The Melbourne Jewish Report | June Edition by thejewishreport

OPINION

ANNE-MARIE ELIAS CONSIDERED

Have you been accused of not listening? There is a key difference between hearing and listening.

All too often, we interchange these two concepts and can be confused into believing that they mean the same thing.

Hearing revolves around the physiological act of hearing sounds.

Listening is actively paying attention to the words and sounds that you hear to absorb their meaning.

When we choose not to listen to someone, whether that be our spouse, coworker, friend or child, we potentially create a rift in the relationship.

Have you heard someone utter these words: “You might be hearing me, but you’re not listening to what I say”?

The results of the recent federal election served to demonstrate that the Coalition was not listening to the electorate.

Let’s consider some ways that we can improve our listening skills:

• Pay attention and concentrate on what the speaker is saying.

• Use empathy, curiosity and motivation to provide connection.

Hearing and listening and the lack of each can drastically affect our mental health.

KOSHER CROSSWORD

Are you listening?

Sometimes we choose not to listen to another person because we are distracted, too busy or do not want to hear what they say. What that tells them is what they are saying and feeling is not important. That can put strain on a relationship and thereby affect our mental health.

Conversely, if we choose to actively listen and engage with others, we are showing them that they matter and the relationship is reinforced.

So, by actively listening and engaging with other individuals, we can:

• Create strong and genuine friendships.

• Exchange knowledge.

• Share memories.

Rebels

(Var.) 44. Biblical rebel (Numbers)

Biblical rebel (Melachim II)

One of 34-Across

Natural opening?

Links hazard

• Pass on stories and ideas.

• Resolve conflicts and create better solutions.

A pitfall to be aware of is non-verbal behaviour. Does our body language indicate that we are listening? Are we leaning in towards the speaker, sitting with uncrossed arms, nodding and so forth? It is also important to have communication where the speaker allows the listener to chime in.

The feeling of not being heard can be isolating and upsetting. It is necessary to put in effort when listening to another person.

If need be, ask for clarification as to what they are saying, so that the result is meaningful dialogue.

Thus far we have explored active listening. There is also passive listening, which is characterised as being disconnected, inattentive and unreceptive. A passive listener has no desire to contribute to the conversation. Most likely, they have already formed an opinion and are not willing to engage. Unsurprisingly, passive listening is not a great way to communicate with people with whom you are striving to form a relationship.

We should also consider what happens when a person experiences hearing loss and they are simply unable to listen. The loss of hearing is also linked to mental health concerns. Losing our ability to hear can potentially lead to social isolation and depression. This is when seeking professional help can be crucial.

Some final tips for becoming a better listener are to ask questions and to wait to speak – don’t speak over the person to whom you are listening and stay focused.

The late American author and communications expert, Ralph Nichols said: “The most basic of all human needs is to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”

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

8. Har where Yaakov saw angels

9. Rap megastar

10. Bomb

11. Canal of note

12. Disney rat

17. Jewish season

22. City of Kings, for short

24. Financial chan.

25. Israeli child

26. Bonus

27. Turn the trip meter to 000

28. Sister of Elizabeth I

30. Big name in Torah commentary

31. First name in terrorism

32. Entertaining Shore

35. Tabula ___ (clean slate)

38. One way Jews might defend themselves

39. "Alas!"

43. Cunning

45. Bar or Pearl

47. Southern Arizona city

48. Do, in the Torah

50. Teased (with "with")

52. Locale

53. Back muscles, briefly

54. Start of an incantation

56. Part of a U.S. commonwealth

57. Bibi's wife

58. Baby food choice

Har where Moshe saw Israel

Requiring little effort

59. Range in "The Sound of Music"

62. Range abbr.

Pampering spot

Midrash ___

Biblical rebel (Yirmiyahu)

Maccabiah or Saba

Addis Ababa is its capital: Abbr.

Montana capital

May parsha (this year)

Disney lion

YONI GLATT

For the first time, Magen David Adom (MDA) and Israel Railways have begun installing defibrillators on more than 150 passenger trains. The move extends a successful partnership that has already seen 67 stations across the country equipped with the lifesaving devices. This initiative, set to be completed soon, aims to enhance emergency response capabilities and save more lives in the event of cardiac emergencies during train journeys.

The move comes ahead of proposed legislation mandating defibrillators on trains. In recent years, the presence of defibrillators at stations, coupled with staff training, has saved dozens of lives. Station managers, shift supervisors, security staff and train inspectors undergo specialised training to use the devices when needed.

The partnership between MDA and Israel Railways has already proven to be most effective. Defibrillators at stations have proven critical in responding to cardiac emergencies. Expanding this initiative to include moving trains ensures passengers have access to critical care throughout their journey.

The collaboration has extended beyond equipment installation to include joint emergency drills, crew training, blood donation drives and

Magen David Adom and Israel Railways join forces to save more lives

other initiatives focused on public safety.

During the war in Gaza, for example, emergency exercises were conducted to prepare for the evacuation of the wounded by train. "Our longstanding partnership with Israel Railways has already saved countless lives. In cases of cardiac arrest, every second counts and the availability of a defibrillator is a crucial factor in successful resuscitation," said Eli Bin, director-general of Magen David Adom. "Installing … devices on passenger trains transporting over a quarter of a million people daily is a

significant step forward. We look forward to many more years of collaboration, dedicated to saving lives.” "To invoke the Talmudic adage – ‘whoever saves a life is as though they have saved the entire world.’ As a company that serves the public and transports around 270,000 passengers daily, the safety and security of our travellers are our top priorities," said Moshe Shimoni, chairman of the board of directors of Israel Railways.

"This initiative will enhance our ability to provide immediate, lifesaving care during train journeys. I extend my gratitude to everyone involved in this vital effort and wish good health to all our passengers and the people of Israel," said Shiko Zana, CEO of Israel Railways.

In addition to defibrillators, every passenger train in Israel is equipped with first aid kits, including EpiPen syringes for allergic reactions.

MDA is Israel’s emergency services provider. A leader in mass-casualty response and in electrical muscle stimulation technology, Magen David Adom treats and transports more than one million people to hospitals every year. It collects, tests and distributes nearly all the blood to Israel’s hospitals and, through its affiliation with the Red Cross movement, responds to disasters around the world.

MAGEN DAVID ADOM

From left: Eli Bin, director general of Magen David Adom and Moshe Shimoni, chairman of the board of directors of Israel Railways with a defibrillator

CONSIDERED OPINION

A modern-day battle

Part I: the PR war I spend a lot of time on the internet. I admit, I’m a self-confessed, chronically online digital native. While it may not have been a life I willingly chose, having been born into the connected generation, sadly it’s the life I choose now. Why? Because what starts online never ends online and whether we like it or not, the digital and physical worlds are inextricably linked.

Too often recently have I heard the argument that social media is insignificant or “not real”. Because of this detrimentally flawed attitude, Israel is losing the PR war and Jews in the diaspora are being doxxed and their families threatened. To understand the significant role that the internet plays in the future of the Jewish people, we need look no further than the Instagram account @jewhatedb, or Jew Hate Database, that was created shortly after October 7th, 2023. This initiative was started by two American Jews who saw a rise in attacks against Jews around the world and felt the need to expose them through the power of social media. To this day, they have exposed thousands of incidents that have resulted in real world consequences for the offenders. The power of the world wide web is such that if you report an incident to Jew Hate Database, they can find the names and identities of the perpetrators long before the police even know something has happened. What’s more, in recent months, Australian related content has become a common feature on their page, despite their focus being

on antisemitic incidents in America. Whether it was the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue or the two New South Wales nurses who claimed to have killed Israelis, the rest of the Jewish world is finally aware of the Australian Jewish experience, largely thanks to the Jew Hate Database.

Since October 7th, the same attitude has been adopted by numerous others who realised that waiting for the government or the authorities to act is simply not enough. So, a Jewish presence online, calling out the lies and the hate, is essential. One such activist is Jewish Australian lawyer Zara Cooper, most commonly known as @clammy_ fraud. Cooper has made a name for herself due to her unwavering efforts to call out hate in this country. She has been attacked, abused and her children’s lives threatened. Still, despite the risk to herself and her family, she chose not to hide, but to turn her experiences into something positive. Digital Defence is a not-for-profit co-founded by Cooper and advocate Jennifer Lee to combat harmful online behaviour in Australia through education and support. Organisations like hers only demonstrate the stark reality that no Jew or Zionist is safe online anymore. The intensity of Jew hatred that we’ve seen in the past year and a half is so unbelievable that I am personally still struggling to come to terms with it. Yet, the reality is clear. We cannot afford to continue ignoring the importance of the online space. We must invest further in it and we must start now.

Part II: changing the narrative

Earlier this month, as I sat in Caulfield Shule listening to Zara Cooper in

conversation with one of my favourite online influencers, Syrian-born Abraham Hamra, I realised that it’s not only essential that we are actively present in the PR war, but how we fight it. During the discussion, Hamra made a profound point. When asked about his approach to advocating for Israel, he made it clear that while the Holocaust was a terrible tragedy and Holocaust education has served its purpose for many decades to encourage empathy for the oppressed, it can no longer be used as the framework from which we justify Israel’s existence and tell the Jewish story today. For most non-Jewish Australians, education about the Jewish people has almost solely consisted of a trip to the Holocaust Museum and, if they’re lucky, a neighbouring synagogue.

For those with Jewish friends, a Shabbat dinner or watching the lighting of the menorah at Chanukah may be added to the mix. But when the world is hurling ‘White European Coloniser’ accusations against you, telling them the story of your seemingly White, European grandparents fleeing to Israel to build the country seems almost counterintuitive. What we must reflect upon is that the Jew hatred of 80 years ago is not necessarily the Jew hatred we face today.

Yes, there are still Neo-Nazi’s around espousing the same replacement theory of the past, but they’re not the trending audio.

Hamra illustrated it best when he shared his recent experiences speaking directly to Arabs online. At first, they would hurl insults at each other … in Arabic, of course. Then, they would curse each other … again in Arabic. And then finally, with the niceties out

the way, the real conversation would begin. Perhaps surprisingly, by the time Hamra had finished sharing his family’s experience as Jews in Syria and why they had to flee, he found more friends than enemies. Clearly, this is a tactic that Ashkenazi Jews cannot replicate, yet it seems to be an effective one.

So, what does this mean for us – the majority population of Australian Jewry of European descent? The answer is straight forward enough. Platform diverse Jewish voices. Share the stories of Middle Eastern and North African Jews. Educate the Jewish and nonJewish communities about the Farhud (a pogrom carried out against the Jewish population of Baghdad in June 1941) and the Jewish persecution at the hands of Arab colonisation. Change the face of the Jewish world.

Jews are not white. We are a multicultural, racially diverse people who, for the most part, can trace our ancestry back to a tiny sliver of land in the Middle East called Israel.

This may seem like an obvious statement to most of you reading this, but for many apparently it is not. So, if this is the ignorance we are fighting against, why is it that Hamra is one of the first Middle Eastern Jews to be brought out here by our Jewish organisations?

It's time we faced the fact that ours is not only a European story anymore. It’s also very much a Middle Eastern one. And it’s about time we allowed the Middle Eastern Jews to tell it.

Find the exclusive full conversation between Zara Cooper and Abraham Hamra on YouTube @loadedinkmediaaus.

DAHLIA D’ONGHIA

From left: Zara Cooper, Abraham Hamra and Rabbi Daniel Rabin

THE KING DAVID SCHOOL AROUND THE COMMUNITY

Middle school students (Years 6 to 9) at The King David School can explore a range of electives, allowing them to discover and develop their interests and passions beyond the core curriculum.

In Year 6, the Kindle program inspires students with robotics, philosophy (questioning), yoga/mindfulness (regulation) and drama (movement).

This continues into Year 7 with creative design, where students engage in hands-on projects that foster innovation, design thinking and problem-solving skills. Design technology encourages practical application of scientific and mathematical concepts through an understanding of systems and engineering challenges. Students can also choose food and society, which examines the cultural, ethical and environmental aspects of food.

Sport science delves into the scientific principles behind physical activity and health.

In Year 8, there is an extensive choice of electives, include art, classroom music and drama, digital technologies, media, sport science and history and myth.

These middle school electives are designed to complement King David’s commitment to academic excellence and Jewish values, providing a wellrounded educational experience that caters to the varied interests and talents of students.

Fostering passion and innovation

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 Jewish word will use all seven letters.

Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. Score one point for each answer and three points for a Jewish related word that uses all seven letters.

Rating: 15 = Good; 21 = Excellent; 25 = Genius

From left, Zoe and Nadav in Year 7 art class

Sophie in Year 8 technology class

Mia in Year 7 art class

Yoni Glatt

Times

Post. He

CONSIDERED OPINION

RAMONA FREEDMAN

ALIYAH ADVENTURES

Israelis seem to be as well educated as anyone else about healthy foods. Whether they embrace nutritional advice is another story. One fruit they love, but often can’t afford is a small, sweet superfood that is high in Vitamin C and fibre. “Yes”, the blueberry.

Here’s the story: traditionally, imported blueberries can be found here in most supermarkets … if you look hard enough. Typically, they are left unrefrigerated and are imminently mouldy within. So, disrespected. Don’t go near. But there is one brand that seems to come into fruit shops on Thursdays, ready for customers to enjoy as a special Shabbat treat. They are Carmel Berry blueberries.

As soon as I tried one, I loved it. I mean, I really loved it and if no one was watching I could readily have consumed a punnet in record time. A small bit of sleuthing uncovered that this entire crop is based on a variety of Australian blueberries. No wonder!

Impressively, some innovative Israelis discovered that if you take Australian blueberries and grow them in the Golan Heights on platforms within containers in a greenhouse, this modern agricultural equation results in brilliant blueberries, bursting with flavour.

This all began back in 2018, half a dozen years before my family and I made Aliyah. Clearly, they wanted to get it just right, so any Aussie could feel even more at home in our holy land.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, one Friday afternoon, just before a friendly fruit shop in Ra’anana was closing for Shabbat, I was very much channelling my inner-Israeli when I rushed in with my

A punnet of blueberries

friend Orli to quickly grab what I needed for our desperately needed upcoming day of rest.

While I was thinking about my Shabbat menu and buying accordingly, I couldn’t resist the Carmel blueberries, despite their prohibitive price. Meanwhile, Orli did her shopping simultaneously and began chatting with the weathered greengrocer, who looked like he had served in too many wars and had just seen it all and then some.

Orli was nervous and anxious and blurted out that her youngest son was a combat soldier who was home for Shabbat and he was currently based in a very dangerous location. Whenever any Israeli, religious or not, hears about a combat soldier in active service, they all seem to utter the same phrase, which includes the following words: “God should protect him going in and coming out”. Comforting.

With the clock ticking, Orli and I didn’t have the time to look at what each other had purchased. We paid, wished attendants a Shabbat Shalom and were on our way. As we hurried to my car on the street, the fruit shop owner started running after us. My heart started beating fast. Did I miss something crucial? I just thought, this country is so dramatic. Can’t we just do a quick fruit shop in relative peace? How wrong I was.

Reuven approached … out of breath. He looked at Orli and said, “Your son. For your son. For his Shabbat. Tell him I love him. Tell him these are from me, just for him.”

And with that, Orli received a gift on her son’s behalf, equivalent to Israeli gold dust … a punnet of (Aussie) Carmel blueberries. We both stopped and had tears in our tired eyes. This country has

a spiritual soul like no other. One more thing on this topic. Guess what they call blueberries in Israel? If you look it up in the dictionary, you’ll find the guttural word ‘ochmaniot’ … but on the street, like so many other words nowadays, you just put on your best Israeli accent and say our English word ‘blueberries’, rolling your r’s for an extra second or two, of course.

As my Hebrew lexicon increases, I am starting to make more sense of my surroundings. If I am walking on my street and see a Hebrew sign in front of a driveway, I will pause, try and decipher it and then want to tell all and sundry in a loud, definitive voice that ‘parking is forbidden’. And then smile a while, because I am oh so proud of myself for that little win.

When it comes to my Hebrew, I am progressing, but these Russians are like grammar racing Olympians. In comparison, I am the little puffed out girl at the primary athletics carnival. In fairness, I don’t dedicate every waking moment to my Hebrew studies, so I can’t really complain. But ‘wow’, our Vladimir, Boris and Tatiana are currently in gold, silver and bronze medal positions.

In the spirit of exposing myself to more Hebrew, I am now listening to Israeli radio stations when driving (with my steering wheel, oddly, on the left-hand side). Somehow, I tuned in to FM 93.0 and stumbled on a radio station called Kol Chai, a charedi and national religious broadcaster, which started in 1996.

As it was Hebrew, I listened intently, trying to grab a word or two, as I could. That day the main news was to do with Yemen. A ballistic missile had landed near Ben Gurion airport. Israel was retaliating. The seasoned guy behind the microphone decided that they

should have a segment dedicated to Yemenite Jews living in Israel. Before I knew it, I was listening to random Moshe David from Jerusalem with family hailing from Yemen, or Teiman, in Hebrew. I was hearing about their foods, culture and then he burst into what I initially thought was a song. No filter, no audition.

He wasn’t singing pop. He was chanting Psalm 121 in Tehillim, which is uttered in many synagogues here at the beginning and end of shul services. It is all about imploring God to protect Israel and we all have our beyond brave soldiers in mind.

His voice had a unique Mizrachi melodic lilt. It was so mesmerising, I could have listened for hours. Okay, you may think this is a religious flex to say that I knew exactly which psalm he was singing. Actually, I really did recognise it, because it is my favourite one. How that came about is a story for another column.

Meanwhile, new immigrants keep gravitating to Ra’anana daily. We are now officially property owners in Israel. Apparently, if I do nothing else, that is considered a real mitzvah.

A friend who is in the property game here keeps telling us that as new olim arrive so many want to be in walking distance of our shul, Kehillat Lev Ra’anana. It is dynamic and welcoming and vibrant, so that makes sense.

If you happen to come this way, let’s have a coffee and catch up. I might even bring a punnet or two of Carmel blueberries for us to enjoy beyachad (together).

Until next time then, it’s over and out from Ramona in Ra’anana.

More than 80 members of the local community joined UIA for three weeks of Missions and an International Women’s Mifgash in Israel. Being in Israel over Yom Hazikaron is a sacred time which gives our nation the space to remember … to witness … to stand in solidarity with the victims of October 7 and their families. Mission participants visited memorials at Be’eri and the Nova site. They met survivors and terror victims. They joined ceremonies at Mount Herzl and the Knesset. They walked the streets of Sderot, Kiryat Shmona and the Golan Heights, where recovery is powered by UIA’s generous supporters.

The next day participants danced in the streets, ate authentic food and felt the true pulse of a nation that is eternal on Yom Ha’atzmaut. Mission participant Helen Goodman had this to say: “Eight days of a lifetime. My first Mission. Why did I wait so long? An exhaustive program, but an itinerary with so much information, so much to see and hear. The joy – Yom Ha’atzmaut. What fun and incredible happiness. The dancing … the food. It did not disappoint. The “family” on the Mission gel and form relationships. Funny, serious, quiet, talkative and all with opinions. Thank you. Your knowledge, organisation and courage are truly

A people on a Mission

of UIA donor Nora

inspiring.” Another Mission participant, Philippa Hall, echoed those sentiments.

“For 34 years I've been yearning to return to Israel. I'm not Jewish, but as soon as I arrived, I felt at home. Time and again, I came across beautiful, compassionate, loving people inside and out. I met and had lunch with gorgeous, young but mature soldiers, younger than my kids, so happy to be serving their country. The Mission is priceless. I feel so privileged and grateful to have taken part.”

Michael Koodak said: “Of course there's been a mix of sad moments, but at the same time it was uplifting listening to the experiences of hostages and their families, and how they cope with such adversity. It makes me realise how fortunate I’ve been in my life and as a proud Zionist Jew that we are in good hands.”

The People of Israel need us now more than ever, but perhaps the diaspora community needs Israel and her People

more than we realise. So, grab your opportunity to see, feel and experience Israel like never before with a UIA for a Day trip to the north or south, or the upcoming September Mission.

For more information about upcoming dates for UIA for a Day and Missions, go to uiaaustralia.org. au/experience-israel-uia-way, email estelle.wytwornik@uiavic.org.au or call 9272 5533.

Participants

recent UIA Yom Ha’atzmaut Mission outside a dormitory at Hadassah Neurim Youth Village, built with the generous support

Goodridge

KATHY KAPLAN OAM BET OLAM AROUND THE COMMUNITY

When someone dies, we don’t just lose a person. We lose a storyteller, a keeper of moments, a unique and unrepeatable voice. Funerals are not just about endings; they are about the stories that live on.

Every Jewish funeral we help facilitate at Bet-Olam Jewish Funerals is woven with memory. We hear the stories families tell – some rehearsed, others tumbling out raw. We see how the laughter of a well-loved anecdote breaks through grief like sunlight. We witness the silence that follows a name spoken with trembling reverence.

One family recalled their father’s ritual of walking to the milk bar every morning, returning with a newspaper, a smile and a bag of mixed lollies ‘just because’. Another shared how their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, taught them to measure everything ‘by hand and by heart’. These are the tales that build a legacy.

There is no such thing as an ‘ordinary’ life. When we gather to say goodbye, we bring the extraordinary details forward. The funeral becomes a bridge between generations – a

Stories that stay with us

moment when children hear about who their parents were before they were parents, when friends learn something new, when a life takes shape in stories told aloud.

At Bet-Olam, we encourage families to share the quirky, the tender and the surprising memories. We encourage them to include that favourite song

lyric, that much-repeated joke, that lesson always offered over a Shabbat or Yom Tov meal. These moments are not trivial; they are sacred.

Our funeral directors walk beside each family with quiet strength and gentle presence. We don’t just plan funerals – we help create the next chapter in a person’s story. A chapter

of honour. A chapter of remembrance. A chapter where love and legacy are woven into every choice.

Whether a family chooses a traditional burial or a more contemporary path, we offer options that respect both heritage and personal wishes. Lawn or monumental burial, cremation, or prearranged services – each is carried out with reverence and care. At our newly created Gan Haneshama section at Bunurong Memorial Park, families find a serene resting place surrounded by native trees and the peace of open sky. Planning ahead can feel daunting, but we see it as an act of love. It’s a way to ease the burden for family and ensure that your story is told the way you want it to be.

And when you choose Bet-Olam, your story does more. It carries forward – supporting the next generation through community programs for Jewish youth and young adults. Because memory doesn’t end. It echoes, it blesses and it stays with us. Always.

In the end, memory is what we carry. Memory is what makes a person live on. We bury only the body of a loved one. The soul returns to the source but the stories? Well, they stay with us.

“ The wound of grief is the price we pay for love ” Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

KOSHER FEATURE

Kosher Australia has started a new online course for kosher supervisors

The kosher wedding

YANKEL WAJSBORT GENERAL MANAGER KOSHER AUSTRALIA

Having married off children in the US and Australia, there are numerous common features. The wedding dress, the bridesmaids and the families need to be attired just so. The floral arrangements are carefully chosen to match the bride’s colour scheme and the entertainment needs to be contemporary, but suitable to the tone of the guest list.

And with Jewish weddings, the aspect that guests always remember is the food. Was the food good, was there enough liquor and was the service snappy?

Usually, once the bride and respective mothers decide on the caterer, if it will be a buffet or plated event and the cuisine (fleishig vs milchig), the groom and respective fathers receive their instructions about what alcohol will be allowed. Kosher catering follows similar guidelines worldwide.

Some venues allow outside catering, while others do not. In the latter scenario, be sure to check with the venue if they have a kosher licence. Generally, kosher agencies do not grant one-off kosher approvals. Food production starts several days in advance of the wedding. For caterers that cater kosher on demand, a mashgiach or kosher supervisor is required from the start of the kosherisation of the kitchen through to packing away of the dishes post event.

Depending upon the size of the wedding, preparation may take up

to 30 hours. The mashgiach’s role is to ensure the integrity of kosher sensitive ingredients, such as meat and fish, to check the kosher status of ingredients and to ensure that the vegetable and fruits used are insect free.

While caterers will offer kosher wine and liquor selections, many people want to choose their own favourite drop. Kosher Australia requires caterers to have their clients submit their proposed alcohol list at least a week in advance of the event. This is done to avoid any confusion on the day, should the mashgiach find a problem. Some weddings hire in third party baristas and/or mixologists. The kosher supervisor needs to check the setup of these to ensure kosher compliance. A barista at a fleishig wedding will need to ensure that they have a supply of plant-based milks, as dairy is strictly forbidden.

Part of the mashgiach’s role is to ensure appropriate signage that informs guests that the event is under kosher supervision. Once the festivities are over, the mashgiach supervises the cleanup to ensure that kosher dishes are cleaned and packed away for the next event.

So, here are things to consider:

Will the meal be fleishig? Does the venue allow or have kosher catering supervised by a reputable kosher authority? Are you sourcing your own alcohol and, if so, has this been checked by the kosher agency?

Then, all that is left is to enjoy the experience.

Kosher air travel

YANKEL WAJSBORT GENERAL MANAGER KOSHER AUSTRALIA

Despite travelling overseas many times, I still get a thrill from stepping onto a plane in one country and disembarking in another, where the language, weather and culture are different.

Secondary to the excitement of getting on the plane in Melbourne and getting off in LA, San Francisco, Vancouver, Miami, Dubai or Tel Aviv, is the opportunity to have an extended break from being tethered to the world via mobile phone or computer and the accompanying demands.

Sitting on a plane, one almost looks forward to a specially prepared hot kosher meal.

Here are some of the issues to keep an eye out for:

1) Is the heated part of the meal double wrapped? Since the main course will be heated in an otherwise non-kosher oven, double wrapping allows the oven to be used for heating the kosher main course.

2) Are all the food packages sealed with kosher seals? To ensure the kosher integrity of the food, the packages should be sealed with one or two seals, depending on what the food is (meat and skin-off fish require two seals, for example). This is a guard against tampering.

3) Keeping fish and meat courses separate. Kosher laws prohibit the eating of meat and fish together without rinsing one’s mouth in between. Most airline meals provide

a fish entrée, followed by a meat main.

4) Is the bread roll treated hamotzi, namely as bread, requiring a person to wash their hands before the meal and an extended grace after the meal? Australian kosher airline meals come with a mini roll that uses apple juice, rather than water, in the dough. The roll is mezonot, treated as cake and not requiring pre-washing of one’s hands, nor an extended post meal grace. The US meals are supplied with regular mini rolls that require washing of hands before eating and are hamotzi.

5) If the food is dairy, when was the meat course served and has enough time elapsed? Kosher law requires a waiting period between meat and dairy and vice versa. Depending upon custom, this may be as little as one hour or as long as six hours.

6) Which cold drinks can you have? Depending on the carrier, you may receive small cans or packs of juice or lemonade. Australian brands can be checked on the kosher app. US brands that are kosher will carry the appropriate kosher symbol. If the drinks are poured from a larger

container, you can ask to see the container if it has a reputable kosher symbol.

7) Status of snacks? Some airlines have snacks that are kosher, particularly US carriers. Periodically Australian carriers carry Carman’s bars or similar products, which are kosher. Of course, eating food on a plane is always more challenging when the passenger in the seat in front of yours chooses the precise moment when you are about to dig in to recline theirs. Oh, the joys of ‘cattle class’!

A rabbi’s blessing

YANKEL WAJSBORT GENERAL MANAGER KOSHER AUSTRALIA

Recently a Tik Tok video purporting to show a rabbi blessing a kitchen and thus rendering it kosher went viral.

Of course, kosher certification has nothing to do with ‘blessing factories’ and everything to do with tracking production information and solid principles of quality assurance.

What type of information does Kosher Australia maintain for each company?

A kosher product has two segments that are checked for kosher, namely that all ingredients are kosher and that the production equipment is kosher.

Ingredients

Every food product has a recipe, that is the list of ingredients used to make the product. In manufacturing parlance, this is called a Bill of Materials (BOM).

Kosher Australia keeps a list of all the bills of materials that have been checked. Our database also allows us to cross check where the same ingredient is used by multiple companies. So, if several companies use a brand of citric acid and that ingredient loses kosher certification, the impact can readily be tracked.

Kosher Australia tracks the recipes for nearly 45,000 products and has a database of 60,000 ingredients.

Production equipment

Aside from the ingredients, we consider shared equipment. Called a routing or bill of routing, this defines the path the product takes through the manufacturing facility. If non-kosher products are made on the same equipment, from a kosher perspective we need to ensure that there is no cross contamination. This may involve a simple clean to remove residue or a near boiling water flush.

Plant-based meats

YANKEL WAJSBORT GENERAL MANAGER KOSHER AUSTRALIA

I was recently contacted by a kosher caterer looking for a source of kosher vegetarian sausages. It was only a few years back that one could find many options in the supermarkets for plant-based meats. Now, one would be hard-pressed to find any outside the specialty kosher sections or health food stores.

The industry has seemingly entered a death spiral. In a Washington Post article on January 19, 2023 titled “The big problem with plant-based meat: The ‘meat’ part”, the suggested contraction of the industry is primarily due to the fact that meat eaters actually want meat rather than ‘fake meat’.

Given the additional costs and the heavy processing involved in making the plant-based meats, unless there is a pressing need, plant-based meat is proving to not be financially viable.

Of course, kosher consumers are interested in the sector, as plantbased meats allow us to enjoy a kosher cheeseburger or have a coffee with real milk after having a pareve spagbol.

And let’s not forget the nine days at the start of the month of Av when meat consumption is prohibited. Interestingly, the kosher concerns surrounding the production of plantbased meats are quite complex.

Both the bills of materials and routing need to be verified before a product can be certified as being kosher.

Case study: canned soup

A few years ago, Kosher Australia certified a popular brand of canned soup, but only certain sizes of the soup. Why?

Canneries typically cook the canned foods in what are called retorts. The cans are held in place and immersed in hot water or steam. The challenge is when

the retort is also used for meat-based products, thus rendering the retort not kosher.

This factory had different retorts for different can sizes. Some of the retorts were dedicated to kosher and kosher compatible products. Others processed meats but had a standard kosherisation phase, while still more retorts had no kosher clean in place. Obviously, the latter meant that the cans made in that retort could not be considered kosher.

To produce a meat flavour, specialty flavours and seasonings are used. These often come from outside Australia or are produced by flavour companies on equipment shared with non-kosher production.

One of the savoury flavours used in a product that we checked contained

dairy ingredients. To form the product, usually baking or frying is involved. One of the manufacturers co-processed their plant-based products with real meat, which presented a challenge. The base of plant-based meats is usually textured soy protein, combined with various vegetable oils and fats.

Note that plant-based is different from cultured meat, which is grown from stem cells in a laboratory and represents a different halachic discussion. So, in a nutshell, while the general market may be cooling to plant-based meat, it remains of great interest to the kosher market.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY

In the shadow of war, another battle rages – one fought not with weapons, but within the minds of Israel’s soldiers and civilians. As Israel confronts an unprecedented surge in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases following the October 7th attacks and subsequent multi-front war, Tel Aviv University (TAU) has emerged as a vital force for healing, research and hope. A landmark study by TAU recently revealed that one in eight IDF reservists are now reporting PTSD symptoms following their reserve duty in the Gaza war. This figure represents a sharp rise from pre-war levels, underscoring the severe psychological toll of combat.

Professor Yair Bar-Haim, head of TAU’s National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience, said: “This war has brought us to a point where 12 per cent experience PTSD symptoms. These are not just numbers – these are people living with open wounds.”

The six-year longitudinal study, presented at TAU’s “Future of Israel” conference in May 2025, tracked nearly 600 IDF combat soldiers across five key milestones, from enlistment to 18 months after discharge. The findings

Invisible wounds: how Tel Aviv University is leading Israel’s battle against PTSD

paint a sobering picture. While fewer than 0.5 per cent of recruits entered service with PTSD, rates climbed steadily to 4.4 per cent by the end of regular service. Disturbingly, six months post-discharge – before the outbreak of war – symptoms had already risen to 8 per cent. The war then pushed rates

to 12 per cent, a level comparable to veterans of Vietnam, Iraq and the Yom Kippur War.

“This data reflects a mental health emergency in Israel,” said Professor Bar-Haim. “We urgently need longterm solutions, including better training for therapists, regional trauma clinics and sustainable support systems for veterans.”

Tel Aviv University didn’t wait for others to act. In a bold and compassionate move, the university fast-tracked the launch of Israel’s most advanced posttrauma clinic to address the soaring need for treatment. The clinic opened in January 2024 – two years ahead of schedule. Staffed by more than 30 of Israel’s leading trauma clinicians, the clinic is already at capacity, treating reservists, civilians and, notably, TAU’s own students.

For many TAU students, the war’s trauma is deeply personal. Nearly 7,000 served in reserves last year, 19 were killed and countless others lost family or friends. Now they are battling invisible wounds while trying to rebuild their futures. The clinic has already provided care to nearly 1,000 patients

Countless TAU students have lost loved ones or endured unimaginable trauma, and many now suffer from PTSD. To address this crisis TAU established Israel’s most advanced post-trauma clinic, providing cutting-edge, evidence-based treatments developed by our globally-renowned researchers over the last 30 years. The clinic has become a critical resource for Israel, treating many TAU students struggling to rebuild their futures.

– including many of these students –but demand far outpaces available resources.

In response, the Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) has launched a critical fundraising campaign to ensure every TAU student suffering from PTSD receives expert, subsidised care. Every $3,000 raised covers a full cycle of treatment for one student, giving them the tools to heal, recover, continue their studies and move on with their lives.

“Supporting our students is not just a moral imperative – it’s a strategic investment in Israel’s future,” said Professor Bar-Haim.

David Solomon, CEO of AFTAU said: “This is a call to action. With the support of our Australian supporters, we can stand with Israel’s future doctors, engineers, scientists and leaders. We can help heal the wounds of war and ensure that trauma does not define their destinies.”

To donate to this critically importance cause, go to https://www.aftau.asn.au

Professor Yair Bar-Haim, head of Tel Aviv University’s National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

YOASH DVIR CEO TECHNION AUSTRALIA

In recent decades, the traditional boundaries of academia have started to blur. Universities are no longer seen solely as institutions for theoretical exploration and publication. Increasingly, they are expected to take part in solving real-world problems – social, environmental and economic. Just as academic research is commercialised through the creation of startups and intellectual property licensing, there is a growing recognition that social impact should be an equally important outcome of academic work.

This shift reflects a broader understanding that knowledge, when confined to lecture halls or academic journals, misses much of its potential. Turning discoveries into businesses has become a well-trodden path. Translating academic insights into community-led initiatives deserves the same emphasis.

Socially engaged research, where knowledge is co-created with the public, can lead to tangible improvements in areas such as urban planning, education, accessibility and environmental justice.

Against this backdrop, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has established a model for connecting academia with community through its social hub. Founded in 2011 by Professor Rachel Kallus, the hub was created to apply academic knowledge in service of

From ivory tower to street level: bridging academia and community

Israeli society, particularly in addressing social inequality and fostering civic engagement.

Today, the social hub is led by Professor Meirav Aharon Gutman, who continues to expand its reach and deepen its integration within the Technion and surrounding communities.

Unlike ad hoc volunteering programs, the social hub is embedded within the Technion’s academic structure. It integrates research, teaching and applied work across disciplines, often in collaboration with municipalities, nonprofits and grassroots organisations. Students and faculty work together to develop solutions that are both technically sound and socially sensitive. These range from housing projects and community mapping to technology that helps redistribute underused public resources.

One of its hallmark initiatives involves leveraging technology to reduce social disparities by tracking surplus resources in public and private sectors and redirecting them to areas of need.

Rather than inventing new materials or systems from scratch, the approach often focuses on rethinking the way existing resources are distributed and accessed.

Importantly, the hub isn’t limited to a single faculty or department. It draws from architecture, engineering, planning and computer science, and operates in close partnership with local stakeholders – residents, schools and local councils.

This approach helps build overall capacity: students gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of social dynamics, while communities

benefit from evidence-based, collaborative interventions.

The hub also collaborates with other socially engaged bodies within the Technion, such as the Students’ Association and sustainability programs, and is part of international networks, such as Living Knowledge. This broader context underscores that the move toward community-oriented research is not unique to Israel; it is part of a global academic trend.

The case of the Technion social hub illustrates how universities can move from knowledge production to active participation in shaping society. As more institutions grapple with their role in a complex, rapidly changing world, models like this show that academia doesn’t need to choose between theory and practice. The challenge and opportunity lies in doing both, thoughtfully and with purpose.

Professor Meirav Aharon Gutman will be vising Sydney and on May 27 to talk about science and the civic mission of academia. Her address is titled “From Ruins to Renewal: Rebuilding Israel’s North”.

For tickets, go to: https://events. humanitix.com/from-ruins-to-renewalrebuilding-israel-s-north

Professor Meirav Aharon Gutman

RABBI DANIEL RABIN RABBINIC THOUGHT

There’s a moment every year, usually somewhere between polishing off the cheesecake and trying to stay awake at 3am during Tikkun Leil (the allnight learning marathon Jews around the world take part in on the eve of Shavuot) that I find myself asking: Why do we do this? Why, in 2025, are Jews still voluntarily gathering, often with nothing more than caffeine and carbs as sustenance, to study texts written thousands of years ago?

And the answer is because learning is the Jewish superpower.

It’s not flashy. It probably won’t make you TikTok famous. But Jewish learning is how we’ve survived, thrived, argued, cried, laughed and, most importantly, grown. It’s how a wandering people without a home for 2,000 years managed to build an intellectual empire across continents. Pretty remarkable for a people whose defining moment was standing together at the foot of a mountain, hearing the voice of Hashem.

But let’s be honest. Learning Torah is not always easy. Our sacred texts can feel like a puzzle wrapped in a riddle

Learning is our superpower

Rabbi Daniel Rabin

written in Aramaic. Some sections read like ancient legalese, others like surreal prophecy. And don’t get me started on sections like the one we recently read in Parshat Tazria, where we dive into tzara’at, a mysterious condition that somehow blends dermatology with divine messaging and leaves most of us scratching our heads.

Yet somehow, our people have

never stopped learning. We’re the people of the book, or rather, books. The Talmud, the Rambam, Rashi, Rav Kook, Nechama Leibowitz, Rabbi Sacks. Each one a giant. Each reminding us that learning isn’t just about knowing. It’s about becoming. Take Rashi. He was a winemaker, literally crushing grapes by day and crushing Talmudic analysis by night. Rambam was a doctor. He wrote philosophy that’s still quoted in medical ethics classes. Nechama Leibowitz sent out Torah worksheets by post and personally marked and returned them. These weren’t just scholars in ivory towers. They were people with day jobs, families and responsibilities. Sound familiar?

That’s the secret of Jewish learning. It’s for everyone. You don’t need to be a rabbi. You don’t need to know Hebrew. You don’t even need to have stayed awake during your Bar or Bat Mitzvah speech. All you need is curiosity and maybe a good study partner, who doesn’t mind snacks.

Today, we’ve never had more access. Daf Yomi podcasts, YouTube shiurim, Insta-rebbes, Torah on Spotify, JLI courses, Limmud Oz and WhatsApp groups that argue over Talmudic texts while stuck in traffic. Torah is

Embracing Jewish converts

When I think about Shavuot, my mind wanders to the delicious food we enjoy during the festival. As the only Jewish holiday that favours dairy over meat, I look forward to indulging in ice cream, cheese blintzes, cheesy lasagna and rich cheesecake. I also love seeing my home adorned with flowers and greenery, and I reflect on the profound moment in our history when we, the Jewish people, became a nation by accepting the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Yet, beyond the joyful traditions and festive meals, my thoughts turn to something deeper – the value of inclusivity within our Jewish community. On Shavuot, we read the Megillat Ruth, which recounts the story of Ruth, the first recorded convert to Judaism, as she journeys with Naomi back to Bethlehem.

Jewish tradition teaches that converts possess a soul of elevated stature. While some are born into Judaism and grow up with its practices as a given, converts choose to join the Jewish people, embracing our history, destiny and obligations out of sincere commitment. Our sages emphasise that converts are to be honoured, respected and never reminded of their origins in a hurtful way.

This message feels especially poignant now. The past 18 plus months have been among the most difficult in recent Jewish memory. Since October 7th, 2023, the Jewish world has reeled from the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. While the world briefly expressed sympathy, that compassion all too quickly faded, replaced for many by accusations against Israel of genocide and injustice. The only Jewish state has been vilified in courts of

law and the court of public opinion. Today, to be openly Jewish and to support Israel can draw out latent antisemitism. Members of our arts communities have been doxed. Jews face hostility at work, on the streets and in their social circles. Jewish businesses have been targeted and boycotted.

Among those most deeply affected are Jewish converts, people who may feel caught between the Jewish community they joined and the non-Jewish circles to which they once belonged. Some have seen former friends or family turn against them for their support of Israel. They face suspicion and judgment from all sides. And yet, despite this adversity, I have not once heard them express regret.

Instead, I’ve heard only love – for Judaism, for the Jewish people, for our traditions and for truth. They remain steadfast, even more connected to our heritage.

And so we arrive at Shavuot, the festival that commemorates not only the giving of the Torah, but the embracing of it. This is a time to remember that we are a people not solely born, but also chosen, by ourselves and by those who join us. Ruth’s story reminds us that no matter how great the challenge, there will always be those who see the beauty of Judaism and yearn to be part of it.

As we mark this Shavuot, we remember that our endurance as a people has never been because life was straight forward. It has been because of our commitment to Torah, to mitzvot and to one another. It is not always easy to be different, to be Jewish, but that difference is what has sustained us. So, as we welcome both lifelong Jews and those who chose this path, and as we continue to pray for the safe return of our hostages – whose absence is felt at every festival and every day – we say together: Am Yisrael Chai. How good it is to be part of the Jewish people.

everywhere, scrolling through our feeds if we want it.

But that’s also the challenge. We live in an age of endless content. Competing with Torah are cat videos, influencers and conspiracy theories about the origins of gefilte fish. And yet, choosing to learn something Jewish, even for ten minutes a day, is an act of spiritual resistance. It’s declaring that our identity isn’t just genetic. It’s intentional.

So, this Shavuot, whether you’re diving into Kabbalah at midnight, attending a class between lasagne layers, or just opening a book because your kid asked, “Who wrote the Torah anyway”, you’re part of something timeless.

At Caulfield Shule, we’re embracing that spirit with a fully catered Shavuot dairy dinner, followed by dynamic learning programs, including a power-hour panel for young adults and a rich learning lineup for the broader community. If you’ve never experienced Torah in action, this is the time. Torah is not just what we learn. It’s what we live.

And remember, cheesecake is quickly consumed. Jewish wisdom is eternal ... but also, have the cheesecake.

RABBI GABI KALTMANN

Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann. Note that the minhag (custom) of decorating with flowers and greenery on Shavuot is a beautiful tradition observed in many Jewish communities

RABBI DR BENJI LEVY RABBINIC THOUGHT

Long before fire touched the mountain and the world heard the voice of God at Sinai, a Greek thinker named Heraclitus wrote: “You cannot step into the same river twice.” At first glance, this feels obvious –of course, things change. Time moves forward, and so do we. But Heraclitus meant something deeper: not only does the river change, but we do, too. The “you” who steps into the river is never the same.

Shavuot, the festival commemorating the giving of the Torah, offers a profound Jewish lens on this idea. It reminds us that while we are constantly in motion, there is something that does not change. The Torah, eternal and unbroken, stands as a pillar in a world of flux. We return to it each year, but never as the same people.

Each year, we count the Omer, 49 days from Pesach to Shavuot. We don’t leap from freedom to revelation overnight. Instead, we journey slowly, day by day, soul by soul. It’s a process of growth, of intentional change. That’s the Jewish approach: yes, change is inevitable, but let it be meaningful, directed, sacred.

Heraclitus taught that change is the only constant. His philosophical rival, Parmenides, insisted the opposite – that change is an illusion, and all is fixed, unchanging. Strangely enough, Judaism embraces both. We are souls, rooted in eternity, like Parmenides imagined. Yet we live in a physical world that shifts and

The strange face of change

moves, like Heraclitus described. At Sinai, these opposites meet. God descends onto the mountain, a moment of Divine revelation within the frame of time. And every year, we return to that moment. The sages teach: “In every generation, each person must see themselves as if they received the Torah today.” It’s not just history, it’s memory. Living memory.

We hear the same Ten Commandments, but our ears have changed. Our hearts have changed. The Torah remains constant, but we engage with it anew. The same cycle, but a different you. That’s the strange face of change: what stays the same on the outside transforms us on the inside. The paradox of Shavuot lies in this blend. We’re taught, “It is not upon you to finish the task, but neither are you free to desist from it.” We may never fully “arrive”, but we’re meant to journey. It’s the act of climbing the mountain that matters, even if we never reach the summit.

Judaism marks time through cycles –weekly Shabbat, monthly Rosh Chodesh, yearly festivals. Time, for us, is not a straight line, but a spiral. We come back to the same points, but with new perspective. As Matthew McConaughey’s character once said: “Time is a flat circle.” But Jewish time isn’t flat – it’s layered.

Shavuot teaches that amid life’s flowing river, we’re not adrift. We’re anchored. We’re invited to hear the Divine voice again and again. Each time, we hope to be a little more refined, a little more awake. We change, but the Torah doesn’t. And somehow, in that tension, we find our truth.

The importance of positive interfaith relations

In the aftermath of the horrific events of October 7, 2023, the fabric of interfaith relations between Jewish and Muslim communities has been all but severed. The surge in antisemitism following these events has further strained the relationship. Yet, it is precisely during such challenging times that the Jewish community must reaffirm and strengthen its relationships with other faith communities. We must create alliances with those communities that share our values and who categorically reject Hamas’ barbarism and use of innocent Gazans as human shields. The unwavering support from the Christian community, exemplified by initiatives like the "Never Again Is Now" movement and collaborative endeavours such as my journey to Israel with Catholic archbishop Peter Comensoli underscores the profound impact of interfaith solidarity. I recently attended an event organised by JNF Victoria, at which Amir Maimon, Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, shared a deeply personal reflection on his visit to Southern Israel just two days before the October 7 attacks. Maimon spoke of a function he attended near the Gaza border at the invitation of Christians for Jews in Israel. It was a poignant account of his experience just 200 meters from the ANZAC memorial. Maimon recalled

a brief conversation with a young sergeant who remarked on the area’s surprising tranquillity – a moment that was a stark contrast to the devastation that unfolded 48 hours later.

As we know, October 7 claimed more than 1,200 Israeli lives. That included Maimon’s own relatives and former students. It marked a turning point not only for Israel, but for Jewish communities worldwide. In the face of escalating antisemitism, particularly in Australia,

Maimon expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering support of the Christian Zionist community. He emphasised that their solidarity – through advocacy, donations and hands-on volunteering – has been a critical source of strength during an exceptionally dark time.

Maimon’s reflection underscores the broader importance of sustaining strong interfaith relationships. Despite growing isolation and hostility, he noted that Israel is not alone. Christian allies

have consistently stood by the Jewish people, defending Israel’s legitimacy and championing its right to security and peace.

His experience alongside the ANZAC memorial – once a symbol of shared sacrifice and now a backdrop to tragedy – serves as a powerful reminder of the bonds that can unite communities of faith. In a time when hatred seeks to divide, the partnership between Jewish and Christian communities remains vital. Our shared commitment to truth, justice and mutual respect is more important than ever in ensuring the safety and future of both Israel and the broader free world. These relationships can exist at a national leadership level, such as the one Ambassador Maimon described, and translate to grassroots support. I recently met with two representatives from Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light. It is a non-government organisation founded to champion global peace and the cessation of war. Its representatives approached me after hearing about the interfaith work that I have been involved with for a number of years. It was truly heartening to see their genuine passion for peace. Mine was just a small example among many such conversations happening across Australia. It gives us hope that there are those out there that recognise Israel has been unfairly maligned and who stand steadfast in their support of the country and its indigenous Jewish people.

Rabbi Benji delivering a d’var Torah recently

RABBI YAAKOV GLASMAN AM

From left: Rabbi Yaakov Glasman AM and Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimom at a JNF Victoria event honouring its outgoing president Ronit Fraid

RABBINIC THOUGHT

RABBI ARON MOSS

Question

My mature five-year-old asked me a series of questions about happiness.

• How can I be happy if my friend is hurt and I can’t help him?

• How can I be happy if I did something bad?

• What if you are in the army and you had a sword and you accidentally killed your friend? Can you be happy?

• What if I gave all my food to a poor person and I had nothing left. Can I be happy?

Answer

We can feel conflicting emotions at the same time. Sadness can fill one side of our heart, while joy fills the other.

In all these examples, you need to feel both joy and pain. It’s not always easy, but when we work on being happy, even when there’s reason not to, our happiness has the power to heal some of the sadness.

Let’s look at each question, one after another:

How can I be happy if my friend is hurt and I can’t help him? You can help him. Be sad about his pain, but also be positive and happy. That may help ease

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

Happiness and sadness

his pain. You can give him hope and cheer him up. You can’t change what happened, but you can change the mood. Joy is contagious.

How can I be happy if I did something bad? You should regret doing bad, but

you shouldn’t get depressed about it. Our yetzer hara, the devil inside us that gets us to do bad things, also wants us to feel depressed about it, because when we’re depressed, we end up doing more bad things. Rather say sorry, regret your

mistake, be happy and move on. Happy people do more good.

What if you are in the army and you had a sword and you accidentally killed your friend? Can you be happy? This is a very painful situation. It will take a lot of hard work for the soldier in that situation to find happiness again.

But if we could ask his friend who died, what would he say? He would say, please don’t stop living a happy life because of me.

Find joy and do good things for my sake. It will be good for my soul if I see you happy. Living with joy in this world helps the souls in the next world.

What if I gave all my food to a poor person and I had nothing left. Can I be happy?

This is the greatest happiness – to give to another. Our stomach gets full from eating a good meal, but our heart gets full from giving it away.

You need to eat too. But you should feel the joy of seeing someone else happy. Joy grows best in a heart that gives.

Your five-year-old may not understand these answers now. But one day he will. Introduce him to the idea that his heart has two sides, so next time he is feeling sad, he can choose to be happy too.

Revitalising Israel’s north

Israel’s northern region has borne the brunt of war for more than a year and a half, with ongoing rocket attacks, mass evacuations and widespread disruption leaving deep scars across towns, infrastructure and the social fabric. More than 60,000 residents have been displaced from 24 northern cities and rural areas. Many have yet to return. Local economies have stalled, municipal services have collapsed and the psychological toll on residents –particularly the elderly and youth – is staggering.

Recognising the immense need, the Government of Israel has turned to JDC (The Joint) to lead the effort to rehabilitate and revitalise this vulnerable region. The partnership marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s recovery and continues JDC’s 110-year legacy of responding to crises with action and compassion.

The Joint’s response is multifaceted, designed to address immediate needs and long-term development across several core areas.

1. Rebuilding local infrastructure and capacity:

JDC has embedded expert project managers in each of the hardesthit northern communities. These professionals are working side by side with local leaders to assess damage, plan recovery efforts and access

vital government resources. Regional strategies are also being shaped to promote educational growth, close healthcare gaps and expand economic opportunity, especially in emerging sectors such as food-tech and medtech.

2. Supporting older adults: The elderly have been particularly vulnerable – isolated, displaced and often without access to regular care – during this crisis. In response, JDC has launched programs to train caregivers, establish community wellness initiatives

and deploy specialised caseworkers to support homebound seniors. These efforts not only provide essential services, but restore dignity and connection to those most in need.

3. Helping children and youth heal: War has taken a serious toll on the emotional and academic well-being of young Israelis in the north. JDC’s programs address this with traumainformed education, resilience workshops, afterschool initiatives and peer support. Specialised learning programs are helping children close

educational gaps, while teenagers are offered skills-building opportunities that prepare them for a changing world.

4. Restoring livelihoods and the local economy:

Displacement has left thousands of people without work, particularly in industries already under strain before the conflict. JDC is delivering targeted training and employment programs aligned with real job market needs. From upskilling tradespeople to strengthening small businesses, these initiatives are focused on sustainable economic recovery.

5. Strengthening community resilience: Beyond physical reconstruction, JDC is working to rebuild the social fabric –reviving public spaces, restoring essential services and helping communities reconnect. Initiatives like Reviving Spirits are already underway in frontline cities, including Nahariya and Karmiel, offering support to families, youth and vulnerable groups.

6. Rebuilding social services: Local welfare departments – many of which collapsed under the weight of crisis – are being rebuilt with JDC’s guidance. By modernising systems and training local staff, The Joint is ensuring communities can provide the care their residents need now and in future years. As the dust settles in Israel’s North, JDC is not only helping the region recover, but positioning it for a brighter, more resilient future.

Rabbi Aron Moss and his happy (and curious) five-year-old-son, Yossi

JDC (THE JOINT) AUSTRALIA

FOODIE CORNER

ALAN BENDER

SOUL GOURMET

The inspiration for this cheesecake is a combination of ideas from Joy of Baking and Yummly. I have adapted them to suit my requirements, taste and kashrut.

Crust:

2 cups (about 300 grams) of plain biscuits, finely crushed

3 tablespoon castor sugar

½ cup (125 grams) melted butter

½ teaspoon mixed spice or ground ginger

Cheesecake filling:

1 tablespoon lemon essence

1 cup castor sugar

3 tablespoons (30 grams) self-rising flour

1 kg full fat cream cheese at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

5 large eggs, at room temperature

1/3 cup cream, at room temperature

Pecan topping:

1 cup dark brown sugar

2/3 cup CSR golden syrup

4 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/3 cup cream

200 grams toasted and chopped pecans

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 180C with the oven rack in the centre of the oven. Spray a 23 cm round springform pan with a vegetable spray.

To make the crust: In a medium sized bowl, combine the biscuit crumbs, sugar and melted butter and spice, then mix until all the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom of the bowl and about two centimetres up the sides of

Pecan pie cheesecake

the springform pan. Cover and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Cheesecake filling: Put and pour the cream cheese, sugar, lemon and vanilla extract into the bowl of your electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment or use a hand mixer. Beat on medium low speed until smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating them well (about 30 seconds after each addition). Add the cream and beat until that has been incorporated. Taste the mixture. If you want it sweeter of with more lemon flavour, now is the time to adjust the taste.

Remove the crust from the refrigerator and pour in the filling. Place the springform pan on a larger baking pan to catch any drips and put it into the oven.

Bake for 15 minutes and then lower the oven temperature to 120C and continue to bake for about another 40 to 50 minutes or until firm. The centre of the cheesecake will still look a little wet and if you gently shake the pan the cheesecake will jiggle just a bit. Switch off the oven, leave the door slightly ajar and allow the cheesecake to cook slowly in the oven (this will keep it lighter in texture). When fully cool remove it from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Once the cake has cooled and set, combine and cook all the topping ingredients until the sugar has dissolved.

Then pour the pecan sauce over the cheesecake while it is still in the tin. Allow the topping to cool until it is just warm, place the cheesecake on a display plate and gently remove the tin, allowing the pecan topping to run down the sides.

Alan Bender is head chef at Soul Gourmet. To find out more, go to https:// soulgourmet.com.au

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES

Friday, May 23, 2025 4:56 PM

Shabbat ends, May 24, 2025 5:55 PM Friday, May 30, 2025 4:52 PM

Shabbat ends, May 31, 2025 5:52 PM Friday, Jun 6, 2025 4:50 PM

Shabbat ends, Jun 7, 2025 5:51 PM

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Spelling bee answers

Jewish Answer: MISNAGDIM. 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): ADDING, ADMAN, ADMIN, ADMINS, AIDING, DAGIM, DAMMING, DAMNING, DAMNS, DINGING, DINGS, DINIM, DINING, DISDAIN, DISDAINS, DISMISS, DISSING, GADNA, MAIDS, MADAM, MADAMS, MADMAN, MINDING, MINDS, SANDING, SANDS, SIDING and SIDINGS.

Questions/comments, please email Yoni at koshercrosswords@gmail.com Crossword answers

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES

Friday, Nov 22, 2024

KYLIE ORA LOBELL

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Josh Gad and the Berkowitz Brothers explore Jewish mythology, history and folklore

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Their new comic book is a thrilling celebration of Jewish culture with captivating stories and illustrations.

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Cultivating a love of comic books

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Jack Kirby. Stan Lee. Jerry Siegel. Joe Shuster. These Jews were pioneers in the comic book industry. They created everybody’s favourite superheroes, from Spider-Man and Superman to the Black Panther, the Avengers and the X-Men.

Max and Ben have always loved comics and would read them all the time when they were growing up. Their grandfather, whom they called Papa, introduced them to comic books.

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Now, continuing the tradition of Jews in comic books are the Berkowitz Bros, Max and Ben Berkowitz, who recently released a four-series comic book called “The Writer”, with actor Josh Gad (Olaf from “Frozen” and “The Book of Mormon”). Ariel Olivetti, who drew for comics like “Daredevil” and “Superman”, illustrated the series.

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“During sleepovers at our Papa and Nana's, we'd eagerly watch the George Reeves ‘Superman’ series or the Fleischeranimated ‘Superman’ shorts, whenever they aired,” Ben said. “Those moments weren't just entertainment; they were formative experiences that instilled in us a deep appreciation for storytelling and heroism.”

Melbourne Jewish Report Disclaimer:

“The Writer”, which is for ages 14+, follows Stan Siegel (a nod to Stan Lee and Jerry Siegel), a prominent comic book writer and college professor who looks like Josh Gad. He puts on a ring that his father gave him and turns into a golem-type figure, going on a terrifying and exciting adventure filled with Nazis, demons and mythical creatures found in Jewish folklore.

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Along with his daughter, Izzy, and his mum, Liz, Stan has to reveal hidden mysteries before time runs out and an emerging terror wins.

However, they noticed something troubling when it came to Jewish representation in this art form. “[There was] a pattern in the way Jewish characters in comics were being handled in film and TV adaptations,” Ben said. “While characters like Daredevil were allowed to fully embrace and explore their Catholic identity, Jewish heroes often had their heritage erased or watered down, relegated to being ‘Jewish-coded’, instead of explicitly Jewish.”

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The brothers wanted to push back against that erasure. “The Writer” not only explores Jewish myths and history, but does so with characters in kippahs, Hasidic men and Hebrew letters.

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The comic book has been compared to both “Percy Jackson” and “Indiana Jones”, the latter of which was inspiration for the Berkowitz Bros.

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“We wanted to create a character whose Jewish identity wasn’t a background detail but a driving force – messy, beautiful, powerful,” said Ben. “The story started with a simple but wild idea: what if a comic

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creator’s writing could shape reality and what does that kind of responsibility do to a person? But it quickly grew into something much deeper: a meditation on family, memory, legacy and the often invisible contributions of Jewish creators who helped build this industry.”

According to Ben, the Jewish comic book creators who built the industry, usually from the margins, utilised fantasy to process real-world pain, such as the Holocaust (i.e. “The X-Men”).

“Our book is both a celebration and a reckoning with that history,” he said. “We pull from Jewish folklore, dybbuks, the Ring of Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, not as window dressing, but as living mythology. The inclusion of Nazis isn't just a historical antagonist. It's about confronting the evil that has pursued our people and continues to mutate in modern forms. It's also a way to honour the courage of our ancestors who stood up to it, with pen or sword or silence or scream.”

in the world,” Ben said. “He lit up, not just because the idea was fun and inventive, but because it spoke to something deeply personal for all of us. Josh has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Jewish history, mythology and folklore – he brings both emotional depth and intellectual rigour to everything he touches.”

Spreading Jewish pride through comic books

Max, Ben, and Josh are proud and visible Jews – not just in their work, but in their personal life. “Judaism isn’t just a heritage,” Ben said. “It’s a lens through which we see the world. It’s woven into our humour, our grief, our restlessness and our creativity. It informs the questions we ask in our work: about memory, identity, responsibility and repair. We may each practice differently, but the core values of our tradition, chesed (kindness), tikkun olam (repairing the world), and zachor (remembering), are deeply present in everything we create.”

Getting Josh Gad involved

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According to Ben, years ago Josh received an unexpected email from comic book creator Frank Miller (“Sin City”). Frank invited Josh to write a comic book, but Josh decided not to move forward. “However, this experience planted a seed and over time he found his voice in the medium,” Ben said. “Collaborating on ‘The Writer’ became the perfect opportunity for him to merge his brilliant storytelling talents with a newfound appreciation for comics.”

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When the Berkowitz Bros first shared the concept of “The Writer” with Josh, a grandson of Holocaust survivors, it was more than a pitch. “It was a conversation about legacy, identity and the kinds of stories we felt needed to exist

At a time when antisemitism is on the rise and Jewish identity is being weaponised, Ben said “The Writer” is their way of fighting back “with creativity, complexity and pride. We want readers – especially young readers – to see themselves in these pages and feel seen, powerful, weird and wonderful. And for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider, this story is for you, too. Because sometimes the only way out is through the story.”

Kylie Ora Lobell is a Los Angeles-based writer as well as president of KOL Digital Marketing, where she does publicity and marketing and helps clients share their unique stories with the world.