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Fostering a closer Jewish community
VOL. 56 Friday, 6 Sept 2019 / 6 Elul, 5779
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THE COURAGE TO TACKLE RACISM PAGE 3
AUSTRALIANS TRANSFORNING CANCER CARE
PAGE 4
IS THIS NETANYAHU’S LAST HURRAH? PAGE 12
Preparing for
ROSH HASHANAH P: 9568 3499 ungarmetals.com.au
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community
September 2019
Australia’s leading pancreatic cancer charity launches Remember September AVNER PANCREATIC CANCER FOUNDATION KRISTJAN PORM Pancreatic cancer is predicted by experts to be the second biggest cancer killer in Australia in coming years and the disease currently claims virtually the same amount of lives as breast cancer. Raising funds is vital for investing into research to improve health outcomes. Remember September encourages giving up all liquids except water for an entire month, and is the brainchild of brothers David and Ben Wilheim who set up the challenge after losing their father to Pancreatic Cancer in 2014, a year after the disease also claimed their cousin Danielle at age 33, surviving just 6 weeks post diagnosis. “Pancreatic Cancer caused so much anguish for my family. We were astounded at the dire statistics around this disease and realised something needed to be done”, David said. “The Remember September challenge is simple, but far from easy, by drinking nothing except water all month it’s like an extreme version of Dry July! The challenge gives you an opportunity to talk to your networks – to help raise much-needed funds and awareness for this terrible disease. During the challenge I often crave a coffee, and I like that it makes me think of my dad and cousin.” In its fifth year, the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation’s Remember September campaign is rolling out in all major capital cities as well as regional centres around
Australia, and in 2019, the campaign aims to reach the fundraising target of $50,000. “The campaign focuses on positive lifestyle changes and keeping healthy, but people take the challenge for different reasons,” says David, “Not just to raise awareness and funding for vital research, but for personal reasons. I like that we can give that to all Australians.” The Foundation’s CEO, Michelle Stewart, said, “The 5-year survival rate for the disease is very low at 9.8 per cent compared to other cancers, which now exceed 90 per cent
survival. The disease receives little or no government funding so we are desperate to raise more funds through alternative means, to continue funding the best researchers in Australia”. The Remember September Challenge has raised almost $180,000 for pancreatic cancer research to date, and we encourage people to take the challenge or support a challenger. We provide a “Purple Pass” which will give you a night off the challenge for a special event.
The Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is the only charity in Australia exclusively dedicated to Pancreatic Cancer, with a mission to drastically lift survival rates for sufferers of the disease. We aim to achieve this by raising awareness and funding ground-breaking medical research at leading institutions around Australia. Registration & more information: www.rememberseptember. gofundraise.com.au
Thank you to the Kornhausers in Melbourne, Australia for creating the special gentle Merkos Women environment where it is pure pleasure to learn. The first thing that I organise for myself when I come to Melbourne is to make sure that I can attend the class “as usual” and to be ready and receptive for the morning class. I can no longer imagine how my life would be if it were not for what I have learned in the classes at Merkos. I’m no longer interested in ‘other’ studies outside Judaism. The things that once fascinatef me now seem boring and ‘fabricated’... like guess-work. I sense that my joyous and surprised outbursts in class of “I so get that!” and “I’d always wanted to know that!” have been entertainment to others in the class.
The classes have been a wondrous start to the day and have set the tone of serenity, wonderment and gratitude for the rest of the day for me. When my (adult) daughter, Sharon visited me in Melbourne, after her first visit to a synagogue (ever), Luba Kornhauser invited and welcomed her to class while she was visiting. It was Lag B’oemer and a lot of fun for Sharon. She has now had a ‘taste’ and knows where to come back to when she is ready for her own Yiddishkeit education. I’ve been able to keep in touch with the progress of the younger women who have attended Merkos Women... their simchas, their growth, and meeting their babies have been delightful. I’m forever grateful.
Morning Inspiration MERKOS WOMEN MICHELLE MITCHELL I was brought up not knowing that I’m a Jew and so the majority of my learning in life has had nothing at all to do with Judaism. My Mother passed away in 2013 and it was then that I met a Rabbi for the first time. I started visiting Melbourne (from Adelaide), often. Imagine my surprise and delight when I inquired and was graciously received into the morning classes at Merkos Women! I shall attempt to describe how profound this has been for me. It has been such a pleasure to be able to attend Merkos Women in my visits to Melbourne. My progress in my personal Yiddishkeit journey is a direct result of my attending classes at Merkos. Rabbi Yehuda Hoch is the teacher in the morning classes. I had never known such clarity and depth from a teacher previously. I learned in those classes about what it means to be an observant Jew, and I have learned how to be a better person, how to live a better life, and how to look out for fellow Jews. There have been mornings during and after class when my perspective on life as I have always known it has shifted just one degree. This in turn has shifted my whole perspective on living life, and how to live observantly. The guidance and expanse of knowledge from Rabbi Hoch matches how he lives his life. He is a brilliant example. Complex and simple questions from the class to the Rabbi bring forth the most satisfying truths that resonate so very deeply in my soul. My transition from ‘outside life’ to comprehending
the ‘inner world’ of my Jewish neshoma has given me a deeper understanding of life in general, living it with purpose and serving G-d. I have not experienced such profound depth of understanding and comprehension in any of my previous studies including psychology, professional counselling, Theosophy and metaphysics. It has been my privilege and a Blessing to me from the very first lesson where I could hardly believe that I was receiving answers to the tricky questions of life I’d wanted to know since childhood. I had searched my whole life, and here now were the answers. I now had an avenue and access to the Truth. I’m an ‘older person’ and am a living example of how it is never too late to learn, to change and to adapt.
September 2019
community
Finding the courage to tackle racism and prejudice
The Courage to Care Schools Program is taught by volunteers and this year (2019) it is anticipated that 7000 Victorian students will have engaged with the program. Since 2000 more than 135,000 students have participated. A new, customised version of the program will be available for Victorian students in years 5-8 by the end of the year.
COURAGE TO CARE Against the alarming backdrop of a surge in racist and discriminatory attacks in Victoria, Courage to Care Victoria is tackling bad behaviour one school at a time. Alpha Cheng, whose father Curtis was shot dead by an ISIS radicalised teenager in 2017, was the keynote speaker at Courage to Care’s recent gala event, generously hosted by Gandel Philanthropy, Courage to Cares principal partner, at their Gallery space. Alpha’s key message for all Australians was to be ‘’upstanders” rather than bystanders against racism. “As Australians we must speak out against inequity. No-one, especially young people, should feel any less of themselves or be disadvantaged because of their race, religion, identity or postcode,” said Alpha, who is a Courage to Care Ambassador. Alpha has turned his personal tragedy into a call for Australians to unite rather than be divided by hate. Despite his family’s suffering at the hands of extremists, Alpha strongly believes societies will be better when people respect diverse cultures. “We cannot give into prejudice, stereotypes and scapegoating for no apparent reasons but to further an extreme ideology. This narrative seeks to divide us. Inclusion, acceptance and respect are the most important values we all need to display to create a society where we can all thrive.” In 2017-2018, complaints of racism to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission rose by nearly 90 per cent. In the same period, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported a 60 per cent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Australia, with almost 30 per cent of these incidents occurring in Victoria. The values emphasised by Alpha, despite the tragedy affecting his family, are reflected
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Courage to Care team of volunteers who organised the Gala presentation, Kerryn Lowe, Tony McCartney, David Klein, Nicole Brittain of Gandel Philanthropy, Mike Zervos, Allan Kaufman and Lani Brayer in Courage to Care’s School Program which informs and educates Victorian secondary school students about the dangers of prejudice, racism and discrimination. It also empowers young people to challenge and speak out against such unacceptable human traits. Using the Holocaust and other genocides as case studies, Courage to Care explores the dangers of prejudice, racism, stereotyping and bullying, and the consequences of bystander behaviour. “By understanding the stories of ordinary people who risked their own safety to save others, participants see that each person can make a difference,” said Chairman of Courage to Care, Dr Tony Weldon. James Merlino, Victorian Minister for Education, launched a new exhibition using multimedia units for the schools’ programs in 2016. Since then similar technology allows
the program to be offered to schools as an Incursion. Funded by Gandel Philanthropy, the Victorian Department of Education and Training and other philanthropists and individual donors, the exhibition features touchscreen technology and interactively explores specific historical items and material that makes the Courage to Care story even more accessible and relatable for Victorian high school students. The School Program has received accolades from both students and teachers. “It’s eye-opening and teaches us more than history and the Holocaust. It inspires you to be an individual and stand up for your beliefs. It made me realise I can make a difference,” said one Victorian secondary student. A teacher concurred, saying, “It had a major impact on students to think about others and have the courage to stand up.”
About Courage to Care Courage to Care is a volunteer-led not-for-profit charity that informs and educates Australians about the dangers of prejudice, racism and discrimination and empowers them to challenge and speak out against such unacceptable human traits. The program points to the Holocaust as one of humanity’s worst examples of how bystander behaviour can foster open displays of racism, hatred and, ultimately, violence, persecution and murder. While the major focus of the work of Courage to Care in Victoria has been its program for secondary school students, it delivers a range of programs across Victoria to transform bystanders into “upstanders”. It runs programs in: • Schools • Tertiary institutions • Workplaces • Public and private organisations • Clubs and community groups Courage to Care programs are also offered in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and soon in Adelaide. For more information If you would like more information, please contact Mike Zervos, Ph: 0412 319 156 or e-mail: ceo@couragetocare.org.au
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community
September 2019
Australians transforming cancer care at Shaare Zedek AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF SHAARE ZEDEK INC MIRIAM PACANOWSKI The Australian Friends of Shaare Zedek are working to support Australian born and trained doctors who are at the frontline of the prevention and treatment of cancer at the hospital in Jerusalem. These innovative and highly respected doctors are creating a comprehensive cancer service at Jerusalem’s most central and fastest growing hospital.This year, the AFSZ’s annual appeal is dedicated to supporting Australians at Shaare Zedek in their significant work. Dr Shani Paluch-Shimon was born and educated in Melbourne and is the Director of the Department of Oncology at Shaare Zedek. Shani directs the Talya Centre at Shaare Zedek, a unique program dedicated to young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Young women confronting this disease have specific needs that include concerns about fertility, genetics, relationships, parenting, and career development. It also includes clinical research to help explore and tailor care to the needs of young women with breast cancer including topics related to psychosocial issues and the biology of breast cancer and more. Shaare Zedek’s medical staff also specialize in breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy and in helping women achieve healthy pregnancy after treatment for breast cancer.
contribute significantly towards research into disease. Your donations this year will also enable Shaare Zedek to upgrade the facilities for cancer patients so that they can receive treatment
in
a
dignified
and
healing
environment. Shaare Zedek Medical Centre conducts all its operations in an atmosphere of compassion and inclusion.
Prof Rabbi
Avraham Steinberg, Director of Shaare Zedek’s Department of Medical Ethics will visit Australia during the annual campaign and will open Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital’s 11th Bioethics Conference. The Dr Jordana Hyman, another Australian expat is an IVF specialist. Her work at Shaare Zedek includes helping young women with cancer preserve their fertility into the future. Prof Nathan Cherny AM is a highly respected pioneer in his field. He is an award-winning thought leader in palliative care. Prof Cherny AM has led international working groups to determine the applications of emerging therapies. The Australian Friends of Shaare Zedek Inc are a health promotion charity, working to support and promote the innovative treatment emerging from Shaare Zedek. Shaare Zedek Medical Centre was involved in discoveries that associated with the connection between BRCA mutations and an increased risk of certain cancers. Funds raised this year will enable
continued crucial medical innovation. There are several important areas where donations from the Australian community will help save lives. Shaare Zedek needs a new oncology biobank to facilitate research and its translation to the best in patient care. As Director of the Department of Oncology, Dr Shani Paluch-Shimon also plans to develop a smartphone app that will enable cancer patients to input their symptoms, receive prompts regarding their treatment and to enable more detailed analysis of their medical needs. The use of apps such as this has been proven to have measurable benefits to patients. Donations this year will enable the translation of this app into Hebrew and Arabic and will enable training in its use for patients unused to the technology. The information gleaned from this app will also
theme of the conference is Respecting Different Perspectives. The AFSZ Inc together with AJMF and Friends of Wolper would like to invite the community attend Prof Rabbi Steinberg’s keynote Sydney address at 7.30pm on Sunday 8 September at Jewish Care. The lecture entitled “The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act: What are the Ethical Implications? For more information and essential RSVP, visit www.trybooking.com/BDFDC. More information about Prof Steinberg’s visit and speaking engagements is available at www.shaarezedek.org.au The AFSZ Inc are proud of the crucial contributions made by Australians at Shaare Zedek. Please donate generously on our Giving Day on 15 September 2019. www.charidy.com/SZ
September 2019
community
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An experience of Tokyo right here in Melbourne TOKOSAN Tokosan is a slice of Tokyo life, located just off Chapel Street on Prahran’s own Greville Street. Inside is a decoration of fun Japanese collage artworks and a sea of vibrant umbrellas and giant chopsticks hanging from the ceiling, with only the best of produce prepared by traditional and contemporary Japanese cooking styles. With this combination Tokosan has quickly become one of Chapel Street, St. Kilda, Windsor and Prahran’s favoured function venues. Tokosan creates a friendly, warm and fun atmosphere for adults and youth alike. Our emphasis is drinks paired with casual Japanese food for all your guests to share and enjoy. We love seeing our customers having a great time, and we will work with you to tailor functions to suit your needs and budget. The amazing beverage options will wow your guests, available from the huge main bar inside, meanwhile the Japanese party food prepped and cooked onsite will make mouths water. Choose from our large variety of canape options, including a range of sushi rolls, dumplings, sashimi and many more tasty dishes. Whether you’re after a whole venue
hire, or something a bit smaller like our terrace beer garden, we have something for everyone. Our karaoke room is also available for those keen to belt out a few tunes, something the young ones especially will enjoy. Our Prahran venue is easily reachable from Chapel Street, St Kilda, South Yarra and Windsor, and located just 100 metres from Prahran train station, making it a popular function location. Parking is also available in Cato Square just 100 meters away. We hosted the lovely Kister family for their son’s Bar Mitzvah, and Adrian, Elle & Hank Kister had this to say about their experience: “We would love to thank you team Tokosan for hosting our son Hank’s Bar Mitzvah. The food was awesome and the service was impeccable. I will strongly recommend your venue for future events. We are still talking about how fun the night was.” We look forward to making your child’s day one to remember! To enquire about a function at Tokosan, please email: functions@tokosan-melbourne.com or call (03) 9521 3155.
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ROSH HASHANAH
community
September 2019
Dvar Torah for High Holidays SOUTH CAULFIELD HEBREW CONGREGATION RABBI DANIEL RABIN
Chaim Yankel was having a tough time finding a job what with the current economic problems. He couldn’t even get an interview. Finally, he secured an interview and needless to say, he was trying his best to impress. The interviewer said, “In this job Chaim Yankel, we need someone who is responsible.” “I’m the one you want,” Chaim Yankel replied. “At my last job every time anything went wrong, they said I was responsible.” Speaking of taking responsibility, in the Parsha read before Rosh Hashana, the portion of Nitzavim, the Torah alludes to what is required when it comes to improving in and making amends for both our spiritual and physical pursuits. Moses tells the Jewish people “Ki Hamitzvah Hazot…- because this mitzvah”, which our sages say refers to the Mitzvah of Teshuvah/repentance, “lo Bashamayim He...Velo Me’ever Hayam He- it is not in the heavens and it is not across the ocean”. There is a beautiful and poignant
metaphoric explanation of the above words. The Torah begins by addressing the possibility that we may have wronged someone else during the course of the year. You may have said something offensive or hurtful; you may have neglected to help someone in need or any other interpersonal wrongdoing that may have occurred. Unfortunately, some might think that the appropriate approach to correct these
mistakes is to pray with extra devotion and diligence over the High Holidays. Others may contend that they attend the Rabbi’s Torah class and all will be well! To such a person, the Torah responds and says “…it is not in the heavens!” You can’t pray your way out of this one! This can only be resolved by taking the appropriate action and making it right with the person you have hurt. It is not easy to apologize or
seek forgiveness, but this is the necessary ingredient to make this amends in this regard. In regards to one’s spiritual or religious pursuits, people often feel they can designate their responsibility of Torah learning or growth to the rabbi. The Torah informs us about this attitude and says “… it is not across the ocean!” This is not an issue that sits with someone else. This is something with which you personally will need to be involved. I recall a story of a Shul congregant whose rabbi would nudge him to learn once a week. The guy eventually turned to the rabbi and asked how much he could pay the rabbi to stop nudging him! The rabbi refused any amount and explained that this one was not solvable with his cheque book. As we stand ready to usher in Rosh Hashana 5780, let us heed the words of our Holy Torah and remember that all interpersonal wrongs must be resolved with the person directly and all spiritual and religious growth is dependent on our own efforts and cannot be outsourced!
Sara J has got you covered this Yom Tov Established in 2008, “We’ve Got You Covered” – now known as “Sara J” – has just restocked their wide range of highquality products ahead of a busy Yom Tov season! Customers can be assured of the quality Sara J promises. As a proud supporter of Israel, Sara J source and import the best products from our land, and on top of that, 10% of all Sara J’s proceeds go to charity. Sara J has the best quality head coverings, whether customers are looking
for modesty, medical needs, or fashion. Their range includes berets, pre-tied bandanas, scarves, tichels, fall bands, wraps, bobos, and all hair accessories. For younger girls, Sara J have a range of latest fashion headbands, and more. Offering discretion and privacy for all customers, Sara J embrace the opportunity to warmly and sensitively help customers find the right head covering for them, especially those undergoing or about to undergo cancer treatment.
In a recent development, Sara J has expanded to cover the modest needs for women within the Jewish community by now offering dresses and tops. They also have exclusive costume jewellery such as necklaces, earrings & bracelets – the perfect treat for yourself, or a gift for your Rosh Hashanah host! For other Yom Tov gift ideas, a range of modern and traditional challah and matzah covers are also available at Sara J, as well as mezuzah cases. For men, a large range of tight-knit,
100% cotton kippot are available in various sizes. Kippot in many colours are also available for boys, along with 100% cotton singlet tzizit and regular tzizit. With clothing and gifts suitable for you and your loved ones, Sara J is excited to welcome you and members of your family for pre-Yom Tov shopping today! For more information, phone or message on WhatsApp 0422 079 669
Hair coverings & accessories for women and girls Challah covers • Kippot, and cotton tzitzit Exclusive Israeli costume jewellery
Happy JewisH NEW YEAR Rosh Hashanah 29 September - 1 October TH
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Celebrate Jewish New Year at these supporting stores:
Balaclava • Bentleigh • Malvern • Brighton • Southland On sale from Wednesay 11th September 2019 until Tuesday 15th October 2019.
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.
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rosh hashanah
September 2019
Guilt is Good – The Potency of Forgiveness RABBI RALPH GENENDE SENIOR RABBI: CAULFIELD SHULE A young man tells a Rabbi: “I have a strong desire to live to eternity. What am I supposed to do? “Get married,” replies the Rabbi. “It’s that simple? Would that allow me to live forever?” “No, but the desire will disappear.” We all have our unrealistic expectations, crazy yearnings for the improbable and the impossible, and if we’re lucky we’ll have a rabbi or spouse to put us in our place, return us to reality, restore us to sanity. Yom Kippur is about the power of patience and the depth of forgiveness. Who hasn’t hurt their spouse with a cutting comment or an act of disengagement, a betrayal of love or intimacy… Who hasn’t broken a confidence of a friend, broken or damaged the confidence of their kids? Yom Kippur is so relevant to us today because it recognises one of the most basic things about being human, the most elemental of human realities: that we’re far from perfect. We’re all flawed in one way or another, we’re weak and vulnerable. We hurt and we hurt others. As we will sadly sing on Kol Nidrei night: ‘We’re like mud, like clay in the potter’s hand’ We’re just a handful of dust or in Hamlet’s phrase ‘quintessence of dust’ All of this accounts for our persistent failures, the fact that we stumble again and again, that we don’t live up to our better selves, that the better angels of our being are defeated by our dark demons and dangerous desires. But that’s only part of the story because Yom Kippur carries in its heart a deep and vital secret, the secret of Jewish survival and of human potential. It’s called Teshuvah and it’s as earth shattering as the discovery of gold, the invention of the Internet, the power of the atom, because it changed the very way we see ourselves as Jews, the way we regard ourselves as members of the human race. The very first recorded moment in history in which one human forgives another is in the Joseph story when he stretches out his hand to his brutal and treacherous brothers and tells them he bears no malice or grudge towards them. It’s a turning point in human history because it challenges the idea that we are condemned endlessly to repeat the past, that you can’t straighten the “crooked timbers of humanity”. That it’s your karma, your destiny; a divinity that shapes your beginnings
and your ends ‘rough hew them how you will’. In ancient Greece as in contemporary determinism it’s all about character and fate; in Judaism it’s all about will and choice. Rabbi Sacks (whom I have drawn from) puts it :‘Repentance and forgiveness redeem the human condition from tragedy’ God forgives us as He did on that very first Yom Kippur and He wrote forgiveness into our scripts and into our souls. God has faith in us – He’s not only our stern King, He is our forgiving father. Or as Heinerich Heine put it: “God will forgive me, it’s his job!” That’s why Judaism has been called a guilt culture rather than a shame culture. In a shame culture, you sins, your mistake attaches itself to you, like a dark ugly indelible stain. There’s no way of going back once you’ve committed the shameful deed. But in a guilt culture, the wrong you do doesn’t remain stuck to you forever- you can make amends, the act was wrong but you can say sorry. You must suffer the punishment but you can return, repent and rehabilitate. Your sacred self can remain intact. Of course you don’t have to overdo it –excessive guilt can also be crippling … We live in a shame society where people are bullied and harassed for real and perceived wrongs and where women especially are shamed by powerful men. In Australia this is evident in the ongoing
The Fear of Fear
GLOBAL AMBASSADOR, MORIAH COLLEGE & CEO, MOSAIC UNITED RABBI BENJI LEVY
Fear is one of the most powerful emotions in the human experience and presents itself at some of the most critical junctures in our lives. Whether one is on the brink of making an important decision, waiting to hear news of a loved one or embarking on a new professional path, that familiar, often crippling sentiment courses through a person’s veins and preys on the mind, rendering clarity at that moment almost impossible. The Torah, which speaks ‘in the language of mankind’, recognises and addresses this. When preparing for war, a carefully selected priest would approach the soldiers and give the following exhortation, ‘Listen, O Israel, today you are drawing near to wage war against your enemies – let your heart not be faint, do not be afraid, do not panic, and do not be broken before them.’ The children of Israel are not to fear as God is among them. However, the priest who is responsible for assuaging fears and for building
up the nation’s bravery and determination then makes a most surprising announcement, exempting three categories of people from military duty: he who is engaged to a woman, but has not yet married her; he who has built a house, but has not yet lived in it; and he who has built a vineyard, but has not yet drunk from its wine. Although they have to contribute to the war effort through supplying food and water, these people are not allowed to serve on the front line. What is it about these three groups that exempts them from battle? As Abraham ibn Ezra points out, the Torah is teaching us a deep lesson about the nature of facing fear, one that applies to our routine lives as much as it does to the soldiers on the battlefield. Wars are waged in our hearts and minds, just as much as on the battlefields. The Torah is showing us the critical role that our emotional psyche can play in impacting our performance on the battlefield and whether or not our heart is in it is what makes all the difference. Two soldiers can be standing next to each other facing their enemy, both feeling the same primordial feelings of physical and psychological terror that accompany mortal danger. The first one is absolutely committed to the mission – he knows that what he is doing at this moment is of cardinal importance to his people, and he is able to confront the fear head-on. Despite
abuse and treatment of women.. Despite some misogynist attitudes, the Torah is, in my opinion, more about the power, influence and value of women, it’s more about Eve as an equal individual than a second class congregant. She is an “ayzer ke-negdo” a strong, sparring partner. The Me-Too-Movement can be excessive and sometimes target men unfairly but it has brought to our attention just how far we still have to go to counter male rage, male power, machismo and assumptions of authority. Just how easy it is for men to be abusive or exploitative even without malice. Former Prime Minister Turnbull put it well when he said “What we must do is change the hearts of men to respect women. We must start with the youngest men the little boys, and sons and grandsons”. And I would add: “Remember it’s easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” Shame cultures are especially hard on women, but we all suffer in them. Guilt cultures, as my mother assures me, are good for you. Guilt is the ultimate gift that keeps on giving! We need to learn how to forgive and grant forgiveness to others and we need to start by forgiving ourselves. I love the line of Yeats: “(I) forgive myself the lot…” It’s the key to freedom and the key to empowerment. Forgiveness is hard work. It takes time and courage to forgive
his trepidation, he knows that there is nowhere else he should be; and it is precisely this singleminded devotion that gives him the courage to fight. The second soldier, standing in exactly the same position, feels the same fear. He is just as aware as his counterpart, on a cognitive level, that his military task is important. But his heart is elsewhere – perhaps he is thinking about his fiancée, or the fine house he has just finished building, or the financial success that he is about to enjoy from his new vineyard. One who is preoccupied is unable to confront his fear head-on and it is as if he is not truly there. He is constantly seeking comfort through thoughts of his newly acquired life back home. He repeatedly attempts to mentally escape the danger he is facing through letting his mind wander rather than focusing on what is right in front of him. And a soldier whose heart is not strong and whose mind is not present is a liability not just to himself, but to all those around him. In our own lives too, we often attempt to deal with our challenges (especially those that induce tremors of fear) through avoidance – conscious or otherwise – and through escaping into our various constructed realities, online or otherwise. While this may allow us to avoid confrontation in the short term, it dooms us in the long term. No soldier can defeat an enemy through retreat
someone who’s really hurt you. It’s harder when they don’t seem sincere or contrite or worse haven’t even recognised their wrongful behaviour. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you overlook what was done to you. Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz reminds us: “The stupid neither forgive nor forget. The naïve forgive and forget. The wise forgive but don’t forget”. It’s taken me a long time to understand what it means to truly forgive another. I often wondered how the Halacha could demand that before Yom Kippur I have to accept the apology and forgive someone who may have lacerated me, perhaps spoken so cruelly about me, attacked my character or loshed about me across the community… (loshed lashon hara) But I’ve come to realize that forgiveness isn’t about accepting or excusing their behaviour. It’s more about letting it go and not allowing their behaviour destroy my spirit, erode my soul, define who I am. I like the quote which says that forgiveness is the economy of the heart: It saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirit. So I’m going to strive to let go more… It’s not an easy journey to get to that place where you can forgive people. But it’s such a powerful place because it liberates you. It actually improves your health and your sleep quality, it reduces depression and anxiety and the need for medication… As Jews we need to be at the forefront of promoting a penitential rather than a shame and pain-causing culture. We’ve got to take Teshuvah and Mechilah into the civil discourse of our society. We need to take the Yom Kippur message into our homes and work places, the streets and social media. We need to strongly counter the public shaming. We’ve got to start a “chesed” movement to counter the compassion deficit and empathy crisis across our world. In conclusion, getting back to the beginning of this article , I wondered if as you age it gets easier to forgive. After all, it’s the young who sow wild oats while the age grow sage… But then on the other hand after you’ve lived six, seven or eight decades you could have a pretty long list of grievances. So I asked this question of one of our ninety-year-olds and she said to me, “Dear Rabbi, I don’t have anyone to say sorry to”. When I complimented her on this, she paused, took a long, hard, slow, very slow, look at me and said – “No compliments necessary, I’ve outlived all the mamzers!”
and similarly no challenge can be solved through avoidance. In order to overcome the obstacles we face in life, we must be bold enough to tackle them head-on with crystal-clear determination. ‘Courage,’ as Mark Twain said, ‘is the resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.’ Through the section describing the preparations for war, the Torah teaches us that escapism is more dangerous than any mortal enemy. Our diversions will render us incapable of dispelling the fears that threaten to cloud our lives. But in the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, ‘the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ We must confront our challenges and battles whole-heartedly, secure in the knowledge that this is the only way to grow. Only then, as the priest anointed for warfare reminds us, will God’s presence enter our lives and join with us in our battle. Rabbi Benji Levy is the CEO of Mosaic United, a partnership between the State of Israel and the global Jewish community dedicated to addressing wide-ranging approaches to Jewish engagement and raising the playing field to ensure a stronger Jewish future. A recent Oleh from Australia, he previously served as the Dean of Moriah College and now is their global ambassador.
September 2019
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Musings about a Shana Tova from a Psychologist’s Perspective ZIPPORAH OLIVER O.A.M. M.A.P.S. The Torah and its observances contain a rich treasure of insight about the human psychological journey. Through the lens of psychology, I wish to explore some deeper possible meanings into two expressions of timely relevance in the coming weeks: “Shana Tova” - the traditional wish for a good year and “Rosh Hashana” – the Jewish New Year. Shana Tova – A Good Year The Hebrew word shana is a unit of time and is translated as ‘year.’ The root of the word “shana” is composed of the Hebrew letters “shin”, “nun” and “hey”. When exploring the root of a Hebrew word, we often find that there are multiple words emanating from the same root, which are related. With regards to the word shana, some examples of words that share the same root include “shinui” - change, “sheinah”– sleep and “sheni” – to do a second time, as related to the number two. Deeper Insights into “Shinui” (change) in “Shana Tova” Shana Tova may be understood as a blessing to weather the changes. As a therapist, I
A True Gift
B&H SUKKOT
It was very common during medieval times for members of the community to contribute a small amount of money to a fund in order to jointly own one esrog. In those times, esrogim were difficult to find and would often cost a small fortune. Tosafot even records that: “The community has a custom, to buy an esrog in partnership – and we instruct them that each individual should give their portion as a gift on condition that it be returned…” (Tosafot, Sukkah 41b). However, it is important to note that partial ownership is not sufficient to do the mitzvah properly. On the first day of Sukkot, a person must
encounter many examples in which individuals are confronted by significant changes in their circumstances, sometimes causing them to be “rocked to their foundations.” Examples include loss and grief, loss of a loved one, loss of employment, loss of finances, loss of a relationship, relocation and trauma. Therapy seeks to support the individual to weather the storms and to develop skills to cope in the shinui, through the changes. Hence wishing someone a Shana Tova, may mean wishing them to be able in the coming year to navigate change well. Exploring the Meaning of “Shana” as it Relates to Repetition The root composed of the Hebrew letters “shin”, “nun” and “heh” also refers to the word “Mishna,” which means repetition. Revision and repetition are core components in Torah study. The “Mishna” (part of the Talmud) is studied over and over again, not just to be remembered, but also to continuously extract deeper understandings. So perhaps we wish each other a year of repetition or relearning the priceless lessons of our tradition of truth and wisdom. Certainly, deep exploration in therapy can help the individual move towards living life in a healthier and fuller manner. So perhaps wishing a Shana Tova is wishing your friend to have a good outcome from their introspection.
use a set of Arba’as HaMinim that belongs to them. This is derived from the passuk: “U’Lakachtem LA’CHEM Ba’yom HaRishon - And you shall take for yourself on the first day…” (Vayikra 23:40) Our rabbis teach that “La’chem - for yourself” implies “MiShelechem - belonging to you”. Therefore, a person may not use a borrowed set to fulfil his obligation. Some rabbanim are also of the opinion that one must own their own Arba’as HaMinim on the second day as well. If someone doesn’t own a set, they must acquire it from their friend as a gift (with a stipulation that they return it). Thus, in communities who jointly owned their lulav and esrog set, when it came time for each individual to shake the four species, everyone else had to “gift” their
Exploring the meaning of “Tova” in Shana Tova Shana Tova (Tova meaning “good”) is about wishing another person goodness. We wish for the coming Shana to be blessed with clearly-revealed goodness, such as health, prosperity, friendship, love and success – all the things which most people yearn for. Goodness may not just apply to what we hope to receive, but also to what we could give. Perhaps we wish them that their coming year might be permeated with the goodness that they will do for others: kindness, compassion, caring, inclusiveness, sharing, which are all part of the goodness that our Heavenly Father wants us to demonstrate to our “siblings.” Clients come for counselling who are weighed down by disharmony and conflict in their relationships. Healing relationships is complex and the journey away from estrangement often includes developing a greater capacity for empathy, compassion, giving and forgiveness. So Shana Tova may also point us in the direction of Tova, not just receiving goodness in the year ahead, but also giving goodness to others. Rosh Hashana, Change & Psychology Sometimes we are not able to change negative external factors in our environment, but we can work on the way we view and experience them – in psychology, this is called a “Reframe.” Reframing is one of the most
share of the esrog temporarily. In our own time, it also isn’t always obvious to people with more resources how difficult it can be for the people with fewer resources to participate in the mitzvos we can often take for granted. B&H Sukkot was started with the goal of making the mitzvos of Sukkot accessible to as many Jews as possible by reducing the price but not the quality thus enabling the community to fulfil the mitzvah of Arba’as HaMinim with beautiful, high quality sets. With Rosh Hashanah 5780 fast approaching, B&H Sukkot are now open for business, again offering the largest range of high quality Arba’as HaMinim for the lowest prices in Australia. Our range includes products at 5 grades of quality, ranging from regular to Meyuchad
potent techniques in a therapist’s toolbox. As individuals, we are often confronted with difficult situations, situations of loss and grief, situations that cause us pain and yearning that our reality could be otherwise. Change in perception is a powerful tool which can bring some healing and freedom from certain negative and toxic situations. May I take this opportunity to wish you a year of giving and receiving goodness, a year of dealing well with change and a year of successfully reframing negative situations positively. May it also be a source of blessing for those who are near and dear to you. Shana Tova!
Zipporah Oliver O.A.M. has over 24 years of experience in the field and is committed to applying her skills to help clients achieve the optimum outcome. She brings to her practice her personal dedication to integrity and a lifetime commitment to helping people cope with life challenges. In 2006 Zipporah was awarded the Order of Australia for her honorary work in disability and for her broad-spectrum community service. If you would like to contact Zipporah, feel free to call on 0438 345 770 or visit www.zoliver.com.au.
(Grade AA), and come in either easy-topick pre-designed combinations (‘SelectA-Set’) or as part of a fully customisable set (‘Build-A-Set’) where you can mix-andmatch to build a beautiful high-quality set to suit your minhagim and budget. Please let us know if you need help picking the right set for you. Finally, whether you call it an etrog or esrog, B&H Sukkot wishes everyone in the community to be inscribed in the book of life for a happy, healthy and blessed year, a year of giving and solidarity! Orders close on Erev Rosh Hashanah (29 September 2019), so don’t leave it to the last minute – go to www.lulav.com.au today.
Rosh Hashanah Message ARK CENTER RABBI GABI KALTMANN “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” ~Anne Frank When a new year rolls around it always seems like the previous year has flown by and the inevitable question of where has the time gone comes to mind. Whenever Rosh Hashanah feels like it is again on the horizon I like to personally take stock of my year. What did I achieve, what did I not yet manage to complete and also assess what changes I need to implement into my life for the year ahead. The past year has also been very difficult as the atrocities and hate that appears to emanate from so many places has seemed to come closer to home. America witnessed two Synagogue shootings resulting in the death of innocent congregants in houses of worship and closer to home, we witnessed the attacks against churches in Sri Lanka and mosques in Christchurch.
In the face of such terror and such hate it is almost impossible to fathom what drives such actions. We live in the most prosperous time that humankind has ever seen. The medical advances are immense and people no longer die from preventable diseases and there is enough food created in the world that no one should have to go hungry anymore. There is always still room for improvement in the world, but I have faith that the areas that need greater progress, have the brightest minds working on them and together we can all continue to contribute to creating a better society for all. Living in a country like Australia can sometimes allow you to become complacent. All the good things that one desires are easily accessible at one’s fingertips. Instead of appreciating what we have, we may start to take it for granted and instead of having gratitude, the complaints manifest. With anti-Semitism on the rise across the world and the ugly head of hate rearing its head in full force, we have to be vigilant and ensure that we safeguard against hate both here and overseas. From casual comments which disrespect others, to allowing our
platforms to be manipulated by those that seek to sow discord and disharmony. As Jews, we know all too well what it is like to be a persecuted minority and we have to ensure that we speak out against this kind of bigotry and hate. In addition to the usual festivities, the ahead year hold special significance as the first in the new decade. Thinking in a ten-year time frame really makes you look at long term goals, and gives you time to assess the intermediate steps to reaching your goal. It takes the focus off the day to day comings and goings and occasional setbacks we might have. It certainly is easier to look at a bump in the road and feel less pressured about it when you are looking at a 10-year time frame than one of a number of months! In such an exciting era of growth and possibility we do not want to be seen as the generation that did not use our potential to contribute and give back to those less fortunate. From a personal perspective, one will reflect the usual questions such as: Where do you want to be living in 5790? What would
you like your home to be like in ten years? Your friends? Your family? What kind of job do you want to have? Who do you want to be sharing your life with? From a community wide perspective, our ten year goals should include growing our community, attracting Jews that are not connect, welcoming a diverse crowd, engaging more young people and running programs and events that nourish our spiritual and physical needs. Rosh Hashanah, with the sound of the shofar is a wake up call that the year has flown by, but there is still much that needs to be done and still much that we can personally do. I know that in the coming year ahead, 5780, I will try to work on myself as much as possible and contribute to the causes that are near and dear to my heart. Likewise, I implore our community to take a moment to reflect and see what your personal abilities allow you to positively contribute to the world around you both for the year and decade ahead. It’s time to get to work! Shana Tova!
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A Gluten Free Rosh Hashanah delight RACHEL PATTISON This Apple Cake recipe is a perfect dessert for Rosh Hashanah if you or your guests are gluten-free! (JTA via The Nosher) INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 large eggs, room temperature 2/3 cup honey 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups gluten-free baking flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon allspice 3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces (I recommend using a mixture of green and red apples) 2/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional) Unsweetened plain almond milk (optional) Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 126 C. Grease and lightly flour a 9-inch bundt pan (nonstick, if you have one). 2. In a stand mixer, beat together the sugar and olive oil. Beat in the eggs, then the honey and vanilla. Turn off the stand
mixer. 3. In a separate large bowl, stir together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and allspice. 4. Turn the stand mixer back on, and very slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, ensuring that all the ingredients become well incorporated. 5. Fold in the diced apples and walnuts. If you find that the mixture is too thick, you can add some almond milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, not to surpass 1/4 cup. 6. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Check the cake at the 50-minute mark. It is done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Once done, allow the cake to cool in the bundt pan for 15 minutes. Then place a cake I plate on top of the bundt pan, and while holding the pan and the plate together, very carefully flip the bundt pan so the cake lands directly onto the cake plate. 7. Allow the cake to cool completely and then dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar. Serves 6-8. Rachel Pattison is a healthy food blogger living in Los Angeles. You can find more of her recipes on her blog, www.littlechefbigappetite.com.
G & A Krausz serving our community for over 50 years G & A KRAUSZ IMPORTERS With over half a century of experience as importers and wholesalers of household products, G & A Krausz are proud to serve the Melbourne Jewish community ahead of yet another busy Yom Tov – and they have a large range of high-quality homewares, shirts and gifts perfect for the upcoming Chagim! G & A Krausz stocks the largest range of quality and elegant tablecloths in many sizes (up to 1.8 metres in width, and up to 6 metres in length), as well as in a variety of styles and colours – including water
resistant cloths! The table protectors, clear & printed plastics are cut to size to protect your table. Pre-cut disposable tablecloths are also available. To complete your Yom Tov table, G & A Krausz also have a range of runners, placemats, serviettes, and napkin rings. These also make perfect gifts to treat your Yom Tov meal host, and G & A Krausz also have gift vouchers available. Come in store to also explore their range of bed linen and kitchenware, including quality latex and memory foam pillows, limited stock of 310TC fitted sheets,
G & A KRAUSZ For all your Yom Tov Solutions Come in and see what’s selling best
Bundle Beds available for Succos
12 William St Balaclava 9527-2427 0417-732-332 Mon-Thurs 10am -2pm Extended opening hours before Yom Tov
microfibre dish draining mats, cotton tea towels, and much more. Looking your best for Yom Tov is also something the staff at G & A Krausz can help with. Their range of ALVISO men’s and boy’s shirts are sure to sell out ahead of Yom Tov, as they are consistently one of G & A Krausz’s best selling items. The new stock of non-iron 100% cotton shirts come in men’s classic, slim fit, and boy’s French cuff. Also available is a large range of boy’s shirts starting from size 3-20. Head in store to find special deals on selected items.
Perfect for Succot, G&A Krausz are excited to offer the ever-popular bundle beds ideal for anyone’s succah. These bundle beds are the strongest folding beds on the market, and are sold by G & A Krausz at comfortable prices. G & A Krausz always welcome customers to their store for Yom Tov and all-year round shopping with care and enthusiasm. Explore G&A Krausz’s full range at their Balaclava store during their extended opening hours before Yom Tov. For all enquiries, please call 9527 2427 or 0417 732 332.
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September 2019
Entertaining tips: what to make and how to control yourself from over eating
as you know our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. HOW TO PORTION-CONTROL IN SOCIAL SETTINGS: 1. Take small portions of the protein and carbohydrate-based dishes and fill up your plate with the green salads and vegetables.
ME NUTRITION MONIQUE ETKIND
As I always say to maintain a healthy weight but still enjoy food, we need to learn habits that complement our lifestyle. As we live in a very social society, we need to be able to integrate eating at functions into our everydaylife. Obviously, when entertaining your portions may be slightly bigger than usual, but this is usually sporadic so if you maintain healthy eating habits throughout the week a one-off meal here and there won’t make a difference to your weight or general well-being. ENTERTAINING TIPS: 1. Always menu plan to make sure you have the right number and balance of dishes according to the number of guests attending. You don’t want to make too many dishes as too much choice results in waste.
2. If in your home, set food up away from the dining table, to avoid picking unnecessarily at the left- over food. 3. Drink lots of water 4. If there is dessert, try go for the fresh fruit option or just have a taste of what’s on offer. Follow this up with a herbal tea so whilst everyone else may be over indulging you will be in control. 5. When packing up make sure you don’t pick at the food as you will have another meal without realising it. Sucking on a mint is a great way to stop this from happening. Happy entertaining everyone!
2. Make sure there is at least one major protein source e.g. Side of Salmon or a Roast Chicken or Meat dish with smaller protein options like feta or hummus in a salad. Try to ensure that all the flavours of the side dishes are complimentary.
based salad or a roasted vegetable platter. I find when the salads are dressed, they are more likely consumed, but leaving them undressed also helps to reduce waste as you can use the leftovers for meals during the week.
3. I insist on two salad or vegetable-based dishes. This could be a green or cabbage-
4. Always make a healthier alternative to the higher calorie dishes so you don’t feel like
you are depriving yourself. For example, when making oven baked roast potatoes, I will always make a tasty roast cauliflower dish which satisfies me and reduces the temptation to pick at the potatoes. 5. Display your food well on wooden boards or in handmade clay/glass bowls. This often entices your guests to try the dishes because
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$ Happy Rosh Hashanah $
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Pink Lady Apples
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Monique is a Sydney based Dietitian (APD) and nutritionist, who believes one should eat everything in moderation. She runs a private practice in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. All her plans are individually based to ensure that they attend to the nutritional needs of both adults and children, by facilitating the processes of fat loss and management of related medical diseases.
80 ea
SAVE $1.20 Kinor Grape Juice 750ml 64¢ per 100ml
$
3
80 ea
$
3
40 ea
SAVE $1.05
SAVE $1.10
SAVE 45¢
Eskal Dill Pickles 540g 37¢ per 100g
Eskal Mini Soup Croutons 400g 95¢ per 100g
Osem Bamba Snack 100g $3.40 per 100g
Available at Woolworths Bentleigh, Carnegie North, Glen Huntly, Malvern, Middle Brighton, Moorabbin & Oakleigh South.^
On sale Wednesday 4th September until Tuesday 1st October 2019 unless sold out earlier at Woolworths Bentleigh, Carnegie North, Glen Huntly, Malvern, Middle Brighton, Moorabbin & Oakleigh South. Limits per customer may apply, trade not supplied. ^Products and specials may not be available in all stores. Specials are not available online or at Caltex Woolworths co-branded fuel outlets. Woolworths Supermarkets: 1 Woolworths Way, Bella Vista, NSW 2153.
CP020920V5MJR
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international
September 2019
Is this Netanyahu’s last hurrah? WORD FROM JERUSALEM ISI LIEBLER Although Benjamin Netanyahu has now become Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, projections suggest that MK and former defense minister Avigdor Liberman will achieve his objective and bring about Netanyahu’s political demise. If, as appears almost certain, Liberman’s strident antiharedi (anti-ultra-Orthodox) positions will gain him additional seats, he will continue to hold the balance of power. His role is strengthened with polls predicting another deadlock with neither Netanyahu nor Blue and White head Benny Gantz able to cobble together sufficient seats to form a government. On top of that, should Netanyahu be indicted, it is likely that Likud would be divided as to whether he can retain his position as party leader. Paradoxically, Netanyahu is currently at the peak of his achievements. He courageously overcame the stormy, confrontational era of former US President Barack Obama with subsequent events totally vindicating him. He has managed to expand the alliance with the United States to an all-time high, while simultaneously developing an unprecedented positive relationship with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (despite his support of Syria). He has advanced relations with India and deftly penetrated barriers and created relationships in South America, Africa and Asia including China. He has also broken through what seemed an insurmountable barrier and developed covert and even not so covert associations with the Saudis and moderate Sunni states. Israel today, largely due to Netanyahu’s diplomacy, has better relations with the international community than at any time since its inception. In addition, he can take much of the credit for Israel’s booming economy and for the country being ranked as one of the world’s most successful high-tech innovators. Under his leadership, the IDF has achieved new peaks and is capable of defeating any threat from Israel’s adversaries. But after Netanyahu’s 13 years in office
– extraordinary longevity for any elected leader – many Israelis seek a change. This attitude is exacerbated by a media that has unceasingly demonized him personally as well as politically in a manner unprecedented in any democratic country. His hedonistic lifestyle, which the court is unlikely to deem a crime, has intensified public opposition. His constant kowtowing to extremist haredi demands, particularly outraging Israelis with his concessions on draft exemptions, has created a backlash and, according to the polls, diverted many voters to Lieberman’s party since he is perceived as the only one standing up to haredi extortion. Unless the merger with the New Right led by Ayelet Shaked can change the environment, a Netanyahu government including haredim will ensure that religious extremism will intensify, even beyond their efforts to enforce total gender separation and imposing obstacles to conversion. Even more critical has been the exclusion of all secular elements from their core educational agenda, making most graduates unfit for anything other than the most menial work. Their ever-expanding population will lead to dire consequences when the state is economically unable to finance the increased demand for social services for those unable or unwilling to engage in productive labor. To make matters worse, the formerly
moderate religious Zionism has now become largely dominated by “national haredim” – hardal – who, while fully supportive of national goals, ally themselves with the extremist haredim on questions of religious observance. Netanyahu has also been accused of eliminating those with the potential to displace him as head of the party. Getting close to the prime minister is likened to a moth attracted to a flame and leads to destruction. A striking example of his petty-mindedness was his decision to sack Shaked and Naftali Bennet from their cabinet positions and his frenzied efforts to destroy them. Under current circumstances, even if Likud gains more seats than Blue and White and Netanyahu overcomes his legal problems, if none of the opposition parties or enough individual MKs can be seduced into joining him, we could face an ongoing deadlock. Neither side may be able to obtain a majority. Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu party could double its previous electoral strength because of the attractions of its anti-haredi stance and will continue to hold the balance of power. The only solution is for Likud to propose a national unity government, offering Gantz a rotating premiership with Netanyahu retiring at the end of his term. But this will fail if Blue and White remains true to its pledge not to consider serving under Netanyahu under any
circumstances. If that happens, the president could step in and invite Gantz to form a government. Likud would then have no alternative but to oblige Netanyahu to step down. And once he does, Likud under a new leader would negotiate a unity government with Blue and White – with or without the inclusion of Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid. This should pose no obstacles because Gantz shares the same basic policies as the current government in relation to security and defense. Most Israelis would be relieved by such an outcome, which would help unite the nation and bring an end to haredi extortion. Such a merger would also destroy the current distorted perception that Israel is governed by an “extreme” right-wing government but enjoys the overwhelming support of the Israeli people. There remains one problem with such a solution: Does Gantz possess the qualities to lead the country? Could he, like Netanyahu, successfully walk the diplomatic tightrope between Trump and Putin? Gantz displays neither charisma nor a strong leadership image. A big question mark hangs over his ability to effectively lead the country over the next 12 months, when critical decisions will need to be made. And if not Gantz, who in either party does have the qualifications to lead? The brutal truth is nobody! This is why, despite the fact Netanyahu does not endear himself to most Israelis, at the same time polls show that even today many consider him the only competent candidate for prime minister. Indeed, there are many who detest him but would still opt for him to retain the reins of leadership over the coming crucial year. So, while many are predicting that this is Netanyahu’s last hurrah, they could be wrong. Today the odds are against him but on previous occasions he used his extraordinary political skills and overcame what seemed to be hopeless situations. Don’t write him off yet! This column was originally published in the Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom
Supreme irony of Omar and Tlaib crying foul at Israel ban ECAJ ALEX RYVCHIN
It is difficult not to savour the irony of two United States congresswomen who advocate boycotts of Israel crying foul at being denied entry into the very country they seek to erase. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, two members of the Democratic Party’s “Squad” of neophyte congresswomen from the Party’s radical left faction, have made their names by seeking to collapse decades of bipartisan support for Israel in US politics and using America’s democratic ally in the Middle-East as a wedge issue to divide their Party. Omar, who courted Jewish support during her election campaign by declaring her opposition to organised boycotts of Israel, before promptly embracing them upon her election, has brandished virtually every antisemitic slur imaginable in her brief political career. She accused Israel of “hypnotizing the world” and called on “Allah to awaken the people” to Israel’s evil. She accused American Jews who support the Israel alliance of dual loyalties. She accused American Jews of buying political influence. And she has declared her support for boycotts, divestment and sanctions of Israel artists, academics, and businesses, a campaign which in the words of its framers seeks the “complete and total isolation of Israel”, and the end of a Jewish state within any borders whatsoever. Her congressional colleague Rashida
Tlaib, openly supports a “one-state solution” to the conflict by which the solitary Jewish state is replaced by what would be the 22nd majority Arab state, and has recently taken to falsifying history, claiming that good-hearted, kindly Arab Palestinians opened their homes to Jewish interlopers fleeing the Holocaust. In fact, the majority of Israelis are from the MiddleEast and have no historical connection to Europe. More so, the Palestinian leadership sought at every turn, through violence and political maneuvering, to block entry into the land by fleeing European Jews. Their leader, Haj Amin-Al Husseini was a key Nazi collaborator and recruited Muslims to the Nazi killing squads, and called on them to “kill Jews wherever you find them, this pleases God, history and religion.” To be sure, the decision to bar entry into Israel to Congresswomen Omar and Tlaib is a fraught one which will have immense political implications for Israel. For decades, the imperative of American Jewish leaders has been to ensure that support for Israel transcends party politics. While some US Presidents and Congresses have been more sympathetic to Israel than others, baseline support for the peace and security of Israel has been remarkably resilient, even as politics has become more bitter and divided. But the decision of the Israeli Government, which (although now said to be unconnected) followed a Twitter statement from Donald Trump that “it would show great weakness if Israel allowed” the congresswomen entry, will only serve to rally the Democratic Party around the anti-
Israel congresswomen and position them as the popular symbols of opposition to Donald Trump. Just last month, despite intense lobbying by Omar and Tlaib, the US Congress adopted a resolution by a whopping 39817 that rejected the anti-Israel boycott campaign, affirmed the two-state solution and calling for increased military aid to Israel. But seeking to travel to Israel was a clever gambit by the congresswomen, who have carved out a unique ability to at once advance their agenda by using their power as influential public figures, while decrying the “privilege” of opposing political forces that supposedly keeps them in subservience. A leaked itinerary for the congresswomen confirmed that they weren’t scheduled to meet with any mainstream Jewish groups or political figures and were being chaperoned by the NGO Miftah, which has accused Jews of using the blood of Christian children for Passover rituals and regularly praises Palestinians who kill Israeli civilians as “martyrs”. If Israel allowed them entry, the congresswomen would have without question used the opportunity to advance their aim of turning public and political opinion against Israel by embarking on a carefully choreographed and live tweeted escapade showcasing the noble Palestinian struggle against the insatiable blood-lust of Jewish Israelis. But by refusing entry, Israel inevitably opens itself up to criticism of being, at
best, glass-jawed, and at worst, nondemocratic. The former is a judgement call, but the latter is a spurious claim, given that countries routinely bar entry on character grounds, even to elected politicians of friendly countries (Dutch MP Geert Wilders was initially denied entry to Britain in 2009). Only in the case of Israel does this lead to the country’s democratic character being called into question. The claim appears more dubious still when it is advanced by those who support the Palestinian national movement, the leadership of which is split between the wholly corrupt Fatah, whose President Mahmoud Abbas is currently luxuriating in the fourteenth year of a four-year term, and the Islamist Hamas, which regularly takes to tethering political opponents, suspected homosexuals and trade unionists to the backs of motorcycles and dragging them through the streets of Gaza. The long-term implications of the Israeli Government’s decision on public opinion in the United States and Democratic Party support remains to be seen, though the alliance has spanned seven decades and has withstood far greater challenges than this. But with both a pro-Israel US President and the anti-Israel congresswomen cynically using the Jewish State in their campaigns to divide and conquer, it is difficult to envisage a scenario in which this latest skirmish ends well for Israel and those who support it. This article was first published in the Herald Sun.
September 2019
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international
What Trump really (maybe) meant by calling Jewish Democrats ‘disloyal’ ANDREW SILOW-CARROLL (JTA) — If you are a Jewish Democrat, I think President Trump just called you a bad Jew. That’s not the prevailing interpretation of the remarks made by the president on Tuesday, when he told reporters, “I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat — it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.” A lot of the Jewish leaders who exploded over the comment felt the president was touching on that classic anti-Semitic canard: that Jews aren’t sufficiently loyal to the countries in which they reside. “It’s unclear who @POTUS is claiming Jews would be ‘disloyal’ to, but charges of disloyalty have long been used to attack Jews,” AntiDefamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. “If this is about Israel, then Trump is repeating a dual loyalty claim, which is a form of antiSemitism,” said Halie Soifer, executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America. Trump’s lack of clarity certainly makes it possible that he was conjuring up dual loyalty. But here’s the thing with Trump: He doesn’t think dual loyalty is necessarily a bad thing. Back in April, he referred to Israel’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, as “your prime minister” in an address to a group of Jewish Republicans. Critics heard the dual loyalty charge, but it is clear in context that he thought it perfectly natural that a group of hawkish Jewish Americans would regard Israel’s prime minister as “theirs.” If anyone in the room objected, there is no record of it. So if not dual loyalty, what else was Trump thinking? It’s possible that Trump considers Jewish Democrats as disloyal to him. “Disloyal” is a curse in Trump’s famously limited rhetorical vocabulary. He has deployed it against fellow Republicans who don’t show him sufficient fealty, against corporations that oppose his policies — and, this is key, against opponents who appear disloyal to each other. (He once disparaged Hillary Clinton as disloyal because she undercut Bernie Sanders.) He regards disloyalty as a character flaw. Trump watchers, like the Washington Post’s Marc Fisher, suggest that Trump takes his cue from real-life and movie mobsters, learning that “the way to insulate himself from the betrayals and
backstabbing of the business world was to place a premium on loyalty.” Andrew McCabe, who briefly replaced James Comey as FBI director, once referred to Trump‘s “kind of overwhelming or overriding focus on loyalty and sorting everybody out immediately — like you’re either with us or you’re against us.” Trump has famously complained that evangelical Christians have shown him more gratitude than American Jews for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. “I’ll tell you what,” the president told Mike Huckabee last year, “I get more calls of ‘thank you’ from evangelicals, and I see it in the audiences and everything else, than I do from Jewish people. And the Jewish people appreciate it, but the evangelicals appreciate it more than the Jews, which is incredible.” Trump gave credence to this interpretation of his remarks in a tweet storm Wednesday morning. He quoted at length the conservative talk show host, conspiracy theorist and selfdescribed “Jew turned evangelical Christian” Wayne Allyn Root, who wondered why American Jews don’t show the president more respect. “Thank you to Wayne Allyn Root for the very nice words,” Trump tweeted before quoting Root: “President Trump is the greatest President for Jews and for Israel in the history of the world, not just America, he is the best President for Israel in the history of the world … and the Jewish people in Israel love him
… like he’s the King of Israel. They love him like he is the second coming of God … But American Jews don’t know him or like him. They don’t even know what they’re doing or saying anymore. It makes no sense!” Later Wednesday morning, however, Trump appeared to change course in attempting to clarify what he meant. “If you vote for a Democrat,” he told reporters, “you’re being disloyal to Jewish people and you’re being very disloyal to Israel.” First, the Israel thing: In context, it does makes more sense if Trump were saying Tuesday that Democratic Jews were being disloyal not to America but to Israel. Again, consider the context: Trump had been attacking Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, two Democrats who have been harshly critical of the Israeli government and who support the boycott Israel movement. Omar had talked the day before about cutting off aid to Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians. “I can’t even believe that we’re having this conversation. Five years ago, the concept of even talking about this — even three years ago — of cutting off aid to Israel because of two people that hate Israel and hate Jewish people. I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation,” Trump fumed. “Where has the Democratic Party gone? Where have they gone where they’re defending these two people over the state of Israel? And I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat — I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great
disloyalty, alright? So that’s three possibilities as to what Trump meant by “great disloyalty”: disloyal as Americans, disloyal to Israel or disloyal to Trump — and maybe four if you add the possibility that even Trump wasn’t sure what he meant. But Trump adds a fifth interpretation, which may be the most convincing: Jews are being disloyal to “Jewish people.” That’s what the Republican Jewish Coalition insisted in a tweet Tuesday. “President Trump is right, it shows a great deal of disloyalty to oneself to defend a party that protects/emboldens people that hate you for your religion,” the RJC wrote. “Disloyalty to oneself.” The RJC has every reason to make Trump look as good as possible, and Trump may be eager to cast himself as Defender of the Jews. It is not clear, however, that accusing Jews of self-hatred is any less offensive than accusing them of dual loyalty. Perhaps Trump, and the RJC, thinks there is a right way to be Jewish, although at the moment it is not the way most American Jews identify as Jews. The Jewish majority tends to be liberal on social and economic issues and immigration. Nationalism, as opposed to patriotism, makes them nervous. They support Israel even when they are critical of its government and policies, and don’t believe Omar or Tlaib speak for them or the party. They want a pro-Israel president and Congress, but consider Israel as one among a number of factors in deciding which politicians and policies they support. As a result, American Jews vote overwhelmingly for Democrats, as they did in 2016 and 2018. Big Jewish districts tend to deliver mainstream pro-Israel liberal Democrats like Florida’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz and New York’s Jerry Nadler. They tend to want to see their pluralistic, democratic values reflected in Israel. And polls have shown that they, like most Democratic voters, see support for Israel and criticism of the Israeli government’s policies as totally compatible. Few Jews appreciate others, including fellow Jews, telling them how they should be Jewish. If they are loyal to anything, it is to the idea that all Jews get to decide for themselves what kind of Jew they want to be.
Stop saying women convert to Judaism just for marriage KYLIE ORA LOBELL LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Whenever a celebrity decides to convert to Judaism, headlines like this abound: “Karlie Kloss confirms conversion to Judaism to marry Joshua Kushner.” “Zooey Deschanel joins these other stars who changed their religion for love.” “Converting for Love (Like Natalie Portman’s Husband)? The Talmud Forbids It.” Written in this way, these headlines — and the articles that follow — perpetuate the idea that people, especially women, convert to Judaism in order to get married. This framing puts conversion on the same level as, say, a prenup, or, in a more cynical light, an ultimatum. There are some people who convert to Judaism for marriage — maybe at the demand of an in-law or even a partner — but I’ve never met a convert like this. Converting to Judaism is complicated. It requires a complete overhaul of your belief system, along with rigorous study, the giving up of familiar rituals and sometimes familial relationships, and an acknowledgment of the fact that you are joining a people who have been hated, for no logical reason, ever since they came into existence. I would know because I am a convert. And, like most converts, I didn’t convert for marriage. I converted for myself.
My now-husband Daniel introduced me to traditional Judaism when we met nine years ago. He took me to a Chabad house for a Friday night dinner, and from there, I was so intrigued that I ended up going to Jewish classes and decided to convert through an Orthodox beit din. For the next five years, I kept learning, took on a kosher diet, started celebrating Shabbat and the holidays, and slowly increased my observance. I was an atheist with absolutely no religious background prior to this, so it wasn’t an easy adjustment at times. But I kept on pushing through, because when I went to Friday night dinners, I felt a part of the Jewish people. When I read the Torah, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. When I learned the laws, they made sense. When I saw other observant married couples, I knew this was the life I wanted. Throughout my process, people would ask me, “Are you converting for Daniel?” I’d say, “No. Are you kidding? I’m doing this for me.” The beit din assesses your sincerity when you’re converting. I had to meet with my rabbi several times, over the course of several years, before he determined I was ready to go to the mikvah, or Jewish ritual bath. When I was at the mikvah, he asked me if I was prepared to take on all the mitzvot (commandments) to the best of my ability. He asked me if I was aware that the Jewish
people are so widely hated. “What would you do if there was another Holocaust?” he said. I told him, “I’d go with my people.” Even though it is offensive, I can understand why some would question converts. The history of the Jewish people is so rife with tragedy that it can lead people to be pessimistic or skeptical. However, those who convert for disingenuous reasons are not truly converts. If you are not sincere when you go to the mikvah, your conversion is automatically invalid. This was a famous ruling from Rabbi Yitzchak Schmelkes, who wrote in 1876, “If he undergoes conversion and accepts upon himself the yoke of the commandments, while in his heart he does not intend to perform them — it is the heart that God wants and [therefore] he has not become a proselyte.” The Torah clearly tells us to love converts and to not make them feel like they are strangers, like we were in Egypt. When you accuse someone of converting for somebody or for marriage, you are diminishing their devotion and labeling them as an “other.” You are not welcoming them in with open arms. If you look at what Karlie Kloss has said about converting, it’s beautiful, and I could not have said it better myself: “It wasn’t enough to just love Josh and make this decision for him … This is my life and I am an independent, strong woman. It was only
after many years of studying and talking with my family and friends and soul searching that I made the decision to fully embrace Judaism in my life and start planning for a future with the man I chose to marry.” While falling in love can be the catalyst for this lifestyle, ultimately, it is up to the convert to continue on with it. And while they’re taking the steps, and certainly once they have taken them, it is up to us to make them feel welcome and at home. I am very open about being a convert, and thankfully, most of the people I’ve encountered in my community have been not only welcoming to me, but have treated me like I’m part of their families. There are times when I do feel like the other, like when I go to a wedding and I don’t know any of the Israeli songs people are singing along to, or I can’t find an English siddur in a shul. But I just stop and remind myself how little time I’ve been a Jew in comparison to everyone else. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn. When it comes to how we talk about converts, we have a long way to go as well. Instead of talking about conversions in the context of marriage, and instead of judging, let’s be openhearted. Converts strengthen the Jewish people. They love us. And we should love them, too.
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schools / shuls
September 2019
Scopus students speak up MOUNT SCOPUS COLLEGE
Now more than ever students need to be able to communicate their ideas and express themselves fluently while articulating complex concepts. At Mount Scopus College our youngest students quickly come to understanding that reading gives them knowledge and pleasure, and that text is used to convey meaning in different ways and for different purposes. Then it’s not long before they develop an understanding of the relationship between reading, thinking and reflection. They soon recognise the strategies authors use to engage their readers and can often name their favourite authors and can articulate reasons for their choices. Reading provides a sense of accomplishment, not only in the process, but in the access it provides to further knowledge about, and understanding of the world. As students move through the school they are supported in their reading and writing and enjoy literacy activities in and out of the classroom. Our recent Year 6 Writers Festival, ‘Going Beyond Classroom Writing’ inspired students to think creatively about writing and spark curiosity about different forms of writing. Children’s author Matt Davies shared his experiences and ran workshops with students. Additional workshops were run by teachers, as well as older secondary students, Jewish informal staff, our Creative Technologies leaders and members of the
extended school community. The workshops covered areas as diverse as Illustration: the power of the image, Personal journaling: exploring self through writing, Song lyrics, Debating, Making characters real and Storyboarding: the first step in screenwriting. The festival also included speeches by students and really opened their eyes to different forms of expression. Secondary students continue to develop their language skills through involvement in debating and public speaking, in English classes and through and the study of literature. Classroom debates as well as more formal interschool debating competitions enable students to practise a range of skills from oratory and problem solving to collaboration and research. Debaters learn to speak clearly, signpost an argument and present with eloquence and flair. Students put their nerves aside to be able to combat a range of topics from education, politics, social policy and the environment. Each year, the College also host the heats and semi-final of the Rostrum Voice of Youth, a state and national public speaking competition. Students compete against their peers from many others schools and the competition is open to junior and senior speakers. At Scopus, students have every opportunity to express themselves, to speak up and to be heard.
Mount Scopus College Year 10 Baron Snider public speaking competition finalists
www.scopus.vic.edu.au
Mount Scopus College Year 11 interschool debaters, Gemma Smithson, Marty Schwarz, Sassi Liberman and Raphael Lipshut
Scopus Beit Midrash MOUNT SCOPUS
L-R: Flying Fox’s Dean Cohen: and St Kilda Shule’s Rabbi Yaakov Glasman
Youth - The World’s Engine
ST KILDA HEBREW CONGREGATION RABBI YAAKOV GLASMAN
It really upsets me when I hear cynics stereotyping young people as “selfabsorbed”. Every single Sunday dozens of young people visit my Shule as volunteers of the Friendship Circle of Melbourne. They engage children with special needs in the most incredible way. Just recently I had the amazing privilege of introducing Dean Cohen who spoke at my Shule about the hundreds of young volunteers at Flying Fox, an organisation that brings so much joy to so many children living with a disability, both Jewish and not Jewish. And on the very same weekend my Shule heard from Maddie Buchner of Little Dreamers Australia who spoke passionately about the work she and other young people do to assist young carers across Australia. On numerous occasions I’ve been so fortunate to have spoken at Zooz, a buzzing community centre for young adults to learn, socialise and give back to the Jewish
community. I was recently part of a cohort of Jews, many of whom were young adults, at the Australian Jewish Funder’s Launchpad retreat in News South Wales, where participants engaged in initiatives aimed at enhancing Jewish life and connectedness to the community. Indeed, these are just a small handful of the switched on young adults with whom I’ve had the honor of engaging over the past couple of months alone. And there are so many other incredible young individuals and groups driven by young members of our community who inspire me enormously though their constant giving. So to all the young people out there who work and volunteer to help others, I say Kol Hakavod. Not only do you bring so much joy to others but you also make a huge Kiddush Hashem when doing so. You are all shining ambassadors of the Jewish community! And to the parents of these young people I can put my hand on my heart and say that you’ve definitely done something right. So whatever that thing is - please keep doing it!
The Jewish holidays are wonderful times to gather with friends and family, enjoy the unique rituals of the Chag, and the particular holiday foods. For Mount Scopus students, the Beit Midrash Chagim Learning Program also affords Years 8, 9 and 10 students the opportunity to explore the themes of the holidays through text study. Old Collegian madrichim are joined by Scopus’ own Sherut girls to run small group in-depth text study. Students in Year 8 focus on the
topic of miracles, Year 9 students explore important Jewish and non-Jewish figures in the holiday narrative, and Year 10 students contemplate more conceptual themes of the Chag itself. Students enjoy the change of routine, the chance to spend time with role models a little older than them, and the opportunity to see the holiday from a different perspective. No wonder they enjoy Beit Midrash sessions! www.scopus.vic.edu.au
Mount Scopus College Year 9 Beit Midrash session led by Old Collegian, Alex Miller
September 2019
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school/shul
Museums Together - fostering respect and acceptance THE KING DAVID SCHOOL ANDREW BERHANG Over the last month, the Year 6 cohort have been part of a pilot program called Museums Together. This program aims to not only educate students from Jewish and Islamic schools against intolerance and racism, but build real bridges between communities to foster respect and acceptance. The students met with students from Sirius College (predominantly Islamic families) and acted as guides at their respective museums, cultivating a deeper understanding of each other’s culture. King David students recently hosted Sirius College students at the Jewish Museum and St. Kilda Shule. The activities included: a Jewish History board game, a giant family story book, writing your name in Hebrew with ink and parchment, a synagogue tour (which included a mock-wedding), Israeli dancing, challah making, a role play of Shabbat and guess the Jewish object. The day was extremely successful with students from both schools breaking down barriers and enjoying each other’s company. The King David students were able to educate the Sirius students in a fun, engaging and interactive manner. There has been a lot of interest from the media, with ABC Radio National Life Matters doing an interview and a recent article published in the Australian newspaper. The Year 6 cohort will be travelling to the Islamic Museum early in November where they will reconnect with their Sirius College counterparts, this time learning about the Islamic Faith.
Rabbi & Rebbetzin Rabin teach the art of Challah & Cholent SOUTH CAULFIELD HEBREW CONGREGATION South Caulfield Hebrew Congregation recently hosted an evening for men and women entitled “Challah Bake & Cholent Make” with around 80 people in attendance. Rebbetzin Sarah Rabin explained about the mitzvah of “taking Challah” and also showed the attendees how to make and braid challah. The next session was a tutorial on how to make cholent led by Rabbi Daniel Rabin. Rabbi Rabin also explained some of the Halachik laws regarding the preparation
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in making and also about keeping the cholent hot on Shabbat! “It was a beautiful evening and I think both Challah and Cholent are two foods which have a strong connection for people to both Shabbat and Judaism in general!” said Rabbi Rabin. South Caulfield Shule hosts many events and programs throughout the year and you can find out more on their facebook page or website www.schc.org.au
King David Discover our creative and engaging programs designed to inspire young minds.
Book a Discovery Tour:
www.kds.vic.edu.au or email admissions@kds.vic.edu.au
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Judaism
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school/shul
September 2019
Connecting values to action
What every man should know about his health and what every woman should know about her partner’s health
As young people move through adolescence, they should be questioning, exploring and reflecting on not just what it means to be a student at Yavneh, but also what it means to be them. As educators we have the privilege of being part of that journey. It is part of our role to hold that space for students as they explore who they are, their likes and dislikes, their strengths and challenges. When we hold this space without judgement and we can approach these conversations with curiosity, we enable students to feel safe, to be authentic and make choices that are aligned with the people they are becoming. As parents, sometimes our ability to do that is not so easy. Ensuring we take some time to give ourselves space to consider the struggles a young person is facing, to remind ourselves of what we might have been like as an adolescent and to remember that young people are learning empathy but not always able to apply it, can help us regulate ourselves. A reoccurring issue we work on is building the link between the idea or theory and the application or behaviour. This shapes how we make learning visible in the classroom, using a range of formal and informal assessment tasks, where teachers check in on how students are connecting with the content and skills being taught. This link also resonates in all areas
CAULFIELDSHULE MIRIAM SUSS
LEIBLER YAVNEH COLLEGE DR AMANDA SAMSON
of learning, particularly in the area of social and emotional learning. Often we can ‘know’ what is means to be a good friend, a kind person, someone of integrity, a mensch, but we don’t make the connection between how that knowledge should be visible in the ways we behave with others. In a hyper connected world, students’ poor choices are swiftly visible to all. I would encourage all parents and adults working with young people to talk with them when they make decisions– positive and negative – and what motivated them. They look to society to understand what is ‘acceptable’ behaviour. As a society, we are in the midst of some very important change in terms of what we understand is acceptable behaviour based on gender and within relationships. Talking about this shift will be an important part of the Respectful Relationships Program. I encourage you to engage with the work the College will be doing in supporting students, and all of us, to make better connections between our values and our behaviours.
Caulfield Shule held its second Baby Boomers’ Breakfast Club event in August, attracting 120 guests and featuring four prominent medical specialists who presented on Mens’ Health across a number of specialties. Guest Speakers were Professor Leon Piterman, Dr Michael Olenski, Professor Mark Frydenberg and Dr Leon Massage. The dominant message to men was the importance of “servicing your body” with regular and ongoing health checks and screening, just as it is recognised that our cars need regular servicing to keep them running well. Not surprisingly we were told that many men accept the need to look after their cars, they often neglect their health. They are far less likely to visit a GP, and then
to follow up on any tests taken, than are women. The importance of screening for prostate disease was covered and the value of watching out for weight gain, which is often the forerunner and cause of serious disease. The incidence of depression and suicide in young men and even children under 15 in some communities, is of great concern. This function is one of an ongoing series of events focusing on “hot topics” being held by Caulfield Shule and geared at the Baby Boomer age group – 60s+. Future events will include renowned journalist and author Greg Sheridan and Lindsay Fox, businessman and philanthropist. For more information, contact the CHC office at admin@caulfieldshule.com. au, or check out the Shule website: www.caulfieldshule.com.au
L-R: Rabbi Genande, Professor Mark Frydenberg, Dr Michael Olenski, Dr Leon Massage, Professor Leon Piterman and Mr Mend
Ron Castan Humanitarian Awards Honour Community Heroes STAND UP: JEWISH COMMITMENT TO A BETTER WORLD JACQUI DUBS Stand Up celebrated unsung heroes, Debra Korman and Joel Lazar recently, for their outstanding humanitarian contributions. The Ron Castan Humanitarian Award went to Debra Korman for her tireless efforts and support for people experiencing homelessness. The Ron Castan ‘Young’ Humanitarian Award was awarded to Joel Lazar for his community work and dedication to preventative mental health and emotional intelligence education for boys and young men. Presented at Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL), in conjunction with the Castan family, these prestigious awards are given every two years, alternating between Melbourne and Sydney. Stand Up CEO, Jo Silver said, “These awards honour the legacy of the late Ron Castan AM, QC, and highlight the efforts of outstanding Jewish Australians who spend each day striving to make the world a better place”. Ron Castan AM QC, was a distinguished barrister, human rights advocate and ardent proponent to the advancement of the rights of Indigenous Australians. He played a leading role in some of Australia’s most significant legal cases, including the Franklin Dam case, and the groundbreaking Mabo case that recognised Aboriginal Land Rights in Australian law for the first time. The keynote address by Peter Seidel, ABL’s partner in Native
Title practice and Public Interest Law, recalled ABL’s history of close collaboration with Ron Castan, and his experience working alongside him on behalf of the Yorta Yorta people in their landmark native title claim. For the last 15 years, Debra Korman has organised a food van with volunteers from her synagogue, Kehilat Nitzan, in conjunction with the Father Bob Maguire Foundation. The food van assists 50 people weekly experiencing hardship and homelessness through the efforts of 100 volunteers - drivers, social workers, counselors, shoppers, cooks, dish-hands
and mobile hairdressers. Debra also arranges donations of food, winter coats, clothing, toiletries and personal items. She is at the park each week, rain or shine, and provides one on onesupport and connections. Debra is incredibly selfless and has also shown true generosity by becoming the ‘Australian Mum’ to a 20 year-old Iranian asylum seeker. Debra said “I feel humbled and inspired to be receiving an award in the name of Ron Castan, a man who stood up and fought for the disadvantaged, downtrodden and displaced. Ron’s legacy of speaking up for those who cannot, continues
to motivate others to take action and make a difference today”. Joel Lazar has dedicated himself to social justice education and is currently the Head of Operations at The Man Cave. He was also an educator and program designer at Stand Up while completing his law degree. Joel was the editor and driving force behind Stand Up’s popular New Australian Haggadah, Australia’s first social justice themed Haggadah. Today, Joel works to promote healthy masculinity, respectful relationships and gender equality through The Man Cave. Joel said, “Countless boys continue to inherit the age-old story that men should be emotionless, stoic and withdrawn. We’re now seeing the frightening impact of this story: the male suicide rates, violence, and social isolation and loneliness. I am committed to helping young men write a new story and discover the contribution they want to make to their families, communities and society. Receiving this award has given me a renewed appreciation for the countless Jewish Australians committed to making Australia and the world a better place”. Stand Up is a not for profit social justice organisation that harnesses the talent and dedication of Jewish volunteers into action to create a more just society. The organisation supports vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in Australia, and conducts social justice education programs for young changemakers, and the broader community. To volunteer or donate to Stand Up, visit www.standup.org.au
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lifestyle
September 2019
GELC Kinders ‘travel’ to Israel YESHIVAH - BETH RIVKAH COLLEGES
Children at the Gurewicz Early Learning Centre at Yeshivah and Beth Rivkah PreSchools revelled in a week of fun and learning as the Centre was transformed into a mini Israel for a spectacular “Israel Week”. The week covered many exciting elements of travelling to and visiting Israel, and with a bit of imagination the children experienced sitting in an ‘aeroplane’, with friendly morot dressed as El Al stewardesses stamping their passports and guiding them to their seats. The week of daily Israel-related activities ranged from experiencing the sights and smells of Machane Yehuda Market - trawling through stalls, filling their bags with the shivat haminim (the seven species) and paying for goods with shekalim. Touring to Meron, Kever Rachel and Maarat HaMachpelah was a chance to board an Egged bus, participate in an upshernish (hair cutting of a 3 year old
boy) and also dance around a bonfire. Filling small jars with coloured layers of sand was a highlight of the visit to Yam HaMelach (the Dead Sea), with other interesting ‘salt’ activities being conducted in the classrooms throughout the day. Children also enjoyed the opportunity to do some water paintings during their visit to the Artist’s Colony in Tzfat. An Israel Obstacle Course activity challenged the children to climb, run, balance and march their way around Israel – they climbed the hill to Masada, ducked under arches to kiss the Kotel, threw salt in the Dead Sea, and jumped around the Kinneret! To round off the week each kinder room was set up as Café Shalom – an Israeli restaurant – and children enjoyed a lunch of pita, felafel and salad. All the children were enthralled and engaged throughout the week – and developed their love of Israel through this exciting, educational week of activities.
Bialik College recognised as Employer of Choice BIALIK COLLEGE Bialik College is delighted to have been recognised as an Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2019. The Employer of Choice Award recognises the investment and effort Bialik has put into creating a world-class workplace for our staff, to partner our internationally renowned and admired Cultures of Thinking and Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy of learning anad teaching. Our students thrive because we attract and retain the very best teachers and
staff we can – staff who are passionate, hard-working and who enjoy teaching! It is very evident at Bialik, how much our students and teachers thrive in their stimulating and engaging interactions with each other – and having a happy workplace is central to creating this environment. As an employer, Bialik seeks to serve its staff by providing a workplace where people are passionate and committed to education and the College. This is evidenced by a low turnover of less than 10% in 2018. Bialik offers broad
opportunities for professional learning and development, including domestic school camps and international trips overseas, to Israel and China. Bialik is committed to offering staff the opportunity to be at the forefront of educational thought, through its association with Harvard University’s Project Zero. Enrolments at Bialik are growing. In July 2019 Bialik commenced the operation of a Creche to provide care for children from three months to pre Kinder. As a not-for-profit independent
school, Bialik takes great pride in its responsibility to the community and industry. A core focus of the College is to deliver consistently high quality education and success. However, an equally important responsibility that the College holds is to benefit society and community, whereby School Fee Assistance is offered to families who want a high quality education within a Jewish Cultural environment. We congratulate our school community on this outstanding accomplishment!
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lifestyle
September 2019 news
T RS ON FI ITI ED FREE
The first step for improved communication between couples ARMCHAIR PSYCHOLOGY AMANDA GORDON When asked their goal of therapy, most couples sitting in my room will talk to me about improving their communication. “If only we communicated better”, they say, “we’d be able to have a happy marriage.” These couples are quite right. Communication is a cornerstone of any good relationship. However, it is rare that I meet a couple where communication is the core problem. Many are communicating exactly how they feel to each other, and they are understanding each other perfectly. The real problem seems to be WHAT they are communicating – and that is, lack of respect. Their words, their non-verbal cues, their facial expressions are screaming: “I don’t respect you!” There is no doubt that if you communicate disrespect, it’s very hard for the other person to hear anything else you may be saying, except through that filter. Psychologists know that good relationships take hard work – that the better the relationship, the more work has been put into it. And we know that when you are working at a relationship you have to be looking for the good in the other person. That is, you find the things that you like and build on them, and support the other person in growing through their own difficulties to become even more worthy of your love. Considering that, in most cases, relationships begin with immense respect between the couple, you would think that as the work of the relationship continues on both sides, each would feel only increasing respect for the other. Love is only part of the necessary ingredients for a good relationship – in my opinion, respect actually trumps love as THE most important part of the relationship equation. So perhaps this explains the problem of disrespect in so many relationships. Couples believe that all they have to do is love the
other person and the relationship will take care of itself. They don’t think about the hard work that the best relationships take, because we don’t really talk about that. We talk about relationships that seem good and relationships that fail, without understanding that they only don’t fail when we put in the hard work. And I should add that it is the only work that makes you feel less tired, more energised, afterwards than beforehand. The work is of having your partner’s back, looking out for their needs, with the confidence that they are doing the same for you. The work is not about household chore sharing (although that can contribute to overall contentment). I am talking about putting the other person’s needs first in the relationship, being attuned to their moods and soothing rather than aggravating the other. I am talking about risking doing good things for the other person, even though they may not be noticed, and allowing yourself to feel good In the doing, rather than waiting for acknowledgement and building resentment when it doesn’t arise. So, to return to communication. The first thing is to be aware of what you are actually communicating. Are you being respectful of your partner and their needs? Are you trying to communicate something important when they are immersed in watching their very favourite TV series or sport (not respectful of them) and getting angry and resentful when they don’t listen? Are you being disrespectful of your partner’s need to talk now, and refusing to listen because it is interrupting your show, or are you acknowledging that your partner must really need you right now or they wouldn’t ask? The very timing and manner of your communication should be respectful and of course the words need to also convey respect. Being respectful is my first step for improving communication. With mutual respect will come reciprocity, you will each give to the other the time that is needed to share important things with each other. Amanda Gordon is a psychologist and the Clinical Director of Armchair Psychology, based in Edgecliff, Sydney.
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lifestyle
September 2019
A midnight visit A MIDNIGHT VISIT (BROAD ENCOUNTERS), ALEX FIRST A Midnight Visit is an immersive theatrical experience that combines dreams and whimsy with performance art. I spent a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours visiting and revisiting three dozen specially decked out rooms inside an abandoned North Melbourne warehouse. It is known as the House of Usher. With a series of polished wooden coffins in the anteroom (representative of a funeral home) before you are let loose to explore, there the undertaker expresses his condolences for lost loved ones. You are presented with a lightweight black surgical mask and told not to speak during your tour of the facilities. The reason for the former is that tuberculosis has taken hold. Death is in the air. There are some similarities to an Escape Room, except there are no real clues here, even though you might read some of what you see as such. Also, with an Escape Room there aren’t the diversity of experiences that you get here. I am loath to say too much about the rooms themselves for fear of spoiling the surprise. Suffice to say, there’s everything from a Victorian-era bedroom to a space filled with evocative black and white portraits. You move from a graveyard to a room where there is a sea of bright plastic pink balls to plunge into.
That, of course, is just brushing the surface. A Midnight Visit comprises the weird, the wacky and the wonderful. It’s a combination of music, dance, theatre, circus and burlesque. The macabre ideas explored by American Edgar Allan Poe were great stimuli for those behind A Midnight Visit, which explores madness, guilt, death, impermanence and memory. However, don’t think you need to be familiar with Poe’s stories or poetry to enjoy the experience.
And you don’t have to figure out what you are seeing. Just appreciate it for what it is – a zany mind bender. If you want you can choose to follow one or more of the characters – of which there are 11, including a bride, a nurse, an actress, a raven and a black cat. They are the troubled characters from Poe’s world and works. When they talk, they talk gibberish, but still you are drawn to them. I ended up frequently encountering the actress, portrayed by Megan Drury, and her stage craft and diversity were outstanding.
I was also one of cruel nurse Ligeia’s “patients”. You see, A Midnight Visit is interactive as well as immersive. You can pick up a book, read a letter, open a drawer, feel hair on a wall as you plunge into the world of the surreal. My finale had something in common with The Rocky Horror Show. I watched a short performance involving several of the characters that saw one of them wheeled out in a coffin. The closest thing to A Midnight Visit I have seen before was at the now defunct Owl and Cat Theatre in Richmond, where they presented Bordello in 2015. That was an immersive experience involving seven actors over three floors. This is set over two levels. Creative producers and curators Danielle Harvey, who is also director, and Kirsten Siddle have done a fine job with A Midnight Visit. The sound design and composition is by video game makers Kpow. The sets have been developed by a team of designers, scenic artists, prop makers and master builders. Melanie Liertz is responsible for the spectacular costuming, which helps transport you to the eerie world of make believe. I, for one, had heaps of fun with it all. So, why not take a trip to the wild side with some mates? A Midnight Visit is on at 222 Macaulay Road, North Melbourne.
CANsumerism
JEWISH ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION (JECO) SHARON FLITMAN
Welcome to the age of CANsumerism. We live in a world of cheap and on-sale shmonsis. ‘Specials’ encourage us to buy up big. Not because we need to, but because we can. Blinded by bargains, we forget the cost of these cheap ‘nice-to-haves’ on our environment. Let’s explore a few… Hot deal on the latest iPhone? Must be time for an upgrade. Your phone works fine, but upgrades are fun! According to Tech Radar, every mobile handset uses 16 of the 17 rare earth metals. These minerals are often difficult to source, finite in supply, and rapidly running out. No viable alternatives have yet been identified. Suggestions: • Keep your handset until its natural end of life. With planned obsolescence you’ll probably only have to wait 2-3 years. • Recycle your old phones - see JECO’s website3. Aviation carbonation Air travel is one of the biggest burners of fossil fuel. An economy single return flight to London produces almost 9.9 tons of carbon4 (business class even more!). Our annual ‘quota’ for preventing catastrophic global warming above 2oC is 2 tons/person, so even one overseas jaunt pushes us 5 times over. So even if you ride to work, recycle diligently and have a solar-powered home, regularly jetsetting even short distances costs the planet more than it can cope with in the long-term. Suggestions: • Try travelling locally - train trips like The Ghan or The Indian Pacific, or a Spirit of Tasmania cruise to Tassie.
• Use teleconferencing for interstate/overseas business meetings, and save an exhaust-ing plane trip. • Purchase carbon offset credits to help mitigate fossil-fuel flight costs. GreenFleet.org.au is easy to use and tax deductible. But remember: fewer flights is way better environmentally. Oh, it’s on special? Buy two! Ever popped into the supermarket for milk and emerged with a full trolley thanks to the temptation of specials? 20% of food we buy winds up in landfill. The average Aussie household’s weekly spend on food is $280-$3305, so we’re literally throwing out about $60 every week. That’s $3100 per year! It makes the 50c discount look trivial. Not to mention the environmental costs of growing, packaging and transporting each wasted item. Suggestions: • Plan meals pre-shop, and take a list to avoid accidental over-catering. • Watch ‘best before’ dates, and find a way to use foods before their time runs out. • Made too much? Freeze the leftovers for an easy instant meal another time. • Advertise unwanted food items to others via the (free) Olio app. The tenth commandment ‘Lo takhmod - Thou shalt not covet’ is the anti-consumerist, antiadvertising one. Coveting is wanting what someone else has – a flashy new phone, shiny new car… The advertising industry exists to make us see, want, and crave stuff enough to buy. Being able to buy what we want when we want it gives us an enormous amount of power. But as Uncle Ben from Spiderman taught us – with great power comes great responsibility. So yes – of course we can continue consuming at our current rate. But should we?
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20
sports
‘HaGal Sheli’: NGO helping at-risk youth given a new home in Tel Aviv-Jaffa HA GAL SHELI HaGal Sheli (meaning “my wave” in Hebrew) is a unique Israeli NGO which uses wave-surfing as an educational tool to take at-risk youth off the streets, and to empower them, and turn them into qualified surf instructors. The organisation was founded six years ago by Omer Tulchinsky and Yaron Waksman (whose father, Haim Waksman, was born in Australia). Omer and Yaron met during their academic studies, where they became the best of friends. Between surfing waves and studying, they came up with the idea of combining their two greatest loves – educating youth at-risk and surfing. To turn their dream into reality they started by voluntarily teaching 10 teenagers how to surf. Omer and Yaron both fell in love with the project, and left their jobs to devote themselves wholly to HaGal Sheli. Today, HaGal Sheli works with 800 at-risk teenagers each year. Its success can be measured to date by the 3,000 graduates of the program who have taken part in its activities at one of its three centres along Israel’s coastline – Bat Yam, Tel Aviv Jaffa, and Kfar Galim. HaGal Sheli operates various educational programs for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 from all walks of Israeli society – Jews, Muslims and Christians; secular and non-secular Israelis; immigrants; and
boys and girls alike. By facing the unique forces of the sea and overcoming the challenge of surfing, the participants are instilled with the selfconfidence and sense of achievement necessary to propel them through equivalent life challenges. The program uses the unique ‘headbody-head’ teaching method which consists of a theoretical lesson (head), surf practice in the water (body), and a discussion of conclusions and ways to implement and integrate the theoretical information experienced in the water (head). In order to ensure the teens’ success does not just stay in the ocean but continues in their day to day life, HaGal Sheli always works in conjunction with the staff of each teenager’s school and welfare team. HaGal Sheli continues to measure the results of its programs which show that: 86% of its participants report improvement in self-esteem, and 95% report an increase in persistence ability. Now ‘Hagal Sheli’ faces an exciting new opportunity which will enable it to broaden its impact even further. The Tel-Aviv Jaffa Municipality has given the organisation an opportunity to receive a new home in a heritage seafront building next to the Jaffa port which can accommodate up to 200 teens each day. The building will be called the AustraliaIsrael Surfing Education Centre..
Budapest plays host to 15th European Maccabi Games
MACCABI AUSTRALIA The Hungarian Jewish Community were ecstatic to welcome almost 3,000 athletes from 42 countries as they played host to the European Maccabi Games. Head of Delegation for Australia, Tom Goldman OAM said, “It was a phenomenal experience being a part of this open celebration of Jewishness in Hungary.” Maccabi Australia sent Tom Danos and Robert Kohn to represent Australia and they enjoyed the opportunity to compete at
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September 2019
the highest level in the over 65’s Master’s Tennis category. Both men put up a good performance, winning their first round matches and fighting hard in their second rounds, but falling short to miss out of progressing into the next round. These games, together with the Pan American Maccabi Games in Mexico City brings to a close the two regional games. Maccabi World Union now looks ahead to the next games on the events calendar, the Maccabiah Games in Israel in July 2021.