The Sydney Jewish Report - December Edition

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FREE VOL. 104 Tuesday, 5 December, 2023 / 22 Kislev 5784

Fostering a closer Jewish community

Kosher Feature

The photo shows Tali Kizhner (far left, with microphone in hand), who was in Australia as part of an Israeli delegation of family members, friends and victims of the Hamas massacre on October 7. Tali’s 22-year-old son Segev, pictured in the KING CHARLES III murdered.

PROTECTING AROUND UIAevent at Mount background, was brutally Each of the seven members ofBEEN the contingent spoke at a community CORONATION JEWS Full story on page 3 (photoTHE WORLD Scopus Memorial College in Melbourne.

by AUJS shaliach Tobias Siegal). MISSIONS

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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COMMUNITY Lifestyle changes AROUND

T H E

ANNE-MARIE ELIAS Talk show host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey coined the term “living my best life”.

In light of current world crises, including wars in Israel and Ukraine, global warming, inflation and a housing shortage, how do many do just that – live their best lives?

Some are highly stressed or distressed and turn to psychological counselling.

As we head towards the end of 2023, consider how you can start the new year with habits that ensure you get the most out of your days and provide satisfaction.

Here are 10 tips to consider.

1. When you tackle anything, do so to the best of your ability. Giving 100 per cent makes you feel better. Do not settle for complacency.

2. Learn new skills. Be open-minded.

Try something new, for with it can come joy and excitement.

3. Be proactive. Don’t sit around and wait for things to happen to you. Go after what you want in your life.

JUD AI C A

QUIZ

RABBI DAVID FREEDMAN Now more than ever we are eager to celebrate Chanukah, our Festival of Lights when there has been so much darkness of late. For those at every age and stage we truly delight in so much encompassing all in a physical, spiritual and yes, gastronomic sense too (hello, Chanukah doughnuts!)

Rabbi David Freedman continues to create quality Judaica quizzes exclusively for this publication drawing on his extensive knowledge. A heartfelt thank you to readers who have shared how much they enjoy this quiz at their respective Shabbat and Yom Tov tables.

With G-d’s help and against all odds, the Maccabees triumphed over their oppressors and ensured a rededication of the Second Temple in the holy city of Jerusalem. It was miraculous and an extraordinary victory. In that spirit, we pray for our Holy Land and all Jewish people around the world.

Yes, it is a Chanukah-themed quiz for this final edition of 2023. Explore it all and share with family and friends at a Chanukah party or anytime throughout this eight-day festival and beyond.

1. What was the name of the man, who together with his five sons led the revolt against the Syrian-Greeks which resulted in the festival of Chanukah?

2. What are the names of three of his sons?

4. Know your limitations. Don’t tackle too much at once.

5. Live your life in the present.

Learn to be mindful and how to manage worry and unhelpful thoughts.

6. Consider

brainstorming/venting

with a friend, mentor or counsellor.

Ensure that is someone you can trust.

7. Focus on the positive. Look on the bright side. Find a silver lining. Consider what you have, not what you don’t.

Practice gratitude.

8. Set boundaries. Don’t accept bad behaviour.

Don’t let others pressure you into making decisions that aren’t right for you.

9. Be decisive and set long-term goals.

10. Invest in things that matter most to you – in your personal and business life. If you want to live your best life, be willing to put in the effort.

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

Test your knowledge 3. In which month of the Jewish year does Chanukah occur?

4. Alexander the Great brought Greek culture to the Middle East, however it was Alexander’s father who defeated the Persians and laid the foundations for Alexander’s empire.

What was his name?

5. One of Alexander’s campaigns brought him to the Land of Israel. He arrived during the reign of the great

9. After Alexander died, his empire was divided. The northern empire was ruled by Seleucus and became known as the Seleucid Dynasty. Its capital was Damascus. a) Who controlled the southern empire in Egypt? b) What was the name of its capital city?

10. The Seleucids attempted to completely Hellenise Judea. Many

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

High Priest, the last of the Men of the Great Assembly, Simon the Just. Give the exact date (or within one decade either way) when this took place.

6. How old was Alexander when he died?

7. What was the name of Alexander’s horse?

8. Alexander was positively disposed toward the Jews. Instead of destroying and subjugating them, he made an arrangement with them that as long as the Jews would be loyal to him and pay their taxes they could remain autonomous.

Out of gratitude to Alexander, what did the Jews promise him?

laws were passed proscribing Jewish traditions. The king who authorised these laws was known as Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Epiphanes means ‘The divine’, but the Jews renamed him Antiochus Epimanes. What does this epithet mean?

11. The Judean fighters adopted the name The Maccabees. How did they arrive at this name?

12. Chanukah resulted in the recapture of the Temple and its cleansing from idolatrous worship. What does the word Chanukah mean?

13. How many days does Chanukah last for and why?

14. What is the primary difference between the Temple Menorah and the Chanukah Menorah?

15. Why are latkes and sufganiyot traditional foods for the festival of Chanukah?

16. In relation to Chanukah, what is a Shammash?

17. The story of Chanukah is found in the Book of Maccabees. The Book of Maccabees is found within what compilation of ancient works?

18. On each day of Chanukah, Hallel is recited in synagogue. These ‘praises’ are all taken from which biblical book?

19. During the festival of Chanukah what special prayer is inserted into the Grace After Meals?

20. The two sages, Hillel and Shammai disagreed as to how to fulfil the mitzvah of Chanukah – what was the main point of difference between their two positions?

21. According to Jewish Law, on Friday evening, what should be lit first – Shabbat candles or Chanukah lights?

22. According to the rabbis, where in one’s home should the Menorah be placed and why?

23. What do the words Maoz Tzur mean?

24. What is the Hebrew for dreidl?

25. The Guinness World Record for Most Valuable Dreidel was achieved by Estate Diamond Jewelry in November 2019 and was valued at $70,000. The design of Estate Diamond Jewelry's dreidel was inspired by which building in New York?

ANSWERS PAGE 17

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COMMUNITY

Bereaved families console Jewish community

TOBIAS SIEGAL AUJS Tali Kizhner’s son Segev, 22, was brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

Addressing a crowd of hundreds at the Mount Scopus Memorial College in Melbourne last week in an event facilitated by Zionism Victoria and Israel’s Diaspora Ministry, the bereaved mother recounted her son’s final hours.

Segev, who was described by his mother as an opinionated and at times stubborn young man, enjoyed music and had decided to drive to the Nova music festival with a few of his friends early on October 7. They danced for about an hour before armed terrorists swarmed the party, she said. He managed to escape the party, but later found himself in one of several bomb shelters, turned death traps.

His mother was one of seven Israeli family members, friends and victims of the October 7 attack that travelled to Australia to meet with politicians and the local Jewish community. All went through unimaginable horror and have been gripped by pain and uncertainty for two months. Yet somehow, amidst this nightmare, they still travelled across the world carrying a message of hope.

Asked by the moderator, journalist Rebecca Davis, what gave her the strength to come all this way, Kizhner said

An Israeli delegation of family members, friends and victims of the Hamas massacre on October 7 – Eilon Kotler, Elad Levy, Tali Kizhner, Ofir Tamir, Amit Parpara, Iris Haim, Mika Shani – with moderator Rebecca Davis, addressing the community at Mount Scopus Memorial College in Melbourne on November 29. (Photo by AUJS shaliach Tobias Siegal).

she was on a mission to give meaning to her son’s untimely slaughter.

“I’m here to make his terrible death more meaningful, to make people understand that this terror can’t ever be seen again. We want to explain to the world that Israel and its people have the right to live, to raise our kids without being shot and the right to defend our homes and our loved ones,” she said.

Loud applause filled the auditorium.

“I think God sent him to us to make us better,” she added, insisting on holding

on to life despite everything she has endured.

Tali Kizhner’s words reflect a coping mechanism that seems to have been adopted by many Israelis in the aftermath of October 7.

Rather than letting the shock and sense of loss paralyse them, many have chosen to keep busy. Countless civil volunteering initiatives have become the bedrock of Israelis’ unity and resilience during the war. Iris Haim, whose son Yotam, 28, was kidnapped and at the

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time of writing is still held in Gaza, said she refused to let the situation control her. “I choose to imagine that Yotam’s alive and okay. That is what has saved me. I worry, but I don’t let it control me.

I made myself feel hope from day two,” she said, noting that she was on autopilot on the day of the attack.

This message of hope was reiterated

by Elad Levy, uncle of Roni Eshel, 19, who was murdered by terrorists at the Nahal Oz army base.

“We have to remain optimistic. It’s the only way for us to get through this,” he said. “We have plenty of challenges ahead of us, (including) crushing Hamas, returning all hostages, rebuilding our communities, fixing our army and our politics, fighting antisemitism, but we’ll come back and we’ll be stronger when we do. Yes, we are outnumbered – we’ve been outnumbered for 3,000 years – but we’re a resilient people.

We need to keep looking forward.

Our national anthem is Hatikvah for a reason,” he said.

In this upside-down world we’ve suddenly found ourselves in, bereaved family members are somehow the ones consoling us.

Tobias Siegal is the The Jewish Agency shaliach to the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS).

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CO NS I D E R E D

OPINION

DR YVETTE ALT MILLER COURTESY: AISH.COM

Why are women’s groups backing Hamas?

In the aftermath of Hamas’ brutal attacks on women, many women’s groups are strangely silent.

Hamas’ October 7 assault on Israel left 1,200 dead, many more wounded and saw the abduction of 240 hostages.

Terrorists targeted women especially. Their sexual abuse was systematic, deliberate and widescale, as Hamas soldiers, under explicit instructions to rape Jewish women, carried out their sadistic acts.

(Trigger alert: the following paragraph contains details of sexual abuse.)

As the Times of Israel reports: “The sexual abuse committed by Hamas includes acts of gang rape, genital mutilation and necrophilia.” Hamas terrorists gang raped women before killing them. They raped young girls, old women and disabled people. Many of their victims were attacked so savagely that they had broken pelvises and legs. Hamas terrorists cut open the abdomens of pregnant Jewish women, removed their foetuses and beheaded both mothers and babies.

Hamas fighters paraded naked and partially naked bodies of women they’d killed through the streets of Gaza, as people danced, cheered and shouted God is Great in Arabic.

Terrorists filmed their attacks and broadcast them on social media – including on accounts belonging to the victims themselves – thereby violating their victims a second time.

Prosecuting rape Given the orgy of violence towards Jewish women that day, one might expect a groundswell of outrage and calls for prosecutions from many of the world’s women’s organisations. Israelis would have been buoyed by statements of solidarity showing they were not alone, that their intense national pain was shared by others.

Israeli investigators trying to build a case to prosecute the mass rapes could have used some practical help: with so many hundreds upon hundreds of dead to identify, valuable DNA evidence that could have been used to build cases to prosecute rape has been degraded and irrevocably lost.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) considers sexual violence during an armed attack to be a war crime. When rape is used as part of a widespread or systematic attack on civilians, the ICC considers it to be a crime against humanity, as well.

International groups could have helped build cases against Hamas terrorists, holding them accountable for mass rape and sexual violence.

Instead, there’s been only silence.

Deafening silence The world’s foremost women’s organisations have shrugged off Hamas’ attacks, remaining silent about Hamas’ outrages while they bash Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Take UN Women, the United Nations body responsible for ensuring women’s rights globally. A full six days after the Hamas attack, UN Women released a bland statement merely deploring “attacks on civilians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.” They made no mention of Hamas’ brutal rapes; most of their surreal, corporate-speak report expresses sympathy not for Israeli victims of mass rape and is capable only of feeling empathy for Gazans affected by Israel’s war against Hamas.

The United States’ National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) finally issued a statement about the attacks on October 13, nearly a week afterwards. Instead of decrying mass rape of women and use of sexual violence acts of war, the NWSA lamented “extensive loss of civilians life in the past few days” among both Jews and Arabs, obfuscating who the victims were.

The statement then went on to state Israel is illegitimate and to call for a mass boycott of the Jewish state. NWSA declared its support for “Palestinian liberation”; the

word “rape” never appears. Ms. Magazine remained silent about Hamas’ attacks for a week, then finally ran a column criticising Israel for attacking Hamas. It did not use the word “rape” even once. Equality Now, a major international grassroots feminist organisation, hasn’t condemned Hamas. Instead, it issued a statement “acknowledging” the “pain and suffering” of “all people”, a cruel gesture given that Israeli women were targeted specifically for being Israeli and for being women.

Supporting Hamas Supporting radical Palestinian movements has become a core value of some of the most prestigious feminist organisations in recent years. Two years ago, amidst previous fighting between Hamas and Israel, over 120 Gender Studies departments across the English-speaking world joined a statement denouncing Israel and proclaiming that their “inclusive feminist vision(s)” mandated that they support Palestinian opposition to the Jewish state.

Feminist groups are placing fealty to a radical vision that excuses Hamas’ violence over their commitment to women’s safety and rights.

Like Alice through the looking glass, too many feminists today look at Hamas’ mass rape of women and girls and see nothing.

Only Israel’s perceived evil is worthy of comment and condemnation. Groups justify any and all “liberation struggles” against Israel. It’s a tacit way of endorsing Hamas’ extreme agenda.

One of the most visible feminist groups in Britain today, Sisters Uncut, is emerging as a major player trying to push public opinion against Israel. Originally formed to provide emergency support for victims of domestic violence, the group has become a strident apologist for Hamas.

On October 31, Sisters Uncut arranged a demonstration demanding that Israel immediately cease fighting in Gaza, letting Hamas retain power and giving it space to rearm. When Sisters Uncut closed down busy Liverpool Station in London with a sitin, 500 people joined them. It has promised more mass disruptions demanding that Israel cease fighting.

Britain’s Jewish Chronicle points out that Sisters Uncut’s demonstration came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

spoke publicly about what he’d seen in footage of Hamas attacks.

(Warning: the following italicised paragraph is highly graphic; sensitive readers might want to skip to the next nonitalicised text.)

Blinken described one Israeli family in a kibbutz tortured by Hamas terrorists.

“The father’s eyes were gouged out, the mother’s breasts sliced off, the eightyear-old girl’s foot cut off, the six-year-old boy’s fingers cut off. They were all then executed, and their killer sat down and ate the breakfast the family had been enjoying together, before hell emerged in their home.”

For a feminist group to tacitly support Hamas after these atrocities became publicly known defies belief. Yet Sisters Uncut is hardly alone. Feminist group after feminist group is placing “intersectionality” – the belief that one struggle (say, for women’s rights) is inextricably linked to all other global struggles (such as Hamas’) – above their mandates to protect women and girls.

Hamas’ dismal record on women It’s doubly ironic that few women’s groups are condemning Hamas, given Hamas’ dismal record on women’s rights.

In Gaza, Hamas courts have ruled that women need a guardian’s permission to travel. Hamas imposes draconian rules of modern dress on women and allowed discrimination against women in the workplace to increase. Hamas is openly tolerant of honour killings. It enforces rigid gender discrimination in school. Hamas blocked attempts to set up a women’s television station in Gaza, dashing hopes that women could be empowered even within the rigid gender barriers on which Hamas insists. Overlooking these and other assaults on women’s rights betrays the foundational principles of women’s organisations around the world.

While it’s too late to document Hamas’ sex crimes in Israel in a manner that could result in legal prosecution, women’s groups can still make the right choice and condemn Hamas’ barbaric assaults.

Dozens of Jewish women’s organisations have gone on record condemning Hamas’ attacks. It’s time for the major women’s groups to follow suit.

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COMMUNITY

Lifting our game in combatting antisemitism

DR DAVID ADLER PRESIDENT AUSTRALIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION The Australian Jewish community remains in deep shock. We are not okay. The barbaric, savage terrorism unleashed in southern Israel has had major impact on our community.

Nearly all Australian Jews have family and/or friends in Israel. There is a soul level connection between Jews and Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel.

We are also deeply shocked at the explosion of overt antisemitism in Australia. This, coupled with the celebration of the October 7 terrorism by some segments of the Muslim community, failure to unreservedly condemn Hamas by some political leaders and gross bias by some media have left us shaken. This is not the Australia we thought we knew.

Former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z’l, eloquently described how antisemitism is like a virus that morphs.

During the Inquisition it was hatred of the Jewish religion, the former USSR hated Jewish culture and practice and applied bans, the Nazis hated the Jewish race and now the hatred is directed towards the Jewish State.

It was the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) that exposed ugly

Popular Israeli restaurant Shaffa – in Sydney – targeted last month

antisemitic chants at the Sydney Opera House. The one-minute video clip the association was sent exclusively and released has been seen more than six million times on social media and upwards of 50 million times via major media outlets worldwide.

We have seen calls to boycott Jewish businesses, antisemitic graffiti, chants of “From the River to the Sea…”, calls for an Intifada and convoys

into suburbs with Jewish communities in Melbourne and Sydney. Jewish students on university campuses report harassment and feeling unsafe. There were attempts to block Israeli ships at ports. There is a “teachers4Palestine” group and recently there have been organised student protests in Melbourne and Sydney.

AJA has received dozens of incident reports and threats, and is in frequent

contact with federal and state counter terrorism authorities. Some more serious incidents have resulted in arrests.

These are unprecedented times.

The Jewish community is resilient, intelligent and resourceful. We deal with challenges. Indeed, it is a Jewish value that Hashem will not send a challenge that we do not have the capacity to deal with.

We now need to lift our game in dealing with antisemitism. Recently, AJA was successful in establishing an associated charity, AJA Tzedakah (AJAT), which is registered in the category of harm prevention. The principal AJAT objective is to combat antisemitism.

While the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism is a potentially useful tool and has bipartisan support, it is yet to be effectively implemented in any jurisdiction. This must change.

AJA has identified the top two priorities for implementation as educational facilities and media.

We will be holding a Charidy fund raising campaign for AJAT to be able to undertake this important work. We ask for your support.

To do so, go to charidy.com/ajat

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: 9 = Good; 11 = Excellent; 14 = 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 17

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

COMMUNITY We will get through this – together AROUND

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UIA I am Michal Uziyahu, a mother of three. We live in the Eshkol Regional Council farmlands, which consists of 32 communities along the Israeli border of Israel and Gaza. Out of the 65 kilometres that borders with Gaza, Eshkol takes up 40 kilometres. Before I get to the massacre that we had to go through and the fact that we are survivors today, I want to share the narrative of our amazing community.

Eshkol is not a territory under dispute.

Eshkol is part of the 1948-established borders of Israel. For 20 years this community has lived under an emergency routine. This was always part of our life. I can’t say that we accepted it, but we lived side by side with it. We’re not always in a state of emergency; it can be several rockets, it can be infiltration such as balloons or kites with explosives attached, but life moves on. We always say that our goal is to thrive and to bring more people to live in our community.

Life on the border with Gaza is 95 per cent heaven and five per cent hell, and we focus on the 95 per cent because if we focus on the five per cent, it will become 100 per cent – it will become all consuming. So, we do our best to focus on the good

Michal Uziyahu side of life: on our communities, on our children, on education, on the economy, on rebuilding and thriving day by day. These are amazing, proud, capable communities. People that are aspiring for peace. The head of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, Ofir Libstein, who was murdered in the 7 October massacre, worked to better the lives of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

He was making plans for an industrial area that would better the quality of their lives. The people of Eshkol are

New volunteer Israel program ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA Since October 7, many Jews from communities around the world have expressed their desire to volunteer to assist Israel on the ground.

As a result, Masa Israel Journey has initiated a new, six-week program designed for volunteers aged 18 to 40.

It focuses on rehabilitation and assistance for the people in the south of the country and includes elements of leadership development.

There will be three intakes during December 2023 and January 2024.

Volunteers will take part in activities including cooking, food packaging, picking crops, assisting in evacuation centres and teaching (in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Education).

They will be positioned in Tel Aviv and move around the Dead Sea and Eilat.

Masa CEO Ofer Gutman says the organisation is excited by the level of support for the new program.

"We consider the eagerness of the young generation of Jewish communities as a testament to our strength as one people. All of us understand how important it is to keep Israel strong and the only way to do this and prevail is together. Am Yisrael Chai!".

Those interested in participating in the program should contact Masa Israel Journey at https://www.masaisrael.org/ volunteer-israel/ or find more information on the Masa website: www.masaisrael.org Masa Israel Journey is the largest immersive, long-term educational experience for young adults. Its programs range in duration from two months to one year. Masa offers an authentic, unmediated and challenging journey into Israeli society, culture, politics and history. In its 20-year history, Masa has served more than 200,000 young people from more than 60 countries.

people that would even volunteer to bring sick children from Gaza to Israeli hospitals. On October 7, our world fell apart. At 6.30am, we heard massive explosions. We ran to the shelter and for hour after hour we heard Hamas massacring our people. Our soldiers fought bravely to defend our communities. And then we heard of captive children, mothers and elderly people who were taken as hostages to Gaza.

It’s something we could not have imagined would ever happen in our

lives. Suddenly, we were placed in a position in which we need to mourn, while learning how we can grow out of this as survivors. I admit that they crushed our hearts; we are heartbroken.

But I want you to remember that we are also strong. We will mourn. We are grieving, but we will rebuild.

Yes, it’s hard but we know we are not alone. We know that when we look back and to the sides, we have you – Jewish communities and friends of Israel around the world, including Australia and the UIA – next to us … giving us hope and comfort.

There are 174 people from our community that we know have been murdered. There are a further 120 people from our community that are in Gaza or dead, but we don’t yet know.

Still, just like we sing ‘hope is still strong’ in the Israeli national anthem, they will not kill our hope.

We will rebuild ourselves. The answer to this darkness is to light a candle … and another. Soon Chanukah will be here and we will show them that we are the people of light. How can we do this from the crisis and devastation?

Together (yachad).

To support victims of terror in the South, including the Eshkol Regional Council, visit uiaaustralia.org.au/donateemergency

UNITE

EMBRACE

JOIN IN SOLIDARITY YOM HA’ZIKARON. YOM HA’ATZMAUT. IN ISRAEL. TOGETHER. AS ONE.

Mission dates 7-16 May 2024

Masa Israel Journey volunteer

Expressions of interest Philippa 9361 4273 or Philippa@uiansw.org.au

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

CO NS I D E R E D

OPINION

While my husband fights in Gaza Pharaoh?” she asked, with a glimmer

REBEKAH MOR COURTESY: AISH.COM

of recognition in her eyes.

“Yes, very much like Pharaoh” “And then there was Moses,” she

My three little children and I wrestle with good, evil and living through a war.

said,

nodding

her

head,

putting

things together. “Yeah, I guess he was a lot like Moses,” I answered. I

“Is this a playground, Mama?”

Gefen asked me.

“No, it’s not a playground'', I answered, manoeuvring the stroller along the rocky ramp leading up to Mount Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery.

I watched her serious, three-year-old eyes taking in the scene around her, trying to understand the world as much as possible. I half hoped that it would all go over her head. I wondered how much she realised life had changed since October 7, when my husband had returned quickly from synagogue to pack his army bag. Before I knew it, I was standing outside our house with our three kids, watching my husband drive off. He has been working hard training and performing missions ever since. At home, the kids and I were slowly adjusting to day-to-day life in a state of war.

Chananel squirmed in his seat, itching to escape the stroller and follow the stream of people walking quickly and solemnly past the tombstones of fallen soldiers, each one carefully arranged and lovingly attended to.

I wasn’t entirely sure that it made sense for me to be in the military cemetery with my three small children, but I continued to make my way

felt connected to the Jews who had been at the shores of the Red Sea with nowhere else to go, when God had split the sea.

“Why

are

they

sad,

Mama?”,

Gefen asked, pulling me back to the cemetery full of mourners. I looked at all the red, devastated eyes and didn’t know how much to answer.

“Because the world is a bit broken right now and we really need to fix it.”

She was quiet. And suddenly I was overwhelmed with everything – with the way we were slaughtered, our women raped, our babies murdered, our children dragged away to tunnels deep in Gaza. I felt the weight of everything that had unfolded in the past weeks, flipping the world upside down and somehow leading me to Mount Herzl cemetery with my children, as my husband was fighting somewhere in or near Gaza.

A lump rose in my throat. I looked at the deceased’s friends and family, Uriah Mash, of blessed memory

and then looked at my own little kids who were now playing quietly with

towards the funeral of Uriah Mash, a

funeral and how he had fallen fighting

soldier from the settlement next to

in Gaza the night before.

ours. I didn’t know him personally.

I had seen the message about his

Before October 7, he probably wasn’t an active soldier. He was a husband to a loving, devoted wife and the father of four children, with another one on the way. His mind, like my husband’s, had probably been far away from the world of the army.

But like so many other loyal men in this country, he threw himself back into our military the second that it called him.

I parked the stroller a bit of a distance away from the ceremony and prayed that our presence wouldn’t be an intrusion.

Gefen looked up at me. “Why are I bent down next to her and said, here

because

so

fists grab at the small Israeli flag I had draped over our stroller.

Thank you, I said to Uriah, the soldier killed in battle, realising why I had come. Thank you, for everything.

Thank you. Because of you, Hamas is further away from the reach of my children. Because of you, my kids will God-willing never need to fight them.

Thank you is not enough.

I thought of my own husband and I thought of every soldier. I thought of every wife and family in this country and I felt overwhelmed and suddenly determined.

“Are we afraid, Gefen?”, I asked her and then hoped I hadn’t scared her with the randomness of the question.

there a lot of people?” she asked.

“They're

Eliav, the baby, watching his little

many

She looked up at me and answered “no”.

people loved a man who was brave

“Why are we never, ever, ever

and good and strong. He was a

afraid?”, I pressed her, because if

soldier and he wanted to keep Israel

there is one thing I must inculcate into

very safe.” I hoped my answer would

my children, it is this.

“Because we have Hashem,” she

satisfy her.

answered simply.

“Like Abba?”

“Yes, like Abba”

“That’s right,” I said.

“Why did he go to keep Israel safe?”

And He can split seas.

I guided my children away from

she asked.

I explained that there are many good

people

in

this

world,

but

some are bad … very bad. “Like

the funeral, back to our car, offering another prayer to God to protect my husband and all the soldiers.

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

COA senior appointment COA COA has appointed Robbie Clifford as general manager.

With more than 15 years’ legal, commercial and communal leadership experience, Robbie will set the strategic direction and revitalise COA to ensure that it is seen as a hub for active seniors and the wider community.

In his previous role at the Australian Jewish Fertility Network, he reshaped the operational and client experience, playing a crucial role in the organisation’s expansion and development.

He serves as a director at Jewish House and has had a long-standing relationship with COA, having previously managed its volunteers, programs and logistics. Robbie said he was delighted to be re-joining COA. “This is an incredible organisation, with strong foundations and engaging a phenomenal team.

“I look forward to working with our members and volunteers, as well as our community partners, so that we continue to provide COA’s vital and

exceptional offerings to seniors and the community”.

President Allen Rosenberg welcomed the appointment.

“Under Robbie’s guidance, COA will leverage off its 40-year heritage, its empathy for its members, its resources and an outstanding team of staff and volunteers, for the benefit of Jewish seniors and the wider community,” he said.

Chanukah in the Park DOVER HEIGHTS SHULE Dover Heights Shule (DHS) extends a warm invitation to join its annual Chanukah in the Park celebration between 5:30pm and 7:30pm on Sunday, December 10th.

It promises to be an evening of unity, strength, resilience and joy, complete with stellar musical performances to elevate the soul.

There will be entertainment for all ages, with special rides for older children this year as well as the younger ones, along with face painting and

COA’s new general manager, Robbie Clifford

dancing. The grand menorah lighting, which symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, will take place at 6:30pm.

In these challenging times, it is more crucial than ever for the Jewish community to stand together in solidarity with its people and Israel.

The DHS Chanukah In The Park event is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

To book, go to https://events. humanitix.com/chanukah2023 The venue will be confirmed via email after the booking has been confirmed.

Chanukah in the Park 2022

CHANUKAH In The Park

‫בס״ד‬

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

from including meat and vegetarian options prepared by Kosher caterers

Giant menorah lighting at 6:30pm

SUNDAY 10 DEC 2023 5:30 - 7:30PM

• 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

Live music

Outdoor concert l Musicians & Performers

Delicious food (for purchase) Family entertainment

ENTRY $ 10 PP Kids und er 5 Free Includes : doughn ut wate bottle c r hoc chan ukah gelt dre idel con cert shows a nd some activities

Amusement rides l Animal petting zoo Bungy trampoline l Mechanical Bull Drumming Circle l Photo booth l Face painting Toddlers activity gym l Arts & crafts

Teens

Teen rides and entertainment BOOKings: https://events.humanitix.com/chanukah2023 Venue will be confirmed prior to the event - Eastern Suburbs location 10% of ENTRANCE sales go to SUPPORT israel

Proudly supported by

Funding for this project has been provided by the NSW Government

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

COMMUNITY When duty calls, AROUND

T H E

AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY The Jewish world was shattered on Saturday, October 7 when Hamas terrorists entered Israel and slaughtered 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped 240 innocent people and wounded many more.

Jews everywhere have risen to the occasion, raising money, sending much needed supplies and providing moral support.

How has the Hebrew University reacted to the gravest situation faced by Israel since the Yom Kippur War … and for the Jewish people, the largest slaughter of Jewish lives in a single day since the Holocaust?

The Hebrew University is not only Israel’s first and foremost university, but it is also the university that has the most important ties and collaboration with the Israel Defence Force (IDF).

Housed on the Givat Ram campus is the elite Talpiot IDF training program for talented recruits that have demonstrated leadership potential and outstanding academic ability in the sciences. Graduates of Talpiot have been involved in major military developments such as the Merkava tank and the Iron Dome.

The Hebrew University also runs the Havatzalot program, training intelligence officers for key roles in the IDF's Intelligence Directorate. Havatzalot's cadets complete a three-year Bachelor's

the Hebrew U is always there

double major. In addition to academic studies, they undertake rigorous military and intelligence training, including visits to IDF units, combat recruit training and an Officers' course. Havatzalot is regarded as one of the most prestigious programs in the IDF.

The Institute for Research in Military Medicine (IRMM) at Hebrew U was established in 2013 to develop new treatments and technologies relevant to operational military medicine and disaster management. The Bina Elite Dentistry Reserve Track sees students of

dental medicine committing to serve five years in the IDF after finishing their dental studies. Bina cadets go on to become dental officers in various units in the IDF Dental Corps.

Exclusive to Hebrew U is the Tzameret program, which allows students to serve in the IDF while studying for a medical degree. Although this entails a longer commitment to the IDF upon graduating, while studying Tzameret students are offered opportunities in areas beyond regular medical studies. They are prepared to deal with casualties of war as well as disaster relief.

Following the Hamas attack on October 7, the Hebrew University, together with Friends’ organisations around the world, has created a special campaign under the banner of “We Are One”. It is aimed at promoting comfort in community and strength in solidarity.

Australians’ tax-deductible donations will be directed towards medical assistance and counselling for families that have lost loved ones or have loved ones held hostage by Hamas.

To contribute, go to https://austfhu.org. au/donations-bequests

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

COMMUNITY The Technion is calling you AROUND

T H E

TECHNION AUSTRALIA Following the surge of antisemitism and antiIsrael rhetoric around the world, the Technion invites undergraduate and graduate students and academic faculty residing abroad to attend their campuses in Haifa to carry out their research, teaching and learning.

Israel’s just and unavoidable response to the massacre of October 7 spawned a wave of anti-Israel and antisemitic protests around the world.

These vile reactions are based on denialism and false information about the horrible crimes committed by the Hamas terrorists against babies, children and adults, including the elderly.

“Unfortunately, faculty members from many universities in the West joined this wave, as did student organisations and professional associations,” said Technion president Professor Uri Sivan. Given the feeble responses of quite a few presidents of leading universities in North America, Europe and Australia, many Jewish and Israeli students and researchers currently face physical and verbal threats that cause them to think twice about everything they do and prevent them from participating in academic activities in those institutions.

As a result of this situation and given the Technion’s important role in the history of the Jewish People during the last 100 years, we have announced a program for the rapid integration of students and faculty members from around the world looking for academic refuge during these difficult times.”

Last month, the Technion published a Call for Proposals, inviting faculty and students from around the world to join the Technion and pursue their studies, teaching and research activities on the Technion’s campuses in Haifa.

Faculty members of all ranks are invited to come to the Technion for a period of teaching and research. Researchers with a PhD degree are invited to join Technion’s post-doctoral program under the guidance of Technion faculty or joint guidance with a mentor from their home institution. Students are invited to join research projects in Technion’s labs, under the guidance of Technion faculty for a period of two months to a year, by joining the Student Exchange or Study Abroad programs that offer a wide range of courses, mainly for recipients of graduate degrees. These courses are taught in English in numerous Technion faculties. Suitable students are invited to apply for a full research degree (Master’s or PhD), under the guidance of Technion faculty or joint guidance with a mentor from their home institution.

The Technion has already received a number of inquiries from students and faculty interested in this opportunity.

“The Technion will continue to serve as a supportive and safe research university for everyone and I invite students and faculty from all over the world to join us during this difficult time, and to be part of our academic community at the forefront of global research and education.”

For further information, contact Technion Australia CEO Yoash Dvir via email at yoash. dvir@austechnion.com

The main Technion campus in Haifa (photo courtesy of Technion)

Executive leadership team RABBINICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA There has been a change at the top of the Rabbinical Association of Australasia Inc. (RAA).

The Association brings together rabbis from Jewish communities across Australia and New Zealand.

The new office bearers will be led by president Rabbi Nochum Schapiro (formerly RAA vice president) from Chabad North Shore (NSW), with Rabbi Benjamin Elton from The Great Synagogue (NSW) as his deputy.

Remaining on the executive will be immediate past president, Rabbi Yaakov Glasman AM from St Kilda Shule (Vic), Rabbi Nir Gurevitch from Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation, Rabbi Nati Friedler from Kehillat Masada (NSW) and

Rabbi Hillel Nagel from St Kilda Shule (Vic). The new executive is committed to advancing the continuing education and professional development of rabbis across Australia and New Zealand.

Recognising the evolving global landscape, the RAA is committed to providing ongoing support and resources to its members to share with their communities.

President Rabbi Nochum Schapiro said the Association will introduce an initiative to unite communities through the study of Torah, which will be undertaken concurrently in many synagogues.

Under the guidance of the new executive, the RAA will continue its role as the representative voice of the rabbinate to federal and state government bodies, the media and the community.

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES Friday, Dec 8, 2023

7:39 pm

Shabbat ends, Dec 9, 2023

8:41 pm

Friday, Dec 15, 2023

7:44 pm

Shabbat ends, Dec 16, 2023

8:46 pm

Friday, Dec 22, 2023

7:48 pm

Shabbat ends, Dec 23, 2023

8:50 pm

Friday, Dec 29, 2023

7:51 pm

Shabbat ends, Dec 30, 2023

8:52 pm

Leaving a legacy to the Technion supports the next generation www.austechnion.com

Nurturing Innovation and Progress in Challenging Times

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

AROUND

T H E

COMMUNITY THE JOINT AUSTRALIA On October 7, Osi Glick's life turned upside down when terrorists reached the gates of her community near the Gaza border. After long hours trapped in her house, she escaped with her family, leaving behind her home and her clothing business.

"We were in trauma and mourning – who could think about a business?", Osi said of the first weeks after she had been evacuated to a hotel in Jerusalem.

Still, over time, Osi began to think about the five women she employed in Netivot. The streets of Netivot were deserted and her store and fashion design studio shuttered. Nor could she keep her internet business operating.

Despite the obvious pressures, Osi did not want to put her employees on furlough.

With no sign of revenue, she chose to keep paying their salaries.

The Joint partnered with the Azrieli Group to offer free retail space in its malls to small businesses from the south that were forced to close by the war. The Joint approached Osi to take advantage of this opportunity, namely

Creating solutions for small businesses in Israel’s south

Osi Glick in the Azrieli Mall to sell her goods from the Azrieli Mall and Osi agreed. Osi is one of the first small businesses from the south that was reestablished on free space in Azrieli malls. Your emergency funding is supporting this initiative.

Chabad silver anniversary CHABAD BRISBANE "The relevance and guidance of the Rebbe’s teachings are more important than ever now and your job is to support and strengthen your community at this time."

That was the message that Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin shared at Chabad Brisbane’s 25th anniversary gala dinner last month.

Ryvchin was the keynote speaker at the event, held at the newly renovated Jewish Communal Centre Queensland.

He shared the vision and message of the Lubavitcher Rebbe of righteous memory.

That included how we must stand strong against our enemies, continue to express pride in who we are, bring goodness to the world and do all we can to ensure the safety and security of the Jewish people.

More than 100 guests attended, with musical entertainment provided by the Chutney Band, along with Rabbi Cantor Chaim Koncepolski, of Cremorne Synagogue in Sydney, who attended with his wife, Dina. Among the encouraging news delivered was the intent to establish Chabad on Campus in Brisbane in 2024, to service the needs of university students.

The evening – hosted by Chabad directors Rabbi Levi and Devorah Jaffe – included an auction, with half the proceeds going to Magen David Adom.

From left: Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry with Chabad Brisbane founder Rabbi Levi Jaffe

To help, go to: www.thejoint.org. au and click onto the Donate Now tab. The Joint is also assisting small businesses impacted by the war through a "Pay now, Receive later" initiative, in partnership with online

platform Zap. Customers prepay for their products and services with the understanding that they will receive them at a future date. Sixty small businesses have already taken advantage of the plan.

Building bridges AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY For many years, the Hebrew University’s Youth Division (YUJI) has run a special program for gifted school students enabling them to participate in active laboratory research.

Australian Friends of the Hebrew University CEO Rob Schneider was particularly impressed with one such student – Niv Gronovich – who he met at the 2022 Board of Governors meeting in Israel and invited him to visit Australia.

After finishing school, Niv was accepted into the Tzameret program.

Niv, now aged 19, is studying medicine, while serving in the IDF. Niv was scheduled to start his Australian tour on October 13, but with the outbreak of war on October 7, that appeared to be out of the question.

However, his superiors in the IDF and supervisors in the Faculty of Medicine felt differently. To Rob’s surprise, permission was granted for Niv to visit Australia in the hope that his trip would boost the morale of the Jewish community here, in particular young Jewish Australians.

Niv’s visit achieved that and more.

He impressed audiences in Melbourne and Sydney in synagogues, at youth events, in schools and at community presentations. Niv not only inspired those with whom he came into contact, but he was deeply moved by attending a Shabbat morning service in Caulfield Shule, listening to Cantor Dov Farkas and the choir recite the prayer for Israel and the IDF. Niv told Rob that he could return home with a strong message for his IDF colleagues, fellow students and

all Israelis that Australian Jews stand steadfastly with their brothers and sisters in Israel.

Rob said Niv’s visit exceeded his expectations.

“The unassuming, yet confident manner in which he delivered his message gives us faith and reassurance that with universities such as the Hebrew University producing such outstanding young leaders, the future of Israel will be in good hands.”

In referring to the current state of war, Hebrew University president, Professor Asher Cohen said: “These are challenging days, marked by anxiety and uncertainty. The university is determined to be a beacon of hope and to make an unequivocal promise to our university community that better days lie ahead.”

Rabbi Levi Woolf, Niv Gronovich and Rob Schneider, CEO of Australian Friends of the Hebrew University at Central Synagogue in Sydney

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

Scout group high honour 3RD ROSE BAY (JUDEAN) SCOUT GROUP After first joining the Scouting movement as a six-year-old, Cal Baum has now achieved the ultimate 12 years on, namely the Queens’ Scout Award.

The award is given to a Venturer who has set goals and met a series of challenges over three years.

He has received the highest accolades at every step along the way, being that as a Joey, Cub, Scout and now Venturer.

Cal received a certificate of recognition from NSW governor Margaret Beazley AC KC at Government House.

He will next move into the Rover section of the Scouting movement.

Chanukah on the Green CHABAD NORTH SHORE To kick start Chanukah, Chabad North Shore will light a four and a half metre tall menorah at St Ives’ Village Green on Thursday, 7th December.

The community will be joined by federal and state MPs, the Mayors of Ku-ring-gai and Willoughby and local councillors.

Celebrations between 5pm and 8.30pm will include carnival rides, live music and stage shows. The event will conclude with a fireworks display.

Menorahs and candles will also be available for sale. Chanukah on the

18-year-old Queen Scout Cal Baum, from Little Bay

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. We will not be liable for loss resulting from any action or decision by you in reliance on the material in the papers. By reading the papers, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for, and accept no liability in relation to, any reader’s use of, access to or conduct in connection with the papers in any circumstance. Photographs submitted by individuals or organisations are assumed to be their property and are therefore not otherwise credited. All articles in this paper have received the expressed consent of the author to publish in this paper.

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Chanukah on the Green 2022

Green is being heralded as a response to the troubling rise in antisemitism in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The story of Chanukah underlines the tremendous power of light to overcome darkness.

A large police presence will be accompanied by additional security.

For more information, contact Chabad North Shore on 9488-9548 or visit ChabadHouse.org.au/Green. For other Chanukah events organised by Chabad North Shore, please visit ChabadHouse. org.au/Chanukah.

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

CO NS I D E R E D

OPINION

NOMI KALTMANN COURTESY: THE DAILY BEAST

How Orthodox Jews get through Sabbath in our tech dystopia

In an increasingly technological world, Shabbat is becoming more and more difficult to navigate. Here’s how the Jewish community is learning to adapt and get by.

Several years ago, my husband and I were looking for an apartment to lease in our neighbourhood in Melbourne.

We spotted an advertisement in a local newspaper that appeared to be an ideal match. The place was modern, it had expansive windows and was equipped with new appliances.

We promptly scheduled an inspection, but before we even entered the front door of the apartment, it became evident that this apartment was not for us. How did we know? Because it was so modern, it didn’t use keys; it only had electronic fobs to open and shut the doors.

As Orthodox Jews, we observe Shabbat each week. During this time, it is forbidden to engage in 39 activities known as "melacha”, which encompasses a range of tasks, such as lighting fires, constructing or demolishing structures and various forms of agricultural work. These prohibitions stem from the Torah’s commandment to “rest” on the Sabbath and refrain from any actions that resemble God’s creative work during the six days of the week.

In the 21st century, most of this “work” results in the prohibition of electricity, handling or spending money, utilising public transit, writing, sewing, cooking, using a computer and watching television. So, electronic fob activated locks – the only way we could enter or leave the apartment – were a no-go for us if we wanted to observe Shabbat each week.

Estimates suggest that those who observe Orthodox Judaism constitute around 10 to 15 percent of the global 15 million Jews. As the world becomes more technologically integrated, Orthodox Jews are likely to face challenges in maintaining the sanctity of Shabbat in a world filled with technology.

Dovid Tzvi Kalman is a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who specialises in the intersection of Judaism and technology. When a new piece of technology surfaces, Orthodox Jews diligently assess its permissibility on Shabbat. So, since they have a deep appreciation for the sanctity of the day, they have also become experts at adeptly navigating the challenges of technology.

“Shabbat is and has long been on the front lines of the Jewish response to technology,” Kalman told The Daily Beast. “This is because Shabbat law divides all human activities into permitted and prohibited, so every time a new technology comes along you can ask whether the new activities it generates are permitted or prohibited.”

Electric Feel Of all things that have been deemed impermissible on Shabbat, the most difficult is the prohibition of the use of electricity. A historic rabbinic ruling, established over a century ago, determined that the utilisation of electricity during Shabbat and Jewish festivals was forbidden.

“This prohibition stands on very thin legal footing, but it has been upheld because electricity is a reasonable stand-in for modernity and because, for a first approximation, restricting its use does indeed preserve the character of the day,” Kalman said.

Nonetheless, with ongoing technological progress advancing at a rapid pace, and the emergence of non-Shabbat-friendly options, like electronic fob-activated locks on doors or the encroachment of so-called smart homes, Orthodox Jews will face the challenge of how to navigate their lives.

Just take a look around your own house or apartment and you’ll quickly see these hurdles. Apps to control your thermostat, or RFID scanners to enter or exit buildings, or apps to unlock your doors or even open your windows all pose a hurdle for observers of Shabbat.

“I don’t know if this heuristic is going to last forever,” Kalman said. “Electronics are in many different kinds of devices today and many tasks that don’t technically require electricity use the smartphone as their interface.”

However, Kalman added that he thinks “it is going to remain important for a while longer and perhaps the serenity of Shabbat – which has already been the subject of multiple books – will be a force pushing back against this trend.”

Sometimes, various workarounds can be found. For instance, within Orthodox Jewish households, there is a widespread use of timers on Shabbat, particularly for controlling lighting, heating and cooling. Or others commonly use hotplates, which are plugged in before Shabbat, to reheat pre-cooked food for consumption during Shabbat meals.

Exploring the inventive ways in which Orthodox Jewish households adapt to Shabbat restrictions continues to occupy the minds of many rabbis and Jewish scholars. In Israel, Rabbi Shai Simanovsky is the head of the content and explanation department at the Zomet Institute. This institute is at the forefront of offering halachic [Orthodox Jewish law] guidance on a range of subjects concerning the intersection

of Judaism and technology, as well as producing and disseminating articles.

Simanovsky told The Daily Beast that he believes that there’s an argument to be made that there are many ways that technology can fall within the rules of Shabbat.

“Technology, which is the ability to harness the forces of nature through human ingenuity for the benefit of humankind and the world, is a blessing from God,” Simanovsky explained. “The task of humanity is to develop the world and technology enables us to do this on a massive scale. Therefore, the basic faith approach is that it is good and right to use technological innovations for the benefit of humanity.”

Shabbat vs Silicon Valley Zomet stands at the vanguard when it comes to identifying and, in coordination with rabbis and engineers, ascertaining the permissibility of using various devices on Shabbat. The institute’s engineers engage in comprehensive examinations of new technological products.

Through collaboration with the halachic research team, they evaluate whether the product aligns with the requirements of Jewish law for use on Shabbat, and if not, they analyse the specific issues at hand and explore potential solutions.

“Over the course of 45 years, the Zomet Institute has developed numerous technological products and applications tailored to the needs of halachic observance,” he said.

Notable examples include the Shabbat light, a lamp that turns on before Shabbat and off on Shabbat without manual adjustment; the Shabbat lift, an elevator that stops on all floors during Shabbat, eliminating the need to press buttons; and the Shabbat switch, which enables the use of electrical appliances on Shabbat by employing indirect mechanisms to control electricity.

Major companies also create Shabbat-specific modes built into everyday devices such as ovens, which can maintain a constant temperature without violating the prohibition of lighting a fire.

However, sometimes the speed at which technology develops and the solutions on offer from a Jewish law perspective may not be in sync. The fast-changing world of technology can often clash with Shabbat observance.

This misalignment can create challenges when Jewish laws and traditions need to catch up with changing technology.

“It’s a lot easier to tell people not to do something, before they do it,” Rabbanit Liz Shayne, an Orthodox female rabbi, told The Daily Beast. “You cannot wait until things have been out in the world for five years and then say, ‘Actually, I don’t think you should be using it on Shabbat.’

You have to be thinking proactively: What does Shabbat mean?”

Shayne’s question is a pertinent one. Two hundred years ago Shabbat observance was a much simpler affair.

With no electricity, motorised travel or instant communication, people would walk to synagogue, stay at home with their families, eat their food and spend time with friends who were within walking distance.

Perhaps our Jewish ancestors would be surprised to find that in the 21st century, Shabbat is often characterised as a day with no screens or smartphones. To many people today, Shabbat represents disconnecting from the digital world to maintain a balance between technology and the sacred values such as rest, family and spirituality – something the rest of us could very well benefit from.

And so, the fine balance of determining the parameters of the day continues, even if some of the conveniences of modern life, like access to keyless doors and electronic fobs, are withheld.

“I think it’s a really interesting moment that the Jewish people and the rabbinate are working with, how do we protect Shabbat?” Shayne said.

“It’s a very difficult thing to be doing as a rabbi, because if you’re too far ahead, it sounds like science fiction.

You can’t write Jewish legal rulings if the technology does not yet exist, but you can’t do it retroactively because no one will listen to you.”

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

RABBINIC

T H O U G H T It is no dream RABBI DAVID FREEDMAN THE CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE There is one aspect of Chanukah that I think is missed by many. Of all our traditional biblical and early post-biblical festivals – Chanukah is the only one that has its origins in Israel.

The three pilgrim festivals of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot recount the slavery in Egypt, the giving of the Torah at Sinai and the forty years of wandering through the wilderness. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are geographically neutral – since they relate to the universal themes of renewal, atonement and forgiveness. Finally, the events associated with Purim, the only other Biblical festival, took place in Persia at the time of Esther and Mordechai.

Chanukah by contrast, is bound up with the land of Israel. It describes the SyrianGreek domination of Judea and how they attempted to Hellenise the Jews and their religion, even to the extent of placing a statue of Zeus in the Temple in Jerusalem.

This was too much for the Jews who took up arms to fight for their independence and to cleanse the country of pagan ideas. Chanukah therefore represents two distinct traditions – it is a religious festival, with very specific rituals and prayers, but in addition it is a national celebration related to our desire to live as a free people in the only country where Jews have ever formed the majority, the only place on earth where we feel truly unrestricted and uninhibited in respect to our faith and our ethnicity.

Chanukah is therefore not just commemorating a religious miracle but also to a large extent the military victory against what appeared to be overwhelming odds. This was a triumph that served to inspire the Jewish people, not just then but throughout the ages, and in large part due to its connection with the land of Israel it has always been celebrated in the State of Israel with particular enthusiasm and affection.

All of this connects the heroism of the Maccabees with the equally heroic victories of the Israel Defense Forces since

1948. When we use the term Maccabees – those who hammer away for Jewish liberation and self-determination there is no doubt that we should include the likes of Hess and Pinsker, Herzl and Weizmann, Ben Gurion and Begin to name but a few.

The core aim of Matityahu and Judah the Maccabee was exactly the same as that of the modern Zionists – to regain self-respect and dignity in the eyes of nonJews; and to rebuild a Jewish national home, as Herzl famously predicted, ‘for Jews to live as free men on their own soil and to die peacefully in their own home.’

The Zionist dreams, like the plans of the Hasmoneans, were not fulfilled in their entirety. For the Hasmoneans, they fell short of their utopian vision by establishing a monarchy in breach of Jewish tradition, a monarchy that was descended not from the lineage of King David, but from others among our people. Equally the Zionists’ aspirations for a nation that would be warmly welcomed into the region did not occur. In Altneuland, Herzl describes a benign future for Jews in their own land that would normalise their position and result in the total disappearance of antisemitism – this too has not occurred.

Yet enough has happened to observe what transpires when hope and idealism are translated into action and endeavour.

Israel has certainly done more than survive – it has flourished.

From humble beginnings where a few ramshackle settlements required aid from overseas to survive, Israel developed into one of the most dynamic and progressive countries in the Middle East. To this day, in spite of all the opposition it has faced from its enemies, it remains a beacon of light for Jews and non-Jews who are inspired by its remarkable story of survival and success.

The Maccabees dared to hope and over two millennia later we are still lighting the Menorah. In 1897, the Jews in Basel, Switzerland at the first Zionist Congress also dared to dream. Please God, in the spirit of Chanukah, may the Jewish people still be singing the Hatikvah and flying the flag of Israel 2000 years from now – as Herzl once reminded us: If you will it, it is no dream.

The miracle of Jewish continuity RABBI DR BENJI LEVY Each year I am asked a similar question – should a couple getting married on Chanukah light a Chanukiah at their wedding? Rather than answering this year, I took advantage of the educational opportunity and asked if one can even get married on Chanukah.

The answer is yes, but why? The Talmud states that we do not mix two different joyous occasions, as they can detract from, or be confused with, one another, preventing adequate attention to each.

For this reason, for example, the custom is not to get married on Purim and some forbid it. Then, with so many similarities between these two festivals, why do people get married on Chanukah but not on Purim?

Purim represents the ultimate miracle of survival against a physical threat.

Haman hated the Jewish people and therefore wanted to exterminate every one of us. The gallows that were set did not discriminate against female or male, young or old, believer or non-believer.

The very existence of Jews necessitated their eradication. Jews were never welcome in society, regardless of what they could potentially add or remove.

Chanukah, on the other hand, was very different. Jews were not hated for who they were, but for what they did.

It was not their existence, but practice that threatened Greek culture. Jews

that acted as Jews were different to those that were prepared to assimilate.

Indeed, they were loved as people and only hated as Jews. If they could express their humanity through Greek society and abandon their particularity as Jews, they would be welcome to not simply survive, but thrive.

When read this way, the miracle of Purim is a celebration of the most basic human need – the ability to live and breathe. The miracle of Chanukah, however, is a celebration of the most

basic Jewish need – to live freely and actively as Jews. The enemy of Purim hated us so much that they would kill us regardless of what we did. The enemy of Chanukah loved us so much that they wanted us to subscribe to their Hellenistic way of life.

Returning to our question, celebrating the miracle of Purim represents a different type of joy to getting married. The former represents being alive, the latter how we choose to live. Celebrating Chanukah is indicative of the same type of joy as

getting married – we actively choose who we love to continue our people.

A Jewish wedding is becoming rarer, not because of hatred, but because of love. Universalism is more embracing than particularity and assimilation is more accommodating than distinction.

It is for this reason that it is common to get married on Chanukah, as essentially the joys are two expressions of the same source – choosing to love, rather than falling in or out of love, celebrating the perpetuation of our destiny and celebrating Jewish continuity.

Therefore, while there are questions around the blessings, one can light Chanukah candles at a wedding for the purpose of publicising the miracle, because, indeed, the miracle of a Jewish wedding is the perpetuation of the miracle of Chanukah. “The strong were delivered into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few.” Chanukah is a time to learn from our past, as we spark, ignite and shine through the next generation, illuminating the path ahead for a brighter future!

Moed Katan 8b.

Magen Avraham (696:18) forbids it, citing the Talmudic statement around mixing different types of joys, while some, such as Rashba (3:276) and the Shulchan Aruch (696:8), do permit it for technical reasons (defining the type of joy as one that is only experienced on a biblically mandated festival).

1 2

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

AROUND

T H E

COMMUNITY JCA In the wake of the war in Israel, JCA has launched a special appeal to support the security and advocacy organisations that rely upon its funding.

The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS), Community Security Group (CSG) and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (NSWJBD) have been working tirelessly, responding to incidents of antisemitism and hate that have flooded the local community following the 7th October attack.

JCA is the primary funding facilitator of these organisations, assisting them with 90 per cent of their annual operating budgets. In normal times, this equates to combined total of more than $5 million. But with the change in the global landscape, there is now a pressing need, which results in increased costs.

“Many members of the community have asked how best to support our local front-line organisations – CSG, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and AUJS. To this end, while JCA has and will continue to utilise reserves to close general and immediate funding gaps, we are now launching a special response fund to further boost these and other constituent organisations’ growing needs in the fight against rising antisemitism and to counter community isolation,” said JCA president Ian Sandler.

RABBINIC

THOUGHT

JCA launches Never Again Response Appeal JCA was founded in 1967 as a direct consequence of the Six-Day War, with the objective of ensuring that the critical funding needs of Israel could be met, while also responding to requirements of the local Jewish community. This founding premise remains unchanged, but now the organisation is also committed to combatting rising antisemitism and evaluating heightened security risks and increased Israel advocacy requirements, knowing that a strong and secure Israel needs a strong and secure diaspora.

“On 7th October, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, starting a war that has and will impact us all indefinitely.

At JCA, we recognise that these are unprecedented times and our community's priority must be to support Israel and advocate for the release of all the hostages. We encourage you to do all you can to assist in meeting these immediate needs. In addition, our priority at JCA is to ensure that our local Jewish community is safe, supported, connected and represented, while we continue to stand with Israel and her people. We appreciate all and any donations received. This appeal stands alone from our 2023 annual campaign and is specifically for the organisations on the frontline in our community,” said JCA CEO Alain Hasson.

To support JCA’s Never Again Response Appeal, go to www.jca.org. au/neveragain/

JCA CEO Alain Hasson launching the Never Again Response Appeal (photo by Giselle Haber)

Light over darkness

RABBI MOSHE D. GUTNICK RABBINIC ADMINISTRATOR THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY I am writing this as I wait to see whether or not the pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas will eventuate and with it the return of the first 13 hostages home to Israel. By the time you read this you will know the answer.

What I find incredulous is that most of the world around me, whether media outlets or ordinary citizens does not seem to care that (as this goes to print) there are at least 33 children including toddlers and infants being held in captivity under the most horrid conditions by Hamas.

Instead of an unending cry and pressure that the hostages must be released, there is the call that Israel ceases hostilities. Instead of outrage at the barbarism and savagery that took place on the seventh of October, school children march in the streets defiantly demanding to ‘Free Palestine’.

In the world’s twisted lens, sometimes the victim becomes the oppressor and is told that in both a geographic and literal sense “from the river to the sea” they are not welcome. The leaders of Hamas however, live like royalty in Qatar with the money stolen from their people.

It was an honour and privilege to represent our Australian community as one of the 300,000 participants at the historic ‘March for Israel’ rally in

Washington. Nikki Haley, former US ambassador to the United Nations and presidential candidate reflected that despite the record-breaking number, not a single arrest or disturbance was reported. The same cannot be said about the other side.

She said the message is clear. One group represents goodness and light, the other evil and darkness. It is difficult for rational people to comprehend how so many can support or refuse to condemn the actions of Hamas.

How is it possible to ignore the savagery of Hamas terrorist attacks on men, women and children of so many nationalities? How is it possible that so many ordinary Australian school children protest on their behalf? A deep darkness has once again descended on the world not seen since the Holocaust and only those with absolute moral clarity shine a

powerful light through that darkness.

In the story of Chanukah we are told of two miracles. The first was an astonishing victory of the Maccabees over the Assyrian- Greeks. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Jews were able to win a war against a terrible oppressor.

We deliberately do not teach the following to young children, yet one of the atrocities committed by the Greeks with impunity was the rape of Jewish women and especially those about to be married. After the defeat of the Greeks, independence returned to Israel for nearly two centuries.

The second miracle was the lighting of the Menora in the Temple. The finding of pure oil and the burning of the oil for eight days.

The two miracles complement each other. Consider: war inevitably involves suffering and death. War is normally

representative of darkness. Yet dotted throughout history, there are just and proper wars that fight against the darkness and bring light regardless of the sacrifices along the way. We are living through one right now.

The war during Chanukah was a very bitter one. It was not just a battle against the Greek-Syrian oppressors but it was a civil war against the Jewish Hellenists.

Was it a victory to be glorified and celebrated? Yes. The miraculous lighting of the menora in the Temple showed the Jewish people that the victory was indeed one of light over darkness and goodness over evil.

The war being waged now in Israel strikes the same chord. There are those who see the light and support our cause.

There are those who choose ignorance and darkness and do not. The choice has never been more crystal clear.

You see it in the incredible unity that exists amongst all the Jews living in Israel together with all of us in the Diaspora.

You see it in those that are for us and those that are against.

In the last chapter of Daniel he writes that at the end of days, a time will come when amongst the many, matters will become clear, and the wise will know and the wicked will stumble.

We will see the difference between good and evil and then the end of days will come. May we merit to see it speedily in our days with victory to our brave forces, the return of all hostages and peace on the land.

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

F O O D I E S'

CORNER

Chanukah pancakes – Mexican-style

LEWIS’ CONTINENTAL KITCHEN For 53 years, Lewis’ Continental Kitchen has been at the heart of all things kosher in Sydney. This dedicated family business now channels fourth generation energy and continues to evolve and remain dynamic in the KAcertified kosher space.

Accessible in the good times and the not-so-good, countless members of our Australian community have reflected how grateful they were to have KA-certified kosher meals delivered to hotel quarantine during the pandemic.

Lewis’ consistently creates innovative cuisine of the highest quality for festivals and across the entire Jewish calendar.

The loyal inter-generational customer base has come to appreciate the ongoing warm hospitality of the Lewis team. From partnering with airlines for in-flight dining to hospital catering to corporate functions and events large and small, decades of experience and kosher know-how continue to elevate each culinary experience.

So many love the café menu, appreciate the freshness and convenience of frozen take away meals, artisan cakes and more. In fact, the magnificent menu has also been popular as a new addition to Uber Eats – delivered to your door.

When thinking about upcoming events, call the Lewis team, or if you have family or friends coming from interstate, Lewis’ can also arrange fresh and fabulous meals they will surely love. With a couple of sensational South American chefs in the Lewis Kitchen HQ, for this special Chanukah edition we shine a spotlight on this recipe of Mexican origin.

INGREDIENTS PILONCILLO SYRUP 3½ cups of water 1 large piloncillo stick (South American form of kosher pure cane sugar moulded into a cone-shape) or 300 grams of dark brown sugar + 2Tbspn of molasses

Quiz answers 1. Mattathias (in Hebrew, Matityahu) 2. John, Simon, Eleazar, Jonathan and Judah 3. Kislev 4. Philip of Macedon 5. 329 BCE 6. 29 7. Bucephalus (or Bucephalas) was the horse of Alexander the Great, and one of the most famous horses of classical antiquity 8. Out of gratitude to Alexander, the Jews agreed to name every male child born the next year “Alexander.”

That is why the name Alexander, or Sender for short, became a common Jewish name even to this day 9. a) Ptolemy b) Alexandria 10. Epimanes means ‘madman’

Then divide the dough into 12 small balls and cover. Heat 2cm of oil in a frying pan. Place one dough ball on a floured work surface and stretch with a rolling pin into a circle as thin as possible without breaking the dough.

Fry the buñuelos in very hot oil until they are golden and crispy. Flatten into disks, the longer they are fried, the deeper the colour.

Place on a plate covered in paper towel to drain the excess oil.

Serve warm or at room temperature with a drizzle of the deeply flavoured piloncillo syrup, dust with icing sugar.

Enjoy!

METHOD Piloncillo syrup (to drizzle over pancakes or serve on the side) Place one cup of the water and the Piloncillo (or sugar/molasses) in a

medium-sized saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until it all dissolves and looks like liquid caramel.

Carefully add remaining water, cinnamon stick, guavas, aniseed and orange peel and bring to a boil. Cook for about six minutes, stir and boil for four more minutes.

Set aside to use as topping (keep syrup for up to one week in the fridge).

Mexican Chanukah Pancakes (Buñuelos) In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.

Form a well in the centre and add the egg, melted butter and vanilla.

Combine until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Slowly add the water one tablespoon at a time, mixing and kneading until there is a soft and smooth dough.

Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.

11. Maccabee means hammer, from the Hebrew word for makav. Judah the Maccabee was so called either because his features somewhat resembled that of a hammer, or because his earlier occupation was that of a blacksmith. Alternatively the name came from the initial letters of a famous verse in Exodus, Who is like You among the mighty, O God – in Hebrew the four words of this verse begin with the letters mem, chaf, bet and yud which spell out Maccabee.

12. Dedication 13. E ight days, as upon relighting the Temple Menorah with the only cruse of pure oil that was found intact, it remained alight for a miraculous eight days until new oil could be manufactured and brought to the Temple 14. T he Temple Menorah had seven lights; the Chanukah Menorah has space for nine

15. They are cooked with oil 16. This is the ‘serving’ candle, with which one kindles the other lights 17. The Apocrypha 18. The Book of Psalms 19. Al Hanissim 20. According to Hillel, one should begin by lighting just one light on the first night, increasing by one on each subsequent night. Shammai suggested the reverse, begin with eight lights and reduce the number by one on each subsequent night 21. Chanukah lights. If one were to light the Shabbat lights first, one would not be allowed then to light the Chanukah lights due to the laws of Shabbat 22. I t should be placed near a window or door from where it can be observed outside one’s home. This is due to the principle of Pirsuma Nissa – the requirement ‘to publicise the miracle of Chanukah’

23. Maoz Tzur (Yeshuati) is a description of God, it means Strong Rock (of my Salvation) 24. Sevivon – it is a spinning toy 25. The Chrysler Building in New York

1 cinnamon stick 6 guavas cut into quarters ½ tsp aniseed ¼ of an orange, peel only MEXICAN CHANUKAH PANCAKES (BUÑUELOS) 2 cups of self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder 1 tbspn sugar ½ tsp salt 1 egg 1 tbspn of butter melted & cooled ¾ cup of warm water 1 tsp vanilla essence Vegetable oil to fry (approx. 2cm deep in pan) Sugar of your choice to sprinkle

To contact Lewis’ Continental Kitchen, visit 2 Curlewis Street, Bondi, email orders@lewiskosher.com, call 02 9365 5421 or www.lewiskosher.com. au. To place your Lewis’ order on Uber Eats visit www.ubereats.com/au.

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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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

F O O D I E S'

CORNER

Kosher KApers

RAMONA FREEDMAN THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY Across the kosher landscape of Sydney, it has been a fulfilling and fabulous year in Kosher Land – we have seen so many new innovations including Manna Cuisine arriving on the kosher scene back in April. So many instantly fell in love with their Rolled Pavlova replete with vanilla crème patisserie, lemon curd, strawberry and torched meringue which can be made dairy or pareve and so much more. Yes, it is on high rotation.

We have seen so many of our KAcertified bakeries, eateries, caterers and stores stocking KA-certified dishes and items, along with so many linked within our community unite to help Israel at this ongoing challenging time. The charity and generosity fills our KA Team with naches and pride.

Along the way we have consistently been updating our KA Kosher Product Directory daily and most recently were excited that after an investigation, our Rabbinic Administrator concluded that nine San Pellegrino Italian sparkling flavours available in Australia are now acceptable, with no kosher logo required.

These include: Aranciata Rossa, Chinotto, Limonata, Pompelmo, Clementina, Melograno & Arancia, Aranciata, Ginger Beer and Tonica Oakwood. Of course this is in addition to the traditional sparkling water which is eternally and enormously popular and a true favourite on Shabbat tables – it helps at Pesach that it is kosher certified for Passover too.

Now more than ever we are excited to advise about what is in store for our Festival of Lights – sweet and savoury treats abound. At Upper Heights and Patisserie le Marais there are so many divine delights that await. You will be able to enjoy donuts

KA PRODUCT UPDATES

Sweet Chick Chanukah Doughnuts featuring Chocolate Oreo, raspberry jam and coulis, praline, profiteroles, cookies and cream, lychee jelly and more (all Dairy, not CY).

The Sweet Chick bakes the most sensational Shortbread in the Chanukah theme – all four varieties are Pareve and can be found in the following shapes: the Star of David, Dreidel, Menorah and the Hebrew letter ‘chet’. In addition there are dairy and dairy-free donuts on offer in four flavours: raspberry, lemon curd, cinnamon and Nutella.

So many have told us they have been patiently waiting for the Rimon Catering authentic Moroccan Sfenj donuts and freshly fried latkes. Great news, both are now available. Grandma Moses can’t wait to help all celebrate with their brilliant ball doughnuts in jam and cinnamon sugar with a wider range on offer for the Kensington café. Meanwhile, Jesse’s Bakery brings you vegan donuts filled with jam, custard, lamington, cinnamon and iced varieties too (all Pareve). The Bagel Co. team is busy preparing amazing treats to tantalise your tastebuds.

Krinsky’s has the cutest ‘Chanukah Corner’ featuring many sweet festival treats that can be found nowhere else.

The kids will go wild for the Chanukah

Menorah Squeeze Gel Candy – genuinely all-things-Chanukah can be found there – is it such fun.

KA-certified Village Finest Kosher Butcher has so many new products, including offering whole fresh duck for the first time, beef burger patties (get that summer barbeque started), crumbed beef schnitzel and more. Legendary Lewis' Continental Kitchen now has a comprehensive menu on Uber Eats and so many love the burgers.

In fact, the following taking the top 3 spots for most popular items: in first place is the Schnitty burger, second is the New York burger and third is the timeless favourite traditional beef burger.

Another item that is enjoyed by so many is the grilled chicken breast with side salad, and the convenient kids meals comprising of hot dogs, fish and chips and beef burgers too.

Over the summer The KA team is also conducting a full review of all 7-Eleven Slurpee flavours, with so many to be added. Stay tuned and thank you for your continued support throughout this year. We love connecting with you day and night endeavouring to make keeping kosher easier on a daily basis.

Time to dive into some KA-certified donuts - Chag Sameach.

Here’s a snapshot of kosher news around town: • To order from the Lewis’ Continental Kitchen menu on Uber Eats visit: www. ubereats.com.au/au • To order from Village Finest Kosher Butcher, visit www.villagefinest.com.au • During the summer months, Oakberry Acai stores are open from 7am-8pm – the KA-certified stores include: NSW 82-92 Gould Street, Bondi Beach, 682 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, 5 Martin Place (within the MLC Centre). QLD 2/124 Boundary Street, West End (located in an inner southern suburb of Brisbane) & VIC 164 Chapel Street, Windsor • The Bagel Co. now offers a new item.

Introducing the Falafel Bagel featuring a

falafel patty, tomato, pickles, hummus, mixed leaves and your choice of bagel.

• T hese nine featured San Pellegrino flavours are available Australia-wide in any size bottle or can. They are Made in Italy and are acceptable wherever sold, including Coles, Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s, Harris Farm and more.

•7 Fat Cows Point End Pastrami will be offering a Chanukah sale with 20% off all stock ordered over the eight days of Chanukah. Visit www.7fatcows.com.au •A ll are invited to reach out for a chat and menu suggestions to Manna Cuisine. Call Artur Bilder on 0450 184 020 or email: info@mannacuisine.com.au.

• Upper Heights or Patisserie Le Marais artisan Chanukah donut orders can be placed by calling Joel Barda on 0406 027 194.

• Grandma Moses Bakery, Patisserie & Cafe – visit 105-109 Anzac Parade Kensington or call 02 9662 2382.

• To order Chanukah donuts and shortbread biscuits from Sweet Chick, visit https://www.thesweetchick.com.au • To place an order for Rimon Catering Sfenj and latkes, call Ze’ev Aronstam on 0403 258 921 or email: orders@rimoncatering.com.au.

• Vegeta Real Gourmet Christmas Stock and Seasoning (must be Made in Croatia) • Schweppes Infused Natural Mineral Water with a hint of blood orange and mango is acceptable • Queen Glucose Syrup is KAcertified (often used as a corn syrup) • Beacon Fizzer Faves – 10 Fizzer Bars is acceptable (lollies) • Hard Solo – Alcoholic Lemon is acceptable • Masterfoods Mint Jelly – acceptable • Nando’s Sweet Chilli Jam has an OU hechsher • Dairy Farmers Lactose Free Full Cream Milk and Lactose Free Lite White are acceptable • Bellarine Smokehouse Smoked Olive Oil is kosher • Mount Zero Australian Style Za’atar 100g is acceptable • Betaglu Care Oat Powder Sachets (P 28) are acceptable • Carwari Black Strap Molasses is KA-certified • Carwari Organic Green Tea Matcha blend – Authentic Japanese selection is KA-certified

KA CLARIFICATIONS • Jacob’s Club Milk Original Chocolate Bar Made in Ireland is not acceptable • Oatly Barista Made in Singapore is not acceptable as The KA does not have information about this manufacturing plant. Oatly products from Sweden, Germany and The Netherlands are acceptable • Some packets of Licorice Lovers Chocolate Raspberry Licorice Sticks are in the marketplace with an incorrect KA logo. This is a KA-certified product but it is KA Kosher-Dairy, and not Pareve • CO YO Chocolate Cherry Ice cream alternative is no longer produced • Brigalow Home Brew ginger beer full flavour alcoholic or non alcoholic 900ml can is no longer produced • Darrell Lea Nibs Watermelon flavour is not acceptable

From left: Rimon Catering Sfenj Moroccan donuts, San Pellegrino kosher flavour Aranciatta Rossa, Upper Heights Chanukah Donuts and Lewis' Continental Kitchen Schnitty Burger

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the sydney jewish report | Dec 2023

M O V IE

REVIEWS

Battle and exile That is in the Atlantic Ocean, nearly

NAPOLEON (MA) ALEX FIRST Was he a war monger? The film presents the military leader as such. Under his watch as many as three million died.

Was he a jealous and hasty lover?

Again, the film presents him thus.

As the movie shows, Napoleon Bonaparte loved power and control.

In the early years, he had it because of his strategic battlefield victories.

Then his bravado got the better of him. He took on more than he should have and thereafter things quickly went downhill.

The consequence for Bonaparte was exile – not once, but twice.

The cost to many that took up arms under him was their lives.

As for the love of his life, Josephine, her inability to bear an heir proved costly.

While Napoleon eventually chose country over continuing their marriage, that didn’t mean his feelings for her diminished.

She may have been an unlikely match – a widower with two children and six years older than him – but she captivated him. In the end, of course, like many that fly too close to the sun, Napoleon’s demise was inevitable.

A Corsican, Napoleon led the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804.

2,000 kilometres from the west coast of Africa.

The picture switches from the political upheaval and plotting to the wars being waged and Bonaparte’s personal life.

It starts in 1789 (he was born in 1769) and charts his path until his death in 1821.

Still, there appear to be wholesale jumps in time as the highs and lows of his relationship with Josephine are plotted.

Despite getting a good feel for the man and his motivations, I didn’t find Napoleon the easiest film to follow.

He was Emperor of France from 1804 to 1814 and, then again, briefly, in 1815.

He fought no less than 61 battles.

Napoleon, the movie, is his story – the belligerence and bombast, the vanity and vulnerability – through the eyes of director Ridley Scott.

It has been written by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World).

There is no doubting that Scott makes powerful and impactful films.

Think of Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, American Gangster, Prometheus and The Martian, for starters.

Visually, Napoleon is a spectacle. The war scenes are particularly evocative.

The costuming and interiors are lavish.

As Bonaparte, Joaquin Phoenix comes across as determined, resolute and caught up in his own sense of self-worth to others detriment.

Bonaparte, as depicted, could be cruel and needy.

As Josephine, Vanessa Kirby displays a unique hold over him and knows it too. There is a resilience about her characterisation. Rupert Everett displays a stiff upper lip as the Duke of Wellington, who has Napoleon’s measure in the Battle of Waterloo. It is of the most powerful sequences in the film.

Ultimately, it is the Duke that dispatches Bonaparte to what would be his final destination, the island of Saint Helena.

While Scott tried to cram a lot in to the two and a half hour plus running time, I found the story development bitsy.

In fact, I would argue there is enough source

material

to

have

readily

developed the plot further and turned the offering into a two parter.

As it stands, I don’t regard it as mustsee material. It is not in the same league as Oppenheimer, which I consider a more complete film.

Nevertheless, notwithstanding debates about its historical accuracy, Napoleon the movie is often hard hitting.

Rated MA, it scores a 7½ out of 10.

Outback ordeal I liked the contrasting characterisations of the two women.

Julia Garner presents Hanna as wary … more guarded, while Jessica Henwick’s Liv appears to be up for anything.

We sit back and wait, frustrated that we can’t do anything to influence the behaviour of the town’s inhabitants, which presents as an ever-present threat.

Hugo Weaving is powerful and pervasive as the rough and tumble publican on a slippery slope.

As Carol, Ursula Yovich appears resigned to her fate. Tough on the outside, she has a strong moral compass.

THE ROYAL HOTEL (MA) ALEX FIRST Men behaving very badly towards women and drinking to excess with consequences are the two themes running through The Royal Hotel.

The Royal Hotel director and cowriter (alongside Oscar Redding) Kitty Green first saw the documentary Hotel Coolgardie as an Australian film festival jury member.

That 2017 doco was her inspiration.

She was taken by the story of two young Scandinavian women trapped in an Australian mining town.

While she had seen movies set in Aussie pubs before – many of them in remote communities – never through a female lens.

In The Royal Hotel, 25-year-old Hanna (Julia Garner), and Liv (Jessica Henwick), 24, are Canadians. They have chosen the furthest place from home to travel to and enjoy.

Running short of cash, they take the only jobs available at short notice, at a pub in an isolated mining town.

What greets them is hardly enticing – no wi-fi and limited hot water – let alone the extremely curt pub owner Billy (Hugo Weaving), who lays down the ground rules.

He lives in a caravan out the front of the watering hole with his indigenous girlfriend Carol (Ursula Yovich), who helps him out in the kitchen.

While Liv embraces their new environment, Hanna is less than impressed.

The patrons are a wild and rowdy bunch, who come on strong, while Billy is frequently falling, dead drunk and doesn’t pay his bills.

Hanna (given a crude nickname) is fearful and wants out, but Liv convinces her to stay on for a few more weeks.

It is a move that backfires … badly.

In short, The Royal Hotel shows Australians in a very negative light – as misogynistic boozers and reprobates.

It is a really ugly picture … and hard to watch, but that – of course – is the whole point.

You can have a great time without stepping over the mark, but apparently not in this remote corner of the country.

There is an edginess about The Royal Hotel from the get go that doesn’t let up … and the film is all the better for it.

Matty (Toby Wallace) is perhaps the most interesting of the menfolk in town.

The 25-year-old seems like a good guy, but when tanked up goes too far.

Teeth (James Frecheville) is desperate for some romantic action, but booze again affects him badly.

The most sinister of the lot is Dolly (Daniel Henshall).

Kitty Green has woven a taut psychological thriller that is anything but a Tourism Australia ad.

It is a warts and all portrait that hardly paints a pretty picture of the outback, save for a star infested skyline and a few arresting landscapes.

Nevertheless, The Royal Hotel stays with you long after you exit the cinema.

Such is its imprint.

Rated MA, it scores an 8 out of 10.