Central Synagogue - Passover Journal

Journal The Central Synagogue

pesach 5774 / 2014

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contents Welcome Message from Our President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Message from Rabbi Levi Wolff . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Message from Rabbi David Freedman . . . . . . . . 7 Passover, A National Holiday . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Soulmarket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 your PAssover guide Things To Do Before You Passover . . . . . . . . . . 13 The 15 Steps of the Seder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Four Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 How To Plate Your Seder Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 On Humility, Freedom And Tradition . . . . . . . . .18 voices from our community Overcoming Adversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Faith in Budzyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 tribute from our community The Last King of Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 I Remember My Grandmother . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 community news and updates Studio Central Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Hineni Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Hineni Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 S.p.a.r.c.s. Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Births . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Bar Mitzvahs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Bat Mitzvahs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Engagements & Weddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Upcoming and Past Events at Central . . . . . . . . 44

Pesach Calendar at the central Synagogue

Monday, 14 April – Erev Pesach, 1st Night Seder Shacharit and Siyum for First Born . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6:00am Latest time for eating Chametz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:02am Latest time for disposing of Chametz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:59am Mincha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:30pm Candle lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:16pm Maariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00pm Tuesday, 15 April – 1st Day Pesach, 2nd night Seder Shacharit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:45am Mincha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:25pm Maariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00pm Candle lighting not before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:10pm Wednesday, 16 April – 2nd Day Pesach Shacharit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mincha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maariv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Yom Tov ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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8:45am 12:25pm 6:30pm . 6:15pm

Thursday, 17 April – Chol Ha’moed Shacharit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:15am Mincha followed by Maariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:00pm 2nd Maariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30pm Friday, 18 April – Chol Ha’moed (Public Holiday) Shacharit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00am Mincha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:00pm Candle lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:11pm Maariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00pm

Condolences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Saturday, 19 April – Chol Ha’moed Shacharit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8:00am Mincha followed by Maariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:10pm Shabbat ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:06pm

The Central Synagogue Journal Pesach 5774 / 2014

Sunday, 20 April – Chol Ha’moed (Erev Yom tov) Shacharit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8:00am Candle lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:09pm Mincha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:30pm Maariv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6:00pm

Passover Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 The Passover That Was . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

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15 Bon Accord Avenue | Bondi Junction 2022 Sydney NSW Australia | +61 (02) 9355 4000 www.centralsynagogue.com.au Managing editor: Leigh Golombick

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Monday, 21 April – 7 Day Pesach (Public Holiday) Shacharit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:45am Candle lighting not before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:03pm Mincha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:24pm Maariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00pm Tuesday, 22 April – 8th Day Pesach Shacharit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:45am Yizkor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30am Mincha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:24pm Seudat Moshiach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:10pm Yom Tov ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:10 pm

message from our president

Pesach Message from Our President

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s we gather around the Seder table on Erev Pesach most of us will be blessed to share the festival with family and friends. Pesach is after all a festival for the Jewish family as it celebrates a most momentous event in our history, our liberation by Moshe Rabeinu from the slavery of Egypt.

The Haggadah encourages questions and promotes discussions. It has a dynamic of its own.

We sing songs together with our children, many of whom have been coached by their Jewish Studies’ teachers to participate fully in all aspects of the Seder.

The Pesach Seder has made an indelible impression on generations of our youth. So allow them a role as large as they are willing to take.

There will be some congregants or visitors who have no family or no opportunity to attend a Seder. Please take note of Rabbi Wolff’s recent appeal to make places available at your Seder tables to those who otherwise may be on their own. Some of the most wonderful of my childhood memories centre on Pesach, the preparation for the chag, koshering the home and setting the tables. By the time the night of the Seder arrived we were beyond excited.

My wish is that every member of our Jewish Community will be enveloped in the warmth and joy of the Seder festivities.

If our congregants are interested in accepting additional guests, please contact

pesach 5774 / 2014

by Danny Taibel

My wish is that every member of our Jewish Community will be the office and advise them. The Central Synagogue may be the largest synagogue in Australia but I would like to think that it is also the most caring.

My wife Dannielle and I would like to take this opportunity to wish our Rabbanim, Chazzanim, Shlichim, administration staff and the entire membership of The Central Synagogue, a pesach kasher ve’same-ach.

enveloped in the warmth and joy of the Seder festivities...

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message from our Rabbi

The Unbroken Seder Table

P

esach is the perfect time to rally the family together and enjoy listening to our remarkable Jewish story. This Pesach is no exception, and in fact, is the perfect occasion to combine it with your Central family too!

by Rabbi Levi Wolff

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Our annual second night Pesach Seder on Tuesday, 15th April, will be a night not to be missed as we all gather around and celebrate as one. To mix it up a little this year, we are also organising a relaxed and casual Chol HaMoed Barbecue for the whole family. Join us on Thursday evening, 17th April from 6:30pm in the Succah for lots of fun, festivities and non stop eating.

The last couple of months have been busy here at The Central Synagogue.

As you scroll through the pages of the journal we are honoured to join in the celebration of so many Births, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Engagements and Weddings. A MAZELTOV to all our celebrating families!

We welcomed our wonderful new Shlichim, Aaron and Shachar, from Eretz Yisrael. To say they hit the ground running is an understatement. Not even 48 hours off the plane and they were already leading the Hineni camp! Revamping our children services, forming strong bonds with our Hineni groups, introducing an Israeli movie night, running a Purim carnival is just to name a few of their many wonderful achievements to date. We look forward to many more!

Following Rosh Hashanah we celebrated Succot in style with a wonderful family dinner under the stars. The next

evening our young adults sang and schmoozed the night away at their “Sangria in the Succah” evening. All the while, Chanie and I, were delving deep into our Jewish roots during our hands-on and Bar and Bat Mitzvah Academy sessions. With over 35 graduates this year, we were so honoured to be a part of this special process.

As always our Westfield Chanukah efforts saw the likes of over 400 attendees.

We lit our beautiful menorah and listened to the magical voices of the Niasoff brothers and our Youth Choir.

Our Community dinners have been a wonderful highlight this year as we welcomed the likes of Richard Bernstein Esq., Clifford Rosenberg, Rabbi Riskin – just to name a few. We look forward to many more in the upcoming months.

I am also very honoured to have my younger, yet wiser brother (as he would tell you), Avremi visiting at the moment.

Avremi and I have spent many hours discussing exciting new ways to introduce Jewish learning here at The Central Shule.

Ways that will keep you constantly challenged but always excited at the same time. Next month we will launch a series of new and thought provoking classes at the Shule, stay tuned for more details!

The Seder summarises the drama and sweep of three thousand years of Jewish

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Fifteen such Seder tables takes us back some 3,300 years to that great night when the Israelites ate their matzah in Egypt preparing for the original Exodus!

history in the most remarkable way. Here's how.

Many Jewish families throughout the world are blessed with young children able to sit at the Seder table alongside their grandparents. So often, Sedarim span three generations: grandparents, parents, and their children. Being that the average generation gap is thirty years, the typical Seder, therefore, spans sixty years of Jewish history.

However, when grandparents are present at the Seder table they share memories about the Sedarim they experienced as children. They tell us the stories their grandparents told them.

Firsthand accounts that stretch back an additional three generations of Jewish history give us 120 years of firsthand Jewish knowledge at our Seder table.

But if we think about it, it’s even longer than that because the children at the Seder listening to their grandparents telling them stories about their grandparents will one day tell these stories to their own grandchildren. So add another 90 years on top of the 120 years, and you get 210 years of firsthand Jewish history linked at the Passover Seder!

Fifteen such Seder tables takes us back some 3,300 years to that great night when the Israelites

pesach 5774 / 2014

ate their matzah in Egypt preparing for the original Exodus!

What an incredible thing for the link to remain unbroken over so much time. We are here only because of the courage of successive generations of Jews — our Saba’a and Safta’s, Uma’s and Oupa’s — who went through crusades and inquisitions, expulsions and ghettos, pogroms, and even the Holocaust, and refused, with every fiber of their being, to surrender their Jewish identity.

On Seder night we link our songs and prayers to all those generations of Jews who preceded us, in a vast symphony called the Passover Seder.

She’Hechiyanu ViKimanu Vihigiyane L’zman Hazeh!

As we read the Haggadah we learn about our history and transmit that knowledge to the next generation. But consider this: Given that Jews have such a long and remarkable history, it is all the more surprising that Biblical Hebrew has no word for ‘history’. When Modern Hebrew linguists needed a word for ‘history’ they were forced to borrow one from others and came up with: “Historiah”.

It’s a paradox, but one of the best ways to understand a culture is to see which words are missing from its language.

For example, what is the word for “civility” in Modern Hebrew? Guess what? You can't say it in Hebrew because we don't have that word. We're still working on it. We have a different word, often found in place of civility, “chutzpah”.

How do you say chutzpah in English? Chutzpah! You see, the English language has 94 words 5

Each of the four cups we raise at the Seder is an act of memory and commitment.

The story we tell is not yet done.

It begins with our ancestors, fifteen Seder tables ago, and it continues with us, here, now in Sydney.

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for civility but could not come up with one word that comes close to chutzpah, so they borrowed it.

So maybe we can understand why in Hebrew there is no civility, but why don't we have a word for history?

The answer is that Judaism has something other than history. Our key word is memory — “zachor” in Hebrew.

The Torah uses the word zachor, “remember,” in one form or another an astonishing 169 times. “Remember the Shabbat...” “Zachor, remember the day you stood at Mount Sinai.... “Zachor, remember that you were slaves in Egypt...

Zachor, remember.”

There is a difference between history and memory. History is what happened to someone else. Memory is what happened to me. My experience.

History is: His-Story Memory is: My-story.

History is someone else’s story. It is about events that happened somewhere else, some other time, to someone else.

Memory is my-story. It is the story of which I play a part. I received my-story from my parents who received it from their parents, going all the way back to the dawn of Jewish history.

This is what makes Pesach so special.

It is more than history, it is living memory. The Haggadah is more like a family

album than a history book. Did you ever go to a history class where the professor pulls out a bitter herb matzoh sandwich?

No? That’s because a professor teaches history.

The Seder is memory. The Matzah, Maror and Charoses are family heirlooms, souvenirs of our stay in Egypt. Memory moves us, it inspires us. We cry with the bitter herbs of affliction, we taste the sweet wine of liberation.

History is information. Memory is identity. Without memory, identity vanishes. Just as it is with the individual, so it is with a nation. A nation has a strong identity as long as it remembers where it came from and who its ancestors were, and what they stood for.

Each of the four cups we raise at the Seder is an act of memory and commitment. The story we tell is not yet done. It begins with our ancestors, fifteen Seder tables ago, and it continues with us, here, now in Sydney.

We remember not out of curiosity or nostalgia, but because it is our turn to add to the story. My-story!

This year, let us begin the Seder, let us add our own individual contribution to the destiny of our people.

Chanie and the children join me in wishing you and your family a very happy, kosher and meaningful Pesach!

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Message from Rabbi David Freedman

PASSING ON THE BATON

L

ast December, I had the great pleasure of addressing my grandson in shul as he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. It was, without doubt, a special privilege to be able to offer words of Torah, and hopefully words of wisdom, to one’s own grandson on such a special day.

Although I wrote these words for myself, and in a sense for the other three grandparents, on delivering the drosha that morning, I felt as if I was speaking on behalf of every grandparent who had enjoyed such a moment in the past, or would enjoy such simchas in the future.

The feeling of continuity was all pervasive, as I called my grandson forward to receive a brocho from me. It was as if I was handing on the baton of Jewish tradition to him; I felt at that moment a sense of satisfaction and trust – that Judaism was safe and well in his hands for many decades ahead – probably extending beyond my own lifetime.

This connection between generations, between grandson and grandfather, made me think of the following words, written by former Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in relation to Pesach: “I sometimes ask people what they would speak about if they were in Moses’ shoes? Some say they would talk about freedom, others that they would speak about the destination that lay ahead: the “land flowing with milk and honey.” Yet others, made of sterner stuff, propose talking about the arduous journey that lay ahead, the march across the wilderness with all its hazards.

“Any of these would have been a great

pesach 5774 / 2014

speech by a great leader. Moses did none of these things. That is what made him a unique leader. If you examine the text in Exodus carefully, you will see that three times he reverted to the same theme: children, education and the distant future.

“And when your children ask you, What does this ceremony mean to you?” (Exodus 12:26). “On that day tell your son, I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt” (13:8). “In days to come, when your son asks you, What does this mean?” (13:14).

“Moses spoke not about freedom but about education. He fixed his vision not on the immediate but on the distant future, and not on adults but children. In so doing he was making a fundamental point.

It may be hard to escape from tyranny but it is harder still to build and sustain a free society.

“In the long run there is only one way of doing so. To defend a country you need an army, but to defend a civilisation you need education. That is why Moses, according to Rousseau, the world’s greatest architect of a free society, spoke about the duty of parents in every generation to educate their children about why freedom matters and how it was achieved.”

So with all of this in my mind, what

by Rabbi David Freedman

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...the Hebrew word for this basket – Tevah – is only used in the whole Tanakh for two people, Moshe and Noah – one saved his people, the other saved his

Artwork by Michoel Muchnik

world...

words did I find in my heart to speak to my oldest grandson?

Looking back into the past, in the hope of offering some useful advice for the future – what message did I give him on his special day?

Speaking about being connected to both the future and past simultaneously, there is no better place to start that conversation than at the beginning of Shemot – the Book of Exodus.

Let me explain why; as we come to the final verse of Bereishit, instead of an uplifting, upbeat, optimistic view of the Israelites in Egypt, we are left with the most graphic, almost morbid image of the past, a detailed description of the death of Joseph – nothing is more obviously related to the past, to history, to ancient history, often to grandparents and great-grandparents – than the fact that those who have gone before us, are often, sadly, no longer with us.

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Although Bereishit ends on this solemn note, the Book of Shemot, begins by sharp contrast, with birth: the birth of a child, who himself would one day bring re-birth, renaissance for his people – the birth of Moshe.

Like edited scenes in a movie, these images are stunning in their similarity: Joseph being placed in an aron, a casket; the infant Moses being placed in a different kind of container – a basket, that his mother would put him in and then send him down river. In fact the Hebrew word for this basket – Tevah – is only used in the whole Tanakh for two people, Moshe and Noah – one saved his people, the other saved his world.

Whilst some people are stuck in the past – always looking backwards – there are some exceptional people – who look to the future – who try and effect change, so that life can be better, always trying to improve on what had gone be-

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fore – such a person was Noah, and such a person was Moshe.

Every Bar Mitzvah boy and every Bat Mitzvah girl should pause and consider what the Jewish people have contributed to this world – not because they looked backwards – as important as memory and history is – but because they have looked forwards, because they prefer the Tevah to the Aron. Considering that the Jewish people constitute a mere one half of one percent of the world’s population, the Jewish contribution to religion, science, literature, music, medicine, finance, philosophy, entertainment etc., is amazing.

Jews have won well over 20% of all the Nobel prizes – including prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Literature, Economics and Medicine.

In the field of medicine alone, Jewish contributions are staggering and continue to be so. It was a Jew who created the first polio vaccine, who discovered insulin, who discovered that aspirin dealt with pain, who discovered chloral hydrate for convulsions, who discovered streptomycin, who discovered the origin and spread of infectious diseases, who identified the first cancer virus, who discovered the cure for vitamin deficiency diseases and added to the knowledge about yellow fever, typhoid, typhus, measles, diphtheria and influenza.

Today, Israel, a nation only sixty five years old, has emerged at the forefront of stem-cell research, which will, in the near future, give humanity unprecedented medical treatment for degenerative diseases.

Being a Jew is about becoming the type of person who looks forward, and sets as his goal the simple idea – that to be a Jew is to try and make the world a better place.

But there is something more than science and medicine, literature and economics – and that is morals. Not always what you do – but how you do it. Here again Shemot teaches us an amazing lesson. For by any standards Shemot represents a turning point in history.

The ancients could understand the victory of power over power.

pesach 5774 / 2014

Empires fought one another, armies clashed and the ancient gods were on the side of the strong. But then along comes the Bible, along comes Shemot, and shows that God is sometimes on the side of the weak, that He might intervene on behalf of the oppressed, that He might choose as His own people a group of slaves – this was remarkable. Individual slaves may have escaped to freedom before, but never an entire population.

It was a happening without precedent – and it gave every under-privileged person in the history of the world hope – and that is what Judaism does – it gives us hope in the future – which is why when Israel wanted a national anthem – it found one in Hatikvah – for we are the people that hope against hope – that might will give way to right.

There is something so decent in that idea – that principles overpower brute force, the goodness can defeat evil.

My final words to my grandson that morning were as follows: “I could continue – but what I am simply trying to say to you – is that you are a lucky boy – well not lucky, perhaps, fortunate or privileged – because you come from a wonderful family, and you belong to an exceptional people – live by their standards, live by their code – be a proud Jew, be a knowledgeable Jew, be a good Jew – and bring blessing into the lives of others, whenever you can, wherever you can – and when you bring blessing to others, blessings will come into your life, and please God, they will become and they will remain your constant companion – and bring you only happiness and joy and success in everything you do in the years ahead - and what more could any grandparent ask for than this!

As we sit around the seder table hopefully with children or grandchildren close by – may we all be blessed to see these words fulfilled in our own children, in our own families and in our own community for many years ahead.

Being a Jew is about becoming the type of person who looks forward, and sets as his goal the simple idea – that to be a Jew is to try and make the world a better place...

May I wish all the members of The Central Synagogue a Chag Kasher veSameach.

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Schlichim Report

Passover, a national holiday

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t the start of Leyl Haseder, the traditional Pesach meal during which all of us gather with our families around the table, Jews around the world proclaim, “may those who are hungry come in and join us”.

by Shachar and Aaron Kalman

“Ever since the initial story of the Exodus took place, Jews all over the world – and throughout time – have felt it relevant to themselves...”

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The notion of inviting all those in need to our table is, in our opinion, a good example of what Pesach – Passover – is about. For generations, Passover has symbolised the forming of the Jewish nation; it has become our founding story. While some holidays are about the individual or the family, Passover is about the Jewish people. From the time we left Egypt and received the Torah at Mount Sinai until we returned to Israel and founded the state, the Exodus has shaped us as a nation.

The story of Passover is, on many levels, the story of the Jewish people.

Ever since the initial story of the Exodus took place, Jews all over the world – and throughout time – have felt it relevant to themselves. It is no accident that we are told that each person must see his or herself as though “they left Egypt.” Not only telling the story of what happened, but reliving the experience. The recent miraculous exoduses from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia are but two examples.

It is on this holiday that Jews around the world gather to ensure this story lives on, not only in memory, but also in reality. It is on Passover that we gather with friends and family, welcome strangers

who need food, invite Elijah the Prophet to join us and take care to remember our place in the greater Jewish world.

Even before we were married, the two of us knew that we wanted to help maintain the special bond between Jews around the world. Unfortunately, this is a connection that, at times, seems relevant only in the face of a common enemy. For us, being part of the Jewish people is a vital part of our identity. This is why we chose to leave our friends and families in Israel and travel to Sydney – in order to further build and strengthen the ties between Jews around the world to our common heritage.

For us this is a special Passover, as it’s the first major chag – Jewish holiday – we’re spending with you, our new community. In the months since our arrival, we’ve been privileged to start working with everyone, trying to bring a taste of Israel with us. Our involvement in the children services, Hineni’s activities and the various programs we’ve done with the community have opened our eyes and made us appreciate the very special place we’ve arrived at.

Chag Same’ach

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SoulMarket

The Months in Review

by Avremi Wolff

Israeli Innovation

Credit: National Archives and Records Administration

in photos

In June, Google announced

the acquisition of Israeli navigation and traffic app Waze for more than $1 billion.

Two Israeli scientists and one American Jewish scientist in October won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for work that made it possible “to map the mysterious ways of chemistry by using computers.”

Thanksgivukkah

The manuscript of a Passover Haggadah printed in 1902, part of the Iraqi Jewish Archive, books and documents which are on display in Washington, DC, but are set to return to Iraq after the Washington exhibition. Iraqi Jews say the Iraqi government confiscated the materials from them.

preserving the Iraqi Jewish Archive

In November, the U.S. National Archives displayed 24 out of 2,700 Jewish books and ancient documents that were recovered in the basement of the Iraqi intelligence ministry during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

According to an agreement the U.S. signed with Iraqi authorities, the collection will be returned to the Iraqi government when its restoration is complete. But the Iraqi Jewish community says the Saddam Hussein government originally confiscated the materials from a synagogue in 1984. Forty-two groups, led by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, released a statement calling on the U.S. to assure that the archive would be protected and accessible to Iraqi Jewish communities worldwide.

Nov. 28 saw the convergence of Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah in a calendar anomaly that will not occur for another 75,000 years.

Marketing professional Dana Gitell coined and trademarked the term “Thanksgivukkah” for the occasion, which attracted an enormous following in the U.S. and around the world.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, o.b.m.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef,

former chief Sephardi rabbi of Israel and the spiritual leader of the Orthodox Shas political party since its inception, died in October at age 93. Yosef was responsible for several breakthrough halachic rulings, including declaring a collective recognition of the Jewishness of Ethiopian Jews and ordering the Shas party to vote in favor of a law recognizing brain death as death for legal purposes.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, who

Purim snapshot

Jewish humour has always been a pillar in our survival.

A Israeli boy’s Purim costume, offers a simple solution to ferociously debated topic occupying much time, in the already busy day of your average Israeli citizen.

pesach 5774 / 2014

became the first president of democratic South Africa in 1994 after having been imprisoned for 27 years under the apartheid regime, died in December at age 95. Jewish groups joined the global community in mourning his death. World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder called him “one of those very rare leaders who were revered not just by their own people but universally, across all political and communal divides.”

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Your comprehensive

Passover

Guide your total seder know-how

Who is this?

Read more about the “Fifth Son� on the next page...

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THINGS TO DO

BEFORE YOU PASSOVER Before Passover

Time To Seder 13/4 Search for The ChameTz

It is forbidden to eat Chametz—all leavened foods that contain wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt—on Passover. So collect products containg Chametz and isolate them in a designated “Chametz Closet.”

Then clear the house of any possible remaining Chametz: empty clothes pockets, vacuum cleaner bags, even the pet food goes into the Closet. Since you’ll use a separate set of dishes for Passover, the Chametz dishes get locked up too. Now stock up on Kosher-for-Passover items; for good leads on Passover foods check out www.ka.org.au ChameTz for Sale

Because it is even prohibited to “own” Chametz during Passover, lock your “Chametz Closet” and sell its contents to a non-Jew by filling out a “Mechirat Chametz” form. Sound complicated? It is, so ask the Rabbi to make the arrangements.

Please contact the Shule office on (02) 9355-4000 for more information.

At nightfall begin the “formal search” of the house for Chametz. Traditionally, we use a candle to light the way, a spoon (as a shovel), feather (as a broom) and a paper bag to collect any Chametz found. After the search, place everything you found in a conspicuous place to be burned in the morning.

14/4 Fast of The FirsTborn

the wine flowing; it’s a custom to drink a glass of wine every day of Passover.

20/4 And On The SevenTh Day

At sundown on 14/4 candles are lit. At nightfall the Seder begins.

15/4 Brighten Up

In the morning burn all the Chametz found during the previous night’s formal search.

Before the second Seder begins candles are lit after nightfall from a pre-existing flame. Tonight we begin to count the Omer, which lasts for 49 days.

What’s the Omer? In the Holy Temple the Omer was an offering of barley taken from the first grain of the new crop. We count seven weeks, from the bringing of the first Omer offering (Passover) until the day we received the Torah (the Festival of Shavuot). The 49 days between Passover and Shavuot represent the 49 steps of mystical self-purification and preparation our people went through between leaving Egypt (Passover) and receiving the Torah (Shavuot).

Making NoThing inTo a Big Deal

Four InTermediaTes Only

When G-d slew the firstborn of Egypt, he spared the firstborn sons of Israel.

Out of gratitude all firstborn sons fast on this day.

Prepare To Celebrate

Stock up on Seder foods well before Passover begins. But wait. To build an appetite for the Seder abstain from eating any Seder plate foods today, especially Matza. So if you’re a lover of bitter herbs and raw onions, stay out of the kitchen.

Burning of The ChameTz

After cleaning the house, and selling and burning the Chametz, the head of the household says the appropriate prayers, verbally disowning any Chametz that might have been overlooked.

In between the first two and last two days of Passover, go ahead and function relatively normally. The only exception is, like your mother keeps telling you, you shouldn’t work too hard. But keep

At sundown light candles. This day marks the Miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and our total liberation from Egypt. In commemoration, we stay up all night studying Torah.

21/4 The Finals

After nightfall light candles from a pre-existing flame.

This day, the final day of Passover, emphasizes an even higher level of freedom. It is dedicated to our imminent and Final Redemption.

22/4 LasT BuT NoT LeasT

Yizkor memorial prayers are recited during services.

Following the custom of the Ba’al Shem Tov, Passover concludes with a “Feast of Moshiach”—a festive meal complete with Matza and, yes, four cups of wine. It begins before sunset and is designed to greet Moshiach, offering us “a glimpse of the Messianic age.” Nightfall marks the official conclusion of Passover. Wait an hour to give the Rabbi enough time to buy back your Chametz and then, eat Chametz to your heart’s content.

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endured in Egypt ... By relating to their plight, we feel what is broken in our own humanity...”

A Personality Assessment

material destitution our people

THE FOUR SONS

“It personifies the spiritual and

Step 1: Kadesh (Sanctify)

the 15 steps of the

Passover

seder Inner perspective on the seder

Bless the first cup of wine. // Kadesh, which means “set aside,” begins the Seder by affirming our desire to elevate this night above all that is mundane.

With it we declare to ourselves and all that are present that this is “The Season of Our Freedom.” To stress this point, we recline to the left when drinking, as only free people did in ancient times. // The blessing is a spiritual wake-up call placed with the hope that we will open ourselves to the divine possibilities that await us.

STEP 2: Urchatz (Wash)

Wash the hands (in the ritual manner but without reciting a blessing). // As the first step on the journey to freedom, we sublimate spiritual distractions by purifying our hands, the most active part of our body, with water. // The Kabbalah teaches that hands represent expressions and attributes, while water epitomises intellect and purity. Washing refines our attributes with intellect, enabling restrictions to turn into benevolence, hate into love, and personal slavery into freedom. // The observance, one of many during the Seder intended to pique the interest of children, awakens the innocence within each of us.

STEP 3: Karpas (Vegetables)

The Footsteps of Faith: Elijah will herald the good tidings of the coming of Moshiach, may it be soon, Amen.

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Recite the appropriate blessing for vegetables, then dip the Karpas vegetable in saltwater before eating it. // In the saltwater we can taste the tears of anguish and despair our ancestors shed as their spirits were crushed in Egypt. // When rearranged, the word Karpas alludes to the word Perech, or “crushing labor.” Our people were forced to perform senseless tasks in Egypt, endless drudgery without meaning, purpose or

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Despite his intelligence, the Wise Son insists on asking the same question year after year. He’s also obsessive about the discussion thing, making it rather difficult to get on with the Seder. // A fun guy to have around, the Wicked Son’s cynicism is driven by his need to fit things into his down-to-earth world. Sitting next to his wise brother, he injects spice into the evening with his snide and provocative comments. // Out there in a world of silent amazement, the Simple Son is a transparent channel for the Infinite. If only he could tell us about it. // The Son Who Doesn’t Know How to Question probably thinks he is the wise son. When you know it all, there’s nothing left to ask. // He’s not in the photo, because he doesn’t even know it’s Passover, The Fifth Son is the most important one. He’s the son who has yet to experience the freedom of Passover.

goal. // Why, some 3,000 years later, do mindless routines and habits, or careers driven by the need for status, still dominate our lives so often?

STEP 4: Yachatz (Breaking)

The middle matza (of the 3) is broken in two pieces. The larger piece, designated as the Afikoman, is wrapped and hidden away for the children to discover. // The smaller broken piece, the “bread of poverty,” takes center stage while retelling the story of the Exodus. It personifies the spiritual and material destitution our people endured in Egypt once they no longer grasped the meaning of true freedom. By relating to their plight, we feel what is broken in our own humanity. At the same time, when the children hide the Afikoman we sense the larger dimension of our being, the part of our soul never touched by slavery that waits to be discovered.

STEP 6: Rachtzah (Washing)

Wash the hands and recite the blessing, Ahl Netilat Yadayim (on the lifting of the hands). // We prepare to internalize the humble nature of matza by uplifting our extremities and expressions. // In its literal sense, the word netila means to move something from one place to another. With this blessing we remove the physicality and vulgarity that may dwell in and around the hands, raising them up for what is to follow.

pesach 5774 / 2014

STEP 8: Matza (Blessing the matza)

Return the bottom matza to the Seder plate. Holding the remaining one and one-half matzot, recite the blessing for eating matza, ahl ah-chilat matza. // Our ancestors fled Egypt with inconceivable haste, leaving no time for the dough that would nourish them to rise. Once free, their first taste was the “bread of poverty,” matza. From a mystical viewpoint, matza exemplifies a selfless ego. It was with this trait, rather than arrogance, that they accepted G-d-given freedom. Humility allowed them to appreciate the gifts of life. After the blessing, recline to the left and eat at least one ounce of matza.

STEP 9: Maror (Bitter Herbs)

STEP 5: Maggid (Telling)

“Tell your children G-d took you out of Egypt.” Fill the second cup of wine, then retell the story of our rise from the depths of bondage to the heights of redemption. // Maggid begins with the children asking, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” The question can put us in touch with the innocence of children as we contemplate the dynamics of liberation. // Are we eating the matzah out of habit, or because we are ready to embrace its significance? Are we observing these rituals to assuage guilt, or to actualize the desire to live a more meaningful life? // When we allow the events in the Maggid to touch us to the core, we reveal the candor that children hold dear.

At the conclusion of Maggid, we savor the second glass.

eating to gain energy with which to better serve G-d, good prevails.

STEP 7: Motzi (Blessing over Bread)

Hold the broken half-matza and two whole ones while reciting the appropriate blessing for bread, hamotzie leh-chem min ha-aretz. // The word lechem (bread) contains the same letters as lochem (war). Food is raw energy that holds the potential for either good or evil. Thus, a spiritual battle ensues every time it is consumed. If the purpose in eating is solely to gratify physical cravings, evil prevails. However, when

Take at least 3/4 ounce of bitter herbs and dip it in the charoset, shake off the excess, and recite the blessing ahl ah-chilat maror before eating. // Having meditated on the bitterness of exile during Maggid, we now physically experience its force. The impact further clarifies the significance of our exile. // Before we can experience true freedom we have to internalize the might of our haardship—and accept that when we make the right choices, hardship exists only to make us stronger.

STEP 10: Korech (Sandwich)

Break off two pieces of the bottom matza (at least one ounce). Take 3/4 ounce of maror, dip it in charoset and shake off the excess. Place the maror between the two pieces of matza and say, “Thus did Hillel do in the time of the Holy Tem-

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“Maror alludes to the wicked, while matza refers to the righteous. Hillel, the great Jewish sage known for his compassion, instructed the righteous to reach out and draw the wicked closer.”

ple…” Recline while eating. // Maror alludes to the wicked, while matza refers to the righteous. Hillel, the great Jewish sage known for his compassion, instructed the righteous to reach out and draw the wicked closer. // Likewise, now that we have felt what it means to break free of slavery on a personal level, it is our obligation to share the experience with others.

STEP 12: Tzafun (Hidden)

At the conclusion of the Passover meal, children return the Afikoman.

Eat at least one ounce of this matzah.

Nothing else except the remaining two cups of wine is consumed thereafter. // It was necessary to partake in every step, every ritual, every taste and every thought before the Afikoman is revealed; then, we can become one with

the passage inviting the Prophet Elijah to appear. // Imagine all of creation in a state of spiritual and material freedom.

Think about a world free of pain and suffering, war and struggles. Imagine all of existence at this level. Imagine yourself, the light of a single candle, ushering in the era of our redemption.

STEP 14: Hallel (Songs of Praise)

We offer praise to G-d for his mercy and compassion in redeeming our people from Egypt, and in anticipation of our own ultimate redemption. // Why does G-d need us to praise Him? He doesn’t, we do. As the Kabbalah explains, when we praise His kindness we reveal His compassion. When praying for our needs, we evoke His desire to give.

STEP 15: Nirtzah (Accepted) STEP 11: Shulchan Orech (Festive Meal)

In many traditions the meal begins by dipping the hard-boiled egg from the Seder plate in saltwater to symbolize our constant mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple, and to allude to G-d’s desire to redeem His people. “Ess, mein khind!” // Across the community and throughout the world, we are together at the Seder table. The wise, the wicked, the simple and the innocent, all equal in the eyes of each other and the eyes of G-d. And we remember the fifth son—he who has not yet experienced the freedom of Passover. We are united as one in the common goal of redemption.

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its Divine potential. We eat it only when completely satiated because it fulfills a need higher than the hunger for freedom, and we eat nothing afterward so that its taste remains with us. // In the Seder, as with everyday life, there are no shortcuts to the greater dimension.

Yet we are always aware that it is present and yearns to reveal itself when we seek with a pure heart.

STEP 13: Beirach (Grace after Meal)

Recite the blessing over the third cup of wine, then drink while reclining.

In anticipation of our Ultimate Redemption, we now fill a special goblet, the Cup of Elijah. We then open the door to the house and, holding a lit candle, recite

The Seder concludes with the wish, L’shana Ha-ba-ah Bi-Yerushalayim. We hope for each other that which our forefathers prayed for while enslaved in Egypt, “Next Year in Jerusalem!” // Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi omitted the passage, “The order of Passover is concluded,” from his Haggadah because the Seder’s message remains timeless.

Every day, one leaves Egypt by transcending his limitations, to reach higher levels of holiness.

Next year in Jerusalem!

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How to Plate

Your Seder Plate bEiTzaH

Maror

A hard-boiled egg to commemorate the chagiga-holiday sacrifice.

Prep: Boil one egg per Seder plate, and possibly more for use during the meal. Use: The egg is dipped into saltwater and eaten right before the meal starts.

Maror or bitter herbs to remind us of the slavery. Most use fresh grated horseradish on romaine lettuce.

Prep: Buy fresh horseradish root and grate it. Use: During the blessing over the bitter herbs hold the maror and then dip it lightly into the charoset before eating it.

KarPaS

Karpas vegetable for dipping. The traditional potato or onion is dipped into saltwater at step 3 in the seder to provoke questions.

Prep: Peel an onion or boiled potato and place slice on seder plate.

Also prepare a small bowl of saltwater.

Use: At Karpas the vegetable is dipped into saltwater, the Borei Peri Ha’adama blessing is recited, before it is eaten.

pesach 5774 / 2014

zroaH

CHazErET

Maror or bitter herbs remind us of the slavery. Most use fresh grated horseradish on romaine lettuce.

Prep: Buy fresh horseradish root and grate it.

Use: During the Korech sandwich of matza and maror use these bitter herbs. Dip it lightly into the charoset before using it.

CHaroSET

Charoset (the apple, nut, wine puree) to remind us of the mortar and brick made by our ancestors in Egypt.

Prep: Shell walnuts and peel apples and chop finely, mix well and add red wine for color. Use: The Charoset is used as a symbolic dip.

Before eating the Maror, dip it lightly into the Charoset.

Shank Bone to commemorate the Pesach sacrifice. Many use a roasted chicken neck.

Prep: Roast the neck over an open flame.

Afterwards, remove most of the meat to reveal the bone. Use: The shank bone is symbolic and not eaten. You can re-use it the following seder night.

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Your Personal Exodus:

On Humility, Freedom and Tradition

By Rabbi Zalman A. Kantor

A

Passover: What’s it about?

s chirping frogs herald the advent of spring and newspapers tell of swarms of locusts descending upon the Middle East , you know that Passover is in the offing. Passover is the biblical holiday that celebrates the exodus of the Jewish people from Ancient Egypt and their miraculous deliverance from slavery under the Pharaoh and his bloodthirsty cohorts in the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE).

This year Passover arrives on Monday evening, April 14. Observances include a variety of elements: There’s the traditional seder that includes matzah, bitter herbs, four cups of wine, reliving the story through the reading of the Haggadah-liturgy, a festive meal, the asking of the four questions, and so much more. Many a pleasant childhood memory has been created from this warm, spiritual, family-oriented tradition.

Preceding the holiday comes a springcleaning of sorts to remove from our homes even the slightest speck of

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chametz (leavened-grain from wheat and barley and the like, such as that found in bread, pasta, pretzels, or things like beer or vodka etc.). And for eight and a half days, beginning mid-morning on Monday until nightfall on Tuesday April 22nd, we avoid chametz and its derivatives like the plague. For an amazing online Passover resource, with sections for all ages, go to www.passover.net.

Matzah Messages

Although Passover is strictly a Jewish holiday, it carries some timeless and universal messages. Take matzah, for

example. It commemorates the haste in which the Jewish people left Egypt – they had to bake quick provisions but there was no time for the dough to rise – and the extraordinary faith they displayed by following the G-d-sent Moses into the desert, all without a survival plan.

Matzah-flat, crunchy, and unleavened – also represents humility and selflessness. It takes humility to believe, it takes humility to learn, it takes humility to think of others, and it takes humility to truly grow. Humility allows us to recognize when we louse up, and encourages us to improve rather than remain stuck in the dark, unready to admit fault or failure.

In other words, matzah provides an escape hatch. Fascinatingly, this is signified by one minor detail in the one Hebrew letter that differentiates the word from its undesired leavened counterpart. The hey in matzah, unlike the chet in chametz, leaves a small opening between the leg and the roof of the doorway-shaped letter that both words

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The central point is that doing what you want, whenever you want, and however you want, does not necessarily equal true liberty – ask anyone recovering from the pestilence of addiction...

share.

Self-Esteem

Chametz is typically dough that has been allowed to rise and grow puffy – representing selfishness, arrogance and bloated selfawareness. These natural human vices have existed since time immemorial, but perhaps a refresher can be useful in our modern era, where the lines between self-esteem and selfabsorbedness have often blurred.

With its eight-day focus on humility, Passover helps provide clarity and demarcation. Selfesteem is laudable when it contributes to a healthy foundation. This includes treating oneself with self-respect; not having unwarranted insecurity or an inferiority complex; having the confidence and courage to try new things and stand up for what’s right; and to recognize one’s infinite value as a human-being created by G-d.

When it develops an appetite for vanity and personal gain, the self-esteem “miracle-staff ” begins to turn serpentile.

A balanced self-esteem hails from selflessness and humility – which should not be confused with timidity or weakness. It takes profound humility to serve, and significant selflessness to recognize that you are here for a purpose other than self-perpetuation: namely, to make the world a kinder, better, more moral and divine place.

Moses was called “the most humble of people upon the face of the earth,” yet he stood up fearlessly to the Pharaoh, spoke and even argued with G-d, and led

passover journal 2014

his people with love, compassion, and – when necessary – a firm hand. He was not self-indulgent but self-abnegating; he was not self-centered, but self-effacing; and he was also not self-conscious, but self-assured. Perhaps this is what allowed him the true freedom to soar.

Freedom

Much more can be said on the topic of humility, and about freedom, too (Passover being called the Holiday of our Freedom). It boils down to this: the price for freedom is the readiness to sacrifice certain conveniences for the sake of something larger and better. A caring and responsible parent knows that raising a child with completely unfettered boundaries will more likely produce a wild beast than a kind, productive, upstanding person.

A budding pianist knows that slavelike attention to repetition, technique, and practice is what produces the most freeing thrill of beautiful music. The examples abound, but the central point is that doing what you want, whenever you want, and however you want, does not necessarily equal true liberty – ask anyone recovering from the pestilence of addiction. “Let my people go,” the call that has spawned many a freedom movement, is only the first half of the phrase. The pivotal ending to that phrase is, “so that they may serve Me.”

Timing

Passover “service” goes beyond matzahballs and brisket. Like our pia-

nist, there is a songbook with notes to follow, the Haggadah, with guidelines on how to achieve the best results. There is the concert date and start time, when the spiritual divine Passover energy reigns. Tevye chalked it up to tradition, and traditions certainly die hard. But the details do have rhyme and reason too.

If you are making a seder this year let me suggest that you try and incorporate at least one key upgrade, particularly regarding timing. If you typically start your seder before dark, at least try and keep some of the crucial components going until after dark, when the gates of Heaven are open. If you were planning the main family seder get-together for another night, at least eat some matzah on Monday (and Tuesday) night. Same if you weren’t planning a seder at all.

Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Because having a higher purpose to life; an objective guide to what is good, moral, and compassionate; and the humility and discipline and passion to do the best with the blessings we have been endowed, is the most freeing thing on earth.

Rabbi Zalman A. Kantor (together with his wife Rochel) direct the Chabad Jewish Center of Rancho S. Margarita, in California. He can be reached for comment at info@jewishrsm.com.

Reprinted with permission from SoulWise Magazine, Passover 2014 Did you find hints to the famous ten plagues hidden throughout this article?

If not, time for a re-read!

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voices

Overcoming adversity Daniel Weiss’s Story A grandmother’s dream comes to fruition

by Bella Wolfson

I

was born and raised in the Soviet Union and come from a family who were Rabbis despite of all the prohibitions and persecution. My uncle was imprisoned for 5 years because he opened up a small religious school and had built a room where people could come and pray in our home. Despite of all the harsh decrees, my grandmother and mother managed to lead a religious life.

They would bake Matzos in our home secretly and would give them to as many people as they could. We had many people come to our home to celebrate Pesach. It was a very exciting and exhausting time, cleaning the house, changing over the dishes, the smell of the cooking, we couldn’t wait. Seder finally arrived. My grandmother would tell us stories from the Torah and as children we would listen with abetted breath. My uncle with his Red Haggadah would read and translate it from Hebrew to Russian as we patiently listened to him and did everything he said.

Those memories will always be with me.

At school, we were afraid to say that we celebrated Pesach and ate matzos. My grandmother would bake us small cakes made from matzos and we would eat it discreetly.

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I immigrated to Australia from Israel when my grandson Daniel was born.

Like any grandparent, I dreamed that my grandson will grow up with Yiddishkeit, go to a Jewish School, have his Bar Mitzvah, finish university, be a doctor or even a lawyer, and if I am lucky even stand under the Chuppah with him.

At the age of 3, Daniel was diagnosed with Autism, Global Developmental delay and Intellectual disability. To say we were shocked would be an understatement! From here our lives revolved around helping Daniel including hours of speech therapy, social learning, selfhelp skills, just to name a few.

At the age of 6 years, Daniel started satellite classes with Autism Association and in addition had 3 hours of after school therapy at home every day. Daniel made good progress and continued

his studying at Waverley Primary School. My dream of Daniel to study at a Jewish School and have his Bar Mitzvah was always with me.

In 2009 I went to The Central Synagogue with my dear friend, Devorah Markovits where I met Rabbi Levi Wolff.

I really enjoyed the service and listening to Rabbi Wolff’s drosha. The next time I asked my daughter Olga to accompany me to shule together with Daniel. After

The central synagogue journal

At the age of 3, Daniel was diagnosed with Autism, Global Developmental delay and Intellectual disability. To say we were shocked would be an understatement!

attending The Central Synagogue several times, Daniel began to realise and understand that we are Jewish. He loves and relates to Rabbi Wolff not leaving till he shakes his hand and chats with Rabbi Wolff every Shabbat.

I decided to make an appointment with Rabbi Wolff to discuss the possibility of Daniel attending a Jewish School.

Since our first meeting with Rabbi Wolff I felt the warmth, understanding and

pesach 5774 / 2014

compassion given to us and when we left we felt assured that Rabbi would do everything he could to fulfil this dream.

Yes, that dream became a reality when Daniel was accepted at a Jewish school. As for Daniel’s Bar Mitzvah, the date was set for 18 January 2014. Uncle Velvel, spent a year teaching Daniel his Parsha in Hebrew and as well as taught him the Alef, Bet and to put on his Tefillin. Daniel learnt his Parsha and that “Dream Day” finally arrived. Daniel read his Parsha from the Torah fluently. He received his Bar Mitzvah gift from the shule with such a big smile on his face.

Tears just streamed down my face. I felt

like this was all just a dream. The happiness one feels, no amount of words can describe it.

With the help of Hashem and with people like Rabbi Levi and Rebbetzen Chanie Wolff, Devorah Markovits, Uncle Velvel and Rabbi Freedman and this beautiful community, this dream became a reality.

We still have a long way to go with Daniel, but I hope and pray that we will be able in the future to see the result of all the hard work and to have the opportunity to meet with you all on many joyous occasions.

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voices

Faith in Budzyn A Pesach Story of Dovid Henoch Zaklikowski

by Judy Tova Wilkenfeld and Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky

W

orking as a family historian, I get to know and meet many interesting people. It happened that while completing the family roots component of the book that our Rabbi Levi and Rebbetzin Chanie Wolff made in honour of their son Mendel’s Bar Mitzvah, I was introduced to a fellow historian, archivist and story teller, Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky. A close friend of Rabbi Wolff, Eliezer and I began an email exchange that ended up with me assisting him in the hunt for his family roots, amongst other things. I never doubt that it is indeed I who learns more from and come to be inspired by the stories that are presented to me when seeking out other peoples’ histories. One such story that Eliezer had relayed to me involved his grandfather Rabbi Dovid Henoch Zaklikowski.

Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky established the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe, New Jersey. He is an accomplished educator specialising in Jewish educational programming and has published and edited many books.

Judy Tova Wilkenfeld is a current serving Board Member, Family Historian and Jewish Genealogy Specialist.

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Dovid Henoch Zaklikowski grew up in the court of the Sokolov Chassidic dynasty in the town in Sokolow Podlaskie Poland.

His father, Moshe, was the beadle of the Sokolover Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzchak Zelig Morgenstern who was the grandson of the Kotzker Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Morgenstern of Kotzk. Having completed his school studies in Sokolow, he travelled to Warsaw to attend the Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch Yeshiva.

Congregants who read the book for Mendel Wolff’s Bar Mitzvah, may recall that Chanie’s grandfather, Rabbi Moshe Pinchos HaKohen Katz attended the same Yeshiva.

The two formed a close relationship that would last a lifetime. They reconnected after arriving in America, and later moving to Crown Heights, near Chabad headquarters, where they shared a daily Talmud Shiur for many years. Two of Rabbi Levi Wolff’s grandfather’s, Rabbi Yechezkel HaKohen Deren and Rabbi Ephraim Wolff also attended the same Yeshiva in Otwock, Poland.

Dovid Henoch soon married Miriam Chechler, the daughter of a well-known Gerrer Chassidic dynasty from Krasnik, Poland and together they had a daughter, Tzirel.

When the Nazi’s marched into Poland, Dovid Henoch was taken to a number of labour and concentration camps. He cheated fate many times in the camps. A friend of Dovid Henoch who was interned in the

The central synagogue journal

“...Nevertheless, Henoch’s smile and upbeat mood were never far away. The soldiers would hit every other group, but Henoch’s smile often softened even their stone hearts, sparing us painful beatings”...

A young Dovid Henoch Zaklikowski

Budzyn concentration camp recounted one of those stories.

“In the Budzyn concentration camp, we were supervised by Germans who had immigrated to Poland several years before the war. Henoch and I worked in the camp’s carpentry department, and one of our duties was to fix buildings for the German army located outside of the concentration camp. Conditions at Budzyn were not as difficult as the other camps we both endured for the remainder of the war”.

“The Germans screamed at us nonstop. We began to call them the “shreiers” (“screamers” in Yiddish). We

passover journal 2014

had no prior experience with carpentry, and were not working fast enough.

Nevertheless, Henoch’s smile and upbeat mood were never far away. The soldiers would hit every other group, but Henoch’s smile often softened even their stone hearts, sparing us painful beatings”.

“As the holiday of Pesach was approaching we worried terribly about the remote possibility of being able to celebrate at least some semblance of the holiday, which after all represents the exodus of our ancestors from slavery. We hoped and we prayed that by some miracle the grace of G-d would

shine upon us even as we were ourselves enslaved”…

“My brother worked in another factory, not far away, where conditions were even more lax than ours. Before Pesach they were able to achieve the almost impossible, and somehow managed to bake Matzot, the unleavened, cracker-like bread, and he was able to send us several of them. However, we still worried about how we would have the strength to work”.

“By the conviction and determination of Dovid Henoch, we made the steadfast decision that come what may, we will not eat any Chametz, leavened bread, for the entire 8 days of the Pesach holiday. We only prayed to G-d that we would be able to keep to this resolution.

As the daily workload would obviously continue throughout the holiday, where would we find the strength and physical energy to maintain the work schedule without having eaten anything”?

“And sure enough, within the dark walls of the concentration camp, a Passover miracle”!

“One of the workers in the kitchen who had been friendly with several Jewish families in his city, and was knowledgeable of the Jewish holidays and their customs, approached us and offered to give us more soup on the

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A young Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky with his grandparents, Rabbi Dovid Henoch & Mila Zaklikowski (Mattil).

holiday, and to save our daily bread for us until after Passover. We were shocked by his offer and knew he was placing his own life in jeopardy. It was well known that the SS officers strictly forbade the kitchen workers to change the portions or to give anyone extra food”.

“The religious Jews in Budzyn gratefully accepted his offer, and felt that now they would be able to more or less survive the holiday”.

“However, on the last day of Pesach the Germans decided to take us on a ‘death march’”.

“They made us walk for hours and hours. Many of the Jews, who had not eaten anything more than soup and some matzah crumbs for seven days, could not continue. The Germans immediately murdered anyone who collapsed from hunger or fatigue. They rode on horses alongside us, and took pleasure in scaring us with the horses and with their wild dogs. This was a highly traumatic experience that I will never forget”.

“When we finally arrived back at the concentration camp after the death march, literally on the verge of death, we immediately devoured the bread that the kitchen worker had been saving to give us after Pesach. But Henoch 24

somehow summoned the fortitude and self-sacrifice not to touch the bread until after Pesach ended. Thereby, maintaining his commitment to keep this sacred Mitzvah, even under these dire circumstances”.

From Budzyn, Henoch was transferred to several concentration camps, including Auschwitz. It was in Auschwitz that he learned about the death of his sister Esther and her children.

Another friend recounted: “Your grandfather was standing in line at the infamous Auschwitz gas chambers. He knew exactly where the line was headed; there were no secrets.

It was Friday evening, and as he and his fellow inmates waited, the sun began to set. Henoch stuck his hand in his pocket and gathered the scraps of hard bread that he had been collecting the entire week. Every day he rationed his already meagre portion of bread, so that at the end of the week he could make the traditional kiddush blessing, sanctifying the Sabbath, over a few crusts of bread”.

“He was determined to fulfil this divine precept even as he waited, knowing full well it would probably be his last. To the utter amazement of those nearby, and despite their protests, he proceeded to recite the benediction aloud, as

though he was standing at the Sabbath table. “Yom Hashishi Vayechulu Hashamayim Vehaaretz Vechol Tzevaam…

Savri Maranan, Baruch Atah Adonai”… He ate a crumb, and shared the rest with those around him. Incredibly, at that exact moment the mechanism that operated the chamber of death malfunctioned. He and all around him were saved from death.”

Dovid Henoch’s wife and daughter were also murdered during The Shoah.

After the War was over and having survived Auschwitz, he met and married another Survivor, Eliezer’s grandmother Mila, nee Rozenstajn.

The courage and selflessness of Dovid Henoch Zaklikowski was remarkable whilst living in such extreme circumstances. What an important reminder for all of us living our lives in Sydney. We have the opportunity and ability to live our lives as Jews, without restriction, in a democratic country. We are indeed fortunate to be able to celebrate Pesach surrounded by our families and loved ones.

However, at the same time we also invite to our Seder our departed loved ones, who have come before us and paved the way on our behalf, with their self-sacrifice, during times that were not as fortunate as ours. Those lessons inspire us to enhance our commitment to an ever more passionate attitude to our sacred Mitzvot, and to our unwavering faith that Leshana Habaah B’yerushalyim!

Judy and Eliezer New York 2013 The central synagogue journal

‫ב“ה‬

The Central Synagogue

SEASON THREE 5774

15 Bon Accord Ave. Bondi Junction, 2022

Tuesdays

8:00-9:00 p.m.

1 29 APRIL

5 27 MAY

9 24 JUNE

THE PERILS OF PERFECTIONISM

HOW DO BLESSINGS WORK?

CURIOUS TALES OF THE TALMUD

Why Half-Measures Can Be Good Enough

Closing the Gap Between Hope and Reality

Messages Behind the Magic and the Mystery

The motivational books shout, “Only the best will do! Do it right or don’t do it at all!” Is this the healthiest approach? Is it OK to be happy with second best? The Jewish calendar has a built-in mechanism that balances our dreams of perfection with our imperfect reality.

Can a blessing change reality? If the hard facts tell us one thing, how can a blessing—for children, for health, for income—tell us another? To find the answers, this class zeroes in on the fascinating history of the Priestly Blessing, one of Judaism’s most cherished traditions.

The Talmud has puzzling stories: a sage arguing with G-d, bizarre debates about red cows, and legal wrangling about leprosy. This class traces the common theme of these stories, discovering that it is all part of a broader question: Can we break free of our material moorings?

2 6 MAY

6 3 JUNE

POSITIVE THINKING

THE KING OF THE JEWS

Three Reasons Why It’s So Powerful

An Inside Look at the Life of King David

Does positive thinking produce real results or is it simply a placebo? We put it to the test by looking at biblical episodes where positive thinking is in the spotlight. Does it work? Why? And where do we draw the line between positive thinking and wishful, dangerous thinking?

King David has been assured his place in history, but at the time he ruled, he faced vicious opposition, mutiny, and relentless slander. Find out how the father of Jewish monarchy salvaged his reputation and built a model for benevolent kingship.

10 1 JULY

DREAMING OF REDEMPTION Why Moshiach Makes a Difference to Our Lives Judaism believes in monotheism, social justice, and developing our world. So why are we obsessed with Moshiach? Is it the anticipation of reward? Of utopia? Something far more fundamental must lie at the heart of the great Jewish hope.

Shavuot Class

3 13 MAY

7 10 JUNE

11 8 JULY

THE WORLD IS A WEDDING

THE STRANGE CASE OF THE STICK GATHERER

MASTER A MITZVAH

How Marriage Explains Our Universe How do a man and a woman, so fundamentally different, marry and become one? In Jewish thought a death anniversary, as well as life itself, is called a wedding. Why? A look at the true drama of marriage explains why it is the model for creation.

Lag BaOmer Class

Real Lessons from the Bible’s Mysterious Dissident If you’ve ever struggled with balancing your hectic work life with peaceful personal development, study the tale of the lone man caught gathering sticks on Shabbat in the Sinai Desert. We dig deep behind the mysterious story, to learn how to build an oasis in time.

Finding Our Niche in Judaism Are you a charity champion?

A kashrut connoisseur?

Passionate about prayer?

Destiny has granted each of us one particular mitzvah which we must embrace and make our own. Discover how to identify your unique calling, and why it is so important to who you are.

4 20 MAY

8 17 JUNE

DURABLE, DIVERSE, AND DETAILED

DIGNIFIED DEBATE

HOW TO HEAL HATRED

Respecting Other Opinions While Maintaining Our Own

The Psychology of Animosity

Three Ways Judaism Thrives This class argues that the Jewish future lies precisely in its alleged weaknesses: its refusal to change, its lack of consensus, and its obsession with details.

A cutting look at the packing materials of the ancient Jews tells us why conventional wisdom has it wrong.

pesach 5774 / 2014

Too often, disagreements turn into battles. Still, some people manage to “agree to disagree.”

What’s their secret? This class analyzes Korach’s historical rebellion, to discover how to engage in constructive debate without sparking conflict.

12 15 JULY

Some people drive us mad, while others don’t bother us at all.

Why? What makes us angry? The ancient animosity between the Israelites and Midianites serves as a paradigm for all conflicts— and how to resolve them.

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tributes

Ariel Sharon, 1928-2014

The Last King of Israel

by Aaron and Shachar Kalman

R

espected, feared, admired and awed by many, Ariel Sharon, the 11th prime minister of Israel, lived a life that was completely intertwined with the story of the country he helped build and guide for over 70 years. As a founder of the IDF paratroopers, daring general and controversial politician, Sharon always did what he believed was right.

Some in Israel spoke of him as Arik, invoking images of him as a farmer, while others referred to him as “the bulldozer,” referring to his carrying through with his plan regardless of who or what was in the way. Israel’s enemies also acknowledged Sharon’s uniqueness, with Hasan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah terror organization, calling him “the last king of Israel.”

Over his long military and political career Sharon was at many of Israel’s historical moments and junctions. However, some of the most significant stories about Sharon remain more individual.

One of the most significant moments in Sharon’s life occurred in 1948, at the battle of Latrun. Here are extracts from Mitch Ginsburg’s Times of Israel piece “Left for dead in 1948: The battle that shaped Arik Sharon.”

The formative moment of Ari-

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el Sharon’s life came in May 1948; not with the Declaration of Independence – which he heard on the radio wafting out of an open window on his way to kiss his girlfriend Gali before a mission – but with the battle for Latrun, 11 days later, in which he was left for dead.

At the time, Jews and Palestinians had been fighting for six months. Arab forces controlled the ridges along the road to Jerusalem, barring the delivery of anything beyond sporadic convoys of food and water. The corridor to the capital, dominated by the town of Latrun and the Crusader castle looming over the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road, was held

by Jordanian troops and Palestinian militia.

The Haganah’s 7th Brigade, a newly formed unit mostly manned by Holocaust survivors, some of whom had never before

fired a weapon, was given the task. Sharon, then still known as Scheinerman, commanded the 1st Platoon of B Company of the 32nd Battalion, the only battle-hardened fighting force in the brigade. […] The plan was to attack at midnight. The commanders, though, quarreled through the dark hours of the night and only sent the troops into the field at 4 a.m. Sharon, 20 years old, led the battalion into battle. […] Sharon led the platoon to a gully, a small indentation in the earth that provided the most meager cover, and took stock: his sergeant had been wounded. The platoon radio took a bullet and was inoperable. None of them had water, as canteens had not been found before the battle, and behind them, the wheat fields burned from the artillery rounds.

Up ahead, through the billowing smoke, the Jordanian troops laid

The central synagogue journal

Sharon, as Prime Minister, meets with U.S. President George Bush in 2001

Sharon holds a Sten gun as a young commander in the Alexandroni Brigade of the fledgling Israeli army during the War of Independence in 1948. pesach 5774 / 2014

down long bursts of machine gun fire.

They were trapped. […] By one in the afternoon, half of the platoon was dead and nearly all the rest were wounded, and Sharon, who had entered the battle with one arm in a cast, was shot in the abdomen. “Raising myself to see what was happening, I felt something thud into my belly, knocking me back. I heard my mouth say ‘Imah’ – mother, and the instant it was out I glanced around to see if anybody had heard,” he wrote in “Warrior.” […] Yakov Bugin, a 16 year-old soldier under his command, who had just joined the platoon and who himself had been shot in the jaw and was missing a large part of his face, found Sharon on his back, eyes open, looking at the sky. Sharon, unable to remember the soldier’s name, told him to “run, escape, save yourself.”

Bugin, though, wordlessly helped him through the hellish vista, boosting him up over terraces and relying on Sharon’s infallible sense of direction to guide them back through the killing field. […] They continued like that for hours, until Sharon, spotting the jeep that would rescue them, passed out.

But he did not forget the experience.

As commander of the Paratroops and Unit 101, Israel’s first true elite force, he made it an ironclad rule that the injured never be left in the field. And when, in September 2001, he became the first Likud prime minister to say that Israel “wants to give the Palestinians what no one else ever has: the opportunity to establish a state of their own,” he did so, not by coincidence, at Latrun.

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tributes

I Remember My Grandmother Olga Simons ‫ע”ה‬, 1920-2013

By Naomi Elbinger (nee Simons)

T

he morning I heard that Grandma died, I sat with my kids to break the news.

“Who will give us chocolate frogs for Kiddush?” was my son’s reaction. He remembered our visits to Sydney where we joined the family tradition of visiting Grandma after shul on Shabbos. She always gave each of her great-grandchildren a Freddo frog from her never-ending supply in the kitchen.

My early memories of her are similar.

When I was about five, my turn arrived to be the grandchild who spent Shabbos alone with Grandma Olga and Grandpa Percy at their house on Bennelong Crescent. I got to sleep there all by myself, in the upstairs bedroom that had once been my father’s.

What I remember best about that Shabbos was walking home after services at the old Central Synagogue in Bon Accord Avenue, just them and I. As we turned the corner by Bellevue Hill Public School together, I precariously balanced my way along the slant-

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ing sandstone retaining wall. We all know that no kid can walk past that corner without climbing it – or at least no kid could in those days.

Shabbos at their house meant the delicious smells of Grandma’s famous dishes – honey-garlic chicken, Anzac bikkies, Lamingtons. All served with Grandma’s trademark pinch salty humor.

Once Grandma told the story of how she and Grandpa met, Soon after moving to Sydney from Brisbane, where she grew up, she went to a Jewish social dance at the St Anne’s Convent School Hall in Bondi. The year was 1940.

Little did she know that a dashing, young gent named Percy had also come to the dance.

However, he didn’t want to pay for entrance unless he could be sure there was someone worth meeting there. He climbed up to the window where he had a good view inside.

It was then that he spied the lady he was seeking. It’s not clear whether he ever did cough up the shilling for entrance to the dance.

But he did pay a call to Grandma’s home the next day. He spoke to her father and then took her out for a Sunday afternoon stroll.

Grandma’s commitment to Judaism ran very deep. When she married Grandpa, she learned from her mother-in-law how to keep Shabbos and a kosher home.

She always did, though she had no idea why anyone performed these strange rituals. She went to shul faithfully every week, though not highly educated in Hebrew she could follow the services from the siddur.

She shared Grandpa’s dedica-

The central synagogue journal

Once Grandma told the story of how she and Grandpa met, Soon after moving to Sydney from Brisbane, where she grew up, she went to a Jewish social dance at the St Anne’s Convent School Hall in Bondi.

The year was 1940....

tion to building Jewish communal life in Sydney, especially Mt Zion Kindergarten and Moriah College. She could not explain to me why living a Jewish life was so important to her, and preferred not to discuss such existential matters.

When I knew Grandma was very sick, I wanted to call her but I always feared it was not a good time. My parents told me the best time to call, but, with the time difference between Sydney and Jerusalem, I missed the hour. It was 12 o’clock at night already in Jerusalem and I was getting ready for bed.

“I’ll call her in the morning,” I told my husband. “No,” he said. “You have to call her now.”

I dialed Grandma’s number. My Aunt Anne Reid answered. Grandma wasn’t well enough to talk to me, but I heard my Aunt convey my words of love. She said that Grandma understood.

The next morning I woke up to an email that Grandma had left this world.

Naomi Elbinger is a web marketer and writer who grew up in The Central Synagogue community, and who now lives in Jerusalem.

pesach 5774 / 2014

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Studio Central report

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The central synagogue journal

S

angria, Speed Dating, Sailing, Shabbat and more! Studio Central has been BUSY. With Rosh Hashanah well behind us we welcomed Succot in style with a wonderful evening of Sangria & Pizza in the Succah.

Next we celebrated Chanukah in style with over 400 young adults at two different buzzing events. The menorah was lit, the music was pumping and plenty of dreidels were spun.

In January we teamed up with JJunction and launched our very exciting new initiative “Share a Shabbat Table: Speed Dating.” With over 120 participants we are very excited to advise that over 40 successful matches were made. Our next event will be just after Pesach, register now so as not to miss out!

Purim was next and “ahoy me matey”, off to the open seas we were! Over 100 young adults partied on board one of Sydney’s premier sail boats listening to beautiful jazz and rock. The costumes were daring and Cirque De Purim was in full effect.

Alas, do not worry if you missed out, the next 6 months will be just (if not more) exciting! At the end of April we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut. Join us, along with Hagshama, ZFA, JJunction, JCA and Young UIA for the party of the year! Groovy 60’s costumes and tunes will pump up the Sheaf on the 29 April from 8pm. Get out those psychedelic shirts, bell bottomed jeans and afro wigs and join us as we celebrate Israel’s 66th birthday!

For those that are seeking to quench their thirst for Jewish knowledge, don’t miss out on Rabbi Levi’s weekly Tuesday night Shiur from 8pm at the Shule. Here we explore Jewish leadership, the Jewish response to prejudice, why keep kosher and much more.

For any young gentlemen looking for more join Rabbi Levi on Thursday nights at 8pm for his weekly Young Adult Men’s Shiur titled Torah and Spirit: An Evening of Jewish Mysticism.

For our movie buffs, the first Sunday of the month come relax and sit back as we watch one of Israel’s top movies as part of our monthly SereTov Israeli Movie Club. Starting at 6pm in The John Saunders Hall, admission is free and nibbles are provided.

As always, we are on the hunt for some vibrant volunteers.

Do a great mitzvah and help us keep the Jewish spirit alive in everyone’s very busy schedules!

To a very happy and kosher Passover to all!

past events:

upcoming event:

The Studio Central Team

for more info or to enrol for an event, Email Leigh Golombick:

leigh@centralsynagogue.com.au

pesach 5774 / 2014

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Hineni update Ongoing programs:

H

ineni Youth and Welfare Australia is the official Youth Movement of The Central Synagogue.

We are a Modern Orthodox, Politically Active and Zionist youth movement that educates within a politically nonpartisan framework.

upcoming event:

Hineni strives to create well-educated, critically thinking, empathetic and worldly youth who possess strong and proud Jewish and Zionist identities. Hineni is a welcoming environment for Jewish kids from all Jewish backgrounds to make life-long friendships and to have fun.

Over the Summer break, hundreds of Jewish kids went on fantastic camps with Hineni. Machane Olympiada (Camp Olympics), Hineni Junior Summer Camp in December, was incredibly successful with nearly 90 chanichim in years 2-6. Machane Tiyul Drachim (Camp Road Trip), Hineni Federal Senior Summer Camp was also a huge success with nearly 200 people from all over Australia and New Zealand in January. The enthusiasm and ruach (spirit) on both camps was phenomenal. We hope that your children had as much fun on camp as we did, and we look forward to seeing them on Winter Camp and throughout the year.

Hineni is very excited for 2014 with lots of exciting events planned by our madrichim. The Hineni family would love to see you at our Pre-Pesach Shabbat Dinner on 11th April. Weekly junior meetings are held every Sunday from 2-4PM at Central.

Senior events are held regularly on Sundays from 4-6PM.

For more information please call

Alex Lips (0412 618 271) or Doron Chester (0410 581 994) or visit www.hineni.org.au

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The central synagogue journal

Upcoming camp

pesach 5774 / 2014

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The central synagogue journal

Hineni Message

A

fter two-hundred-and-ten years of wretched slavery, Am Yisrael (The Jewish People) were freed from Egypt. More than three-thousand-three-hundred years later, every Pesach, we are meant to view ourselves as if we had just come out of Egypt ourselves.

During this year’s seder, in the (food-delaying, but essential) storytelling component – Maggid – you’ll notice that it says, “This year [we are] here; next year in the land of Israel. This year [we are] slaves; next year [we will be] free people.” We are expected not to simply recount an ancient biblical story; but rather to make the journey from slavery to freedom a personal story; as if we are currently living through the Exodus. But why do we do this?

What does it mean?

To understand this Pesach tradition, we must first ask ourselves, what is freedom?

When we try to define this basic human desire, we often resign in describing what freedom is not. Freedom is not slavery, it is not captivity, it is not confinement. Even according to The Oxford Dictionary; freedom is ‘The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.’ So is freedom just the absence of subjugation? Or is there a more dynamic state of freedom?

The Jewish German philosopher Erich Fromm introduces two types of freedom that expand on the limited concept above. The first, “Freedom From,” refers to the physical — what confinements are we running from? Freedom from tyranny, freedom from religious oppression, freedom from slavery etc.

This is the freedom that The Oxford Dictionary and most people refer to. This is the freedom that millions of stiff-necked Jews were granted as they left Egypt; no longer confined to the will of Pharaoh.

Fromm’s second type of freedom, “Freedom To,’ refers to the spiritual —

pesach 5774 / 2014

what do we do with physical freedom?

What will we make out of it? Freedom to create a caring community, freedom to give tzedakah, freedom to be a good parent. This is the freedom that the Israelites were granted when they received the Torah on Har Sinai. Leaving Egypt and gaining physical freedom was not enough; for Am Yisrael to be truly free, they needed direction towards spiritual freedom through the Torah.

Now that we understand freedom as a two-faceted concept, we can answer the original question — why do we recount the Pesach story as if we were there?

Just as the Israelites journeyed from slavery, to physical freedom towards spiritual freedom; Jews around the world right now are on this very journey.

We can say that, in relation to the dark paths the Jewish people have crossed in Jewish history, we have largely achieved “Freedom From” – physical freedom. We are no longer slaves or living in ghettos.

We are very privileged to live in a largely emancipated world. Jewish Australians have freedom with material prosperity,

by Alex Lips & Doron Chester The Hineni Sydney Roshim

an abundance of opportunities, equal economic and political rights and social acceptance in intellectual circles.

However, this is not enough. We need to be striving towards something even greater, “Freedom To” – spiritual freedom. We need to create meaningful relationships and caring communities.

We need to foster morality, honesty and justice in every aspect of how we live.

We need to embrace our Jewish identities and celebrate Judaism in our lives.

This Pesach, you will read “this year [we are] slaves; next year [we will be] free people.” It’s not just recounting a biblical story, it’s referring to the freedoms in our own lives that we are yet to achieve. Not spending enough time with the family? Not spending enough time in nature? Not connecting to your Judaism enough? This Pesach is your opportunity to ask yourself what is missing in your life and to refresh your priorities in order to seek more. For we should always be aiming for a higher freedom outside of the physical realm.

Chag Kasher v’Same’ach!

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S.P.A.R.C.S. report

“Special Programme of Arts Recreation and Culture for Seniors”

S

.P.A.R.C.S. celebrated its 25th Birthday on Purim this year and I would like to give you a little bit of the history of its beginnings.

S.P.A.R.C.S. was the initiative of Rabbi Selwyn Franklin and the then president of The Central Synagogue, the Late Shya Redelman. They felt there was a need in the community for people in their sixties to have a place to meet for friendship, cards, outings and to share life experiences.

Shya called on his sister Sally Stone to co-ordinate the group. The first meeting was held in The Brenner Hall on Tuesday 21st March 1989 at 2:00 pm.

Miss Morag Beaton, an opera singer who travelled Australia during the 1970’s with the Australian Opera Company and appearing on tour with Dame Joan Sutherland, was the entertainment for the meeting. She entertained the group with a lively discussion on opera, using anecdotes interspersed with short operatic renditions. Morag proved to be an enlightening guest supplying the group with “behind the scenes” tales of life in the opera.

That was the beginning of the group that has gone from strength to strength maintaining the high standard of speakers and outings to provide stimulation and friendship to the senior members of The Central Synagogue and the wider Jewish Community.

I have been asked many times what the initials S.P.A.R.C.S. stand for. There was a lot of discussion regarding the naming of the group until one of the original members, Eva Helfgot, thought “Special Program of Arts Recreation and Culture for Seniors,” covered all the aims the group could strive for.

In 1992 I was asked by Helen Isenberg to help with the group as Sally Stone was making Aliyah. I had no idea what S.P.A.R.C.S. was about. From the first Monday I was so inspired by the members

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attitude to life, learning and activities that I was instantly” hooked.”

Lunch was made by a working bee of some of the members who did all the shopping, schlepping it on the bus and making sure they shopped where the price was right. Eventually they allowed me to take over the shopping role. Today, Raisa our wonderful sandwich maker and general caterer shares the load with me.

By the time I joined the group it came under the umbrella of Jewish Care Friendship Groups.

This opened opportunities to join with other groups for musical mornings and to share interesting speakers. We also shared many Chanukah Picnics in Centennial Park and later in the grounds of Fischl House in Nelson Street.

It has been my greatest pleasure and privilege to co-ordinate the group for the past 22 years.

Over the years we have listened to a wide range of speakers with a broad range of topics, attended the many senior concerts held at the Town Hall, enjoyed a wide variety of stage plays at the Capitol and Lyric Theatres.

The highlights were the many bus trips we did such as a trip to Fullers Bridge to take a cruise on the paddle steamer, celebrating Purim with Hamentashen on a small ferry touring the harbour and Gladesville waterway, the Japanese Gardens was a special treat, Bowral to see the Tulips, a visit to the Bahai Temple, a ferry trip and lunch at Manly and a trip to Camden to visit the Evangelical Sisters who were most hospitable and served us a kosher style Lunch.

Our most recent outings were to the Jewish Museum to see the “Dressing Sydney” exhibition. We joined the Lapid

I had no idea what S.P.A.R.C.S. was about. From the first Monday I was so inspired by the members attitude to life, learning and activities that I was instantly” hooked.”

Friendship Group who had arranged a morning tea at Government House with the Governor, Her Excellency Marie Bashir who is the most gracious and friendly person. I think that was the highlight of the year.

Unfortunately time has played its part and many of our members are no longer with us but they remain in our thoughts and live on through our many photo albums.

If you are free on Monday mornings and feel like some company and mental stimulation, plus a light lunch, please join us in The Lowy Beit Midrash 10:30am – 12:45pm.

Wishing you all a happy and Kosher Pesach!

Anne-Louise Oystragh OAM Co-ordinator

The central synagogue journal

pesach 5774 / 2014

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Bernie & Marcia Kresner

on the birth of their granddaughter.

Births

Roni & Carla Green

Jonathan & Tahnya Seifman

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Harold and Lynne Seifman and David Rudzyn and Violet Rudzyn.

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Yvonne Spiegel, Sharon and Stephen Green, and great-grandparents, Pri Szenes and Rhoda Green.

Jon & Evie Summers

Marc & Lori Levin

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Philip and Brenda Snipelisky and David and Nadine Levin, and great-grandparents, Abe Levitt, Albert and Daphne Solomon.

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Robyn Sankey, Michael Siderowitz and David and Sharan Summers, and great-grandparents, Marise Brass and Len Summers.

Russell & Lauren Kavnat

@

on the birth of their son, and to their grandparents, Ian and Esther Meyerson and Allan and Denise Kavnat, and great-grandparents, Berel and Agnes Ginges, Spike and Riva Meyerson and Cecily Wolman.

The Central Synagogue Carmelle & Nick Hedges

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Ann Hedges and George Hedges, and Murray and Robyn Spiro, and great-grandmother, Irene Lowy.

Geoffrey & Tammy Golovsky

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Hilton and Elizabeth Stone and David and Beverley Golovsky.

Shir & Bracha Turner

!‫מזל טוב‬ 38

on the birth of their son, and grandmother, Nava Turner.

Noam Kushlevitch & Natalie Shell

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Allan and Roma Shell and Moris and Deborah Kushelevitch, and great-grandmother, Ruth Shell.

The central synagogue journal

Adrian & Michelle Falk

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Leon and Vivian Falk and Fuzzy and Rona Goodman, and great-grandmother, Riva Goodman.

Yehuda & Devorah Niasoff

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Yankel and Lily Sziewicz and Sofia Niasoff.

Trevor & Judy Leach

on the birth of their grandson.

David & Leyla Sacks

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Hugh and Charmaine Joffe and Arnold and Sheila Sacks.

Davin & Nadine Berelowitz

Gavriel & Nicole Schneider

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Stan and Avril Zets and Bernard and Chanie Berelowitz, and great-grandparents, Minnie Zets and Marsha Berelowitz.

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Suzy and Rob Schneider.

Richard & Robyn Ross

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Issy and Sandra Milner, Myrna and Felix Austin, and Jeff and Miriam Ross, and greatgrandparent, Micky Kaplan.

Darren & Zoe Smorgon

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Barry Smorgon OAM and Sandra Smorgon, and Peter Spiegel and Tina Spiegel, and greatgrandmother, Gita Smorgon.

Amir & Abby Lefkovic

on the births of their twins, a daughter and a son, and grandparents, Selwyn and Suzanne Friedman, and Mimi and Tom Lefkovic, and great-grandparents, Arieh and Channah Muhlbauer.

Timothy & Ilana Sackar

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Vivien Gorney and Alan Deutsch, Vicki and Ron Denning and John Sackar and Alison Renwick.

Lisa Segal & Ofir Peled

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Stephen and Carol Segal, and great-grandson, Harry and Pat Segal, and Naomi Metter.

Nir & Ella Lizor

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Alex Lankry and Orna Triguboff, and Itzchak and Johvette Lizor, and great-grandparents, Hana Triguboff, Harry Triguboff AO and Rhonda Triguboff.

Tamir Maltz & Nicole Sammel

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Avi and Lilly Maltz, and Ingrid and Neville Sammel, and great-grandmother, Leah Maltz.

Mark & Sheri Mendel

on the birth of their son, and grandparents, Barry and Edith Mendel, and Stan and Amanda Rosen, and great-grandparents, Beryl Mendel and Judith Bauskin.

Natan & Lili Kuchar David & Aliza Taubman

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Henry and Gilla Liberman, and great-grandparents, Shmulek and Rachel Moses.

Daniel & Samantha Butt

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Roy and Anne Butt and Michael and Sue Finger, and great-grandparents, Kitty Finger and Faye Karet.

on the birth of their daughter, and grandparents, Dianne and Dennis Kuchar, and Suzanne and Carl Nelson, and great-grandparents, Michael and Rachel Neuhauser.

Mr. Alan Bloomfield on

birth of granddaughter

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BaR Mitzvah’s @ Central Synagogue

Samuel Shainfeld 2014

Mazel tov to our recent Bar Mitzvah boys: Lachlan Malek Samuel Shainfeld Itai Klahr

Alon Kopelowitz Daniel Berson

Ari Naar Daniel Weiss Daniel Berson Alon Kopelowitz Daniel Younger

T

he age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah marks a very defining and significant time in the lives of our children. It is the corner stone where every young Jew/ Jewess enters into adulthood. To capture this moment and to truly learn its Jewish meaning The Central Synagogue offers a very engaging, spiritual and educational Bar and Bat Mitzvah program.

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Ari Naar

Central Synagogue Bar Mitzvah Club Bar Mitzvah literally means ‘Son of Mitzvah’ and describes a young man who has reached the age of 13 and is now able to fulfil all the Torah’s commandments. It marks a defining moment in a young man’s life as he stands before his family and friends and enters into the world of Jewish manhood. At The Central Synagogue we regard this milestone as one of utmost importance and offer a Bar Mitzvah academy that teaches all its significance and meaning. Our program runs for eight weeks and is designed to generate a love of our history and our faith.

We explore topics such as the meaning of a Bar Mitzvah, the meaning of G-d, keeping Kosher, the Jewish Soul and much much more.

To find out more please contact the office on (02) 9355-4000.

The central synagogue journal

Bat Mitzvah’s @ Central Synagogue

Gemma Gold 2014

Mazel tov to our recent Bat Mitzvah Girls: Leila Freedman Amber Mendelowitz Gemma Gold

Zipporah Susskind Leila and Romona Freedman

Tia Rose Mallinick Zoe Gross Zipporah Susskind Simi Leinkram Mikaela Dunkel

Simi Leinkram

Central Synagogue Bat Mitzvah Club Bat Mitzvah, meaning ‘daughter of the commandments,’ is said to be the time when a women’s soul comes of age. It marks a defining moment when a young woman is entrusted to bring the joys, values and traditions of Judaism to life for herself and for her generations to come.

At The Central Synagogue we work with our Bat Mitzvah girls to truly understand the meaning of a Bat Mitzvah and all the associated Jewish traditions. Our program runs for 8 weeks and covers exciting topics such as Mitzvot, Shabbat, Friendships, Jewish Life Cycle, Israel and more. We include many exciting guests and outings such as Challah making, visiting the Mikvah, making Mezuzah’s and plenty more.

To find out more please contact the office on (02) 9355-4000.

pesach 5774 / 2014

Zoe Gross

Amber Mendelowitz

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Engagements & Weddings

Weddings

We wish a HUGE Mazel Tov to all our newly married couples:

Talia Maltz & Dani Kersh Tali Weiner & Shaun Eliastam Tali Weiner & Shaun Eliastam

Liana Spiro & Joshua Ravek Sam Kelliher & Andrew Binetter Melanie Levis & Terry Sperber Melissa Swift & Ben Levi Suzy Westheimer & George Reale Tehilla Brown & David Lewin

Melissa Swift & Ben Levi

Getting Married at The Central Synagogue

Liana Spiro & Joshua Ravek

A Jewish wedding

is much more than a “ceremony” or a symbolic ritual. It is a spiritual process which creates the soul connection between the bride and groom. Beneath the Chupah, there occurs a fusion of souls; two souls which were separated before birth joyfully reunite. Jewish rituals and customs derive from a rich blend of historical and spiritual underpinnings.

Rites of passage in one’s personal life are inextricably linked to events in the history of the Jewish people. In this way, a traditional Jewish wedding is a tapestry woven

Chana Gurevich & Yakov Harkham

from biblical and historical threads. These threads are carried from one generation to the next in an effort to link our contemporary lives to our past, forming a chain of Jewish continuity which goes back more than 3,800 years.

Our goal at The Central Synagogue is to help you understand the meaningful and spiritual significance of each part of the wedding celebration and the exciting path to follow.

We will demonstrate how our traditions constitute the body and soul of the wedding and consummate

the start of a strong and united partnership.

Run by both Rabbi and Chanie Wolff, our wedding program is a four part series which covers a variety of topics. These topics include wedding day traditions and their meanings, discovering more about the pillars of a Jewish home, a practical guide on marriage do’s and don’ts and an interactive and informative session with a regarded marriage counsellor. We also look at effective communication skills, marriage responsibilities and the laws of purity.

For more information about having your wedding at The Central Synagogue please call the office on (02) 9355-4000

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The central synagogue journal

Engagements

We wish a HUGE Mazel Tov to all our happily engaged couples:

Nicholas Tobias and Rebecca Milston, and their parents,

Jeffrey and Susan Tobias and Jeanette and David Milston, and grandmother, Helen Borman and great-grandmother, Fay Bernstein.

Simonette Lowy and Leo Grifka, and their parents, Peter

and Janine Lowy and George and Bonnie Grifka, and grandparents, Frank Lowy AC and Shirley Lowy OAM, and Ethel Roeder.

Tehilla Brown and David Lewin, and their parents,

Rabbi Dr Robert and Julie Lewin, and Rabbi Larry and Reeva Brown, and grandmother, Evi Lewin.

Gina Hesselberg and Andrew Cohen, and their parents, Mark

Tehilla Brown & David Lewin Simonette Lowy & Leo Grifka

and Carin Cohen, Terry and Helen Hesselberg, and grandparents, George and Viv Cohen, Leone Shein, and Doreen Lurie.

Candice Karpes and Michael Boas, and

their parents, Jeanne Karpes, Harold Boas and Beverley Boas, and grandmother, Lore Boas.

Loren Seskin & Ryan Edelmuth

Loren Seskin and Ryan Edelmuth, and their parents,

Lynne and Mark Seskin, June and Steve Edelmuth, and grandparents, Rachel Seskin, and Fred and Necia Seskin.

Julia Le Bransky and David Binetter, and their parents, Ron Binetter and Deborah Huber, and Bruce and Denise Le Bransky, and grandparents, Shmuel and Rachel Huber, Margaret Binetter, Trudy Cahn.

Chana Gurevich and Yacov Harkham, and their

parents, Rabbi Nir and Dina Gurevich, and Terry and Geraldine Harkham, and grandparents, David and Vicky Abeshouse, Nagy Harkham, Sarah Roussos, Emmanuel Meschers.

Cassy Atlas and Gregory Nathan, and their parents,

Michael and Marilynne Atlas, and Ydele and Geoff Nathan.

Esther Koncepolski and Rabbi Shmuly Levitin, and their parents, Yankel and Shoshana

Koncepolski and Rabbi Berel and Feigi Levitan.

Gina Hesselberg & Andrew Cohen

Cassy Atlas & Greg Nathan

Richie Vesely and Natasha Snoyman, and their parents, Phillip and Claire Snoyman, and Ed and Lydia Vesely, and grandparents, Serena Vesely, Molly Snoyman and Sarah Berman.

Tahli Koch and Damien Moss, and their parents,

Marilyn Koch and Joe Koch, and Susie and Arnold Moss.

Gordon Karp and Lani Praszaiev, and grandmother, Yvonne Fink.

Hayley Gilovitz and Alexander Stein, and their parents, Michael and Rosaleen Gilovitz and Michael and Rosalind Stein, and grandparents, Willy and Jacqueline Stein.

Dror Shochat and Gabi Bloom, and parents, Mark and Sharon Bloom.

Cara Munitz and Daniel Frank, and their parents, Hymie and Liora Munitz, and Eric Frank and Deborah Frank, and grandparents, Pearl Chipkin and Sylvia Smaller-Winnikow.

Aimee Wagenheim and Lior Harel, and to their parents, Lynn and Morris Wagenheim, Karen Stock and Danny Schnall, and Judy Carman and Amir Harel.

pesach 5774 / 2014

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Photo gallery & Upcoming events

Upcoming event

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The central synagogue journal

Purim 2014 Photos

Upcoming event

pesach 5774 / 2014

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delicious

Recipes Kosher for Passover

Something to start:

Quinoa Salad with Pumpkin, Feta and Dukkah Ingredients

Method

1 cup quinoa, soaked for 30 minutes and rinsed well

• Preheat the oven to 180°C

¼ pumpkin, diced feta cheese pepitas baby spinach leaves

• To make the dukkah, heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add the cumin and sesame seeds and cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

• Transfer seeds into a food processor with the hazelnuts and sea salt and process until chopped coarsely. Set aside.

1tsp sea salt flakes

• Place the chopped pumpkin in a bag and drizzle with olive oil and give it a good shake. Place on a baking tray and roast in the oven for 20-30 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

1 cup hazelnuts, skinned and toasted

• Cook the quinoa according to packet instructions.

2 Tbs cumin seeds 2 Tbs sesame seeds

olive oil Recipe from Mimi’s Kitchen

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• Arrange the baby spinach leaves on a platter and top with quinoa, roasted pumpkin, feta cheese, pepitas and a generous sprinkling of dukkah. Drizzle with olive oil.

The central synagogue journal

Main dish:

Matza Lasagne Ingredients

Method

2 cups Ricotta Cheese

• Preheat oven to 190°C (fan forced).

2 Tbs chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

• Spray a 20cm square baking dish.

1 cup cooked spinach, squeezed dry and chopped, (1 box of frozen spinach is fine) 1 egg beaten ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground pepper 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup grated parmesan cheese 1 onion, finely diced and fried 4 sheets matza

• Mix ricotta, parsley, spinach, egg, salt, pepper and onion together.

• Spread 1 cup tomato sauce on bottom of dish.

• Layer with 1 matza sheet, 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/3 of ricotta mixture, some mozzarella and parmesan.

• Repeat layers until all is finished.

• Top layer must be mozzarella and parmesan.

• Bake until golden and bubbling (about 25 mins). Let it sit for a few minutes before cutting. * This freezes very well.

4 cups napolitana tomato pasta sauce

Something Sweet:

Pesach Chocolate Almond Cake Ingredients

Method

170g unsalted butter

• Separate eggs and whip whites till soft peaks form.

185g Caster Sugar 185g ground almonds

• Add sugar to the whipped eggs and beat.

Then add yolks and beat.

150g dark cooking chocolate

• In a separate bowl, melt chocolate and butter together, and mix till smooth.

6 eggs

• Add chocolate mixture to egg white mixture and beat well.

Topping

200g dark cooking chocolate

• Add the almond meal to the mixture and fold gently.

• Grease a cake tin and add mixture.

• Bake for 1 hour on 175 degrees.

56g milk

topping

Recipe from Linda Sekel

• Melt milk and chocolate over flame on the stove.

• After the cake has cooled, pour over the top of the cake.

• Decorate with flaked almonds on top.

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Something Sweet:

Chocolate Caramel Matzah Ingredients:

Method

4 to 6 sheets matzah

• Preheat the oven to 160. Line a baking tray completely with foil, and then line the base of the foil with baking paper, cut to fit.

1 cup (220g) unsalted butter, cut into a few large pieces 1 cup packed light brown sugar A big pinch of sea salt 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups semisweet (or bittersweet) chocolate chips (or chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate) 1 cup toasted chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts or a nut of your choice Optional: extra sea salt for sprinkling Recipe from Lexy Meyerson

• Line the bottom of the baking sheet with matzo, covering all parts.

• In a medium heavy-duty saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together, and stir it over medium heat until it begins to boil.

• Once it has begun boiling, let it bubble for three more minutes, stirring it well. It will thicken a bit as it cooks.

• Remove from the heat and add the salt and vanilla, and then quickly pour it over the matzo or crackers.

• You’ll want to spread it quickly, as it will begin to set as soon as it is poured.

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• Bake the caramel-covered crackers for 15 minutes, watching carefully as it will bubble and the corners might darken too quickly and/or burn. You can reduce the heat if you see this happening.

• Remove from oven and immediately cover with chocolate chips.

• Let stand five minutes, and then spread them evenly across the caramel.

• If you’re using them, sprinkle the chocolate with toasted chopped nuts and/or sea salt. (The sea salt is great on matzo) .

• Once completely cool — I sometimes speed this process up in the fridge — break it into pieces and store it in a container

The central synagogue journal

The Passover That Was

by Shachar Kalman

“[…] For innumerable companies of men from a countless variety of cities, some by land and some by sea, from east and from west, from the north and from the south, came to the temple at every festival, as if to some common refuge and safe asylum from the troubles of this most busy and painful life, seeking to find tranquility […] And so, by getting breath as it were, to pass a brief time in cheerful festivities, being filled with good hopes and enjoying the leisure of that most important and necessary vacation which consists in forming a friendship with those hitherto unknown, but now initiated by boldness and a desire to honour God, and forming a combination of actions and a union of dispositions so as to join in sacrifices and libations to the most complete confirmation of mutual good will.”

Illustration: Jews travel to the Temple from the south

friends. Philo’s description of the Jews joining together “to find tranquility” and —Philo, the Special Laws, I, 69-70 to have “cheerful festivities” are as true hat amazing descriptions by today as they were thousands of years Philo. Reading this text, one can ago. In fact, not only are there similareasily picture the swarms of people ities between these celebrations, but travelling to Jerusalem, journeying to- also some of our customs are based on wards the Jewish spiritual center. Also what our ancestors used to do. today, the ideas mentioned by Philo (a So what did Passover look like philosopher who lived during the Sec- during the time of the Temple? Thankond Temple times) are relevant, and the fully, both traditional Jewish texts and way Passover was celebrated then is still recently found archeological evidence preserved in how we celebrate today. provide insight into this issue, helpOn Passover, Jews around the world ing us better understand our nations’ gather in order to celebrate this hol- traditions: iday together, with their family and As described by Philo, three times

W

pesach 5774 / 2014

a year Jews would flock to the Temple, aiming to fulfill the Torah’s commandment that “Three times during the year shall all your menfolk appear before the Lord Hashem” (Exodus 23:17). As you might imagine, in order to accommodate such a mass of people, preparations for these festivals started months in advance.

According to one source (Tosefta Shkalim) “emissaries of the Beth Din would go and repair the paths and roads damaged by the rain” so as to make sure they were usable by those travelling to Jerusalem. In addition to making sure the routes to Jerusalem were open, the authorities also unlocked all the water cisterns along the way. The Talmud Yerhushalmi describes how these wa49

ter storages were designated for those people traveling to the Temple. Many Jewish sources (including Tosefta Bikurim) describe the masses traveling “not as individuals, but in groups.”

One of the most interesting aspects of the Passover celebrations during the time of the Temple has to do with the calendar. Like we already mentioned, Jews from all over the world would make the journey to the Temple, travelling not by plane or bus but on foot and with donkeys and camels. Like now, also during the times of the Temple the Passover festival was one that included all the nation, men and women, from near and from far. Sources describe to us how

salem would gather around the Temple Mount and divide into groups, usually with family members or a few families together. From time to time the group wouldn’t be family-based, but rather that of a teacher and his students. Each group would then purchase a lamb to offer as the Passover sacrifices, buying it with money set-aside especially for that purpose before leaving home.

With hundreds of thousands of people taking part in the festival it wouldn’t be surprising if things had gotten out of hand. Each person had to be part of a group, give money toward paying for the lamb, find a place to sit and sleep, dip in the Mikvah, offer the sacrifice and eat at

An engraved stone found by the Temple Mount, marking the place the Levites blew their trumpets the Sanhedrin – the top Jewish authority of the time – was in contact with Jewish communities around the world, being given the numbers and arrival dates of those journeying to Jerusalem. In fact, the concern for the Jews travelling from far was so great, that the Talmud Yerushalmi tells us it the Sanhedrin determined it was sometimes necessary to add another month of Adar – and delay the Passover – to make sure they arrived one time.

While most of the archeological evidence regarding these celebrations is centered in Jerusalem, there are also items along the way that show that many people used to travel to the city for religious reasons. The ancient ways leading to Jerusalem are filled with water cisterns used by those travelling, and

by Mikvaot – Jewish ritual baths – used by the pilgrims to purify themselves before the holiday.

Entire families made the journey to the Temple. Those who arrived in Jeru50

the special dinner – all between sunup and sundown of one day! However, descriptions tell us that things were done in an efficient way, allowing everyone to get everything done in time.

Archeological evidence of the masses that came to celebrate the Passover can still be seen when walking around the Temple Mount today. Those of you have visited the Kotel probably recall an area just south of the prayer section (on your right…) called the Archeological Park & Davidson Center, an area in which Israeli archeologists found many items from the times of the Second Temple. A Herodian-era street uncovered in the compound is lined with what used to be shops and stalls in the market just under the Temple. Over a dozen ancient coins were found among the ruins, as well as a drainage system that has similar measurements to those given in the Mishna.

Once in Jerusalem, everyone would celebrate Passover together. People

would stay at the homes of friends, relatives or hospitable people who erected makeshift shelters on their roofs and in their gardens for the thousands of tourists in the city. After sacrificing the Passover lamb, people would celebrate in a way very similar to what we do today: they’d gather around the table, drink four cups of wine, tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt and sing the praise of the Lord. Often, the feast would go on for hours, as people shared ideas of Torah and other stories. However, the barbequed lamb had to be eaten by midnight (this is why we eat our Afikoman by midnight!), which is when the main event would conclude.

The Torah doesn’t say people need to stay in Jerusalem during the days of chol hamo’ed, but many people did.

During this week those who had travelled from near and far could view the ceremonies at the Temple, get blessed by the priests and hear the festive singing of the Levites.

According to the Mishna, “the Levites spoke in song, when they finished a chapter they blew the trumpets and the people bowed.” One of the most significant pieces of evidence from the Temple times has to do with these descriptions. A corner stone found near the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount, which was apparently thrown down by the Romans, has an amazing inscription in Hebrew letters. The words read: “the house of the teki’a,” meaning the place where the trumpets were blown. Researchers suggest this is the place where the Levites would blast their instruments, announcing the start of Shabbat and holidays.

From all the evidence, it’s clear the celebrations during the time of the Temple were truly a wonderful sight. The Talmud (Baba Batra) captures these feelings by saying that those who didn’t see the Temple “didn’t see a magnificent building” at all. In addition to the physical beauty, the feeling of togetherness and unity must have been incredible.

Celebrating the holiday of our national identity with fellow Jews from all over the world is something we still yearn for, as we say when we conclude the Passover seder every year: “Next year in a rebuilt Jerusalem.”

The central synagogue journal

‫ום‬

‫ה‬

‫ים‬ ‫ל‬

‫י צ‬

‫ם בתוך‬ ‫אתכ‬ ‫חם‬ ‫ינ‬

‫מק‬

‫ש‬

‫יון‬ ‫ו‬ ‫י‬ ‫רו‬

‫ש‬ ‫אר א‬ ‫ביל‬

condolences The Central Synagogue community extends sincere condolences to the members who have lost loved ones:

Ron Wiseman on the loss of his Mother.

Robert Gay on the loss of his Mother.

Clem Mizrahi on the loss of his Mother.

Robyn Sankey on the loss of her Mother.

Tessa Gnesin on the loss of her Mother.

Evie Summers and Ben Siderowitz on the loss of their Grandmother.

Denise Lvoff on the loss of her Father.

Paul Isaacs on the loss of his Sister.

Eva Lederer on the loss of her Father.

John Tintner on the loss of his Sister.

Asher Smith on the loss of his Brother.

David Smith on the loss of his Brother.

Miriam Singer on the loss of her Aunt.

Anne Reid OAM on the loss of her Mother.

Leon Simons on the loss of his Mother.

Philip Simons on the loss of his Mother.

Vivien Stang on the loss of her Mother.

Late Leah Bernstein.

Marilyn Hauptman on the loss of her Father.

Debbie Moldovan on the loss of her Father.

Max Baume on the loss of his Wife.

Barrie Towers on the loss of his Brother.

Margery Redelman on the loss of her Husband.

Philip Redelman on the loss of his Father.

David Redelman on the loss of his Father.

Geoffrey Redelman on the loss of his Father.

Gary Sacks on the loss of his Father.

The Late Erwin Hayman on the loss of his wife Jonathan Shein on the loss of his Mother.

Steven Shein on the loss of his Mother.

David Shein on the loss of his Mother.

Eva Basser on the loss of her Husband.

Lewis Rupell on the loss of his Mother.

Peter Wohl on the loss of his Mother.

Philip Carr on the loss of his Mother.

Agnes Martin on the loss of her Mother.

Betty Wilkenfeld on the loss of her Husband.

Andy Wine on the loss of her Father.

Judy Wilkenfeld on the loss of her Father.

Ron Malek on the loss of his Father.

David Wilkenfeld on the loss of his Father.

Magda Moss on the loss of her Brother.

Simon Wilkenfeld on the loss of his Father.

Late Elizabeth Szabo.

Eric Perkal on the loss of his Father.

Debbie Foxman on the loss of her Mother.

May G-d comfort them among all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem

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The Fifth Son is the most important one.

He’s the son who has yet to experience the freedom of Passover. We hope you can join us in our efforts to engage those 5th sons in our community and bring them back into the freedom of the Passover experience.

15 Bon Accord Avenue Bondi Junction, NSW 2022, Australia phone: +61 (02) 9355-4000 fax: +61 (02) 9355-4099 email: central@centralsynagogue.com.au www.centralsynagogue.com.au