10 minute read
COMMUNITY LEADERS CONNECT
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
ANNE-MARIE ELIAS
Chanukah – a time when we reflect upon the destruction of the Temple, the bravery of the Maccabees, the rebuilding the Temple and the preservation of a valuable commodity, namely oil.
Let me consider how these matters resonate today with the extremes of our climate.
In recent years, our country has been devastated by fire and flood. Climate change and its impacts have been felt globally.
Many people fear that these significant changes threaten the future of our planet. This psychological fear is known as eco-anxiety. Many are unaware that they are experiencing this type of anxiousness and that they have been impacted psychologically. They are concerned not just for their future, but for that of future generations.
Eco-anxiety does not affect everyone in the same way. It seems to be more prevalent among people who are more conscious about protecting the environment. Symptoms of eco-anxiety include elevated levels of stress, sleep disturbance, agitation and increased worry about the future. In some cases, it may also lead to depression. In 2015 the medical journal Lancet included the term solastalgia.
The term was coined by Australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht. He defined it as a set of psychological disorders that occur in a native population following destructive changes in their territory, whether as a result of human activities or the climate.
It is believed that solastalgia affects people who have suffered the consequences of a natural disaster and this is what differentiates it from ecoanxiety.
Returning to the concepts behind Chanukah, in Australia we are in the midst of an environment that has experienced destruction from bush fires in 2019 and floods in 2022.
Even among those not directly impacted, it left many with a sense of powerlessness and fear for when this may next occur. No longer the one in a 100-year flood, it is also no longer the seven years of feast and seven years of famine referenced in the bible, hence our increased anxiety.
Remembering the Maccabees, as a community we can all become defenders of our planet. What can we do as individuals to help save Earth and reduce our anxiety about climate change and the environment? Consider your own eco-anxiety and what you can do as a defender.
While I did not experience anxiety, I did experience frustration at a recent stay away from home. The hosts of our Airbnb went to great effort to provide general, green and recycle waste bins in our apartment. I was diligent in following the rules and was irritated on my trip to the council garbage bins downstairs to find general waste in the other receptacles.
As individuals we can all ‘do our bit’, but the feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness and anxiety emerge when we are overwhelmed and let down by others. Another precept of Chanukah is rebuilding. From a psychological perspective it is important to have a rebuild of self. Consider what you may need to increase your resilience. Are you engaging in a regime that promotes good health, both physical and mental? Are your values and beliefs aligned with rebuilding yourself and rebuilding your own environment?
As a defender and rebuilder of the environment, consider the temperature you set on your heater or air conditioner. Are you making good use of your recycling? What throwaway plastics do you use? Can you engage in a more sustainable lifestyle?
Finally, we focus on our precious commodities. For each Chanukah candle you light this year, consider the critical importance of water, food and shelter. Do you truly value these and do you engage in practices that will sustain these valuable resources?
Wishing all readers Chag Sameach and a happy and healthy Chanukah.
Eco-anxiety
Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.
Jewish community leaders connect
AUSTRALIAN JEWISH FUNDERS
Recently, Australian Jewish Funders (AJF) convened its inaugural LaunchPad Leadership Alumni Retreat in Bowral. The theme of the gathering was Connecting for Impact.
More than 70 philanthropic, lay and senior professional leaders attended. They explored ways to build relationships, strengthen leadership and create opportunities to harness the power of collaboration and innovation for greater meaning and connection in Jewish life.
Among program highlights were a session with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mr Vasyl Myroshnychenko and a moving keynote address by Alex Vynokur, chair of the United Ukraine Appeal.
Jessica Chasen, Head of JCA’s Annual Campaign, was fulsome in her praise for the event.
“LaunchPad Leadership retreat put a fire in my belly and fed my soul. I'm so grateful to have met amazing leaders in our community from across Australia.
“It gives me hope for the future knowing we will plan together and move forward with great strength,” Ms Chasen said.
AJF CEO and LaunchPad founder Tracie Olcha said the retreat was “a unique opportunity to challenge the status quo, dream big and act boldly as one Jewish Australia”.
To hear more about the program and future LaunchPad opportunities, email Rebecca Adler, AJF’s community and innovation manager: rebecca@ajf.org.au
New leadership for B’nai B’rith
B’NAI B’RITH
Experienced aged-care executive Robert Goldshaft has joined B’nai B’rith Retirement Villages (BBRV) as its CEO.
Born and raised in Sydney, both Mr Goldshaft and his wife are Moriah College graduates and active members in the local Jewish community.
Mr Goldshaft, who has run residential aged care homes for the past 15 years, will oversee BBRV’s strategic and operational efforts. In welcoming him to the role, the organisation’s chair Roma Shell said he has “a unique blend of deep operational experience along with the strategic vision and communal skills to lead BBRV and ensure the best service for our residents and the greater Jewish community.
Mr Goldshaft said he was excited to bring a resident centric approach to the retirement community space.
B’nai B’rith Retirement Villages is the largest provider of affordable Jewish self-care accommodation in Australia. It operates three villages comprised of 115 apartments across Sydney: Princess Gardens in Rose Bay, Kadimah Gardens in Wahroonga and Guilfoyle Gardens in Double Bay.
In its 60 years of service, it has assisted more than 400 Jewish seniors.
If you have a loved one who may need assistance with independent living, you can reach Mr Goldshaft on 9371-2631. Otherwise, email info@bbrv. org.au
Naftali Bennett to headline
UIA SYDNEY
The former Prime Minister of Israel will be the guest of honour at UIA’s 2023 Gala event in Sydney in February. This will be one of Naftali Bennett’s first engagements since leaving office. Along with serving as the 13th Prime Minister of Israel, his previous positions included Minister of Defence, Minister of Education, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Minister of Economy. He was also leader of The Jewish Home party between 2012 and 2018 and The New Right party from 2018 to 2022 .
“His presence at our Gala events in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne is a wonderful testament to the exceptional position that Keren Hayesod-UIA holds in the Jewish world. We are honoured to have Mr Bennett launch our 2023 Campaign and spearhead our celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary. We encourage our community around Australia to share this milestone with us,” UIA Australia president Esther Frenkiel OAM said.
Mr Bennett was Prime Minister during the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and is well placed to reflect on the impact of Keren Hayesod-UIA’s life saving work this year. With more than 60,000 olim arriving in Israel in 2022, KH-UIA together with The Jewish Agency for Israel are the key partners with the government in assisting with the aliyah and absorption of those olim and ensuring they have a brighter future.
UIA NSW President Gary Perlstein said this will likely be the largest event for the NSW Jewish community in more than three years. “We are so excited to be able to host our community again in this manner. I am extremely proud to be able to reflect on our collective efforts of the last year in helping so many of our Jewish brothers and sisters in a way that only UIA can. Our event will educate and inspire. I hope nobody misses out.”
Along with the IDF Ensemble, UIA NSW will be bringing the soul and flavour of Israel to its Gala with a ‘shuk’, where supporters can enjoy an Israeli-style dinner, entertainment and other surprises ahead of the formalities.
Bookings for the UIA NSW 2023 Campaign Gala event on Sunday, 26th February are now open, with early registrations encouraged.
Go to uiaaustralia.org.au or contact 9361-4273. For further information, email info@uiansw.org.au
Follow UIA on Facebook and Instagram (@uiaaus) to stay up to date with its 2023 Campaign events.
COA’s Chanukah celebration
COA SYDNEY
COA has no doubt that joy is contagious. So, it uses any excuse to party, to see its senior members dance and sing along, enjoy delicious kosher food and, more than anything else, enjoy each other’s company and connect with friends, old and new. The COA annual Chanukah luncheon and concert is the epitome of this philosophy. For the past 36 years the party has been in full swing every December, with the belief that bringing musicians, rabbis, seniors, volunteers and great food together will engage, entertain and fill participants with all the nachas Chanukah can bring.
The first Chanukah celebration COA held was in 1986, back when very few Jewish organisations offered a Chanukah event. The entertainment then featured Len Mahemoff OAM – who is still one of our COA favourites – and a young man on harmonica who is now a doctor at the Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown. That first Chanukah event was held at 8pm on a Saturday night, after Shabbat had gone out, and went till midnight, with no food offered. Not surprisingly, while some people were happy to pay for the ticket, a number said they would not attend because it was too late in the evening.
In response, the CEO of the time, Julia Golding OAM, decided COA should move the event to midday. And so it was that the annual Chanukah luncheon and concert was born. Four hundred participants came together at that first luncheon in the King David Room of the old Hakoah Club on Hall Street, Bondi. It was amazing. People donned their very best clothes and sparkling jewellery, some turned up without tickets and lined the hallways hoping other ticket holders would not make it. It became so rowdy that COA had to employ a bouncer at future Chanukah events at Hakoah to maintain control. The dance floor was graced with all age groups, as older members brought their children, and even grandchildren, to join the party.
Things have changed so much since. The old Hakoah Club is gone, almost every Jewish organisation now provides a Chanukah event and the amount of people participating has gradually lessened. What hasn’t changed is the nachas and happy energy that is synonymous with COA’s Chanukah spectacular. This year the organisation expects 120 to gather in Bondi Pavilion’s newly renovated Seagull Room for music from Robert Teicher, Mordechai Levin, Leon Bishlei and the Two Hats band, not to overlook the scrumptious lunch served by COA’s tireless volunteers.
You can book your tickets with Jackie at COA on 8367-5051 or email j.ryker@ coasydney.org
2023 GALA EVENT CELEBRATING ISRAEL'S 75TH WITH 13TH PM NAFTALI BENNETT
IN PERSON
WA: 23 Feb NSW: 26 Feb VIC: 28 Feb
Enquiries: 9361 4273 or info@uiansw.org.au
