REFUGEESSUPPORTING p3 FORGIVENESSTRUE p5 REPENTANCE, PRAYER AND CHARITY p8 Fostering a closer Jewish communityFREE VOL. 72 Tuesday, 20 September, 2022 / 24 Elul 5782 CONNECTIONSOCIALWishingp2 all our readers a happy and healthy New Year and a peaceful time ahead.
9. Which US President included the following words in one of his annual Rosh Hashanah greetings: “This year, Rosh Hashanah comes at a particular difficult time for many across the globe as we mourn the loss of former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres.”10.What kind of food, traditionally eaten on Rosh Hashanah, is known as Lekach?11.Which famous American member of the judiciary died on Erev Rosh Hashanah, September 18th 2020?
• “Everyone says I’m a social butterfly. I flit from one engagement to another.”
12. The following is a quote from which movie: "My son came to me in my dreams—he sang Kol Nidre so beautifully. If he would only sing like that tonight—surely he would be forgiven."
18. ‘Elul’, the month preceding the High Holy Days, is an acronym for which phrase from the Song of Songs, which is meant to describe the close relationship between the Jewish People and G-d?
6. On which days of the week can Yom Kippur never occur?
13. The name Rosh Hashanah does not occur in the Torah – by what other name or names is this festival known within the Five Books of Moses?
24. What name is given to the personal introductory prayer recited by the chazzan/cantor immediately before Mussaf/the Additional Service?
ANSWERS PAGE 14
20. What activity, often enjoyed on Shabbat afternoons, is according to custom discouraged on Rosh Hashanah?21.Whatparticular type of food should not be eaten on Rosh Hashanah because the numerical value of its Hebrew letters is close to chet, meaning sin?
15. The following relates to which one of these three famous Jewish philosophers?“Underthe influence of his cousin and close friend Eugen RosenstockHuessy, he considered converting to Christianity. Determined to embrace the faith as the early Christians did, he resolved to live as an observant Jew first, before becoming Christian. After attending Yom Kippur services at a small Orthodox synagogue in Berlin, he underwent a mystical experience. As a result, he became a Ba’al Teshuva. Although he never recorded what transpired, he never again entertained converting to Christianity.”
• “I love being with my family and friends, and miss them terribly when we needed to isolate.”
• “During lockdown I really missed seeing people and having companionship.”
When we connect, we receive a dopamine hit.
During isolation and lockdown we were unable to activate this important element of our chemistry.
Social connection
Here are a few comments from my clients:•“Ienjoy being with other people.”
ANNE-MARIE ELIAS AROUND THE COMMUNITY
primary network of colleagues is absent and they seek re-engagement with likeminded people. With the High Holydays upon us, now is again the time to embrace social connection.
25. What is the greeting offered to another Jew, immediately after Rosh Hashanah has ended?
5. True or false – Rosh Hashanah always coincides with a full moon?
16. According to the sages, why is the traditional shape of a Shofar curved and not straight?
Test your knowledge
3. What dish made from carrots, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, prunes, and honey, is a traditional Rosh Hashanah food?4.What custom on Rosh Hashanah is related to the tears of a non-Jewish woman who mourned and cried over the death of her son, a Canaanite general in conflict with the Israelites?
RABBI DAVID FREEDMAN JUDAICA QUIZ
14. In July 2020, Rabbi David Lau, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, along with Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, called for which prayer, often associated with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to be recited twice daily in response to the spread of coronavirus in Israel?
Researcher Laurie Hare-Duke developed a five-element CIVIC framework for connectedness. He identified these as closeness, identity and common bond, valued relationships, involvement and care.
The pleasure centre of our brain registers a feel-good moment.
There is so much to look forward to this year, with synagogue doors mercifully open and guests permitted at our Yom Tov tables. It is post-pandemic in the most positive way! One dimension of the sweetness – beyond the apple and honey – will be the gantze mishpochah – the whole family - answering these quiz questions below. This edition of the quiz is firmly focused on all-things-Rosh Hashanah and there is truly a marvellous mix of questions for the young – and the notso-youngThroughtoo!aJewish lens we explore this special time of year delving into history, sport, politics, culture, customs and so much more! Make sure you keep this printed copy handy, so generous hosts and grateful guests alike can join in to have a collective crack at the range of Rosh Hashanah questions below!
a) Martin Buber
2 the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
Psychologically, social connection is the feeling that you belong to a group and are close to others. Research has found that social connection is a core psychological need, essential to feeling satisfied.
A common theme from ex-military and emergency services personnel is that they no longer feel involved. Their
Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.
8. What cycle of study began on First Day Rosh Hashanah back in 1923?
17. True or false – Isaac and Ishmael (the two sons of Abraham) are both mentioned within the Torah reading for First Day Rosh Hashanah?
c) Franz Kafka
22. Given that we kneel on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, why do we not kneel during prayer at other times of the year?
19. Why did Dudi Sela, at the time he was Israel’s Number One ranked male tennis player, quit his quarter-final match in the third set of the 2017 Shenzhen Open forfeiting a possible $34,000 in prize money and 90 rankings points?
Many younger people, in particular, missed out on forming vital relationships at school and university as studies went online only. Depression and anxiety were rife.The need for connection, inherent in our evolution as a species, starts to explain the huge uptake in psychological counselling.
One of my clients recently announced that he had done some “spring cleaning” of his friends, sticking with those that made him feel good and valued.
1. Which ritual associated with Rosh Hashanah is first mentioned in the writings of the Maharil, Rabbi Yaakov Moelin (Germany 1365-1427)?
2. On festivals such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we read from a Machzor (a festival prayer book) as opposed to a Siddur (a daily prayer book). The word Machzor is derived from the Hebrew word la-ch’zor – what does this mean?
7. What problem did the inhabitants of Tzfat (Safed) face when they wished to perform Tashlich, and how did they overcome this difficulty?
Doing so helps lower anxiety, regulate emotion, increase empathy and improve our immune systems. In other words, the hard wiring of our brains can work as intended.
b) Franz Rosenzweig
23. Which Jewish community, now resettled in Israel, uses the horn of a kudu antelope instead of a ram’s horn for Shofar blowing?
As we approach the new year, it is hard not to reflect upon just how unusual the past couple have been due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.Fortunately, more recently we have moved back to a more normal way of living and we can consider again just how important it is for us to have social connections.
For more information or to make a donation, visit https://kn.uiavic.org/22, call 9272-5533 or send an e-card todonatenow.uiavic.org/ecardSupporting
young Ukrainian refugees
“This was evident as we mobilised as a global family to assist in the rescue of Jews from Ukraine. Now, our focus is on absorbing those olim,” Ms Southwick said.
Quality cinema at JIFF
You don't k faces, but y help rebuild their lives Na'aleh supports traumatised Ukrainian refugee children who are alone in Israel KOL NIDRE APPEAL DONATE NOW kn.uiavic.org/22 9272 5533
The vital work that KH-UIA undertakes daily, together with its strategic partner, The Jewish Agency for Israel, ensures these children are cared for, nurtured and integrated into Israeli society.
A movie that received a seven-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival will headline the upcoming Jewish International Film Festival.
“Our Kol Nidre appeal gives our community the opportunity to help rebuild the lives of those who have been severely traumatised. “
JIFF
Consider sending an e-card to your loved ones in lieu of gifts or flowers.
3the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
This year’s Kol Nidre appeal will address the immediate needs of young Ukrainian refugees who arrived by themselves in Israel, in desperate need of physical and emotional support.
on the opening night of JIFF. Written and directed by James Gray (who was responsible for the Brad Pitt vehicle Ad Astra in 2019), the one hour 55-minute drama is a deeply personal coming of ageJIFFstory.will run from 24th October to 27th November at the Classic and Lido cinemas.
For tickets, go to www.jiff.com.au
Keren Hayesod-UIA (KH-UIA) is providing this support through the Na’aleh project at the Ramat Hadassah Youth Village.
More than 30,000 olim have already arrived in Israel from Ukraine, Russia and other former Soviet Union countries.
Families have been torn apart, with husbands and fathers remaining behind. In many cases, children have arrived alone, without any family support.
The past few months have been beyond traumatic for these children who are anxious and fear for the safety of their families in Ukraine.
“One of Judaism’s fundamental principles is kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh – all Israelites are responsible for one another. “Our Kol Nidre appeal has a long and established history and we hope that you will once again embrace it and support it wholeheartedly,” Mr Feldman said. You can also send an e-card before the chagim that will support this appeal.
The Kol Nidre appeal runs until after Simchat Torah.
A dedicated team of professionals, comprising educators, social workers, psychologists, counsellors and residential staff work closely with the youngsters to ensure that their emotional and academic development does not suffer.
All donations are tax deductible and can be made online.
UIA AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Armageddon Time, starring Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, will have its Australian premiere
The Russian invasion of Ukraine prompted millions of people to flee not only Ukraine, but eastern Europe.
We are proud that the vital funds raised for the Na’aleh project will provide these children with the tools needed for their emotional, social and academic development,” she said. UIA Victoria CEO Jeff Feldman thanked rabbis and shule presidents for their support and endorsement of the appeal.
UIA Victoria President Hayley Southwick
said UIA continues to be at the forefront of answering the immediate needs of the People of Israel.
Princess Alice remained at home in Athens alone; her husband had long since left her and was completely devoted to a life of drinking and gambling. During the Holocaust, Princess Alice invited a Jewish family she was friends with, the Cohens, to move into her apartment with her. Her building was next to the Gestapo’s Athens headquarters and at one point Princess Alice was even brought in for questioning, but she refused to divulge the fact that she was sheltering Jews.
4 the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
miss him more than words can say He taught us how to listen to others and how to learn from them without compromising the convictions of either party; he taught us to value participation in the common life of the nation and through it all he taught us the need to respect the integrity and harmony of God’s Creation.”
Adding Portraits of Holocaust Survivors to the Royal Collection
Unlike Queen Elizabeth II, who never visited Israel in all her long years on the throne, her son Charles has made trips to the Jewish state. One emotional visit occurred in 2016, when he travelled to Jerusalem for the funeral of former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. While there, Charles visited the grave of his grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece, who saved Jews during the Holocaust and was named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. She is buried in the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
In 2019, at a royal Chanukah party at Buckingham Palace, King Charles praised Britain’s Jewish community and formally thanked them for their prayers. “I say this from a particular and personal perspective because I have grown up being deeply touched by the fact that British synagogues have, for centuries, remembered my family in your weekly prayers. And as you remember my family, so we too remember and celebrate you.”
With the passing of Britain’s beloved Queen Elizabeth II at age 96, the longest serving monarch in the United Kingdom’s history, her eldest son Prince Charles has become Britain’s newest monarch. Here are six facts about King Charles III, Jews and Israel.
Circumcised by a Rabbi
After Queen Elizabeth II's death, Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis noted that "throughout her extraordinary reign, she conducted herself with grace, dignity and humility and was a global role model for distinguished leadership and selfless devotion to society … Every week in synagogue we have prayed for her welfare, well-being and wisdom and she never let us down."
King Charles himself wrote an introduction to the exhibit’s catalogue: “Behind every portrait is a unique story of a life lived, of love, of loss. However, these portraits represent something far greater than seven remarkable individuals. They stand as a living memorial to the six million innocent men, women and children whose stories will never be told, whose portraits will never be painted. They stand as a powerful testament to the quite extraordinary resilience and courage of those who survived and who, despite their advancing years, have continued to tell the world of the unimaginable atrocities they witnessed. They stand as a permanent reminder for our generation – and, indeed, to future generations – of the depths of depravity and evil humankind can fall to when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned.”
Last year, King Charles commissioned seven major new paintings to add to the official Royal Collection of art, displayed in Buckingham Palace: seven paintings of Holocaust survivors. The project was part of the Prince’s long-standing aim of educating future generations and ensuring that the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten.
“We wish those very same qualities for her son, Britain's new king, and extend our deepest sympathies and our wishes for a long a successful reign.”
He Owns His Own Personalised Kippah King Charles III owns his own personalised kippah: a blue velvet yarmulke adorned with the official royal crest of the Prince of Wales, his previous title, embroidered in gold and white thread.Oneof the first sightings of the royal kippah was at the installation of Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mervis in 2013. Charles was the first member of the Royal Family to attend an installation of a chief rabbi.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
unhappy. A religious Christian, Alice watched as her husband drifted into a life of dissolution. With the rise of Nazism in the 1930s, her three daughters all became ardent Fascists and married Nazi officials. Only her son Philip, King Charles’ father, defied Nazism, moving to England and fighting with distinction in the British Air Force during World War II.
King Charles III is consoling his nation from the depths of his own grief. It is a testament to his commitment to a life of service and giving to others.
Alice founded a religious order and died in 1969. Her wish was to be buried in Israel. At first her family ignored her request, but in 1988 the Royal Family arranged for her remains to be reinterred in Jerusalem. On his 2016 visit to her
Visiting Israel
Friends with Leading Orthodox Rabbi King Charles and Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi of Britain, of blessed memory, forged a close bond, brought together by their public roles as community leaders and their shared commitment to making the world a better place. When Rabbi Sacks died in 2020, Charles delivered an emotional eulogy for his friend and teacher.Rabbi Jonathan Sacks “and I were exact contemporaries, born in the year of the foundation of the State of Israel, and, over many years, I had come to value his counsel immensely. He was a trusted guide and inspired teacher and a true and steadfast friend. I shall
King Charles III has something in common with thousands of British Jews. He was circumcised by Rabbi Jacob Snowman (1871-1959), a brilliant physician and one of London’s leading mohelim (Jewish ritual circumcisers).Itiswidelybelieved that the tradition dates back to the early 1700s, when Britain’s King George I – who was born in Germany – imported the custom of German noblemen to have mohelim circumcise their sons. Though some have disputed this account, claiming that this royal practice is far newer. It is unclear why this became a tradition, but some speculate that their extensive experience reassured anxious parents that their sons would be safe during the procedure. Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth wanted only the best for Charles, so she turned to Rabbi Snowman, who was well known in London’s Jewish community.
grave, Charles brought purple flowers – her favourite – that had been grown in Scotland and placed them on her grave.King Charles visited Israel again in 2020, when he attended the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. There, Charles lingered, speaking with Jewish Holocaust survivors at length and hearing their stories. “He was very interested in how it was in Auschwitz and how we managed to survive,” explained survivor Marta Weiss, who met the newest monarch during his visit. “He was very sympathetic. He came across as genuinely interested, not just doing it for the sake of it.”
Touched by Jewish Prayers for the Royal Family
King Charles III and the Jews
DR YVETTE ALT MILLER COURTESY: AISH.COM
Born in 1885, Princess Alice was the great granddaughter of Britain’s Queen Victoria. She married Prince Andrew of Greece and moved to Athens with her new husband. She was intensely
Each week, Jews across Britain and the Commonwealth pray for the welfare of the monarch and their near relations in synagogue on Shabbat.
Have you wronged someone over the past year? Have you acted unjustly or dishonestly towards another? Maybe you were rude to a waiter or to a callcentre rep? Has a family member, friend or colleague been upset or offended by yourMaybewords?you've had a long-standing feud with someone and you haven't spoken in years. It is because we humans are multifaceted that I ask these questions.Wealldesire connection with others, but sometimes our interactions can become complicated. Things can get strained and, sadly, people hurt each other.As a congregational rabbi and counsellor, I have witnessed some really tough family disputes. Members of my own extended family have had issues. I am not sure they can even recall what started the conflict.
So, sure, High Holydays are a time to reflect on our relationship with Hashem, but also an opportunity to mend broken interpersonal relationships. Let us do so with sincerity, empathy, kindness and respect. Shana Tova.
So, how do we make things right? What are the best ways to ask for forgiveness?
Doing so as an adult is an indication that you are not really sorry at all. Apologising without a full and open heart is meaningless. Be vulnerable. Reflect on what you did wrong. Sincerity comes from vulnerability and a sincere apology is more likely to be accepted.
Then, work to restore the relationship. Doing so is, of course, not always possible or even recommended. It is hardly likely to be an instant fix, rather something that may occur over time.
All of what I have said is better navigated with the support of a friend, mentor or professional.
5the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
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It's not easy. Each situation is different and has layers of complexity. When it comes to seeking forgiveness, I would like to share some overarching principles. I would also like to provide some thoughts on receiving an apology.
A common misconception is that the High Holydays are simply about improving our relationship with God. The truth is that it is equally important to review our interpersonal relationships.
Offering forgiveness does not necessarily absolve someone of their wrongdoing. Actions still have consequences.
When it comes to asking forgiveness of another, praying in shule will not help. Engage the person you have wronged.
Start by removing any ill wishes you may have for that person. Next, let go of your anger. People who have been hurt by others often live with constant anger, which is detrimental to their health. Forgiveness will lighten your load.
Apologise without qualification. Adding BUT to an apology negates and invalidates it almost immediately. If you can't remove the BUT, you are not ready toDon'tapologise.repeat the mistake. Many children say "I'm sorry" to their parents and then straight away do again what got them into trouble in the first place.
With Joanne living overseas, Ora met her brother Wayne and his eightyear-old son Alec in Johannesburg. “It felt completely natural,” Ora said. “He invited me to stay in his home, never having even met me and it just worked.”
“In those days, having a baby out of wedlock was frowned upon,” said Ora Villalobos, Brian’s biological sister. “She was 19. People do what they think is right. Perhaps she had old-fashioned values. Perhaps she was frightened of beingBrianjudged.”wasadopted in Durban by Cessie and Alec Lurie. Although he knew that he was adopted, he knew nothing about his biological family. His biological mother, Clare Friedland, went on to marry Nathan Wollach in 1945 and raised four daughters in her native Cape Town. The girls knew nothing about the brother that had preceded them. “As kids we always felt like there was some kind of secret. Our mother carried an invisible burden, but not in a billion years would we have guessed what it was,” Ora said.
6 the melbourne jewish report | September 2022 FatherSEEKING&FamilyLookingforanyinformationregardingthefatherofamalechildnamedBrianLurie,borninJohannesburg,SouthAfrica,on19thSeptember1943toClareBrendaFriedlandofCapeTownandadoptedbyaDurbancouplein1945.Pleaserespondto: orazoe@icloud.com
Ora used two global databanks in her search for her family, namely www. myheritage.com and www.ancestry. com. “You send for a test kit and mail back a swab of cells from the inside of your cheek. The company then analyses it and loads it into the database. If someone related to the family loads data, it will match,” Ora said.
Family roots
something about our brother. Ilana had no idea what she was talking about, but as soon as the truth dawned on her, things started to make sense,” Ora said.
At this point, the process has done everyone “an amazing amount of good,” Ora said. “Secrets are not healthy. We’re so happy to have had the opportunity to set the record straight.”
Ora and her sisters are determined to pursue the hunt for Brian’s paternal family. By raising awareness they hope to be able to piece together more of the puzzle. Anyone who may have any information can contact Ora at orazoe@icloud.com
The quest is still on to find more
LAUREN SHAPIRO
Little did Brian Lurie know that at the time of his death a search was going on around the world that would result in information that would alter his family history.Brian was born in Johannesburg in September 1943 to an unmarried woman and was put up for adoption.
members of the long-lost family. “We keep hearing stories and names and we’re pursuing every lead,” Ora said. They still don’t know who Brian’s biological father is. It is unlikely he is still alive, but there may be descendants of his that would want to know about the family.With so many South African Jews having made their way to Australia, that is the next logical place to look.
At the same time, across the globe, Brian’s daughter, Joanne Lurie, was also researching her past. “By some amazing coincidence, Joanne picked us out on a community forum about adoption. What luck and karma was that,” Ora said. They ran DNA tests, which confirmed a match. They had foundPerhapsfamily.the saddest part of this story is that Brian passed away just a month before they found him. “Because the family secret was kept for all those years, we never got to meet him,” said Ora. “It was very hard to swallow. It was extremely frustrating.” Ora says she is not angry with her family for keeping the secret from her. “We can’t really blame anyone,” she said. “People did what they thought was best, but it was frustrating, especially the timing. However, we have to look at the positive: we finally got the truth.”
Brian Lurie
After COVID restrictions were lifted, Ora made the journey to South Africa to attend the unveiling of Brian’s tombstone. “It was a wonderful trip and a celebration of Brian’s life,” she said. “We finally got to meet Brian’s family and embraced them.”
The sisters, now living in the US and Israel, started a mission to find their long-lost brother, but they had very little information to go on. “We didn’t even know his name.
Ora Zoe Villalobos AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Around seven decades later, a cousin in London accidentally spilled the beans in a conversation with Ilana Gaash, Ora’s younger sister. “She blurted out
We just knew that he was born in Johannesburg in the early forties,” Ora said. “We hired an attorney and a social worker that specialises in this kind of thing and we had to sue the Department of Social Development to get access to the files. Luckily, permission was granted.”
JNF SHANA TOVA ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, THE UIA FAMILY WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A PROSPEROUS, SWEET AND HEALTHY YEAR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PRAY FOR A SAFE 5783 GLOBALLY. הקותמו הבוט הנש
This Rosh Hashanah, with your support, JNF will help to ensure the protection and safe play of the kindergarten children of Kibbutz
Please join JNF in its longstanding mission to ensure a brighter and secure future for the children of the Negev communities.RoshHashanah e-cards are available at JNF, with proceeds going towards this essential campaign.
Rating: 6=Good; 8= Excellent; 10= Genius
Jewish Answers- ADDITION, RADIATOR, DONA RNADO, ORDAIN, INDOOR, INROAD, DOODAD, TO TRIAD, RONDO, RADII, RADIO, DONOR, DRAIN,
As Rosh Hashanah draws near, JNF Australia is launching its iconic Blue Box appeal, a longstanding tzedakah-giving tradition at this time of year.
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".
Over 120 years, funds raised through the Blue Box have been instrumental in, among other things, the development, building and greening of the arid Negev.
LocatedErez. near the Gaza border, residents of this area have only 10 seconds to take cover under a bomb shelter. Living under fire is an unfortunate
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.
That is why JNF is developing protected playgrounds to ensure children learn, laugh and play safely.
Here is a list of some common words (Yes, we know there are more words in the dictionary
7the melbourne jewish report | September 2022 The Blue Box Rosh CampaignHashanah From the JNF family to yours. Warm wishes for a peaceful, sweet and healthy new year. Shana Tova הבוט הנש A safe place to play. It’s what every child deserves. DONATE NOW jnf.org.au/bluebox 1300 563 563
To keep the children safe, the kindergartens in the area are built as fortified bomb shelters, with limited windows and open areas.
reality for the people of this Negev region, with the attacks becoming more destructive every year.
For more information about JNF VIC’s Blue Box campaign, please visit http:// jnf.org.au/blue-box
JNF stands with the children of the Negev
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.
lives. In this way, we remind ourselves of what really matters, of the family, friends and relationships we greatly cherish. Over the High Holidays try to create space for Tikkun Olam by repairing your world through acts of kindness. Through prayer we can commit to change, aiming to strengthen our resolve in a certain areas. We are the masters of our own choices and desires, and we get to choose what path we take in life.
Another way of countering feelings of low self-worth, often caused by overuse of social media, is to acknowledge the Torah's unambiguous message that we are all indispensable to G-d's divine plan. It is the belief that, in the words of contemporary author and thinker Simon Jacobson, "your birth is G-d's way of saying you matter".
The reasons given for the melancholy of the sages had to do with the complexity of the Hebrew language. No translation, no matter how detailed, can accurately convey the intricacies of each Hebrew word and adequately convey its meaning. Certain ideas can get “lost in translation” and be misconstrued, thus losing their core Jewish interpretation. With Rosh Hashanah nearly upon us, a number of examples come to mind concerning the three central themes of the day: Teshuvah (Repentance), Tefillah (Prayer) and Tzedakah (Charity).
means “to return”. Repentance underlines the individual’s regret for their previous actions and their wish to move down a new path. Teshuva is not really repentance as we call it in English, but rather it can also be translated to mean “return.” That is, we perform teshuva in order to return to a purer state of spirituality.Thisexplanation indicates that no matter how broken we feel or how hard things seem, we have an everlasting connection with G-d and through Teshuvah we can strengthen and reaffirm that relationship.
RABBI GABI KALTMANN ARK CENTRE
Mental illness has emerged as one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. Only a few decades ago it was barely spoken about. For years, stigma and a lack of knowledge created social barriers to open discussion on this sensitive topic. Fortunately, today it is very much on the agenda. Although we still have a long way to go, more and more people are sharing their stories. This is helping to reduce the historic shame that was associated with mental illness and is paving a better path for the next generation.Still,this progress is not without its challenges. While knowledge and acceptance of mental illness have increased, so has its prevalence.
giving tzedakah, we recognise that our wealth is a gift from G-d and the less fortunate and needy should have a shared part in our prosperity.
RABBINIC THOUGHT
The Oxford English Dictionary defines repentance as “one feeling or expressing sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin”.
The Talmud writes that when King Ptolemy of Egypt commanded the Jewish sages to translate the Torah into Greek, it was like “a lion had been imprisoned in a cage”. Why was it considered such a sad day in Jewish history? Shouldn’t we have been happy that the Torah would now become accessible to all?
Teshuvah – Repentance
The fundamental differences between the English word charity and the Hebrew equivalent are that the act of tzedakah not only encourages us to be charitable because we are compassionate, but to give charity because it is the just thing toThroughdo.
Another initiative picking up momentum in some shules overseas relates to prayers for the sick. It is common practice for rabbis to recite a "Mi Shebeirach", or prayer for healing, while the Torah is on the Bimah. Congregants advise of the Hebrew names of family members and friends who are unwell, to be included in this special prayer. But most often these people are included because of physical illness. Many
However, per Judaic interpretation, this “translation” is far from the central idea of teshuvah.
Rabbis Velly Slavin (left) and Yaakov Glasman were the first two rabbis in the state appointed as chaplains to the Victorian Council of Churches’ Emergencies Ministry. The two rabbis provide assistance to the vulnerable in the form of counselling.
Tzedakah – Charity
The idea of charity is synonymous with acts of compassion and generosity. While the translation of tzedakah elicits such associated ideas, the root of the word in Hebrew is “tzedek”, which translates to justice and law. This leads to the emphasis on us to give tzedakah, to literally spread righteousness, honesty and justice to all.
According to the World Health Organisation, mental health conditions are increasing worldwide. There was a 13 per cent jump in these conditions and substance use disorders across the globe between 2007 and 2017. The recent lockdowns, social isolation and constant media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated thisSo,reality.thequestion becomes, what can we do about it? We all have a role to play. Schools have implemented some excellent programs aimed at increasing young children's resilience and encouraging adolescents to identify mental health problems they may be experiencing and to ask for help.
8 the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
Parents can take an active role in having open and honest conversations about mental health. Many Jewish families gather for Shabbat dinners, which offers an opportunity to explore theseRabbisissues.and communal leaders can upskill through professional development courses. On a personal note, I see ensuring that I have the requisite skills to respond to mental health issues as critical. It was for that reason that two years ago I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Counselling at Monash University. I look forward to graduating next month. The course has taught me theory and
When one contemplates the idea of prayer in the general sense, one thinks of the act of requesting and petitioning G-d for something specific. In Judaism, this simplistic definition is not the true and sole significance of the act of tefillah.
Prayer is not simply reading off a shopping list of personal requests from G-d. Rather, we attempt to enhance our lives spiritually by connecting with a higher source. We can view tefillah not only as some sort of action to ask G-d for the things we want, but rather as a type of meditation, an escape from the monotony and confines of our physical
May our teshuvah, tefillah and tzedakah be heard this Rosh Hashanah. Let us all be inscribed in the Book of Life for a happy and sweet New Year.
shules are now encouraging inclusion of all forms of illness, which includes mental ailments. Doing so normalises the conversation around mental health and sends a clear message to people suffering in silence that they are not alone.Wemust also focus on the causes of increased mental health issues. One of the most common contributors today is social media. The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned of the alarmingly deleterious role that social media has on young people and adolescents. It's addictive, triggers feelings of sadness and creates jealousy by comparing users’ lives to others. Indeed, a study on cyberpsychology, behaviour and social networking found that taking breaks from Facebook increases happiness and wellbeing.ManyJewish people do not use their phones over Shabbat. This can be very empowering. Even if keeping Shabbat fully proves too challenging, one can certainly keep parts of Shabbat, such as abstaining from social media. The therapeutic benefits are well worth it.
In Hebrew, the word teshuvah is derived from the word “shuv”, which
Looking after our mental health
RABBI YAAKOV GLASMAN
evidenced-based counselling practices, building on the basic counselling and reflective listening skills I learned at the same university 15 years ago when I first became a rabbi.
Tefillah – Prayer
Repentance, prayer and charity
The focus is on teaching students the crucial skill of how to think and learn, rather than what to think and learn. The development of this skill enables children to thrive now and into the future.
Our
The King David School’s teaching and learning framework, from Early Learning to VCE, places the development of the whole child at its core. The School’s programs are meaningfully differentiated to meet the needs of each learner.
Join AUSTFHU’s fully sponsored Legacy Mission
Australian Friends of the Hebrew University (AUSTFHU) has facilitated 200 bequests to the university since its inception in 1926.
University achieves through its free 2023 Legacy Mission. That fully sponsored visit to Israel will occur in May next year, between the country’s 75th anniversary Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations and
Participation is dependent upon a minimum legacy to the university.
These have helped ensure Hebrew University is ranked in the top 100 internationally.Bequestsprovide for the future of the university.Seizingnew opportunities relies upon income from bequests because regular funding channels are not enough.
listening and drawing what they heard, they used words to describe how they felt. This learning experience taught them about patterns, symbolism and how to connect their senses with observation. It engaged them academically on a deeply personal level.
• the creation of endowment funds to assist serving students;
AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
Australian Friends of The UniversityHebrew passion for progress
Book a Discovery Tour www.kds.vic.edu.au
For example, as part of their “Units of Inquiry” program, Year 1 students recently explored the concept of sound and light. They listened to different music and displayed what they heard through drawing. They used a different colour for each of the pieces of music. After
Shavuot.Itincludes
Shana Tova new year new school
business class flights, excellent accommodation, meals and a complete program of activities.
Those interested in the 2023 Legacy Mission should contact AUSTFHU’s CEO Rob Schneider on (02) 9389-2825 or email him at ceo@austfhu.org.au
If you would like a tour of The King David School, please visit www.kds.vic.edu.au or contact the admissions’ office on 9527-0102.
From everyone at The King David School we wish you
At this time of the year, many families re-evaluate whether their child’s current school is the best fit for them. Many factors come into play and often include social or academic compatibility.
From left, Year 3 students Leonard, Phoebe, assistant head of The King David School’s Junior School Janice Shearer and Noah
THE KING DAVID SCHOOL
• the establishment of centres of excellence for research and study; and
Bequestors’ names are forever perpetuated and over the years they have come from virtually every corner ofThanksAustralia.to the generosity of a donor, AUSTFHU is now offering the chance to see firsthand what support for Hebrew
A bequest can make a world of difference Teaching students the skill of how to think and learn
9the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
Bequests allow for:
• the development of new buildings and wings to attract new students to the university’s six campuses.
In their formative years, pupils learn through curiosity, experimentation and play. The King David School’s Junior School program, “Bedrock thinking”, is designed to develop thinking and cognitive functioning.
RABBI DR BENJI LEVY
My Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, explained that hearing the voice of the shofar refers to the background passive noise that passes one by. On the other hand, listening is an active exercise that requires concentration on the content and mindfulness of the context of the symphony that is life. It is for this reason that hearing in the prayer refers to the plain sound that the shofar makes, the
In the Jewish calendar, tis the season to do teshuvah – to repent for past wrongdoings. Rabbis and spiritual mentors are discoursing on the steps of teshuvah outlined by Maimonides, the great 12thcentury expositor of the concept. But, ironically, it is the president of Germany who has given the world a stunning example of repentance.
Bell performed six masterpieces that he usually fills concert halls with and
Frank-Walter Steinmeier deserves credit for showing us all how to do it.
In Munich, amidst the dark grief of commemorating the tragedy, a beacon of light shone forth from an unlikely source. President Steinmeier spoke as if he had studied Maimonides’ five steps of1.teshuvah.Thefirststep of teshuvah is admitting one’s failure, without rationalisations or excuses. Here’s how President Steinmeier began his “Today’saddress:actof remembrance can only be sincere if we are prepared to recognise painful facts – if we acknowledge that the story of the Olympic attack is also a story of misjudgments and of dreadful, fatal mistakes: of, in fact, failure. We are talking about a great tragedy and a tripleThefailure.firstfailure regards the preparations for the Games and the security strategy; the second comprises the events of Sept. 5 and 6, 1972; and the third failure begins the day after the attack: the silence, the denial, the forgetting.”
Don’t just hear the shofar – listen!
“There were survivors of the Shoah among the athletes and their coaches. Their safety had been entrusted to us. What a great vote of confidence it was to take part, after the crimes against humanity of the Shoah, in Olympic Games hosted by the country of the perpetrators … We were not prepared for an attack of this kind and yet we ought to have been; that, too, is part of the bitter truth … Honoured family members, I cannot fathom what suffering, what pain you’ve been through, how can life go on. For five decades, that gnawing pain has been with you.”
COMMUNITY
The German government, after its long refusal to do so, offered the victims’ families a compensation package of 28 millionTeshuvah,dollars.our sages assert, actually changes the past. The damage remains, but the person who has done genuine teshuvah is no longer the same agent of wrongdoing. By transforming oneself, through admitting, regretting, resolving to act differently in the future, apologising and making restitution, the progenitor of the evil has become an agent of Presidentlight.
At the conclusion of the central thematic development of the Mussaf prayer on Rosh Hashanah, we declare: ki ata shomeya kol shofar uma’azin trua, meaning: “for you hear the voice of the shofar and listen to its sounding”.
The weeks leading up to the 50th anniversary of the 1972 massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics were fraught with dissension. The families of the victims announced that they would boycott the commemorative ceremony because the German government had for 50 years lied to them, refused to share the archive of thousands of files and hundreds of forensic pictures that revealed what had happened to their loved ones and offered a pittance of a financialAlthoughcompensation.itwasArab terrorists who had murdered the athletes, the families of the victims rightly accused the Germans of failure to protect the athletes (even refusing Israeli security offers), the botched rescue operation
After five decades of Germany denying the existence of the archives and evading their obligation to the victims’ families, President Steinmeier announced that the German government would establish an IsraeliGerman commission of historians to “shed light onto that dark chapter”.
single tekia, whereas listening is said in relation to the trua, the triad of blasts that incorporates moments of silence between the sound.
In Munich, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke as if he had studied Maimonides’ five steps of teshuvah.
and the cold, mendacious way the German government handled the affair afterwards.Finally,German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier offered to fly to Israel to work out an agreement and the families agreed to attend the ceremony.
Directly addressing the families, he declared: “You have a right to finally know the truth, to finally receive answers to the questions that have tormented
Rav Yosef Teomim, the 18th century author of the pri megadim highlights an apparent redundancy. What is the difference between kol shofar, “the voice of the shofar” and trua, “its sounding” and similarly, what is the difference between shmiya, “hearing” and haazana, “listening”?
Rosh Hashanah, the head of the Jewish year, encourages us to incorporate shmiya and ha’azana – to hear and listen to the sound and silence of friends, family and those around us in order to better ourselves and the world at large. This year, don’t just hear the shofar –Wishinglisten!you, your family, your community and all of humanity a sweet and successful new year – shana tova umetukah!
gave it everything he had. For 43 minutes 1,097 people walked by the virtuoso. Only seven stopped to hear the music for more than a minute and 27 tossed in some money before hurrying on. The rest rushed by on their way to their next engagement.Thiswasrecorded in an article in The Washington Post. Upwards of 1,000 comments were received.
10 the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
“People hearing without listening” are the immortal words from the song Sounds of Silence by Paul Simon. In a rabbinic context, what do these words really mean?
More than 10 per cent wrote that the article made them cry. Cry that is for the sedated souls that couldn’t stop to appreciate the beauty that surrounded them. Cry for the lost moments, the opportunities that slip through our hands, never to return. Cry for the rush of life that goes by so fast that we don’t stop to listen to the music.
In a poignant admission, tinged with remorse, he confessed:
AROUND
Joshua Bell, one of the 21st century’s finest classical musicians was asked – as a social experiment – to busk in a
you for decades. And they include the question of why you were left alone with your suffering, your pain, for so long.”
The primordial cry of the shofar can pierce the mire of mediocrity where we sometimes find ourselves.
President Steinmeier acknowledged that it was Germany’s responsibility as the host of the Games to protect all the athletes, especially those from Israel.
President Steinmeier did exactly that, declaring: “As the head of state of this country and in the name of the Federal Republic of Germany, I ask your forgiveness for the woefully inadequate protection afforded to the Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich and for the woefully inadequate investigation afterwards.”5.Thefifth step (if property is involved) is to make restitution.
3. The third step is undertaking to act differently in the future.
2. The second step is to regret one’s wrong action.
BY SARA YOHEVED RIGLER COURTESY: AISH.COM THE
4. The fourth step (if another person has been hurt) is to ask forgiveness.
thoroughfare outside a metro station with his finest violin, crafted by Antonio Stradivari. At 7:51am on the 12th January 2007, Bell opened his violin case, threw a few dollars in and started to play.
President’s stunning act of repentance
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Now Lily is headed for a holiday to Bali with her best friend and roommate Wren (BillieOnceLourd).there, Lily falls heads over heels for a local seaweed fisherman, Gede (Maxime Bouttier), which totally upends her life … in a good way.
Next thing you know, Lily has given up her starting position at a law practice and decided to wed the man of her dreams and live in Bali. She invites her parents to the wedding, which they
Clooney is debonair and makes everything look effortlessly simple. His smile charms and disarms. Roberts seems to enjoy her barbed back and forth showcase lines with Clooney and she certainly gives as good as she gets.
Ticket to Paradise is easy on the eye – a pleasant distraction, a soft, entertaining romp. Female skewed (am I even allowed to proffer an opinion on that in 2022?), it should attract an appreciative audience.RatedM, it scores a 7 out of 10.
I say that because though it is make believe, the romantic in me simply wishes this style of “happily ever after” was true.
The latter play a combination of Celtic and more familiar instruments to produce a distinctive sound that starts with the throbbing pulse of the bodhran. It is reminiscent of someone dancing on a wooden floor.
It is playing at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne until 30th October.
Sure, there was tension, distrust, fear and heartbreak, but there was also overwhelming good will from the locals, which won out.
Worthy of superlatives Sugar and spice
TICKET TO PARADISE (M}
Come From Away, at the Comedy Theatre, as reviewed by Alex First
The songs, which number 15, are rousing and poignant.
I am a sucker for this kind of lightweight, by the book, fare.
Behind it is the most heinous of tragedies. Come From Away is dramatic, comedic and romantic.
BY ALEX FIRST MOVIE
In the story, love is lost and found, and new life-long friendships forged … all in the space of just a few days that changed those involved.
Many of the performers in this latest Melbourne season are not the same as the last time the production was in town (at the start of last year) or the time before that (being the middle of 2019).
To create the show, Canadian writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein (who are responsible for the music, lyrics and book) went straight to the source.
It is overlaid with immense sadness and apprehension and yet its core is drawn from the very best of humanity, a triumph of spirit, strength and resilience.
much to like about the comedic showing of Kyle Brown and the empathetic and “get on with it” portrayals of Emma Powell.
Moving, uplifting, funny, energetic and melodic, I defy anyone not to be in raptures about Come From Away.
REVIEW 12 the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
The combination of marvellous writing, exceptional direction, superb choreography, minimal staging, a harmonious 12-strong cast and seven talented musicians works a treat.
Who would have thought anyone could turn such a dastardly deed on its head and create something so positive and theatrical?
I should mention that the musical’s unusual title comes from the fact that Newfoundlanders refer to those not born on the island as “Come From Aways”.
Come From Away debuted on Broadway in February 2017. It went on to claim the Tony Award for Best Direction.
Each of the cast shares the limelight, assuming multiple characters.
They travelled to Newfoundland for the 10th anniversary of that fateful week.
Inspired by fact, what a special, feel-good endeavour this is – one that restores your faith in the world.
Ill-equipped to handle the deluge, led by the Mayor of Gander, the citizens of Newfoundland rallied and found a way through.When they landed, those on board the planes had no idea what had just happened.Whenthey found out, like the rest of the world, they were deeply shocked and just wanted to get home … but they couldn’t for five long days.
Simply put, it is a show I can’t get enough of … and with very good reason because it is such a brilliantly told, magnificently performed and most remarkable story.
You dare not look away for even a moment in a 100-minute production without interval that doesn’t let up.
Further, they collected hundreds of hours of interviews that they distilled into the completed work.
The script is filled with sugar and spice and all things nice (and predictable). Nevertheless, there were a number of times I found myself laughing aloud.
Ol Parker (Mama Mia! Here We Go Again) is the co-writer (with Daniel Pipski) and director of Ticket to Paradise.
COME FROM AWAY BY ALEX FIRST
intend to shanghai by sleuth. Hijinks abound. In the process, David and Georgia come to realise that their spark hasn’t been totally extinguished.
A gorgeous looking picture, cinematographer Ole Bratt Birkeland has done himself proud.
All are terrific, with Zoe Gertz playing the first female captain of an American Airlines aircraft with distinction. She was a member of the original Australian company of Come From Away.
Ticket to Paradise was primarily shot in the Whitsundays, which substituted for Bali. Hopefully both tourist destinations benefit enormously as a result.
In the meantime, the townsfolk went way beyond the call of duty to lend a helping hand.
Amongst the chaos, that place became an unexpected haven, which the weary travellers took to heart.
Among the other standouts are David Silvestri as the larger-than-life Mayor of Gander and Joe Kosky as the local policeman.Thereisalso
I cannot recommend Come From Away more highly.
The story is set in Newfoundland, an island off the far northeast coast of Canada, after the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks.
I have seen it three times now and on each occasion I exit the theatre in awe of what I have just witnessed.
As a result, for the first time, American airspace was shut down.
THEATRE REVIEW
Thirty-eight commercial aircraft carrying 6,579 passengers from 92 countries were diverted to this sleepy hollow, population 9,651 (and four traffic lights).
The most basic of sets (Beowulf Boritt is responsible for scenic design), with revolving central stage and trees on either side serves the storyline well.
So much happens and the words and lyrics tell a tale of anguish and inspiration.
Directed by Christopher Ashley, with musical supervision from Ian Eisendrath and musical staging by Kelly Devine, the narrative moves along at pace and leaves you feeling buoyant.
By so doing, they entrenched Newfoundland into the psyche of all who inadvertently found their way there.
It is an astounding piece of work, brilliantly conceived and executed.
See it for the first time or the second or the third. Regardless, just see it.
Their chemistry remains strong. I speak of heavyweights Julia Roberts and George Clooney who work together for the sixth time on the feel good, romantic comedy Ticket to Twenty-fiveParadise.years ago a love story between David (George Clooney) and Georgia (Roberts) played out, which saw them marry and soon after have a child.That daughter, Lily (Kaitlyn Dever), is about to graduate with a law degree. Her parents separated acrimoniously five years after they married and although they strictly keep their distance, that is not happening at the graduation ceremony.Theycontinue to take pot shots at one another, even though they both love their daughter dearly.
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“We have members who live in fully ultra-Orthodox cities, who are not out,
“Shabbat is really the epitome of this idea of welcoming, gathering, sharing food and Torah and stories, opening our homes to each other,” said Hendelman. “In Shabbat we found the secret to community. It fills me with so much joy and pride that now, six years later, Shabbat Shelach is still going strong. It is such a blessing and shows how much it wasWhileneeded.”themajority of members are lesbians, the group includes those who don’t identify as lesbians but are gender nonbinary or transwomen. “We are women-aligned,” said Kaufman
At least once a month, the group hosts potluck Shabbat dinners in private homes in Jerusalem, attended by Jewish women from around the country. On average about 10 women attend each Shabbat meal, but if the host has capacity, it can be larger.
Grubner. “If you identify as a woman and are assigned female at birth, or you are gender queer, you can attend.”
The group differentiates itself from other lesbian support groups in Israel, such as Bat Kol, because most of Shabbat Shelach’s members are Englishspeaking olim who come from religious or spiritually inclined backgrounds. While the group does not specifically identify as Orthodox, many of its members, including Kaufman Grubner, are from observant or spiritually inclined homes and have an affinity and deep familiarity with religious practices.
Building community over Friday night dinner
18. The letters that make the word Elul – alef, lamed, vav, lamed – are the opening letters of the four words – ‘ani ledodi vedodi li’ – I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me 19. So he could begin observing Yom Kippur by the time the sun set 20. An afternoon nap, known on Shabbat as a Shabbat Schluf 21. Nuts (Hebrew – Egoz) 22. Prostration as a form of worship was adopted by Christians. Following this, Jews felt uncomfortable continuing to do what appeared to them as a strong Christian practice, and applying the law of Chukkat Hagoy – ‘avoiding the customs of non-Jews’, they abandoned kneeling except for these few exceptionally holy days of the year.
6.
“At Shabbat Shelach we have a pretty good shidduch rate,” said Vesley, using the Yiddish term for matchmaking. “It is one of the most beautiful communities I have ever been part of. We are proud of who we are. We are Jewish and queer. We are different. We are two minorities.”
Jewish answer: CHAZZANUS. 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): ANACHNU, CHAZAN (CHAZZAN), HAUNCH, HUNCH, NACHAS, NUSACH, SAUNA, SAUNAS, SCANS, Questions/commentsSHUNS. Yoni at koshercroswords@gmail.com
From this simple premise, the group, which numbers close to 200 members, created a lesbian support community that many were seeking. Its members include Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Europeans. A few Israelis have also joined their programs. Members range in age from their early 20s to their 60s.
For Tova F., who asked that her last name not be used because she is not out to her grandparents, Shabbat Shelach provided a welcome to a community that she had not previously realised she was a part of. Growing up in New
– it coincides with the New Moon Sunday, Tuesday and Friday
York in a modern Orthodox family, she went to an all-girls’ school. She said “we definitely weren’t talking about LGBTQI rights in my home or school.”
Judaica quiz
This story originally appeared in Tablet Magazine (tabletmag.com) and is reprinted with permission.
5.ShofarFalse
Nicole Kaufman Grubner wasn’t publicly out as a lesbian in her hometown of Vancouver, but after she made aliyah in 2013, she began to share her identity more widely. She started looking for a community in Israel where she could meet other people like herself.
8.
and they come to Shabbat Shelach. We have members who are atheist who are connecting around Shabbat. All the meals we put on are kosher and the food must be prepared in a kosher kitchen. We want everyone to feel that comfort,” said Kaufman Grubner.
15. Franz Rosenzweig
“There are a lot of LGBTQI+ groups that focus exclusively on queer identity and often people with a religious identity have to pick one identity over the other,” said Kaufman Grubner, who has been a member since 2016. “Shabbat Shelach was founded to say we want to have both parts of our identities and that is why the organisation is centered around the Shabbat table.”
BY NOMI KALTMANN COURTESY: TABLET MAGAZINE ISRAELI
She was thrilled to find Shabbat Shelach , a group that aims to build community for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women … around the ShabbatShabbattable.Shelach was founded in 2016 by two Americans, Sarah Weil and Ariel Hendelman.“Wehadnowhere to go,” said Weil. “The religious Jewish world accepted our Judaism, but rejected us as gay. And the gay world accepted our gayness, but rejected our Jewish values. We were stranded between worlds and so we created a new space, where we could live authentic Jewish lives as gay women. For me, Shabbat Shelach became my supportive community for living a Torahcentred, God-centred life and building a real future as a gay Jewish woman.”
7. Sefad has no streams or rivers, the only way Tashlich can be recited is to stand on one of the nearby hill tops that has a view of the Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee. The novel idea of Jews in all parts of the world studying the same daf, or page, of Talmud each day, with the goal
–
Before joining Shabbat Shelach, Vesley had been searching for a community where she belonged.
of completing the entire Talmud every seven-and-a-half years 9. Barack Obama 10. Honey cake 11. Ruth Bader Ginsburg 12. The Jazz Singer (1927)
16. In order to represent how we bend before the Almighty and demonstrate a submissive will during the Days of 17.RepentanceFALSEinthe sense that Isaac is the only one of the two sons mentioned by name in the Torah reading - the name Ishmael is conspicuous by its absence
Shabbat Shelach attracts women who are looking for a familiar religious experience while being proud of their queerness and this provides an unexpected side benefit for all attendees: matchmaking.
1. Tashlich The casting away of one’s go around in a cycle – in this case, the cycle of the year. Tzimmes Blowing 100 notes per day on the
“In Israel I was more open, in Israel I was experimenting with coming out. I realised that I needed people. I grew up without role models” in the LGBTQI+ community.Thefirsttime Tova came to Shabbat Shelach, she felt that she had found a place where she could really belong.
NEWS 14 the melbourne jewish report | September 2022
In Jerusalem, Shabbat Shelach maintains a focus on both queer identity and religious practice.
In just over six years of operations, it is estimated 10 couples have met through ShabbatNaavahShelach.Vesley, a 25-year-old who made aliyah from New York met her partner, Jules, through the group. While these days, the two of them and their baby live in Sydney, they owe their partnering to Shabbat Shelach.
Among the members of Shabbat Shelach there are women who are not yet out to their families and friends in religious communities.
“Before I moved to Israel (in 2018) I came to terms with the fact I’m a lesbian – a religious lesbian. I grew up in a closed religious Orthodox community in New York. I did not know what a lesbian was until I was 16,” Vesley said. “I made friends in Shabbat Shelach that I never thought I would make.”
“There is a need for this type of connection and community, and I see it as part of my religious service,” said Kaufman Grubner. “To have a space that is religiously Jewish and not to feel any shame to participate in it with our full selves is really important.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was gaining momentum around its programs and a growing number of women who were pleased to find their niche in the active LGBQTI+ scene in Israel. In addition to regular Shabbat meals, the group hosted a Passover Seder with a grant from the Schusterman Foundation and hosted a Shabbat dinner for the wider community at the Shalom Hartman Institute.
“When we started Shabbat Shelach, we were looking to fill a need – especially among anglo LGBTQI+ women – for connection and community,” said Kaufman Grubner. “Today we have that community, but we also attend each other’s weddings, get together for meals and meet at the park to play basketball. Shabbat Shelach has created a space to meet friends and potential partners, and connect over shared values.”
13. Yom Teruah – The Day of Blowing, or Yom Zichron Teruah – The Day for Remembering the Blowing 14. Avinu Malkeinu
23. Temani – Yemenite 24. Hineni 25. G’mar chatimah tovah - May you be sealed for good [in the Book of Life] or G’mar tov which roughly translates as “a good seal”
Spelling bee answers
answers
3.
4.
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J-AIR broadcasting inside and out. Tapping into the Jewish www.j-air.com.aucommunity.
From left: David Schulberg and Ronen Cohen at One Voice (March 2022) Photo: Sean Meltzer
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Shana Tova
