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W W W. J C A . O R G . AU
FREE
VOL. 45 Friday, 7 September 2018 / 27 Elul 5778
Fostering a closer Jewish community
Free subscription to electronic copy go to www.thejewishreport.com.au
KEEPING THEIR VOICE ALIVE
COA FAREWELLS JULIA GOLDING
SHANA TOVA
ARIEL BRINER BLOWING THE SHOFAR, YEAR 3 AT MORIAH COLLEGE
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
OBK BRINGING COOKIE JOY
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Dedication Of The Australian Jewish War Memorial & Commemoration Of General Sir John Monash’s Knighthood ACT JEWISH COMMUNITY The first ever national Australian Jewish War Memorial was unveiled on Sunday 12 August 2018 commemorating the 341 Jewish servicemen who died serving Australia during war. The cenotaph, located at the National Jewish Memorial Centre in Canberra, was unveiled by His Excellency the GovernorGeneral of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, and Lady Cosgrove. The dedication service was attended by the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, as well as by members of the ADF, rabbinate, Jewish ex service community and the diplomatic corps. The dedication of the cenotaph was followed by the unveiling of a portrait of General Sir John Monash that will permanently hang in the National Jewish Memorial Centre. The portrait was commissioned by the ACT Jewish Community from local artist Margaret Hadfield. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s message celebrated Sir John Monash as one of Australia’s greatest military commanders, and was read by Mr Julian Leeser MP: “The many Jewish Australians who have served and who have given their lives to protect this nation and its people are deserving of this memorial. It is out of a love of Australia that Jewish sons and daughters would place their
lives in peril so that we may all live in peace and security”. The special portrait of Sir John Monash was unveiled by their Excellencies, Sir Peter and Lady Lynne Cosgrove. ACT Jewish Community Host Rabbi Shimon Eddi reflected: “Judaism is a communal religion. While many countries prevented Jews from practicing our religion freely and openly, we are free to do so in Australia. Jews have volunteered when the call came, as they were loyal to their country”. Rabbi Eddi also noted: “There is no such thing as religion in a foxhole, there are only brothers and sisters united against a common enemy in times of war”. Wreaths were laid at the Memorial by the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, General Campbell, members of the Federal and ACT governments, members of the Australian Jewish Community, and other distinguished guests. This event marked the culmination of the Centenary of Anzac Jewish Program, as well as the realisation of the vision of ACT Jewish Community founding members to honour the memory of Australia’s fallen Jewish servicemen on its grounds.
Chabad Brisbane Celebrates 20 Years CHABAD BRISBANE Chabad Brisbane celebrated its 20th anniversary on Rosh Chodesh Elul with a Gala Dinner held at the Brisbane Airport Conference Centre. The dinner, which was attended by over 120 supporters, friends and public figures, featured internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Yitzhak Yedid who played heart-rending and uplifting Chassidic melodies. Respected lawyer, author and artist Robert Kremnizer delivered a meaningful talk on on the topic of the month of Elul and the importance of maintaining a state of joy at all times. Chabad Brisbane also unveiled plans to IY”H set up a local branch of the international Chabad on Campus and YJP (Young Jewish Professionals) within the coming months. The MC for the event was ‘Outback’ Rabbi Ari Rubin, Chabad emissary to North Queensland, who was among the many
honoured guests who converged upon Brisbane, to enhance the evening, from the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and Sydney. Several of Chabad Brisbane’s major donors were recognised and honoured, being presented with a special bilingual Australia and New Zealand edition of the Tanya. Catering was done in-house with exquisite deserts prepared by Shula Saranga. The evening concluded with an entertaining auction of various beautiful pieces of art by prominent Brisbane Jewish artists and was conducted by auctioneer Michael Cohen Esq Chabad Brisbane avails itself of this opportunity to express its deep thanks and sincere appreciation to each and every one of its supporters and friends, partners and stake-holders in the successful growth of its activities to prepare for the ultimate Geulah (redemption) NOW!
Sydney Women of Diversity Celebrate ELISE HAWTHORNE In our multicultural society, it is still relatively rare for three hundred women of mixed backgrounds to gather together just for the pure joy of enjoying each other’s company, not to mention dance and smile the night away in sisterhood bliss. Women from across Sydney aged 18 to 80, dressed up for a big night out at the third annual Women of Diversity Diner (WDD). The WDD organising committee was thrilled to have the host of SBS Living Black, Karla Grant, MC the event, which was held during NAIDOC month. Guests were treated to songs in French, Arabic, Hebrew and Hindi by multilingual performer Dahlia Dior and had fun learning Bollywood dance moves from classically-trained Indian dancers, sisters Varsha and Megha Krishnappa. Another highlight of the evening was an Afghan fashion parade, and after a delicious vegetation feast, more joyous group dancing rounded off a memorable evening.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Community Relations & Policy Manager Lynda BenMenashe said, “the WDD is the city’s premier multicultural event for women, giving them the opportunity to celebrate their own cultures, embrace others’ and just have fun. Our message is simple - whether you were born in Australia, or arrived recently, we all want this home of ours to be a harmonious and peaceful place for our families. The WDD is an avenue to express this sentiment. The feedback from the dinner has been fantastic,”said BenMenashe. “We are already looking forward to next year’s event.” The WDD is organised by a partnership of organisations including the Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW, Afghan Women of the Move, Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) – Port Jackson, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Muslim Women’s National Network, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, SAHELI, Settlement Services International, Uniting Church, and individual women.
We thank all our customers for their continued support We wish thankyou all our for their and andcustomers your families a continued support
AND WISH YOUYear A HAPPY PESACH Happy New
Montefiore wins national award for dementia care MONTEFIORE Montefiore gained national recognition with a Better Practice Commendation Award for its Integrated Cognitive and Sensory Program on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at a ceremony held by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency in Sydney. The awards program celebrates the dedication of workers and providers in our world class aged care sector, according to Minister for Aged Care, the Hon. Ken Wyatt AM, MP, who said: “Each in their own way has created an environment that has led to positive health and wellbeing outcomes for older Australians.” Accepting the award on behalf of the organisation were Director of Professional Services Janine Grossman, Dementia Specialist/Research Coordinator Dr Jacki Wesson and Board Member Toby Hammerman. “Supporting our residents and clients to live well with dementia is a key focus for Montefiore,” says Grossman, acknowledging the increasing impact of dementia in the community, where it now affects one in 10 people over the age of 65. “We are in the process of implementing a new Montefiore Dementia Model (MDM), which will incorporate more intimate, home-like environments as well as elements from this program that focuses on behavioural and environmental factors.” Adds Dr Wesson: “The Integrated
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Cognitive and Sensory Program has improved staff skills and knowledge to better support residents living with dementia, who may experience changed behaviours, for example, emotional or physical expressions of frustration.” Based on the results of this program, Montefiore conducts its own Living Well with Dementia training for all staff, uses tailored behaviour support pathways for residents and facilitates the development of solution- focused strategies. Grossman and Wesson also acknowledged the others who contributed to the research, design and implementation of the program, including Professor Henry Brodaty AO and Lee-Fay Low of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at UNSW, and Montefiore’s Tracey Clark and Sofia Venuti.
Yom Tov Message RABBI LEVI WOLFF his is such a holy time of year, infused with reflection and introspection – an extraordinary opportunity to contemplate all that we are and all that we can be. In this spirit, the following story really resonated with me … One day, a nine-year-old girl walked into a jewellery shop in Israel, looked up at the shop owner and confidently announced, “I am here to buy this bracelet.” With that, she pointed to one with the retail value of a cool $3000. The proprietor was incredulous but courteously replied, “Wow, you have exquisite taste. Who do you want to buy it for?” The girl advised it was for her older sister and explained, “I don’t have parents and my sister takes care of us. We want to buy her a present and I’m willing to pay for it.” With that, Miss Nine delved into her pocket and offered just under eight shekels. The owner’s eyes lit up, “Wow! That’s exactly the cost of this bracelet!” As he silently wiped tears, he wrapped the gift and suggested the girl write a card to her beloved older sibling. The deal was done - both parties delighted. A few hours later the older sister entered the shop, “I’m terribly embarrassed, my sister should not have come here and taken this expensive bracelet without paying! My sincere apologies.” The shopkeeper replied, “Young lady, you couldn’t be more wrong - your little sister paid me in full! The grand total was seven shekels, eighty agurot and … a Broken
T
WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A SWEET NEW YEAR FROM EVERYONE AT JCA
Heart. I am a widower and lost my dear wife a number of years ago. Customers with healthy bank accounts buy costly pieces of jewellery daily. When your sister walked in, for the first time in so long I saw an act of true love – I felt it on a visceral level. With that, he gave the speechless older sister the bracelet and wished her well. Life ebbs and flows – for many of us, this is punctuated by some periods of tremendous hardship. Tallying the sales that Israeli jeweller made across his career, which do you think is most memorable? We have opportunities to share daily, to help. Let’s resolve to do just that! Over the upcoming High Holy Days, we beseech the Almighty to grant us things that, if measured on a pecuniary scale, would be considered the big-ticket items. Yet here I’m not talking diamonds. We ask for Life, Health, Peace … very often, we don’t have the meritorious credit to seal the deal. Instead, we dig into relatively empty pockets offering Good Deeds plus assurances for a more meaningful future. This year I will endeavor to reach out to a lonely person in my world; join a Torah class; be kind … pray with my whole heart. And when The Almighty witnesses this, He sees our genuine yearning to improve. We emotionally hear the response, “You have touched my heart” and we are each granted a sweet, happy and healthy new year - paid in full! From my dear family to yours, wishing you all a very healthy and sweet year. May you each find continues success in your holy work! Shana Tova! Rabbi Levi & Chanie Wolff
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Winning Band The Deafening Silence
B’NAI B’RITH NSW GABRIEL JAMMY
The competition was open to 12-18 year olds, and was held at Emanuel School (in Randwick). As with past years, the theme of the competition drew from the ethos of the organisation, and linked a fun afternoon of music to an insightful interpretation of key community values. This year, contestants had to link their performances to the tagline, ‘Everyday Heroes’. It was interesting to see how these talented young musicians defined heroism - many choosing to focus on the notions of love and support amongst friends. While progressive-metal band Deafening Silence took the top spot, the prize for best interpretation of the theme went to Tabetha Salmon and her band. They chose to cover ‘A Little Help From My Friends’ - a Beatles classic.
As organisers of the event, Vivienne Radomsky and I conceptualised a somewhat different interpretation of ‘Everyday Heroes’. We took a more traditionalist view, considering the members of our society who stand up to racism, and fight against injustice. What we saw instead was a beautiful, refreshing interpretation, that left us with much food for thought. For these amazing young musicians, their heroes are all around them - from their siblings, to their friends, to their band-mates. Heroes may not always strive against evil, or complete Herculean tasks. Heroes are the people who make you smile, give you support, and get you through your day - they do this selflessly, passionately, and ask for no recognition. We applaud our young bands for such a thoughtful consideration of our theme, and look forward to many for exciting band competitions in future years!
September 2018
September is to Remember REMEMBER SEPTEMBER BEN WILHEIM, FOUNDER Just under 3,000 people in Australia unfortunately lost their lives to Pancreatic Cancer in 2017. With only 8% of people diagnosed surviving five years from diagnosis and the average survival being 3-6 months, it is known to be one of the most aggressive forms of cancer as it usually isn’t found until it is too advanced and too late. Despite having one of the lowest survival rates (that has only improved marginally in the past 40 years) and being the 5th most common cause of cancer death, Pancreatic Cancer research only receives less than 1% of all cancer funding in Australia. It is officially the cancer of our generation and it’s about time this improves! In September 2014, Ben and David Wilheim’s father, Danny, lost his nine-month battle to the disease. This wasn’t long after losing their first cousin, Danielle, who survived just six-weeks from her own diagnosis in 2012. Ben vowed to make a difference. In July 2014, when Danny was sick, Ben gave up all liquids except water for 40 days to raise money for much-needed Pancreatic Cancer research. He raised just under $16,000 and ‘Remember September’ was officially born in 2015. Since then, Remember September has continued to grow exponentially and has raised a total of $135,000 and a lot of awareness in an attempt to change the future of the insidious disease. This year Remember September has big plans again; aiming to hit the $200,000 checkpoint with a team of over 100 participants of the challenge! All funds raised go directly to the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, who has a mission to “break through 40 years of
Danny, David and Ben Wilheim no progress by doubling the number of people who survive Pancreatic Cancer by 2020.” “Remember September is about making a much-needed difference to this world, one step at a time,” Ben said. “It’s about encouraging positive lifestyle changes, motivating the start of a conversation, being aware of the symptoms and raising funds to help others and their families who are, or unfortunately will, suffer from the same disease my Dad, my cousin and my family have suffered through. I think [Dad] would be really proud. Remember September is a way of honouring his memory. I just think about his massive smile.” With Pancreatic Cancer statistics remaining unchanged for so long, Ben and David encourage everyone to get involved! If you would like to find out more information, sign-up for the challenge, check their progress or donate, please visit the website (RememberSeptember.gofundraise. com.au), Like the Facebook Page (www. facebook.com/RememberSeptember24) and Follow them on Instagram (www.instagram. com/RememberSeptember24).
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WHO WILL KEEP THEIR VOICE ALIVE? “My message to the future is not to hate. To respect people. To have dialogue with people from different backgrounds.”
Photo Credit: Katherine Griffiths
Keeping Their Voice Alive THE SYDNEY JEWISH MUSEUM The Sydney Jewish Museum is indebted to the Holocaust survivors who founded the Museum and continue to tell their stories of survival to adult and student visitors. In fact, visitors consistently report that the most moving component of their visit to the Museum is their exposure to the testimony of a survivor. For 25 years the Sydney Jewish Museum has helped educate hundreds of thousands of school children and adults on lessons in personal responsibility, respect and mutual understanding through the lens of the Holocaust, and on the need to keep the light of humanity bright. The stories of the Holocaust survivors are central to the Museum’s ongoing mission of education, preservation and commemoration. They are the threads that link the Museum’s contemporary messages of humanity, democracy and justice to the history that we pledge to never forget. There are opportunities throughout the calendar year for adult visitors to hear survivors talk. Every day student groups hear the testimonies of survivors, after which they are invited to ask questions about their experiences of persecution, loss and migration. These are unforgettable moments that
transcend time and place, which visitors are inspired by long after they leave the Museum. However, as time passes, fewer Holocaust survivors are left to tell their stories. The Museum continues to work tirelessly to ensure that the survivors’ stories are captured for the benefit of future generations through projects such as testimony recording, the development of the interactive app SJM Voices, and publishing memoirs via the Museum’s Community Stories department. These components of the Museum’s offerings to visitors continue to deliver moving experiences, particularly in the absence of survivors. The Sydney Jewish Museum does not receive any government funding to preserve the voices of the Holocaust or educate future generations. To be able to do this requires the support of the community and those touched by the Museum’s work. The Sydney Jewish Museum is embarking on its 2018 Capital Appeal and is asking the community to invest in the future of the Museum to keep the survivors’ voices alive for many years to come. You can support the Capital Appeal by attending one of the fundraising events at the Museum in October or by making a donation. For more details, visit sjm.com.au/capitalappeal
Olga Horak OAM, 92 Holocaust survivor and Sydney Jewish Museum volunteer for 25 years.
Photographer Katherine Griffiths
IF NOT US, WHO? As time passes there are fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors left to tell their stories of horror and hope. They have been fundamental in the Sydney Jewish Museum keeping the lessons of the Holocaust front of mind for the wider community. We need your support to keep Olga’s and the other survivors’ stories alive for many years to come.
IF NOT NOW, WHEN? Please join us for a unique Museum experience at one of our intimate events: Wednesday 3 October at 6pm Thursday 4 October at 6pm Sunday 7 October at 3pm and 5pm Monday 8 October at 6pm Tuesday 9 October at 6pm and 8pm Wednesday 10 October at 8pm Thursday 11 October at 3pm and 6pm Sunday 14 October at 5pm and 8pm Tuesday 16 October at 6pm and 8pm Wednesday 17 October at 8pm
For details and to book visit sjm.com.au/capitalappeal or call (02) 9360 7999
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Zionist Council Yesh Program in third successful year ZIONIST COUNCIL NSW The Zionist Council of NSW is proud to announce the conclusion of the third year of the highly successful Yesh Israel program that offers young adults who have already been on a program to Israel the opportunity to return for a two week in depth immersive Israel experience. The program is underpinned by three concepts. ACTIVISM which supports Jewish students who are struggling with BDS and anti-semitism on university campuses in NSW. Through a variety of educational and hands on experiences they are empowered with important advocacy skills. On the recent 2018 trip, the group worked with Neil Lazarus, an internationally acclaimed expert in the field of Middle East Politics, Israel Public Diplomacy and Effective Communication Training and engaged in a variety of sessions with StandWithUs, the non-profit pro-Israel education and advocacy organisation that believes that education is the road to peace.In addition, participants met and engaged with Palestinian speakers and were taken on a private tour to the Israel/ Syrian border to learn about the complex issues facing Israel and the diaspora communities daily. They were also given the opportunity to meet with advocates
from Israel who visited Australia in 2017 and 2019 on behalf of the Zionist Council of NSW. The second concept is ISRAEL: THE START UP NATION. In Jerusalem participants met with PresenTense – a community of innovators and entrepreneurs, thinkers and leaders, creators and educators from around the world, who employ entrepreneurship
as a tool to enrich communal life, grow local economies and solve critical issues facing society. In Tel Aviv participants had the opportunity to participate in a bootcamp experience with the Australian Landing Pad at SOSA. Landing Pads provide market-ready Australian startups with access to some of the world’s most renowned innovation and startup ecosystems. At the conclusion of the
program Yesh was able to secure a meeting at AMOS by SpaceCom, a leading global fixed-satellite operator, offering tailored end-to-end communication solutions to the media and broadband industries. The third concept is the importance of COMMUNITY and the diverse communities that contribute to Israeli society. The Yesh Israel program took participants to meet with a Druze community in the far North of Israel and to meet with some members of the ultraorthodox Jewish community in Meir She’arim. Another highlight was meeting with a community of street artists in Tel Aviv who use graffiti to voice their political opinions. A very special visit was also organized to Beit Halochem who work to rehabilitate soldiers injured while serving in the IDF. ”I came on this program to see Israel with fresh eyes. This is not your typical Israel program, it is an adventure I will never forget” said Sevilla Kornfeld, 2018 Yesh participant. Yesh is made possible by long standing ZCNSW donors and supporters. The ZCNSW encourages Jewish and Zionist activity and expression whilst promoting and communicating Israel’s interests and NSW’s relationship with Israel. For more information on Yesh 2019 email ten@zionistcouncil.com.au
A day of joy, a time of hope, a year of happiness. Wishing you peace at Rosh Hashana and always.
טובה וחתימה כתיבה ומתוקה טובה שנה ושלווה שלום שנת
Kesser Torah College
Members of the JCA Family of Communal Organisations
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COA farewells CEO Julia Golding OAM DR DAVID ROSENWAX AM How does one say farewell to a woman who has held COA Sydney in the palm of her hands for 34 years, and nurturing ; building it up from a small group of dedicated volunteers to a well-respected and unique organisation with a vital role in the Jewish Community of Sydney. For Julia, COA’s development has been interwoven with her personal journey of giving, sharing, growing and achieving. Julia has left her mark on COA, and COA has left an indelible imprint on her, as she says “This has never just been a job for me. It has really been my life and my life’s work. I have always endeavoured to keep our founder Myer Kangan’s vision and passion for COA alive as a venue with a unique family atmosphere. This community has become like family to me.” Watching Julia today holding a Client’s hand you get a sense of the key to her success. In her words ”I have found that success does not rest just with willingness to go out into the community – it is the ability to truly hear what people are saying. It’s an ability to accommodate their needs with compassion and empathy”. Julia was not surprisingly on the frontline with the development of our professional social work service. “Coming from Eastern Europe with my Jewish background I have a wealth of knowledge of the Jewish People and their different traditions. Through the many Holocaust Survivors that have been clients and friends, I have heard their stories. They have given me strength in my weakest
moments. I’ve seen their zest for life under difficult circumstances. I have lived on the energy of those I am surrounded by, and what an incredibly positive energy it has been. I have been privileged to meet people that were clever and generous, fascinating and kind. Some have become lifelong friends.” In a few months, our CEO Julia will be stepping down, and promises to take on a new role where she will continue to engage with our community and advocate for COA, while giving her the flexibility to have some work/life balance and some much needed rest. Julia has been an exemplary leader and friend to all at COA, giving vastly more than one could expect, often working into the night and on weekends to ensure our clients
can live independently in their own homes. She moves seamlessly from very personal involvement to directing traffic in the COA offices and addressing funding bodies and CEOs from other organisations. Julia’s absence from the helm, after 34 years will leave a gap which will be very hard to fill because she has been involved in un developing COA at every stage. From hiring staff members to building our Centre as it is today – her input has been invaluable. For many members of our community the name Julia is synonymous with COA and vice versa. In Julia’s words: “It’s hard to believe that 34 years have gone by so quickly. 34 years of growth for me personally and 34 years of growth for COA.” Julia was involved in the initial research
which led to the establishment of COA as a provider of Kosher Meals on Wheels. From its infancy this service grew over the years to become a thriving and reputable service that so many enjoy, and in 2017 proudly delivered it’s one millionth meal to the community. It takes team work and a CEO’s role is to keep the team spirit going. After delivering meals the volunteers wanted to connect and spend time together. As a natural outcome our Jack Krygier Activity Centre was born. Under her dedicated hand this has grown into a thriving Senior’s Centre providing a variety of activities 6 days a week. Julia was a pivotal part of procuring the adjacent property enabling us to build the Centre we have today. In 2016 Julia’s dedication was recognised by the wider community with the granting of an OAM, given specifically for her out of hours volunteer work which has taken up a significant amount of her personal time. Letters of congratulation flooded in, eg from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry “Your contribution, commitment and dedication to providing services for aged persons have had a significant impact for the better of society and your achievements area source of pride for our community.” We take this opportunity to thank Julia for all she has done for COA and our community. There truly are no words to adequately express our appreciation for the time she has devoted over all these years. Kol Ha’kavod and we wish her only happiness in the future.
PLEASE JOIN US
EMANUEL WOOLLAHRA PRESCHOOL JOIN US OFFICIAL OPENING PLEASE CEREMONY
EMANUEL WOOLLAHRA PRESCHOOL OFFICIAL Emanuel W oollahra P OPENINGmaCEREMONY kes histo resc
ry from hu hool rforming mble beg to a long a innings in will be pe Ema n nuel Woollahr w re a it a d Pres e il choo to d h l 195 ateshummakes history from state of the a Our c en our g rt prescho 4 ble beginnings in 1954 as we op t and present to the ol long awaited state of the art pres pas chool families Our preschool photographer will be taking Our children will be as we open performing family photos ilies and these will be included in the fam to our gates past and present photo package with the Kindy photos Our preschool photographer will be taking family photos & these will be included in the photo package with the Kindy photos
Please join us to celebrate this momentous occasion Please join us to celebrate this momentous occasion SUNDAY 2018 SUNDAY16 16SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2018 3PM - 5PM @ EWP 3PM-5PM @ EWP RSVP by 16 August to director@emanuelpreschool.com.au
RSVP by 10 September to director@emanuelpreschool.com.au
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Enriching the Lives of Jewish Seniors
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OBK bringing cookie joy
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OUR BIG KITCHEN  The project was launched with our former Prime Minister and his grandson Jack baking the first honey cookie to be delivered to the needy. Now Our Big Kitchen is buzzing with hundreds of volunteers of all ages who have also come together to make, package and deliver over 22,000 honey cookies to spread sweetness across Sydney in honour of Rosh Hashana. In addition to the full morning sessions of baking, OBK hosted a massive teen bake with over 200 teens from different schools run by Rabbi Chida and Rochel Levitansky of Cteen Sydney. As well as a weeks’ worth of afternoon baking for kids, along with BBQ dinner and jumping castle in conjunction with Rabbi Yossi and Rivky of Jems. The massive amount of honey cookies is already bringing joy to hospitals, nursing homes, women’s shelters and homeless shelters across Sydney. OBK is thrilled that baking will continue right up to Yom Kippur Monday 17 Sep.
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Please donate online at www.jnf.org.au or call 1300 563 563 j n f.o r g .a u
1300 563 563
September 2018
Why Are You Kol Nidrei – Waving Returning Branches Around? to our True Core RABBI MOSS  Some Jewish practices are a little hard to explain. Someone asked me why we wave the Lulav and Etrog in six directions - right, left, forward, up, down, backward. Is there a simple way to explain this? Well, nothing in Judaism is simple, but here’s a try: The four species that we bless on Sukkos correspond to the four letters in G-d’s Hebrew name. Waving them in all six directions signifies our faith that G-d is everywhere. Specifically, we are saying that on every level, at every stage of life, in all that happens to us, G-d is there. Right and left represent Chesed and Gevurah, the power of love and the power of discipline. G-d, like a parent, can be loving and can also be strict. Sometimes G-d’s light shines on us and we feel close to Him, other times He seems distant, we feel left in the dark and have to find our own way through. Whether we receive G-d’s closeness and love, or whether He gives us space to grow on our own, it is all coming from G-d. He knows exactly what we need, and that’s what we get. Up and down symbolize the highs and lows of life. When we feel we are on top of the world, we need to remember that G-d enabled us to get there. When we feel down in the dumps, we need to have
faith that G-d is with us there. There is no success without help, and there is no failure without hope. Forward and backward stand for the future and the past. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we have faith that G-d will guide us through whatever lies ahead. And as for the past, all that has happened to us is a part of the plan. All our past experiences, even those that we would rather forget, made us who we are today. We are where we are now because that is exactly where G-d wants us to be. Our entire past was a lead up to this moment. G-d brought you here for a reason. So the four species are waved around, to recognise that G-d is everywhere, in the good and the bad, in the ups and the downs, in the uncertain future and the turbulent past. And in the middle of all that is you. You are doing the waving. Because G-d will be there for you in all you do, if only you let Him in.
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community
September 2018
Celebrate Rosh Hashana, Support OUR PEOPLE Through UIA UNITED ISRAEL APPEAL Rosh Hashana represents a time of personal and communal soul-searching. These days of reflection take on a special meaning for us in the Diaspora. As part of the local Jewish community, UIA NSW is proud to continue to stand with Israel and support Our People. In partnership with the global Jewish community, we work to further the national priorities of the State of Israel through our many projects, with special emphasis on advancing weaker communities; nurturing disadvantaged and marginalised youth; encouraging Aliyah, and connecting young Diaspora Jews to Israel and Jewish life. These projects include Net@ - an after-school program which empowers disadvantaged high school students from Israel’s geographic and socio-economic periphery through technology education; Young Communities - where idealistic young people serve as volunteer agents of social change and strengthen Israel’s underdeveloped areas; and Profession for Life – programs offered to Olim which provide them with the knowledge and professional training (in fields such as medicine) needed to achieve absorption into their new life in Israel. Another key project is Youth Futures. With
the help of mentors who serve as role models and confidants, Youth Futures helps at-risk children aged 6-13 to bridge educational, social and cultural gaps. The personalised attention, positive social experiences and educational enrichment empowers young people in all sectors of Israeli society, and provides positive reinforcement for their families. As we approach the New Year, a
Life saving defibrillators secured for the community QUEENSLAND JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES Queensland’s Jewish community has taken delivery of five new life saving Cardiac Science G5 defibrillators for use at its synagogues and Brisbane’s Gan Gani Kindergarten, thanks to the generosity of the Pelerman Foundation and coordination by the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD) and welfare body JCareQld. The project to install the defibrillators was initiated by Professor David Abramson, from the South Brisbane Hebrew Congregation, who said the units would be invaluable if there was an incident at one of the community’s key venues. “The first 10 minutes can be the difference between surviving a major cardiac event and not, so now we have a defibrillator at hand we can be prepared,” Professor Abramson said. In addition to generous support from the Pelerman Foundation, received through welfare organisation JCareQld, each organisation matched the funding to cover the costs of the units. Organisations that now have
new defibrillators include Gan Gani Kindergarten,
Brisbane
Chevra
Kadisha, Temple Shalom Gold Coast, South Brisbane Hebrew Congregation and
the
Gold
Coast
Hebrew
Congregation. QJBD
President,
gratefully organisations
Paul
Myers,
acknowledged
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that
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opportunity to purchase a defibrillator and thanked Real First Aid who provided a significant discount. “This is a great example of how the Jewish community in South East Queensland can work together towards a common goal,” Myers said. “Our synagogue facilities are used for services and a wide variety of functions, attended by many members of the community and Gan Gani is a key source of Jewish education in our community. We genuinely hope these defibrillators won’t need to be used, but having them there is a great comfort.” The defibrillator units can be used by anyone, regardless of training. The unit gives clear instructions on what to do, and only delivers a shock if required.
wonderful way to show your support for Israel and at the same time give a meaningful gift is to purchase a UIA gift certificate to help those less fortunate. As you sit around the table with your family this Rosh Hashana, take the opportunity to reflect on how you could help support these young people and their families living on the periphery through UIA, so they too can enjoy chagim in the
same way. UIA thanks you for your unwavering support of Israel and her most valuable asset – OUR PEOPLE! Shana Tova! To purchase a UIA gift certificate, please contact UIA NSW on 9361 4273, info@uiansw.org.au or visit uiaaustralia.org.au
New Year, New Success at Shaare Zedek born at Shaare Zedek this year, the hospital truly represents the healthy future of Israel. Prof Levi-Lahad shared “We stand poised at the beginning of a revolution that genetics Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Centre is making in all areas of medicine throughout has experienced yet another year of the world, especially in Israel where there unprecedented growth and development are different and special populations… Such and is well on the way to implementing its efforts lead to scientific insights and greatly improve patient care.” plans for continued future expansion. From a local perspective too, this past year Shaare Zedek is building a new Cancer has been a significant one. The Australian Centre and Radiotherapy Institute as part Friends of Shaare Zedek Inc achieved tax of the Hospital’s Master Plan which will deductibility status and ran a successful triple the size and transform the scope of campaign to raise funds to purchase a operations at Shaare Zedek. next generation Gene Sequencer to enable Another area of significant progress was the hospital to continue its groundbreaking Shaare Zedek’s introduction of innovative and cutting edge medical equipment. work. “We would like to thank our donors for Shaare Zedek was the first hospital in the world to install the revolutionary Embrace, their ongoing support this year and wish a Neonatal MRI system that enables staff everyone a happy and healthy New Year. www.shaarezedek.org.au to safely and easily conduct brain scans of facebook.com/shaarezedek premature babies. With over 22,000 babies AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF SHAARE ZEDEK INC MIRIAM PACANOWSKI
Happy JewisH NEW YEAR Rosh Hashanah 9 -11 September th
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Celebrate Jewish New Year at these supporting stores:
Bondi Junction • Bondi Westfield • Maroubra Junction • Randwick • Rose Bay On Sale from Wednesday 15th August until Tuesday 18th September 2018.
Products only available at above stores, unless indicated otherwise. Not available at Coles Express or coles.com.au. While stocks last. Some products or varieties may not be available at all stores. We reserve the right to limit sale quantities. Savings, single sell prices and unit prices shown off regular selling prices.
12
community / international
Is Your Brain Made of Rubber? MANDELBAUM HOUSE CASEY KUKA
Dr. Sue Morris strides across the room, engaging us with her quick wit and lively lecturing style as she regales the tale of Liam. A hypothetical individual who illustrates the concept of suboptimal thinking, Liam has texted his date after what he thinks was a great night, but receives no response. Assuming the worst -- that he did something wrong and will be forever alone -- his day spirals into a heap of TV and sadness. Of course, there were other reasons for perhaps why his date did not respond immediately, but he leapt to negative conclusions and wasted his day on the couch. Why? And how many times have you done the same in response to other setbacks in life? Dr. Morris gave us a fitting lesson in how our brains are less clever than we think them, and what we can do about it. Dr. Morris teaches at UNSW, where “[her] job is to make students the best versions of themselves,” and has also worked with lecturers to improve engagement with their students. Dr. Morris has received many accolades in her field for excellence in teaching, but her latest achievement lies in the literary realm: her new book, The Rubber Brain: A toolkit for optimising
your study, work, and life!, offers advice for changing our mindset in response to the daily challenges life often throws in our face. Dr. Morris dove into her talk at the Mandelbaum formal dinner, eyes sparkling as she described her metaphor of the rubber brain and its importance in a better life. Dr. Morris explained how
our brains are much less sophisticated than we humans are prone to believing. Being somewhat slow on the evolutionary uptake, they remain hardwired to look for danger, be on the alert, and use heuristics, or shortcuts, which lead to rapid assumptions about our world. Such activities were helpful when we inhabited caves and hunted while being hunted,
September 2018
but are less useful today, when the most dangerous aspect of our survival is driving to the store for groceries. These habits of the brain lead to “suboptimal thinking,” the kind that prevents us from reaching our goals, achieving a sense of well being, and becoming the best version of ourselves. As with the example of Liam, we tend to see the negative, rather than consider other possibilities for our setbacks. Learning to retrain our brain to be more resilient in the face of challenges -- that is, to bounce back, or perhaps deflect the shrapnel of a negative experience -- is a step towards improved well being and a happier, healthier life. Dr. Morris’s talk offered a plethora of useful tips for training our brains to think more optimally, and was an excellent way to start what I hope will be a successful semester for all of us! To learn more, you can purchase her book: http://www. aapbooks.com/ Mandelbaum House is the Jewish residential college at the University of Sydney. Applications for 2019 are now open. Apply in September and the $100 application fee will be waived! For further information, visit www.mandelbaum.usyd.edu.au
Corbyn to Zionists: Even if you’ve lived here all your life, you don’t get the English DAVID HIRSH At an event in 2013 to discuss the British legacy in Palestine, Jeremy Corbyn said the following: “The other evening we had a meeting in Parliament in which Manuel made an incredibly powerful and passionate and effective speech about the history of Palestine and the rights of the Palestinian people. This was dutifully recorded by the – the thankfully silent Zionists who were in the audience on that occasion and then came up and berated him afterwards for what he had said. They clearly have two problems: one is they don’t want to study history and secondly having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don’t understand English irony either. Manuel does understand English irony and he uses it very very effectively.” I think he meant that Zionists, even if they’ve lived in this country all their lives, aren’t really properly English. They don’t understand what the Englishers are really like. They don’t understand what they mean when they speak in their sophisticated English way. It’s a good thing he said ‘Zionists’ and not ‘Jews’ because otherwise he might be accused of anti-Semitism. [Note. The last sentence was a rather clumsy attempt at irony]. No, you may say, he was talking about people with certain political commitments, he wasn’t talking about Jews as Jews so
this cannot be anti-Semitism. He was only talking about Zionists (in this usage of the word it is understood to mean racists, apologists for human rights abuses, proapartheid and Nazis). But wait. The charge is one of an inability to understand English irony, in spite of having lived among real Englischers all your life. How is that related to a political identity? Well, you say, Zionists aren’t really English because they themselves choose loyalty to a foreign nation rather than to Britain. So it is their own choice not to be properly English; not an anti-Semitic libel at all, but a choice to be disloyal to your own nation and to be loyal to a global and racist nation far away. But no. Corbyn is enjoying the old sneery English view of Jews, and he’s doing it to humiliate the Jews that he’s talking about. They live among us but they’re not really one of us. This actually isn’t Corbyn’s usual political anti-Semitism, although it originates in that well: this is a spill-over into ordinary old-fashioned English anti-Semitism. It is as if the political requirement to humiliate the Zionists just finds its words in the antiSemitic subconscious of the English middle class man. Sometimes people say that hostility to Zionists cannot be anti-Semitic because many Zionists are not Jewish. Imagine if Corbyn had said this about a non-Jewish Zionist. Take for example the well known Zionist, Tony Blair. What sense would these words possibly have made in that context? ‘Blair has lived among us all his life, but still
doesn’t understand English irony.’ Corbyn would never say that because it wouldn’t mean anything. It wouldn’t key into any emotional order; it wouldn’t humiliate Blair, it would just sound weird. Imagine if a politician had said this about a group of black people or a group of Muslims: that in spite of having lived in this country for all their lives, they were unable to understand English irony. Incidentally, Corbyn’s word ‘dutifully’ is interesting too. And his ‘thankfully silent’ comment, before the later ‘berating’ of the speaker. Duty to what? Duty to a foreign power, duty to a global Israel lobby. What were they doing? They were recording a Labour back-bencher making an antiSemitic speech. They are the aggressors, Corbyn is the victim. Anti-Semites are always victims of Jews. Amazing that these un-Britischers could remain silent for so long; amazing that they had the chutzpah to criticise (‘berate’) the speaker afterwards; amazing that they had anything to say since they had studied no history. So, supporter of Jeremy Corbyn. Do you now think that Corbyn sometimes slips into anti-Semitism? Or maybe it doesn’t count, because it’s been weaponised by the Daily Mail? Feel Corbyn’s angry contempt; the transcript doesn’t do it justice. What are you going to say? You’re going to say it’s Fake News, old comments dredged up out of context. You’re going to say that he was talking about Zionists not Jews. You’re going to say it’s all smears
and lies. You’re going to say it’s a one off. You’re going to say you don’t care because Corbyn’s good and I’m bad. You’re going to resist connecting this incident to Corbyn’s claim that Hamas and Hezbollah are dedicated to peace, social justice and political justice; or Corbyn being paid £20,000 for fronting programmes for the anti-Semitic Iranian propaganda mouthpiece Press TV. You won’t connect it to Corbyn’s defence of conspiracist Steven Sizer, saying he was a victim of the Israel lobby. Oh, incidentally, you can see Sizer on the Daily Mail video just behind Corbyn. You remember Steven “9/11 Israel did it” Sizer, don’t you? You won’t connect it to Corbyn’s defence of Raed Salah, the blood libler; to Corbyn’s honouring of the planners of the Munich Olympic murders; to Corbyn’s claim that UK Foreign Office is controlled by the Israel lobby. Need I go on? No, I don’t need to go on. Because no matter how long I go on, it will make no difference. Jeremy Corbyn, like Donald Trump, cannot be harmed by new revelations. Because his supporters are so emotionally and psychologically invested in his basic goodness that there is literally nothing that could emerge that cannot be explained away. The writer is a Senior Lecturer at Goldsmiths University of London and author of ‘Contemporary Left Antisemitism’.
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international
September 2018
A Jabotinsky Zionist Reply To Ronald Lauder MOSHE PHILLIPS
(The author is national director of Herut North America’s US section. Herut is an international movement for Zionist pride and education.) Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, following up his March 18 New York Times (“Israel’s Self-Inflicted Wounds”) https:// www.nytimes.com/2018/03/18/opinion/israel70th-anniversary.html tirade against Israeli settlers and several other targets doubled down with a second op-ed in the Times on August 13 with an attack on Orthodox Jewish influence on Israeli politics (“Israel, This Is Not Who We Are”) https://www.nytimes. com/2018/08/13/opinion/israel-ronald-laudernation-state-law.html. Many opponents of Lauder’s views on Israel have taken pen in hand and pointed out where they believe Lauder went wrong in each of his articles. Other authors attacked Lauder for what they (correctly) saw as his hypocritical claim that “democratic and egalitarian dimensions of the Jewish democratic state are being tested” when he was not elected to his position as president of the WJC in a general election of its membership. He has been president of the organization for over 11 years and it seems he faces no term limits. Let us examine the Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky who perhaps to most, if not nearly all, American Jews was the least recognizable name in the pantheon of important heroes from early Zionist history mentioned in Lauder’s essay. Lauder wrote “Theodor Herzl, Chaim Weizmann, Zeev Jabotinsky, David Ben Gurion and Golda Meir always emphasized the need to combine Jewish nationalism with universal humanism. So now, when Israel’s government
appears to be tarnishing the sacred value of equality, many supporters feel it is turning its back on Jewish heritage, the Zionist ethos and the Israeli spirit.” Thanks are due to Lauder for rightfully ranking Jabotinsky where he belongs among the builders of Zionism and the Jewish State. Jabotinsky (1880-1940) was a Zionist leader, orator, and writer who founded the Jewish Legion during World War One as well as the Haganah self-defense units in Jerusalem in 1920. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s father Benzion served as Jabotinsky’s personal secretary just after the outbreak of World War Two. In the May 15, 1981 edition of the Jewish journal Sh’ma, Professor Daniel J. Elazar, a noted political science scholar, recalled Jabotinsky’s legacy and wrote:
“Would there be serious public commemoration of the 100th birthday of Ze’ev Jabotinsky had it not been for the fact that the Likud won the election in Israel in 1977? Not likely. For thirty years and more, Jabotinsky was one of those non-persons in Israel and the Jewish world…. The ruling Labor Party made him a non-person for the same reasons that it portrayed Menachem Begin and his supporters as uncivilized fascists – it is easier to beat the opposition by painting it as irrelevant, intolerable and non-existent, until it is too strong to be dismissed.” In the intervening elections the next generation of leaders including Ehud Olmert, Benny Begin, Tzipi Livni, Uzi Landau, Dan Meridor and many other central figures in Israel’s political life up until today (and by contrast J Street’s Jeremy Ben-Ami) had a
parent that was an active supporter of Ze’ev Jabotinsky and was involved with the Irgun paramilitary organization his followers created. It can be noted that Rahm Emanuel’s father too was an Irgunist. What Jabotinsky would advocate given today’s current events is often debated in Israel. It is a fair question to ask if Israel would even exist today if it were not for Jabotinsky and the sacrifices of the Irgun he molded and inspired. That question would be impossible to ask, though, if Begin had never won power in 1977. What were Jabotinsky’s vital contributions? His words and ideas animated a generation of young Jews to resist the Nazis, rescue fellow Jews from Hitler’s forces, and fight for the freedom of Israel as soldiers in the Irgun and Stern Group/LEHI. Later, the movement for freedom Soviet Jewry both in the US and inside the USSR itself was led by Jabotinsky Zionists Since 1977 things have fundamentally changed in Israel: not only Menachem Begin’s Likud but also the National Union (HaIhud HaLeumi), Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) parties have all connected themselves directly to the legacy of Jabotinsky as do several smaller parties. No party claims to continue in the tradition of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister or his protege Golda Meir. Their secularism and socialism lost all its chic long ago. Perhaps Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party made the most of invoking his name and attitude (even if that party is the least obvious in terms of its allegiance to Jabotinsky’s ideology) when it described itself as “a national movement with the clear vision to follow in the brave path of
CONTINUED PAGE 14
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14
international
September 2018
Seven principles for maintaining Jewish dialogue JONATHAN SACKS We must work to listen to each other, to forgive each other, and to stick together, as the extended family we are. We recently observed the Fast of Tammuz, and with it begins the period of mourning in the Jewish calendar called the Three Weeks, leading up to the saddest day in the year, the Ninth of Av. Twice Israel suffered defeat and exile. The first — the conquest of the northern kingdom followed a century and a half later by the destruction of the First Temple and the Babylonian exile — was a direct consequence of the division of the kingdom into two after the death of Solomon. The second — defeat at the hands of the Romans and the destruction of the Second Temple — was the result of intense factionalism and internal strife, sinat chinam. Today, across the Jewish world, there remains much internal conflict. When individual Jews or groups of Jews have disagreements, as inevitably happens, we have to find ways to overcome them respectfully, to ensure we continue to thrive as a people. To that end, I have set out below what I regard as seven of the key principles for maintaining Jewish dialogue. I hope some, or all of them, speak to you. PRINCIPLE 1: Keep talking, even when you disagree. The more you talk, the more you are likely to eventually find a way to work together. PRINCIPLE 2: Listen deeply to one another. Hear what your opponent is saying. Listening is profoundly therapeutic. It is also deeply spiritual. The good news about the Jewish people is that we’re among the world’s best
The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem, by David Roberts, 1850. (Wikipedia/ Creative Commons) speakers. The bad news is that we’re among the world’s worst listeners. This has to change. Shema Yisrael, the great command, means, “Listen, Israel.” PRINCIPLE 3: Always be humble and modest by striving to understand the point of view with which you disagree. That was the way of Hillel. It remains the first rule of conflict management. PRINCIPLE 4: Never seek victory. Never ever seek to inflict defeat on your opponents. If you seek to inflict defeat on your opponent, your opponent – such is human psychology
– will seek to retaliate by inflicting defeat on you. The end result will be that even if you win today, you will lose tomorrow, and, in the end, everyone will lose. Don’t think in terms of victory and defeat. Think in terms of what is best for the Jewish people. PRINCIPLE 5: If you show contempt for other Jews, they will show contempt for you. If you show respect for other Jews, they will show respect for you. If you seek respect, give respect. PRINCIPLE 6: Remember that the ultimate basis of Jewish peoplehood is “Kol Yisrael
Why Israel needs the Nation-State law DR. MORDECHAI KEDAR
In order to understand the need for the new Nation-State law, we must understand the challenges to Israel’s existence in the Middle East. Much has been published against the new Israeli Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People. Many, both in Israel and abroad, ask: Why is it necessary? How can it comport with democracy? Where does it leave minorities, particularly Muslim-Arabs, who make up some 20% of the Israeli population? In order to understand the need for the new Nation-State law, we must understand the challenges to Israel’s existence in the Middle East. First of all, there is the religious aspect. According to Islam, Judaism and Christianity are din al-batel (religions of falsehood) while only Islam is din al-haqq (religion of truth). Judaism has been null and void ever since Islam came to the world, so there is no reason to establish a Jewish state. In addition, according to Islam, Jews (and Christians) should live under Islamic rule as dhimmis (“protected as long as they behave according to the rules of Islam”) and “pay the Jizya out of hand while they are utterly subdued” (Koran 9:29). Thus, Jews have no right to a state, army, or police, and should live in a state of perpetual humiliation at the mercy
of Muslims. Next is the national aspect. The fact that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish People is rejected by all of Israel’s Arab neighbors without exception. Consider, for instance, Article 20 of the Palestinian National Charter, which says (with my interpretations in italics): “The Mandate for Palestine, and everything that has been based upon it” (international decisions to establish a Jewish State) “are deemed null and void. Claims of historical or religious ties of Jews with Palestine are incompatible with the facts of history and the true conception of what constitutes statehood” (there is no Jewish history in the Holy Land). “Judaism, being a religion, is not an independent nationality. Nor do Jews constitute a single nation with an identity of its own; they are citizens of the states to which they belong.” (Therefore we Jews should leave our forefathers’ land and go back to Poland [Auschwitz], Germany [Dachau], Iraq, Morocco…) The new law is meant to make it as clear as possible that the Jews are a nation. As the new law states, “The Land of Israel is the historical homeland of the Jewish people in which the State of Israel was established; the State of Israel is the national home of the Jewish people in which it fulfills its natural, cultural, religious and historical right to self-determination; and the right to exercise national self-determination
in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people.” Just as Italy is the nation-state of the Italian people and France is the nation-state of the French people, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish People. There are, nevertheless, Israeli Jews who oppose the Nation-State Law for various reasons. The first is a political reason: Because many on the left side of the political map do not like Benjamin Netanyahu in general, they oppose everything he and his coalition do as a matter of course. The more important reason is what has happened since the 1990s, when Aharon Barak was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Starting in 1992, Barak focused on advancing and shaping Israel’s Constitutional Revolution (a phrase he coined), preferring and advancing human rights at the expense of the Jewish character of the state. The best example of this revolution was what happened with the Arab al-Ard Movement, the aim of which was to abolish Israel’s Jewish nature (i.e., subvert the State of Israel). AlArd tried to run for the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) in 1965 but was rejected by the Supreme Court. Thirty-one years later, in 1996, the Supreme Court under Barak allowed the Balad party to run for Knesset although it had and still has a similar platform to that of al-Ard
arevim zeh bazeh”, “All Jews are responsible for one another”. We may not agree on anything, but we remain a single extended family. If you disagree with a friend, tomorrow he or she may no longer be your friend. But if you disagree with a family member, tomorrow he or she is still part of your family. Being a family is what keeps us together. We don’t need to agree with each other, but we do need to care about each other. PRINCIPLE 7: God chose us as a people. He didn’t choose only the righteous; He chose all of us. It is as a people we stand before God, and it is as a people we stand before the world. The world doesn’t make distinctions, anti-Semites don’t make distinctions. We are united by a covenant of shared memory, shared identity, and shared fate, even if we have differing perspectives on our faith. The Sages said that the Torah was given to make peace in the world. How can we, the Jewish people or the State of Israel, be at peace with the world if we are unable to live at peace with ourselves? Bear this in mind the next time you are tempted to walk away from some group of Jews that you think has offended you. We are each called on to make some effort, some gesture, to listen to one another, to forgive one another, and to stay together as an extended, almost infinitely varied family. That is the only ultimate tikkun for the echoing grief of the Three Weeks that has haunted our history, and reverberates still. Wishing you a tzom kal, an easy fast.
in the 1960s. Israel also has its share of multicultural acolytes who naturally oppose the law. When Israelis see the damage wrought on Europe by multiculturalism, they want to ensure that they are as far removed as possible from this destructive idea. If Europeans are bent on committing cultural suicide, it is of course their prerogative to do so. But Israelis do not wish to lose their national identity, their ancestral homeland, their state, and their culture. The Nation-State Law is meant to ensure that Israel is not sacrificed on the very same altar on which Europe is committing suicide. Dr. Mordechai Kedar is a senior research associate at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. He served for 25 years in IDF military intelligence specializing in Syria, Arab political discourse, Arab mass media, Islamic groups, and Israeli Arabs, and is an expert on the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups. BESA Center Perspectives Papers are published through the generosity of the Greg Rosshandler Family.
A Jabotinsky Zionist Reply To Ronald Lauder FROM PAGE 13 Ze’ev Jabotinsky.” What could be meant by this “brave path?” A strong national defense, national pride, connection to authentic Jewish observance, love of the Land of Israel, and belief in both free markets and modern democratic values. In this limited space it is not possible to elaborate on all of the above. A verse from one of Jabotinsky’s most beloved poems will do much to illustrate just how far Lauder stands apart from Jabotinsky: Two Banks has the Jordan –
This is ours and, that is as well. From the wealth of our land there shall prosper The Arab, the Christian, and the Jew, For our flag is a pure and just one It will illuminate both sides of my Jordan. And what timeless message did Jabotinsky have for Jews who question Jewish uniqueness? Even in poverty a Jew is a prince Whether slave or vagabond beggar You have been created the son of kings Capped with the crown of (King) David. Jabotinsky wrote his greatest novel about
the Biblical champion Samson. In the most well-known passage of the book, Samson declares: “Tell them [the Jewish People] three things in my name, and not two: they must get iron [i.e. armaments]; they must choose a king; and they must learn to laugh.” What Jabotinsky meant in part by “learn to laugh” was the necessary development of confidence on a national level. With rapidly changing Middle East realities and the abuse of self-proclaimed friends as Lauder Israelis may need that message now more than ever. Or do they? After all, smart Israelis know that Lauder’s name won’t ever make it into future
Israeli history textbooks while Jabotinsky’s importance grows every year. Postscript: For readers who want to know more about Jabotinsky one option is to read Lone Wolf: A Two-Volume Biography of Vladimir (Ze’ev) Jabotinsky. Written by Shmuel Katz and published in 1996 it is a twovolume masterful work and is a breathtaking effort. So much information about Jabotinsky and his tremendous impact on Zionism is related that it causes a new appreciation of the man and his ideas to even those who thought they know who he was.
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16
schools
HUG-A-BUB BONDI “Apples dipped in honey we do eat, we ask Hashem to make our New Year sweet.” Ian Charif has come to Hug-a-Bub to blow the Shofar for us and tells us about Rosh Chodesh. As we are in the month of Elul, we are starting to think about the fact that Rosh Hashanah is coming up soon. During the month of Elul we hear the Shofar being blown every morning as a wake -up call to remind us to think about what we have done – both good and bad and to ask Hashem for forgiveness. The call of the Shofar wakes up our minds and bodies to do good deeds. As the children have learnt – it is like an alarm clock. We have also learnt a new song to sing that reminds
us of all the different calls and sounds that the Shofar can make. The children of Hug-a-Bub have been learning about Rosh Hashanah including the meaning behind all the symbols and traditions. The children have been very busy with their art works for Rosh Hashanah and the highlight has been making their own Shofar with the Shofar factory. We also look forward to the day that our Hug-a-Bub Sukkah is built and then we can hang our hand-made decorations inside and then sit inside the Sukkah and enjoy eating our meals with our friends and teachers. Shana Tova U’Metukah and Chag Sameach
JEMS JEMs is in full Yom Tov mode, getting prepared and excited for this special time of year by engaging with the history, taste, smell and special vibe of each of the upcoming Chagim.
September 2018
MOUNT SINAI COLLEGE Mount Sinai College is bringing in the Jewish New Year with lots of ruach and high spirits. In the lead up to the high holidays, we celebrate by displaying all of our festive artwork, sing Hebrew songs, play fun games led by our shaliach and make Shofars with the Shofar Factory. We start each morning, in the month of Elul, with a Year 6 student blowing the Shofar after prayers. Mount Sinai College wishes you and your family a healthy and sweet New Year, and well over the fast. Shana Tova u’Metuka! Shana Tova U’Metukah and Chag Sameach
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MORIAH AND MT ZION EARLY LEARNING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRES AND PRIMARY SCHOOL
EMANUEL SCHOOL
APPLES & HONEY PRESCHOOL
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An Innovative Innovation Centre for Emanuel School EMANUEL SCHOOL
Emanuel School Board members, parents and staff joined The Honourable Matt Thistlethwaite MP, to celebrate the School’s new Innovation Centre and to welcome the School’s Founders. Six of the 14 Founding Board members joined in the festivities, many reacquainting themselves with each other for the first time in many years. Owen Ratner, one of the School’s first Board members commented on how seeing the school grounds and buildings, and catching up with many of those involved in the founding of the School, had brought back lots of wonderful memories. “My feeling was one of great pride in what has been achieved. We planted the seed but those who followed have made the School into what it is today. Congratulations to the Board and the staff for their foresight and application in providing the School with such state-of-the-art facilities. Everyone involved in the School should feel extremely proud.” Over 150 people attended the evening and mezuzah dedication ceremony. President of the School Board, Adam Blackman, acknowledged that it takes hundreds of hours of planning to get a building such as the Innovation Centre to completion. “It also takes the willingness to move beyond what is comfortable and sometimes even logical. The Centre will play a major role in welcoming and developing a generation of thinkers who will graduate to become Astronauts, Scientists, Carpenters, Mathematicians, Chefs, Engineers and dreamers.” The Centre features 3 floors of flexible space, where students are encouraged
to discover, innovate, take risks and think beyond the boundaries. It boasts an Imaginarium and Design Lab, interactive spaces dedicated to experimenting with ‘impossible’ ideas and discovering new ways of thinking, based on the Design Thinking model. The students have access to advanced technology including 3D printers, recording equipment and a Virtual Realty studio. The Food Lab features an industrial-grade kitchen, allowing VET Hospitality students to complete their course on campus. The Year 11 Hospitality students have honed their coffee making skills with a specialised barista course. Principal, Andrew Watt believes that the Innovation Centre will play an important part of the students’ learning journeys for many years to come. “It has been designed to provide attractive, capacious, light-filled learning spaces, with classroom configurations and break-out spaces that will promote group work, collaboration and enable project-based learning and Design Thinking to thrive. “In the Centre, we are seeking to capture a warmer, more relaxed learning environment, that encourages student interaction and the seamless integration of technology. In this space, our teachers are moving around the room as facilitators, promoting critical thinking, curiosity and encouraging play and experimentation, and asking the ‘ungoogleable’ questions!” For further information, please contact: Michelle favero Manager, Marketing and Communications 8383 7330 0499 914 222 mfavero@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au
Dina Koncepolski - Local Hero CREMORNE SYNAGOGUE Dina Koncepolski was recently voted a Local Hero in a campaign sponsored by Westfield Chatswood. Dina is the wife of Cremorne Synagogue’s young Rabbi Chaim Koncepolski, and the Rabbinical couple recently welcomed a fifth child into their family. Dina’s work which earned her one of the prizes as Local Hero was detailed by Westfield in the following words: Dina Koncepolski has been passionate about helping people for as long as she can remember. “I was brought up in an environment where I was encouraged to help and include people as much as possible from a very early age,” she says. She became a birth coach at 22 and has helped women through childbirth. She has also helped to set up two friendship circles, providing support for families of children with special needs. “I’ve always had a very strong sense of community,” says Dina, whose husband, Chaim, is the Rabbi at Cremorne Synagogue. As a mother of five children, people are amazed at the time and energy she has for others. And she is famous for welcoming people into her home to share in her legendary cooking. In 2017 she ran in the City to Surf and raised funds to support couples with fertility issues. Dina is respected for her strength, kindness and calm manner. But she is also known for commanding attention when she talks. She is an important
catalyst for social inclusion and for providing material and emotional support to people facing hardship. One of her passions is the empowerment of women and she organises discussion groups and educational activities specifically designed for women. Dina says she is inspired by the acknowledgement of being voted a Westfield Local Hero. “I wasn’t overly keen on being in the public eye but … it makes me want to continue to do more and to become a better person.” The synagogue will use the Westfield $10,000 Local Heroes grant to fund food for new mothers or people who are sick or elderly and unable to cook for themselves. It will also go towards educational programs and cultural celebrations aimed at women and young families. Westfield presented the award at a ceremony in the Chatswood Shopping Centre and several members of the Cremorne community were also present to applaud Dina’s achievement of which the community is very proud.
Cremorne Community members with Dina & Rabbi Chaim Koncepolski
The Honourable Matt Thistlethwaite MP, helped by Rachel Turtledove, Head Madricha, fixes a mezuzah for the first time.
Rebtizen Dina Fox trys her hand at a virtual reality tour of Jerusalem, aided by Nathanael Clarke, IT Support Technician.
All One Father KolFrom Nidrei – Returning
to our
RABBI MOSHE GUTNICK - KA AUTHORITY Rosh HaShana is not just the New Year for the Jewish People … it is the moment of annual renewal for all of creation! This spiritual window of time encapsulates the conception of the entire world – HaYom Harat Olam. And this momentous reality spans the globe. Given the enormity of this, it is incumbent upon us to pause and collectively reflect. One aspect of my portfolio as Rabbinic Administrator for The Kashrut Authority, involves travelling to manufacturing plants near and far, ascertaining if kosher certification is permitted for a plethora of products. In this capacity, I meet individuals from an array of religious persuasions: monotheistic; atheistic, and even those who are polytheistic. I have walked into the offices of large business owners in China and have found myself faced with an idol representing the Chinese god of prosperity. Before it lies offerings of fresh produce along with burning incense. I have taken the opportunity to try and share our universal beliefs and have read the story (with the help of the ubiquitous googletranslate ) of how Avraham Avinu destroyed the idols of his father. In response, I was told, “Oh well, you have one G-d and we have many!” As a child I used to wonder as to the accuracy of the biblical narrative. Is it possible that everyone besides Avraham believed in idols? I wonder no more. And yet, the more I travel, the more I am privileged to see the validity (first-hand) of some eternal truths about Rosh HaShana. The first revolves around opening one’s eyes to witness and appreciate the vast, extraordinary world we
True Core
inhabit. Some assert that the world as we know it is simply the result of random evolutionary events without guide or creator. I can not accept this. ‘Science’ has simply become an alternate false deity. In the same way as it is impossible to believe that wood and stone contribute to running the universe, I think it just as naïve to be persuaded that mere chance plays a similar role. The second truth I appreciate is that we are all created in the image of G-d. As the Talmud teaches, we all descend from the one human being, Adam, and his partner, Eve. Therefore explains the Talmud, no person has the right to claim that one person’s mother or father is ‘better’ than another because we all descend from the same father and mother. Intriguingly, I have spent time with farmers from the Indonesian villages surrounding Java and also natives of a particular tribe in Papua, who believe they are descendants of Jews who sailed across the Pacific escaping the Spanish Inquisition. I have seen the evidence of the historical oppression by foreigners of the Chinese in China, and the internal oppression of the Chinese by their own government during the “cultural revolution”. I have spent time with people of every race and colour. Everyone is a father, mother, brother or sister looking for just a little naches within their own world. In fact, the more people I meet, the more I become convinced of our eternal teachings of the equality inherent in all humanity. It is Rosh HaShana that teaches us that we are all G-d’s children created in His image. This Rosh HaShana, let us pray for all of humanity. Let all who have breath declare Hashem is Sovereign over all humankind. May He speedily bring the enlightened time when all will recognise His hand in creation and his spirit in every human being. Shana Tova.
Kol Nidrei – Returning to our True Core
RABBI BENJI LEVY hroughout the tumultuous eras of our Jewish existence, anti-Semitic tormentors have accused us of many awful things. One of the most damaging and disturbing accusations was that Jews were deceitful, that they would promise something and then blithely refuse to honor their word. Such accusers would sometimes point to the prayer of Kol Nidrei – a short, solemn and haunting service at the start of Yom Kippur, in which the entire congregation collectively annuls any vows that they had made during that year – as evidence that the duplicitous Jews treat their promises as ephemeral and expendable. That the Kol Nidrei annulment only applies to promises undertaken towards God, not towards other people, is a fact that these slanderous accusers conveniently missed. Nonetheless, the question remains. Every Yom Kippur night, millions of Jews around the world make their way to their local shule, ready for a day of intense prayer, physical withdrawal and profound introspection. Puzzlingly, however, we begin the most introspective day of the entire Jewish calendar with a dry legal formula (albeit beautifully chanted), declaring all of our promises to be null and void. To be sure, there are historical reasons for this practice: for many centuries, countless Jews across the globe were forced to practice their Judaism in secret, and would have to begin their clandestine, dangerous Yom Kippur services by declaring
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that their public allegiance to other religions was false. This historical legacy alone is powerful enough to make us pause for thought. But in our day, where we live as proud, free Jews, under full protection of the law, what kind of public promises do we feel compelled to annul? The answer, sadly, is ‘too many’. Throughout our daily lives, we all swear implicit allegiance to a whole host of foreign ideas and concepts that do not correlate with who we truly are. We bow before the gods of financial success, social popularity, or physical perfection. Far too often, these allegiances push us to mistakenly prioritize the urgent over the important, the fashionable over the faithful, and the ephemeral over the eternal. Such loyalties envelope us in a robe of impeccable respectability but obscure the simple beauty of our true inner selves. Yom Kippur is the antidote to all of this. On Yom Kippur, we are ourselves. We eat no food, disconnect from technology, wear no makeup, attend no social events and dress in basic white. To achieve this purity, we must first disavow (even if only temporarily) all of our outside pressures and influences, stating clearly that our essence remains loyal to those elements of life which are non-negotiable: our values of faith, truth, justice and love. Kol Nidrei is a crucial step in this act of Teshuva, of returning to our untarnished essence. It is the moment where we stand exposed and vulnerable in front of God, taking stock of our choices and actions while asking Him to judge us favorably. This inner return to our true core is the what this holy day is about – and it is this that will, please God, secure us blessing in the year and a year of blessing.
Three Jewish Programs at ONE Jewish School MASADA COLLEGE “In line with the foundation of Masada College HIVE of Potential, which nurtures happiness, inclusion, values and edge, we will be offering two new Jewish learning programs in the Senior School for 2019,” says Acting College Principal Martin Tait. “While Jewish Life, our fundamental, core program, will continue to offer our students inspiration, knowledge and of course, a love for Israel, our additional programs - the Torah Stream and Torah High - will also be on offer.” “The Torah Stream will be a continuation of the current offering in the Junior School,” says Torah Stream coordinator, Rabbi Barak Cohen. Students will be integrated into secular studies and will have additional Jewish Studies before school. The curriculum is designed to further their textual learning skills as well as build on the religious philosophies taught in the Junior School Torah Stream. “The Torah High, which is an extension of the successful implementation of the Torah Stream, will run separately for both secular and religious studies. Students will have the opportunity to join in with the rest of the year group for certain
extra-curricular activities, school ceremonies and assemblies. Their curriculum will also further their textual learning skills but will have more hours dedicated to Jewish learning than the Torah Stream,” says Rabbi Cohen. “Masada College remains committed to excellence in Jewish Life and in all three of these Jewish learning programs,” says Mrs. Carolyn Steinman, Head of Jewish Life ELC to Year 12. “Our team is excited to be extending the Masada College offerings and we look forward to welcoming new students for 2019 and the years to come.” “Adding these programs to our curriculum is part of our inclusive Jewish culture and a core value of the H.I.V.E.,” says Mr. Tait. “We believe that these programs further the needs of our community while providing our students with the educational edge that they need for the future.” To find out more about Jewish Life, The Torah Stream or the Torah High, go to masada.nsw.edu.au or call 9449 3744.
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Artist’s impression
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Kesser Torah’s First Alumni Event
KESSER TORAH COLLEGE Last Sunday night, KTC hosted its first official alumni event, as part of the Ignite the Spark Within campaign. Over three hundred past students and teachers attended the event, where they were able to catch up and reminisce with old friends, peers and colleagues. There were a large mix of past students, some who graduated from the very first primary classes at Yeshiva College, and others who graduated from Kesser Torah in the last five years. Those present had the opportunity to hear encouraging words about the school’s future from Mr Steinman, as well as a trip down memory lane from Rabbi Lieder, a beloved
Chana Markovitz, Ilana Ludwig
teacher and headmaster of Yeshiva for many years. There was a video presentation from teachers who were unable to be there and alumnus Jeremy Kinstlinger shared his memories and introduced the fundraiser “ignite the spark within” that had just kicked off. Thank you to every single person who made the effort to come from near and far. The room was literally vibrating with amazing energy as we all reconnected with familiar faces and warm memories! We look forward to more alumni events in the future, including a reunion in Israel for those who have made Aliyah in the coming months.
Devorah Markovitz, Shoshana Kastel, Tal Aronstam, Leah Behar
September 2018
State of the art - Emanuel Woollahra Preschool EMANUEL WOOLLAHRA PRESCHOOL Emanuel Woollahra Preschool has moved back into their state of the art new preschool on the original site in Woods Avenue, Woollahra. We have been renovating our old preschool which has been a planned work in progress for many years , but finally in June 2016 , we started to renovate our beautiful old preschool, which was originally known as The Tempe Emanual Woollahra Preschool (TEWK) which opened in 1954 and later became the Emanuel Woollahra Preschool (EWP ). We operate as a pluralist preschool and welcome anybody and everybody into our wonderful warm and fuzzy centre provided they are happy to follow the traditional Jewish calendar year. We have a fabulous Hebrew programme combined with regular visits and input from the Rabbis at the Emanuel Synagogue. We are a traditional Jewish centre which offers so many wonderful opportunities for our little people including drama, music,
yoga, meditation, garden club, nature club and our incredible bush kinder programme. As part of our philosophy, we believe that children suffer from nature deficit disorder so we have a strong objective to take our children into nature where they learn to climb trees, build cubby houses and problem solve using the bush and nature as their tools. Furthermore an important part of our philosophy is when we cant get the children to nature we bring the nature to our children. With all this and so much more built into our very unique programme we are able to offer a play-based philosophy, but still maintain the “old school” traditional intentional teaching mixed together with the very beneficial play-based form of learning. On Sunday the 16 September, we will be celebrating the opening of our newly built preschool, and we welcome al who are connected past and present to EWP. Please email Fiona on director@emanulepreschool. com.au . We would love you to join us between 3 pm and 5 pm to mark this wonderful event.
Dudi Liebermann, Rabbi Liebermann, Rabbi Lieder, Levi Milecki
Shana Tova The Board of Management, Rabbi David Rogut OAM, Staff & Residents of Montefiore wish you & your family L’shanah Tovah Tikatevu and well over the Fast.
www.cherylthesleepcoach.com.au 1800 978 711
M O N T E F I O R E .O RG . AU
September 2018
Friendship Walk Almost 1,000 people braved the grey skies to gather at Vaucluse Primary school in support of young people with disabilities. Young families, teenagers and grandparents walked 2.5 kilometres to raise funds and awareness to move the community to be more inclusive.
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Thankfully, the sun came out for the after party featuring Max and Chaim of DJ Solutions, activities with BUtiful, Live Love Learn, Max the Rubik Cube Guy, facepainting, jumping castles, a foam pit, the Rose Bay Police and North Bondi Fire Engine and a sausage sizzle.
Mount Sinai Sefer Torah Written entirely in Hebrew, a Sefer Torah contains 304,805 letters, all of which must be duplicated by a trained scriber. In an effort which may take as long as approximately one and a half years, Mount Sinai College was honoured to purchase and scribe the word “WISDOM” into the Maroubra Synagogue’s new Sefer Torah. The word wisdom, in Hebrew ‘chochmah’,
has such a strong meaning for the College, as not only do we want our children to succeed in academia, but to also give back to the community and live a fulfilled a meaningful life. Our Mount Sinai choir was present on the day, in full voice and some of our students got up close and personal with the Torah!
Eitan Rubinstein and his Team would like to thank you for your continued support and wishes you and your families a L’Shana Tova Umetukah
Eitan Rubinstein 0401 37 37 31
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A new Torah scroll for Maroubra Synagogue RABBI YOSSI FRIEDMAN With the dedication of a new Torah scroll a new chapter has been written into the history book of the Kingsford Maroubra Jewish community. Each and every scroll has a story behind it. Some of our scrolls were transported to this country by European Jews making their way to freedom, to rebuild their shattered lives. It was these Jews, these survivors, who founded our community and last week we heard a number of their stories at our 70th anniversary celebrations. Today, our Torah also contains a story. It’s writing was commissioned as a moving testimony to the commitment and dedication exemplified by the Bonert, Aaron and Kessler families and their love for their family and community. The very last commandment in the Torah is to write a Torah scroll. Rabbenu Asher (13th Century, Toldeo, Spain) explains that the main intent of the commandment is to enable the study of Torah. Before the printing press was invented the primary text was the scroll itself, unlike today, where the scroll is used almost exclusively for reading during prayer services. Rabbenu Asher also rules that one who writes a single letter in the scroll fulfils
the requirement of writing a scroll. This is because the presence of every single letter is what renders a scroll Kosher and valid. This new scroll was underwritten by the Aaron and Kessler families and also by contributions from hundreds of people of our community who have purchased words and letters. This Torah has indeed brought our community together, a fitting tribute, to those that it was written to honour. The Jewish nation has existed as a people for well over three millennia. Yet since the destruction of Solomon’s Temple some 2500 years ago until the foundation of the State of Israel, the Jewish people have not had a majority of the nation in one region. Scholars and historians are hard pressed to explain the survival of our people to this day. Many nations and civilisations have enjoyed their time in the limelight, yet most of them are now long gone, relegated to a few pages in history books. Astonishingly though, the Jews have retained a culture and identity despite having had no homeland, no physical roots, for well over 2 millennia. What is the secret of this survival? For Jews the answer is very simple. The lifeline of a Jew, the core of a Jew’s identity, stems from the shared mission outlined in the Torah to which every Jew is bound. The
study of the Torah, its transmission from one generation to the next, pored over with love and joy, is what has given fortitude and provided a sense of meaning and belonging to Jews for all of these centuries. You can harm a Jew, you can take away everything that Jew possesses, but you can’t take away what a Jew knows and believes in. The answer to our survival is this Torah. Our task from here is to keep these words living; to ensure that THIS Torah, commissioned as a testament to the vitality of Judaism here in our community, is not left behind this curtain, visited only on weekends and festivals. This Torah needs to be carried with us always, reflected not only in our lives at home but in the outside world as well. I wish to stress the historic significance of this moment. It is well known that one of the first actions taken by the Nazis upon entrance to a city was the confiscation of Torah scrolls and Jewish books for desecration in the city streets and squares. During this tragic period in our history, millions of Jewish souls and thousands of Torah scrolls were lost to our nation. By dedicating a new Torah into our community, we are returning a scroll to our people and strengthening our nation. There is nothing more powerful than that.
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Rosh Hashanah with Yotam Ottolenghi Roasted chicken with Jerusalem artichoke and lemon Ingredients 450g Jerusalem artichokes, peeled and cut into 6 lengthways (1.5cm thick wedges) 3tbsp lemon juice 8 chicken thighs, on the bone with the skin, or a medium whole chicken divided into 4 12 banana shallots, peeled and halved lengthways 12 large garlic cloves, sliced 1 medium lemon, cut in half lengthways and then into very fine slices 1tsp saffron threads 50ml olive oil 150ml cold water 1½tbsp of pink peppercorns, slightly crushed 10g fresh thyme leaves 40g tarragon leaves, chopped Method Place the Jerusalem artichokes in a medium saucepan, cover with plenty of
water and add half the lemon juice. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10-20 minutes, until tender but not soft. Drain and leave to cool. In a large mixing bowl, combine the artichokes and all the remaining ingredients, excluding the remaining lemon juice and half of the tarragon. Add 2tsp salt and ½tsp black pepper. Use your hands to mix everything together thoroughly. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge overnight, or for at least 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 240˚C/ 475˚F/Gas 9. Arrange the chicken pieces, skin side up, in the centre of a roasting tin and spread the remaining ingredients around the chicken. Roast for 30 minutes. Cover the tin with foil and cook for a further 15 minutes. At this point, the chicken should be completely cooked. Remove from the oven and add the reserved tarragon and lemon juice. Stir well, taste and add more salt if needed. Serve at once Serves 4
Kol Nidrei – Returning to our True Core
Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Fresh Figs Ingredients 4 small sweet potatoes (2 1/4 lb / 1 kg in total) 5 tbsp olive oil scant 3 tbsp / 40 ml balsamic vinegar (you can use a commercial rather than a premium aged grade) 1 1/2 tbsp / 20 g superfine sugar 12 green onions, halved lengthwise and cut into 1 1/2-in / 4cm segments 1 red chile, thinly sliced 6 ripe figs (8 1/2 oz / 240 g in total), quartered 5 oz / 150 g soft goat’s milk cheese (optional) Maldon sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Method Preheat the oven to 475°F / 240°C. Wash the sweet potatoes, halve them lengthwise, and then cut each half again similarly into 3 long wedges. Mix with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt, and some black pepper. Spread the
wedges out, skin side down, on a baking sheet and cook for about 25 minutes, until soft but not mushy. Remove from the oven and leave to cool down. To make the balsamic reduction, place the balsamic vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat and simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, until it thickens. Be sure to remove the pan from the heat when the vinegar is still runnier than honey; it will continue to thicken as it cools. Stir in a drop of water before serving if it does become too thick to drizzle. Arrange the sweet potatoes on a serving platter. Heat the remaining oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the green onions and chile. Fry for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often to make sure not to burn the chile. Spoon the oil, onions, and chile over the sweet potatoes. Dot the figs among the wedges and then drizzle over the balsamic reduction. Serve at room temperature. Crumble the cheese over the top, if using.
Extracted from Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. Photography: Jonathan Lovekin.
Ottolenghi SIMPLE, by the inimitable Yotam Ottolenghi OTTOLENGHI Yotam’s award-winning recipes are always a celebration: an unforgettable combination of abundance, taste and surprise. Ottolenghi SIMPLE is no different. Bursting with colourful photography by Jonathan Lovekin and playful design, this cookbook has over 130 brand-new dishes that contain all the inventive elements and flavour combinations that Ottolenghi is loved for, but with minimal hassle for maximum joy. Every person cooks differently. Some
find baking easy, others crumble at the thought. While some love to stand over the pot watching and stirring, others want to place a casserole in the oven and walk away. Here are Yotam’s standout recipes that will suit whatever type of cooking you find easy. Yotam and his team have devised a straightforward system that allows you to work out what sort of ‘simple cook’ you are, in order to cook the recipes that are right for you. Also included are SIMPLE meal suggestions from mid-week suppers to weekend feasts with the number of
ways in which the 130 recipes can be combined to make various different meals covering a range of occasions (weekend brunch; Summer vegetarian feast; tapas feast; Middle Eastern Feast or mid-week dinner) depending on the season. Yotam also includes his top 10 ingredients – ingredients he relies on in the kitchen and will keep championing until they become our ‘everyday’ ingredients. Ottolenghi SIMPLE is released in Australia 6 September, and the RRP has just changed from $55 to $49.99.
Tashlich, the Symbolic Casting Off of Sins A Rosh Hashanah ritual for the whole family.
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Jews traditionally proceed to a body of running water, preferably one containing fish, and symbolically cast off their sins. The Tashlich ceremony includes reading the source passage for the practice, the last verses from the prophet Micah (7:19), “He will take us back in love; He will cover up our iniquities. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Selections from Psalms, particularly Psalm 118 and Psalm 130, along with supplications and a kabbalistic prayer hoping God will treat Israel with mercy, are parts of Tashlich in various communities. History of Tashlich The custom developed around the 13th century and became widespread despite objections from rabbis who feared superstitious people would believe that tashlich, rather than the concerted effort of teshuvah, had the power to change their lives. Religious leaders were particularly opposed to the practice of tossing bread crumbs, representing sins, into the water, and even shaking one’s garments to loosen any evil clinging to them was discouraged. Superstitious rites most likely did influence ceremony. Primitive people believed that the best way to win favor from evil spirits living in waterways was to give them gifts. Some peoples, including the Babylonian Jews, sent “sin‑filled” containers out into the water. (The Talmud describes the practice of growing beans or peas for two or three weeks prior to the new year in a woven basket for each child in a family. In an early variation of the Yom Kippur kaparot ritual, the basket, representing the child, was swung around the head seven times and then flung into the water.) The Symbolism of Water To make the practice symbolic rather than superstitious, the rabbis gave it ethical meaning. Through Midrash, they connected the water with the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. When Abraham was on his way to sacrifice Isaac, they said, Satan (which could be understood as the voice inside Abraham
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telling him not to kill his beloved son) tried to stop him. When Abraham refused to heed his voice, Satan became a raging river blocking Abraham’s way. Abraham proceeded nevertheless. When the water reached his neck and he called out for God’s help, the waters immediately subsided. Water was also seen as symbolic of the creation of the world and of all life. Kings of Israel were crowned near springs, suggesting continuity, like the King of Kings’ unending sovereignty. Since the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel each received revelation near a body of water, it was seen as a place to find God’s presence. As the element of purification, water also represents the opportunity to cleanse the body and soul and take a new course in our lives. (Later rabbis continued to protest against the ritual, on grounds that it encouraged new sins by creating a social situation where people could gossip and men and women mingle, as Isaac Bashevis Singer’s story “Tashlich” illustrates.) Although the rabbis preferred that Tashlich be done at a body of water containing fish (man cannot escape God’s judgment any more than fish can escape being caught in a net; we are just as likely to be ensnared and trapped at any moment as is a fish), since this is, after all, a symbolic ceremony, any body of water will do, even water running out of a hose or a faucet. If the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, Ashkenazi Jews [Jews of European descent] do Tashlich on the second day (so as not to carry prayer books to the water, which would violate Sabbath laws). Sephardic Jews [Jews of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent] perform the ritual even on the Sabbath [as do a number of liberal Jews]. The ceremony can take place any time during the holiday season through Hoshanah Rabbah at the end of Sukkot.
Rosh Hashanah 2018 Kol Nidrei – Returning
to our True Core
RABBI DR BENJAMIN ELTON, THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE he signature mitzvah of Rosh Hashana is to hear the sound of the shofar. We come to shule, we stand, we hear to the blessing, we fall silent and we listen intently to the shofar blasts. But the Mishna, the most basic text of Rabbinic law presents us with a peculiar case: If someone was passing behind a synagogue, or lived in a house adjacent to a synagogue, and heard the sound of the shofar, if he had intention to fulfil the commandment of hearing the shofa , he has fulfilled his obligation, but if he does not have that intention, he has not fulfilled his obligation. Even though this one heard and that one heard, this one had intention and therefore fulfilled his obligation, and that one did not have intention, and therefore he did not fulfil his obligation. This rather far-fetched scenario, is the sort of discussion which, if understood superficially, gives the Rabbis a reputation for obscurity and hair splitting. In fact, this case study is the Mishna’s way of establishing a fundamental principle. In order to fulfil this, or any other mitzvah, a person has to act consciously and intentionally. It is not enough to hear the shofar accidentally, and then say after the fact that I fulfilled the mitzvah. There has to be conscious mental involvement; the performance of mitzvot cannot be a purely passive activity. In the case of the shofar it is easy to understand why it is necessary to listen
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consciously and with intention, but this is not just a local and specific concept. It applies across the board, to all mitzvot, and that is because of the fundamental nature of mitzvot themselves. Mitzvot require intention, because the entire purpose of mitzvot is to promote intention. In a world in which every force seems determined to drive out conscious thought and place us on permanent autopilot, mitzvot were given to force us, to enable us, to stop and think. The most distinctive feature of human activity in the Western World today is men, women and children walking along the road, eyes down, phone in their hands, staring at the screen, oblivious to anything and everything around them, casually walking in front of cars, articulated lorries, steam rollers, whatever happens to be moving. Mitzvot are the antidote to the unintentional life, of drifting along without any real thought, direction or even awareness. By giving us mitzvot, the Torah is directing us towards a more intentional existence, which is the key to a life of meaning and purpose. What could we achieve for ourselves, our families and our community if we lived with greater intentionality? How many relationships would be better maintained and how much further would the limited time we have, take us? Aristotle taught that, ‘excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternative – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.’ Let’s make the coming year one of choice, and not of chance, so we can all fulfil our destinities, and let’s allow the mitzvot of our holy Torah to help us do that.
Excerpted from Celebrate!: The Complete Jewish Holidays Handbook
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rosh hashanah
September 2018
r e n r o C v o T m o Y Kids Decorate the Sukkah
Help the Buzzy Bee get to the Rosh Hashanah table
Rosh Hashanah Maze
Yom Tov Word Search Sukkah Shofar Honey Yom Kippur Machzor Fast Forgiveness Tallis New Year Torah Family
s a a n a z q a c c u j a c
u c s e l s e w b v i k l v
k s h w s y l g f a
k e o y d o k h b a b i
a s f e f o u y t p s i o l r y n e
h d a a g k e d f u h t u f
s a r r b i w z b j t b c o
f q d s n p b w t c t a a r
g z h e j p a h o n e y b g
How many apples can you find?
j a o t o u s a r u o t n i
k t l a k r t s a y k w t v
b y o y c c r a h a l j a e
n u u i o h c x l z a u y n
l h o n e y z y y l n c h e
k o p o o f b o u a i a t s
x s w p l v j u r h o s o s
September 2018
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lifestyle
Seeing double on the big screen: JIFF announces program launch screenings The Jewish International Film Festival (24 October – 21 November) will officially launch its program with the Australian Premiere of The Twinning Reaction on Sunday 23 September. Tickets are on sale now to the thrilling exposé on the tragically failed 1960’s experiment separating twins at birth, popularised by Sundance Special Jury Prize winner Three Identical Strangers. The Sydney and Melbourne screenings will offer audiences the first look at the worldclass cinematic gems screening in October and November. Full program tickets go on sale Monday 24 September. “The Festival is thrilled to launch its full program this year with these special twin preview screenings,” said Jewish International Film Festival Artistic Director, Eddie Tamir. “The Twinning Reaction is the
story behind the story, of the hugely popular documentary Three Identical Strangers, both born from the same story but ending up at very different conclusions - much like the films subjects themselves.” “The film gives an excellent taste of the vibrant selection of over 60 films from 23 countries in this year’s program, which offer fascinating insights into global Jewish culture.” The enthralling documentary examines not only several identical Jewish twins and triplets secretly torn apart at infancy, but the scientists behind the infamous experiment themselves. From their touching re-union stories to their splintered endings, director Lori Shinseki contemplates human destiny, and the ever-looming question of Nature versus Nurture.
2018 Jewish International Film Festival Program Launch: MELBOURNE Sunday 23 September, 2pm: Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick SYDNEY Sunday 23 September, 2pm: Event Cinemas Bondi Junction 2018 Jewish International Film Festival screening dates: MELBOURNE 24 October – 21 November: Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick 25 October – 21 November : Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn
8 November – 18 November: Cameo Cinemas, Belgrave SYDNEY 23 October – 21 November: Event Cinemas Bondi Junction 10 November – 21 November: Roseville Cinemas, Roseville BRISBANE 8 November – 18 November: New Farm Cinemas, New Farm CANBERRA 1 November – 11 November: Dendy Cinemas, Canberra PERTH 7 November – 18 November: Greater Union Cinemas, Morley
Israeli Eco-Sculpture Artist Nirit Levav Packer Opens Flagship Gallery In Jaffa, Israel Levav Packer’s Namesake Gallery To Showcase Celebrated Eco- Design Sculptures From the Artist’s “From Within” and “Unchained” Collections, Among Other Works, in a Stunning, Ottoman-Era Building Multidisciplinary artist and renowned eco-design sculpturist Nirit Levav Packer unveiled her new flagship gallery in the vibrant and historic Jaffa flea market, showcasing dozens of large-scale sculptures comprised of recycled materials (bicycle parts, metal scraps and unwanted, metallic rubble) along with more accessible, green-design sculptures and objects that will set the stage for the artist’s first-ever public gallery. The Nirit Levav Packer Gallery will boast 400-square-meters of raw-yet-refined exhibition spaces in a historic, Ottomanera building that has been restored to its original splendor. The gallery will open with a retrospective exhibition of large-scale, signature sculptures by Levav Packer from her “From Within” and “Unchained” exhibitions, which originally premiered in Israel in 2017. The “From Within” series presents largescale sculptures of pregnant women that represent the complexities of motherhood in the 21st- century, and enveloping the several stages for pregnancy, from fertility to birth. Levav Packer’s inanimate sculptures exude
sensitivity and raw emotion, expressing the connection between pain and femininity. Chains, gears, twig and springs, valves and other materials, are welded together in order to symbolize the new, complex woman: the strong woman of the 21st-century. Works from Levav Packer’s “Unchained” exhibition showcase the artist’s early inspirations from accidentally discovering a box of metallic bicycle chains. The series focuses upon sculptures of dogs ranging in size, and made solely of a vast array of metal chains. Within this series, Levav Packer champions the use of working with rough, industrial materials to create a dialogue between the hidden flexibility, tenderness, and versatile range of movement they possess. These installations illustrate Levav Packer’s ability to humanize and instill delicacy and softness into hard, cold metal. Levav Packer merges her femininity with the masculine power within her, as well as her complexity and philosophy to create the art in her new flagship gallery. For more information about Nirit Levav Packer and Nirit Levav Packer Gallery, visit www.niritlevav.com. To contact the gallery or schedule a visitation appointment, contact, gallery@niritlevav.com or Uri Packer, +972-544-777-454.
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September 2018
Precious Objects ABC COMPASS Compass presents Precious Objects, a powerful documentary where Holocaust survivors tell their stories through an object they managed to keep from that time. When survivors hold up their object to the camera and tell the story behind it, the object is no longer just a blanket, a jacket, a photo. It becomes almost sacred while still being tangible evidence of lived experience. ‘What we’re really doing is taking something very ordinary, very humble and giving it the respect that we believe it deserves”. Roslyn Sugarman, Head curator, Sydney Jewish Museum In Precious Objects six survivors introduce the ‘object’ they have donated to the collection at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Olga holds the blanket thrown at her as she lay in the mud, half dead on the day Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated. Olga kept this blanket and years later donated it to the Jewish museum. It held a shocking secret that was only revealed when it was sent to a laboratory for testing. “No I wasn’t shocked, I knew it was from human hair. The blanket was woven in Auschwitz by inmates for the SS people... the hair which was shaven from us was from living human beings” Olga Horak, Survivor George was twelve when WW2 broke out. He donated his striped concentration camp jacket to the museum. As he holds it in his
lap, he marvels at its size. “The jacket is so small that I wouldn’t probably be able to cover half of my body” George Grojnowski, Survivor Jacqueline is a child survivor. Throughout the war, she and her brother Charlie were hidden in orphanages on the French border. Jacqueline donated a boat her father – who did not survive -made for Charlie. “We didn’t know what was going on in the world. We thought it was just men fighting each other but we had no idea what Hitler was doing to the Jewish people” Jacqueline Dale, Survivor Not all the survivors we meet have an object from their time in the camps. Yvonne survived Auschwitz but had nothing to bring out with her. When the curators asked if she would like to make a donation, she chose something given to her from the safety of her new home in Australia. “I told Ros that I have got that dish from Woollies which was our wedding present. It must have cost 2 pounds, maybe not even. And what it means to me, how I looked after it all these years how meaningful it is” Yvonne Engleman, Survivor These are just some of the stories told through the objects of the survivors in this compelling and uplifting story. Yvonne’s last words say it all, ‘Whatever Hitler had in mind, he didn’t succeed.’ Website:http://abc.net.au/compass Twitter:http://twitter.com/ABCcompass hashtag #ABCcompass
Sumptuous Big-Screen Soapie CRAZY RICH ASIANS (M) ALEX FIRST A guilty pleasure. That is what it felt like to watch this sumptuous big screen soapie. Based upon the worldwide bestseller by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians is a contemporary romantic comedy that takes a fun and engaging look at what can happen when young love collides with old money. The story follows New York economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she accompanies her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. Not only is he the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families, but also one of its most sought-after bachelors. Being on Nick’s arm puts a target on Rachel’s back, with jealous socialites and, worse, Nick’s own disapproving mother (Michelle Yeoh) taking aim. In the case of the latter, she is of the firm opinion that this modern American girl will never measure up. It quickly becomes clear that the only
thing crazier than love is family, but Rachel proves to be no pushover. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the screenplay is by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim. Crazy Rich Asians features the first all-Asian ensemble in a contemporary Hollywood movie in a quarter of a century. Although set primarily in Singapore – and doesn’t the place look absolutely magnificent, so much so that you feel you just have to visit – the story mines humour from the idiosyncrasies of one family in a way that people everywhere can relate. The production values in the film are first
rate. The production designer is Nelson Coates and director of photography Vanja Černjul. Chu and Young, as channelled by Wu and Golding, certainly make for an attractive and endearing couple. Around them though there is not only crazy, but zany and it is these larger than life characters that help make the picture what it is. More specifically, I am talking about Wu’s over the top girlfriend and her girlfriend’s family. The look and feel of the picture is
ostentatious, in keeping with the theme. It has sass … attitude and keeps on keeping on, in other words its pacing is spot on to keep you interested and entertained throughout. Nothing deep and meaningful here, pure popcorn fare, but this is a deluxe helping that is so good you can’t possibly let a morsel go to waste before you devour the lot. Crazy Rich Asians deserves to do the great business that it will undoubtedly do. Rated M, it scores a 7½ out of 10.
lifestyle
September 2018
SHIR MADNESS - JEWISH WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL FOR SYDNEY
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SHIR MADNESS
SHIR MADNESS returns to Sydney celebrating the Jewish contribution to music with 11 hours of joyous, funny, soulful & rocking performances of every imaginable kind. 25 acts will play on multiple, concurrent stages and a single ticket covers all acts, all day. There’s a special kids’ concert too, plus artisan stalls and demonstrations, kosher food and drink… and much schmoozing! Headlining the festival is thrilling New York ‘Jewgrass’ band Nefesh Mountain (“where Bluegrass and Jewish traditions meet… and fall in love!”). Critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone and Billboard magazine, Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg together with their band are pioneers of a transcendent new genre – fusing the apparently disparate worlds of American Appalachian and Jewish traditions! Refreshingly eclectic, wildly spiritual. Super-popular Ilan Kidron and Glass crossover from jazz to pop and world music: Paris to New Orleans to Rio and beyond! Arguably Australia’s greatest contemporary composer, Elena Kats-Chernin, will play some of her most popular music and tell the stories around it from behind the keyboard. Melbourne musical comedian Jude Perl presents her catchy and hilarious satire, while Byron-based Temple of Song and multi-instrumentalist Shai Shriki marry
music and spirit, leading a singing circle that weaves prayers, original texts and compositions in a total soulful musical experience that will have everyone singing! Pianist Simon Tedeschi and violist Roger Benedict play the Romantic ‘hits’ of Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninov and Jewish-Viennese WWII refugee Hans Gal. Also featured are two NY-based Aussie musicians, Sephardic music doyen George Mordecai with “Baghdad to Bondi” featuring the most exotic of Eastern musicians and their instruments; and cabaret star and Helpmann nominee Alexis Fishman with her tribute to Amy Winehouse “Amy: Reimagined”. Also appearing in the festival are Alma Zygier Quartet, Bonnie Love, Chelsea Berman, Dafka, Philip Foxman Band (ex
Supernaut!), Graeme Pillemer, Harmony of the Angels, Hello Tut Tut, Jonno Zilber, Leonie Cohen & Nicky Crayson, Medicine Voice, On the Stoop, Phia, Raduga Trio, Tiptoe Giants and Keppie Coutts’ ‘swampfolk operetta’ “The Mysteries of Mad River”. Plus Song of Songs is returning as the final set of the night, featuring the cream of Australia’s musical community singing one of their favourite songs by a Jewish composer: Glenn Shorrock, Diesel, Dami Im, Richard Clapton, Josh Pyke, Emma Pask & Nadav Kahn!! Festival Director Gary Holzman said he was excited to be holding this year’s festival at the newly renovated Emanuel Synagogue campus. “For the first time Shir Madness audiences will be able to experience all the incredible
talent on offer in fully seated comfort! Our program this year will once again feature an astonishing variety of top class local, interstate and international acts covering all musical genres from classical to klezmer, jazz to Jewish music and cabaret to contemporary pop. It will be amazing!” Sunday 7 October from 11am to 10pm Emanuel Synagogue, 7 Ocean Street Woollahra Tickets: Adult General Admission $75 pre-booked $85 on the day | $45 conc. | Children under 12 free VIP tickets $175 (inc. reserved seating & VIP Room, free food & drink) Bookings and more information: www.shirmadness.com
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SIMON TEDESCHI with ROGER BENEDICT ALEXIS FISHMAN (US) • TEMPLE of SONG (Byron Bay) JUDE PERL (Melb) BAGHDAD TO BONDI (featuring GEORGE MORDECAI) • and many more
SONG OF SONGS FINALE INCLUDING:
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DAVID LOWY
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Flexibility occasionaly is ok!
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THE SLEEP COACH CHERYL FINGLESON Another year has passed and Rosh Hashanah is around the corner, the question is ‘Do we take our baby/ toddler with us to share this special time with family and friends?’ One of the key elements in ensuring a happy, healthy sleep routine for you and your children is a little flexibility (we all know how life can throw a spanner in the works after all!) – but could too much flexibility be a bad thing? Babies and toddlers thrive on sleep routine, it offers them a safe, reliable and consistent schedule that ushers in the close to a big day and signals the beginning of a whole new day of adventures. However; research in the field, coupled with my client’s experience, has proven that consistency is the key to a happy sleep routine for your children and that too much flexibility can actually lead to disturbed sleeping patterns. Of course, absolute rigidity is a stark outlook: There will be times when you have no choice and must accept an invite, we need these breaks in the routine to keep us connected and fulfilled, and that is ok. But if continual interruptions to your child’s bedtime become a regular occurrence, the sleep cycle can become a nightmare! If your child is adaptable and fairly content when their routine is disrupted there is no problem. There is the other extreme when a child simply cannot adjust and can become irritable requiring extra care to get through the night so whatever your baby or toddler is like, you put your best foot forward and have yourselves a good time when you are out. One night will not spoil a good routine, my advice is the very next day and night you get back on track with good naps and a good bedtime routine. An inconsistent schedule can lead to
a variety of problems. Feeding at 10am one day and 1pm the next can trigger restlessness in your baby, especially if he/ she has a sensitive temperament – and likewise, napping during lunchtime one day but not the next can lead to agitated night time patterns, throwing your baby’s established routine out for the next couple of days! But does this mean that everyday, day in day out, you have to follow the same pattern? Of course not! (Phew!). Flexibility in your baby’s routine is a good thing in small doses; it helps them to adjust to the ever-changing world around them and can introduce them to new and exciting experiences! The key to flexibility is a little goes a long way. Remember, the big wide world can be overwhelming for your child at times. A well-established sleep routine can significantly reduce their level of stress and anxiety, leading to healthier, happier sleep for the whole family (after all, a good nights sleep for your child is a good nights sleep for you!). Keep this in mind when planning your week and the whole sleep cycle can be a fun, reliable and enriching experience for your family! I wish you all a happy, sweet new year and flexible sleeping for your family. Cheryl ZZZ For more sleep tips and advice, please visit www.cherylthesleepcoach.com.au Or why not like our facebook page? www.facebook.com/thesleepcoach Cheryl Fingleson is a paediatric sleep consultant. As a mother of two, she very well knows the feelings of agony and desperation when you have a child that struggles to settle and sleep. She doesn’t believe in leaving babies or children to cry it out, nor in the practices of controlled crying. Her approach is to empower parents with the right tools and techniques to teach their babies and children to go to sleep calmly, happily and independently.
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SHABBAT TIMES DATE LIGHT CANDLES
END
Friday, September 7 , 2018 5:23pm Rosh Hashanah Sunday, September 9, 2018 (light Holiday candles at) Monday, September 10, 2018 (light Holiday candles after) Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Friday, September 14, 2018 5:28pm Yom Kippur Tuesday, September 18, 2018 (light holiday candles at) Wednesday, September 19, 2018 Friday, September 21, 2018 5:32pm Sukkot Sunday, September 23, 2018 (light holiday candles at) Monday, September 24, 2018 (light holiday candles after) Tuesday, September 25, 2018 Friday, September 28, 2018 5:37pm Shemini Atzeret Sunday, September 30, 2018 (light holiday candles at) Monday, October 1, 2018 (light holiday candles after) Tuesday, October 2, 2018 Friday, October 5, 2018 5:42pm
6:19pm
Candle lighting times have been taken from www.chabad.org
5:24pm 6:20pm Holiday ends 6:21pm 6:23pm 5:30pm Holiday Ends 6:26pm 6:28pm 5:34pm 6:30pm Holiday Ends 6:30pm 6:33pm 5:39pm 6:35pm Holiday Ends 6:36pm 6:39pm
Speak now
see out to up to another the Sydney Jewish community As you will to build, of interest for we have set we hope that on, and helps the multi-faceted report on issues to Israel, experiences, will be there to encourage edition, we The aim, that both reports their Sydney information, Community. a deep attachment Identity Jewish Report for news, those with and to witness our Jewish voice of the whose Jewish the us as a • Be a forum endevours is to be the as for those that through We have their quite simply, opinions affecting to strengthen . We hope well as well we in other areas. ideas and on a local as and by so doing, how achievements will attend events that finds expression community thinking and Jewish community - both issues from of us about; stimulate spectrum of a year more level. have known covered a connections, dedicated to to become and global Dalia We are not otherwise Lemkus issues and social as national is being slated new ideas. will debate Legislative organized might South Israel cultural, religious encourage and friends fresh, fascinating through • Enrich the that–isMurder A personal y hub to a getaway that families of us might to a community that each reform have given carrying content diverse of it becomes the features. cyber-securit We hope matter; and Peace – opened life of our report of Circle. We a father different, simply who that reviews and and entertaining. by the Friendship 8 fascinating conversion out to someone Shallow Because articles, interviews, Jewish household teenagers and allow members the to rabbis, Har their story. Water of the reach Nof staple of every platform to leafed through within voice by the response factsbecause on we now know • Create aprocess upon arrival, is about. Blackout: over substructure been touched continually immediately hasattack needs. AndChanukah are what community each Jewish afternoon and unified and stories to his child’s know the facts! source of to be more on a Shabbat community multitude of month as a capture a our community more aware during the ultimately, photographs referred to 30 thus, involved and events, especially aims are of information. news and language, our of overall In more formal
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SO EXPLOSIVE
AARON DAVID MILLER
is above all a matter of faith, of belief and of religion. The notion that the three Abrahamic faiths -- Islam, Christianity and Judaism -share common values concerning peace, Even back in the days when you could still social justice and humanity may well be use the term “peace process” true. But that has never with a straight been the case when face, the odds of solving the Jerusalem issue it comes to this city. History is filled with were already pretty long. Then, I would have claims, conquests, crusades, occupations, put those odds a bit north massacres and violence of impossible and in the name of a little south ofI 14, 5774 Things hopeless. possessing Jerusalem, are even 2014 / Adar not sharing it. worse now. Friday, 14 February And nowhere has the religious complexity FREE VOL. 1 I remember day eight of the Jerusalem issue of the Camp David been clearer than summit in July 2000, when on the question of who discussion turned controls and what to Jerusalem. That day, will happen to the Haram it was clear to me al-Sharif (Noble that as far Camp David Enclosure) and Har was concerned, it Habayit (Temple was game over. There Mount). That platform, were some intriguing situated within the moves on Israel’s part, walls of Jerusalem’s Old but nothing that could City, is in essence a have settled the issue. physical manifestation Indeed, Ehud Barak, of overlapping sacred but globally, too; and as Yasser Arafat and Bill the last few months space. Clinton could have but not always a result suggest, it is also fallen into the yawning of the perception a matter of security Atop activities gaps that separated sits the goldened Dome among Palestinians Tu B’Shevat of the Rock, fraught and framed now Israelis and Palestinians that including Israel is trying aNSW by an intimacy of Boardcentury Islamic seventh on this issue and to change the activities, shrine built by by the killing reflected in the never have been heard status of some slayings of Israeli and aspect of the Caliph Abd al-Malik from again. a project initiated Jerusalem. The and that houses the Palestinian teens this Fast forward a decade reason for this latest past summer and of round foundation and a half, and stone, a massive rock that figures of tensions, violence of Deputies. last week’s savage Palestinian being a part not much has changed. and ourselves on Jerusalem is still attack on a a perfect is prominently in Jewish and Islamic pride bloodletting report but synagogue in west Jerusalem. tradition. storm of We weAnd insoluble we it now seems factors that include on which news’ butand nearby there’s a site of the more explosive sense of isolationtheand communities even greater news is good then ever.inSoa what don’t pretend frustration on theandsignificance is it about Jerusalem/ that They say ‘no -- the al-Aqsa mosque part of the Palestinians be everywhere We believe PROXIMITY CAN BE started Yerushalayim/al-Quds we can’t of East Jerusalem by Caliph Abd lot DEADLY. that makes it so think differently. there is a al-Malik in the seventh who don’t have the know everything. Ben Franklin quipped that community potentiallyitcontentious to benefit of the social century.bravery, to the will proximity breeds and deadly? thriving Jewish services and economic Quran, it is reputed a story of dedication, According children, and contempt, Three things stand out: and that sharing If there’s advantages of towhich too. In this regard, be theinspires ascension point where Israelis in the west; Israel’s of good news; even further. the Prophet achievement, Jerusalem is unique in or to effort that it is one of the Mohammed expand also leadership our community inspire others. rose to heaven on his Jewish their communities and strengthen it will only places where Israelis growing Night IT’S A PERFECT STORM OF been chances are and Palestinians Jerusalem; in East Journey. a vibrant and Below you, presence COMPLEXITY. (the you’ve the platform are the remains Sydney has connected Hamas’ efforts to know. vast majority who aren’t Similarly, if Jerusalem us are is a microcosm of almost Arab citizens the flames; forgotten Let us incite and fan of both temples, which housed or Jewish but few of or all of Israel) mix and the grim the the community issues in the Israeli-Palestinian bureaucracy, every day and have realization relationships that over by the Ark of theIf Covenant there’s and the Holy almost future seems immediate packed conflict unrestricted of Holies. know. almost walked certain to be more access to one another. beyond our into While letofus The one small place that is participate. area is so the It is a the same. With marked stunning by the system, in which we by a big to a sector of sensitive to Jews that they the Israel-Gaza testament to the pragmatism be well war sub-groups were until or enjoined not campaign a over enable us history. It combines territory (who self-interest and the next round, ourto set foot on the Mount cause, throw internet a and and will the should of control West often Israelis and Palestinians Bank relatively out of fear that they could the news we areland in the east and west, not you think we -- as quiet, it’s Jerusalem be treading on that citizens’, well as the imbalance And if you community to mention that has emergedlet know. ground. the four quarters -of power -- that the as us sacred informed ‘global Jewish, city has remained the epicenter of unrest. what is happening or want to weight behind, unaware ofMuslim, Armenian, as quiet and functional down Christian -- of the It is quite completely some advice extraordinary that despite as old it has these many few Ithouses living a city). involves have a solution, years given such passions incidents community political identity (conflicting Telling of violence -- October important an to someone OVERLAPPING to bridge!). and politics. 1990, SACRED claims to the city as a your voice over the add SPACE. September 1996, September to change capital); it is driven by Things in Jerusalem would (never mind 2000 and of But it should be no us know. course one way letenough be bad (see below) involving surprise that given if stories isreligion and children what’s and debate, transpired in recent not just Jews, those shuls the perfect each other’s year --begins storm were driven weeks politics and passions Muslims and Christians new by attend different that the themselves thatmembers As the only Jerusalem area has not been a proximity as well as nationalist Report, in the Middle East, has often become scene of this. alike are opening a bloodywhen and political and strengthen flash point, often conflict. Sydney Jewish adults the and and But that inaugural enlighten was not to be. Jerusalemchapter of learning Continued on page In compiling of schools. create a newspaper 34 from this, our • Connect, Page 20
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at any one of the following outlets: COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS B’nai B’rith - Rose Bay The Burger Centre COA Sydney JCA JEM’S Jewishcare Kashrut Authority KM Cares NSW Jewish War Memorial Centre NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Our Big Kitchen Print 35 Shop Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish House House United Israel Appeal WIZO Wolper Hospital Ku Ring Gai council
Romeos Supa IGA - St Ives Savion Savta – Bondi Junction Stanley St Cafe Eden Café Stanley Street Butcher Plaster Master Fun
RETAIL OUTLETS Bianca’s Grub Store Coles Eastgate Coles - Lindfield Coles- Rose Bay Coles - Westfield, Bondi Junction Cruises and honeymoons – Bondi Junction Gaslight Pharmacy- Rose Bay Glicks - Rose Bay Golds Bookshop Krinskys Kosher supermarket Lewis Continental Kitchen Medani Bakery Pita Mix
SYNAGOGUES Central Synagogue Chabad House of the North Shore Cremorne Synagogue Dover Heights Synagogue Jewish Learning Centre (JLC) Kehillat Kadimah Kehillat Masada Synagogue Maroubra Synagogue Mizrachi Synagogue North Shore Synagogue North Shore Temple Emanuel Ohr Hatzafon Sephardi Synagogue
SCHOOLS Clyde Street Day Care Coogee Preschool Emanuel School Ganeinu Long Day Care & Preschool Hug-A-Bub - Bondi Hug-A-Bub - Rose Bay Kesser Torah College Masada College Mount Sinai College Moriah College
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Forgiving G-d RABBI YOSSI FRIEDMAN I recently delivered a class on the topic of forgiveness. While most of us associate forgiveness as extending from one person to another, I believe that there is another force in our lives towards which we must extend a pardon. Elie Wiesel was 14 years of age when he was liberated from Auschwitz. He was the only member of his family to survive. He once witnessed a young boy hung on the gallows by the SS, but as he was so light, it took much time for him to die. At that moment, Wiesel reflected, he saw someone else on the gallows: his G-d. 50 years passed and Wiesel penned a piece for the New York Times. It was 1997, right before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, “Master of the Universe, let us make up. How long can we go on being angry? “More than 50 years have passed since the nightmare was lifted. Many things.. have since happened to those who survived it. They learned to build on ruins. Family life was re-created… They learned to have faith in their surroundings, even in their fellow men and women.
“Oh, they do not forgive the killers, nor should they. Nor should you, Master of the Universe. But they no longer see a dagger in every hand… “What about my faith in you, Master of the Universe? “I now realise I never lost it, not even there, during the darkest hours of my life. I don’t know why I kept on whispering my daily prayers, but I did recite them, often with my father and, on Rosh ha-Shana, with hundreds of inmates at Auschwitz… In my testimony I have written burning words about your role in our tragedy. Why did you allow if not enable the killer day after day, night after night to torment and annihilate tens of thousands of Jewish children?... At one point, I began wondering whether I was not unfair with you. After all, Auschwitz
was not something that came down readymade from heaven. It was conceived by men, implemented by men, staffed by men. And their aim was to destroy not only us, but You as well. Ought we not to think of Your pain, too? Watching your children suffer at the hands of your other children, haven’t you, G-d, also suffered? Wiesel concludes: “As we Jews now enter the High Holidays again, let us make up, Master of the Universe. It is unbearable to be divorced from you so long.” While most of us, thank G-d, have never experienced what Elie Wiesel and that entire generation of survivors endured, do we not, in our own way, have our own grievances with G-d? How many of us can look back over our year or our lives and say that it was full of only joyous, blissful and perfect
moments? For most of us, the past is littered with both the good and the bad. We’ve experienced delightful pleasures and also tasted bitter hardships. I am sure many of us have, at one point or another, become overcome with frustration: Why was this loved one taken away from me? Why am I surrounded by so much suffering and disease? Why am I struggling financially? I’ve been waiting so long to get married, why have you not helped me? Each of us has our own list of disappointments and complaints. So is G-d guilty? You will see that through all the confessions on Yom Kippur we say: “Chatanu”… “We have sinned, “bagadnu”… “We have betrayed” etc. Isn’t it a little strange that we ask in the plural? Shouldn’t we be saying: “I have sinned, I have betrayed..?” Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz explains: “We” refers to me and G-d! I have sinned, but G-d has, so-to-speak, “sinned” too. It was He who ultimately created us as limited, challenged and desire-driven human beings, so when we err, He is just as much guilty as we are! Yet as we approach this High Holiday period, the challenge is to turn towards G-d and open our arms. On Yom Kippur, G-d asks you to forgive Him for the entire drama called “life” so speak to your G-d. Share with Him what is on your heart and try to rebuild your relationship. In short, forgive Him.
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Shabbat Project 2018 SHABBAT PROJECT This year Sydney will Dis.Connect to Re.Connect with 1 million others around the world for a very special Shabbat Project weekend on 26th and 27th October 2018. In its 5th year, there are now over 97 countries and 1416 cities committed worldwide. Why ? Because Shabbat is the core of who we are, the glue that sticks the Jewish people together, wherever they may be in the world. In 2018 the theme is all about Re.Connecting together and experiencing how mindfulness can deepen our Shabbat experience. The program has been designed to help everyone find new ways to re.discover yourself and our community, re.connect with family and friends & re.charge your mind and soul. The Shabbat Project has embraced a biannual focus to build a sustainable and communally responsible approach, alternating between community-wide initiatives and grass roots driven activities to allow the community to share and collaborate on their Shabbat experience. In 2018 there are many new and innovative communal events planned across Sydney to help you Re.Connect with many shules/ organisations joining forces like never before! From Mindfulness & Kabbalah Meditation, Challah bakes, Shabbat Shuks, Kabbalat Shabbats, Dinners & Lunches, to Young Family events, Challah Bakes, Music, Kids activities and more.
Why is the Shabbat Project important? In Sydney, The Shabbat Project shows us that there is more that brings us together than sets us apart. Shabbat connects us to our communities, families and most of all to ourselves .It’s our opportunity to rejuvenate family and community life, restore Jewish pride and identity, and strengthen unity across the globe. The pillars of Shabbat: lighting candles, wine, beautiful fresh challah, brings comfort and a sense of belonging to all Jewish people. Whether celebrating with friends, family, new acquaintances or with your shule community, this ancient tradition brings us all home. The more observant of us can invite new guests into our homes to experience the depth and magic of Shabbat and those who are perhaps are less observant can start talking to their families about how you will Dis.Connect from technology and your usual routines to join the rest of the community and participate in Shabbat Project weekend. Shabbat is a day of being, not doing. Leaving the madness of the week behind and simply Re.Connecting, taking the world as we find it–for one day, the sensation of stopping, savouring the moments of silence and being together. How will you Re.Connect? Save the date – 26 / 27 October 2018
Joseph Raskin and Sandy Shuvalov wish all our clients and the community a Chag Sameach and we thank you for your support throughout the year.
The Kashrut Authority The KA wishes all Chag Sameach & Shana Tova U’Metuka
Joseph Raskin M : 0423 376 667 E : joseph.raskin@sydneysouthebysrealty.com Sandy Shuvalov M : 0414 327 406 E : sandy.shuvalov@sydneysothebysrealty.com
Tel : 1300 KASHRUT / (02) 9365 2933 | Fax : (02) 9365 0933 Email : info@ka.org.au | Website : www.ka.org.au