the sydney jewish report - pesach edition

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pesach

international

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W W W. J C A. O R G. A U

FREE

VOL. 39 Friday, 23 March 2018 / 7 Nisan 5778

Fostering a closer Jewish community

Free subscription to electronic copy go to www.thejewishreport.com.au

LAYA SLAVIN LOCAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR

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PESACH SUPPLEMENT

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ISRAELI WHISKY REVOLUTION

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

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community

March 2018

Revolutionary Eyedrops that Could Replace Eyeglasses AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF SHAARE ZEDEK MEDICAL CENTRE JERUSALEM MIRIAM PACANOWSKI A sensational scientific breakthrough presented at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre’s Research Conference last month described eyedrops that have the potential to improve vision and remove the need for glasses or contact lenses.

The team of opthalmologists at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Bar-Ilan University’s Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials have developed eye-drops that have been found to repair the corneas and improve short and long sightedness.

The nanoparticle solution called as “nanodrops” was successfully used on pigs’ corneas.

Clinical trials on humans are expected to be carried out later this year, and if successful, this revolutionary invention could potentially eliminate the need for eyeglasses.

Dr. David Smadja, leader of the research Dr David Smadja, Israel’s oldest Lone Soldier and Opthamologist at Shaare Zedek team said the eye-drops could revolutionize Medical Centre has made a revolutionary discovery using nanotechnology ophthalmological and optometry treatments concentration of synthetic nanoparticles. of patients suffering from myopia, hyperopia different distances.

“This is a new concept for correcting The results showed significant improvement and other refractory conditions. refractory problems,” Dr Smadja said.

He, in error correction for both myopic The revolutionary breakthrough was revealed by Dr. Smadja on Wednesday at however, did not mention how often the (near-sightedness) and hyperopic (farShaare Zedek’s second biennial research drops will require being applied to replace sightedness) refractive error.

If the results in humans are successful, day, which was held at the hospital’s eyeglasses completely.

The experiment led by Dr. Smadja prospective patients will simply require a Steinberg Auditorium in Jerusalem.

Dr Smadja said that nanodrops could and his colleagues involved analyzing smartphone app to scan the eyes, measure even be used to replace multifocal lenses refractive errors of pig eyes before and after their refraction, create a laser pattern and and allow people to see objects from instillation of nano drops filled with various then “laser corneal stamping” of an optical

You make us feel young

pattern onto the corneal surface of their eyes.

The research from Dr Smadja was one of the two chosen works by an impartial team of judges from 160 pieces of research carried out by Shaare Zedek physicians and nurses over the last two years. The hospital staff publishes around 330 articles every year in different medical and science journals through the Shaare Zedek Mada’it, a research and development company established by Shaare Zedek to enable staff to conduct research and turn their innovations into marketable products.

Dr Smadja is a 35-year-old French doctor who made aliya in 2016 and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces as the oldest lone soldier in IDF history. He was fifteen years older than the recruits who were beginning their mandatory service with him. After completing his basic training, he completed a course in military emergency medicine and worked as a doctor in the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion.

Dr Allan Garfield, chairman of the Australian Friends of Shaare Zedek notes, “Shaare Zedek is Israel’s fastest growing and most dynamic hospital. It represents the best of modern Israeli innovation. We are proud to be contributing to exciting discoveries that will improve the health of citizens of Israel and the community at large.” www. shaarezedek.org.au Facebook.com/shaarezedek

Eastern suburbs locals can support community members in crisis COLES

COA connects Jewish seniors with a range of services, regardless of financial circumstances, helping them to maintain independence in their own homes.

It is our community we rely on to continue our vital work.    

Krygier Activity Centre Stimulating Programs Live Music and Dancing Pick up to and from the Centre

   

Home delivered Kosher meals Home Help Service Coordination Volunteer Opportunities

For 36 years COA has been committed to bringing support and joy to our seniors. Visit COA Sydney at the Krygier Centre, 25 Rowe St, Woollahra, call 02) 9389 0035 or email coa@coasydney.org

Eastern suburb residents are invited to donate to local Sydney charity, Jewish House, at Coles supermarkets to provide crisis support and housing to people of all denominations.

Shoppers will find a large donation box at the store’s entrance during the Pesach holiday period where they will be able to donate non-perishable food items at the end of their shopping journey.

All food collected will be given to vulnerable people who may be experiencing such hardships as homelessness, mental health illnesses, domestic violence and other crises. A small, non-perishable donation from just one shopping trip can go a long way when the community comes together to give.

Kosher and non-Kosher donations are welcome ahead of and during the holiday period, starting from Monday, 5 March to Monday, 2 April at selected Coles supermarkets.

Coles NSW State Manager Orlando Rodriguez is encouraging the local community to get involved.

“We invite locals to join us in supporting

Jewish House in the outstanding work it does in our community. Coles has had a strong relationship with the crisis centre for five years. During that time we have seen the positive impact that donations have made to many lives,” he said.

Jewish House is a 24-hour crisis centre based in Bondi, which supports the needs of Sydney’s homeless and those with mental health illness. In 2017, the charity helped 6,147 people in crisis.

Jewish House CEO Rabbi Mendel Kastel OAM said he is proud of their strong partnership with Coles.

“For more than five years Coles has shown its support to the Jewish community and vulnerable people in need through our donation campaigns during the Pesach holiday period” he said.

This campaign is proudly supported by WIZO.

March 2018

community

Vaucluse local woman of the year : Laya Slavin GABRIELLE UPTON MP Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton announced that Laya Slavin would be recognised as Vaucluse Electorate’s Local Woman of the Year for 2018.

In recognition of her dedication and hard work in the Vaucluse Electorate, Gabrielle Upton said, “Laya deserves recognition for her commitment to bringing positive change in the community through Our Big Kitchen, which provides meals to needy families.

Her tireless work in this communal kitchen, which she helped establish in 2005, made her an outstanding candidate.”

“I recently visited OBK and witnessed first-hand the warmth that Laya inspires among the volunteers. The community kitchen is a wonderful place that encourages people from diverse backgrounds including underprivileged and School groups and enables them to cook and freely give to others. They learn skills that will help them in every aspect of their lives. Laya is an amazing supporter of the Gift of Life Australia program inspiring people to become potential blood stem cell donors to save the lives of blood cancer patients.

“I thank Laya for her strong commitment to helping those in need in our local community”.

The NSW Women of the Year Awards

program recognises remarkable women across the state who have achieved inspiring things in their careers, in business or in their communities.

Minister for Women, Tanya Davies, said, “The NSW Women of the Year Local Awards celebrate the contributions and successes of women who are often quiet achievers” “The Local Awards are designed to acknowledge women who are making a significant impact in the places where we live and work, and in the lives of people around them. Local award winners exemplify the spirit of their communities.”

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community

March 2018

Israel’s 70th Celebrations Continue at UIA UNITED ISRAEL APPEAL UIA NSW had an epic start to Israel’s 70th year, hosting six Campaign events across its General, Women’s and Young Leadership Divisions, with almost 4000 attendees in total.

The General Division and Young Leadership Division events were headlined by high-profile lawyer, passionate defender of Israel and best-selling author, Professor Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz inspired guests through his interviews with UIA NSW CEO, Yair Miller OAM and Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin.

Guests at both events enjoyed a surprise appearance by Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired British Army officer, Commander of Operation Fingal in Afghanistan and an infantry battalion Commanding Officer.

Dershowitz also addressed over 800 Jewish Day School students during his visit to Sydney.

Shai Lazer, National Director of UIA’s Youth Futures Program in Israel, which provides youth-at risk with comprehensive, tailored intervention enabling them to become productive members of Israeli society was another guest speaker at the General Division events.

UIA NSW’s Women’s Division Events were headlined by Ambassador Belaynesh Zevadia - the first Ethiopian Olah to become an ambassador representing Israel. Born in Ambober, Ethiopia, Zevadia made Aliyah at

16 years old, graduating with a BA and MA from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

She was appointed as an Ambassador in 2012, after serving in Israel Consulate posts in America.

Alon Ben-David, renowned Israeli print and television journalist, also addressed guests. Ben-David has covered the Middle East conflict for the last 30 years, and is currently Senior Defense Correspondent for Israel Channel 10.

Guests were entertained by talented sand artist, Sheli Ben Nun who creates sand animation using imagination, sand and light.

“The Campaign events were a unique

opportunity for the Sydney Jewish Community to come together in what were some of Sydney’s largest gatherings celebrating Israel’s 70th. They were also a way for the Community to make a significant contribution to Israel’s most valuable asset – OUR PEOPLE,” UIA NSW CEO, Yair Miller OAM said.

The 2018 UIA Campaign is once again focusing on support for Israel’s most vulnerable periphery communities.

UIA is also offering the Community the chance to experience Israel and continue the celebrations of the State’s 70th on one of its numerous missions this year.

Places are still available for these 2018 missions: Singles Mission with JJunction: 29 May-7 June Medical & Dental: 9-18 October Golden Age: 9-18 October Women’s Division: 9-18 October December Mission: 25 December-3 Jan 2019 For more information about UIA’s 2018 Israel Missions, contact Phillipa on 9361 4273 or missions@uiansw.org.au For updates on UIA’s 2018 Campaign and Israel Missions, follow UIA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/uiaaus

JCA - STRONGER TOGETHER

To life!

W UIA NSes wish g a you Chch Pesa r Kashe

Supporting Israel’s most valuable asset

GIFT OF LIFE NICKY GLUCH “When in danger, never rely on miracles.”

Talmud Pesach: it is a story of being saved by God’s might and his miracles but it is also the story of the making of us, the Jewish people. In the lead up to this great festival, it is poignant to reflect on what it means to be just that, a people. Spread now, as we are, across the globe we still share such fundamental tenets as a religion, a moral code, even a way of thinking, some might say. We also share our DNA. Each Sunday, from an office in Wolper hospital, Shula Endrey-Walder takes blood from members of our community in the hope that one day, they might be able to save the life of a blood-cancer patient. Shula’s organisation, Gift of Life, is named for the fact that a bone marrow or stem cell donation can literally give life back to these cancer sufferers.

The odds of an individual being a match, Shula explains, are 1/10 000, a number that may initially seem daunting.

Instead, it should be encouraging. Consider this: there are about 40-50 000 Jews in Sydney. That means, that for each of us, there could be three people with matching bone marrow. Of course, when it comes to donating, the eligibility criteria makes the pool somewhat smaller, but this is why we have to be encouraging anyone who does fall within

OUR PEOPLE

the correct age group to be tested.

In America, where Gift of Life was started, youth who go on Birthright are encouraged to be tested. The partnership between the two programs has seen 200 matches be found. Imagine then if we encouraged our school leavers to be tested. Between 1845, not pregnant or breast feeding, they are the most eligible age group. For the minor inconvenience of a blood test and some forms, they can join an international team of heroes.

DNA doesn’t expire. A match is a match. So being tested now can help save someone long into the future, here or overseas. Being one people, and a small one at that, the database is International. An Australian can save an American, an American a South African. It is not our recent history that has made us who we are.

Pregnant women can give their own gift.

The umbilical cord contains cells even more primed for donating to a cancer sufferer. The amount of blood in the cord is small, but it is enough to save a child with leukaemia. We need to reach the stage where registering to be on the cord-blood registry goes beyond a voluntary donation: it should be something that we ‘just do’. We may not be able to rely on miracles, but we can make them. One test at a time.

For more information visit www.giftoflifeaustralia.org.au or like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com GiftOfLifeAustra

March 2018

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community JCA - STRONGER TOGETHER

People Making Our Community Stronger JCA The depth and breadth of services provided to the Jewish community by JCA Member Organisations is astounding. The expression from ‘cradle to grave’ is given a literal form when describing the array of resources that exist because we have JCA, as the fundraising and planning body of our community, enabling the continuity of our strong and vibrant community. JCA is the thread that binds the community.

Peter Cohen is the father of a son with disabilities. He had, for many years and through many different organisations, unsuccessfully sought help for his son. He had heard about JewishCare but feeling that he was ‘not Jewish enough’ had not approached them. In reality, JewishCare proved to be “much more efficient and together”. Now, two years later, Peter is so enamored with the organisation, its efficiency and inclusiveness, that he volunteers his time for them.

Joe Constable, an academically engaged young man, identified as culturally Jewish, but had “not spent too much time in the Jewish community” because he studied overseas and so “was not involved much”. He decided to volunteer for Shalom’s Limmud OZ

and that proved to be “a pretty profound experience” for him. Joe was amazed by the diversity of topics and speakers and by the fact that these people, so distinguished in their fields, were so approachable. Joe felt that he “was at home in this space” and that he had “never felt so proud to be Jewish, not ever on a community level”.

Whilst these experiences are vastly different they represent the range of services provided to our community as a direct result of JCA’s funding of its Member Organisations. Collective giving, as typified by the JCA model, ensures that the needs of our community are considered in all of their facets, and that the contributions are allocated in a manner that caters to the most in need. The 23 Member organisations address all of the essential services we require. They have us covered for education, culture and engagement, social justice and outreach, aged care, community care, security and community relations and history and heritage.

When speaking with volunteers, staff and recipients of services the overwhelming theme to emerge is a feeling of inclusion and community. It is clear that JCA connects us and we are stronger together.

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Montefiore is a member of the JCA family of organisations.

March 2018

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community

Batmitzvah girls thanked by the Make-A-Wish® Australia & Israel Shared Appeal MAKE-A-WISH AUSTRALIA & ISRAEL SHARED APPEAL Two batmitzvah girls from Melbourne were recently thanked by the Make-A-Wish Australia & Israel Shared Appeal. Both generously chose to support the Make-AWish Australia & Israel Shared Appeal, in lieu of gifts for their batmitzvahs.

Elly Dodge and Abbey Weinstein were presented with certificates of appreciation

by Stephen Sharp, Chairman of Make-AWish Australia.

The Make-A-Wish Australia & Israel Shared Appeal grants wishes to children fighting critical illness. All donations to the Appeal are shared equally between the two countries, changing the lives of really sick children and teens in both Australia and Israel. In Australia and Israel, thousands of kids are diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition every year. They spend their days in and out of hospitals, battling tough treatments, and missing out on important parts of their childhood. Each wish is a carefully planned journey that uses positive psychology. Every journey is tailored individually to their most cherished wish.

Abbey Weinstein being presented her certificate of appreciation by Chairman of Make-A-Wish Australia Stephen Sharp

Elly Dodge being presented her certificate of appreciation by Chairman of Make-AWish Australia Stephen Sharp

When a child has a life-threatening illness, their fun times can be few and far between. Thinking about their upcoming wish gives them the hope and strength

they need to face the challenges of their illness and feel excited for the future.

Wishes are a powerful distraction from grueling medical treatment and in bringing

their wishes to life, Make-A-Wish make the impossible possible.

The Israeli-led Wish Impact Study (2015 “The effects of the Make-A-Wish intervention on psychiatric symptoms and health related quality of life of children with cancer”) shows that wish journeys make a lasting difference to the physical and mental health of seriously ill kids and teens.

The study found that wish journeys are important. Children on a wish journey eat better, sleep better, are less anxious and can respond to medication better than children who do not receive a wish. Most importantly, wish kids are more likely to have the positive outlook and resilience they need to get them through.

Elly and Abbey’s support will help to make more life-changing wishes come true and bring hope to children who need it.

For more details visit www.makeawish.org.au/shared-appeal or contact Sarah Singer, Philanthropy Coordinator on 1800 032 260 or 0458 133 280 or s.singer@makeawish.org.au

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March 2018

JCA - STRONGER TOGETHER

Sydney Jewish Museum embarks on national collecting campaign SYDNEY JEWISH MUSEUM The Sydney Jewish Museum is aware that the window of opportunity is diminishing for collecting undiscovered material from Holocaust survivors and their descendants.

In light of this, the Museum’s Curators are embarking on a national collecting campaign.

One of the core functions of the Museum is to preserve material culture, stories and histories for future generations. It is the collection that lies at the very heart of the Museum, and drives exhibitions, research and educational programs.

The Museum seeks objects, letters, documents and photographs to expand its collection, preserve the narrative of Jews prior, during and after the Holocaust and serve as a memory for future generations.

The Sydney Jewish Museum’s collection began with the Australian Association of Holocaust Survivors. They canvassed their members, looking for objects to form the new museum in the early 1990s. From its humble beginnings, the collection has grown beyond the intimate survivor community to include significant items relating to the culture of Judaism and Australian Jewish history. The Museum’s Archive now houses over 9,000 objects and artefacts, and continues to grow.

Whilst some objects in the collection have aesthetic or artistic value, others are

accessioned because of their narrative or the story that they tell. Thus, the Museum’s collection is incredibly unique in that it reflects what is important to the Sydney Jewish community, and over the years it has grown to include some peculiar and unexpected items.

With this in mind, and in light of the Museum’s recent 25th anniversary, the

The Curators at the Sydney Jewish Museum hope that this exhibition will serve as a reminder that what may seem insignificant or obscure may, in fact, be a crucial piece of memorabilia.

If you have an item you think should be in the Sydney Jewish Museum’s collection, please contact one of our curators on 02 9360 7999 or email curator@sjm.com.au.

Curators will go behind the scenes to exhibit 25 of the most curious, quirky and unusual never-before-seen objects, in an exhibition titled ‘Unseen Untold: Our Curious Collection.’ The exhibition opens on March 28, and will be sure to provoke, confront and move visitors, as well as give some insight into the rich diversity of the Museum’s collection.

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March 2018

JCA - STRONGER TOGETHER

Another big year for charity shop

Shalom gearing up for 2018

B’NAI B’RITH

SHALOM

Robert Kohn, President of B’nai B’rith Bargain Bazaar Charity Shop in Sydney’s Surry Hills thought that the profits from the shop in 2016 were terrific. However in the year ending December 2017 there has been an increase in takings and the volunteers are delighted.

“We’ve beaten the previous efforts by $10,000.

I am very proud to say this past year we have raised $130,000 for charity. That’s $250,000 over two years”.

The committee has widened the number of charities and endeavours that it supports and will be distributing the proceeds soon to local Jewish and non-Jewish organisations.

“Hatzolah, Camp Sababa, BJE, Maccabi All Abilities, Sydney Jewish Choral Society and various B’nai B’rith initiatives including Courage to Care will receive donations.

“South Sydney Police-Citizens Youth Club, Australian Cancer Research Foundation, Northside Community Forum, Australian Foundation for Diabetes Research and Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation are also among those who will receive a cheque” he said.

Robert said the shop is something of a Surry Hills institution, often referred to as “the little Jewish shop”and is considered part of the local community by the regular customers.

“There are those who pop in daily so as not to miss out on a good buy, happy to pick up a book for one dollar or check out a batch of newlyarrived clothing or household goods. There is also a lot of interest in small items of furniture we sell such as bedside tables, coffee tables and small chests of drawers and we offer a delivery service at a very reasonable cost” he said.

When asked what motivated him to keep schlepping goods from all over Sydney, Robert

said “We raise a lot of money from the items the community donates. It’s an extremely satisfying job and everyone in the community benefits.

“I have been into hundreds of homes within the Jewish community and have taken away tons of stuff. From all these things we make something and at the same time, our recycling initiative is appreciated by the locals of Surry Hills and Redfern”.

Robert encourages others to join the roster of over 80 volunteers, both men and women, working shifts in the shop, which opens six days a week from 10-4.

“As well as accepting items to sell, we always welcome new volunteers who are willing to work a three-hour shift in the month or more frequently.

It’s a great way to have fun and at the same time, do something in your spare time that benefits others” he said. “If your’re a people person you will love the atmosphere.”

To donate time or goods, contact Robert Kohn 0413 676 963

Robert Kohn – Shop CEO, Jane Lurie, David Romain and Judy Gyenes

Shalom is geared up for an exciting offering in 2018 that continues to offer its usual array of inclusive and engaging events and programs that we all know and love as well as a range of inspired new events to attract an even wider audience.

Always a calendar highlight, this year’s theatre production will see accomplished director Moira Blumenthal presenting the Australian premiere of internationally acclaimed playwright Timothy Daly’s play “The Man in the Attic”. Daly has worked with Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Jackie Weaver and this play won the prestigious Patrick White Award and continues to play sold-out seasons in France.

Based on a true story, it’s the incredible tale of a Jew hidden by a German couple during the War, however when the war ends they keep him captive for their own profit by telling him that the Nazis have won. In his personal essay on how Daly, an Australian Catholic man, came to write this play he said “To this day, I do not know the name of the Unknown Jew who is the hero of my play. But, in a strange way, it did not matter.

For I was determined that this Jew would stand for them all: those who escaped.

Those who did not. Those who resisted and those who could not.

In this way, my once-in-a-decade discovery of an amazing story will lead, I hope, to greater knowledge of the everyday

heroism of so many ‘ordinary’ people caught up in a tyrant’s vicious war; and, with luck, the Unknown Jew who is the hero of my play will one day be much less unknown.”

Yom Limmud, the Festival of Jewish Ideas will be held on Sunday 17 June and a dynamic program being is being prepared.

A snippet of the confirmed line-up of inspiring and noteworthy speakers includes American author and educator Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Pakistani-American academic and commentator Haroon Moghul and Israeli journalist and broadcaster Mishy Harman.

For the young adult audience, The Professional Women’s Network, Thinktrepreneur and Live Stories will deliver relevant and edgy content like the recent sold-out Negotiation Workshop and a Live Stories event exploring the theme of “Hidden” set for Tuesday 27 March, 7:30pm.

Rabbi Alon Meltzer has just officially joined Shalom as Program Director. He said, “I am extremely excited to hit the ground running with our full suite of programming. We are incredibly lucky to have a team which represents the full spectrum of our community. Our programs span from theatre to storytelling with Moth, from learning at Limmud through reading with PJ Library and so much more. Our community is very lucky to have Shalom around and might not even realise that an event they are attending has been curated by our team.”

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community

March 2018

Getting To Know some of the The North Shore Communities

A place for everyone at Kehillat Masada KEHILLAT MASADA “Kehillat Masada is much more than a Shul - it’s a Community,” says Rabbi Gad Krebs, who has been leading this North Shore congregation since 2007. From its humble beginnings in1984 when a group of 9 families established the St. Ives Minyan, it is now a thriving Kehillah of over 350 families catering to a diverse spectrum of ages and affiliations.

The Kehillat Masada Community stands tall amongst Sydney congregations, its reputation spreading far and wide.

Its banner of ‘The Family Synagogue’ personifies its famous attributes of warmth, camaraderie, inclusiveness, and vibrancy.

Under the leadership of a young, perceptive Rabbinical team, supported by a Board of Management comprising 50% members under the age of 40, Kehillat Masada projects a young, determined force for the growth and continuity of Judaism on the North shore.

The Kehillah is a constant work in progress offering its Community an array of

opportunities to connect in many different ways, from 4 different Shul services each Shabbat on the same campus, to adult educational programs, specific women’s and youth programs, children’s services and camps, social events and outings, and much more.

“We pride ourselves on the fact that there is a place for everyone at our Kehillah” says President Howard Sher.

“The Kehillat Masada Experience is worth a visit – we welcome you to come and see for yourselves!”

JCA - STRONGER TOGETHER

What does it mean to enrich a life?

COA JULIA GOLDING OAM CEO For COA enriching a life means providing opportunities to make one’s life as fulfilling, meaningful, and joyful as possible. COA has some great strategies to help achieve this part of its mission for the Jewish frail and aged of our community.

The first strategy is offering meaningful volunteer work in all areas of the organisation.

Our office is filled daily with volunteers taking on management, clerical and reception roles, data entry, correspondence and mail outs to members. There are also roles in “outreach” which means volunteers contact people at home, deliver meals and visit in person, attend Jewish residents in nondenominational nursing homes to light Shabbat candles, help with shopping and more. For many volunteers the roles they take on in outreach are far removed from the jobs they worked at before. Volunteer work opens new insights and new experiences, while introducing our members and clients to a new caring friend, enriching their lives with community connection and social inclusion.

The second strategy is providing an active venue open six days weekly and offering a full range of diverse activities so seniors can learn new skills, care for their own health, and rekindle old interests. Our large groups are particularly good for drawing people out of themselves to enjoy new experiences or rediscover hobbies and interests from their younger years, whether it’s painting,

languages, playing games like scrabble, bridge, table tennis and chess, or discussing current affairs. In recent weeks we watched as a couple who had not danced together in 30 years once again took the floor, and a lady whom her family believed was unable to care for herself started coming to the COA centre, each week there has been a marked improvement in her demeanour, till today when she is almost unrecognisable from the person who first came to COA. Enriching lives is what COA has done for 36 years for hundreds of seniors in our community through our genuine family atmosphere and culture of caring.

Cremorne Synagogue CREMORNE SYNAGOGUE Cremorne Synagogue is a modern orthodox shul on the lower North Shore of Sydney just 5km from the city centre. It is the fastest growing community in Sydney, having grown some 36% in the last 5 years. Cremorne is a small, friendly and vibrant community welcoming each new member with a special welcome pack personally delivered by our Rabbi Chaim Koncepolski Reb Chaim is a young (34) dynamic leader and, with his wife Dina, they are building our community with innovative ideas, challenging shiurim (lectures and talks), modern celebration of traditional chagim (festivals) and, of course, the Rav’s beautiful singing voice as chazzan leading our services.

The Cremorne community now numbers around 190 members plus their children. Shul services are friendly with a Kiddush and gettogether every Shabbat morning after the service. The service is preceded by a shiur for those wishing to arrive a little earlier. Our Sunday Funday classes provide an enjoyable educational experience for our children.

Our evening shiurim are legend, on occasion attracting around a quarter of our membership. These are also great social functions when people always gather around to chat afterwards. Purim in Cremorne is

all about the children, frequently attracting more than 100 people to our celebrations (remember there are only 190 of us). Simchas Torah is full of joy and dancing for young and old. …and our Yamim Noraim (high holy days) always see our shul packed to capacity, but no overflow services here: we all pack into our solemn and cosy shul and share the festivals together.

Please see our website for further information at www.cremornesynagogue.com There are bigger shuls with more comprehensive facilities, but for those wishing a homely, friendly and welcoming environment, Cremorne shul is home for you.

Come for a visit, and try it for yourself.

Sydney’s North Shore Excellent Jewish childcare and schooling options for all ages and affiliations in the public and private sector.

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community

Sam and Minnie Smorgon provide medical support for disadvantaged children in Israel AUSIMED KAREN TESHUVA Sam and Minnie Smorgon and their family, have continued their commitment to supporting disadvantaged children in Israel, by extending a multi-year grant for the Goshen Project in Israel.

Goshen is a bold national initiative that is bringing new knowledge about developmental paediatrics into medical care for Israeli children, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Goshen programs train paediatricians in Israel to identify children suffering from developmental issues.

These paediatricians work with the child and the child’s family to improve outcomes by enlisting support from other healthcare providers, social services, allied health care professionals and educators. This approach is completely new in Israel.

“Goshen’s goal of improving the health and development of children in disadvantaged communities is very strongly aligned with our family values,” said Sam Smorgon.

Thanks to Sam and Minnie Smorgon’s generosity and a partnership with AUSiMED, two Israeli paediatricians, Drs Foad Alsana and Dafna Idan-Prusak, have received specialist developmental paediatric training at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne, which they are taking back to the Goshen Project in Israel.

Dr Idan-Prusak explained,” During the training, we have been exposed to a new way of looking at improving outcomes for children. We have acquired clinical knowledge and skills to enable us to identify and manage children with a range of problems that hindered their development and stopped them from reaching their full potential”.

The two paediatricians received training at the RCH Community Child Health Centre including in research, development of community programs plus community advocacy and were closely mentored by Professor Frank Oberklaid, founder and director of the Centre.

This renewed Australian funding support, also assists Goshen move to the next stage of its exciting vision for transforming the design and delivery of child healthcare in Israel.

Goshen will open two new centres - one in the north and the other in the south of Israel.

“This expansion is critically important to Goshen’s vision of supporting children living in poverty and disadvantage,” said Antony Cohen, Chair of AUSiMED. Israel has the second highest rate of poverty amongst OECD countries, with latest OECD data indicating that over 21% of the population are living below the poverty line, compared with the OECD average of 11%. According to a recent report from the National Insurance Institute of Israel, the poverty is mainly amongst Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish families and predominantly in Jerusalem, the south and the north peripheries.

Dr Idan-Prusak will lead the centre in the North and Dr Alsana will lead the centre in the South, which will be located amongst the Bedouin communities.

Their work will include, building partnerships with organizations and local authorities, conducting community needs assessments, and implementing new intervention programs (including clinical services and educational programs for parents and health professionals working with children and families).

March 2018

AJA calls for protection of conscientious and religious freedoms AUSTRALIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) was formed to represent those in the Jewish community with a perspective guided by genuine Torah values and as such would be viewed as generally politically conservative. Information about the association’s Mission Statement and Core Policy Principles are on its website (link below). AJA may be the only Australian Jewish communal organisation to stand up for conscientious and religious freedoms in the context of Same Sex Marriage (SSM) legislation.

In the recent postal plebiscite on SSM AJA did not enter the debate on behalf of either the “YES” or the “NO” campaign. AJA considered that each citizen had the right to vote according to their own subjective conscience or religious affiliation. In terms of religious guidance and rulings, we saw this as the role of the learned Rabbis. The statement by the Sydney Beth Din (Rabbinical Court), dated 19 September 2017, which was included in our submission makes it clear that SSM cannot be sanctified in Judaism.

It does not logically follow that the successful “YES” campaign means that those who voted “NO” were wrong to hold their view. The plebiscite did not purport to determine SSM in terms of right or wrong.

It simply gauged whether a majority of Australians desired that SSM be enacted.

Those voting “NO” fell broadly into one or both of two categories. One category included those whose views are informed by a religious affiliation espousing moral principles inconsistent with SSM. The other category included those who, in good conscience, value and hence wish to preserve traditional values.

It is fundamental to a civil society that a minority’s right to hold a different but nevertheless perfectly legitimate view be respected and preserved. It is that fundamental freedom which separates civil societies from totalitarian regimes.

That is why our Parliament should ensure that freedom of religion and freedom of conscience – the two concepts underlying the above two categories – must not be adversely affected by legislation enabling SSM. The Act enabling SSM in Australia exempted ministers of religion, whose faith opposes

homosexual marriage, from having to officiate at such weddings. It did not exempt laypeople with the same religious beliefs from having to participate in such marriages. Everyone, clergy and lay alike, should be free not to be involved in SSM events.

In practical terms, that includes the freedom to withhold services for an SSM wedding whether it be catering, printing, photography or venue hire and the like. The Act was persecutory of religious freedom in potentially forcing individuals, whose religious beliefs strongly oppose homosexual marriage, to participate in it through compulsory provision of their services.

In a democratic society which values freedoms including religious freedom, a person should not be forced to participate in an activity which offends his/ her genuine religious or conscientious convictions.

Equally, parents should have the right to exempt their children from educational programs promoting SSM. Religious schools and community organisations must be permitted both to teach and model their standards within these institutions and communities. They must be allowed to require standards of staff in these institutions that are consistent – or at least not inconsistent – with their values. Religious schools, institutions and communities must not be coerced by the State to teach principles contrary to their beliefs.

During the SSM plebiscite campaign, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull promised that in the event of a “YES” outcome, he would ensure protection of religious freedoms but this promise has not yet been honoured. Our Parliament in December last year declined the opportunity to enshrine these protections but instead referred the issues to be considered after SSM was enacted to The Expert Panel on Religious Freedom, Chaired by former Attorney-General, Hon Philip Ruddock.

AJA considers that the freedom not to participate in SSM events or programs is no less important than the decision to allow SSM itself. That is why this freedom should be enshrined as a protective provision within the SSM legislation.

AJA Mission Statement and Core Policy Principles as well as our full submission can be found on the website: https://jewishassociation.org.au/about-aja/

Malka Leifer Extradition MICHAEL DANBY MHR MELBOURNE PORTS As there has been much publicity about the legal manoeuvrings surrounding the alleged abuser, former principal Malka Leifer and her attempts to avoid extradition to Australia to face 74 charges against her by Victorian Police.

Defence lawyers are often extravagant characters and after previously arguing that his client Leifer couldn’t receive justice in Australia since it was full of kangaroos, defence layer Yehuda Fried now argues that the former Melbourne school principal was not a flight risk, Her defence team supported by respected Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman initially succeeded in having her return to home-arrest under the supervision of Rabbi Grossman However, since then Prosecutors have won an appeal against the decision and Leifer will now be held in custody at a psychiatric facility until a hearing is held regarding her extradition to Australia.

The court first has to determine whether she is mentally up to it, and having decided that whether her extradition is justified.

This is frustrating for survivors of this abuse, but progress has been made. However these kind of psychiatric evaluations in disputed extradition hearings are often features of an impartial judicial system in democratic societies.

I wanted to share with you a speech I

made in parliament last month that gives an overview of the case.

Adjournment Speech, House Of Representatives Canberra 15th February 2018 Re Malka Leifer Extradition From Israel Normally when I see Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld on TV, I’m full of trepidation that some terrorist incident has happened.

This time, police commander Rosenfeld, when I saw him a couple of nights ago, I was pleased to see that the process of justice for survivors of sexual abuse, Dassi Erlich, Nicole, Elly and others—constituents of mine—looks like it’s making progress.

Policeman Rosenfeld, on TV from Jerusalem, was announcing the arrest of Malka Leifer, who was accused back in 2008 of molesting students at her school in Melbourne.

The announcement was followed by Judge Winograd ruling that the former principal remain in custody. But, instead of returning her to prison, he ordered that she be sent to a Jerusalem district mental health facility where she could be closely observed. The judge said that he needed a new in-depth assessment before deciding if Ms Leifer was too ill to face a new extradition hearing.

That’s precisely the advice that the brilliant Melbourne barrister, Amanda Mendes da Costa, gave survivors in the lobby of the King David Hotel in October, when we were there for the Battle of Beersheba commemoration.

Mr Speaker, I must disclose an interest: that barrister is my wife.

It’s very pleasing to see that all the work of the Australian government, supported by the opposition, together with the support of Israeli MKs Hilik Bar, Merav Michaeli, Michal Biran

Malka Leifer is brought in to court last month. Picture: AP and Sharren Haskel—a non-partisan group from across their and our political spectrum— has helped justice distil itself in a society, which, like Australia, has a justice system and where justice will out. Dave Sharma, our past very capable Australian ambassador, was lobbying all through those years, as was I. But I particularly want to pay tribute to Dassi Erlich and the young women who, from completely non-political backgrounds, lobbied the Australian Prime Minister and former Premiers, went to see the Israeli Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, and did an extraordinary interview with Israeli Channel 10, which I think was the key catalyst that changed the willingness of the Israeli police to take on Ms Leifer.

In any system like Australia’s or Israel’s, people who face extradition hearings appear before psychiatric panels, and sometimes a three-hour psychiatric panel won’t give you a true evaluation of what’s happening. That’s why Justice Winograd’s decision to put the accused person under longer observation in a psychiatric facility so people can see how

she behaves over time and whether she is in a fit condition to participate in an extradition hearing, is the right thing to do.

It’s similar to what would be done in Australia, and it’s exactly what Amanda Mendes Da Costa suggested to the three survivors when we were talking about whether we should proceed with the apparently stalled Leifer case.

An Israeli court has said that Leifer should stay under psychiatric evaluation until further notice. Ultimately, after she is found fit and the extradition hearing makes it’s decision, the absconded principal should be returned to Australia, a country friendly to Israel, to face charges that were made against her in 2008. I’m very pleased that the survivors won’t be left hanging and that this issue will not be left in the air.

The rule of law in Australia and Israel is a mark that distinguishes our open and democratic societies. Fairness needs to be shown to this person, but fairness needs to be shown to the survivors as well.

I want to say one thing in conclusion about the Adass community from which she and the survivors come: I don’t want them to be scapegoated or stereotyped. They’re a very orthodox, religious community. They have a perfect right, in Australian society, to practise their beliefs as they see fit. I notice that SBS TV did an excellent and very fair program on them, which screened as a documentary some months ago.

We can have justice for the survivors of alleged sexual abuse. We can have it take place over there where Leifer will be fairly psychiatrically evaluated and observed over a period of time and then face an extradition trial to be brought back to Australia.

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community

March 2018

Where Tiny Treasures Grow GANEINU LONG DAY CARE AND PRESCHOOL, ST IVES There are a multitude of reasons why parents choose Ganeinu Long Day Care and Preschool at St Ives and Centre Director Jennie Hudson can rattle off most of them quickly and easily.

There’s the cutting-edge technology which gives them instant access to the photos, videos and development charts which document their child’s day. There’s the tranquil garden setting housing the sand pit, slippery dip and climbing frames, and the cosy relationship enjoyed with the aged care residents living down the road.

Then of course there’s Ernie. One could argue it’s his wholesome kosher food, cooked fresh daily and served always with a smile.

But ask a Ganeinu parent the first thing they really notice when visiting this unassuming Jewish childcare centre in Sydney’s north and their answer is pretty much the same.

“Family,” Ms Hudson said. “It’s our sense of family which draws them to us. Parents and grandparents walk in here and see first hand the love, care and attention our children receive and they are immediately comforted, reassured their precious children will be nurtured and cherished, just as they are at home.”

Ganeinu offers flexible childcare hours and pricing, from 7.30am to 6pm for children aged from two months to six years. Programs

are varied and age appropriate with children from each group advanced confidently into the next stage. A tour of the centre’s rooms housing Tiny Treasures, Torah Tots, Juniors and Preschoolers, reflects Ganeinu’s commitment to early learning.

Ganeinu is the only Jewish childcare centre on the North Shore offering long-day care for babies, a responsibility Ms Hudson doesn’t take lightly.

“We employ university-qualified early childhood educators and welcome the new ideas they bring, particularly in our Tiny Treasures room,” Ms Hudson said.

Established 1971 - 100% Australian Owned

“Obviously, all our children are important, but our 0-2 babies need a lot more reassurance and we recognise the need to nurture them with highly qualified staff in the same way we do for the other children. Staffing the babies room in this way is a novelty for a childcare centre. We are very sensitive to their needs, realising that the more secure they feel, the more they will open up and flourish.”

Developmental stations are scattered throughout the Tiny Treasures room to encourage the babies to explore and develop, while next door the Torah Tots are taught group experiences, listening and

language skills. In the Juniors room, fine and gross motor skills are further developed and the pre-literacy phonics program Letterland introduced to teach children the shapes and sounds of letters.

However, it’s when the children reach the Preschool room that parents fully appreciate how much Ganeinu has prepared their children for school life. This is where the children indulge in literacy, numeracy, music yoga, tailor made sports programmes and their social skills are fine tuned to ensure their first year of school is an easy transition.

Ganeinu is a service offered by Chabad North Shore, a vital hub where the local Jewish community has congregated for nearly 30 years to support its motto “Where every Jew is Family”.

Rebbetzin Fruma Schapiro said that strong sentiment is extended to Ganeinu which is committed to building relationships and enriching Jewish traditions and values through songs, stories, experiential learning and Shabbat /festival celebrations.

“While our programs are very much tailormade for children to learn, we are also very focussed on developing relationships.

For us it is all about family and bringing a community together.”

For further information about Ganeinu visit ganeinu.com .au or contact Jennie Hudson on 9440 0853 or admin@ganeinu.com.au

Sydney’s North Shore

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schools / shuls

March 2018

Applications Open for the Fourth Year of Naomi Chazan Fellowship NEW ISRAEL FUND AUSTRALIA Applications have opened for the fourth year of the New Israel Fund Australia’s flagship program, the year long Naomi Chazan Fellowship.

The program includes a 10 day trip (9-18 July) to Israel to meet with social justice and human rights activists and NIF grantee organisations, three local Australian skills development workshops and the opportunity to help broaden the communal conversation about Israel in Australia.

The Australians will be joined by Fellows from the UK,US, and for the first-time Canada, making it a truly international gathering of young Jewish professionals from around the world. The trip is aimed at leaders in their 20s and 30s and is ideal for people who have already visited Israel.

“I joined the fellowship because I wanted to connect with people in Israel and abroad who are passionate about the vibrancy of Israel’s democracy. Thanks to the NIF, I’ve learned a great deal and met amazing people doing incredible work,” said this year’s fellow, Bracha Rafael.

“The trip provides a unique opportunity

NIF Australia Fellows meet with Australian Ambassador Chris Canaan L to R - Front row: Chloe Stimar, Amy Dascal, Sharon Berger, Rebecca Sharp.

Back row: Bracha Rafael, Amb Chris Canaan, Graham Kaplan

for Fellows to deepen their relationship with Israel by meeting first-hand with leading activists involved in social and political change on the ground in Israel,” explained NIF Australia Executive Director Liam Getreu.

This increased understanding across a range of issue areas inspires Fellows to create their own programming in Australia to share with their peers. The five fellows from this year’s Fellowship have chosen a number of mediums including

film, photography and print to reach new audiences and create engaging conversations about Israel. Each year, Fellows are able to create their own programming based on issue areas that resonate with them.

“NIF is leading an important conversation in Australia: how do we partner with Israelis from all backgrounds to further the values of freedom and democracy ingrained in the Declaration of Independence. Our Fellowship program, now with 15 incredible graduates, are key leaders in those conversations happening across the Jewish community,” said Getreu.

The Fellowship is heavily subsidised

by NIF donors. The program includes includes international and domestic flights, accommodation, and most meals while in Israel.

Applications are now open for the 2018-2019 Naomi Chazan Fellowship.

The deadline for applications is April 9, 2018.

For more details and to apply: http://www.nif.org.au/fellowship

MS Community Gets Behind Hadassah’s STEM Neurological Disease Campaign HADASSAH AUSTRALIA Of the many powerful moments at the Melbourne and Sydney launches of Hadassah Australia’s STEM Neurological Disease Campaign in the first week of March, two in particular stood out.

The first was the remarkable story of British lawyer and Hadassah advocate, Mark Lewis, who travelled from London to attend the campaign. Mark’s story was revealed in a BBC documentary from November 2017, part of which was shown to the audience of more than 170 people. In it, we see Mark as he navigates literally and metaphorically his journey as a participant in a trial at the Jerusalem-based hospital run by Prof Dimitrios Karrusis, one of Hadassah’s most passionate researchers whose team is on the cusp of a breakthrough in the treatment of MS and potentially other neurological diseases that affect millions of people every year.

The second was the audience, many of whom were dealing with MS - either directly or as a loved one of a person trying to make sense of this crippling disease. This was the point that was powerfully made by Mark’s partner, Mandy Blumenthal, an activist for Israel

Mandy Blumenthal, Michaela Simai, Mark Lewis, Shelana Silver, Prof Tamir Ben-Hur

whose story as a support for Mark is also shown in the documentary.

Mandy described the toll on those caring for people with MS. “People say there’s one in 20 people affected by MS. It’s a lie. It’s not only the people who have the physical symptoms that have MS. Anybody that has somebody that they love, somebody in their life that’s affected

by MS, knows how much it affects their life as well,” she said. “I’m asking you

from my heart to your heart to help my Mark and everyone else’s Mark.” Mandy’s emotional appeal had an immediate impact on those in the audience who took a moment to complete pledge forms.

The nature of the research and the commitment by Hadassah to find a cure for all neurological diseases was presented by Prof Tamir Ben-Hur, the head of the Department of Neurology at Hadassah.

Hadassah Australia has made its support for MS research its major fundraising activity for 2018.

Please donate to stemneurologicaldisease.org/donate/ to support one of the most innovative and exciting research programs ever launched in this area. It has the real potential to rapidly change the course of neurological disease research and treatment in Israel and worldwide.

March 2018

Purim at Moriah College

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community

Maroubra Synagogue Purim Fun

Smiles for Purim at Masada HUG-A-BUB (Bondi) The Hug-a-Bub Staff and children relished in the celebrations that took place on Purim.

We learnt about all the characters in the Purim story and knew to shout “Boo� and make lots of noise with our homemade shakers when we heard the name Haman.

Everyone got into the spirit of Purim as we had everyone walking through the gates

in their various costumes. We took great pleasure when we mixed the ingredients to make Hamentashen adding chocolate and jam for our afternoon tea.

As this Chag depicts a party atmosphere, the children and teachers joined in costume to celebrate with luminous lights and a disco - dancing and having fun together!!

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schools / shuls

March 2018

Shuls Celebrate Purim COOGEE SYNAGOGUE On erev Purim Coogee Shule remembered the generosity and kindness of the late Shua Polonsky (son-in-law to our Rabbi and Rebbetzin).

Shua was a giver and dropped anything for his family and those around him. He loved helping others and in his honour we established the Mishloach Manot Project.

The shule partnered with Jewish House to bring joy and light to those in our community who are in need.

A Mishloach Manot station was set up at our Purim party where congregants could donate $5 and assemble Mishloach Manot to be given to people in need with the help of Jewish House.

DOVER HEIGHTS SHUL Over 350 people came to Dover Heights Shule to celebrate Purim on Wednesday night. Parents & children got into the Purim spirit with the Up In The Air theme and enjoyed a live bird show, masquerade parade, Megillah, slideshow & dinner.

Children also received their own mishloach manos and graggers.

On Thursday evening the was a seudas Purim dinner and farbrengen for the adults.

Mizrachi Shul Snap Shots

KEHILLAT MASADA From international balloon artist Matt Falloon keeping young and old in twists of laughter and intrigue, to a delicious make-it-your-own way burger bar for adults and free kiddies hot dogs, it was a another rip-roaring Purim at Kehillat Masada. Yishar Koach to Buzz Lightyear and Princess Sophia, the winners of our best-dressed competition as well as to our very own Rabbi Gad Krebs who kept his audience in stitches of laughter during his “Lighter Side of the Community” act. Once again, it was an evening filled with laughter, simcha, good food and a great atmosphere at Kehillat Masada.

SOUTHERN SYDNEY SYNAGOGUE Southern Sydney Synagogue celebrated Purim with a Mexican Fiesta which included a Mariachi band serenading the revelers and a delicious Mexican feast. A lot of fun and high spirits was shared by young and old alike.

CELEBRATING PASSOVER Friday 30th March to Saturday 7th April

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Osem SP Kneidel Marzah Ball Mix 142g $1.41 per 100g

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Osem SP Klp Cake Marble 250g $2.70 per 100g. While stocks last

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Celebrate Passover at these supporting stores: Belconnen Bondi Junction Bondi Westfield Canberra Civic Castle Hill Chatswood Chase

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Randwick Rose Bay St Leonards Stanhope Gardens

On Sale from Wednesday 14th March until Tuesday 10th April 2018.

Products only available at above stores, unless indicated otherwise. Not available at Coles Express or coles.com.au.

While stocks last. Some products or varieties may not be available at all stores. We reserve the right to limit sale quantities. Savings, single sell prices and unit prices shown off regular selling prices.

Absolutely Original Cracked Pepper Crackers 125g $7.20 per 100g. While stocks last

Dagim Premium Tilapia Fillet 453g $13.25 per kg

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schools / shuls

March 2018

JCA - STRONGER TOGETHER

100 Students Cut their Hair for Kids with Cancer MORIAH COLLEGE The most EXTRAORDINARY event took place at Moriah College recently.

More than 100 students volunteered to have their hair cut at school, donating their locks to have wigs made for kids with cancer. Many of the kids had put off having a haircut since September last year, to donate as much hair as possible – the longest plait was around 35cms.

A team of top Sydney hairdressers from four different salons volunteered their time to chop plaits and pony-tails off, then give the kids a ‘tidy-up’ haircut.

Jaimi Knep in Year 12 spearheaded the whole initiative with classmate Liav Brill.

They were overwhelmed by the response!

Initially about 60 students signed up and, on the day, more than 100 participated!

There is a major connection between the Jewish people and human hair. When concentration camps such as AuschwitzBirkenau were liberated, masses of human hair was found packed into bags.

According to an article in The New Yorker on November 15, 1993, a memoir written

by Dr. Miklos Nyiszli, an inmate who worked as an assistant to the notorious Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele, said human hair “was often used in delayed action bombs, where its particular qualities made it highly useful for detonating purposes.” Women’s hair was

(L-R): Liav Brill and Jaimi Knep preferred to men’s or children’s, because it tended to be thicker and longer. The hair was shorn from the heads of corpses immediately after their removal from the gas chambers (the hair of prisoners selected for labor was shaved off when they entered the camp) and was then “cured” in lofts over the crematorium’s ovens and gathered into twenty-kilogram bales. The

bales were marketed to German companies at twenty pfennig per kilogram… “some of the products manufactured in those plants may still be in use in German homes today”.

The recent action of Moriah’s students turned the representation of bags of human hair into a positive icon – helping thousands of children.

The hair will be sent to Israel through an organisation called Zichron Menachem which provides support for any young person in Israel under the age of 25 living with cancer, as well as their parents and siblings.

Families of all religions and backgrounds turn to Zichron Menachem for the help they need most, be it information, a second opinion from the “clinic of hope”, or a break from the punishing routine of medical appointments.

Zichron Menachem works closely with Israel’s leading medical professionals, who strongly believe that no child can be treated comprehensively without the support they provide.

One of their initiatives is collecting hair for wigs. One of the first questions that kids with cancer ask is, “Will I lose my hair?” Zichron Menachem collects hair from donors around the world to make much-needed wigs for children who have lost their hair during treatment.

The generosity from the wider community helps make these children feel like themselves again. Zichron Menachem have made thousands of wigs for children and young adults who are fitted by wig specialists, custom made for their specific needs.

For more information go to www.zichron.org

‘Song at the Sea’ at the Sea with NSTE NORTH SHORE TEMPLE EMANUEL

Like the bees in a hive, a healthy society is made up of individuals who work together for the greater good.

This is the foundation of Masada College ELC to Year 12, which nurtures Happiness, Inclusion, Values and Edge.

H appiness I nclusion V alues E dge

ELC-Yr 12 College Campus: 9-15 Link Road, St Ives T +61 2 9449 3744 E enrolments@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au hiveofpotential.com.au

For the second year running, North Shore Temple Emanuel (NSTE) will be chanting the ’Song at the Sea’ - at the sea!

On Friday 6 April (Seventh day of Pesach), the festival morning tefilah will take place at 11:00am at a local beach, rather than the Shule’s premises in Chatswood. The service will be led by Rabbi Nicole Roberts and Cantor Ted Labow, and attendees are invited to enjoy a kosher l’Pesach potluck picnic together afterwards.

Traditionally chanted on the seventh day of Pesach, the Song at the Sea (Shirat HaYam) is found in the Book of Exodus (Shemot).

Its words express the Israelites’ jubilant amazement and their gratitude to God for parting the waters, enabling them to cross the Sea of Reeds and escape servitude.

“At the beach, one really senses the majesty of God,” says Rabbi Roberts. “Last year, it occurred to us that Sydney offers such inspiring environs; why not celebrate the crossing of the Sea in a place that stirs our collective memory and imagination?’”

The 2017 participants enjoyed a unique

and moving experience, with one person describing the service “a resounding success.”

“The picnic afterwards is a lovely, communal way to finish up those last remaining kosher l’Pesach snacks as well!” adds Rabbi Roberts.

Pesach is always a busy, inspiring, and creative time of year at NSTE. In addition to seventh day Shacharit at the beach, the NSTE community will be celebrating Pesach 5778 with services in the synagogue for Erev First Day, First Day morning, and Erev Seventh Day, including a special Yizkor. Some of these services will be enhanced by the volunteer NSTE Choir.

NSTE will also host its annual second night Communal Seder (all ages), Meah Hebrew and Religion School Demonstration Seder (Years K-6), Kids’ Seder (children under age 8), as well as various Pesach-related activities at NSTE’s Shabbat Playgroup and onsite Apples and Honey Preschool.

For more details, visit www.nste.org.au or call the NSTE Office on 9419 7011.

Chag Kasher vʼSameach

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Pick up all your Kosher products for Passover today.

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20

schools / shuls

March 2018

JCA - STRONGER TOGETHER

A “HIVE” of activity is gripping St Ives MASADA COLLEGE There is a HIVE of activity circulating St Ives right now and the excitement is so tangible you can spread it like honey on toast.

Masada College has started the year with a new look and some new, super- intelligent approaches to teaching that build on the last 50 years of education.

The school has undertaken an internal assessment and, in the spirit of continuous improvement, is now launching a new but well -travelled platform in teaching.

David Guth, President of the Masada College Board said, “In thinking about the next chapter of the school, and how we can plan for another 50 years of educational excellence, we began thinking of a way that we could invigorate ourselves that would still capture the “Masada Magic” that the community has come to know us for - a warm environment and an embracing culture of a school that is “open to all” but underpinned by our Jewish heritage and spirit.”

Acting College Principal Martin Tait said, “The idea of a HIVE really speaks to the ethos of our college which is buzzing with potential-filled students and dedicated teachers. We’ve simply taken the ideals that have always guided this school and given it a brilliant new look. Most importantly it’s about giving our students an EDGE in life.

And the idea of many individuals working

A HIVE of potential-filled students and dedicated teachers prepare for the next phase of educational excellence at Masada College

together for a greater good really resonated with us,” says Tait.

Masada’s renowned educational programs, including the Leading Learning educational package which nurtures students to reach their maximum potential while raising responsible, individual thinkers, Stephen Covey’s Leader in Me®, the Harvard Culture of Thinking and the Raising Responsibility behavioural management system, will all integrate into the HIVE

communication and management network, helping to streamline and articulate the different facets and layers that make up the school. “It’s just another way we’re offering children an exceptional education today which will give them the edge they need for tomorrow,” says Tait.

“After months of planning we arrived at the concept of HIVE: Happiness, Inclusion, Values and Edge”, says board member Terry Evian, who has a background in advertising

and marketing.

From a new website, to advertising and on-site media, the Masada College HIVE has come to life in numerous ways but communicating one main message of cohesiveness, creativity and continuity, to deliver an EDGE to our kids in our community.

For more information contact: enrolments@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au or call +61 2 9449 3744

We’re open over

Passover Pickup your Passover order form in-store or download at:

www.katzys.com.au

Special Passover menu available in-store or take away during Chol Hamoed!

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pesach

March 2018

Discussion Topics for Your Passover Seder Questions that provoke discussion about relevant topics can help bring your Seder to life. Somewhere during the course of your Passover seder this year, ask one of these questions and see how your fellow attendees respond.

You can also have them prepared on cards and get each person to read one aloud. Depending on your guests, the responses may be either serious or playful. Either way, you’re guaranteed interesting discussion!

1.Think for a moment about the future of the Jewish community. Do you think your great-grandchildren will be sitting at a Passover seder someday? Why or why not?

2. Which symbol on the seder plate do you think is the most important?

3. It is traditional for the youngest person at a seder to ask the Four Questions. If you were to create a new tradition for the asking of the Four Questions, who would

you choose to ask the questions and why?

4.Tradition says that Elijah the Prophet is supposed to announce the coming of Moshiach. If you could send Elijah to any spot on the globe to make the announcement, where would you send him?

5.If President Barack Obama, actress Margot Robbie or golf star Jason Day (or any other celebrity you like) came to your seder, which symbol or ritual would you want to show them first?

6. Do you believe we can eventually eradicate wars, poverty, and starvation? Or do you believe that we will always be stuck in some version of our current situation?

7.How would you suggest we spread a more hopeful message and deal with the cynicism and self-doubt that always accompanies us when we start talking about changing the world?

8. What experiences in your life have given you hope? Tell about some struggle to change something that worked. What

did you learn from it?

9. When dipping the Karpas into salt water: Has anything ever happened to you which seemed bitter at the time but later turned out to be sweet?

10. When breaking the middle matzah and hiding it for later: What is a “hidden” aspiration that you have, i.e. something that you have postponed for later in life but you plan/aspire to one day get to?

11. When speaking about how the Jewish people were sent down to Egypt: How have the hardships in our life helped us become better people?

12. When speaking about jumping in the Red Sea: What have you done recently to step out of your comfort zone?

13. When singing Dayneu: What are the gifts in our life that make it all worth it?

14. When reciting Hallel: If you could fully express gratitude to someone in your past who really made a difference in your life, who would it be?

6-week BJE israel program Register Year 10 Students from all public and private schools*

INFORMATION NIGHT 1 MAY | register for TIME & venue details $5,000Vouchers granted to all Students

register now!

youth2israel.org.au/info-night-2018 or call 02 8353 1612 * This event is available to all public and private school students with a Jewish parent, excluding Emanuel, Kesser Torah, Masada & Moriah who are supported through their own programs.

22

pesach

March 2018

JCA - STRONGER TOGETHER

Students embracing the Seder Y2i ANTHONY PERL

to the local community.

We are going to

share more of these stories in time because we understand the impact these people will

333 students have recently returned from a Year 10 Israel (Y2i) program, where each received a $5,000 voucher from Youth 2 Israel. As Pesach approaches the question is, will this Seder be different from all others, for them?

Rachel Swartz, the Y2i Manager says “Going to Israel for five weeks or more is not designed to make students come back more religious, though their knowledge will be considerably higher. They come back with a greater understanding of their heritage and an appreciation of how they might find their place in the local community.”

Pesach is a festival which brings family and friends together for the Seder. It is a chance to feel a sense of community. While students may not be leading the Seder, they can regale everyone with stories of Israel today, and what it was like to bond with so many of their peers.

According to Rachel, “Reading the story has new meaning when you have been to Israel as part of a Year 10 group. Thinking about what it must have been like to be a slave, then exiled on mass, compared to what they just experienced, brings home the importance of the programs.”

It is students and parents spreading the

make on Jewish continuity is critical.”

Meanwhile, the 2017 cohort of students are

getting

experiences

ready

to

through

showcase a

their

photography

competition. This has attracted a large number of enteries, with the winners set to be announced later this month. It is all part of helping spread the message about the programs.

Rachel says, “We have been blown away not just by the quality, but by the way they have represented their highlights. A description accompanies each entry about what makes the moment they captured

messages about the programs and the

schools we are reaching.

sense of belonging to the local community

identifying themselves because they are

significant.

which is proving invaluable in the growth of

hearing from others about this once in a

Facebook page to view the entries and to

Israel programs, especially for students not

lifetime experience.”

vote for one of the winners. A panel and Y2i

Families are

Keep an eye on the Y2i

donors will choose the other winners.”

at a Jewish school. The BJE Israel Program

To date, Y2i has gifted $5,000 vouchers to

is specifically designed for both public and

935 students, resulting in a 179% increase

Any student in NSW, QLD and the ACT,

private school students not at a Jewish

in participation compared to the year before

with at least one Jewish parent, is eligible

school. Registrations for the BJE Israel

the pilot program in 2014.

for a $5,000 voucher. Register your child

Rachel adds, “Over the next few years,

now through the Y2i website for the 1 May

we hope the success of the programs will

Information Night and help the Y2i push to

become more apparent.

Some students

make this the biggest group yet going to

participated in the BJE program, and this

from the pilot program have only just

Israel, by sharing the link with family and

year is shaping to be even bigger. What

returned from gap-year Israel programs and

friends.

is amazing is the incredible diversity of

are starting to become active contributors

youth2israel.org.au/info-night-2018.

Program Information Night, are increasing daily.

Rachel says, “Last year 72 students

Translating history into Memory RABBI YOSSI FRIEDMAN Every year as Passover arrives, I can’t help but feel sorry for the many Jewish mothers, housewives (and fathers), who spend countless hours on their hands and knees cleaning to rid their homes of the smallest crumb. I also feel for all the schoolteachers who spend countless hours training our children to retell and re-enact –in detail – the story of the Seder. Why do we place so much emphasis and make such a fuss over this particular holiday?

In 1936, the Peel Commission questioned David Ben-Gurion, then head of the Jewish Agency, concerning Jewish rights to the Land of Israel. This was his reply: Three hundred years ago, a ship called the Mayflower set sail to the New World. In it were Englishmen unhappy with English society and government, who sought an uninhabited coast to settle and establish a new world. They landed in America, and were among the first pioneers and builders of that land.

This was a major event in the history

of England and America. But I would like to know: Is there a single Englishman who knows the exact date and hour of the Mayflower’s launch? How much do American children — or grownups — know about this historic trip? Do they know how many people were in the boat?

Their names? What they wore? What they ate? Their path of travel? What happened to them on the way? Where they landed?

More than 3,300 years before the Mayflower set sail, the Jews left Egypt.

Any Jewish child, whether in America or

Russia, Yemen or Germany, knows that his forefathers left Egypt at dawn on the 15th of Nisan. What did they wear? Their belts were tied, and their staffs were in their hands. They ate matzot, and arrived at the Red Sea after seven days. He knows the path of their journey through the desert and the events of those forty years in the desert… The child can even quote the family names from the Torah.

Jews worldwide still eat matzah for seven days from the 15th of Nisan. They retell the story of the Exodus, concluding with

the fervent wish, “Next Year in Jerusalem.”

This is the nature of the Jews.

You see, Pesach is not just ‘another’ festival. It is not like other memorial days or days of national celebration where we remember what happened and then have a drink. On this day we live, experience (and even taste!) our history. We eat the very same Matzah that our forebears ate on that fateful day of the exodus and we eat bitter herbs to actually feel their pain.

On this day our memories move from being distant experiences of our past to becoming our state of being.

This is why we make such a big deal about Pesach and why it’s so important to bring it to life for our children. Because Pesach defines who we are as a people.

On this day, we were forever changed. On this day our souls gained eternal freedom.

But if our children are to continue our age-old tradition it must become ‘real’ to them. We must learn to translate history into living memory. And this is what takes place on Seder night each year. We all have the opportunity to bring that story of freedom further into our lives.

I hope we all seize this special time to create wonderful, proud, Jewish memories with our children and families.

Chag Pesach Kasher Vesameach, Rabbi Yossi and Chana Raizel Friedman

March 2018

23

pesach

A Millennial Friendly Seder from Stand Up STAND UP JACQUI DUBS The annual Passover Seder has the power to bring together all ages to share and explore the significance and intricacies of the Exodus story. And much like a Shakespearian play, this ancient narrative is flexible enough to be contextualized for today’s Millennials, without affecting the sanctity of the traditional Haggadah text or altering the order of the Seder ritual.

This year Stand Up wants to spark new conversations that bridge the generational divide, as we gather around the Seder table.

For younger guests at the table, Stand Up has created a fun and interactive chatterbox game (otherwise known a fortune teller), which explores the central Passover themes of freedom, slavery and equality, as well as the symbolism and enjoyment of food associated with the festival. This unique educational resource is available free of charge via Standup.org.au/Haggadah and is guaranteed to ignite laughter, reflection and engagement during Passover festivities.

“The word ‘Haggadah’ comes from the word ‘LeHagid’ (to speak)”, explains Stand Up’s Sydney Director, George Schneider.

“The Stand Up Chatterbox is designed to invite young people to start talking. It encourages them to start using their words to reflect on the state of the world, and with that, instigate a dialogue that will transform

rights, through commentaries provided

by Australian rabbis, writers, activists, educators and Holocaust survivors. With only 80 copies of this edition left for sale, this is the last opportunity to buy a distinctive piece of Australian Judaica for Passover or simcha gifting.

“A beautifully illustrated Haggadah. The translation is heart-warming, clear and thought-provoking for all ages”, is how Rabbi Dr Orna Triguboff describes the New Australian Haggadah. “Our own Aussie creation, with explanations that make the Pesach festival all the more meaningful. This Haggadah will create an atmosphere of engagement and discussion between family members and friends of all ages”.

it.” “Words hold great power”, he adds. “It is only when Moses utters the words “Let my people go!” that the generative process that leads to freedom begins”.

For Millennial aged guests, The New Australian Haggadah can serve as a useful tool to ignite interest and elevate discussions

about issues that resonate strongly with this generation. The New Australian Haggadah breathes new life into the Passover story by connecting it to a rich tapestry of modern day ‘plagues’, including: slavery, homelessness, the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, and Indigenous

Stand Up’s Passover Chatterbox Download your copy of this free resource for families at Standup.org.au/haggadah

The New Australian Haggadah Sale Limited copies left. All proceeds from the sale of this publication go towards funding Stand Up’s social justice programs. Purchase your copies at 25% off at Haggadah.com.au

On behalf of the Burger Centre we wish all our clients, volunteers and friends a Pesach rich with meaning rejoicing in the traditions.

May you be blessed with joy and the gift of life Chag Sameach From all the Staff at the Burger Centre The Burger Centre will be running two Seders during the week of Pesach. The centre will be open on Tuesday the 3rd, Wednesday the 4th and Thursday the 5th of April, offering our full range of programs during this time including Kosher Le Pesach morning tea and lunch.

For more information about the large range of programs on offer at the Centre please contact us on 8345 9147 or email info@burgercentre.com.au

24

pesach

March 2018

Number Games and the Ten Plagues NEFESH RABBI ARON MOSS T h e Haggadah gets rather confusing when the rabbis argue about how many plagues the Egyptians suffered. First it says there were Ten Plagues. Then Rabbi Yehuda groups them into three: Dtzach Adash Beachav. Then we hear there were ten plagues in Egypt and fifty additional plagues at the Red Sea. Rabbi Eliezer then says that each plague was really four plagues, so there were 40 in Egypt and 200 at the Red Sea. Finally Rabbi Akiva says each plague was actually five plagues, so there were 50 in Egypt and 250 at the Red Sea!!!

What are we trying to achieve with all these number games? As with everything in the Haggadah, there is a deeper story going on here.

The Exodus from Egyptian slavery represents the soul’s liberation from evil forces. In every generation we have to see ourselves as if we are leaving Egypt, leaving behind our own inner resistance to goodness, our evil inclination, so we can march to Mount Sinai and receive the Torah.

But to truly be free from slavery, your Egypt has to be afflicted with plagues. Before you can express your inner goodness, you have to clear away layers of resistance that get in the way. For every positive impulse there is a negative counterforce that attempts to quash it. Every time I want to do a good deed, my inner Pharaoh, my evil inclination, has an excuse why I shouldn’t do it. I have to break through these blockages in my heart to open myself up to goodness.

This is the deeper meaning of the plagues.

Before the Jewish people could receive the Ten Commandments, the recipe for bringing morality to the world, there were ten layers of evil that had to be vanquished, each layer being the blockage to fulfilling one of the Ten Commandments. After the ten powers of evil were subdued through the ten plagues, the Ten Commandments could be received and observed, and the powers of goodness

could prevail.

But the Torah has more than just ten commandments. There are in fact six hundred and thirteen commandments.

The Ten Commandments are ten general categories, under which all the other commandments fall. “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” includes all the festivals. “Do not steal” includes all business ethics and laws of commerce. “Do not murder” includes all moral obligations to our fellow human beings, and so on.

They are parent categories, under which lie hundreds of sub categories.

So the ten really includes six hundred and thirteen. Therefore the ten plagues must also include six hundred and thirteen plagues, because for each and every commandment there is a negative counterforce that needs to be nullified for us to be able to perform that commandment.

Now we can understand why the Haggadah lists various ways our sages extrapolated more plagues than the original ten.

Let’s look at the numbers in the order mentioned in the Haggadah: There were 10 plagues Rabbi Yehuda groups them into 3 -

Dtzach Adash Beachav Rabbi Yose lists 10 plagues in Egypt and 50 at the sea Rabbi Eliezer multiplies it into 40 in Egypt and 200 at the sea Rabbi Akiva finds 50 plagues in Egypt and 250 at the sea Now add up the sum total of all these numbers of plagues mentioned in the Haggadah: 10+3+10+50+40+200+50+250 = 613 The Haggadah is teaching an amazing lesson. The Ten Plagues came to clear the way for the Ten Commandments. But being that the Ten Commandments include within them 613 commandments, so too the ten plagues actually add up to 613. When the Jews left Egypt, every single layer of resistance was obliterated, and the Jewish soul was left open to accepting all of the commandments.

On Seder night, as we read through these plagues, we can each think of a mitzvah we have been resisting to do, and allow the power of telling the story of the plagues to rid us of any resistance to goodness, and free us to do what’s right.

Pesach: what’s in a name?

THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY RAV. MOSHE D. GUTNICK Pesach is almost upon us and it is the most amazing of festivals. No matter what one’s background, no matter what one’s level of observance is, everyone celebrates Pesach in one way or another in varying degrees.

You may refrain from eating bread, eat matzah (not exclusively!) and celebrate with a unique Seder experience. Statisticians tell us that more people celebrate Pesach in some form than fast on Yom Kippur.

What’s so special about Pesach? Our sages tell us that the essence of something is reflected in its name. Let’s analyse Pesach monikers and see what they teach us. Here we find an extraordinary anomaly. Looking in the Torah, we discover that throughout the Chumash, Pesach is repetitively referred

to as “Chag HaMatzot”, the festival of (the eating of) Matzot. Yet Jewish people commonly refer to it as Pesach or Passover.

When was the last time you heard anyone refer to it as “Chag HaMatzot”? Let’s delve a little deeper.

The answer is as profound as it is simple.

Where does the name Pesach come from? The Hebrew word Pesach has two meanings: It either means to have mercy, or to jump or pass over. In Egypt, the Almighty both had mercy on and also passed over the dwellings of the Jewish population on the night that He struck down the first born of Egypt.

The name Pesach represents G-d’s choice of us as His people and His everlasting covenant with us. Even though, “In every generation they rise up against us to destroy us, He will save us from their hand”. And

without fail, in every generation they rise up against us and without fail (in the greatest historical miracle there could possibly be), we are still here, not showing any infirmity, rather stronger than we have been for more than two thousand years. That is why we, the Jewish People, call this festival ‘Pesach’ - in recognition of Hashem delivering us and His eternal providence over us.

Chag HaMatzot refers to the Matzah.

The unleavened bread, the poor bread of affliction that our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt. Notwithstanding the suffering, the Jews always lived with the hope that one day a redeemer would come and G-d would remember them and deliver them from bondage. And when Moses took them out, they left with complete faith, “They followed Me into the desert.” This is without making provisions, without taking the time to bake

their bread. Hashem (in the Torah which is His word), called it, “Chag HaMatzot.” He both remembered our affliction but more importantly He praised our faith in Him - our willingness to remain His people even if it meant marching into a desert without water or provisions.

We call it Pesach in praise of HaShem.

He called it “Chag HaMatzot”, in praise of us. Herein lies the secret of Pesach. It is the festival that binds us with Hashem and Him with us. It nurtures our faith in a better tomorrow, when we will be gathered in from our exile. A golden time when our Temple will be rebuilt and we will dance and sing on the way to eating the Pesach Matzah and Maror on the Temple Mount. This year in Jerusalem!

25

pesach

March 2018

Brand lessons of Pesach ANTHONY PERL A favourite part of the Seder is hearing about the four sons. While easy to dismiss as just a quirky moment in the story, there is a deeper meaning behind them. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks suggests they relate to the four stages of childhood development, but you can argue the learnings are just as relevant to business brands.

The first son is the one who does not know what questions to ask. Rabbi Sacks likens this to a baby, the first stage of childhood.

They are not able to comprehend all that is going on around them. This is where many businesses brands find themselves at when it comes to marketing. They don’t recognise they need it.

The reality is 90% of our decision making is driven by emotion, and the remaining 10% is justifying it. Marketing is critical.

Marketing has become increasingly divided by very specialised skills. When you look at disciplines like strategy, graphic design, photography, web development, social media, direct marketing and inbound marketing, you begin to understand why marketing jobs are on the rise. According to recent reports, over the next five years, an additional 30,000 marketing jobs will be created in Australia.

The second or simple son asks the basic questions. Like an infant learning its environment, so must a brand continually

work to understand its audience and its

Rabbi Sacks likens the wicked son to

position in the market. Any business exists

the rebellious adolescent and a form of

because it satisfies a need for a particular

‘self-exploration’. This is when businesses

group of people.

Your brand needs to

need a brand awakening because without

consistently carry the right messages in

recognising all that it encompasses and the

written, spoken and visual form if it is going

value it brings, you will miss opportunities

to resonate.

you will never know existed. Trying to do

it all yourself and settling for makeshift options is risky. Many businesses never pass this phase because they are like typical teenagers, blinded by what they think they know rather than listening to voices of experience. They often believe they can do it all themselves.

The wise son is where the child becomes an adult. Like a great brand, they have the foundations set in place. Like reading the Haggadah every year, they review the basics annually, not being afraid to ask themselves and their audience questions.

They are ready to look at the opportunities in front of them.

This Seder when you take a break from the Haggadah to enjoy the meal, and the conversation drifts to business, ask the question, which son best describes your brand?

To build and maintain a successful brand, you need to find the right avenues to market and listen to your audience amongst an ever increasing myriad of options and platforms.

To achieve strategic and consistent messaging is hard.

Matzoballs.com.au is an initiative for the Jewish business community. We have developed a unique tool which will measure where your brand stands and plots a path for future growth. Like matzo balls in your chicken soup this Pesach, we will give your business the magic marketing ingredients it needs.

Skinny Passover Matzo Pizza SKINNYTASTE.COM Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 1 pizza • Points +: 6 pts • Smart Points: 6 Calories: 230 • Fat: 5.8 g • Protein: 12 g • Carb: 35 g • Fiber: 2.6 g • Sugar: 2 g • Sodium: 349 mg Ingredients: • 4 fat free matzo crackers • 6 tbsp crushed tomatoes (I used Tuttorosso) • 1/2 tsp dried oregano • 1 cup reduced fat shredded mozzarella (Kosher for religious purposes)

• 2 medium tomatoes, sliced paper thin • a few thin slices of red onion • 12 black olives • 1/4 cup fresh basil for topping Directions: Preheat the oven to 375°. Place a rack on a baking sheet.

Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons of crushed tomatoes on each matzo. Don’t put too much or it will get soggy. Sprinkle with oregano then top with tomatoes and onions. Top with 1/4 cup of cheese on each one, olives and bake in the oven until the cheese melts, about 5-6 minutes.

Read more at www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-passovermatzo-pizza

We thank all our customers for their continued support

AND WISH YOU A HAPPY PESACH

26

pesach

March 2018

Four for One and One for All simple and one that does not know how

RABBI BENJI LEVY

to ask a question.’ Perhaps the word The most celebrated ritual across global Jewry is the Pesach Seder.

With nearly every type of Jew coming to the table, one of the most famous passages relates to the four children, ‘one wise and one wicked and one simple and one that does not know how to ask [a question].’ Layered with meaning, there are countless interpretations of this ancient passage. While each of these interpretations present advice in broad strokes rather than being black and white, each is connected and leads towards an approach to the questions posed in providing insight to our Pesach experience and beyond.

Nearly every child has a parent and a teacher and while nature definitely influences the type of person we become, nurturing that nature can be more powerful.

One kind of parent/educator is domineering, telling instead of teaching, resulting in a child who is not taken by the treasures of his tradition, feeling alienated and not even knowing how to ask a question. The second type of parent/educator places his universal

‘one’ is emphasised before each of the categories because each has a place at the seder – each person is a ‘world in and of themselves.’ Moreover, each can be traced within the same single person. While these four approaches sometimes contradict one another, they each provide insight into different stages within each person. Life is by no means a simple process with black and white results, however, the categorisation of the four children teaches a lesson to the children just as much as it does to society, educators and parents, encouraging us to think about how we bring up our children and live in the next generation. Ultimately, one-size does not fit-all and each person must ‘educate [and be educated] according to his way.’ identity above his particular identity, investing all his energy in broader humanity at the expense of his Jewish community, resulting in a simple son that understands the broader world, but not his unique place within it. The third category or parent/ educator does not provide boundaries, allowing the child to grow in his own way and sometimes leading to wickedness because there was no moral compass, or sense of meaningful direction. The fourth

is the wise role model, resulting in a wise child, for sincerity breeds sincerity and when the child sees the earnest pursuit of wisdom, taught in a palatable way, he often wants to follow suit. Following on from the previous discussion, the fifth child may be absent because the fifth parent was absent in the child’s life.

The phrasing of these four children is strange in it’s extraneous use of the word ‘one’, ‘one wise and one wicked and one

Throughout this journey, each person sits at the table, no matter which stage they are currently leaning towards or which person they may be labelled as. For our community to continue and for each of us to grow, we must keep coming to the table and engaging in the important rituals and meaningful conversations across the generations that the Seder has provided and will continue to provide every year!

Wishing all our Clients & the Community Chag Pesach Kasher V’Sameach

28

international

March 2018

Is Greece about to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital?

WWW.GATESTONEINSTITUTE.ORG MARIA POLIZOIDOU On his return from a recent two-day trip to Israel -- where he met with high-level officials -- Adonis Georgiadis, the vice president of Greece’s opposition party, New Democracy, declared his support for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

In an interview with Skai Radio on March 7, Georgiadis called it “almost funny to discuss whether Jerusalem is a Jewish city or not.” “[It] was founded by the Jews... in ancient times. You can read Flavius Josephus or read Diodoros Siceliotis and see the references to the city of Jerusalem, where there was the High Priest of Solomon’s Temple and that it was the city of the Jews.

This is the reality.”

When challenged by the interviewer, who said, “But as time went by, many things happened in the city’s history,” Georgiadis, a historian, replied: “I don’t disagree, but this city is from the beginning a Jewish city. They [Jews] made it; they founded it; it’s theirs... Now, President Trump’s decision to transfer the US Embassy to Jerusalem is a little bit provocative... But I have to say... that I am in favor of this decision rather than against it.”

Two days earlier, on March 5, MP Makis Voridis, a former minister from the New Democracy party, expressed a similar position in an op-ed in the Greek daily Kathimerini: “President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is right and fair. The country [Israel] deserves the full support of the US and Europe, because

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets with then Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on October 8, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo by Amos Ben Gershom/GPO via Getty Images) it is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East. Israel is neighboring states with authoritarian regimes that do not sufficiently safeguard human rights. Despite numerous external threats, this small country still retains its liberal and pluralistic character.

Individual freedoms are constitutionally guaranteed; women’s rights are fully respected; and Arab-Israeli citizens (20% of the population) have a high standard of living.” He continued: “The Palestinian side has not shown any intention to negotiate seriously with the Jerusalem government. The positions

of the Palestinians are maximalist and dangerous, since they actually propose the Islamization of the city. Palestinian Islamist organizations, like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have repeatedly launched threats against the non-Muslim population of Jerusalem. Islamists visualize a Jerusalem without churches and synagogues. On the other hand, the Israeli Knesset has recognized since 1980 the multi-religious character of Jerusalem and is committed to the unimpeded access of all believers to places of worship (Basic Law 5740).”

Both Georgiadis and Voridis entered the

New Democracy party at the behest of former Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who is reported to be a personal friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his term as prime minister, from 2012 to 2015, Samaras worked hard to enhance the Greece-Israel relationship, which had been stagnant for decades. Judging by the polls -- according to which the New Democracy party is almost certain to beat the ruling Syriza party, headed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras -- strengthening ties with Jerusalem and Washington is supported by a majority of the Greek public.

Many political analysts are predicting that by autumn 2018, the Tsipras government will announce new elections; it has lost a large share of its base, due to exorbitant taxation, on the one hand, and a loss of voter confidence in the government’s foreign policy and domestic security on the other.

It is very encouraging for the future of Greece that two distinguished parliament members, whose party has a good chance of defeating the current leadership, are breathing new life into the political system and reinvigorating crucial partnerships with Israel and the United States.

Maria Polizoidou, a reporter, broadcast journalist, and consultant on international and foreign affairs, is based in Greece. She has a post-graduate degree in “Geopolitics and Security Issues in the Islamic complex of Turkey and Middle East” from the University of Athens.

The Israeli whisky revolution that’s happening now ISRAEL21C JESSICA HALFIN A bit of kismet, a lot of luck and an innovative spirit have put Israel at the beginning of a bonafide craft-distilling era.

When Gal Granov started his blog, Whisky Israel, in 2009, the community of whisky aficionados in Israel was small, import taxes on the product were heavy, and no Israeli-made whiskies were being produced.

It was a time when Granov, a Sabra from Petach Tikvah who had been writing about food, wine and spirits in Hebrew, made the choice to write his new whisky blog in English because there simply weren’t enough followers to keep the whole thing going in Hebrew.

Today, he writes, reviews and arranges whisky competitions and tasting events in Israel. He shares his knowledge with new members of the “club” and moderates a Facebook group of Israelis that amassed more than 2,300 members in three months and continues to grow daily.’

Only five years along, a bit of kismet, a lot of luck and an innovative spirit have put Israel at the beginning of a bonafide craft distilling revolution.

This is good news for Granov and others, like Yoav Gelbfish, who shares tasting notes, industry interviews and whisky tour reviews on his own site (whiskygospel.com) and especially for the hard-working pioneers of the industry.

The current players are the Golan Heights Distillery in the ancient Jewish city of Katzrin; Pelter Distillery in Ein Zivan, also in the Golan Heights; and Israel’s current largest whisky distillery, Milk & Honey, in Tel Aviv.

Within the next year and a half, Legends Distillery in the Elah Valley and Edrei Distillery in Katzrin are set to open.

Additionally, David Zibell, owner, founder, and master distiller at the Golan Heights Distillery, has partnered with Lazar Berman to create the Jerusalem Distilling Company, whose rums, gin, Tunisian date liquor — and yes, whisky — proudly

David Zibell of Golan Heights Distillery. carry the lion of Judah on their label, which is Jerusalem’s symbol in both ancient and modern times. The distillery opened this January.

A visit to the Scotland of Israel Climbing up to what is emerging as a new whisky region in Israel, along the winding road high above the Sea of Galilee, it is a stormy day.

Through an overbearing mist, fields of overgrown emerald-green grasses growing from between chunky volcanic rocks, and the occasional herd of grazing cows, make this place feel like Scotland, the disputed birthplace of whisky.

There we meet Zibell, who moved to Israel in July 2014 and started production just two months later — a gutsy move for a new immigrant from Montreal with a wife and six kids.

He moved to Israel to realize his dream of making aliyah, but having the urge to make whisky, Zibell, formerly a real-estate agent and salesman with a background as a restaurateur

Whisky Bar & Museum in Tel Aviv. Photo via Facebook and bread baker, decided that this was the time for him to live out that dream as well. On Israeli Independence Day 2016, his first whisky was released.

Part of his decision to set up shop in this fairly remote place bordering modern-day Syria was based on the many types of wild barley that cover the landscape, and the rivers and waterfalls carrying pure water down from Mount Hermon, including the nearby Salukia stream from which Zibell draws water for his production.

Yechiel Luterman, owner and distiller at nearby Edrei Distillery, moved to the Golan in 2008, also from Montreal and with similar aspirations, leaving behind a high-end legal practice for a future in whisky making.

Legends’ Alan Cohl and Noam Cohen moved from the United States to start making American bourbon-style whisky using Israeli corn in the Elah Valley –the biblical battleground where David

felled Goliath. Both distilleries also are hell-bent on using Israeli-grown grains and barley, despite what could be a difficult trail to blaze.

“Up until about 60 years ago, even the Scots were using barley imported from Norwegian countries,” Zibell tells ISRAEL21c. “Now they have researched and refined which species are best for whisky production, and today they are growing their own, so things can change pretty fast.”

In the meantime, Zibell does whatever he can to keep his product as local as possible, right down to the copper stills, which master metalworker Yishai Socher hopes to begin making in Israel for the local market.

Zibell is already getting his aging casks from the Golan Heights Winery, a veteran Israeli powerhouse. For a product said to derive 70% of

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The Israeli whisky revolution that’s happening now FROM PAGE 28 its flavor and coloring from the barrels it is aged in, this represents a direct infusion of Israeli soul into the whisky. Accordingly, one of the whiskies in the flagship line will be called “Golani Vino.”

The Golan Heights Distillery is now Israel’s second- largest distillery to Milk & Honey, which was started by kibbutznik Tomer Goren and opened a state-of-the-art facility in 2014 in Tel Aviv’s southern industrial zone where visitors can taste Milk & Honey’s young Israeli whiskies due for worldwide distribution in 2019.

Playful products Coming up in an industry that isn’t strangled by the rules choking historical whisky-making in countries such as Ireland and Scotland, Israeli whisky makers can be more playful with their products.

This is evident in Zibell’s limited-edition Brewer’s Whisky, “Spicy Hummus,” made from distilled Israeli chickpea malt ale from the Meadan Brewery, known for its gluten-free, Passoverfriendly beers. The beer is distilled, then aged in charred oak casks that previously carried Golani Black whisky, another variety in the distillery’s flagship line.

Spicy Hummus is a futuristic whisky with notes of citrusy hops, black pepper and a slight fizz at the finish. “I thought it was great, because nothing is more Israeli than hummus. I took the beer, distilled it, and aged it for two years, and this is what we got,” Zibell says nonchalantly, summing up a process that is described by some as an art.

Even more Israeli than hummus is the inventive and collaborative spirit that goes into taking things that one step farther and creating new products.

But Israeli as Zibell has become, you can also find a hint of his home country in the distillery’s maple whisky, which is surprisingly restrained, with just a touch of maple flavor that develops only seconds after the whisky has washed over the palate. The drink uses the kosher-certified maple syrup imported by Avraham McGowan, another Canadian immigrant.

More traditional varieties, like the distillery’s single-cask edition whisky, sport beautiful labels with handwritten annotations detailing from which number cask it was drawn, down to the type of wine previously aged in the used barrels.

More good things are sure to come. In Zibell’s

words, “It’s only been three years, so we’re just starting to see the good stuff come out.”

Israel’s new whisky culture Bars such as the Whiskey Bar & Museum in the upscale Sarona Market complex in Tel Aviv, and distilleries such as Pioneer Spirits in Beit Shemesh, have started giving workshops on whisky making and drinking — the latter concentrating on how to properly taste whisky and pair foods with the drink.

To accompany its whisky cocktails and 15 whisky-based tasting menu “journeys,” the Whiskey Bar & Museum has a menu dedicated to foods that pair well with certain whiskies, featuring dishes such as beef fillet carpaccio with whiskey aioli, roasted pistachio, cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar; and a chocolate mousse served with cocoa streusel, mango jelly, golden brownies and smoked whiskey dropper.

As Israel’s party culture shifts toward topshelf spirits and high-end cocktails, bars that used to carry one or two bottles of whisky are now carrying one hundred times that and more.

According to Granov, this is in part due to the recent easing of the whisky import tax in Israel.

Now, with lower prices on higher-quality alcohol creating accessibility, more Israelis are being turned on to the world of whisky. Bars such as Sasson in Haifa and Norma Jean in Tel Aviv carry upwards of 150 varieties of whiskies from around the globe, including trendy varieties from Japan and India, as well as American, Irish and Scottish specialty bottles.

Neither Sasson nor Norma Jean has begun serving Israeli whiskies yet. It will take some time for the industry to catch up, for whiskies to age beyond their young years, and for the craft producers to figure out how to share their product with a larger audience on their terms, while retaining the love and care that goes into artisanal distilling. A temperate climate is on their side, helping to age the whisky almost twice as fast as in colder climates.

The new generation of Israeli drinkers is turning up for industry events such as the Whisky Live Israel Expo (www.whiskylive.co.il ) in Tel Aviv, managed by Milk & Honey’s Tomer Goren, attracting sold-out crowds since 2014.

Whisky tourism Considering trends in craft distilling, biblicaland culinary-inspired Israeli tourism, the demand for local, small-batch producing, and visitors seeking interactive experiences, there is a good forecast for growth in this industry.

The Golan Heights Distillery is already

becoming a gastronomic tourist destination among other facilities in the Katzrin area, such as the Golan Brewery and Olea Essence visitor’s center. The distillery’s upcoming new facility suitable for large groups will collaborate with local bread- and cheese-makers to enhance the whisky-tasting experience.

Legends and Edrei hope to capitalize on the tourist market as well. The flagship bourbon of Legends Distillery, “Slingshot,” will serve as a jumping-off point in the future visitors’ center to explain the biblical tale of David and Goliath, which took place in the Elah Valley. Similarly, Edrei’s name represents a biblical tale of triumph that took place long ago in the Golan Heights, which will be explained to visitors. Another biblical tie-in is that wheat and barley are among the seven species of fruit and grain native to the Holy Land.

As far as target customers, Luterman of Edrei Distillery offers, “I would consider people like myself to be the primary audience – whisky-loving Zionists, both those living here as well as those not yet living here. Additionally, I would consider all whisky aficionados to be included as well — especially those interested in experiencing a craft whisky which actually exhibits true terroir and truly unique character, much like in winemaking.”

Products of Israeli distilleries would make a perfect addition for international events such as the Whisky Jewbilee, a travelling kosher whisky expo taking place in Seattle on March 2 and in New York City on June 15. They did not make the list for this year.

“The whiskies are very young, yet after tasting them all, I think they show great promise,” says

Granov. “I am confident that we’re going to see excellent whiskies emerge three to five years from now. With friends and members of the Facebook group, we’ve bought a cask from Milk & Honey distillery in Tel Aviv, and we’re going to bottle that in three to four years’ time. I’m deeply convinced we will have world-class whisky in the coming years.”

TONI: Please put this in a grey box: Perhaps image 1 can go here Whisky glossary for novices: Malt whisky is made strictly from malted barley.

Grain whisky is made from a mixture of grains such as wheat and corn.

Single-cask or single-barrel whisky is drawn from a single aging barrel of whisky, from within a singular (not mixed) batch.

Single-malt whisky is a product of a single grain (typically malted barley), coming from the mash of a single distillery.

Scotch whisky referring to whisky made in Scotland in strict accordance with local laws regarding the products and equipment used, percentage of alcohol, and distillation and maturation processes.

Bourbon whiskey is produced in America with a required percentage of corn.

Rye whisky is made with a required percentage of rye and aged at least two years.

Blended whisky is made from a mixture of grains, and also of different batches from different distilleries.

New whisky is bottled prior to the aging process, and is typically clear in appearance. www.israel21c.org

Photo Courtesy of Golan Heights Distillery.

Israel donates generators to Papua after earthquake ISRAEL21C ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN

Israel was one of the first countries to send aid after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake left more than 150,000 citizens in need of emergency supplies Following a devastating earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea’s highlands region on February 26, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) delivered 40 generators to affected communities.

The 7.5-magnitude earthquake left around 100 people dead and more than 150,000 people in desperate need of emergency supplies. Israel was one of the first countries to send aid.

“These generators will provide immediate assistance to communities suffering from damage to critical infrastructure,” noted the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill.

The generators were delivered on March 8 by Yaron Sultan-Dadon, the Pacific

Yaron Sultan-Dadon, the Pacific Islands Adviser at the Israeli Embassy in Australia, delivers generators to Papua New Guinea.

Photo copyright of Israel MFA Islands Adviser at the Israeli Embassy in Australia, who toured areas affected by the earthquake with O’Neill and assessed other possible avenues for Israeli assistance.

O’Neill said that his “government and the

people of Papua New Guinea appreciate the support and friendship of Israel during these challenging times.”

Tibor Shalev-Schlosser, Israel’s Ambassador to the Pacific Island States,

said Israeli Foreign Ministry “is evaluating additional means of disaster relief and will continue to assist Papua New Guinea during this difficult time.” www.israel21c.org

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Poland ‘suspends’ the Holocaust law/lie WWW.JNS.ORG FIAMMA NIRENSTEIN Israel must monitor the neo-Nazis in order to ensure that they never again propagate hate. But the Poles don’t seem to belong in the same category, and Israel did well to reserve judgment because of that.

It’s a very good thing that Poland took a step backwards against a decision that not only absolved it of guilt, but also made it a liar.

It gave in to common sentiment, which populism tends to do. Wisely, the government decided not to implement a law that could lead to a fine and up to three years in prison for anyone who refers to Nazi extermination camps on its territory during World War II as “Polish death camps” or accuses Polish citizens of being complicit in the extermination of the Jews.

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda signed the bill into law earlier this month after it was passed in the Senate. What followed was a rhetorical escalation of petty nationalism, and on the other side, of accusations of antiSemitism. Probably things changed after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, clearly rigidly playing his role, publicly declared that while there were some “Polish perpetrators,” there were also “Jewish perpetrators” responsible for the Holocaust.

Here, the crisis erupted over how incongruous the Polish law was: How could anyone compare what happened to the Jews—the desperate and persecuted victims—to that of the persecutors and their accomplices?

Then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wisely, notwithstanding the

requests of breaking all relations with Poland and calling back the ambassador, spoke at length with Morawiecki with the idea, which his shocked critics opposed, that Israel should find a way to talk with Poland. And the road has been found. The Polish Foreign Ministry announced that it will put the law on hold in order to amend its wording, and a Polish delegation will arrive in Israel on Wednesday to find an acceptable solution together.

Technically, it’s true that the “Nazis,” and certainly not the “Poles,” undertook the extermination of the Jews. There were Poles who fought the Nazis with courage, but it’s also true that the Poles haven’t fully come to terms with their own terrible history of anti-Semitism, which was expressed both

during the Shoah and after the war.

And yet the Polish law can’t be attributed to new anti-Semitism since it is evident that the law itself highlights its current repulsion with respect to the persecution of the Jews.

And it’s very important for the Jewish state to be able to ascertain, especially at a time in which genocidal anti-Semitism by extreme Islam and its supporters threaten Israel and its people, whether those countries that have elected governments that aren’t on the left should be suspected or accused of anti-Semitism. The answer is that among populism and nationalism, antiSemitism can rise its ugly head, but it’s a phenomena that doesn’t necessarily involve the state where this happens. Therefore, the best choice is not to send everybody,

including the institutions, to hell, but to ask them to fight anti-Semitism and prove that they really do. This will probably be asked of the Polish leaders involved.

Now Israel—although very attentive to displays of Holocaust negationism— realizes that its enemies are the fascists, the Nazis, and not the moderate governments of Eastern Europe. This is very important, especially when confronted by a hostile European Union headed by Federica Mogherini, which has taken a pro-Iranian stance. So much so that the international governmental body never once uttered a single word about Iran’s genocidal intentions vis-à-vis the Jews.

Isn’t this anti-Semitism—real antiSemitism?

The wave of controversy against Poland thus seems unwarranted for now. There was a lie, but not anti-Semitism. Israel must monitor the neo-Nazis in order to ensure that they never again propagate hate, but the Poles don’t seem to belong in the same category, and Israel did well to reserve judgment because of that.

Journalist Fiamma Nirenstein was a member of the Italian Parliament (200813), where she served as vice president of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Chamber of Deputies, served in the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and established and chaired the Committee for the Inquiry Into Anti-Semitism. A founding member of the international Friends of Israel Initiative, she has written 13 books, including “Israel Is Us” (2009). Currently, she is a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

What Is a “Refugee”? The Jews from Morocco versus the Palestinians from Israel WWW.GATESTONEINSTITUTE.ORG ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ A visit to Morocco shows that the claim of Palestinians to a “right of return” has little historic, moral or legal basis.

Jews lived in Morocco for centuries before Islam came to Casablanca, Fez and Marrakesh. The Jews, along with the Berbers, were the backbone of the economy and culture. Now their historic presence can be seen primarily in the hundreds of Jewish cemeteries and abandoned synagogues that are omnipresent in cities and towns throughout the Maghreb.

I visited Maimonides’s home, now a restaurant. The great Jewish philosopher and medical doctor taught at a university in Fez. Other Jewish intellectuals helped shape the culture of North Africa, from Morocco to Algeria to Tunisia to Egypt. In these countries, Jews were always a minority but their presence was felt in every area of life.

Now they are a remnant in Morocco and gone from the other counties. Some left voluntarily to move to Israel after 1948. Many were forced to flee by threats, pogroms and legal decrees, leaving behind billions of dollars in property and the graves of their ancestors.

Today, Morocco’s Jewish population is less than 5,000, as contrasted with 250,000 at its peak. To his credit, King Mohammad VI has made a point of preserving the Jewish heritage of Morocco, especially its cemeteries. He has better relations with Israel than other Muslim countries but still does not recognize Israel and have diplomatic relations with the nation state of the Jewish People. It is a work in progress. His relationship with his small Jewish community, most of whom are

avid Zionists, is excellent. Many Moroccans realize that they lost a lot when the Jews of Morocco left. Some Israelis of Moroccan origin, maintain close relations with their Moroccan heritage.

How does this all relate to the Palestinian claim of a right to return to their homes in what is now Israel? Quite directly. The Arab exodus from Israel in 1948 was the direct result of a genocidal war declared against the newly established Jewish state by all of its Arab neighbors, including the Arabs of Israel.

If they had accepted the UN peace plan — two states for two people — there would be no Palestinian refugees. In the course of Israel’s fierce battle for its survival — a battle in which it lost one percent of its population, including many Holocaust survivors and civilians — approximately 700,000 local Arabs were displaced. Many left voluntarily, having been promised a glorious return after the inevitable Arab victory. Others were forced out. Some of these Arabs could trace

their homes in what became Israel hundreds of years back. Others were relatively recent arrivals from Arab countries such as Syria, Egypt, and Jordan.

Approximately the same number of Jews were displaced from their Arab homelands during this period. Nearly all of them could trace their heritage back thousands of years, well before the Muslims and Arabs became the dominant population. Like the Palestinian Arabs, some left voluntarily, but many had no realistic choice. The similarities are striking, but so are the differences.

The most significant difference is between how Israel dealt with the Jews who were displaced and how the Arab and Muslim world dealt with the Palestinians who had been displaced by a war they started.

Israel integrated its brothers and sisters from the Arab and Muslim world. The Arab world put its Palestinian brothers and sisters in refugee camps, treating them as political pawns — and festering sores — in its

persistent war against the Jewish state.

It has now been 70 years since this exchange of populations occurred. It is time to end the deadly charade of calling the displaced Palestinians “refugees.” Almost none of the nearly five million Arabs who now seek to claim the mantle of “Palestinian refugee” was ever actually in Israel. They are the descendants — some quite distant — of those who were actually displaced in 1948. The number of surviving Arabs who were personally forced out of Israel by the war started by their brethren is probably no more a few thousand, probably less. Perhaps they should be compensated, but not by Israel. The compensation should come from Arab countries that illegally seized the assets of their erstwhile Jewish residents whom they forced to leave. These few thousand Palestinians have no greater moral, historic or legal claim than the surviving Jewish individuals who were displaced during the same time period seven decades ago.

In life as in law there are statutes of limitations that recognize that history changes the status quo. The time has come – indeed it is long overdue – for the world to stop treating these Palestinians as refugees.

That status ended decades ago. The Jews who came to Israel from Morocco many years ago are no longer refugees. Neither are the relatives of the Palestinians who have lived outside of Israel for nearly three quarters of a century.

Alan M. Dershowitz is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law Emeritus at Harvard Law School and author of “The Case Against BDS.”

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Gift yourself while giving to Israel PRINTISRAEL.COM JOSH VERNON

PrintIsrael.com is a new, innovative charity and photography company founded by members of our community to incentivize Tzedaka.

The concept came about after a conversation between Rabbi Benji Levy and colleague, Michi Weiner who had both seen some stunning photography of Israel by independent photographers, and noticed that there was currently no place in Australia selling prints to the public.

Products like Aquabumps are loved by Sydneysiders, and they figured that a community with such a deep connection to Israel would enjoy seeing it’s beauty around the house.

So came the idea – to crowdsource incredible photography of Israel, print them on flawless acrylics, sell them at a fraction of the price to competitors and give all the

proceeds of purchases straight to charity!

PrintIsrael.com is now fully operational and hundreds of incredible images of Israel are on display for purchase. From the Negev to the Shuk, the Kinneret to Tel Aviv beach, every inch of our small but wonderful homeland is shot in pristine quality and offered to the community.

The artwork is sourced from generous community members such as Anthony Glick, Ofir Levy, Dan Bos and Jonah Lowy among many others. None of the photographers take a cut, they’ve all donated their images out of the goodness of their hearts in an effort to incentivize Tzedaka. And the shots are stunning!

The organisation who benefits from this incredible cause is the UIA whose mandate, is to support OUR PEOPLE. Go to www.printisrael.com to gift yourself with a beautiful print while gifting those in need through the UIA.

AIPAC, Purim, & American Jewish Unity JOSHUA GOLDSTEIN, HERUT NORTH AMERICA The 2018 annual AIPAC policy conference, which this year was held right after Purim in Washington, DC, offers a perfect opportunity to reflect on the value of Jewish Unity.

News reports say that over 18,000 attendees were at the AIPAC conference. Each individual attendee is clearly committed to support Israel There is no question that the conference goers maintain widely contrasting views of both how to support Israel and what is best for Israel. Perhaps 18,000 different views! This is the challenge and the hurtle. With everyone voicing their own agenda and views on how we can best help Israel from the U.S., we forget about the elephant in the room that we still have yet to confront. That is the issue of developing a mutual respect for Jews from different camps and beliefs. It is high time to start the dialogue and create the atmosphere for fostering unity.

The Herut World Movement is in the midst of a The Jewish Unity Challenge. This is a personal call to Jews, to all Jews, including you, to start reaching out across the aisle, to create one united Jewish People. Just because Jews come from many different backgrounds and hold different beliefs doesn’t mean we cannot show love and respect for one another.

Our diverse types, colors, and traditions should be seen as a strength for all of us rather than foster exclusivity, elitism, selectiveness, and even superiority.

Ahavat Yisrael, the unconditional love of our fellow Jews, should not be seen as some unattainable dream. In our time we can make it a reality. We should not have to rely on the threat of Antisemitism and impendingdangers affecting

Israel, as the only things for uniting us. There needs to start to have a dialogue, and foster an environment of acceptance for one another.

The lack of love and unity was considered by the ancient Jewish sages of the era of the Mishnah to be the root cause of the destruction of the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem. If we can re-introduce ourselves and start the process of accepting one another, in the spirit of Ahavat Yisrael, we can again grow as individuals and as a collective nation.

The Jewish Unity Challenge is designed to spark a conversation between the diverse types of Jews so that we can achieve greater things for the State of Israel and the People of Israel.

It’s time to put aside differences we may have

with other Jews, and focus on the wonderful, time-honored things that unite us as Jews. This is your individual challenge. This is our collective challenge as a community.

What we are talking about is simple, yet we call it a challenge because it is not so easy! When it comes down to it, many of us have a kneejerk reaction to leaving our comfort zone. That is why this is called a challenge. It is time to look at the bigger picture, to let go a little, and to reach across the table.

It forces us to re-examine our biases and to change our thinking. This is basic common sense and now is the right time to start this!

The Herut World Movement is dedicated to the values of Ze’ev Jabotinsky [1880-1940] who

was a key leader of world Zionism before World War Two, the mentor of Menachem Begin, and a champion of Jewish unity. And in Jabotinsky’s honor we have launched this campaign.

Let us discuss what is best for Israel and the Jewish People. Let us argue about it but let us discuss these opinions and remember that all Jews are responsible one for another no matter our backgrounds or beliefs or diverse types, colors, and traditions.

Thousands of Jews came together in common cause in DC through AIPAC because they care about Israel’s future and the well-being of the Jewish People.

The Tanach [Bible] relates that in the time of Esther and Mordechai Jews were called upon to join together to pray, fast, and physically defend themselves.

Late last year we marked the thirtieth anniversary Freedom Sunday for Soviet Jews.

The December 6, 1987 rally saw over a quarter million American Jews unite on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to stand up for Soviet Jews at what was the single largest gathering of Jews in U.S. history.

From Purim, to AIPAC 2018, to Freedom Sunday we have shown that Jews with different ideas can stand together. Now is the time to do more than stand together. Now in the aftermath of Purim, let us show that we can all love each other in Jewish Unity.

Take the Challenge! Helps us change for the better! Sign our petition at: https://www. change.org/p/world-herut-the-jewish-unity-chall enge?recruiter=261063546&utm_source=share_ petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_ campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_for_ starters_page

The Team at the Sydney Jewish Report wishes the entire community a Chag Pesach Kasher v’Sameach www.thesleepcoach.com.au

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Kangaroo – Hopping Mad KANGAROO: A LOVE-HATE STORY (M) – 103 MINUTES ALEX FIRST Shocking imagery serves as an assault on the senses in this documentary about the way we treat our national symbol.

Is the kangaroo a saint or a sinner, a boon or a burden? Those questions are at the heart of a picture that clearly takes the side of those who, in no uncertain terms, suggest we have treated the marsupial shamefully.

The kangaroo is one of the world’s most recognisable icons and has always held a fascination for the directors of this film, Kate McIntyre Clere and Mick McIntyre.

They also wrote and produced it and Mick served as cinematographer.

They set out to explore the wonder of the animal that is at the heart of a complex and divided situation.

It seemed incongruous to them that Australians who are, on the one hand, immensely proud to hold up the kangaroo as their beloved national symbol, would sanction their nightly killing.

Key to telling the story was investigating the details behind the largest wildlife slaughter in the world to find out where it all started and why it still happens today.

They spoke with aborigines, scientists, commercial shooters, farmers, politicians, artists, wildlife carers, chefs and activists.

They have woven an unsettling story.

Herd them, shoot them, bludgeon them to death – big ones, small ones, newborns and infants … we get to see it all in a little over a 100 minutes.

Sure, the case is made by those who see them as pervasive vermin that leave the ground fallow for sheep and cattle.

But the counter argument is given far more airtime and, quite frankly, is far more compelling when you see the gravity of the pictures.

Some of it is stomach churning.

In total 46 people are interviewed and their passion and conviction – at times their outrage – is what stands out.

The government line is painted as the devil’s work and animal rights activists are understandably outraged. I was too, just sitting there watching.

My biggest qualm with the film – apart from the lack of an even-handed approach – was the fact that I felt much of it was repetitive.

It said and showed the same things over and over and I didn’t feel there was any logical sequence to the narrative.

Having said that, I remain vehemently in favour of protecting and nurturing our native flora and fauna and not beating it into submission.

Rated M, Kangaroo: A Love-Hate Story scores a 5½ to 6 out of 10.

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Justice Becomes Revenge IN THE FADE (MA) – 106 MINUTES ALEX FIRST An utterly compelling storyline is broken into three chapters in this German crime drama.

Out of nowhere, Katja’s (Diane Kruger – Inglourious Basterds) life falls apart when her husband Nuri (Numan Acar – 12 Strong) and little son Rocco are killed in a bomb attack.

Her friends and family try to give her the support she needs and Katja somehow manages to make it through the funeral.

But the mind-numbing search for the perpetrators and reasons behind the senseless killing complicate Katja’s painful mourning, opening wounds and doubts.

Danilo (Denis Moschitto – Closed Circuit), a lawyer and Nuri’s best friend, represents Katja in the eventual trial against the two suspects: a young couple from the neo-Nazi scene.

The trial pushes Katja to the edge, but then there’s more.

Co-writer (the piece was written with lawyer Hark Bohm) and director Faith Akin is of Turkish background.

Akin’s inspiration for creating the picture was a series of xenophobic murders committed between the year 2000 and 2007 by the German Neo-Nazi group known as the National Socialist

Underground.

The big scandal was that the police focused its investigation on people within the community of the victims, blaming drug or gambling connections.

Police pressure was so intense that even the media and the community themselves began to have similar suspicions.

Diane Kruger is a picture of nervous perpetual motion throughout as her character’s worst nightmare plays out.

For all intents and purposes Katja has no control of proceedings.

It is hell just to hold it together for a minute … an hour, let alone a day.

Life as she has know it has gone forever and now it is a case of whether justice will be served.

In time, justice becomes revenge.

Faith Akin has woven and directs a no holds barred narrative that continually has the ability to surprise and does so

admirably.

My biggest – and really only – criticism concerns the film’s confusing and insipid title, which I suggest you simply ignore.

I still haven’t figured out what the hell it means and it is doing my head in.

Regardless, you are in for quite a ride, one well worth taking.

Rated MA, In The Fade scores an 8 out of 10.

Mamma Mia!, at the Capitol Theatre MAMMA MIA! ALEX FIRST My, what a legacy the Swedish pop supergroup ABBA has left the world!

That was my overwhelming sentiment while watching the fun of Mamma Mia! unfold at Capitol Theatre in Sydney.

It is a romp that is heart warming and gets better and better until the final three crowd pleasing chorus numbers when the whole audience is on its feet clapping its hands and dancing to those catchy tunes.

In fact, throughout, the big voiced songs – performed by the 24 strong cast and eight band members – are the ones that particularly took my fancy.

The real cleverness in the show started with persistent English creator Judy Craymer and British playwright Catherine Johnson, who wove together the story based upon the songs composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.

It centres around a young bride to be, brought up by a hard working single mum who runs a taverna on a Greek Island.

20-year-old Sophie (Sarah Morrison) is preparing to marry her fiancé, Sky (Stephen Mahy), when she comes across her mother Donna’s (Natalie O’Donnell’s) diary from the 1970s, in which she names three men – Sam Carmichael (Ian Stenlake), Bill Austin (Josef Ber) and Harry Bright (Phillip Lowe) – who could be her father.

So, without telling her mother she

invites all of them to her wedding, hoping to discover which one is the dad who hasn’t been a part of her life all these years.

Only, she words their invitations as if they came from her mum.

What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, right?

And Sophie wants her dad there on the biggest day of her life.

Let’s just say that as a result the lead up to her nuptials is not what anyone had expected.

After all, these men haven’t set eyes upon Donna for two decades and didn’t even know Sophie existed.

As hit after hit is performed, it becomes an admirable showcase for the strong willed women – Sophie, Donna and her gal pals, Rosie (Alicia Gardiner) and Tanya (Jayde Westaby) – that form the core of the piece.

It is not hard to see why ABBA, which came together in Stockholm in 1972 – named after the first letters of its four members’ Agnetha Fältskog, Björn

Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and AnniFrid “Frida” Lyngstad – has sold as many as 500 million records.

Of course, after they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, they went on to become one of the most commercially successful musical acts in history, regularly topping the charts around the world for the subsequent eight years before they disbanded.

Now Mamma Mia! has been seen by 60 million people in more than 20 languages in upwards of 450 cities around the world.

Of the 22 numbers performed in the show, the one that had the biggest impact on me was the haunting solo The Winner Takes It All performed magnificently by O’Donnell.

It seems only fitting that she starred as Sophie in the original Australian production of Mamma Mia! and now she has come full circle to fill the pivotal role of mother Donna.

A happy, up-tempo celebration of a gentler time and of love, laughter and friendship, the musical continues to shine brightly whenever and wherever it plays.

Directed by Gary Young and choreographed by Tom Hodgson, with musical supervision by Stephen Amos, it is on at Capitol Theatre in Sydney until 6th May. It moves to Crown Theatre in Perth on 15th May, Princess Theatre in Melbourne on 10th July and Festival Theatre in Adelaide on 9th October.

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lifestyle

Healthy Matzo Ball Soup INNA MERKIN

Ingredients: 4 eggs 2 teaspoons of salt Sprinkle of pepper (to your tasting) 2 cups of almond meal/matzo meal 6 cups of chicken stock Method In a bowl beat the eggs, half the salt and pepper for a couple of minutes Stir in the almond meal/matzo meal Put the mix fridge for 2 hours Remove from the fridge Boil a medium pot of water with the

Flourless Chocolate Cake INNA MERKIN

Pesach is a great holiday for me as it brings my family together for the Pesach Seder’s no excuses. However, if your family is anything like mine, then the food can be completely decadent and anything but health conscious.

Once you’ve got your Seder plate set and the matzo piled high, bring to your table these healthy alternative dishes that won’t have anyone missing from the traditional flavours you are used to.

Enjoy!

March 2018

You don’t have to miss out on the dessert course this full of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate recipe for a flourless chocolate cake is 100-calorie dessert per serve. Flour is substituted with vitamin-A-rich sweet potato, even your kids will be asking for seconds!

Ingredients: 150g of 70% dark chocolate 1tsp of vanilla extract 2 bananas ¼ cup of roasted sweet potato ¼ cup of maple syrup 1 egg 3 egg whites

Method Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius Spray 8 ramekins with cooking oil spray (you can use muffin trays) Mix chocolate and vanilla extract in a medium bowl over hot bowling water. Mix until the chocolate is completely melted.

With a fork puree the bananas, sweet potato and maple syrup until smooth Pour the melted choc over the bananas and the whole egg. Mix well In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites until a soft peak forms.

Slowly fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture Spoon mixture into the ramekins nearly to the top Bake for approx. 7 mins, the middle should be soft and warm.

Serve and enjoy!

other half of salt Roll the batter into small balls and drop into the boiling water Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes In the meantime, heat the chicken stock in another pot When all the matzo balls are finished (floated to top), remove from simmering water and place them into the stock.

Serve

PESACH TABLE IDEAS

35

lifestyle

March 2018

Growth Spurts

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WHY JERUSALEM IS community

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THE SLEEP COACH CHERYL FINGLESON Most babies go through several growth spurts.

These bursts may be instantaneous, last 2-3 days or, in some cases, continue for up to a week.

Some babies object audibly whereas others cruise through with the greatest of ease. It is posited that there are common times for growth spurts but this belief is a generalization. Realistically they can occur at any time.

Every baby is unique but there are some signals to watch for: Increased hunger. Baby is suddenly insatiable, nursing often or continuously and sometimes dissatisfied, even after a full feed.

Stints of restless sleep. Even previously peaceful sleepers will wake frequently through the night, fretful and demanding food.

Irritability, particularly during the day, highly likely because baby is not getting a solid stretch of sleep (most people would be grumpy if they were hungry and tired).

Baby may also latch and unlatch, fussing in between.

How best to manage growth spurt symptoms?

Many experts advocate resisting the urge to respond to every sign of distress with a meal. Feeding is more justifiable during the day when baby’s busy body needs extra fuel, but spasmodic night meals can negatively affect sleep cycles.

Maximum rest is optimum during growth spurts. Restoring tranquility with food can also result in overfeeding so follow the child’s lead and look for basic hunger cues.

When babies turn their heads away from the breast or bottle, it indicates that they are satiated and it is inadvisable to then continue feeding.

Methods of soothing can be alternated during the night. A healthy baby’s fussiness, less than 3-4 hours after the last feed, can probably be mitigated by changing the nappy, re-swaddling, singing or ‘shushing’.

Putting on white noise or soft music are other ways of attempting to settle the baby.

A baby that is difficult to console requires patience and perspective, bearing in mind that an exponential weight increase in a short period of time, accompanied by high calorific demands causes discomfort.

A general guide to growth spurts; Common growth spurt periods are:

During the first few days at home.

7-10 days.

2-3 weeks.

4-6 weeks.

3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months.

The above times are approximations.

Each child is unique and babies don’t read calendars!

Often observed after a growth spurt: The baby sleeps longer for a day or two.

Mother’s breasts are slightly fuller.

Baby is calmed by breastfeeding.

A possible increase in wettings caused by extra drinking.

Growth spurts or sleep regressions.

Growth spurts are far more numerous than sleep regressions, which have much more to do with mental and physical development as opposed to simple growth and weight gain. Waking up early from naps and during the night has a definite cause---the baby is hungry and needs to eat. Causes of sleep regression are far more difficult to detect. They are ‘invisible’ and customarily stem from developmental issues. In addition, growth spurts are usually short-lived whereas sleep regressions can be somewhat protracted, typically lasting fro 2-6 weeks.

It should also be noted that there could be a significant overlap in the times of growth spurts and sleep regressions.

Although different in nature, it is likely that growth spurts impact sleep regression and that sleep regression impacts growth spurts.

If your baby is finding it difficult to tolerate the growth spurts, affecting family life, or if there is a problem differentiating between growth spurts and sleep regression, please do not hesitate to contact The Sleep Coach This stage will pass.

Cheryl The Sleep Coach Zzz For more sleep tips and advice, please visit www.thesleepcoach.com.au, and like the facebook page.

Cheryl Fingleson is a paediatric sleep consultant. As a mother of two, she very well knows the feelings of agony and desperation when you have a child that struggles to settle and sleep. She doesn’t believe in leaving babies or children to cry it out, nor in the practices of controlled crying.

Her approach is to empower parents with the right tools and techniques to teach their babies and children to go to sleep calmly, happily and independently.

SHABBAT TIMES DATE

LIGHT

CANDLES Friday, March 23, 2018 6:45pm Friday, March 30, 2018 Eve of First day Passover 6:35pm Saturday, March 31, 2018 Eve of Second day Passover.

Light holiday candles after 7:29pm 7:29pm Thursday, April 5, 2018 Eve of Seventh day Passover 5:27pm Friday, April 6th, 2018 Eve of Eighth day Passover 5:26pm Candle lighting times have been taken from www.chabad.org

see out to up to another the Sydney Jewish community As you will to build, of interest for we have set we hope that on, and helps the multi-faceted report on issues to Israel, experiences, will be there to encourage edition, we The aim, that both reports their Sydney information, Community. a deep attachment Identity Jewish Report for news, those with and to witness our Jewish voice of the whose Jewish the us as a • Be a forum endevours is to be the as for those that through We have their quite simply, opinions affecting to strengthen . We hope well as well we in other areas. ideas and on a local as and by so doing, how achievements will attend events that finds expression community thinking and Jewish community - both issues from of us about; stimulate spectrum of a year more level. have known covered a connections, dedicated to to become and global Dalia We are not otherwise Lemkus issues and social as national is being slated new ideas. will debate Legislative organized might South Israel cultural, religious encourage and friends fresh, fascinating through • Enrich the that–isMurder A personal y hub to a getaway that families of us might to a community that each reform have given carrying content diverse of it becomes the features. cyber-securit We hope matter; and Peace – opened life of our report of Circle. We a father different, simply who that reviews and and entertaining. by the Friendship 8 fascinating conversion out to someone Shallow Because articles, interviews, Jewish household teenagers and allow members the to rabbis, Har their story. Water of the reach Nof staple of every platform to leafed through within voice by the response factsbecause on we now know • Create aprocess upon arrival, is about.

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6

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to: CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

president Egypt’s new - what it means for Israel

2

The intermarriage debate

4

Back to healthy eating

Is anything

20

Strength in diversity

8

Pick up a

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SO EXPLOSIVE

AARON DAVID MILLER

is above all a matter of faith, of belief and of religion. The notion that the three Abrahamic faiths -- Islam, Christianity and Judaism -share common values concerning peace, Even back in the days when you could still social justice and humanity may well be use the term “peace process” true. But that has never with a straight been the case when face, the odds of solving the Jerusalem issue it comes to this city.

History is filled with were already pretty long.

Then, I would have claims, conquests, crusades, occupations, put those odds a bit north massacres and violence of impossible and in the name of a little south ofI 14, 5774 Things hopeless. possessing Jerusalem, are even 2014 / Adar not sharing it. worse now.

Friday, 14 February And nowhere has the religious complexity FREE VOL. 1 I remember day eight of the Jerusalem issue of the Camp David been clearer than summit in July 2000, when on the question of who discussion turned controls and what to Jerusalem. That day, will happen to the Haram it was clear to me al-Sharif (Noble that as far Camp David Enclosure) and Har was concerned, it Habayit (Temple was game over. There Mount). That platform, were some intriguing situated within the moves on Israel’s part, walls of Jerusalem’s Old but nothing that could City, is in essence a have settled the issue. physical manifestation Indeed, Ehud Barak, of overlapping sacred but globally, too; and as Yasser Arafat and Bill the last few months space.

Clinton could have but not always a result suggest, it is also fallen into the yawning of the perception a matter of security Atop activities gaps that separated sits the goldened Dome among Palestinians Tu B’Shevat of the Rock, fraught and framed now Israelis and Palestinians that including Israel is trying aNSW by an intimacy of Boardcentury Islamic seventh on this issue and to change the activities, shrine built by by the killing reflected in the never have been heard status of some slayings of Israeli and aspect of the Caliph Abd al-Malik from again. a project initiated Jerusalem. The and that houses the Palestinian teens this Fast forward a decade reason for this latest past summer and of round foundation and a half, and stone, a massive rock that figures of tensions, violence of Deputies. last week’s savage Palestinian being a part not much has changed. and ourselves on Jerusalem is still attack on a a perfect is prominently in Jewish and Islamic pride bloodletting report but synagogue in west Jerusalem. tradition. storm of We weAnd insoluble we it now seems factors that include on which news’ butand nearby there’s a site of the more explosive sense of isolationtheand communities even greater news is good then ever.inSoa what don’t pretend frustration on theandsignificance is it about Jerusalem/ that They say ‘no -- the al-Aqsa mosque part of the Palestinians be everywhere We believe PROXIMITY CAN BE started Yerushalayim/al-Quds we can’t of East Jerusalem by Caliph Abd lot DEADLY. that makes it so think differently. there is a al-Malik in the seventh who don’t have the know everything.

Ben Franklin quipped that community potentiallyitcontentious to benefit of the social century.bravery, to the will proximity breeds and deadly? thriving Jewish services and economic Quran, it is reputed a story of dedication, According children, and contempt, Three things stand out: and that sharing If there’s advantages of towhich too. In this regard, be theinspires ascension point where Israelis in the west; Israel’s of good news; even further. the Prophet achievement, Jerusalem is unique in or to effort that it is one of the Mohammed expand also leadership our community inspire others. rose to heaven on his Jewish their communities and strengthen it will only places where Israelis growing Night IT’S A PERFECT STORM OF been chances are and Palestinians Jerusalem; in East Journey. a vibrant and Below you, presence COMPLEXITY. (the you’ve the platform are the remains Sydney has connected Hamas’ efforts to know. vast majority who aren’t Similarly, if Jerusalem us are is a microcosm of almost Arab citizens the flames; forgotten Let us incite and fan of both temples, which housed or Jewish but few of or all of Israel) mix and the grim the the community issues in the Israeli-Palestinian bureaucracy, every day and have realization relationships that over by the Ark of theIf Covenant there’s and the Holy almost future seems immediate packed conflict unrestricted of Holies. know. almost walked certain to be more access to one another. beyond our into While letofus The one small place that is participate. area is so the It is a the same. With marked stunning by the system, in which we by a big to a sector of sensitive to Jews that they the Israel-Gaza testament to the pragmatism be well war sub-groups were until or enjoined not campaign a over enable us history. It combines territory (who self-interest and the next round, ourto set foot on the Mount cause, throw internet a and and will the should of control West often Israelis and Palestinians Bank relatively out of fear that they could the news we areland in the east and west, not you think we -- as quiet, it’s Jerusalem be treading on that citizens’, well as the imbalance And if you community to mention that has emergedlet know. ground. the four quarters -of power -- that the as us sacred informed ‘global Jewish, city has remained the epicenter of unrest. what is happening or want to weight behind, unaware ofMuslim, Armenian, as quiet and functional down Christian -- of the It is quite completely some advice extraordinary that despite as old it has these many few Ithouses living a city). involves have a solution, years given such passions incidents community political identity (conflicting Telling of violence -- October important an to someone OVERLAPPING to bridge!). and politics.

1990, SACRED claims to the city as a your voice over the add SPACE. September 1996, September to change capital); it is driven by Things in Jerusalem would (never mind 2000 and of But it should be no us know. course one way letenough be bad (see below) involving surprise that given if stories isreligion and children what’s and debate, transpired in recent not just Jews, those shuls the perfect each other’s year --begins storm were driven weeks politics and passions Muslims and Christians new by attend different that the themselves thatmembers As the only Jerusalem area has not been a proximity as well as nationalist Report, in the Middle East, has often become scene of this. alike are opening a bloodywhen and political and strengthen flash point, often conflict.

Sydney Jewish adults the and and But that inaugural enlighten was not to be. Jerusalemchapter of learning Continued on page In compiling of schools. create a newspaper 34 from this, our • Connect, Page 20

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Except where expressly stated otherwise, content in The Sydney Jewish Report is provided as general informations only. The articles in this paper have been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content here are presented solely by the author, and The Jewish Report assumes no responsibility for them. It is not intended as advice and must not be relied upon as such. You should make your own inquiries and take independent advice tailored to your specific circumstances prior to making any decisions. We do not make any representation or warranty that any material in the papers will be reliable, accurate or complete, nor do we accept any responsibility arising in any way from errors or omissions. We will not be liable for loss resulting from any action or decision by you in reliance on the material in the papers. By reading the papers, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for, and accept no liability in relation to, any reader’s use of, access to or conduct in connection with the papers in any circumstance. Photographs submitted by individuals or organisations are assumed to be their property and are therefore not otherwise credited. All articles in this paper have received the expressed consent of the author to publish in this paper.

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36

sports

March 2018

Haredi mother of five wins fastest Israeli female at Jerusalem Marathon!

JEWINTHECITY.COM Beatie Deutsch, the Haredi Jewish mother of five who made headlines when running the 2017 Tel Aviv Marathon while 7.5 months pregnant, made history again by winning the top spot by Israeli women competing in this year’s Jerusalem Marathon. Deutsch is still in shock. “I knew I had a shot at it, but it actually happening was crazy. I was trying to go for 3:20 and I finished with 3:09 – my best time ever.” Jerusalem is known for having the hardest course out of any in Israel. “I really feel like Hashem was carrying me through the entire time.”

Deutsch was running for a higher purpose, besides the Kiddush Hashem she is thrilled to have made. “I raised money for 2 initiatives. One Family Fund and for Beit Daniella, named for my cousin who passed away 3 months ago. She took her life at age 14 after battling anorexia. Her family is trying to build a therapeutic rehab center for teenagers struggling with mental illness.”

Deutsch was training intensively but took the time to put together the campaign for Beit Daniella with less than a week to go before the marathon. She had no idea it would go so viral. “Running in a skirt, apparently it’s a big thing. To run in [Daniella’s] merit was a big honor.” While Deutsch was initially worried about the mainstream Haredi reaction, she and her husband visited a prominent rabbi who was very supportive.

It’s been a big Kiddush Hashem, realizing you don’t have to be half-naked to run a marathon… and win a marathon!” Deutsch’s husband has been instrumental to her success with his support. “He’s very athletic himself. He’s a road biker and we run every motzaei Shabbos together. He came with me for the last 10 miles. He’s finished the last 2 marathons with me too.” Deutsch’s husband is also the closest person she has to a coach, helping her learn about nutrition and pacing. “He reads up on things. He’s also been supportive to let me go to the track at bedtime. He’s made himself available for it. It means a lot.”

Modest female athletes have a hero in Deutsch, who has a strong Instagram presence through her

account MarathonMother. Deutsch was highly skilled in gymnastics as a child but stopped at age 12 for modesty reasons.

“I was happily frum so I accepted it and I started in Tae Kwon Do.” When Deutsch discovered running and how it translated easily to wearing skirts while striving for athletic excellence, it was a natural fit.

“I’ve always enjoyed sports and I want other women to be able to channel it in a positive way.” More than that, Deutsch has been approached by girls who thank her for normalizing working out in a skirt. “Girls tell me they are so happy…because they don’t see people running in skirts. I’m happy that I can shatter that stereotype too. People have sent me messages – not just Jews. The fitness movement seems to be hand in hand with showing off your body but that’s totally not the case. The more people see women choosing to exercise in a more modest way, the more normal it becomes.”

In terms of balancing her running with motherhood, Deutsch’s priority is crystal clear. “My kids know they are my number one priority…Running is a very healthy outlet. It’s my only ‘me’ time.” Additionally, it provides her with something she can’t get elsewhere, an outlet for her competitive spirit. “I’m naturally a type-A, competitive person and I don’t want that in my household. To have an outlet for that is amazing. I’m able to be more relaxed and calm with my family and kids.” While running may not be the right fit

for every mother, she encourages women to find what works for them and make time for it. “Obviously its a major balance. I’m lucky to work in a job where I have a more flexible schedule. If it’s important to you, you can find a way to do it.”

That balancing act might require extra creativity when met with the demands of an observant lifestyle, but it also enhances it greatly. “The marathon was on erev Shabbos. After it, we had to get back and get the house clean and all that.” It also gave Deutsch the strength she needed to persevere.

“Hashem was guiding me every step of the way. I’m grateful to use the gift that He gave me. That’s why we’re here. To use what we have to make a difference in the world.” Deutsch almost didn’t make it to the starting line. “During my training I discovered that I had celiac. I was severely anemic…I remembered feeling so down. My training was compromised – it was 5 weeks before the marathon, it felt like all my goals were down the drain.” She told herself there would be other opportunities and took a break to get her health on track. But with an iron infusion and beginning a gluten-free diet, she rebounded. Even with her baby up sick most of the night before the marathon, she persisted. “There are always ups and downs. You can’t let the downs get you down. Have faith, be positive and talk to Hashem. You can get through anything.”

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