,” the doctor said. Shaare Zedek’s Adolescent Medicine Service treats teenagers with severe eating disorders and works to educate parents, schools and medical professionals to identify the signs and intervene early to save lives. After the webinar, participants were invited to register for four additional workshops to support them as positive role models. The AFSZ is also launching an eBook on the subject, titled “The Langauge of Seeking Help”. Written by Jaimee Krawitz, a counsellor with the lived experience of an eating disorder, it is a culturally sensitive educational resource for parents and caregivers. The book draws on input from and the expertise of stakeholders in Australia and Israel. It will be translated into Hebrew and Arabic for distribution at Shaare Zedek for patients who present to the clinic. The chair of AFSZ, Dr Allan Garfield says the organisation is dedicated to saving lives in Israel. “Shaare Zedek Medical Center represents medical excellence, ethics and compassion. We want to share the innovation and compassion as well as support meaningful health promotion initiatives in our local community, Dr Garfield said. To support AFSZ activities, please go to www.shaarezedek.org.au

This EOFY please support our work

Shaarezedek.org.au Help light up the lives of our teenagers in Israel and Australia

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the sydney jewish report | June 2022

CO NS I D E RE D

OPINION

The changing face of the rabbinate

NOMI KALTMANN COURTESY: TABLET MAGAZINE As more Orthodox women, LGBTQI Jews and people of colour get ordained, rabbis reflect an increasingly diverse community In North America, Rabbi Sandra Lawson had endured a gruelling process of applying and interviewing for numerous jobs at many different inclusive synagogues but had not yet been successful. However, after months of hard work, her final application really felt promising. As she edged closer to the finishing line, Lawson began seeing herself in the role she had applied for. As a queer, Black convert who had served in the military before being ordained through the Reconstructionist movement, she was used to shattering expectations of what “Jewish clergy” looked like. Still, the job was not to happen. The synagogue – which was presenting as inclusive and openminded – ultimately informed Lawson that they “could not hire a Black rabbi.” This was the last straw for Lawson. “I only apply to progressive places and when the last congregation I applied to would not hire me, I was angry, hurt, and frustrated,” she said. “If I couldn’t get a job there because people couldn’t get over my colour, who was going to hire me?” With the feelings still fresh from this rejection, Lawson founded a community organisation called Kol HaPanim. “I wanted to create a community that speaks to people of colour,” she said, “so that it normalises people of colour being rabbis and cantors in the Jewish community.” This organisation is helping to break down stigma and runs communityfocused activities, including monthly Shabbat services and events, as well as activities led by people, like Lawson, who identify as Jewish people of colour. “Most of my congregants are not Black, but they are going to hear a Black, Asian or brown person leading the service,” Lawson said. “This will help make it become normalised in the Jewish community and help to reduce racism, as their expectation of what a Jewish rabbi looks like changes.” In January 2021, she was also named the first director of racial diversity, equity and inclusion in the Reconstructionist movement. Lawson is part of a new wave of rabbis coming from diverse backgrounds and actively helping to change the perception of what an American rabbi looks like. Over the past decade there has been a monumental shift, with the establishment of Orthodox female rabbinical schools as well as greater interest and enrolments in many rabbinical schools from traditionally marginalised communities. Many of these students and rabbis are helping to educate people on the diversity of the Jewish community, by being appointed into positions of leadership. As a result, the rabbinate is becoming increasingly diverse. “Judaism has evolved over the centuries,” said Lawson. “As our society becomes more accepting of queer people and newer faces entering the rabbinate [like Orthodox women] and more members of the LGBQTI community, you will see greater

representation in leadership because the American Jewish community accepts these people as leaders.” Among North American clergy students, perhaps one of the best known rabbinic fellowships is the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/ Davidson Scholars Program, which provides a generous financial stipend, mentorship opportunities, and an alumni list that has included some of America’s most prominent rabbis. Last year, the 33rd cohort of the fellowship reflected the increasing diversity of the American rabbinate. Out a total of 16 fellows, at least six belong to emerging groups that symbolise the diversity of people joining the rabbinate, namely Orthodox women, Jewish people of colour and members of the LGBQTI communities. Jericho Vincent, a 2021 Wexner recipient who identifies as nonbinary, preferring the pronouns them and they, is a writer and lecturer. Vincent has enrolled in Aleph, the Jewish Renewal rabbinical school and thinks that the diversity of people seeking careers in the rabbinate is a natural shift. “Some people seem to have a hard time acknowledging it, but the Jewish community is varied and made up of many different segments,” they said. “There are Jewish people of colour; there are Jews who are members of the LGBTQI community; certainly not all people identify as cisgender males.” The trend may be recent, Vincent said, but it has “ancient” roots: “The Jewish community has never been homogenous. We have written different sects and people out of the mainstream narratives. They never made it into the canon,” they said. “Today, as part of the new wave of rabbis joining the rabbinate from diverse backgrounds, we are coalescing and growing stronger and doing a tikkun. We are saying it is our inheritance and we all have a right and responsibility to engage with Judaism.” According to Vincent, “it is an exciting time to be joining the rabbinate, as people are stepping up to fill the gaps of representation in our community. Many of our people need spiritual leadership

and these new voices emerging have firsthand exposure to many of the issues that will affect their congregants.” As one of the Wexner fellows, Vincent will enjoy activities with a supportive cohort of rabbinical students. Stefanie Zelkind, the director of the fellowship, said last year’s selection process was particularly competitive, with an especially large and diverse applicant pool. “The fellows’ commitment to exercising leadership in the North American Jewish community is, we believe, a cause for hope and optimism at a time when we need it more than ever.” Another emerging area reflecting the shift in the American rabbinate is the increase in women seeking out careers as Orthodox female rabbis. When Yeshivat Maharat was founded in 2009, with the ordination of Rabba Sara Hurwitz, there was fierce backlash from some segments of the Orthodox community but also a growing sense of excitement that new roles for Orthodox women seeking positions as clergy were finally beginning in a new era. Rabba Rachel Kohl Finegold was part of the inaugural class of ordained women that graduated from Yeshivat Maharat in 2013. Today she works at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal, where she gives classes and sermons, officiates life cycle events and offers spiritual care, in addition to being responsible for all youth and education programs at the synagogue. “The arrival of women in these religious leadership roles has been made possible by a confluence of factors,” Kohl Finegold said. These include the gradual opening of doors to deep text learning, the many manifestations of female Orthodox leadership, the encouragement of male allies and the boldness of women willing to see themselves in these roles. When Kohl Finegold entered the rabbinate there were fewer than 10 ordained Orthodox women globally. These days, the number is closer to 100. Her rabbinical school, Yeshivat Maharat, allows graduates to

pick their own titles, with many opting for rabbanit or rabba. Another rabbi reflecting the changing faces of the American rabbinate is Mike Moskowitz. Ordained in ultra-Orthodox yeshivas in Israel and America, Moskowitz still dresses in traditional Haredi rabbinic garb, complete with a black hat and beard. He held a variety of roles in the Orthodox community, including synagogue and campus rabbi and worked as a classroom rebbe and Talmud teacher in an ultra-Orthodox community. However, he started speaking out in favour of LGBTQI and trans rights when someone close to him transitioned. The pushback from his Haredi community was swift. He lost his job and livelihood. For a while he was even unemployed, before he was appointed as the scholar-in-residence for trans and queer Jewish studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, a nondenominational LGBQTI synagogue in New York. Moskowitz says that due to his unique background and affiliation with the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, as well as his activism, he attracts people from ultra-Orthodox communities who pepper him with questions. “A lot of ultraOrthodox guys who are struggling with their gender and sexual identity reach out to me to ask advice,” he said. “I also receive ‘off-the-record’ referrals from ultra-Orthodox rabbis and even rosh yeshivas from Haredi communities. The rabbis reach out and ask if they can send people, often young boys who are struggling with sexual or gender identity, to me.” According to Moskowitz, “it turns out, lots of young people who are exploring their gender identity or sexuality have similar questions to straight people. They just need to feel safe and be able to find someone they can trust to advise them on relationships and dating.” This story originally appeared in Tablet Magazine (tabletmag.com) and is reprinted with permission.

the sydney jewish report | June 2022

RABBINIC

THOUGHT

Moses’ children: the line of succession

Indeed, sparse information exists about Moses’ sons. Their life story is historically captured more by what they did not do in life, rather than what they accomplished, taught or learnt. In Jewish tradition, the mantle of leadership is traditionally handed from father to son. When Aaron passed away, he was succeeded by his son Elazar; when King David passed away, he was succeeded by his son, Shlomo. Yet when it came to our venerated greatest of all time (yes, our G.O.A.T) Moshe Rabbeinu - he was not succeeded

by one of his sons, rather he selected his student, Joshua, a charismatic and strategic warrior. Why did his children not inherit his noble legacy? One answer given is that the Torah is the domain of every Jew. It is not something for Moses to only bequeath to his sons, there is no place for nepotism in teaching Torah, but for every Jewish father and mother to bestow it onto their own children. Prince Charles is the automatic heir apparent to the British throne. Yes, in our tradition it is true that familial ties bind: when you are born into a family of Kohanim, you are a Kohen. But when it comes to Torah - that is an inheritance that belongs to the entire Jewish people equally, not just to Moses' family, but rather a gift for every parent to bequeath to their own children. “Torah tziva lanu Moses, morasha kehillat Yaakov,” The Torah that Moses commanded us - this is the inheritance, O community of Yaakov – these are the first words a Jewish child traditionally learns from a parent. This is inspirational but equally reminds us of the tremendous responsibility we each possess. Each one of us can seek and source our own Torah treasures – it is all accessible and available daily. We have each been bestowed a great privilege and mission, resulting in a powerful purpose – G-d believes in us all to uncover the depths and teachings of His Torah.

can conquer any one and anything. They realised that their fear was irrational in the face of G-d and prepared to enter the Land with a new-found resolve. Yet this was not to be as they had missed their opportunity and were instead punished, destined to wander in the wilderness for forty years. A subgroup formed, convinced with the knowledge from the spies they could conquer the land. Against Moshe’s instruction they attempted to enter, yet of course, without Moshe’s guidance Hashem was not with them and they were defeated. This was such a dramatic swing. One

day they were wailing and scared of the perceived giant inhabitants and the next they took a proverbial ‘deep breath’, with their faith restored to such a degree that several attempted to vanquish the inhabitants. Our sages explain that a lack of faith has the ability to blind our vision and decision-making to such an extent that it can paralyse us. We no longer see clearly or think rationally and become panic-stricken. Once we break through that fear, the metaphorical veil is lifted and we can immediately see clearly once more. The Jewish people were consumed with a contagious fear, based on their irrational lack of faith in Hashem. After all, they had personally witnessed the Ten Plagues, saw the splitting of the Red Sea and heard the Voice of G-d at Sinai. Once Hashem appeared to them in the form of the Cloud of Glory the veil was lifted and the fear evaporated. In life, we are often faced with fears, some rational and some irrational - this is part and parcel of human nature. We have a choice: we can allow those apprehensions to paralyse and petrify us, as they did the Jewish People. Or instead, we can endeavour to fill ourselves with faith and hope in Hashem – it is a daily process. Moving forward, more often than not the veil will lift and we will find that, with G-d’s help, on reflection, there was nothing to fear at all.

RABBI LEVI WOLFF CHIEF MINISTER THE CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE Earlier this month, Commonwealth countries along with the entire world marvelled at the pageantry and procession surrounding the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, marking seventy years since her ascension to the British throne. Photographs taken at the Trooping the Colour ceremony showcased The Firm’s line of succession with the sovereign standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace flanked by her eldest son Prince Charles, his son Prince William and in turn, his young son Prince George amongst other family members. Living history. Just like within the royal family, the Jewish story began in a wonderfully woven fashion with our heritage and lineage passed down from one generation to the next: an unbroken chain spanning thousands of years. From the very beginning of our history; there has always been a large emphasis on the passing down of our lessons and legacy: “This is the story of Isaac, the son of Abraham,” … who fathered Jacob, who in turn fathered the twelve tribes. And so it went on.

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This dynamic is rhythmic until we reach the Torah portion outlining the offspring of our first High Priest, Aaron and our prophet, Moses. We learn about Aaron’s children, yet barely a word about Moses’ physical progeny. We know they were named Gershom and Eliezer; we know one of their sons was dramatically circumcised by their mother, Zipporah, whilst with Moses, en route back to Egypt where he intended to free the Israelites from slavery. At first glance all so mysterious and perplexing.

Lifting the veil RABBI MOSHE D. GUTNICK RABBINIC ADMINISTRATOR THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY Sometimes we allow fear to perniciously alter what we consciously know to be true and it can manifest and become so pervasive, it can lead us completely astray. This scenario played out in real time back in the epoch of the Israelites when they were on the threshold of entering the Promised Land. Moshe Rabbeinu dispatched twelve spies, one from each tribe, to map out the Land of Israel. Their task was to locate weak defence positions, identify sources of food and water and in general assess the topography, all to enable the fastest route to conquer the land. A clear mission. Instead, they were overwhelmed by their exaggerated perception of the enemy and became filled with fear. The Torah tells us that ten of the spies personified and projected themselves as mere grasshoppers when compared to the Canaanites. As a result, the occupiers sensed their trepidation and viewed the anxious Israelites as insignificant insects. The spies returned to base camp with plump giant fruits – this was not to display to the people that the realisation of Hashem’s promise was close, rather

to convince them that just as the fruits are heavy and large, so too are the inhabitants and therefore they cannot be conquered. Disappointingly, this was fear-mongering at its finest. Only two spies, Joshua and Caleb, retaliated. They vocally reminded the masses to recall that if Hashem is with them, they would be invincible. Their pleas went unheeded and consequently the Israelites cried the entire night as to their misfortune. The next day the Glory of Hashem appeared and they were jolted back to reality, comprehending once more that Hashem is the Master of the World and

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the sydney jewish report | June 2022

CO NS I D E RE D

OPINION SHELDON KIRSHNER

Israel’s undeclared war against Iran is intensifying. In the past month, Israel has carried out a series of attacks against Iran and Iranian interests in Syria, Iran’s chief Arab ally. Iran, in turn, has threatened a harsh armed response. On May 22nd, Israel assassinated a top-ranking officer of the Quds Force, an arm of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. Two days earlier, Israel inflicted significant damage to the main runway at Damascus International Airport, causing Syria to suspend all flights. Iran uses the airport to deliver weapons and missile technology to the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which fought a war with Israel in 2006. Iran’s visceral hostility toward Israel is boiling over, but it goes back decades. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, which resulted in the overthrow of the proWestern Pahlavi monarchy, Iran has singled out Israel as one of its prime enemies. In the years since, Iran has repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction, funded and supported proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, and entrenched itself militarily in Syria, Israel’s long-time foe. By way of response, Israel has bombed Iranian and Syrian facilities in Syria hundreds of times. The shadow war pitting Israel against Iran escalated considerably after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement in 2018. From that point forward, several significant developments occurred. The Iranian regime continually violated the provisions of the landmark accord. Israel doubled down on its covert campaign to sabotage Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Israeli Air Force began launching still more raids against Iranian military sites in Syria. With the installation of a new Israeli government last June, Israel sharpened its tactics against Iran. “The past year has marked a turning point in Israel’s strategy against Iran,” said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. “The State of Israel has recently begun operating against the head of the octopus of terrorism and not only against its many arms, as was done in the past few decades. The days of immunity, in which Iran harms Israel and promotes terrorism through its proxies in the region while remaining unharmed itself, are over.”

Judaica quiz answers 1. Blossoming trees 2. A valley. (Many may answer a mountain – this is incorrect. The Torah says that he ascended Mount Nebo to see the land, but this is followed with the words: “And he was buried in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-Peor.) 3. Magen David Adom (MDA) - Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service 4. b) The Speaker of the Knesset 5. Blue (Hebrew: Techelet) and white

Israel’s undeclared war with Iran is escalating

The runway of Damascus International Airport being repaired after recent Israeli air strikes “We are operating all the time and everywhere and will continue to do so,” he added. This is essentially the message that Bennett delivered to Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, at a meeting in Jerusalem earlier this month regarding Iran’s nuclear program, which Israel vehemently opposes. Charging that Iran has “crossed a number of red lines” in the last four years, Bennett noted that it has enriched uranium to a menacing level of 60 percent, far above the permissible level. “Israel cannot accept and will not accept such a situation,” he said. “We maintain our freedom of action against Iran’s nuclear program as much as necessary – with or without an agreement. We don’t just say it, we implement it.” In accordance with this philosophy, Israel has upgraded its military plan of action should it decide to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites from the air. Israel has fitted its fleet of F-35 fighter jets with state-ofthe-art equipment, so they can fly to Iran without mid-air refuelling. And Israel has integrated a new, one-ton bomb into the arsenal of weapons carried by the F-35, a stealth aircraft capable of evading radar detection. Israel has continued to assassinate Iranian officials connected with the Quds Force and Iran’s nuclear and military programs.

Since Israel’s assassination of Sayyad Khodaie, a senior Quds Force commander killed in Tehran last month, Iran has accused Israel of having poisoned two Iranian scientists. They were reportedly involved in Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Ayoob Entezari, an aeronautical engineer, worked for a military research center. Kamram Aghamolaei, a geologist, worked on projects related to airplane turbines and missiles. Iran claims it is striking back at Israel. Mohammad Ali Jafari, the former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, said on June 15th that Iran is dealing ongoing “blows” to Israel. “The Zionist regime and its officials know better what blows they have received from the Islamic Republic so far, some of which are still in progress,” he said, noting that many of its operations must be kept confidential. According to Israel, Iran has attempted to kidnap and kill Israeli tourists in Turkey. Over the past fortnight, the Israeli government advised Israelis not to visit Turkey. Then, less than a day after Thailand thwarted Iranian attempts to target Israeli travellers, the commander of Iran’s ground forces, Kiumars Heydari, threatened to destroy two major Israeli cities. “For any mistake made by the enemy, we will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa,” he said, in a reference to plans by Israel to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.

6. Mark Spitz 7. a) Egypt 8. a) Fanny Brice b) Funny Girl, starring Barbra Streisand 9. Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David 10. Ruth 11. South Africa and Liberia 12. King David, King Ahab and King Herod 13. Summer 14. They were all Prime Ministers of Israel who had Hebraized their names - David Ben Gurion, Moshe Sharett and Levi Eshkol 15. Hong Kong 16. Bee

17. Eilat 18. Emanuel Goldenberg became Edward G. Robinson, and Issur Danielovitch became Kirk Douglas 19. 11,000 20. a) Architecture b) Aviation c) Olympic slalom canoeing d) Pianist 21. c) Rachel 22. The Jewish Encyclopaedia and The Encyclopaedia Judaica 23. Ramat Gan 24. Phil Spector 25. The Book of Job

The following day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Khatibzadeh warned that any Iranian response would take place in Israel rather than in a third country. Iran’s anger may have been additionally stoked by recent Israeli air strikes which heavily damaged a terminal building and the main runway at Damascus International Airport, which has serviced Iranian cargo planes transporting weaponry and precision missile technology to Hezbollah, a close ally of Iran. “As a result of these damages, incoming and outgoing flights through the airport were suspended until further notice,” the Syrian Transportation Ministry said in a terse statement. As one Israeli pundit observed, Israel’s strikes are intended as a warning to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime that if these Iranian flights do not stop, Syria’s international airport could come under further attack. Certainly, Russia – Syria’s chief ally – is displeased by what has happened. On June 10th , the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the “vicious practice” of Israeli air strikes on civilian infrastructure, saying they were “provocative” and “in violation of the basic norms of international law.” On June 15th, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov reprimanded the Israeli ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Ben-Ziv, over Israel’s air raids. Complaining that Israel disrupted the flow of humanitarian supplies to Syria, which is embroiled in a civil war, he demanded that it should respect Syria’s territorial integrity. In 2015 Israel and Russia – which controls Syrian air space – signed a deconfliction agreement designed to prevent accidental clashes between Israeli and Russian aircraft. But since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, Israel has found itself increasingly at odds with Russia over its air offensive in Syria. Given Israel’s bitter conflict with Iran, Israel will most probably continue to target Iranian bases in Syria, Russian protests notwithstanding. Sheldon Kirshner is a journalist in Toronto. He writes at his online journal, sheldonkirshner.com

Spelling bee answers Jewish answer: B’TAYAVON. Here is a list of some common words (yes, we know there are more words in the dictionary that can work, but these words are common to today’s vernacular): ABBOT, BABOON, BANANA, BATBOY, BATON, BATTY, BONBON, BOOTY, BOTANY, NANOBOT, TABOO Questions/comments

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the sydney jewish report | June 2022

RABBINIC

THOUGHT

Forging a path

RABBI DR BENJI LEVY How does one assess oneself? Do we look at ourselves in the mirror or try to project an appraisal through the eyes of another? The answer to this question may be found in parshat Shelach’s episode of the scouts, a famous account that we read in the Torah around this time. The scouts were “all distinguished men; heads of the children of Israel were they” – the most honourable of leaders. Thus, the obvious question is where did they go wrong in speaking badly about the land? Perhaps their error was that they speculated as to how others observed them, rather than carrying on with their reconnaissance mission. This is apparent in a strange verse when the scouts describe the great size of the Canaanites and say “we were like grasshoppers in our eyes and so we were in their eyes!” Their insecurity lay in and was revealed through their imagined self-assessment, via the outlook of the Canaanites. Since they saw themselves as but puny insects,

M O V I E

R E V I E W

much smaller and weaker than the inhabitants of Canaan, they presumed that the locals perceived them as such and they allowed this perception to transform their reality. Perhaps this was the source of their negative review of the

land, as their specific timidity clouded their general judgment. When starting any venture, the psyche in which one approaches the task can frame its execution. For example, when one is competing in a sport, a team will have lost the game from the getgo if it does not believe it can beat the opposition, as its self-esteem defines its attitude and direction. The same was true of the scouts, whereby they had convinced themselves that they were incapable from the beginning. Many explain this fear as a lack of faith in God, but as a consequence or at its source it may have shown a lack of self-esteem, that is a lack of faith in themselves. Later in the Book of Numbers, Moshe declares “you shall appear clean before Hashem and the Israelites”. The Talmud deduces from this that one should not only have a clear conscience, but also act in a way that does not elicit suspicion from the general observer. However, if one only worries about the way in which one presumes others perceive them, one is

being dishonest. As a generation whose parents and grandparents only knew slavery and were constantly assessed by their slave masters, psychologically it makes sense that they were unfit to enter the Land of Israel. This generation therefore had to die out entirely before their descendants could become the masters of their own destiny. So it is that when one tries to guess what others think of them and acts based upon that, that they become slaves to an unfortunate fate. On the other hand, when one allows themselves to master their own course, they are able to forge their own future. Rabbi Dr Benji Levy is the founder of Israel Impact Partners, which provides philanthropic advice and support to leaders across the globe and Keshev, which offers mental health services to individuals and groups. He was previously the CEO of Mosaic United and Dean of Moriah College. He shares his thoughts at www.RabbiBenji.com and on social media @Rabbi Benji

The cost of manipulation

LOST ILLUSIONS (M) BY ALEX FIRST An intricate and cleverly woven tale of naïveté and deception, Lost Illusions reminded me of Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and Cruel Intentions (1999). The year is 1821. 20-year-old orphaned Lucien de Rubempre (Benjamin Voisin) is a budding poet working at a printing factory in provincial France. He is feted by noble woman and patroness Louise de Bargeton (Cecile de France). The pair begins a hot and heavily affair, in which both are heavily invested. Problem is that if the scandal ever became common knowledge, wellmannered de Bargeton’s standing in society would be irreparably harmed. As a result, after he travels with her to Paris, she is forced to make a clean break, leaving Rubempre heartbroken. Penniless, Rubempre picks up work in a restaurant, resorting to eating patrons’ scraps. Eyeing off writing as a full-time profession, Rubempre befriends young, hash-smoking, anti-establishment editor Etienne Lousteau (Vincent Lacoste). Lousteau opens Rubempre’s eyes to the money that can be made from immoral journalism. I speak of writing without a shred of credibility that is lapped up by readers, specifically negative and positive book and theatre reviews that are “sold” to the highest bidder. Corruption is rife. Businessmen, merchants, actors and many more play a part in perpetuating and strengthening the practice.

Soon Rubempre is up to his eyeballs in it too … seemingly able to churn out witty adverse prose at will. He catches the gaze of young actress/ prostitute Coralie (Salome Dewaels) and vice versa. The pair falls madly and passionately in love. Rubempre’s notoriety grows and he sees a chance to avenge his ill treatment at the hands of de Bargeton’s conspirators. Also at stake is throwing off the shackles of a name he despises, gaining a title and an ongoing stipend. But all is fair in love and war. Writers Jacques Fieschi, Xavier Giannoli and Yves Stavrides have lovingly and deliciously adapted a 19th century

novel of the same name by French author Honore de Balzac. Under Xavier Giannoli’s direction, Lost Illusions has all the hallmarks of a sweeping melodrama. The film is rich in text and settings. The contrast between wealthy and impoverished is profound. I loved the time taken to establish the contention and then plant hand grenades. It works a treat. There are many fine performances too. Benjamin Voisin impresses with his depiction of the self-assured Lucien Rubempre, who undergoes quite the metamorphosis. Vincent Lacoste excels as the drug addled wheeler and dealer Etienne

Lousteau. Cecile de France readily channels a sad elegance and poise as Louise de Bargeton. Salome Dewaels is exuberant and effusive as Coralie. Xavier Dolan gives a finely balanced performance as Chadron’s adversary turned ally Nathan d’Anastazio. Lost Illusions is high class cinema at its finest. No wonder it received seven Cesar Awards (the French equivalent of the Oscars), including for Best Film, Best Adaptation, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Rated M, Lost Illusions scores an 8½ out of 10.

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the sydney jewish report | June 2022

J E W S

ABROAD RIVKA RONDA ROBINSON COURTESY: AISH.COM Morris Michtom, a Brooklyn sweet shop owner and his wife, Rose, created a stuffed toy bear in honour of former US president Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. It all began when Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in 1902, but failed to locate a single bear. His assistants reportedly cornered and tied a black bear to a tree for the American president to shoot. A big game hunter, according to the National Park Service Roosevelt refused to kill the bear because it would be unsportsmanlike. A political cartoonist turned that fateful trip into satire. When the Michtoms saw the cartoon they decided to create a new toy and call it “Teddy’s Bear.” Their invention was wildly popular. Meanwhile, across the ocean, a German family named Steiff created stuffed toy bears with shoe-button eyes and an embroidered nose.

2. Yakity-Yak Talking Teeth Thank another Jewish inventor for providing lots of laughs with his YakityYak Talking Teeth. In the 1940s an ad for a false-teeth holder called a “tooth garage” amused Eddy Goldfarb. He imagined a pair of dentures chomping, sputtering down the road and parking in its proper place. That image inspired Goldfarb to create a wind-up toy known as chattering teeth. When his gag chompers debuted in 1950, the packaging read, “Amazing! They Walk, They Talk, They’re Alive!” Even as a youngster in Chicago, Goldfarb was inventing toys and crafting action figures from the cardboard inserts in laundered shirts.

10 Jewish inventions 3. Sam Born, The Candy Man The novelty business also appealed to a sweet maker born in 1891 who received his education in Berdichev, Ukraine, at the city’s rabbinical school. When Sam Born’s family moved to France, he landed a sweet job in a candy store and learned the business. In 1910 Born emigrated to the US and was responsible for many innovations. These including the technology to produce chocolate sprinkles, known as Jimmies and the hard chocolate coating used in Eskimo Pies. Born was given the keys to the city of San Francisco in 1916 for inventing a machine that mechanically inserted sticks into lollipops. It was called the Born sucker machine. He began to manufacture sweets in 1923, naming his company Just Born because the products were so fresh. His company created Mike and Ike, Hot Tamales and Peanut Chews, earning him a spot in the Candy Hall of Fame.

4. The Ballpoint Pen Laszlo Biro, a Hungarian/Argentine inventor, came up with the idea for the modern day ballpoint pen. He worked as an editor for newspapers in Hungary and had a problem with ink from fountain pens, which smudged and took a long time to dry. He noticed, the ink in newspaper printing presses didn’t smudge and dried quickly. He tried putting the same ink into a fountain pen, but couldn’t get it to flow into the tip. So, Laszlo Biro worked with his brother, a chemist and developed a new tip with a ball that moved freely in a socket. The Biros presented the first working ballpoint pen at the Budapest International Fair in 1931.

5. Instant cameras Edwin Land, cofounder of the Polaroid Corporation, made it possible for pictures to be taken and developed almost immediately. In 1947, he demonstrated the Polaroid Land Camera, which could produce a finished print in 60 seconds. Land’s photographic process soon found many applications in business, science and the military. Before he died in 1991, the New Englander had received more than 500 patents for his innovations in light and plastics.

6. Word-processing computer Pioneer Evelyn Berezin was born in New York in 1925 to Jewish immigrants from Russia. She designed the first true word-processing computer. She also developed the first automated airline reservation system. United Airlines put her invention into service in 1955. According to the Computer History Museum, it served 60 cities throughout the United States with a one-second response time and with no central system failures in 11 years of operation. Berezin received her BA in physics from New York University in 1945 and an Atomic Energy Commission fellowship for graduate study there in 1946. Her interest in physics stemmed from reading her brother’s science-fiction periodicals. 7. Mobile phones Credit engineers at Motorola’s Israel research and development centre for coming up with the original cell-phone technology. According to ISRAEL21c, “from the tool that guards your mobile identity to a new keyboard solution, Israeli expertise keeps your phone from getting bigger, yet staying cutting edge.”

8. Video games Who can believe that video games already have been around for 50 years? Ralph Baer, whose family fled Germany just before World War II, helped pave the way for the game systems we know today. The Jewish engineer began to investigate how to play games on a television in 1966. Then, he and two colleagues created several test units. The result was the Brown Box, a prototype for the first multiplayer, multiprogram video game system. Baer licensed it to Magnavox, which released the design as the Odyssey in 1972.

9. Camera phone Remember life before smartphones and selfies? Baby Boomer Philippe Kahn does. He was born in Paris in 1952 to Jewish immigrants of modest means. His mother was a Holocaust survivor. The arrival of his daughter in 1997 triggered the birth of a new technology. Kahn wanted to take a picture of the baby and send it to friends directly from the hospital. While in the waiting room, he succeeded. He fired up his computer, wrote some lines of codes, synchronised them with his Motorola mobile phone and digital camera, and created the world’s first camera phone. 10. Google As computer science graduate students at Stanford University, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, now Silicon Valley billionaires, developed Google. Page envisioned a world wide web search engine that could rank hyperlinks based on how often other pages linked them. Brin helped turn the idea into PageRank, the algorithm foundation of Google Search. The product went live on Stanford’s network in 1996.

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the sydney jewish report | June 2022

F O O D I E S'

CORNER

Kosher KApers product today! The KA is pleased to

RAMONA FREEDMAN THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY

advise that later this month, all rennet set be KA-certified (Dairy, not Chalav Yisrael)

The KA loves sharing all-things-kosher with Jewish report readers – each day there’s so much happening in Kosher Land as you can see below in this jam-packed Kosher KApers edition! The KA advises that Jesse’s Bakery and Café will be temporarily closed for renovations late June for a few days. The grand plan is to revitalise and refresh the café and it will reopen with new menu items, décor, creative cakes and more baked treats, all aided by a passionate new pastry chef. In addition, the community will be introduced to new coffee sensations featuring Little Italy Coffee Roasters. Locally and lovingly produced, Little Italy has invested time and energy to create unique blends that coffee connoisseurs will agree, simply hit all the right notes. Believing coffee to be a beautiful balance between art and science – the results will be available daily at the reinvigorated Jesse’s Café – here to continue serving our community with freshly baked goods, outstanding coffee, cakes, pastries, a magnificent new menu and more. We are excited to introduce you to a new member of our KA Family of companies: Taste Water. This was

via designated batch production only. These

include

cheeses

such

as

bocconcini, mozzarella, burrata, halloumi and more. Individual kosher cheeses will have a ‘KA’ imprinted on the label near

Paesanella Buffalo Mozzarella

• As this edition of Kosher KApers goes to print, the exact June date when KA-certified batch productions of Paesanella cheeses will be in the marketplace has yet to be finalised. Stay tuned via The KA’s Facebook group ‘Kashrut Authority of Australia & NZ’ for daily updates or add your name and details to The KA’s database list, call the office on 02 9365 2933. • KA-certified Taste Water is currently stocked at The Bagel Co., Jesse’s Café and Krinskys with more stockists to be announced shortly. Kosher consumers can also purchase online from the Taste Water website: www. tastewater.com.au. Online customers can get 10% off the first purchase by keying in code ‘WINTER10’ & if you

(pareve) is acceptable • Orange Toblerone Made in Switzerland is new and kosher (Dairy) • The lemon and lime concentrated

the Best Before Date and will be available

juices at Coles and Woolworths are

at selected Woolworths stores. In addition,

acceptable - Chef's Choice have KA-

the three varieties of award-winning acid

certified lemon and lime options within its

set cheeses: Paesanella’s Fresh Pure Milk Ricotta; Buffalo Ricotta and Dry Ricotta

established with a vision to create a difference in the world, encouraging all to live a healthier lifestyle - underscored by a mission to give back to the community. The Taste Water team wanted to create beverages that had a great flavour and simultaneously ticked the daily boxes of enhancing health and wellness. That translated into the range having no sugar, additives, calories, preservatives or sweeteners. Mission accomplished! After much research and with the nostalgic pure reminder of childhood memories featuring fresh fruit in cold water jugs offered by wise older relations – Taste Water embraced the challenge and the result is three flavours in stylish bottles (500ml): Blackberry; Watermelon and Pineapple. In addition to being proudly KA-certified (as conveniently noted on each label), Taste Water is also Vegan Australia certified and gluten free (stockist info is below). Try this niche kosher

• Gordon’s Alcohol free (Natural Botanicals) with Tonic and a hint of lime

will be available at all outlets that stock this range and will not require any specific KA codes on the label. We also wanted to shine a kosher spotlight on a brand new product that is now proudly KA-certified: CO YO’s Greek Style Coconut Yoghurt. This is such a versatile product that can be used to replace sour cream, mayonnaise or buttermilk. wIt is absolutely perfect to be used as a part of a dressing, in sauces, dips, curries, soup or marinades. Of course, so many will also enjoy with muesli or fruit too! This is the latest addition within a huge range of KA-certified CO YO products – all pareve, all appreciated by our community, with so many opting to or needing to avoid traditional dairy products. The kosher space is dynamic daily – stay tuned for more KA kosher updates!

Here’s a snapshot of kosher news around town: • Q5 Espresso is a shop located at Wharf 5, Circular Quay and it sells a variety of Serendipity ice cream and sorbet flavours (during winter on weekends only). KA-certified kosher tub flavours are marked (KA or KADairy) and consumers should ensure staff use a clean scoop. Note that the cones are KA-certified too. The milkshakes and thick shakes are not acceptable. • Serendipity ice cream cakes are currently available in three flavours: Chocolate, Vanilla & Salted Caramel – they can be ordered from the Serendipity HQ, call 02 9557 8986 or visit the Factory shop to purchase all KA-certified flavours open Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday 1pm-4pm 333-339 Enmore Road, Marrickville.

KA PRODUCT UPDATES

cheeses within the Paesanella range will

spend over $150, get free shipping direct to your door. • A large range of Jesse’s baked goods are now available at two new Woolworths Metro stores located at: 220 Glenmore Road, Paddington and 290 Bobbin Head Road, Turramurra North. • Friendship Bakery opening hours: Monday-Wednesday + Friday 9am1pm. Outdoor seating available visit 2 Laguna Street, Vaucluse. • OMG Decadent Donuts East Sydney offer kosher gluten free and dairy free donuts daily – currently stationed within the Royal Randwick Shopping Centre Monday-Friday + Sunday 10am-5pm.

range e.g. available at Harris Farm stores • Halo Top frozen desserts are no longer produced with a Chof-K hechsher (or any kosher certification). Please note there are still tubs in the marketplace with kosher logos from final kosher production. • Nestle Milo Xtra (12g protein) and Milo 30% Less Added Sugar are both kosher Dairy (not Chalav Yisrael) • The KA advises that all pure agar-agar (a natural vegetable gelatin) is kosher. • The KA advises that all malt vinegar is acceptable and pareve except for vinegar which is Product of New Zealand which is Dairy. • CO YO Greek Style Coconut Yoghurt (500g & 900g sizes) is now KA-certified and available in Woolworths stores and Woolworths online. For recipe inspiration for this new product, visit www.coyo. com/au/greek-style-recipe-guide. • Barker’s New Zealand – the following four products are kosher and Pareve: Beetroot Relish 250g; Traditional Tomato Relish 240g; Sweet Chilli Relish 260g and Peach & Mango Chutney 260g. Purchase online: www.barkers.com.au/ shop for Australia-wide delivery. • Seagram’s 7 Crown Blended Whiskey is kosher certified • Millions Shakers (tiny chewy sweets made with real fruit juice) Made in UK are kosher Pareve in the following flavours: Banana; Blackcurrant Buzz; Bubble Gum; Cola and Strawberry • All varieties of Nespresso coffee pods are kosher Pareve • Cottee’s Cordials three Zero Sugar varieties: Coola Lime; Raspberry & Lemon Crush (Kosher Australia certified Pareve) • Barilla Red lentil penne (gluten free, requires OU logo) • Deletion: Bio Cheese Cheddar Flavour & Crackers Pack

Taste Water Blackberry, Pineapple, Watermelon; , Barkers New Zealand Relish + Chutney, Serendipity Dark Chocolate ice cream and CO YO Greek Style Yoghurt

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the sydney jewish report | June 2022

M O V I E

R E V I E W

Has Elvis really left the building?

ELVIS (M) BY ALEX FIRST Elvis lives. Well, not quite. But Baz Luhrmann has breathed new life into the legend and aura surrounding the consummate performer, the best-selling solo recording artist of all time. Elvis the movie unfolds as a hero and villain story. The hero is obviously Presley (Austin Butler), an artist with a prodigious talent, while the villain is his manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). The tale unfolds as Parker is lying on his death bed, reflecting on what went down, ejecting suggestions that he was responsible for the demise of The King. Instead, the Colonel maintains he made Elvis and theirs was a true partnership. We learn that the Parker was a snowman, who used every trick in the book to get others to see things his way. And he did a really good job of that … to a point. That is until Elvis wanted to spread his wings. Then, the Colonel pushed back. Even though the pair worked their way through some of those unpleasantries, the relationship was bound to end badly. Along the way, of course Elvis met and married Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge), the daughter of a US military officer. Elvis the picture details the highs and lows of the singer and movie star’s career.

In also highlights the gambling addiction that saw Parker push Presley in a direction the latter didn’t want to go. We see the influence of African American entertainers and gospel singers in the emergence of Elvis as a serious force in the music business. And what would a movie about Presley be without the adulation of fawning women … everywhere. Baz Luhrmann is one of four with writing credits, alongside Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce (The Great Gatsby) and Jeremy Doner. Elvis isn’t what I would call a traditional biopic. It has Luhrmann’s creative flair all over it.

Another way of expressing that is that the movie is full of showmanship in realising elements of the life of the ultimate showman. It is glossy and gaudy. Visually, it is stunning. The cinematographer is Mandy Walker (Mulan). The production values are magnificent (Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy were responsible), as is Martin’s costuming. Some events that would likely be highlighted by another director are given short shrift here. Elvis quickly goes from courting Priscilla in one scene to marriage and a baby, that being but one example. Much more attention is paid to the Colonel’s skulduggery.

The music – a mix of the real Elvis and Austin Butler – is very much on song. So, too, the performance of Butler in the lead. He manages to capture the look and feel of Elvis. Hanks impresses as the sleazy manipulator extraordinaire. DeJonge maintains a quiet dignity as Priscilla. I am not convinced we needed 2 hours 39 minutes to relate the story we saw, especially as we didn’t really dig deeply into Elvis’ psyche. Rather, we got a feel for what he was about. Still, I greatly enjoyed the offering and Luhrmann’s trademark pizzazz. Rated M, Elvis scores an 8 out of 10.

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