“Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the same place next year as you are today.” (source: unknown)
As we are already into the second month of 2023, I wonder how many of us have acted on any resolutions we made. I am sure they were well intentioned, but why have they resulted in no action?
Humans inherently fear change because the outcome is unknown. Our brains are designed to find peace in knowing. When we don’t know what will happen, we make up scenarios, which then results in worry and inaction.
Fear of change in its extreme form is known as metathesiophobia and it causes persistent, unrealistic and intense anxiety when facing new situations or experiences.
Take a moment to consider how many times you have thought of making a change, no matter how small, and then something stopped you from following through. What thoughts and feelings did you experience when considering this change? Were you overwhelmed? Did you worry excessively about different
JUDAICAWelcome to the first edition of our Judaica Quiz for 2023! We hope you had a happy and safe summer. We are so excited that once again, Rabbi David Freedman lends his broad-based Judaica knowledge to this unique quiz for the benefit of us all! It is simultaneously educational and enjoyable and he always explores a plethora of pathways to garner this interesting and inspiring information.
The following questions cover many themes, from our joyous festivals to history to Israeli culture to geography to the Hebrew language and so much more! Make sure you ask your Shabbat guests to join in at your table so you can answer this quiz as a group, learning and laughing along the way!
1. The Shammash (either the role of someone in synagogue who assists with the service, or the name of the candle used to light all other Chanukah lights) is connected linguistically to which astronomic feature?
2. On a Hebrew keyboard which of the following three letters is found on the bottom row of letters:
a) Mem
b) Final Mem or
c) Dalet?
way. You need to think about it. It may, at first, seem difficult and weird, but if you persist it will become easier and feel more comfortable.
• Be honest about what is holding you back. If you tried the above activity, did you become aware of what you were feeling and thinking? Was it negative? Did you think or use words like “this is too hard … this is so uncomfortable, I can’t do it, why bother?”
• Learn to develop an internal cheer squad, which has you saying “this is hard, but it’s what I want to do. I’ll keep on trying. I can do this.”
scenarios? Did you experience such a high level of distress that you decided not to proceed?
This fear of change is based as much on evolution (nature) as it is in our individual experiences (nurture). We are conditioned and naturally programmed to like to be in control. So, the fear of change is both an outcome of nature and nurture.
Despite this, we can gain insights into our own behaviours around change and this can be better understood, managed and altered.
Think back to when man first inhabited Earth. At some point everyone was an unknown. It takes courage and action to
tread a path of positivity and beneficial outcomes. We need to work towards a mindset that welcomes and embraces change.
Some steps to help bring about change:
• Identify what you want to change.
• Break it down so that the change is realistic and manageable. We can only cope with one thing at time so don’t try and change your whole world. In this case the adage Rome wasn’t built in a day is true.
• Embrace the discomfort, rather than shut it down by not making changes. Try this simple activity: Cross your arms. Easy and comfortable. Now do it the other
3. Which is the only fast day that can fall on a Friday?
4. Rosh Hashanah La-ilanot falls in which month of the Jewish year?
5. ‘Tagin’ are scribal strokes drawn above certain Hebrew letters. Where would one most expect to see these features?
6. True or false, a person who has just lost a parent is entitled to an Aliyah (a
10. Who warned the future King David of imminent danger by shooting three arrows into a field?
11. Which famous 18th century Lithuanian rabbi is well known by the acronym – the Gra?
12. Which song written by Jack Yellen and Lew Pollack, first recorded by Willie Howard, was made famous in Vaudeville by Belle Baker and by Sophie
• Engage an actual squad of supporters. Get family and friends on board. Get a therapist or life coach. It’s very hard to make life changes on our own, so having a team with us to motivate and navigate the tough times encourages us to keep going.
In the words of Billy Cox, Jimi Hendrix's bass guitarist: “Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone.”
Are you stuck in the discomfort of your comfort zone? Don’t find yourself in the same place 12 months from now.
Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.
16. Two Israelis, Esther and Abi Ofarim, had an international smash hit record in 1968. Complete the second word of its title: ‘Cinderella ---’?
17. Kadur-Mayim is the Hebrew for which Olympic sport?
18. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein was one of the leading rabbis of the twentieth century. Born in Belarus, in which country did he live for most of his life?
19. The biblical king Rehoboam famously said, “My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” Who was Rehoboam’s father?
20. St Paul, otherwise known as Paul of Tarsus was originally Jewish – what was his Hebrew name?
call up to the Sefer Torah) during the week of mourning?
7. Which famous Zionist, born in Russia in 1856 and died at Degania Alef in Mandate Palestine in 1922, was influenced by Leo Tolstoy and founded Hapoel Hatzair? This person claimed that working the land was a sacred task, not only for the individual but for the entire Jewish people?
8. Which Chasidic personality said, “If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?”
9. Which member of the current Israeli government almost caused a riot by visiting the Temple Mount recently?
Tucker, and was also sung by artists Neil Sedaka and Tom Jones?
13. The first television channel opened in Israel in which year?
a) 1956
b) 1966
c) 1976?
14. Throughout the first four lines of the liturgical hymn, Ein Keloheinu, four Hebrew words are repeatedly used as names for the Almighty: God, Lord, King and Saviour. Why were they written in this order?
15. The following neighbourhoods: Bat Galim, Kiryat Eliezer, Neve Sha’anan and Ramat HaTishbi, are all part of which city in Israel?
21. Which geographical feature that measures 7,000 kilometres from the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon to Mozambique in Southeast Africa runs along the eastern side of Israel?
22. How many chapters are there in the biblical Book of Esther:
a) 8
b) 9
c) 10
23. In which era of Jewish history would one come across the name, Tomás de Torquemada?
24. Name the seven countries in the Americas with the highest Jewish populations.
25. Who wrote the Israeli song, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav?
Good luck. Enjoy. Hopefully, learn something new about your Jewish heritage and tradition.RABBI
Arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv is an experience like no other. The atmosphere is electric. People from all corners of the globe converge to explore this fascinating country. In the past, upon landing one could see passengers kissing the ground. Today, travellers are promptly escorted into the main terminal building.
On my recent trip to Israel, I was greeted by a security officer who asked me the purpose of my visit. I told him that my family and I had come from Australia to attend a relative's bar mitzvah. Amazingly, he immediately whisked us past the long lines at customs and wished us a "Nesiah Tova" –a good journey.
Having visited Israel many times, I never tire of the excitement of enjoying kosher food at the airport. Our first culinary experience on this trip was at the Aroma Café. Our gaze was immediately drawn to a tray of warm, freshly baked Borekas filled with a delightful blend of mozzarella and feta cheese. We also indulged in ice-cold coffees.
One of the highlights of Israel is, indeed, the food: from the milk bar-style stores serving Chalav Yisrael ice cream and chips to the Machane Yehuda market offering a variety of delicacies. One can also find upscale restaurants serving gourmet pizzas and fancy steakhouses, but be warned –the cost and the kilos are significant. We did a lot of walking and I was pleased to see that my step count remained high, which I believe helped balance our kilojoule intake.
Kabbalistic scholars made this holy place their home.
A visit to the Western Wall, also known as the Kotel, is a must during any trip to Israel. On our visit, we were fortunate to be there on a Friday night. As we approached the wall, we were greeted by a throng of people of all ages eagerly awaiting the start of Shabbat. We found a spot to pray and were struck by the atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. Despite the multiple minyanim taking place concurrently, there was a feeling of unity and community that permeated the area. This experience filled me with a deep sense of peace and joy. In that moment, I was overwhelmed by the feeling of belonging. We also spent a couple of days at the Dead Sea by Ein Bokek, floating in its salty water and visiting the gravesites of our patriarchs and matriarchs, and other great Jewish leaders.
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to an Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) army base in Chevron. It was my cousin celebrating his bar mitzvah and the soldiers kindly extended an invitation for us to join in a special celebration at the base. In return, we treated them to a barbeque dinner. They were energetic and enthusiastic, eagerly engaging with us through music and dance. The experience was a poignant reminder that, despite the significant responsibilities of their roles in the IDF, these are simply young men and women who share the same desires for connection and enjoyment as all of us.
Spending Shabbat in Tsfat was truly extraordinary. The historic city, imbued with spirituality and enriched by a long and storied past, captivated us as we explored its picturesque alleyways and historic synagogues. I would highly recommend embarking on a pre-Shabbat/Kabbalat Shabbat tour of the many shules in Tsfat, as this provides a unique opportunity to witness the city come alive in anticipation of the holy day. From the lively singing and dancing to the overflowing synagogues, Tsfat underwent a dramatic transformation as it prepared for the start of Shabbat. No wonder that some of the greatest
One of the defining features of Israel is its ability to seamlessly integrate modernity with tradition. This was particularly evident during our stay in Tel Aviv. Its bustling cafes and vibrant nightlife are punctuated by stunning beaches and intricate street art after sundown. It is an enlightening experience to see how this dynamic country has managed to maintain a delicate balance between its rich cultural heritage and its commitment to progress and development
Saying goodbye to Israel is always bittersweet, but it is a place that truly has something for everyone. The food is fresh and delicious, the people are warm and welcoming, and the energy and atmosphere are unique.
Until next time, "Lihitraot”.
Gallup’s 2022 World Happiness Report proves that while Israel is thriving, its enemies are among the world’s most miserable.
Israel, home to 53 per cent of world Jewry, is a happy place. Yet, you wouldn’t know it if you believed the headlines about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government or saw the latest antiIsrael resolution at the United Nations and the current wave of Jew-hatred propagated by American celebrities.
After all, between the International Court of Justice, Whoopi Goldberg, Kyrie Irving and Kanye West antisemitism appears to be off to a good start in 2023.
Yet in the antisemitic worst of times, there are aspects of Israel that represent the best of times. The Start-up Nation continues to innovate and flourish. The Abraham Accords continue to deliver positive security and global trade rewards. Israeli companies continue to make a massive impact on the quest to alleviate humanitarian disasters around the world.
Moreover, in the face of a tsunami of traditional and social media hatred, Israel is one of the happiest places in
the world. It’s true. Last March, Gallup released its 2022 World Happiness Report and the survey showed Israel improving its ranking from number 12 to number nine.
The survey, which is based on GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy and freedom to make life choices, assessed 146 nations. The countries ahead of Israel were Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden and Norway. Israel was ranked ahead of New Zealand, Austria, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Countries that signed normalisation agreements with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords were also ranked in the top 25: Bahrain was at 21 and the United Arab Emirates at 24.
In contrast, the country that daily threatens Israel’s existence, Iran, was ranked 110. Iraq was 107 and Lebanon 145. The “Palestinian Territories” were at 122.
In other words, no matter how much cacophony is heard in the Knesset, Israeli society is strikingly happy. Most people familiar with Israel understand that cacophony is a by-product of a free, diverse society. After all, the
Last month 39 Australian teachers spent 18 days in Israel as part of the Gandel Holocaust Studies Program for Australian Educators (GHSP).
While at the International Holocaust School at the Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem, they were taught how to educate their students about the Holocaust in a professional, factual and age-appropriate manner.
The teachers heard survivor testimonies, learnt about the links between the Holocaust and antisemitism, and discussed the challenges of teaching this topic in the social media age, where misinformation is rife.
So far, nearly 400 Australian educators have been trained and equipped to teach Holocaust studies as a result of the Gandel Program. They have, in turn, reached out to thousands of students in the classroom and throughout the Jewish community.
Knesset has always been the home to shouting, arm waving and theatrical chaos. Israel recently exercised its voice by electing Netanyahu in an election universally acknowledged to have been free and fair. Yet, the media around the world, including in Israel, will continue to push the narrative of corruption, even as they seldom examine corruption in Palestinian society.
They will call Jewish settlements illegal, even when they’re not – unless you believe the sovereign state of Israel is illegal – but never challenge the illegality of Palestinian settlements or the usefulness of the so-called “refugee camps”.
The media will ratchet up the cries of “apartheid” and “occupation” to full volume. They will endlessly refer to Judea and Samaria as the “occupied West Bank”, even though they didn’t consider it “occupied” while it was occupied by Jordan from 1948-1967.
The world needs a strong dose of context. At a time when the world faces increasing antisemitism, Jews nonetheless understand that they have faced much worse over more than 3,500 years of history. What we are experiencing, of course, doesn’t make us happy. We would be happier if the media didn’t deny or ignore 3,500 years
of history. We would be happier if Gen X Jewry and public and civil servants took 3,500 years of Jewish history into consideration. We would be happier without false narratives and revisionism.
But I’m afraid that, unless people become aware of the treacherous past of antisemitism and seek to understand Israel’s importance to Judaism, some forms of the scourge are here to stay.
The least happy countries on the Gallup list are fatigued by Middle Eastern wars. Ironically, they have a good – and happy – model of what could be the future in the form of Israel.
It’s not surprising that relatively few people in the world pay much attention to the Happiness Report or even know about it. Anyone, including Jews, who promote the BDS movement on college campuses or wishes to splinter and split Israel by appeasing the very unhappy Iran may want to learn more about the Jewish homeland and leave their bad karma at home.
Charles Kaufman is the past president of B’nai B’rith International and serves on the boards of the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Hayesod. His opinions are his own.
How many common words of five 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 seven letters and have a direct Jewish connection.
Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. Score one point for each answer and three points for a Jewish word that uses all seven letters.
Rating: 11 = Good; 17 = Excellent; 21 = 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 11
The Kinor David program, implemented last year, celebrates student achievement beyond the classroom for Years 9 to 12 students.
It encourages them to become intentional, well-rounded individuals and positively impact themselves, the community and broader world.
The program emphasises the importance of a holistic education to foster a wide range of capabilities and qualities. It helps students to be confident, compassionate, empathetic, ethical, hardworking, honest, independent, kind, resilient and respectful.
The King David School places these fundamental values at the heart of the school.
Students undertake tasks in five Kinor David streams, known as domains: Achreyut (Personal Endeavour), Shituf Peulah (Teamwork), Hadracha (Leadership), Kehilati (my KDS Community) and Tikkun Olam (Social Justice).
Students document their involvement in the Kinor David program and receive a report each semester, which reflects
their participation in each stream. Once they have completed a number of tasks within an area, they receive a school badge to reflect their involvement. At the end of Year 12, graduates will receive a statement and certificate that reflects their participation in Kinor David, which can prove useful for university and gap year program applications.
Overall, the Kinor David program encourages King David students to be reflexive, curious and confident – ready to make their own way in society.
JNF continues to support the growth and development of Israel’s South with its annual Green Sunday campaign. Green Sunday Telethon, held on February 12th, provided an opportunity to connect the Victorian community with Israel. Nearly 200 volunteers joined a day of fun, education and spirit.
This year, as a result of community support, JNF will create a healing garden on the grounds of Soroka Medical Centre, the largest hospital in the South and the only one in the Negev.
JNF Victoria president Ronit Fraid said the impact for more than one million residents would be significant. “The way our community came together to support the telethon, was so inspiring” said Fraid. “We are all working towards the creation of an amazing project in the heart of the Negev.”
As part of Green Week, JNF introduced an inspiring eco-tech professional from DeserTech. Sinai Gohar Barak, from the Negev, held a series of school visits, communal and private events. She showcased the challenges and opportunities within desert ecosystems
and climate tech, and how Israel is leading the change through innovation, helping countries with similar environmental conditions.
With each campaign, JNF Victoria contributes to the strength and positivity of the Israeli people, while building an understanding among our youth of the trials they face.
JNF Green Sunday Telethon sponsors included Detector Inspector, Noah Juices, Gary Peer & Associates, Hodges, Bunnings Warehouse (Moorabbin), and Trialia Foods Australia.
It is still not too late to contribute to the Green Sunday campaign. Please feel free to do so by visiting jnf.org.au/vicgreen-sunday-2023
Nomi Kaltmann ran for office in the Victorian state election in late 2022.
I have just delivered my fourth baby. It was the second baby in a row I delivered in February. I can’t say I loved waddling around in the heat, but overall, thankfully, I was blessed with a good pregnancy, with minimal nausea and high energy levels.
Over the past five years my family has grown into a certifiable brood, with daily rosters of meals, laundry, childcare dropoffs and pick-ups divvied up between my husband and me. Weekends pass by in a blur of playdates, cooking, children’s sports, visits to the local park and birthday parties. On any given day our home is a cacophony of noise and people, but it’s always lots of fun.
As a Jewish millennial, I consider myself lucky enough to have been born during the best time alive to be a woman. I was given the best Jewish education possible, with my fluency in foundational Jewish texts like Talmud better than any of my female ancestors.
Since I was a small child, I have always been encouraged to have a family, career and Jewish leadership ambitions. I know not every woman wants all these things concurrently, but in the 21st century I think any Jewish woman who wants a career and family should be able to choose to have both.
So, it was a little bit surprising to me that when I nominated to run for office in my home district of Caulfield to represent my area in the Victorian Parliament, my faith, children and pregnancy were regarded by some as a barrier to becoming a successful candidate.
“How will you manage to be a good representative if you keep Shabbat and you won’t be able to attend events for the community on that date?” one person asked me, showing me that they thought my Judaism was a barrier to success despite six other days of the week remaining for events and constituent engagement.
“But you have so many young children; they need you,” said another,
are responsive to community concerns, whether they are competent advocates for the district and if they keep their word on local promises.
A look around the halls of any Parliament around the world tells you that plenty of men have children while elected, without a reflection on their competency. Being seen as a man of faith is often a bonus in an election, but in my district race, my observance of Shabbat was seen by some as a lack of commitment to the job. It’s incredible that women still face this kind of backlash in public life.
A few people told me that they thought I was “crazy” for running for office while pregnant. Another told me, “I think it would be mean to your kids if you got elected, you’ll never be home.” Many people said while they admired my courage, ultimately, “it would be so hard on your husband and kids”.
Women represent 50 percent of the population and their contribution to policy and all areas of law-making should be valued and important. I nominated as a candidate in my district of 40,000 voters because I felt that my Jewish faith, family and experience with raising children while advancing my career made me uniquely placed to represent a voter that does not always get a voice in the halls of power.
While I did not win my race, I am glad that I ran for office. While I’m certainly not the first pregnant woman with a young family to do so, I hope I have shifted the perspective on what is possible for Jewish women.
emphasising their view that in their mind my role was at home with children, despite having excellent systems in place for childcare and a partner who is an equal participant in raising our children.
“You’re pregnant. You will have to take maternity leave,” said yet another, as if I was the first woman to ever to run for office while growing their family.
The Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women (VAJEX) will start rolling out a special audio-visual touchscreen kiosk later this month at Caulfield RSL.
It will be the first of several such kiosks to showcase the organisation’s interactive website – www.vajexaustralia.org.au
The unveiling, along with a glass display case featuring memorabilia from VAJEX founder Sir John Monash and Chaplain Rabbi Jacob Danglow, will take place at 11 am on Tuesday, 21st February.
Among future planned kiosks will be one at the new Jewish Museum, to be located in the yet to be developed Jewish precinct in Elsternwick.
Another will be situated at the Shrine of Remembrance.
As a highly qualified candidate with degrees in law, liberal arts and a master’s in legal practice, who has previously worked for the Australian Parliament and as a lawyer, I found the whole experience being judged like this bizarre. I very rarely take note of my district representatives’ personal lives. In my mind, their personal lives are not relevant. What matters is if they
Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) has a famous verse that states: “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
Representation matters. If you never see a person in power who looks like you, with the same gender, race, background, disability, hair or skin color, it becomes harder to imagine yourself in that same position. So, I’m glad I ran. I know it will be easier for the next pregnant woman that chooses to do so.
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A long-standing member of Temple Beth Israel, Eastern Suburbs congregation (the forerunner to the Leo Baeck Centre), Leon Bloom, celebrated his 100th birthday on 31st January.
Leon still lives at his home of 68 years in Surrey Hills, where he is looked after by his daughter Judith. Here he is pictured with his three children. From left: David, Judith and Sue.
The 41st Maccabi Junior Carnival, which was recently held in Melbourne, attracted more than 200 Jewish youth from years 7 to 10 across Australia. It was a week of fun, friendship and competition that took place from January 15th to 22nd. Sports played included netball, basketball, badminton,
volleyball, futsal, soccer, tennis and table tennis.
Carni Kids showcased teamwork, respect and sportsmanship.
Social activities included an arcade night, pool party, dance party, silent disco and a carnival night, complete with games and food.
The success of the Carnival was built around the philosophy of “participation and involvement” through a shared love of sport.
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Jewface is overblown. The primary consideration in casting should be believability, not race, colour, orientation or religion.
Comedian Sarah Silverman believes that roles portraying Jews in film and television should go to Jewish actors. The issue has been called “Jewface” and Silverman has spoken out against the lack of Jewish representation in Hollywood, as some major Jewish roles have gone to non-Jewish actors.
Recent high-profile examples of this include Helen Mirren playing Golda Meir in an upcoming biopic Golda and Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro, which Cooper himself is directing (he received flak for the large prosthetic nose).
It’s a long list: Steve Carell plays a Jewish father in The Patient. Will Ferrell plays a Jewish psychiatrist in The Shrink Next Door. Michelle Williams won rave reviews and an Oscar nomination for her role as Mitzi Fabelman in Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical The Fabelmans, playing Spielberg’s feisty mum. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays the Jewish mum in Jonah Hill’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner remake, You People. Felicity Jones portrays Ruth Bader Ginsburg in On the Basis of Sex.
Rachel Brosnahan is the lead in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, a series replete with Jewish stereotypes.
At a time when people are ultrasensitive to issues related to inclusion, diversity and cultural approbation, a number of critics are pointing out the blatant double standard when it comes to Jews. It’s another example of “Jews don’t count,” to use UK comedian David Baddiel’s title of his book, which shows that when it comes to bigotry and
racism, “Jews don’t count as a proper minority”.
Well, I’m not buying into the whole Jewface controversy.
I see the double standard and hypocrisy when it comes to casting Jews, but I disagree with Silverman’s solution. The answer isn’t to cast only Jewish actors in Jewish roles; it’s to open up the
it’s not essential, if you’re a great actor. The primary consideration in casting is believability. Can this actor convincingly play this role? Michelle Williams pulled it off. Meryl Streep won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Angels in America, where she played a rabbi and a ghostly Ethel Rosenberg – two Jews and one a male!
Casting Emma Stone in Cameron Crowe’s Aloha received justified flak because this very white actress looks nothing like a woman who has one quarter Chinese and one quarter Hawaiian descent. She wasn’t believable – bad casting, not bad politics.
The outrage behind Jewface is misguided. Yes, Hollywood should remove the double standard, but do it by keeping one factor in mind across the board: who is the best actor who can most convincingly portray that role?
Don’t confuse the issue of Jewface with cultural appropriation. Over the past 12 months, we have seen a plethora of mainstream series and films telling authentic Jewish stories. Only Spielberg (and his Jewish co-writer Tony Kushner) could write The Fabelmans and only writer-director James Gray could create Armageddon Time, about a Jewish family in Queens in 1980. If a non-Jew were to write these intimate stories about a minority to which he doesn’t belong that would be cultural appropriation. That is not his story to tell; he can’t do it justice.
casting net regarding all minorities and cast based on who is the best actor for this specific role, regardless of his race, orientation or religion.
Acting is the art of convincingly pretending to be someone that you are not. I’m sure Helen Mirren will make a great Golda Meir – she’s a great actress. And Bradley Cooper will fully inhabit the role of Leonard Bernstein. Neither of them has to be Jewish to play those roles effectively. It may help, but
Kazakhstani journalist? Who else could pull that off? Some people believe that only LGBQT actors should play LGBQT roles, but did anyone have an issue with Neil Patrick Harris, an openly gay actor, portraying a womaniser in the series How I Met Your Mother? He was acting, as were Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain.
But a non-Jewish actor playing a Jew isn’t taking anything that doesn’t belong to him. He’s acting and we all know he’s acting, and when done well he brings authenticity and honour to the role. That’s why a Middle Eastern Jewish actor can convincingly play an Arab role on stage or screen – in fact, Ari'el Stachel, a Jew, won a Tony for Best Featured Actor for playing Haled, an Egyptian jazz enthusiast, in The Band’s Visit.
As Jews, let’s save our kvetching for the genuine crises with which we need to urgently contend.
The building has been everything from a hospital to a disco-pub, but historians have proven it is part of the legacy of Spanish Jews.
Archaeologists in the Andalucian city of Utrera have rediscovered a staggeringly rare Spanish medieval synagogue, which was later used over the course of seven centuries as everything from a hospital and a home for abandoned children to a restaurant and disco-pub.
The find, announced earlier this month, makes the 14th-century building one of a precious handful of medieval synagogues to have survived the aftermath of the expulsion of Spain’s Jews in 1492.
References to the lost temple go back more than 400 years. In his 1604 history of Utrera, Rodrigo Caro, a local priest, historian and poet, described an area of the city centre as it had been in earlier centuries, writing: “In that place, there were only foreign and Jewish people ... who had their synagogue where the Hospital de la Misericordia now stands.”
I recently took my children skiing for the first time. No matter how much I told them about it before, they only really learned when they put on the gear, clipped in their boots and slid down the slopes. Seeing them gain the confidence and go on their own was very special. We all have these moments with our kids. For some, moving from training wheels to a “big kid” bike is a proud milestone, an achievement of great weight for both the child and their parents. But, here again, not one of these children, nor the adult who taught them, would be able to aptly articulate exactly how they performed this action.
Modern psychology explores the notion of memory, using three distinct terms –semantic, episodic and procedural – to differentiate between the way in which we process and remember various learning experiences.
These different types of memory combine to store our experiences and aid us in drawing on prior knowledge to both navigate our way and provide a sense of familiarity when repeating an action. While it is a simple task to recall a specific event or fact, the element that distinguishes the system of procedural memory from the other two cognitive structures is that when trying to recall how to perform something an explanation is always lacking the essence of experience. For example, in trying to describe skiing or riding a bike one would unquestionably leave out subconscious processes and small details that can only be experienced for oneself. So often we hear of links between
Caro’s assertion was verified at the end of last year, when a team led by the archaeologist Miguel Ángel de Dios discovered the Torah ark area and the prayer hall.
“It was like cracking hieroglyphics. Once we had that key, it all came together,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference, Utrera’s mayor, José María Villalobos, said the two-year search had meant “we can now be scientifically certain that we’re standing in a medieval synagogue right now”.
He said the importance of the “extraordinary” find was difficult to overstate.
“Until now, there were only four such buildings in all of Spain – two in Toledo, one in Segovia and one in Córdoba,” he said.
“This is an exceptional building that’s been part of Utrera and part of its inhabitants’ lives for 700 years. This building was born in the 1300s and has made it all the way to the 21st century.
influential scientific discoveries and Torah knowledge, and one such example is that of the Behaviourist Theory. Learning is not always a conscious process and is acquired through behaviour.
An interesting parallel can be drawn to the famous proclamation of our ancestors, “Naa’se v’nishma” – loosely translated as “we will do [and then] understand” (Exodus 24:6) – at Mt Sinai. Both science and our Torah call for us to teach our children through experience, to acknowledge that one simply cannot appreciate or grasp the quintessential nature of an experience without undertaking the actions for themselves.
In viewing the theory of these pioneers alongside the immortal promise of our ancestors, the importance of experiential education as a tool to monitor and develop our own actions becomes clear. It is an integral way of maximising our children’s growth and of revitalising our own understanding of the source of our values and actions, allowing us to learn positively and constructively from our own experiences. School provides opportunities to learn formally and through experience, but the emphasis is generally placed on the former. In the home, the order is switched and so, as children have just gone back to school, consider how you are ensuring that the hope allows for experiences that complement their formal learning and develop a wisdom that will shape the lives they experience.
1. The Sun – the Hebrew word for sun is Shemesh
2. a) Mem
3. The Fast of Tevet
4. Shevat – Tu Bishvat which falls on the 15th of Shevat, is the date of the New Year for Trees
5. In a Sefer Torah or upon the parchments used for a Mezuzah or Tefillin
6. False – during the first week of mourning it is not appropriate to give someone an Aliyah
7. A.D. Gordon
8. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
9. National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir
10. Jonathan, the son of King Saul
11. The Vilna Gaon (the initials Gimmel, Resh and Aleph stand for Gaon/His excellency Rabbi Eliyahu)
12. My Yiddishe Momme
13. b) 1966
14. Because this is the order that these names appear in the Bible
15. Haifa
16. Cinderella Rockefella
17. Water Polo
18. United States of America
19. King Solomon
20. Shaul or Saul
21. The Great Rift Valley
22. c)10
23. The expulsion of the Jews of Spain in 1492 and the Inquisition of the conversos
24. USA 5,700,000
Canada 392,000
Argentina 180,000
Brazil 92,000
Mexico 40,000
Chile 18,000
Uruguay 16,700
25. Naomi Shemer
Jewish Answer: SAVORAIM. 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):
AMASS, AMISS, AMIRS, AMORA, AMORAIM, AROMA, ARMOR, ARMORS,
AROMAS, IMAMS, MAIMS, MAMA, MARROR, MAMAS, MIASMA, MIASMAS, MIMOSA, MIMOSAS, MIOSIS, OSMOSIS, ROAMS, ROOMS and VROOM.
Questions/comments – email Yoni at koshercroswords@gmail.com
One of Australia’s oldest symphony orchestras this year celebrates its 90th anniversary with a series of concerts.
Zelman Symphony, under the baton of artistic director and principal conductor Rick Prakhoff, is one of the most successful community orchestras in the country.
The Zelman features both amateur and professional, ranging in age from 14 to 89.
The orchestra is named after Alberto Zelman Jnr, who founded the first Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 1906. His grandfather, Samuel Vita Zelman, was a much-loved cantor in Trieste, Italy. His father, also named Alberto, was an opera singer, composer and conductor, who travelled the world leading an Italian opera company.
In the early years, many visiting Jewish international soloists were accompanied by Zelman and his orchestra.
For many years now, the orchestra has rehearsed at the Leo Baeck Centre for Progressive Judaism in East Kew. The president of the orchestra – George Deutsch – is Jewish and the Zelman has a number of Jewish players.
The 2023 program will span classical, romantic, 20th century and
contemporary music, including the world premiere of a specially commissioned Australian work.
Festivities start on Saturday 25th March at the Melbourne Recital Centre with a musical tour of Vienna and the masterworks of Strauss, Kreisler, Korngold and others. The concert will feature visiting Canadian star Alexandre Da Costa and his 1701 Stradivarius violin.
On Saturday, 17th June at Methodist Ladies’ College, Kew, Zelman Symphony will present two Australian works: Opal: Double Concerto for Horns and Orchestra by Melbourne composer May Lyons and Haunted Hills by Margaret Sutherland. Then follows Brahms’ majestic Symphony No. 1.
Sunday 10th September is a red-letter day for the orchestra with its 90th birthday marked by Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, The Resurrection, at the Melbourne Town Hall. The venue – where the orchestra debuted in 1933 – will highlight the massed voices of the Melbourne Bach Choir and featured soloists.
MLC Kew on Saturday 25th November will see out the season with Bruch’s Double Concerto for Clarinet and Viola, a specially commissioned work composed by Harry Sdraulig and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2.
For more information and bookings, go to www.zelmansymphony.org.au
A new study shows there are now more than eight million Jews in the US, if cultural rather than religious identity is recorded.
The Jewish population in the United States topped eight million in 2020, according to a new study published by the American Jewish Population Project (AJPP) at Brandeis University in Boston, Massachusetts. That is up from 5.5 million in the '90s.
However, the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) pins that number at around 6 million American Jews.
Professor Leonard Saxe, director of the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis, tells Ynet that the difference stems from whom each institute considers Jewish. The CBS only counts those who consider themselves “religiously Jewish”, while the AJPP also counts those who consider themselves “culturally Jewish”.
“It’s hard to estimate the exact number since there are no official counting
standards,” he says. “Many identify as Jewish but aren’t counted as such. We need to strengthen the bond with such people to make them part of the Jewish identity.”
Professor Saxe says he used to believe that only those who are part of a Jewish community should count. “Plenty of Jews aren’t part of the community and have little knowledge about Judaism. Outside of demographics, I’ve researched a lot about young Jews who visit Israel. They come back to the US with plenty of knowledge and even more curiosity about Israel.
They tend to marry other Jews and raise Jewish children with Jewish education.
“Still, many marry non-Jews, but keep contact with Israel, especially through Birthright (a project that offers Jewish young adults a free trip to Israel) and my research suggests that even if they marry non-Jews, it’s likely they’ll raise their children with a Jewish perspective in mind. The number of those who consider themselves Jewish despite being born in a mixed family has doubled,” he says.
The proportion of 100-year-olds in the UK Jewish community is nearly three times higher than in the overall population — and the secret is brandy and chicken soup, according to Jewish centenarians. Newly released figures from the 2021 Census reveal that the 135 Jewish women and 45 men who are aged 100 or above represent just under 0.07 per cent of Anglo-Jewry, while the figure for the national population is just over 0.02 per cent.
Overall, the median age of British Jews is 41, a year older than in the general population.
Although there is no scientific evidence explaining Jewish longevity, Joyce Hyman, who recently celebrated her 101st birthday, thinks a daily tipple of brandy is the explanation for her long life. “I sit down when I come home from wherever I’ve been and have a small drop with ginger ale or lemonade,” said Mrs Hyman, a resident The Fed’s Heathlands Village in Manchester.
“When my late husband had a heart attack, the consultant said it was the finest thing for anybody with a heart attack. So, when he came home from work, we used to sit down and have a drop. He lasted until he was 89 and I’m still alive.
“I’m rather worried that they’ll stop me drinking it here,” she added.
Anna Myers, 103, credited the “Jewish penicillin” of chicken soup for her advanced years.
“It definitely keeps me going and I make my own,” said Mrs Myers, who lives in sheltered accommodation provided by Leeds Jewish House Association.
Honoured by Rolling Stone years after her death, Ofra Haza blended pop and traditional Yemini music.
What does the late Israeli singer Ofra Haza have in common with Beyoncé and Bob Dylan, Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and Etta James?
Rolling Stone magazine last month named them in the list of 200 greatest singers of all times.
“These are the vocalists that have shaped history and defined our lives – from smooth operators to raw shouters, from gospel to punk, from Sinatra to Selena to SZA,” according to the magazine, whose list by staff and key contributors covers 100 years of pop music as an “ongoing global conversation”.
Listen to Gaza's Quiet Dissenters
Ofra Haza certainly played a key part. The exotic brunette earned an international reputation for her blend of pop and traditional Yemeni music. A Middle East trailblazer with wide crossover appeal, she sang in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Haza’s songs were said to bridge a cultural gap.
Rolling Stone gushed: “Inspired by her Yemeni-Jewish ancestry, Haza combined traditional vocal conventions with modern technique to create something that felt at once ancient and ahead of its time.”
From Poverty to Fame
Haza grew up the youngest of nine children in a poor, traditional Yemeni family, living in the Hatikva quarter of Tel Aviv. Born in 1957 to parents who had emigrated from Yemen, she came by her talent naturally. Her mother had been a singer in Yemen, and often would perform at family celebrations.
At age 12, Haza joined a Tel Aviv neighbourhood program called the Hatikvah Quarter Theater Workshop, led by Bezalel Aloni. Recognising the young songbird’s talent, Aloni eventually became her manager and producer.
Through the neighbourhood program she sang “Ga’agu’im” (Yearning), which soared to first place on the radio hit parades. At the 1975 Mizrachi Music Festival, an elegant head chain crowning her long dark hair, she took third place with “Shabbat ha-Malkah” (The Sabbath Queen).
“How beautiful are you, Sabbath Queen, descending in splendour from the highest heaven and the Lord will spread a blessing over the chosen people,” went the refrain.
Sometimes called the Madonna of the Middle East, Haza couldn’t look or sound more different with her Mediterranean beauty and soulful vocals.
She Relied on Faith for Power and Energy Haza is famously quoted as saying: “I don't know what I would have done without believing in God. His support gives me power and energy to continue to be optimistic, to smile, not to be depressed. Sometimes, if things are not going so well, I don't cry. I say maybe it's meant to be.”
Things went incredibly well in the 1980s. Haza claimed bragging rights as best female singer in Israel in 1980, 1981 and 1986.
She was the face of Israel at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, where she placed second with her song “Chai” (Life). Her 1984 hit “Im Nin’alu” (If the Gates Are Locked), a Yemeni prayer set to a catchy disco beat, was “instantly transportive, sweeping up the listener in her expressive fluttery mezzo-soprano,” according to Rolling Stone.
In her brief career, Haza recorded 27 albums and performed across Europe, America and Israel, often at the latter’s army bases in the north and south.
From Grammys to Nobel Prizes
A Grammy nominee for best album in 1992, Haza travelled to Oslo, Norway in 1994 at the invitation of Israeli Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin, when he, Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat shared the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East.
Only a year later, Haza sang at the memorial service for Rabin following his assassination.
Prince of Egypt
She expressed herself not only as a singer, but also as an actress and composer. Steven Spielberg invited her to perform in his 1998 animated feature “The Prince of Egypt”. She recorded the theme song “Deliver Us” and crooned her famous “River Lullaby” while singing to a baby doll, to evoke as much emotion as possible.
She even voiced the role of Yocheved, mother of Moses, in 17 of the 20 languages in which the movie was dubbed.
Only five of the voice actors and actresses – including Haza – did both the singing and speaking parts for their characters.
Meanwhile, back in Israel that year, Haza performed a stunning rendition of Naomi Shemer’s “Jerusalem of Gold” at the official ceremony for the nation’s 50th anniversary.
As much as Haza sparkled in her career, personal fulfillment seemed to have eluded her. She married in 1997 and died suddenly of massive organ failure in 2000 at the age of 42.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak gave her a glowing eulogy. “I had the honour of knowing Ofra and was impressed by her shining personality and her great talent. Her contribution to Israeli culture was great and the honour she brought this country will never be forgotten.”
A unique bead made from pure gold at least 1,600 years ago was discovered by an 18-year volunteer sifting dirt at a Jerusalem archaeological site, the Israel Antiquities Authority has announced.
The bead was discovered by Hallel Feidman, who was sifting dirt removed from a Roman structure discovered in the Pilgrimage Road excavation, in an area outside the southern walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, known as the City of David.
“I poured the pail onto the sieve and began to wash the material that was brought from the excavations in the City of David,” Feidman said. “And then I saw something shiny in the corner of the sieve, different, that I don’t normally see. I immediately approached the archaeologist and he confirmed that I found a gold bead. Everyone here was very excited.”
Feidman was working for the Antiquities Authority as part of a yearlong period of national volunteer service. For thousands of Israeli teens, national service, known as “Sherut Leumi”, is a one or two-year period of volunteer work as an alternative to mandatory military service.
According to the Antiquities Authority, similar beads have been discovered in burial caves in the area of the City of David from 2,500 years ago, which corresponds to the end of the First Temple period. However, those beads were silver and only “a few dozen” beads made of gold have been found in Israel.
“Throughout all my years in archaeology, I have found gold perhaps once or twice, so to find gold jewellery is something very, very special,” said Dr Amir Golani, an ancient jewellery expert at the Antiquities Authority.
He noted that the bead was probably part of a necklace or bracelet that included additional beads. “Whoever could afford a piece like this made from gold, was an affluent person, with means,” Golani said.
“The most interesting aspect of the bead is its unique and complex production method,” he added.
Golani explained that “a good understanding of the materials and their properties is required, as well as control over the heat, in order to, on the one hand, solder the tiny balls together to
create a tiny ring, while also preventing overheating, which may lead all the gold to melt.”
According to him, “only a professional craftsman could produce such a bead, which is another reason that this find holds great value.”
Antiquities Authority director Eli Escusido said that even today, the bead would be difficult to produce.
“Even with today’s advanced technology, creating something like this would be very complex,” Escusido said.
“A close examination of this object fills
COURTESY: PLUS61J.NET.AU
A Russian shell struck a 113-year-old synagogue in the eastern Ukrainian city of Huliaipole, damaging the building, Ukrainian media has reported.
This marks the second time the synagogue was bombed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February. Huliaipole is located in in the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia.
A photograph of the damage, which was shared by the city’s historical society, showed a large hole in one of the building’s brick walls.
“The city continues to be destroyed daily. The destruction of the historical part of the city is catastrophic,” the group said.
One of Ukraine’s top rabbis, Moshe Asman, furiously condemned the strike on the synagogue.
“In a normal world, it should be accepted that holy places are out of bounds, but even this agreement has been violated by the Russians. I expect leaders of the world to fiercely denounce this criminal act,” he said in a statement.
MK Ze’ev Elkin, who emigrated to Israel from Ukraine, also denounced the strike, noting that his family originally hails from Huliaipole and used to pray at the synagogue.
“How sad and infuriating. Striking holy places and houses of prayer, even during war, is an event that must be condemned clearly and we must demand that it not occur again,” Elkin said in a tweet.
one with a deep sense of admiration for the technical skill and ability of those who came before us many centuries ago.”
The Pilgrimage Road includes an ancient stairway ascending to the Temple Mount with ritual baths and water channels where millions of Jews would ritually immerse themselves before entering the Temple Mount.
It was first discovered by municipal workers repairing a sewage pipe in 2004.
In 2021, an 11-year-old girl sifting dirt from the Pilgrimage Road discovered a 2,000-year-old silver coin from the Jewish revolt against the Romans.
In a word, Mary Poppins is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
The theatrics – the staging, set design and magic introduced into this Disney and Cameron Mackintosh production –are sublime.
I speak of everything from the doll’s house that opens up to the Banks’ family home to the appearance of Poppins’ iconic large-scale brolly towards the end of the show.
You simply must see it to appreciate just how special those things are.
Of course, I have merely brushed the surface of what is on offer.
What everyone’s favourite nanny is able to pull from her colourful bag of tricks – both literally and metaphorically – is mesmerising.
A full-size hat stand is simply the starting point.
But there is far more sleight of hand that occurs in this show.
A brass bed opens and closes sans touch, a cup floats in mid-air, a mop does its business without human contact and there’s mayhem in the kitchen.
That’s not to overlook costuming brilliance that helps one believe that statues can actually come to life.
The many show-stopping numbers are choreographed to perfection and bring with them adulation from an appreciative audience.
And I would hope that even Fred Astaire would have been as impressed as I was when a surfeit of chimney sweeps (what is the collective noun
Lucy Maunder has golden pipes and a lilt in her step as George’s long suffering wife Winifred. She plays a dab hand in this production.
Four boys and four girls alternate the roles of the Banks’ children.
On opening night, it was 12-year-old Harriet Adler and Sebastian Sero, 10, who “played up” and delivered memorable lines with aplomb.
Hanna Waterman is a scene stealer as the cook Mrs Brill and Gareth Isaac revels in heightened characterisation of house boy Robertson Ay. His operatic turn is priceless.
Robert Grubb brings gravitas to the roles of the Banks’ neighbour Admiral Boom and the bank chair.
for them?) take to the stage in a tapdancing extravaganza.
The original music and lyrics in Mary Poppins by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman remain divine. I just adore songs like A Spoonful of Sugar, Let’s Go Fly a Kite and Chim Chim Cher-ee.
P.L. Travers’ timeless tale about the residents of 17 Cherry Tree Lane excites anew.
I refer to workaholic bank employee George Banks and his wife Winifred and their young children, Jane and Michael. That is not to overlook the hired help in the house.
Of course, George is far too busy to spend time with his kids, but Mary Poppins will ensure that he learns to rearrange his priorities.
Stephanie Jones is flawless as Mary Poppins. She has a beautiful voice, a no-
Sunday Reed is a firecracker.
She is a woman unlike any other.
She is instinctive … a free spirit.
Although she has some mental health issues, Sunday doesn’t hold back.
She says what she thinks and feels. Married to John, he surprises her when – on a whim – he purchases a farm in Heidelberg (in Melbourne’s northeast) in the mid 1930s.
She is far from certain about the move, but the pair proceeds to make a go of it.
And then, into their lives steps promising, but struggling artist Sidney Nolan.
With a fine eye for detail, Sunday nurtures his natural skill (she paints herself – pun intended – as his muse … and more), as the three form a less than conventional relationship.
But trouble is in the wind.
Writer Anthony Weigh has taken a kernel of truth and used his fertile imagination to create a masterful and compelling work.
So it is that Nikki Shiels brings to life arts patron Sunday Reed in this world premiere theatrical fantasy inspired by the stories and myths surrounding Sunday and John.
The pair founded Heide Museum of Modern Art and nurtured a circle of artists, including Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker and Joy Hester.
As is explained by Lesley Harding and Kendrah Morgan in the double biography Modern Love, which explores the unconventional marriage of modernist pioneers the Reeds, John and Sunday met in 1930.
They shared a passion for art, literature, nature and innovation. According to the biographers, John came from an affluent grazing family in Tasmania, while Sunday was an heiress born into the Baillieu dynasty.
Sunday, the play, takes us back to 1930, but also forward to the end of
nonsense approach and is warm and engaging throughout.
I loved her interaction, not just with the household and the children, but with the incomparable Marina Prior, who fills two pivotal roles with distinction.
She plays the bird woman selling seeds at tuppence a bag and George Banks’ former cruel, demanding and demonic nanny, Miss Andrew.
She is called back into service briefly for the next generation of Banks when Mary Poppins takes flight.
Jack Chambers is charming, particularly agile and light on his feet as artist and chimney sweep Bert, open in his affections for Mary.
Tom Wren readily channels stiffness and distance as George Banks, whose load is lifted as the narrative reaches its climax.
The moment she appears on stage, Cherine Peck makes an impact as the colourful Mrs Corry. She runs the Talking Shop, where people buy conversations and gingerbread.
Stephen Anderson eschews much humour as the park keeper. He doubles as businessman Northbrook, who approaches Mr Banks for a loan.
While I have seen and greatly appreciated the 1964 film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, which won five Oscars, as well as previous stage musical versions, this production is unquestionably the most sophisticated yet.
It is a magnificent, polished, cross generational show, perfect for the whole family, which saw me teary eyed. Please don’t miss out on getting your spoonful of sugar.
Mary Poppins is playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre until 30th April, 2023.
Josh McConville delivers a layered showing as Nolan. As the latter gains confidence, he transitions his character from apologetic to assured.
Matt Day presents John as understanding, tolerant and loving, a man who does all he can to satisfy Sunday’s needs … and his own. A monologue at the start of the second act is among the many highlights of the play.
Ratidzo Mambo, as Joy Hester, Sunday’s friend and an accomplished artist in her own right and Joshua Tighe, as her son Sweeney, complete the onstage talent.
Artist Albert Tucker is also referenced.
Anthony Weigh brings heightened passion and drama to the bohemian lifestyle of the founding members of modern Australian art.
WWII and beyond in showcasing the highs and lows of the interrelationship between the Reeds and Nolan (he is called by his surname).
Nikki Shiels is extraordinary as Sunday. Hers is a rich, textually dense characterisation that continues her bravura showings.
She excelled in MTC’s Girls & Boys and The Picture of Dorian Gray last year.
Her ability to absorb complex texts and deliver heartfelt performances is nothing short of remarkable. It is a privilege to see her in action.
Sunday is beautifully staged with dates and locations projected onto an oblong screen in the background and the walls of the set opening to reveal different rooms. Anna Cordingley is responsible.
The soundscape is also noteworthy, with Jethro Woodward the composer and sound designer.
Director Sarah Goodes triumphs in the two hour 35 minute offering, excluding a 20-minute interval.
Sunday is absorbing theatre, in which Nikki Shiels is utterly captivating, drawing out raw emotion.
It is playing at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner until 21st February, 2023.
SUNDAY Photo by Daniel BoudAYELET SHAKED - FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER OF ISRAEL
Regarded as one of Israel’s most consequential legislators initiating the comprehensive law against terrorism, she is the only secular woman to have ever led an orthodox party
ASHAGER ARARO - OLAH & INFLUENTIAL ACTIVITIST
Breaking down barriers in Israel, Ashager uses her social media platforms and engages audiences as a proud black, Jewish, Zionist, Israeli woman.
Bookings essential at uiaaustralia.org.au
Wednesday 22 March 7.30pm
$55 per person
Host a table or join one
