The Sydney Jewish Report - November Edition

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FREE VOL. 103 Tuesday, 7 November, 2023 / 23 Cheshvan 5784

Fostering a closer Jewish community

Kosher Feature

KING CHARLES PROTECTING BEENinAROUND UIA A rally in Sydney onIII October 29th, dedicated to freeing those kidnapped the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th CORONATION JEWS THE WORLD MISSIONS (photo by Nadine Saacks)

Ameer Jhingoor • Brad Sewitz • Craig Haycock • John Cohen • Justine Cameron • Peter Hersh Ameer Jhingoor • Brad Sewitz • Craig Haycock • John Cohen • Justine Cameron • Peter Hersh OAM

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

COMMUNITY Coping with grief AROUND

T H E

ANNE-MARIE ELIAS In the wake of October 7, people are experiencing grief and trauma.

Many of us in Australia have family and friends in Israel and are left feeling powerless.

The initial response to the terrorist acts perpetrated by Hamas was shock.

This is often the first reaction to bad news. Some people report numbness … when they don’t feel anything in the first few moments or days. This numbness can be come as a surprise because individuals may not immediately sense the devastation they would have expected to feel.

At this time, it is important to feel protected and nurtured. In order to cope with shock, consider what would be most helpful.

There may be denial, which is characterised by those grieving being unable to express verbally how they really feel. They may say, “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel” or “I’m fine”.

In that circumstance, consideration should be given to expressive writing or keeping a journal to note feelings.

When people find it difficult to open up to family and friends, they may care to

JUD AI C A

QUIZ

RABBI DAVID FREEDMAN This month, Rabbi David Freedman, like the entire Jewish world, is thinking about and praying for our Holy Land during this challenging time. Given this, he has focussed his attentions for this popular Judaica quiz on all-thingsIsrael. From politics to geography to history to culture and more, make sure you read this with family and friends at your Shabbat table. While you are at it, enjoy some KA-certified Israeli cuisine to complete the theme.

1.

What was David Ben-Gurion’s original name?

2. In what year was the bombing of the King David Hotel?

3.

For what purpose would one require a Rav-Kav card in Israel?

4.

In which Israeli city would one find Machane Yehudah?

5. Heikhal HaSefer is better known as what?

6. If one were to travel approximately 90 kilometres due north of Tel Aviv, where would one be located?

7. Dimona is mentioned for the first time in which Biblical book:

reach out to a counsellor or psychologist.

Another component of grief is anger, an emotion that carries with it a lot of energy. An outpouring of anger can be satiated by doing something physical, like exercise. Deep breathing can also be helpful. Anger can also be expressed through writing, including poetry, or arts and crafts.

Guilt can be associated with grief and survivor guilt can occur with trauma.

The bereaved can have regrets about things they did or didn’t do, as well as

things they said or didn’t say before a calamitous event. There is a wish to turn back the clock and do some things differently. Survivor guilt can see a person feeling it should have been them that passed away or was badly injured.

This is another area in which counselling can be especially helpful, enabling the griever space to share their memories and regrets in a supportive environment.

There are also feeling overwhelming of sadness and distress. Allowing oneself to cry is a safe environment is important.

For some, immense sadness can be especially harrowing and may turn into depression. Treatment then becomes vital.

Acceptance and hope are part of the grieving process. That is recognition that while life as you had known it will never be the same again, it will and can continue, with further milestones to come.

Also, consideration should be given to prayer and meditation, which allow the mind to reflect or become still. These practices are calming and healing.

Prayer enables people to deal with painful thoughts by reaching out to a higher power.

Some find that expressing gratitude and kindness can also help to soothe the soul. It could be gratitude to be living in a comparatively safe environment in the wake of atrocities committed elsewhere or performing charitable acts that show your humanity.

Finally, for many it remains a sense of connected to others to help them get through the tough times.

Help, in its many and varied hues, is out there. For those in need, please seek solace and support until you discover what you are looking for, enabling you to learn to cope, move on and continue to live your life.

Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.

Test your knowledge a) Deuteronomy b) Joshua or c) Judges?

8.

Which Israeli citrus fruit is sometimes known as Shamouti?

9. What does the acronym Tsahal stand for in Hebrew and English?

10.

For what purpose did the Israeli government establish a

14.

What three features appear on the emblem of the State of Israel?

15.

Alexandre (Yitzhak) Frenkel, considered to be the father of Israeli modern art, helped found a Jewish artists’ quarter in which Israeli city after the War of Independence?

19.

There are many bird watching centres in Israel. Where would one find the International Birding and Research Centre?

20. Who was the first serving United States President to visit the State of Israel?

21. Among Israel’s mammals, what is the largest living predator in Israel?

22. Shaare Zedek was the first large

Good luck. Enjoy. Hopefully, learn something new about your Jewish heritage and tradition.

district general hospital to be located in the Western portion of Jerusalem. In which decade of the 20th century was it opened?

23. Of the five ancient towns that were

part

Pentapolis, commission of inquiry headed

by Supreme Court Chief Justice Shimon Agranat?

11. In which Israeli city would one find Ben-Gurion University of the Negev?

12. What invention was developed

by Israeli company Netafim which helps farmers around the world conserve water and maximise efficiency?

13.

During which period in Jewish history was the Cardo in Jerusalem constructed?

of

the which

Philistine two

nowadays are well-established 16.

David killed Goliath in which part of Israel?

17.

Where in Israel is the leading museum highlighting design and contemporary culture?

18.

Plugot Maatz meaning "Strike Companies" was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate for Palestine. It is better known by what name?

cities located within the State of Israel?

24. What sparked the Suez Crisis of 1956?

25.

Bamba is one of the leading snack foods produced and sold in Israel. It was introduced in 1964. Bamba makes up 25% of the Israeli snack market.

What are its main ingredients?

ANSWERS PAGE 19

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

CO NS I D E R E D

OPINION

AYLIN SEDIGHI COURTESY: AISH.COM

As a Jew in Manhattan, something has changed

Walking the streets of Manhattan today, I am reminded of the fear I felt growing up in Iran.

I walk down the streets of Manhattan, where I had my first job, where I attended graduate school and where I went on the first date with my husband, and I am terrified. I pass by the graffiti of a swastika on the side of The Second Avenue Deli and tuck in the necklace I am wearing with the Hebrew names of my children.

I send a quick text to my daughter who is a student at a city school and tell her to tuck in her Star of David. She sends me a curt “No”. I smile at her love for her Jewishness, her passion for Israel and the pride she feels for our people. She got that from me and her father.

But these days, I am scared.

The Manhattan I fell in love with over 30 years ago is not the same. Thirty years ago, I was an Iranian refugee and my head spun at the height of the buildings, the colourful people and characters, and my mouth melted when I tasted my first New York style pizza. Today I quicken my steps and my eyes are constantly on the lookout.

Being a Jew now feels like a bag

of mixed emotions, filled with fear, sadness, and outrage, sprinkled with feelings of pride at our unity. In Iran, I never told anyone I was Jewish if I

How many common words of 5 or more letters can you spell using the letters in the hive? Every answer must use the centre letter at least once. Letters may be reused in a word. At least one word will use all 7 letters and have a direct Jewish connection.

Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed.

Score 1 point for each answer and 3 points for a Jewish word that uses all 7 letters.

Rating: 8 = Good; 10 = Excellent; 12 = Genius

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

ANSWERS PAGE 19

could help it. My family tried to hide our identity as best as we could, but teachers and neighbours always knew. We were the lone Jewish family on our cul-de-sac and we kept quiet, interacting with our Muslim neighbours only when absolutely needed. We celebrated our holidays quietly and tried to not draw attention to ourselves in schools or markets.

Once a teacher pointed to me and said to group first graders, “That Jew is a Zionist”. They all looked at me, aghast. I went home and asked my mother what a Zionist was, feeling that it was something terrible. The stories in our schoolbooks about the plight of the Palestinian people who longed to returned to their homeland confused me. Wasn’t Israel my ultimate homeland?

But my parents warned me not to speak up, so I said nothing. I shrank a little more into the wooden bench of my second-grade class, hoping no one would point out the fact I was Jewish. By this time, I considered myself a Zionist, even though I never spoke the words. I knew what the punishment would be for such a declaration.

I can still hear the angry chants of “Death to Israel”, thousands of miles away and some 30 years later.

On my way to school I’d pass by murals depicting Israel and United States as the enemy of Islam, slogans of “Death to Israel and America” everywhere. On days of celebrations or commemoration of deaths of Imams, flags of Israel and America were burned side by side. I can still hear the angry chants of “Death to Israel”, thousands of miles away and some 30 years later. Those words sent a chill down my spine. As a little girl I learned that there are people would want me dead because I am Jewish

and love Israel. Little did I know that Hamas terrorists with the backing of Iran would do just that years later, not in Iran, but on the land of the Jewish people. A land where I grew up believing it would be a safe haven for all of us. Little did I realise their hate would drive them to commit the worst horrific massacre towards Jews since the Holocaust, shaking the nerve of every Jew around the world.

Walking the streets of Manhattan today, I am reminded of the fear I felt growing up in Iran. When I moved to the United States, I never thought I would have to hide who I am or be afraid to be Jewish. But history has a way of repeating itself.

In Iran, when passing by the police or a rally, I would pull my head cover around me a little tighter, hoping to be invisible. Now in Manhattan, I hide my Hebrew necklace, feeling guilty to be afraid.

I wonder: Is this how the Jews felt before the Holocaust happened? Is this how my grandfather and father felt walking the streets of Shiraz as angry mobs attacked the ghetto?

Jews are quite familiar with an existential threat. It’s embedded into our genes and tattooed on our souls like the numbers the Nazis tattooed on their prisoners. Israel is engaged in an existential war, a war that affects all Jews around the world.

The other day my daughter and her friend put up countless flyers about the kidnapped victims of the Hamas terror, demanding their release. Today she calls me, her voice shivering, to tell me they’ve all been taken down. She found some of them ripped up and thrown into trashcans around campus.

I am heartbroken for my daughter and for all Jewish students who have to face the reality of hatred towards Jews.

My experience with antisemitism in Iran was not one I ever thought my children would feel in the land of the free. But something amazing has transpired too. These days, my daughters and her friends are attending many rallies, wearing their Jewishness with more pride than ever before. We feel united with Israel, in pain and pride. We are strong and our voices will not be muffled.

Aylin Sedighi is a writer who is working on her historical-fiction novel about the lives and trials of women and children in old Iran. Her articles have appeared on Kveller.com, The Jerusalem Post and Aish.com.

the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

CO NS I D E R E D

OPINION DION COHEN THE JEWISH REPORT

Nothing could have prepared me for the indelible events of October 7, 2023. That day marks the collision of modernity with a darkness reminiscent of bygone days that once again engulfed Jewish life, unprecedented since the Holocaust. It also highlighted an astonishing lack of preparedness on the part of the Israeli Defence Force.

My mind laboured under the immense weight of the situation. I tried to imagine the anticipated response from the Israeli government. I felt a sorrow unlike any I had experienced to a comparable world event. It even eclipsed the seismic impact of 9/11, which shook the very bedrock of our world.’

While I lament every innocent life lost – whether from the war in distant Ukraine, the heart-wrenching chaos of mass shootings, or the cruelty of terrorist attacks – this attack on our people threw me into bewildered disbelief.

Since that day, close friends and Jewish acquaintances have shared a collective trauma. Members of the Jewish community presented concerns about the Deputy Mayor of Waverley Council, Greens’ councillor’s Ludovico Fabiano vote against a motion condemning the Hamas attacks and he was removed as a result. I heard in the voices of those that spoke a profound emotional trauma that we, as Jews, find ourselves grappling with in the aftermath of the insidious events.

It caused me to reflect on the Jewish sense of disbelief when we are exposed to diverse media perspectives and commentators that do not understand Jewish trauma.

My family’s history plays a significant role in shaping my perspective. My grandparents emigrated to South Africa from Lithuania and Turkey before the Second World War. I am steeped in Holocaust education and attended Jewish day schools and youth camps. I have read extensively about the history of Jews leading to the establishment of the State of Israel and beyond, and I continue to immerse myself daily in Israeli news through online platforms. The history of the Holocaust, the persecution and the triumphs of the Jewish people throughout the ages, and an unwavering pride and faith in Israel are an integral part of my identity.

So, the terrorist attacks by Hamas have shaken me to my core, like a disease attacking the fabric of who I am and all that I hold dear. I, too, was unprepared for a catastrophe of such magnitude to unfold in our time. Indeed, it seemed unthinkable. I was shocked to realise that Israel, which Jews have always looked to as our protector, was unable to prevent such an atrocity. There are no Jews who are unaffected by this catastrophe.

As if this was not enough, in the aftermath of this terrible massacre, Jews have had to endure a surge of support for Hamas, an unapologetic terrorist organisation advocating for the destruction of Israel. This secondary traumatisation is incomprehensible to the Jewish soul. I cannot recall similar protests or sharing of an ‘alternative viewpoint’ in Western democracies when

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An unforgettable Sunday: my reflections on recent tragedies

Al-Qaeda launched the 9/11 attacks, or when ISIS rampaged through Iraq and Syria, beheading innocent civilians. The pro-Palestinian protestors’ expressions of hatred and anti-Semitic chants at the Sydney Opera House and other protests around the world leave Jews wondering about the driving forces behind such actions, beyond the obvious anti-Semitic impulses that have been the cause of so much suffering through history.

There is something particular about this event, which I believe comes from understanding what the Palestinian cause represents to those that support it. The Palestinian narrative portrays a struggle of displaced people facing a colonial occupier, unfair treatment and inhumane conditions imposed by the Israeli government. Ignoring the complexities and often touted mistruths of the factors underscoring this narrative, the Palestinian cause resonates deeply with many Arab and indigenous communities around the world.

As Jews, we have failed to fully comprehend the propaganda and influences that have shaped the viewpoints of those expressing antiSemitic sentiments.

It is interesting to note that 15 of the 19 suicide attackers from 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has propagated Wahhabism, an extreme form of radical Islam, and has taught it to its children over many decades.

Whilst the refugees from Lebanon, Syria and Iran in Western countries have in no way been impacted by Israeli policies, they resonate strongly with the Palestinian struggle. It offers them a focal point for their trauma and anger.

From the pro-Palestinian perspective, it's not solely about the number of lives lost, refugees or any other metrics. Their discontent cannot be measured by the number of lives lost. While it is distressing to note that there have been an

estimated 10,000 Palestinian casualties to date from Israel’s retaliation in Gaza, this number pales in comparison to the staggering figures elsewhere. Syria, for instance, has witnessed the murder by its leader of over half a million of its own citizens over the past decade.

Turkish forces carried out at least 6,000 airstrikes in mostly Kurdish areas in Syria and Iraq between 2018 and June 2023, resulting in an estimated 6,500 deaths.

Fatalities from the Iran/Iraq war range between one million and 1.5 million. The US involvement in Iraq resulted in the loss of more than half million human lives.

China has incarcerated in intern camps hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs, as well as Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other ethnic minorities. These are numbers that embody the true meaning of genocide.

The heart of the hatred towards Israel doesn't seem to revolve around the refugee crisis either, as there were an estimated 6.7 million refugees that have been forced to flee Syria and countless others that have fled Lebanon and Iran in recent years, with little commentary from Arab nations.

Instead, what truly lies at the core of Arab hatred is their profound sense of disenfranchisement, loss and anger, stemming largely from the oppressive rule of their own leaders.

These leaders, in turn, exploit this discontent to divert their populations' attention from internal issues and to promote their own agenda, fuelled by hatred, just as the Nazis did. This also results in the championing of ironic resolutions at the UN. Media platforms, through their algorithms, continue to segregate their customer base, inundating willing listeners with a distorted narrative, normalising anti-Semitic hatred and promoting violence. While we in the West are aware of this, the shocking events of October 7 brought home the

extent of ingrained indoctrination, over many years, that has led to the level of anti-Semitic incitement we are currently experiencing worldwide.

Schools, places of worship and social media have all played a part in cultivating extreme hatred and moral distortion against Jews. This was evident in the video of one of the terrorists, who made a chilling phone call to his father, boasting of having killed 10 Jews, as well as the horrifying murder methods used.

Upon their return from their rampage, these terrorists received overwhelming applause from their community and supporters worldwide. One of the most disturbing and barbaric acts committed by humans in our lifetimes was not only condoned, but applauded as a victory, not only in Arab countries, but around the world in pro-Palestinian communities.

In this age of rapidly evolving communication and information dissemination, the events of October 7 have not only served to further expose stark divisions in our world views, but have re-iterated the power of the media to shape and manipulate narratives. We live in an age where facts can easily take a backseat to deeply entrenched emotions and beliefs, built up through different histories, education and exposure to social media.

As we navigate this ongoing crisis, we must recognise the role of revenuedriven social media, the algorithms shaping our beliefs and the decline in fact verification in the reporting of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The repercussions will extend way beyond the immediate crisis. As global citizens, all sides have a collective responsibility to critically examine the information we consume and its impact on our world.

The way we engage with media will shape not only our perceptions, but the course of history itself.

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

Hats off to the IDF HATS FOR ISRAELI SOLDIERS The Israeli Defence Force has asked for help worldwide. One of the things that they have asked for is beanies for the soldiers. Winter is approaching in Israel and the weather can be bitterly cold, especially the nights. There is a need for 350,000 beanies.

To this end, Renee Glass and Pam Wertheim are spearheading an effort to get the community involved knitting for the brave soldiers. The response has been heart-warming, but there’s a need for more.

Can you knit? Do you know anyone who might like to knit?

The pattern is clearly geared towards the American market that most commonly knits with 10 ply wool. We knit with 8 ply. The choice is yours. It is however important to note that 8 ply is not as warm as 10 ply, so if you choose to knit with 8 ply, please use pure wool and not acrylic yarn. All beanies need to be knitted with black wool.

CO NS I D E R E D

OPINION

There are drop off points for the beanies on the North Shore and in the Eastern suburbs. Please email either Pam or Renee for the address.

Pam Wertheim Eastern suburbs pamwertheim2@gmail.com Renee Glass North Shore reneeglass@gmail.com Alternatively, the beanies can be posted to one of two addresses is Israel. They are: The Michael Levin Base 4 Eliyahu Mani Street Jerusalem 9432526 ISRAEL and The Gourmet Yarn Shop POB 102 111 Ahuza Street Ra’anana 4337302 ISRAEL Each beanie will put a smile on a soldier’s face and provide much needed warmth.

This is every Jew’s fight

SLOVIE JUNGREIS-WOLFF COURTESY: AISH.COM Every Jew is a potential target. Find your courage. This is your moment.

I never believed that I’d see the day when the greatest amount of Jews since the Holocaust would be murdered.

I never believed that I would witness the descent of man into beast and then watch the celebration of the slaughter of our people.

Babies charred and bullet-ridden bodies, parents and children bound together, then shot and burned, bodies mutilated and dismembered, entire families executed and wiped out, girls and women raped, infants, young people and elderly grandmothers taken away. Can we be talking about a massacre that happened in 2023, and not some pogrom in a European shtetl?

Hamas terrorists weaponised social media as they livestreamed Gali Idan, her husband and two youngest children being terrorised in their home.

The seven-year-old boy is shown crying and asking, “Where is my sister?” His father’s hands are stained with blood.

Mayan, 18, was later found. She had been shot dead.

I study the photos of the beautiful children, their sparkling eyes, their joyous smiles, their childlike innocence and I wonder how it is possible to snatch babies, kidnap them, shatter their parents’ hearts and remain human.

This should not be a hard call to make. Murder. Rape. Kidnapping.

Dismembering. Torturing. Are these acts of brutality ever okay? Who cannot recognise this force of evil staring you in the face?

Antisemitism rising As we grieve and ponder the unthinkable, there are those around the world who cheer. Hours after the attacks, thousands gathered in Times Square as if they were partying on New Year’s Eve. Muslims in one Berlin neighbourhood were handing out candy celebrating the results of the attacks. Some homes were marked with the Star of David, echoing the ominous rise of Nazism in the 1930s Outside of the Sydney Opera House, the crowd shouted “Gas the Jews!”

In Turkey, a widely read newspaper

published an op-ed calling on the Turkish government to strip Jews of their citizenship. In London, a Jewish school was vandalised, its doors and windows splashed with red paint. In France, 1,000 antisemitic incidents occurred in 48 hours. At a rally in Toronto, proHamas demonstrators chanted “Off with their heads”. In a NYC subway station, a man punched a woman in the face because “you are Jewish”.

In Tunisia, a mob burned down the el-Hamma synagogue.

TURN TO PAGE 18

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

COMMUNITY Children’s trauma counselling AROUND

T H E

THE JOINT AUSTRALIA Looking into the eyes of Matan, a charming seven-and-a-half-year-old from Kibbutz Kissufim, one would expect to see joy. But this young boy witnessed the horrors on October 7th when his kibbutz was brutally attacked by Hamas terrorists.

Today he and his family are living in a hotel at the Dead Sea, far from the site of those haunting scenes. And his new best friend is Hibuki, a brown stuffed animal in the shape of a dog with long arms that wraps around his neck. Matan hugs Hibuki, a therapy support tool and tells him what he is most afraid of – the colour red.

Matan says he is sad because “some people who lived nearby in the kibbutz didn't survive. And also one of my teachers didn’t survive and I liked to play with her a lot."

Matan is one of thousands of evacuated and displaced children from Israel’s South who are currently receiving trauma support from The Joint as part of its wide-ranging response to the war. The organisation is leveraging its 100 plus year history in the land of Israel, having activated its network of social service programs and centres across the country to address the urgent needs of Israelis suffering under fire. Before the war, social services created by the Joint reached one million Israelis each week.

“Our immediate work is focused on trauma and mental health treatment for children and frontline responders – addressing an epidemic which is especially acute,

in the wake of October 7

give the level of violence and loss of lives.

efforts, and work in past crises, positions us

We’re also addressing economic relief and

as we plan the long-term rebuilding of social

maintaining and expanding life-saving social

infrastructure to make Israel stronger in the

services for the most vulnerable Israelis,

years ahead.”

including the hundreds of thousands that

Hibuki – based on the Hebrew word “hibuk“,

have been displaced,” said Brett Kaye, The

which means hug – was born during the

Joint Australia’s National Director. “These

Second Lebanon War. It is a shared project

of The Joint, the Israeli Ministry of Education and the Department of Psychology at Tel Aviv University. Since its creation, Hibuki has helped more than 10,000 traumatised Israeli children in communities along Israel’s southern and northern borders. The Joint also deployed this program to help Japanese children following the 2012 Tsunami and Ukrainian refugee children at the height of the conflict in 2021.

The doll helps children regain feelings of control and process what they have been through. By taking care of Hibuki, identifying with him and playing with him, children find ways to express uncertainty and the complicated feelings they have about what they experienced. Conducted in a safe and protected space, the program also assists parents, educators and caregivers learn how to enable children to project their emotions, fears and needs onto Hibuki. The adults are then better able to provide appropriate support.

The Joint also trains frontline responders – teachers, social workers and volunteers – in other psychosocial support skills.

Among them is young volunteer Galia, who signed up to help care for children in the wake of the recent attacks. When she first came to the evacuee hotel and was led into one of the playrooms, she saw children hugging Hibuki. She burst into tears. Twelve years ago, when she was a child near Gaza and she received Hibuki. It helped her and to this day she still has the doll in her room.

The impact of October 7 SHIR HALIVNI AUJS In my psychology studies I have learnt about implicit racism, that is when people don’t show or are unaware of their racist tendencies. During the past four years living abroad, I have never experienced firsthand implicit or explicit racism. I naively believed that antisemitism was no longer relevant.

Born and raised in Israel, I was privileged to come into this world in a Jewish state, unwittingly sheltered from those who would see me dead only because of my bloodline.

Everything changed on October 7th.

For the first time in my life, I felt the fear of being harmed only because of my Jewish heritage.

I was sitting in my house in Australia when I heard about the atrocities carried out by Hamas against my people: children, youth, the elderly and soldiers.

I felt sick to my stomach as the horrific stories kept pouring in. I could not disconnect from the Israeli news, following the released names of the dead and hostages, hoping not to recognise any of them. Friends from all over the world were texting me, asking whether my family and friends were safe.

Then, a day after the largest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust my roommate uploaded a post to her social media: “What did you think decolonialisation would look like?” This was the moment I

Pro-Israel rally at Dover Heights on October 11th (photo by AUJS shaliach Tobias Siegal) realised people waved off the atrocities and sought to justify them. My roommate and many others were indifferent to the beheadings, rape, slaughter and kidnapping of other human beings.

They were celebrating the death of my loved ones and managed to provide “explanations” for why they “deserved” such treatment. They were not condemning the pleasure and

pride Hamas terrorists took while filming their deeds, burning and torturing other humans. My roommate and those akin to her were praising the attack only because its victims happened to be Israeli.

With calls to free Palestine, it felt like people had entered my home and were telling me how to mourn and how to feel, trying to explain to me what was happening.

All I could think was: Free Palestine, but of what?

In 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip. Israeli settlements there were dismantled and the IDF evacuated the Strip. In June 2007, Hamas took over Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority.

Since then, Gaza has been plagued by poverty, while Hamas has no shortage of money.

Donations to Gaza have not been used to better the civilian population, but to arm Hamas to execute its charter mission to “kill the Jews”.

Hamas’ mission is identical to calls to exterminate Jews and send them to gas chambers.

My home was broken into and I will never feel safe here again. Besides losing loved ones to the war against terrorism, I lost people I thought were my friends.

With a heavy heart I realise that history does repeat itself.

Apparent supporters of terrorism are everywhere, including here in Australia, supporting Hamas’ actions by calls to decolonise a land they have never been to or don’t even know the location of.

In spite of everything, where I would like be right now is in my home in Israel.

Shir Halivni is an Israeli student studying a Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Melbourne, on an exchange program from a university in Holland. She has been in Australia since July.

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

AROUND

I resign

T H E

COMMUNITY

BY NOMI KALTMANN COURTESY: CRIKEY I’ve resigned from Victoria’s multifaith body. Its silence on Israel is deafening.

My time with the Faith Communities Council of Victoria was fulfilling and respectful, but I cannot stay aligned with an organisation mute in the face of such a tragedy.

Being part of Australia's community of 120,000 Jewish people, I've observed that many Australians show a sincere interest in and respect for my religion. Many times, I am the first Jewish person they have met and people often have thoughtful questions about my faith and the history of Judaism.

During my time at university, one of the most effective ways to break down stereotypes was through genuine, heartto-heart conversations. While studying, I began my journey into interfaith work, giving talks to groups of interfaith leaders and even spending time at a camp. I was eager to dive into conversations and get to know people better, learning about their beliefs and backgrounds.

In 2019, when I was offered the chance to become a young female member of the Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV) board, I eagerly accepted the opportunity. Established in 2010, the FCCV is Victoria’s umbrella multifaith body. On its website, its mission is to “contribute to the harmony of the Victorian community by promoting positive relations between people of different faiths and greater public knowledge and mutual understanding of the teachings, customs and practices of Victoria's diverse faith traditions”.

I joined the board just before the COVID pandemic and I was struck by the thoughtful and intelligent people around the table. As a representative of the Jewish faith, I met other faith leaders who were Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Hindu. There was no shortage of things for us to talk about.

The FCCV meetings were always enlightening, respectful and fulfilling. It felt meaningful to belong to a group that cared about harmony and tolerance between all Australians, and I was always happy to contribute. At one point, the FCCV proposed that I assume the role of the organisation's president, although I had to decline due to my limited availability.

Over the past few years, I started attending FCCV meetings less frequently,

even though my dedication to the organisation's success remained unwavering. Juggling a busy life with small children made some meetings a bit challenging, but I held on to my board position because I truly believed in the organisation’s mission.

Now, however, I have resigned from the FCCV. Despite the organisation having addressed various political and sensitive issues, it has remained silent on the events in Israel on October 7.

On that day, Hamas militants breached the border fence, resulting in the brutal killing of hundreds of Israeli civilians in their homes in Southern Israel.

As hundreds of Jewish individuals were tragically murdered in kibbutzim by terrorists, the organisation I had deep faith in chose to stay quiet. To date, it has not offered a single public word in response and not one person from the organisation has reached out to me privately either.

I understand that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complicated and that there are many sensitivities, particularly among

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES Friday, Nov 10, 2023

7:13 pm

Shabbat ends, Nov 11, 2023

8:13 pm

Friday, Nov 17, 2023

7:20 pm

Shabbat ends, Nov 18, 2023

8:20 pm

Friday, Nov 24, 2023

7:26 pm

Shabbat ends, Nov 25, 2023

8:28 pm

people who are uncomfortable with Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Nevertheless, as a progressive Jewish person, it's untenable to stay within an interfaith group that remains mute in the face of the largest single-day loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust. The essence of interfaith groups is to provide support for all its members.

How can an organisation committed to fostering tolerance and harmony fail to stand by its Jewish members in a time of crisis?

I'm neither an Israeli citizen, nor a resident of Israel, but I firmly believe that expressing solidarity with the Jewish people after the horrific murder of hundreds of Jewish civilians is far from controversial. Jewish history is marred by deep trauma and a legacy of oppression and anti-Semitism.

Most Jewish people I know have a very close connection to someone who was murdered in the south of Israel. We aren’t a particularly large people, and Jewish communities are tight knit. My sister-in-law’s cousin, Adi Kaploun-Vital, was murdered in front of her two children on her kibbutz.

When I wrote my resignation letter, I received a response from the FCCV that it had not yet released a statement, almost three weeks on from Hamas' rampage, because “the way our organisation is set up, we can only release statements if all organisations agree – in this case we could not get unanimous support”.

Such a response is morally bankrupt. As a Jewish person, my voice is no less significant than that of any other minority and I fully support showing solidarity with all suffering communities, including Palestinians.

Yet, during our moment of urgent need, Jewish people frequently encounter dismissive responses such as "it's complicated", "it's sensitive" or, worst of all, silence.

In the wake of Jewish voices being sidelined and our distress unacknowledged, I stand at a crossroads of belief in interfaith work.

This disappointment marks a seismic shift in my views and it begs the question: can we truly foster harmony and understanding when some are left in silence and darkness?

Sydney Jewish Report Disclaimer: 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.

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KOSHER FEATURE

From left: Rom Kadosh, Tom Aharon and Julia Fortes from Pita Mix, in Old South Head Road, Rose Bay

kosher feature

F O O D I E S'

CORNER

Kosher KApers

RAMONA FREEDMAN THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY Israel is our beating heart. Kosher-certified Israeli cuisine is appreciated on a global scale and in this edition, as well as sharing other KA news around town, we are shining a kosher spotlight on KA-certified Israeli cuisine. We will also be sharing some examples of amazing charity KA initiatives led by our bakers, caterers and more all aiming to help our homeland in its time of need.

Let’s start with KA-certified Manna Cuisine which has offered our community the opportunity to purchase a fresh box called a ‘Taste of Israel for Israel’. The dynamic duo at the helm, Artur and Yulia Bilder, lived in our Holy Land for over two decades and perfected the craft of Middle Eastern cuisine, along with their many other specialties. They have generously donated half of all sales to assist the JNF Emergency Fund.

So many in our community supported this and sat down at Shabbat tables this month to share the freshly baked pita bread, Israeli couscous salad, falafel balls, green tahini dip and so much more with family and friends. Kol hakavod Manna Cuisine.

Meanwhile, KA-certified Millee’s has an upcoming pop up event with one hundred per cent of proceeds going to help Israel. It was sold out within a flash and is a collaboration with the talented team at Lorraine’s Bistro, located within the Robin Hood hotel in Waverley. This event scheduled for mid-November will truly be one of the first of many meaningful and magnificent KA kosher pop up dining experiences with every dollar helping so significantly. The KA will update you about another one scheduled very soon.

Our bakers have been busy with this cause at the forefront of their collective consciousness. For example, recently Jesse’s Bakery and Grandma Moses

KA PRODUCT UPDATES • New KA-certified CO YO vanilla custard – dairy free coconut custard 500g • New 7-Eleven Slurpee flavour Marshmallow is acceptable • Three gluten free Jesse’s baked products are KA-certified mehadrin and pareve: burger buns (300g), seeded loaf (290g) and white loaf (290g) • New Darrell Lea Liquorice Nibs in Mango and Strawberry flavours are OU-certified (label on packet) – available in Coles & Woolworths in store, online and at IGA stores • Mamale’s ready-made Classic Waffles

Pita Mix hummus dish Bakery and Café both dedicated the entire sales of one Friday – challahs, babkas, cakes, croissants and so much more to help Israel.

KA-certified Mendy’s is also offering a tangible and meaningful gesture. For every large pizza sold customers will receive a Ner Neshama, a memorial candle to light for fallen brothers and sisters. Beneath our large KA umbrella, so much is being done daily.

The entire Jewish community applauds, acknowledges and appreciates all broader support at this challenging time.

In that spirit, thank you to Steven at St Ives Greengrocer for donating a portion of kosher sales recently to help Israel. This included all freshly made KA-certified Soul Gourmet products both sweet and savoury. The donated sum total was $1100 and we are all so grateful for this valuable contribution.

It is wonderful to see the entire community rally in the true sense to support KA-certified eateries that offer authentic Israeli fare. The Pita Mix team is so devoted and puts its heart and soul into serving us all year round. It is an Israeli hub we treasure. Savion on the Grill has a loyal fan base – with traditional Israeli cuisine that is loved. The list goes on.

If you are looking for all-things-falafel from patties to balls to a falafel mix, make sure you sample the Israeli delights at KAcertified Cheeky Pea with hummus, tahini

(Pareve) and Salty Caramel Fudge

and freshly baked pita pockets too. A gluten free box is also available. And that’s just a small window into our kosher Israel delights on offer.

The KA is pleased to also advise that the Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) will be running until early December at the Randwick Ritz, a heritage listed art-deco cinema multiplex. Escape from reality for a couple of hours and enjoy KA-certified hot movie popcorn made utilising coconut oil at a high heat coupled with a sprinkling of gourmet sea salt. You can purchase it in three sizes: small, medium and large.

In addition, you can enjoy four flavours of kosher Elato ice cream in convenient Dixie cups, each 125ml in size. Three are dairy (not Chalav Yisrael): triple vanilla, cold brew decaf café latte and the new fig ripple. One vegan pareve flavour is also on offer, dark chocolate truffle.

Within this positive and proactive KA kosher space, please know more will be happening to help Israel. Our community is ready to assist, support and along the way, sample a selection of KA-certified foods from the Land of Milk and Honey that are soulful and sensational.

We are so proud of our KA Family as each pita bread, falafel and treat is baked with love for our Land of Israel. Am Yisrael Chai.

Here’s a snapshot of kosher news around town: • Enjoy Candy Bar snacks such as KA-certified hot movie popcorn for JIFF, 45 St. Pauls Street, Randwick, book your tickets at www.ritzcinemas.com.au/festivals/ jiff-184.

• To contact Manna Cuisine, call Artur Bilder on 0450 184 020 or email info@ mannacuisine.com.au, located at 55 Doody Street, Alexandria.

• To contact the Millee’s team about upcoming pop up events in support of

Israel, or simply for your next simchah, large or small, call Dena Miller on 0418 666 901.

• S t. Ives Greengrocer is located at Shop 1/235 Mona Vale Road, St. Ives.

•C ontact Alan Bender at Soul Gourmet on 0422 553 493 or email alan@soulgourmet.com.au • T o place an order with Mendy’s, call 1300 636 397, visit www.mendys.com.au and pick up from 65 Carrington Road,

Waverley.

• Visit Pita Mix @ 502 Old South Head Road, Rose Bay, call 02 9388 4400.

• Cheeky Pea - there is a weekly pop up shop open every Wednesday 11:30am1:30pm @ Shop 2, 498 Bunnerong Road, Matraville. Call Adi Walter on 0412 622 928 for more information and catering details.

• Visit www.ka.org.au for the KA Kosher Product Directory.

Sauce (Dairy, CY) are new and both KA-certified • Teavision herbal teas – all varieties are acceptable • All mini bagels sold at The Bagel Co. are now ‘hamotzi’. However, you can purchase frozen packs of 10 which are ‘mezzonot’. You can also purchase parbaked pizza bases • Haagen-Dazs new 6-pack mini with 3 vanilla caramel almond and 3 chocolate choc almond in each box (OU-D). Also new are two tubs of Haagen-Dazs Pierre Herme Paris macaron flavoured ice cream: Yuzu + Lemon & Strawberry + Raspberry • Coles garlic paste is pareve and acceptable • Nando’s Sweet Chilli Jam – Medium (OU) spotted at Woolworths Eastgardens • Mars Bar ice creams are certified by the London Beth Din and do not require a kosher logo on the box.

KA CLARIFICATIONS • The KA advises that Kettle Chips Sweet Potato Sea Salt are KA-certified Pareve, please note that a new variety called Kettle Chips Sweet Potato Rosemary & Sea Salt is not currently acceptable • Four Alpino Gelato flavours are no longer produced: Choc-chip gelato, choc-mint gelato, mandarin sorbet and rockmelon • DJ&A Masala Mix Original and Peanut Butter Pretzels are no longer produced • Golden Circle KA-certified juices listed within our KA Kosher Directory are still considered KA kosher-certified if packed in Australia from imported ingredients, rather than only Product of Australia • Coles Bakers Journey pre-packaged Turkish rolls 4-pack and Turkish Pide 400g are both now made in a non-kosher bakery and are not kosher • Coles Nature’s Kitchen tofu is acceptable in the 500g pack not 450g

KA-certified Mamale's Salty Caramel Fudge Sauce (Dairy, CY), Darrell Lea Mango Nibs (OU), KA-certified CO YO Vanilla Custard and Grandma Moses’ Pita Bread 4-pack

kosher feature

Elato ice cream now in hundreds ELATO Award-winning kosher ice cream Elato is now available in nearly 500 Woolworths supermarkets, as well as in selected Metro stores and independent supermarkets.

Created by Roz Kaldor-Aroni, all four Elato flavours uphold the brand's commitment to delivering exquisite flavour alongside uncompromising quality. Elato pushes back on the current trend of using cheap ingredients, chemicals and excessive aeration – techniques often employed to ‘fluff up’ ice cream.

Elato’s newest kosher flavour, Fig Ripple, is crafted with a unique combination of dried figs, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom, generously folded throughout as a mouth-watering jam.

“I wanted to create an ice cream that was better for you without compromising on a deliciously indulgent taste and texture,” Roz said. Elato’s ice cream boasts 30 per cent less added sugar and increased protein. It's also 99 per cent lactose-free and free from chemicals, preservatives and allergens such as gluten.

The accolades speak for themselves.

Elato’s Coffee ice cream received the 2022 Queensland Dairy Industry award for best ice cream. Fig Ripple recently

claimed the trophy for Best Ice Cream in Australia at the Melbourne Royal Dairy Awards. Elato is the first brand with proven health benefits to receive these awards.

Elato is committed to being a force for good, with proceeds from each tub supporting non-profit organisation OzHarvest, which saves surplus food from landfill and repurposes it to help those in need. This has already amounted to donations equivalent to upwards of 10,000 meals.

Ready for a scoop of this delicious, healthier delight? You can find Elato in selected Woolworths or Metro stores or have it delivered via Uber Eats or MILKRUN. If you can’t find it in Woolworths’ main freezer, be sure to check the kosher section.

For more, including store locations, visit elato.com.au

kosher feature

Israeli couscous ‘ptitim’ salad MANNA CUISINE KOSHER CATERER KA-CERTIFIED KA-certified Manna Cuisine is contributing to the kosher landscape in Sydney in so many wonderful ways.

Two decades in Israel really enabled dynamic duo Artur and Yulia Bilder to develop their expertise in Middle Eastern cuisine (just to name one branch of their catering business), resulting in delicious dishes inspired by our homeland.

We are all thinking about and praying for Israel right now. This month, Team Manna Cuisine wanted to shine a spotlight on a little segment of Israeli culinary history. Enter ‘ptitim’ which is the Hebrew word for pearl or Israeli couscous. It was first created in 1953, which was a difficult time of acute economic austerity in the early days of statehood.

With staples scarce, Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, asked one of the founders of the Osem food company to create a wheat-based substitute for rice.

The company took up the challenge and developed ptitim, which are small, rolled balls of hard wheat flour, toasted in an oven. This product retains its shape and texture when cooked and is sometimes colloquially referred to as Ben-Gurion rice.

RABBI NI C

THOUGHT

The following is an original Manna Cuisine recipe, generously shared for the first time. This zesty, Israeli herb-infused salad is so popular and can be served as a main vegetarian course or as a side dish, best enjoyed at room temperature.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup ptitim, Israeli couscous 1½ cups boiling water ½ tsp cumin powder ½ tsp coriander powder 5 Tbspns extra virgin olive oil (two used to first toast the couscous) ½ cup of finely chopped parsley

½ cup finely chopped dill 1 tsp lemon zest 100gm halved heirloom tomatoes 100gm snow peas, thinly sliced in horizontal strips 1 Tbspn pomegranate arils Toasted slivered almonds (optional) Lemon juice to taste Sea salt, pepper to taste METHOD Toast the Israeli couscous: Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 cup Ptitim and toss it around until the

Manna Cuisine is located at 55 Doody Street, Alexandria and all cooking and baking is done in-house, fresh on the premises. To contact Manna Cuisine call Artur Bilder on 0450 184 020 or email: info@mannacuisine.com.au.

I believe in miracles

RABBI MOSHE D. GUTNICK RABBINIC ADMINISTRATOR THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY We are all struggling to come to terms with what is happening in Israel right now.

Yet it is not just what is transpiring on the home soil of our Holy Land, but what is occurring globally, a veritable tsunami of hate. We hear so many people, for the first time, publicly, brazenly spouting rabid anti-semitism. It is difficult to digest.

However, rampant racism is not the story. We are the story. We are Hashem’s Chosen People and G-d has always been with us and He will perform ongoing miracles for us. This is not a battle between two states, this is a war of good versus evil.

It is about the people of Israel waging this war and we will emerge triumphant.

We were victorious in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and we will be victorious in 2023.

As we faced each existential threat we overcame each one and and became stronger than before. So it will be in this Simchat Torah war.

I personally heard the following while I was at the Kotel. A narrator recounted the story of a rabbi in an Eastern European shtetl. His entire life had revolved around the wonders of Jerusalem. At Seudat Shlishit, the third meal on Shabbat afternoon, he would gather young children and sing about the City of Gold.

Israeli couscous is an even golden brown colour. Then, season with cumin and coriander powder, along with salt and pepper to taste. Toss for an additional two minutes.

Cook the Israeli couscous: In a separate small saucepan or a kettle, first boil 1 ½ cups water and add it to the saucepan with the toasted pearled couscous.

Bring this to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for about 7 minutes, or until the couscous is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed.

Remove from the heat and leave for an additional 10 minutes covered to rest.

Use a fork to separate the couscous, then transfer into a large bowl to cool.

The couscous will initially stick together.

This is not a concern as it will separate when tossed with the dressing.

Add remaining herbs and vegetables (parsley, dill, lemon zest, heirloom tomatoes, snow peas), then season with lemon juice and remaining 3 Tablespoon of olive oil, transfer to the serving dish and decorate with pomegranate arils and toasted slivered almonds.

Bete’avon – Enjoy this sensational salad.

He was so effusive about it his nickname was Mr. Yerushalayim.

The narrator then quietly recalled that this rabbi and his two sons had been forced into a concentration camp. One Shabbat they watched the sun set and one son turned to his father and said, “Tatte, vos itst,” Father, what now? His father thought for a moment, and in that place of darkness sang, “Le Shana Haba B’Yerushalayim,” Next Year in Jerusalem.

They danced within their own circle of light until the guards herded them back to their bunks.

The narrator continued, recalling that the rabbi and one of his sons did not survive, He revealed that they had

been his grandfather and uncle. Only his father, the second son, lived to tell the traumatic tale. He ultimately arrived in Israel post-war to rebuild his life together with my mother. They had me.

He continued, “During the Six Day War I was with my unit, the first to enter the Lion’s Gate into the Old City. The first Jewish soldiers to do so in 2000 years. We got pinned down in the lane by sniper fire. I didn't know what to do.

“Suddenly I heard someone urgently saying, ‘Go, Go’. Standing to my right I felt my grandfather with an immediacy in his voice. To my left I heard my uncle urging me on. Behind them I felt the weight of the entire Jewish people willing

us forward. I ran across the courtyard, and along with my fellow soldiers we carried 2000 years of yearning. Shortly after we heard the blessed words, “Har HaBayit B’Yadeinu” The Temple Mount is in our hands.

We sometimes take for granted Hashem’s miracles. We forget that He is the Guardian of Israel. We forget that if we rewind two millennia we were driven from Jerusalem. Today we have triumphantly returned. Never in the history of humankind has such a miracle occurred, that a nation returns to its homeland.

The State of Israel symbolises G-d returning us to Zion and our subsequent return to Zion. As our brothers and sisters in the IDF fight for us all, every generation of Jews stands at either side and encourages them forward, from the warriors of King David to the Maccabees and beyond.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe emotionally described that on the head of every Jewish soldier rests the Shechina, the Divine Presence, and with it all heavenly hosts.

This is G-d’s army, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and on they will march to a victory that will bring peace to Israel and ultimately the entire world. Just marvel at the miracle of how our nation has come together.

I believe in miracles. We have nothing to fear. We are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The very best is yet to come. Am Yisrael Chai.

AUJS

SB Creatives Photography

ENSURING YOUR SAFETY ON CAMPUS • If you encounter antisemitism on campus, contact campus security for assistance. Find the contact information on the AUJS website's homepage, at: aujs.com.au.

Parties/Social Events Mitzvahs/Celebrations Corporate Events Families Headshots

• Please also report the incident by filling out the form at: aujs.com.au/incidentreporting.

We’ll be in touch.

To support the difficult times in Israel, I am offering $30 off on all bookings and donating it to help victims in Israel

• If you require a special consideration letter, please contact us via email at: info@aujs.com.au

0411 823 077 sbcreatives@outlook.com.au

• If you experience antisemitism off campus, please report it to CSG on 1300 000 274.

SB CREATIVES PHOTOGRAPHY

See the best of Jewish-themed and Israeli cinema at the 2023 Jewish International Film Festival, screening only in cinemas from October 24.

HIGHLIGHTS —

NOW ON

The Goldman Case

Filip

In 1976, the trial of Pierre Goldman divided France when the Jewish far-left activist was retried for four robberies, one of which resulted in two deaths.

Filip is a clandestine Jewish refugee whose life depends on the ruse that he is French, caught between the quest for survival and the hunger for revenge.

TV SERIES —

CLOSING NIGHT —

Chanshi

The Jewish Nazi?

Chanshi is a wonderfully dark U.S.-Israeli comedy series about a Jewish girl from Brooklyn who runs away to Israel to become the free, adventurous woman she was born to be.

Based on the bestselling book ‘The Mascot’, the staggering story of a Jewish boy who witnesses the murder of his family and survives the Holocaust by becoming “Hitler’s youngest soldier.”

Ritz Cinema, Randwick 24 Oct—28 Nov

FOR MORE INFO VISIT JIFF.COM.AU

Roseville Cinemas, Roseville 2—19 Nov

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

COMMUNITY Woke up. The nightmare is real AROUND

T H E

MOLLY LIVINGSTONE Jewish culture embraces life (also food), which makes it especially troubling that our neighbours raised on hate are a cause celebre on US college campuses.

The Iron Dome has saved many lives over the past few years and during this war. It is one of the best examples of Israeli innovation. It characterises the inventors behind the innovation.

An army of soldiers and intelligence, determined to save the lives of their citizens, advancing technology and impacting the world with good. They didn’t invent a chemical weapon, they didn’t strategise how to kill the most people. They didn’t think about brutality in building their device.

The Jewish Peoplehood and our culture have always embraced life and happiness. Also food, but that is obvious. Unlike our love for vitality and prosperity, we live with evil terrorists that have taken the Nazi playbook justifying our death, their death and probably the death of any future Palestinian nation.

Their inventions, just like ours, embody their personal traits. Dark tunnels, deep underground, lined with telephone

Iron Dome in action (via X/formerly Twitter)

wires. Not creative, nor inspired, bleak and vicious. The terrorists took over the government in 2006, after Israel disengaged from the area, in the hopes of some form of peace and stability.

Gush Katif, the land that Israel abandoned, had clear blue waters, greenhouses and infrastructure. Gaza could have built a thriving vacation city with villas, hotels and more. They could have given their people jobs, security and success. But Hamas chose to take the area and use it for more terror. More rocket launchers. More training camps.

More hell, in what could have been a little piece of heaven.

They took any humanitarian funds for their citizens and put it towards terror and evil. Their leaders enjoyed and continue to enjoy their people’s money in Qatar, where they lead this battle. The people of Gaza live in poverty. Those who used to work for the Gush Katif residents, along with everyone else, suffer. They suffer in silence, because Hamas does not want you to hear from them. They want their rockets to be launched on top of their homes, their schools to be used for brainwashing and their hospitals to store weapons.

They hate everyone. They hate their people. They hate their neighbours. And they hate you.

Many of the Arab countries hate them back. Take a look around. When Syria had refugees, country after

country opened their borders. Here, with thousands of Gazans wanting to escape the evil, they find no one wants them. Egypt and Jordan refuse to take in anyone. Lebanon and Syria are happy to join the evil and launch rockets, but have no interest in humanitarian aid or concern for where the children will learn.

These countries have understood that the citizens, raised on hate and lacking education, will not bring any benefit to their society. And, therefore, they stand by in silence.

Where the voices are heard for “Free Palestine” is on college campuses and marches through Western countries.

It is hard to hear it, because chanting for rape and killing children should be cancelled by the same generation that has deemed themselves too woke to drink cow milk. These students lack real education. They could not place Israel on a map, but they are happy to erase it from the world. They want the t-shirt, but they don’t understand that with Hamas they could never wear it. No gay pride, no democracy, no freedom of speech.

Their battle cries on college campuses would simply be their last. Their thoughts would become prisoners of war and they too would be hunted by the same terrorists they cheer on now. Terrorists do not want anyone free. You would think that there would be English Lit professors using Free Palestine and Terrorist in the same sentence to define oxymoron.

Instead, the English Lit professor is quiet, giving the terrorists books to burn, with their mouths and eyes shut to the world.

Please remember that before this war thousands of Israelis were protesting in the streets to fight for democracy. We are not a perfect country. Show me one that is. We have policies that we don’t agree with, we have laws that should be reversed and we have bureaucratic systems that still use fax machines. But we are the only democracy in the Middle East. We are innovators that have given you smartphones, cherry tomatoes and water irrigation. We are working hard to solve the many problems of climate change, food security and education for all. We are busy turning air into water, building tiny electric cars and eliminating the dangers of fish-farming and cement.

We are at the forefront of inclusivity and diversity.

Our determination and passion as entrepreneurs is at the core of our economic development and growth.

We created the Iron Dome to save lives because we are always fighting to live.

War does not stop innovation. In Israel, war spurs us to resilience and creativity.

We are together in this fight against evil.

We are making sure our soldiers are fed, our refugees have clean clothes and our children are safe. And the next non-cow milk product you buy in the store is our invention.

Woke up. The nightmare is real.

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

COA's community support COA Over the past year, COA has followed a JCA-sponsored strategy to best provide aged care services in the Sydney Jewish community.

As a result, last month COA’s services for older, frail seniors were transferred to the Burger Centre.

That included bi-weekly bus outings, bi-weekly live entertainment and lunch, and fortnightly movies, as well as the staff and buses to support these services.

But the provision of Kosher Meals and COA Fresh food services remains under COA management.

These are vital services for seniors who want to age in their own homes.

COA annually provides more than 20,000 kosher meals to seniors. Many meals are heavily subsidised for pensioners and Holocaust survivors.

COA recently received a grant from Woollahra Council to provide caps and high visibility vests with logos for its delivery drivers.

These will have a positive impact on safety when drivers are on the road, distributing food services to the community. Further, it will help recipients recognise a legitimate COA representative at the door.

COA engages over 200 volunteers that deliver meals, fresh food and other services. The organisation has 600 plus

members. Many able-bodied seniors attend weekly activities in COA’s wellequipped and conveniently located community hub.

Apart from Kosher Meals and COA Fresh, COA provides companionship and helps combat loneliness for retirees.

It has a meaningful volunteer program and stimulating groups to engage healthy, active seniors.

Moving forward, the organisation is developing a new strategy that recognises and addresses community needs.

It has engaged architects to assess how best to upgrade existing COA facilities, so they may be shared with other community organisations.

From left, Woollahra mayor Richard Shields with COA president Allen Rosenberg

Eat Well Every Day with Kosher Meals-on-Wheels • Nutritious menu to choose

from including meat and vegetarian options prepared by Kosher caterers

• Makes preparing food

simple for those who can no longer cook a nutritious meal on their own

• Delivered by friendly COA

To enquire about COA meals please call 8367 5010 or email s.franklin@coasydney.org or go online to www.coasydney.org

volunteers who will pack the meals into your fridge and chat with you at each delivery

• Over forty years

experience and over one million meals delivered to our community

Heart to heart for Israel UIA UIA is offering the community meaningful ways in which it can show its love and support for the People of Israel in these devastating times.

The organisation is using its videosharing platform to enable those that wish to upload messages, all of which will be passed on to the victims of terror in the South.

UIA has also launched a platform that enables anyone to create a personalised webpage to raise funds in lieu of gifts that will go to the UIA Victims of Terror Fund.

Further, to support the Victims of Terror Fund, UIA has an Israel at War Emergency Appeal.

That has been designed to provide immediate financial support to victims and their families impacted by the war.

All funds collected are remitted and deployed to provide necessities including food, clothing, nappies, funeral payments and associated expenses, and emotional and psychological support.

UIA has already started distributing monies received. By the end of October, more than 4,500 grants had been processed and upwards of 3,000 issued to the victims and families in need. Every

dollar donated will provide immediate assistance within 48 hours.

UIA stands in solidarity with the People of Israel and with the tens of thousands of beneficiaries of its programs in the country’s South. It joins with the global UIA family and Jewry in praying for a peaceful and timely end to the devastation.

“Our hearts are broken and so many of us are searching for ways to help our friends, family, fellow Jews and all citizens of Israel. We are proactively finding ways for our community to connect with and support all those affected by these horrendous acts by Hamas terrorists and to try and bring light to people in some very dark times. We encourage the community to use these outlets to help us find our way in these challenging times,” UIA CEO Yair Miller OAM said.

You can upload your video messages of support to bit.ly/UIA_VIDEO Create your personalised fundraising page at uia.giveeasy.org/israel-at-waremergency-appeal-fundraising Here are the instructions to set up your personalised fundraising page: giveeasy.org/how-to-set-up-a-team-asa-fundraiser/ To donate to UIA’s Israel at War Emergency Appeal, go to: donatenow. uiaaustralia.org.au/emergency

VICTIMS OF TERROR FUND EMERGENCY APPEAL 100% REMITTED IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL GRANTS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOOD, CLOTHES, NAPPIES, FUNERAL EXPENSES

DONATE NOW bit.ly/UIAIsraelAtWar 9361 4273

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

RABBI NI C

THOUGHT

Missing heroes

How to get involved: Go to rabbibenji.com/missingheroes The following are some suggestions you will find: 1. Adopt a Missing Hero by signing up here; 2. Learn their story; 3. Dedicate prayers, learning and good deeds in their honour; 4. Establish a relationship with a family liaison to ensure a direct partnership; and 5. Engage in different activities so that the Missing Hero is truly part of your community.

In addition to the above (which we will help facilitate), the following are suggested activities that you can participate in. If you have any other suggestions, you are welcome to undertake them and/or share them with us.

1. Say the special prayer for captives consistently (at least once a week, ideally once a day) with your Missing Hero’s individual name among all the others; 2. Consider classes/sessions/imaginative activities to cultivate empathy and personalise the situation e.g. imagine this was your own sibling, grandparent, parent or child. What would you do differently?

3. Encourage children to write letters, recite prayers or create artwork for the missing person's family; 4. Rally support online by urging community members to share stories and images on social media, promote their story in your workplace or school and write to local leaders to raise awareness; 5. Commit to a weekly or daily mitzvah (good deed), such as extra acts of kindness and/or donating tzedakah (charity), in the hope of the person's safe return; 6. Display their pictures and names on a designated chair in key places such as in the synagogue, at a shabbat meal, in a classroom etc, to show that they are missing and we anticipate their return; and 7. Print an item such as an army dog tag or bracelet bearing the missing person's name.

Thank you for partnering together in this important mission. “And your children shall return to their own border.” (Jeremiah 31:17)

Pidyon shvuyim (lit. Redemption of Captives) is a religious duty in Judaism to bring about the release of fellow Jews captured by slave dealers or robbers, or imprisoned unjustly by the authorities.

Throughout history, the release of such Jews was typically secured by a ransom paid by the Jewish community. It is considered a mitzvah to do so in Jewish law.

The Talmud calls pidyon shvuyim a mitzvah rabbah, ‘a great mitzvah’, as captivity is viewed as even worse than starvation and death (TB Bava Batra 8b).

The most famous example in the Middle Ages was that of Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg, who languished as a prisoner of the Emperor of Austria for the

last seven years of his life, refusing to be ransomed for fear that it may bankrupt the Jewish community.

The question of pidyon shvuyim, and particularly the amount of ransom to be paid, remains a controversial issue in modern times. Tragically, Israel has faced many such situations over the years – names such as Ron Arad and more recently Gilad Shalit are known to us all.

In the early 1990s, Israel offered Iran a $10 billion aid package and help to negotiate a compromise with the United States. This was as $5 billion in Iranian assets were frozen after the 1979 Iranian revolution in exchange for information on Arad.

Sadly no such information was ever forthcoming. Shalit's release negotiations in 2011 included the release of 1,027 Hamas and Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

The current situation is equally horrific and distressing and we all pray for the safe release of the hostages taken on October 7.

In many siddurim we find an ancient prayer to be said on behalf of Jews held hostage: May the Holy One, blessed be He, have compassion on them and bring them from darkness and the shadow of death; may He break their bonds, deliver them from their distress, and bring them swiftly back to their families’ embrace.

Let us recite this prayer in our respective synagogues and please G-d may it be answered speedily in the days ahead.

RABBI DR BENJI LEVY So many people from Australia have reached out that it feels overwhelming.

The love, connection and sense of shared responsibility is nothing short of inspiring.

And I am grateful to have grown up in such a unique place.

One of the recurring themes as we move further away from the tragedy that was October 7 is how can we connect to what has gone down and what is continuing to happen? How do we create a personal relationship with the situation on the ground in Israel? The numbers are huge, the distance is immense and while globally Jews feel the pain, too often we are getting back to normal life.

But in Israel, life is not the same. This applies in differing degrees to different people, but one of the worst spaces is for those that were kidnapped and their families.

Each person taken captive in Gaza has a community, a family and a life they were living. And, each person is an entire world to someone (Sanhedrin 37a). Sometimes, because we are missing so many individuals, we lose a personal connection to each one and often see the missing as a collective.

To avoid this, we are launching the Missing Heroes Initiative (MHI).

Right here is an opportunity to empower communities and individuals to personalise

Rabbi Dr Benji Levy (left) with his brother, Jon Jon the situation by adopting a specific name, face and story that they can connect with, in a profound way.

At least one community in Israel and one community abroad will adopt each Missing Hero and that will start in Australia. This collective endeavour aims to strengthen the global Jewish community's bond with the ongoing situation in Israel, as we are all united and share ‘mutual responsibility’ (Shvuot 39a). Through this personal connection, may our prayers, activities and actions aimed at ensuring the safe return of all the hostages be more sincere and heartfelt.

Redemption of captives RABBI DAVID FREEDMAN In one of the most enigmatic sections in the Book of Genesis, the text recounts the Battle of the Kings. According to Nahum Sarna in Understanding Genesis this chapter (Genesis 14) is “one of the most unusual of the patriarchal stories and at the same time one of the most perplexing.”

In brief, it relates how five Canaanite kings had been subject to a group of warlords headed by Chedorlaomer, ruler of Elam for over twelve years.

Enough was enough, and they rebelled – seeking their freedom from these imperial overlords. The reaction was swift; a coalition of four eastern monarchs organized a punitive expedition against them. The rebels were defeated, and among the casualties of war was Abraham’s nephew Lot who was taken captive. He, together with his family, was taken prisoner when the city of Sodom was overrun.

As soon as Abraham received the news that his family had become collateral damage in this conflict, he mustered his 318 retainers and set off in hot pursuit of the invaders. In a night encounter Abraham defeated them north of Damascus, rescued the captives and retrieved the loot.

In a chilling parallel with modern times, it appears that the warlords were from modern day Iraq and Iran. The text states that these four kings were Amraphel,

king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim. While not all these places can be readily identified, we know that Shinar is another name for Babylonia and that Elam is a territory lying north of the Persian Gulf, west of the Tigris River.

Although we cannot be entirely certain as to the identity of each of the various combatants, what is clear is that this is the first instance in Jewish history of a situation that has haunted Jews throughout the ages – fellow Jews being taken hostage, often ransomed for excessive amounts of money. In the Middle Ages all the great halakhists wrote about the challenge of Jews being captured and held against their will.

the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

AROUND

T H E

COMMUNITY AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY The Australian Friends of the Hebrew University (AUSTFHU) has announced that a fully sponsored scholarship will be offered to an Aboriginal post graduate student to undertake a Master of Sciences course at the Hebrew University in 2024.

The scholarship has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Ilana and Martin Moshal.

The Golimdja William Cooper Memorial Scholarship is named in honour of the late William Cooper, an Australian Indigenous leader who believed in the kinship of man.

He bravely petitioned the German government in 1938 when he became aware of German atrocities being perpetrated against, among others, the Jewish People.

It is for this reason that the scholarship includes the Yorta Yorta word for “brave” – “Golimdja” – in its title.

William Cooper was not only brave, but he also understood the power of education when he said “Education and opportunity will overcome the problems of the Aborigine (sic.)”

“The programs being offered as part of the Golimdja William Cooper Memorial Scholarship build further on the Jewish ethos of tikkun olam, which means ‘healing the world’. They are being offered to a suitably qualified Indigenous Australian student in the hope that Australia, and in particular, Indigenous communities, will benefit from Israel’s experience and expertise in these areas,” said Rob Schneider, CEO of AUSTFHU, who conceived the idea.

Rob is a long-time friend of the Cooper family and escorted family members, including William Cooper’s closest living relative, his grandson Alfred (Uncle Boydie) Turner, on their first visit to Israel in April 2009. At that time, 70 trees were planted to mark the 70th anniversary of

William Cooper

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Launch of the Golimdja William Cooper Memorial Scholarship

AUSTFHU CEO Rob Schneider (second from right), with members of the Cooper family. From left: Leonie Drummond, Kevin Russel, Alfred (Uncle Boydie) and David Jago Kristallnacht and William Coper’s brave act.

In welcoming the scholarship named in honour of his late grandfather, Uncle Boydie said: “It is pleasing that our long connection has resulted in a Hebrew University scholarship being offered to an Indigenous Australian. My grandfather understood the importance of education and demanded that our people should no longer be denied the opportunity to learn. I am delighted that this scholarship in my grandfather's name will give an Indigenous student the opportunity to bring back knowledge and benefits for our people and for all Australians.”

Speaking on behalf of his wife Ilana and himself, Martin Moshal said that “as long-time supporters of the Hebrew University through the Moshal Scholarship

Program, we are delighted to be able to honour the memory of William Cooper, who bravely stood up for the Jewish People.”

Michael Dunkel, AUSTFHU president thanked the Moshals for their generosity.

“Hebrew University scientists and scholars have played a leading role in Israel’s transition from an inhospitable, semi-arid and disease-ridden environment into a highly developed first-world country that is now an international leader in health care, hitech, agricultural production, industry and social welfare. To be able to share this expertise through this scholarship program can only benefit the Aboriginal community and Australia in general,” Mr Dunkel said.

The Golimdja William Cooper Memorial Scholarship will be officially launched at

Benefactors Martin and Ilana Moshal

the Sydney Jewish Museum on Monday, 4th December. The keynote speaker will Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver AM, Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney and a former student at the Hebrew University.

Enquiries for these events may be made to the Australian Friends of the Hebrew University on (02) 9389-2825 or by emailing austfhu@austfhu.org.au.

For further information about the scholarship, visit: https://austfhu.org. au/students/admissions/scholarshipopportunities/the-golimdja-william-coopermemorial-scholarship-information-sheet/, call Rob Schneider on (02) 9389-2825 or email ceo@austfhu.org.au

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the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

M O V IE

REVIEWS

Saving Jewish children

ONE LIFE (PG) ALEX FIRST It is December 1938 and Nicholas “Nicky” Winton is a mild-mannered British stockbroker headed for a week in Prague.

Increasingly, refugees have fled there to try to outrun the growing Nazi presence in Europe.

Winton wants to help in any way he can, but the situation he finds when get there greatly disturbs him.

Children – many Jewish – are facing desperately poor conditions. They have little or no shelter, are malnourished, sick and dying, as the tide of antisemitism rises.

Where others work within the system, Winton subverts it.

He is intent on transporting as many children as he can via train to temporary homes in England before the borders are closed.

But first he needs the legal authority to do so, as well as the financing and foster parents.

Decades later – in 1987 – living in Maidenhead, England, Winton’s wartime experiences come flooding back.

The prompt is opening a thick scrapbook, which charts his exploits.

In turn, that triggers a series of lifeaffirming events.

One Life is a remarkable story of persistence and humility.

Winton is presented as a humanitarian, intent on doing the right thing.

As a younger man he is the driving force behind a remarkable rescue effort.

In old age he finally gets the recognition he so richly deserved.

One Life is based on the book If It’s Not Possible, by Nicholas Winton’s daughter, Barbara (who passed away midway

through principal photography on the film).

The screenplay by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake is well developed, with many surprises coming near the end of the movie.

It is presented as an emotional, heartfelt journey, jumping between the onset of war and the late 1980s.

The score by Volker Bertelmann resonates.

Direction is from James Hawes, who cut his teeth helming TV series. His transition to the big screen is seamless.

Anthony Hopkins is compelling, measured and humble as a man initially told to clean up his clutter.

Johnny Flynn plays Winton’s younger self as respectful, but shocked into taking action, when others see the barriers as too severe.

Helena Bonham-Carter is memorable as Winton’s assertive mother, Babette, who brought up her son with a strong streak of conscience.

Lena Olin fills the role of Winton’s loving, Danish-born wife, Grete with warmth and alacrity.

Romola Garai paints Doreen Warriner, the head of the British Committee for Refugees in Czechoslovakia, as an energetic and spirited leader.

Alex Sharp is a good sort as Trevor Chadwick, a boots on the ground fellow Brit in Prague, never afraid of mucking in.

One Life gives voice to the truism that one man can make a difference.

I was reminded of the excellent film Schindler’s List.

I also couldn’t but help think about just how much this movie resonates in the fractured world in which we live today.

One Life is a pivotal picture in the 2023 British Film Festival, which runs through November in Palace Cinemas, and scores an 8 out of 10.

This is every Jew’s fight FROM PAGE 6

And over the weekend Samantha Woll, a prominent Jewish activist and synagogue president, was brutally stabbed to death in Detroit. It is too early to know the motive behind the slaying, but the murder is adding even more fear to Jews who have never experienced this level of Jew-hatred in North America.

This war is not about territory, a state or land. It is a battle for the very survival of our people. It is about our breath of life and the life of our children. The future of world Jewry is being threatened and it affects Jews everywhere, not only in Israel.

When they shout “from the river to the sea”, they are proclaiming that there is no room for Jews on the planet.

They want to see the destruction of the State of Israel, the only safe haven for Jews in the world. They applaud the death of innocents, saying that Jews are colonists, Israel is an apartheid state and must therefore be purged “by any means”. You are allowed to rape, murder and kidnap in the name of resistance.

Every Jew, from every age and every type, from every country, is a target. There is no act too cruel.

Hamas affects not only Jews, but every person who stands for decency and

moral clarity. Make no mistake about it. This battle has come to your city, to your workplace and to your schools.

Universities morally corrupt Our universities, the seat of education and knowledge, have become hotbeds of radicalism and virulent antisemitism. Instead of marching in protest, as they do for every seeming injustice, students and their professors fault Israel for the atrocities that took place. Blaming the terrorised, instead of confronting the terrorists who perpetuated the crimes, unlike any that the civilised world has experienced is the ultimate hypocrisy.

A coalition of more than 30 Leftwing student groups in Harvard issued an open letter stating that the “Israeli regime was totally responsible for all unfolding violence”. Students at other universities soon followed with statements supporting Hamas terrorists, while condemning Israel.

NYU. Georgetown. University of Washington. Yale. Columbia. University of California. University of Virginia.

Penn. CUNY. Cornell. Baruch. Berkley.

On some campuses vigils were held for the ‘martyrs’ who pillaged, plundered, massacred and brought us back to the horror of pogroms and blood libels. Jewish students wake up to Nazi graffiti, profanities and “Free

Palestine” scrawled on their buildings and doors. A Cornell professor called the attacks “exhilarating” and “energising”. A Stanford University professor asked Jewish and Israeli students to stand in the corner of a classroom. College campuses across America are exploding as the sewage of vicious hate overflows, spilling onto campus grounds. Jewish students are fearful and feel isolated. Classmates are posting antisemitic rhetoric, promoting violence in rallies, screaming “Kill the Jew”, while professors express solidarity with the terrorists and “concern for free speech”. Columbia Business School Professor Shai Davidai requested that students send his video message to every parent who trusted their children’s safety to colleges across America. “We cannot protect your children from pro-terrorist student organisations because the college presidents refuse to speak out.” You are not safe.

Politicians insist on perpetuating their rabid lies and inciting masses with their disinformation and untruths. A letter signed by more than 2,000 actors, artists and musicians condemned Israel, without any mention of the slaughter by Hamas. Seventy per cent of American Jews feel a decline in personal safety. The FBI report that Jews faced the most hate crimes of any religious group in 2022.

This is your moment It is time for all decent human beings who care about truth, kindness and goodness to wake up. Find your courage. This is your moment. And to the rest of the world, listen up. You can try to gas us, burn us, shoot us, throw missiles at us and annihilate us.

You can march against us, despise us, curse at us and wish us off the face of this earth. We defy you. Our nation has endured for thousands of years. Am Yisrael Chai.

And with God’s help, we will continue to live. We stand strong.

We are a nation of miracles. We will fight your evil with goodness. We will counter your darkness with our light.

We will stand with Israel. We will rebuild all that you destroyed. We will bring life again to our people and our land.

Slovie Jungreis Wolff is a noted teacher, author and relationships and parenting lecturer. She is the leader of Hineni Couples and daughter of Rebbetzen Esther Jungreis. Slovie is the author of the parenting handbook Raising A Child With Soul. She gives weekly classes and has lectured throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Panama and South Africa. You can reach slovie at sloviehineni@gmail. com Her most recent book is The Soul of Parenting, published by Mosaica Press.

the sydney jewish report | Nov 2023

Quiz answers 1. David Gruen 2. 1946 3. Public transport 4. Jerusalem 5. The Shrine of the Book (Part of the Israel Museum displaying the Dead Sea Scrolls) 6. Haifa 7. b) The Book of Joshua 8. Jaffa oranges 9. T sva ha-Hagana le-Yisra'el, The Army of Defense for Israel 10. T o investigate the military aspects of the 1973 Yom Kippur War 11. Beersheba 12. Drip irrigation 13. A ncient Roman times approximately within the 1st and 2nd century CE 14. A seven branched menorah, two olive branches and the Hebrew name for Israel 15. Safed 16. T he Valley of Elah is approximately 42 kilometres southwest of Jerusalem (the valley is south of Beit Shemesh and west of Efrat) 17. The Design Museum Holon opened in March 2010 and quickly established itself as one of the world’s leading museums of design and contemporary culture. Holon is south of Tel Aviv, adjacent to Bat Yam and north of Rishon Letsiyon 18. T he Palmach (the Hebrew word Palmach was an acronym for Plugot Maatz) 19. Eilat 20. Richard Nixon in 1974 21. T he largest living predator in Israel is the Arabian leopard, its population is endangered. There was a small population in Israel's Negev desert, estimated at 20 individuals in the late 1970s. In 2010-11, a leopard was sighted in the northern Arabah Valley

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22. E stablished in 1902 - it opened in the first decade of the 20th century 23. Ashkelon and Ashdod 24. On July 26, 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company, the joint British-French enterprise which had owned and operated the Suez Canal since its construction in 1869. Nasser’s announcement came about following months of mounting political tensions between Egypt, Britain and France. The British were angered by the move and, during secret military consultations, sought the support of the French (who believed that Nasser was supporting rebels in the French colony of Algeria) and of neighbouring Israel for an armed assault to retake the canal 25. B amba is made from peanut-butterflavoured puffed maize. Bamba contains no preservatives or food colouring, is enriched with several vitamins, and contains high amounts of fat and salt

Spelling bee answers Jewish Answer: MALCHUT. Here is a list of some common words (“yes”, we know there are more words in the dictionary that can work, but these words are common to today’s vernacular): ACTUAL, CLUTCH, LATCH, LUACH, MULCH, MULLAH, MUTUAL, MUUMUU, TALCUM, T’CHUM, TUMULT and UMLAUT. Questions/comments – email Yoni at koshercroswords@gmail.com

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TOGETHER FOR TOMORROW SUPPORT FOR DISPLACED FAMILIES

OUR CAMPAIGN WILL BE ASSISTING DISPLACED FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES DUE TO THE ONGOING CONFLICT. In collaboration with the national retail chain Shufersal and their network of over 50 retail partners in Israel, we will be working with relief organisations on the ground to provide families with digital vouchers for groceries and other necessities.

Your contribution can make a world of difference.

DONATE NOW!

https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/Vouchers SCAN HERE

We pray for better days and the safety of our brave soldiers, medics, volunteers, and the people of Israel.

With thanks from: Julian & Benita Nathan, Ari & Aya Shapiro, David & Nicci Raz, Adam & Jodi Raviv, Aubrey & Michelle Nathan, Robbie & Gaby Cohen, Ashley & Lara Cohen, Insignia Team & Families.

Am Yisrael Chai.

For more information email : nicci@hold.co.il or contact +972 537646501