JDC (The Joint) Australia hosted a “We Sing As One, Jointly For Israel” concert at Kehillat Kadimah synagogue (see page 8)
JULIAN NATHAN HOLD REAL ESTATE ISRAELI NEWS
Why Israeli real estate is a good investment for your future
For more than 25 years, our team has been tracking the Israeli real estate market and helping foreign buyers invest with confidence. We’ve seen the cycles, the growth, and the shifts and we continue to handpick developments based on prime locations, reliable developers and long-term potential. If you've been thinking about investing in Israeli real estate, there’s never been a better time to do so. Despite global uncertainty, the Israeli market is thriving. A growing population, ongoing housing shortages and major infrastructure projects like the Tel Aviv Metro are driving strong demand and setting the stage for solid returns.
Here are just a few reasons why the so-called “bubble” isn’t likely to burst anytime soon.
A global Jewish shift: investing in a future in Israel
Since October 7, 2023, foreign investment from Jewish communities around the world has been on the rise. With growing uncertainty and antisemitism abroad, more Jews are turning to Israel not just as a homeland, but as a secure and meaningful place to build a future.
For many, buying property in Israel is more than just a financial move – it’s about connection, identity and legacy. From Sydney or Melbourne to Toronto and Johannesburg to Paris, families are purchasing apartments with the goal of securing a future home for themselves or their children. There’s no place like home and for many that home is Israel.
Supply vs. demand: the driving force behind rising prices
One of the main drivers behind the surge in Israeli real estate is simple: there just aren’t enough homes to meet the needs of a growing population. By mid-2024, Israel was already short about 200,000 housing units. With the population expected to reach 13.2 million by 2040, demand is only going to rise. While the government has taken steps to speed up construction and ease zoning rules, progress has been slow. The number of new apartments built each year still falls far short of what’s needed. This ongoing gap between supply and demand has been pushing property prices higher year after year. Since the 2008 financial crisis, values have risen steadily and for investors that’s a strong signal. It suggests prices will likely keep climbing, making this a smart time to get into the market.
Urban renewal: a major investment opportunity
Urban renewal is one of the most promising areas in Israeli real estate. Programs like **Tama 38** and *Pinui Binui**are designed to modernise ageing buildings, especially those built before 1980.
These initiatives increase housing supply, improve safety and offer residents
There’s no place like home
upgraded or new apartments. *Pinui Binui**projects go further by demolishing outdated buildings and replacing them with new ones, often multiplying the number of units by up to four. This isn’t just about building more – it’s about revitalising entire neighbourhoods, especially in high-demand areas like Tel Aviv, Haifa, Netanya and Jersusalem. Another major push is the redevelopment of old military bases. Projects like Sarona in Tel Aviv have already transformed former army sites into thriving residential hubs, with more to come, including the former Sde Dov airport.
Infrastructure: the game changer
One of the biggest factors set to shape the future of Israeli real estate is the country’s investment in infrastructure, particularly public transportation. The upcoming Tel Aviv Metro is a perfect example. Once completed, it will feature two lines and 109 stations, covering 150 kilometres and connecting key cities across the Gush Dan metropolitan area. The Metro is expected to serve up to two million passengers daily and will dramatically reduce travel times. For
instance, a commute from Petach Tikva to Tel Aviv that currently takes 72 minutes by bus or nearly an hour by car will be reduced to just 27 minutes on the Metro. This kind of convenience will increase demand for properties near the new stations. As an investor, proximity to these Metro lines could become a major selling point, significantly boosting property values in those areas.
Investing in new developments: a flexible option
For those interested in new developments, there are plenty of attractive opportunities. Not only do these properties tend to appreciate quickly, but they also come with favourable financing options. Many new projects require only a 20 per cent deposit upfront, with the remaining balance payable upon completion. This extended timeframe gives investors more flexibility to secure financing, while benefiting from the property’s appreciation over time.
The rental market: a steady income stream
The Israeli rental market is another area seeing tremendous growth. Almost
a third of Israeli households rent their homes and rents are steadily increasing as the housing shortage continues. Rental yields are currently around three to four per cent per annum, but they’re expected to rise as demand grows.
The potential for steady, long-term rental income is strong, especially as tenants in Israel tend to rent for longer periods, often until they’re in their mid 30s. For investors, this means stable cash flow and less turnover.
Plus, with property values steadily appreciating, there’s also the potential for significant capital gains.
Is now the right time to invest?
In short, “yes”. Israel’s real estate market is poised for continued growth, thanks to a unique combination of factors: a booming population, a persistent housing shortage and significant infrastructure improvements. Additionally, an increase in Aliyah due to rising antisemitism worldwide is expected to further fuel demand.
As the country continues to grow and evolve, real estate will remain a key driver of economic prosperity. Investors who act now stand to benefit the most from these trends.
So, if you’ve been considering getting into the Israeli property market, there’s no time like the present. Because, when it comes down to it, there’s no place like home.
Meet us in person at one of our private parlour presentations in Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth between 1–9 September, 2025.
Contact us to book a quick introductory call. Exact locations and meeting times will be shared after this brief conversation, designed to better understand your needs and provide relevant options.
Email: info@hold.co.il
HOLD Real Estate CEO Ari Shapiro (far left) and managing director Julian Nathan (far right) with their executive team at the site of their new development in Florentine, South Tel Aviv (photo taken in May 2025)
Not even missiles from Iran deterred these buyers from the United States from purchasing a new apartment in the heart of Tel Aviv, set for delivery in four years (photo taken in June 2025)
There are moments that divide history into “before” and “after”. October 7, 2023, was one of them. On that day, Israel’s border communities bore the unimaginable – families torn apart, homes destroyed, landscapes scarred. But as the dust settled, something else began to emerge: a quiet determination to rebuild, to heal, to rise.
In Australia, the JNF community didn’t hesitate. Since that devastating day, JNF Australia has supported more than 60 urgent projects across Israel’s north and south, restoring water infrastructure, creating therapeutic spaces for children, providing trauma recovery support and helping families return to their homes and land.
Now, with the launch of its 2025 campaign, Together, We Rise With Israel, JNF Australia renews its commitment to turning devastation into renewal, with more projects, more partnerships, and more purpose than ever before.
This year’s campaign will be headlined by an extraordinary voice of resilience –Eli Sharabi, a survivor of Hamas captivity, who endured 491 days as a hostage, after losing his wife and daughters in the brutal attack on Kibbutz Be’eri.
Sharabi will share his story publicly in Australia for the first time, appearing live in Sydney on 2 September, Melbourne on 4 September and Perth on 7 September. In Sydney and Melbourne, he will be interviewed on stage by acclaimed Israeli journalist and podcast Call Me Back regular, Nadav Eyal, in what promises to be an unforgettable evening.
Eyal brings deep insight and empathy to the conversation. A winner of Israel’s prestigious Sokolov Award, he is widely known for his sharp analysis and humancentred reporting.
“Sharabi is not just a survivor – he is a symbol of Israel’s unbreakable spirit, a living testament to endurance, courage, and hope. This will be more than just an interview. It will be a deeply personal account of his time in captivity and his vision for a stronger and thriving Israel,” says JNF Australia national president, Pam Krail.
“I lost everything – my wife, my daughters, my home. But I haven’t lost my voice,” Sharabi says. “What was taken from us on October 7 will not define us. What we rebuild together will,” he says.
Sharabi’s presence in Australia is more than symbolic. It’s a personal call to action. This year’s JNF Australia annual campaign is not only about hearing a story. It’s about becoming part of the next chapter. From Kibbutz Nahal Oz to Kiryat Shmona, the needs are real and the time to act is now.
Over recent years, under the leadership of JNF Australia’s immediate past president Steven Salamon, the organisation has worked closely with communities on the ground in Israel to
A voice of survival, a vision for renewal: Eli Sharabi headlines JNF’s annual campaign
carefully select high-impact projects that the Australian Jewish community can proudly support.
“For many years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing how every dollar donated from Australia transforms lives in Israel,” says Salamon. “From donation to destination, we’ve focused on projects where we know we can make a real and lasting difference, not just today, but for generations to come.”
JNF's approach has always been strategic and compassionate, ensuring that each initiative supported offers both immediate relief and longterm sustainability. “It’s not just about responding to crisis,” Salamon says. “It’s about helping to rebuild communities in a way that’s smarter, stronger and more resilient than before.”
Among the many projects JNF Australia will support in 2025 is the restoration of the water reservoir in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, vital infrastructure for agriculture and survival in a region that was ravaged during the October attacks.
In Kibbutz Be’eri, where Sharabi lived, an outdoor educational space will provide children with a place for play, learn and heal. In Nir Oz, the ImagineBox
Learning & Treatment Space will offer an immersive therapy for emotional recovery.
Further south, Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha will benefit from a nature-based trauma recovery garden, a green space for mental and emotional healing, surrounded by resilience and rooted in community.
Projects will support a wide range of initiatives beyond infrastructure, from therapeutic gardens and wastewater systems to youth empowerment programs and environmental education in the Eshkol region. Projects like the restoration of the Gaton River in Nahariya, an Olive Grove at Ein Habsor and ecological rehabilitation in Kibbutz Malkiya are testament to JNF’s holistic approach to recovery, healing the land, the people, and the spirit of Israel.
Israel’s north suffered massive devastation and destruction after October 7, leaving communities displaced for more than a year. In Kiryat Shmona, where thousands were displaced by Hezbollah attacks, JNF Australia is committed to supporting a Community Stress Prevention Centre, an innovative hub for emotional wellbeing
and mental health support. In Misgav Am, ecological restoration is underway through replanting initiatives and the revival of community gardens, helping to heal both land and spirit.
Each of these projects has been chosen not just for what they rebuild, but for what they represent – safety, renewal and hope. These are not abstract concepts. They are tangible outcomes, shaped by the generosity of the Australian Jewish community and the direct engagement of JNF’s on-theground partners in Israel.
What sets JNF Australia apart is its model of compassion in action. Funds raised go toward projects that are carefully selected in consultation with the affected communities. It’s not just about building structures; it’s about restoring futures. From donation to destination, JNF Australia provides full visibility, ensuring that every contribution leads to meaningful, measurable impact.
JNF Australia CEO Doron Lazarus says: “We don’t just respond to crises – we invest in resilience. We don’t just raise funds – we are grounded in the belief that rebuilding is not just about what was lost: it’s about what can be bigger and better.”
When the JNF Annual Campaign events conclude next month, the real work of rising with Israel continues. Supporting JNF Australia’s wide-ranging projects is more than a donation. It’s a commitment to Israel’s future. It means becoming part of a movement that turns compassion into action and belief into impact. It’s the understanding that these families are our families. We see them, we hear them and we stand with them as they rebuild their lives and communities.
Since its founding in 1901, JNF has helped shape the physical and emotional landscape of Israel. From planting trees to building towns, JNF’s legacy is one of vision and action. In 2025, JNF Australia continues that mission by focusing on the future – funding what matters, with people on the ground.
As the JNF campaign declares, Together, We Rise With Israel, because rebuilding is not just about the past –it’s about what we create next. Every donation, every act of solidarity is a step closer to a brighter future for Israel. Now is the time to turn compassion into action.
Join JNF Australia, hear Eli Sharabi’s extraordinary story in conversation with Nadav Eyal and be part of rebuilding the lives and the land of Israel.
Last remaining seats are available, so to secure your tickets visit www.jnf.org. au or call 1300 563 563.
Photos show people and projects supported by JNF Australia
CONSIDERED OPINION
DR. DVIR ABRAMOVICH
She lives in the attic now. Not the one above Prinsengracht 263, but the one that exists beyond time.
Eighty years have passed since her voice was silenced, yet the room remains just quiet enough to hear everything. Close enough to listen. Too far away to reach into the darkness that keeps spreading. And today, in a café that could be anywhere, but feels like Amsterdam, I imagine her climbing down.
Anne Frank. Not as she was when her voice was stilled, but as she might be now: 96, with a face that has lived, not only endured.
Her eyes, still wide, but no longer innocent. Her hands resting on a napkin, as if on a page from the diary she never finished.
The window beside us fogs up with breath and from the rain cascading down. Outside, a tram rolls past like a steel heartbeat. Inside, Anne leans forward, not with urgency, but with presence.
I remind myself that this conversation never happened. But if it could, if Anne had survived Bergen-Belsen, come of age, lived through everything we promised her would never be repeated, I believe she would want to know what became of her legacy. “I didn't think I'd be remembered,” she says.
What do you say to that? What do you say to a girl who died of typhus in a liceinfested barracks? Who was stripped of her name, her hair, her family and left to vanish as a number, until her words found their way back?
I try to answer. I tell her that her diary, the red-checked one she began at 13, has been read by more than 30 million people. That it's been translated into more than 70 languages and that schoolchildren study her words.
She nods, once. “But are they still hearing me?”
I hesitate. I tell her about Australia. About the terrifying surge in antisemitic incidents, about the synagogues in Melbourne that were firebombed and about the 10-year-old Jewish students on a school trip that were called "dirty Jews". About the graffiti. The threats. I tell her that each morning brings fresh entries to this grim ledger.
Then, I move on to October 7, 2023. The 1,200 Israelis murdered by Hamas. The families dragged from their homes. The children taken hostage. The babies, musicians and peace activists. I tell her that many of them are still underground.
I recount the 100,000 people marching across Sydney Harbour Bridge and the King Street Bridge in Melbourne last week, shouting and banging pots to mimic hunger. It was called the March for Humanity. I explain that there were signs comparing Jews to Nazis. That some shouted "Death to the IDF" and "Long live the Intifada”. That a giant portrait of Ayatollah Khamenei was waved above the crowd, like a flag of virtue. That no one recounted the names of the hostages still trapped beneath Gaza.
Anne's fingers press lightly into the napkin. “And the crowd made room for them?” she asks. Yes. She closes her eyes. “There is no neutrality in the face of
What would Anne Frank say if she saw the world as it is today?
hatred,” she says. “Only the silence that makes it easier.”
Her voice tightens, like a wire drawn between rafters. She looks at me and then past me, as if watching a world she once believed in take another ugly turn.
I tell her about Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski. Two boys. A music festival. October 7. They had gone to dance for the feeling of being young and unafraid.
Then Hamas came. The boys were dragged into Gaza. And for nearly two years, the world heard nothing.
Until now. Evyatar, 24. Rail thin. He holds a shovel. He digs into the floor of a tunnel. He looks at the camera and says, "What I’m doing now is digging my own grave”.
Rom, 22. Sobbing, skeletal. He says he's starving. He says he cannot walk. He says he is dying.
Anne doesn't move, but the air around her shifts.
I tell her about Tami Braslavski, Rom's mother, who said, “They broke my boy. I want him home now.” About Ophir, his father, whose voice broke. “You see your child dying before your eyes and you can’t do anything. It drives you crazy, it’s unbearable.”
David's brother Ilay called the video “a new form of cruelty”, that the sight of his brother reduced to a human skeleton has shattered their parents.
Anne folds the edge of the napkin. Carefully. “They're digging graves again,” she says, almost to herself. “And we are watching.” She is quiet for a time. When she speaks again, her voice carries the weight of decades. “You know Dvir, when I was hiding in that attic, I used to imagine what the world would look like when the war ended. I thought surely, after seeing what hatred could do, people would make better choices.” She looks up … and there's something almost tender in her sadness. “I was so
young then. I believed that once people knew what happened to us, really knew, it would be like a vaccination against cruelty and antisemitism.”
“But hatred doesn't learn from history, does it? It only learns to disguise itself better. I wrote once that despite everything, I still believed people were good at heart. I still believe that. But goodness requires courage and courage requires choosing to see. Most people, when they watch hatred march past their window, simply close the curtains.”
Her eyes, older now and darker, remain still. “I hear them yelling again. I just never thought it would be in English.”
“They always think they're saying something new," she says. ”But, they're only repeating what the world has heard before, just with different slogans and different excuses. The melody is old. Only the chorus changes.”
I sit with that. The way one sits with a final line in a film that doesn't resolve, but reverberates.
And then she speaks again, this time with a different tone. Not to me. But to the non-Jewish world, the friends, the allies, the neighbours who've read her diary and nodded solemnly, but have not yet asked what it demands of them.
“If you love what I wrote, if you quote me in your speeches, then remember that I was not a metaphor. I was a girl. And girls like me are still in hiding.”
She stands. “You don't have to understand everything. You just have to stand for something.”
And then she is gone. I remain at the table.
Anne Frank died in February 1945, skeletal, lice-ridden, wrapped in the stench of disease. She was 15. Her sister died days earlier. Her mother died in Auschwitz. Her father survived. What she left is not just a diary. It's a kind of
unfinished sentence, one that each generation is asked to complete. Not with tributes. Not with hashtags. But with action.
Her words have crossed borders her body never did. Nelson Mandela read her diary so many times in prison that the pages wore thin. Malala Yousafzai, shot for going to school, once said she felt Anne beside her, like a friend who understood. Elie Wiesel called her writing “the voice of six million souls.”
But the truth is that the world has failed her test.
There is no final paragraph where Anne's eyes soften with peace or where distant tunnel doors swing open to reveal the hostages stepping back into the land of the living. There is only what we do next.
Anne once wrote that she wanted to go on living after her death. She has. It's now Australia’s turn to earn the privilege of sharing her words, by standing up when it counts and defending what they meant. By saying that anti-Jewish hate in the name of any cause is still hate. That the safety of Jewish children is not a footnote to anyone else's agenda. Anne is gone. But her voice is not. I stand up and walk to the window. In the reflection, I see not just my own face, but the faces of everyone that has ever chosen silence when they should have spoken. Outside, the tram fades into the horizon, carrying people that may never know that they passed a café where a ghost reminded the living what courage looks like. I wonder how many of them would stop if they heard a teenage Jewish girl calling from a hidden window. I push open the door. There is work to do and the attic is listening.
Dr. Dvir Abramovich is chair of the AntiDefamation Commission and the author of eight books.
Anne Frank
Dr. Dvir Abramovich
TAMARA PORAT AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM
“There was a soldier who was critically wounded. He grabbed my hand and asked me to say Shema Yisrael with him,” recalls Oshrit Hadad.
Just 23 years old, Oshrit is a paramedic from Magen David Adom’s Ashdod station and a resident of Netivot. On the morning of October 7, 2023, she set out to treat the wounded as part of the emergency response team. Together with other MDA personnel, she established a field hospital at Shuva Junction, where, under relentless fire, they treated dozens of casualties.
Later, on Israel’s 76th Independence Day, Oshrit was chosen to light the national torch on behalf of Israel’s emergency services. Now, she has also been selected to receive the “President's Medal for Civilian Bravery.”
“It was clear to all of us that we were fighting for our home,” says Gilad Honwald.
Gilad is a senior emergency medical technician with MDA and a resident of Kibbutz Alumim. At 6:30am on October 7, as alarms rang out, Gilad left his home with his son to search for casualties. Gunfire was soon heard from the direction of Nahal Oz and reports of infiltrating terrorists quickly followed.
President’s Medal for Civilian Bravery to be awarded to two MDA personnel
“Every second matters. Being ready means everything.”
For Oshrit and Gilad, these moments were not about recognition. They were about saving lives. Their actions reflect the heart of Magen David Adom’s mission to protect and preserve life, no matter the risk or setting.
They know from experience that lives are saved when preparation meets purpose. Behind each rescue is a chain of readiness: highly trained paramedics, the right equipment and emergency stations that stand ready to serve.
Every year, MDA teams are dispatched more than 1.4 million times across Israel. As Israel’s national ambulance and blood service, MDA is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation that relies entirely on donations to train personnel, build stations and save lives. When seconds count, that support makes all the difference.
Afterwards, Gilad returned to provide medical care to the wounded and encountered four more Hamas terrorists charging towards him. He narrowly escaped, only to learn that more
Without hesitation, Gilad joined the kibbutz's security response team to confront the terrorists. The battle stretched over four hours.
members of the response team had been injured. Under live fire, Gilad picked up a weapon and began evacuating the wounded, while continuing to engage the attackers. He is now also being awarded the “President's Medal for Civilian Bravery”.
Just like the soldier who reached for Oshrit’s hand, thousands depend on MDA in their most vulnerable moments. The courage is theirs. The partnership can be yours.
Be a partner in courage. Be a lifeline. Donate today.
www.magendavidadom.org.au/ donate
Oshrit Hadad
Gilad Hunwald
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
My connection to Judaism began in early childhood. My greatgrandmother lived to be 100 and often shared stories from the war. Her best school friends were two Jewish sisters who survived thanks to help from her and others in the village. After the war, they moved to the Czech Republic and kept in touch with my grandma by letter for many years. That story was my only connection to Judaism – until much later.
Years passed. I moved to Germany for university and the first real friend I made there turned out to be Jewish. Eventually, she invited me to her family’s Shabbat dinner. I had no idea what Shabbat was, but it felt like Christmas every Friday. The more I experienced it, the more I fell in love with Judaism – not just as a belief system, but as a way of life.
After eight years in Germany, I knew I wanted to convert.
I came across a blog by a German woman who had moved to Israel to convert, describing how difficult it had been in Germany – especially outside big cities, where there was barely any
A global journey to conversion
community. I followed her journey for a year, wondering if I could ever do the same. But it felt out of reach. My life was in Germany.
And then, out of nowhere, I got a phone call. A friend offered me a role
at a high-tech company founded by his friends. They needed someone in Tel Aviv for research. Apart from my mum, no one knew about my conversion plans. Do you believe in miracles? I never did … until that moment. I dropped everything and moved to Israel in November 2022.
I thought that was it. The miracle had happened and everything would fall into place. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. What followed were two incredibly difficult, but beautiful, years. To even start the conversion, I needed around 50 recommendation letters and proof of a year in a local community – but how, when I had just arrived? It became an endless backand-forth. My file was lost, my visa status made things harder and I was rejected more than once.
A few months into living in Israel, I met the man who would become my husband. It wasn’t part of the plan, but it was a blessing.
On one of our first dates, he asked if I could ever imagine moving to Australia. I said “yes”, thinking it was a distant idea.
After finally collecting all the paperwork and attending my conversion interview, the war broke out. My fiancé was called to serve.
Our wedding was postponed. Time was running out. I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish my conversion in Israel. It felt like my mission had failed. But at that point, all I cared about was the survival of the Jewish nation.
Before we made the move, I learned about SAJE … and it was better than I could have imagined. They didn’t ask for 100 documents to prove my sincerity. They didn’t lose my file. They genuinely cared. Candice, Rabbi Shua, and Rabbi Wolf became the pillars of my conversion journey.
They are everything and more than any convert could hope for. I was also incredibly lucky to marry into the most loving Jewish family (special mention to my mother-in-law, Linda, who supported me every step of the way).
I went to the mikvah pregnant, carrying a tiny future Jewish soul under my heart. Suddenly, everything made sense. I was meant to go to Israel, to fall in love with the land, the people, the spirit, to meet my husband, bring that strong faith and legacy into Australia and build a Jewish family with the heart of a lion.
I’m Jewish now and I still have to pinch myself. I found my way home.
Thank you, SAJE.
Klara Gorin
THE COMMUNITY
KEVIN SUMPTION CEO SYDNEY JEWISH MUSEUM AROUND
The Sydney Jewish Museum has unveiled a new chapter in its history. Supporting the current redevelopment and massive expansion of its Darlinghurst site, the museum has launched a major capital appeal to secure its future and support its vision for a Centre of Contemporary Jewish Life.
The additional floor space in the redeveloped building will add more permanent and changing exhibition spaces, offering immersive multimedia and multisensory experiences for visitors.
“We are at a critical moment in our history, as a community and as a people,’’ said SJM president Greg Shand AM.
“The tragic events of October 7 and the alarming rise of antisemitism since mean the educational and outreach role of the Sydney Jewish Museum – especially to those outside our community – is more important than ever. This is a time to be courageous, challenge hatred and tell our story with pride.”
The Sydney Jewish Museum gives history a voice. Founded in 1992 by Holocaust survivors, the museum preserves their personal stories, honours the victims and educates future generations about the dangers of prejudice and intolerance.
Sydney Jewish Museum reveals plans and launches appeal
the ages, foster an understanding of what it is to be Jewish, including the centrality of Israel to Jewish identity and faith. It will celebrate thousands of years of continuous culture and upwards of 200 years of contemporary Jewish life in Australia, highlighting our remarkable and proud contribution locally and to the world.
Funds from the capital appeal will support educational programs and illuminate the positive aspects of Jewish life, culture, art and history.
State-of-the-art interactive technology and inspiring personal stories will fill the new building with even more vibrancy, purpose and meaning.
The fundraising campaign, set for early September, will feature dynamic events and powerful speakers. Full details can be found here: www.capitalappeal. sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au
The museum’s volunteer presenters and guides include courageous survivors and their descendants who share their testimony. For many non-Jewish visitors, the museum is their first contact with Jews and the Jewish story.
Since its opening, more than a million people have visited and its profound effect on young and old is universally acknowledged. It works to
build a more informed and respectful society. The museum’s new Centre for Contemporary Jewish Life, expected to open in early 2027, alongside the existing Holocaust Museum, will add an exciting new dimension. It will tell the story of Jewish resilience and continuity through
Visit the site to learn more about the museum’s plans and ways in which you can help make the vision a reality. It’s our collective responsibility – and privilege – to honour our past and invest in our future.
A volunteer guide engages with museum visitors at a Kristallnacht display
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
The United Israel Appeal (UIA) has announced a partnership with Safewill, one of Australia’s leading online Willwriting platforms, making it easier than ever for Australians to create a legacy that truly matters.
Safewill and UIA believe that every Australian should have a Will. A Will is the most effective way to ensure that your wishes are honoured, your loved ones are protected and your legacy and values continue to shape the future. Yet, almost half of Australian adults don’t have a legally binding Will, leaving families vulnerable to uncertainty and legal complications at an already difficult time.
Through this partnership, the process of writing a Will has become both accessible and meaningful. Normally valued at hundreds of dollars, UIA supporters will be able to have their Will legally written up and reviewed at no cost, for a limited time. In this way, UIA is helping the community gain peace of mind, while also opening the door to leaving a legacy that supports the People of Israel.
Every gift left in a Will to UIA – even as little as one per cent of an estate – can make a real difference. Contributions
New partnership to help donors leave a lasting legacy for Israel
from a gift go directly to supporting Israel’s national priorities through UIA’s wide-reaching programs. These include helping new immigrants through Aliyah and absorption, mentoring at-risk youth, caring for the elderly, supporting victims of terror and aiding the rehabilitation of communities devastated by war.
“Regardless of your stage of life, now is the perfect time to put weight behind the words Am Yisrael Chai,” said UIA Australia CEO, Yair Miller OAM.
UIA Victoria CEO Peter Horovitz said: “This partnership allows you to ensure the continuity of our shared legacy by guaranteeing that the People of Israel can thrive, even after you have gone.”
In return for a gift left in a Will, UIA has made a promise to use every dollar left with the utmost care and integrity. By writing your Will and including UIA, you are not only safeguarding your loved ones, but also helping to safeguard the destiny of the Jewish People.
Free Wills Week with Safewill runs from 1–15 September. To find out more about this partnership, visit https://uiaaustralia.
A gift in your Will can support Aliyah flights for those fleeing countries where antisemitism is rising
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. There is a term that will use all seven letters and is two words.
Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. Score one point for each answer and three points for the mitzvah that uses all seven letters.
Rating: 5 = Good; 7= Excellent; 9 = Genius
Yoni Glatt has published more than 1,000 crossword puzzles worldwide, from the LA Times and Boston Globe to The Jerusalem Post. He has also published two Jewish puzzle books: "Kosher Crosswords" and the sequel "More Kosher Crosswords and Word Games".
ANSWERS PAGE 26
EDUCATION FEATURE
From left: Mount Sinai College Year 1 students Alma and Noah
Choosing the right primary school sets the tone for your child’s entire educational journey
MOUNT SINAI COLLEGE
At Mount Sinai College, the early years are a crucial time when learning habits, values and emotional resilience begin to take shape, laying a solid foundation for everything that follows.
It’s also the time when lifelong friendships are formed and with them a child’s strongest influences. That’s why immersing children in a rich Jewish environment during these formative years can have a profound and lasting impact.
It’s during the primary years that a child’s confidence, curiosity and sense of identity take root. At Mount Sinai College, we offer more than strong academics – we nurture the whole child through meaningful social-emotional literacy programs, deep community connections and immersion in a vibrant Jewish and Hebrew culture.
As the late, revered Rabbi Jonathan Sacks said: "To defend a country, you need an army. But to defend an identity, you need a school." Our Jewish day school is more than a place of learning – it’s a living, breathing community, where students grow into confident,
connected Jewish individuals. Our small, nurturing environment ensures each child is known, valued and supported. With teacher’s aides from the youngest grades and a strong focus on personalised learning, we make sure no child is left behind academically, socially or emotionally.
At the heart of everything we do is our 6 Kinds of Best Values program, which is embedded into every aspect of school
life. Our students grow to understand what it means to be:
• Kind to Others
• Kind to Themselves
• Kind to the Environment
• The Achieving Kind
• The Learning Kind
• The Community Kind
These values are not just spoken about. They are lived and seen in the way our children interact, learn and
grow each day. When children start with strong values, they grow into strong, compassionate individuals. These aren’t just school years. These are formative years, the time when character is formed, friendships begin and a love of learning is ignited.
Words can’t describe it. A visit will. Visit https://www.mountsinai.nsw.edu.au to book a tour today.
Unlocking potential: Mount Sinai College’s education enrichment program
At Mount Sinai College, we believe every child deserves to be challenged, inspired and supported to reach their full potential. Our Education Enrichment Program (EEP) is a dynamic offering designed to extend and elevate the learning of gifted and high-achieving students.
In the early years (K–2), enrichment is delivered through differentiated teaching within mixed-ability classes. From Years 3–6, students are grouped by ability for Mathematics and English, with advanced learners participating in dedicated enrichment classes, led by specialist educator Bonnie Osborne.
The EEP goes beyond traditional academic programs.
Through a compacted curriculum, participation in national competitions such as the Mathematics Olympiad and ASX Schools Sharemarket Game, and inquiry-based projects like the Strongest Bridge challenge, students are encouraged to think critically, solve complex problems and work collaboratively. “Gifted education is about more than just acceleration,” says Osborne.
“It’s about nurturing the whole child – supporting emotional intelligence,
social growth and building confidence through meaningful, stimulating learning experiences.”
Our withdrawal model allows advanced learners to access targeted instruction in small groups, while still engaging with their peers in a broader classroom setting. By encouraging collaboration with students across varied abilities, the program helps gifted learners develop empathy, communication and teamwork – skills essential for life beyond the classroom.
innovation, empowering students to grow as thinkers, creators and future leaders – all within a nurturing, valuesdriven environment.
Mount Sinai’s EEP reflects our commitment to excellence and
To learn more about the Education Enrichment Program or to book a personalised tour, visit https://www. mountsinai.nsw.edu.au.
From left: siblings Alon (Year 3), Talia (Year 1) and Noa (Year 5)
From left: Year 1 student Tyler and his brother Riley, in ELC
From left: Year 5 students Zac and Sivan
MOUNT SINAI COLLEGE
Mount Sinai College special educator Bonnie Osborne with Year 5 students, Chloe (left) and Lyla
Specialist in Residence program reaches for the stars
Emanuel School is proud to continue building on its successful Specialist in Residence program, an initiative that brings leading experts into the classroom to inspire deep learning and authentic engagement across disciplines.
Last year, acclaimed artist and inaugural Specialist in Residence, Lauren Berkowitz, invited students to explore sustainability and Jewish identity through collaborative artmaking, culminating in a large-scale installation titled Cyclical Rhythms. Her work fostered meaningful cross-disciplinary learning, blending methodologies and concepts from the fine arts, ecology and Jewish traditions.
The residency also strengthened community connections, with students from pre-school to Year 12 contributing to the evolving artwork using repurposed materials sourced from across the campus. Central to Lauren’s practice was the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam – the concept of repairing the world – which resonated deeply with students, as they considered their role in environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Through this lens, the project became not only an artistic endeavour, but a spiritual and ethical exploration of how we care for our planet and each other.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural residency, the program will soon turn its gaze skyward, with our Astrophysicists in Residence. Over
the course of their residency, Dr Ben Montet and Ms Margo Thornton will guide students through the mysteries of space exploration and the search for exoplanets. Their work will introduce learners to real astronomical datasets, helping them develop essential skills in data literacy, scientific observation and research-led discovery. Students will engage with the tools and thinking of professional astrophysicists, gaining
insight into how we explore the universe and interpret its vast complexity.
A highlight of the program will be a community stargazing evening, where Emanuel families are invited to join our specialists in exploring the mysteries of the Milky Way. Using telescopes and guided observation, participants will learn to identify celestial phenomena and gain a deeper appreciation of the night sky. This event promises to be a
memorable experience that connects our community with the cosmos in a hands-on and interactive way.
Principal Linda Emms said: “The Specialist in Residence program is a powerful expression of our commitment to deep, authentic learning. Whether through Lauren Berkowitz’s exploration of sustainability and identity through art, or the inspiring work of Dr Ben Montet and Margo Thornton in astrophysics, our students are engaging with real-world ideas and experts in ways that spark curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. These residencies are not just enriching –they are transformational.”
The academic outcomes of the program are far-reaching. Students will develop analytical and computational thinking through working with large datasets, while gaining a deeper understanding of space science and the nature of discovery. The residency also supports engagement with STEM subjects, encouraging students to ask questions, make connections and pursue knowledge beyond the textbook. By interacting directly with experts, learners build confidence, curiosity and a sense of wonder that extends well beyond the classroom.
Thanks to the generous financial support of the Emanuel School Foundation, the Specialist in Residence program continues to grow, creating meaningful connections between classroom learning and the broader world.
MICHELLE FAVERO
Kornmehl Centre Emanuel pre-school children planting seedlings to be included in the art installation
More than a motto: KTC brings values to life
At Kesser Torah College, values aren’t just taught – they shape the entire school experience.
What sets KTC apart is its unwavering commitment to living its values – not just listing them. From the youngest learners to the graduating class, KTC’s values aren’t posters on a wall; they’re embedded in the very fabric of school life, guiding decisions in the classroom, the playground and beyond.
This values-first approach is more than educational philosophy – it’s strategic. KTC has embedded four core values –Emunah (Belief), Derech Eretz (Refined Conduct), Da’as (Lifelong Learning) and Arvus (Moral Responsibility) –directly into its educational and operational planning. These principles shape everything from curriculum design to staff development, parent partnerships and, even, leadership priorities.
At every stage of development, students are given tangible ways to live these values. Preschoolers start with expressions of gratitude and kindness. Primary students reflect on
their choices and take responsibility for their actions. High schoolers grapple with ethical dilemmas and engage in meaningful community service, learning that values are not abstract, but actionable. And just like academic milestones, character growth is tracked, supported and celebrated, because at KTC, spiritual
and moral development are seen as essential measures of success. What truly distinguishes KTC is that these aren’t just aspirations for the students. They’re the standards lived by the entire school community. Every staff member, program and school initiative is aligned with the shared belief that strong values are the foundations of a
meaningful life. At its core, KTC’s vision is to raise not only knowledgeable students, but good people, grounded in Torah, confident in who they are and ready to contribute meaningfully to the world. When values are this intentional, they become more than ideals. They become actions, habits and, ultimately, lifelong keys.
KESSER TORAH COLLEGE
primary school student paints his part in a collaborative art installation, titled Values In Action
KTC teacher plays her part in the same installation
Emunah Belief
Expanding access to Jewish education across NSW
JOHN HANEY CEO BJE
BJE is breaking new ground in Jewish education, reaffirming its commitment to reaching children who do not attend Jewish schools. With recent program launches in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Manly and the North Shore, BJE is actively seeking community input to identify other areas where Jewish children may be underserved. Community members are encouraged to complete a short form (www.bit.ly/connect-BJE) to share information about regions or schools that may lack access to Jewish education.
At the heart of BJE’s mission is a simple but powerful goal: to connect Jewish families and children with their heritage, regardless of where they live, learn or go to school. Through a growing network of after-school “Hub” programs, Hebrew classes and Jewish enrichment initiatives, BJE creates vibrant, inclusive spaces where students engage deeply with Jewish traditions, festivals, language and values.
The newest initiative in Byron Bay will feature a three-day festival for local families, marking the first time BJE has formally reached out to the Jewish community in the region. We are trying to reach families that may not otherwise have access to Jewish education. That could be because they’re in regional
areas, attend public schools or simply don’t have programs nearby.
Term 2 highlights included a vibrant Lag B’Omer celebration at our Bondi Learning Hub, featuring a fire-safety education session delivered by Fire and Rescue NSW. In Randwick, students marked Shavuot by making healthy cheesecakes and creating flower bunches, which were gifted to senior citizens at COA and Montefiore, fostering intergenerational connection and care.
Looking ahead, from 2026 our Learning Hubs will be fully accredited to provide Out of School Hours Care (OOSHC), with families eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, making Jewish education more accessible and affordable for working families.
To ensure its programs reflect the real needs of families, BJE has launched a Youth Advisory Board and a Parent Advisory Group. These initiatives ensure that programming is shaped by the
voices of those it serves and reflect BJE’s understanding that successful programs respond to the “pain points” in family life – acknowledging the pressures and complexities families face today. To learn more, email John at info@bje.nsw. edu.au.
In response to rising antisemitism, BJE has deepened its engagement efforts. For many families, antisemitism has become a catalyst for reconnecting with their Jewish identity and community. BJE has responded in myriad ways –through education, school partnerships, leadership development and inclusive programming that fosters pride, resilience and belonging.
Beyond primary-aged programs, BJE runs initiatives for high school students that focus on identity, leadership and connection to Israel. This includes the Nesiah Israel Program – a four-week educational journey for Year 10 and 11 students. Applications for the 2025 program are closing soon. Learn more at www.bje.org.au/nesiah.
Help us reach every Jewish child
Please support BJE’s vital work. Your generosity helps ensure that no Jewish child is left behind, regardless of where they live, learn or seek connection.
Donate today at www.bje.org.au/ donate and be part of a future where Jewish education is accessible, inclusive
CONSIDERED OPINION
DAVID SCHULBERG
Menachem Vorchheimer is a tireless advocate for human rights and a prominent voice in the battle against antisemitism. With a background rich in both personal experience and professional dedication, Menachem brings a unique and compelling perspective to fighting hate and promoting tolerance. He is willing to confront the authorities for failing to deal with racist incitement in our society.
David
Recently we’ve seen many different incidents of antisemitism – the Miznon Israeli restaurant in the Melbourne CBD where there was vandalism and people throwing all sorts of paraphernalia at each other. In the suburbs, three cars were set on fire and one completely destroyed at a Jewish business. However, the government has been struggling as to whether they should call this terrorism or not. What do you say about the way that the government and the authorities are dealing with this spate of antisemitism?
Menachem
It's interesting that you start with the idea of terrorism because people don't know what terrorism is. It's actual violence or threatened violence for the purpose of intimidating people for political or religious gain. Whether we've had a physical attack or the threat of an attack on Jewish institutions, these have ultimately intimidated the Jewish population. It's done for political purposes in relation to advancing an agenda, in relation to the narrative in terms of the war in Gaza or to the future of a Palestinian state. Let's not forget that a lot of these protesters use the chant 'from the river to the sea'. At the heart of that chant is the premise that the state of Palestine should be imposed upon the Jewish state, that the Jewish state should be eradicated.
That is their agenda. It’s their political purpose. Within that context, we need to look at all these acts, all this violence and all these slogans and see them for what they are. They are driven by a political agenda, with a political purpose and a political aim.
David
There's been a 15-point plan put out by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to combat antisemitism, which the Prime Minister has rejected outright, but there are signs that he's cracking, that he's talking with Jillian Segel, the envoy for dealing with antisemitism, and some of the items in this 15-point plan are perhaps going to be taken on board. This plan is a way of dealing with antisemitism in a coordinated fashion.
Something might emerge because all these incidents are putting more pressure on the government.
Fighting antisemitism
Menachem
The ECAJ plan is quite thorough and detailed. I welcome those 15 points, but there is only one thing that matters – that is enforcing the law.
On the 10th November 2023, there was a riot outside Central Synagogue in Melbourne that caused the evacuation of 150 worshippers. What people don't necessarily know is that section 21 of the Summary Offences Act 1966 makes it a criminal offence to disturb religious worship.
Had police enforced the law then and charged those individuals who had caused the evacuation of the synagogue on that Friday night, they would have enforced the principle at law that religion is protected, that religious places of worship are protected, that they're holy. They're not places for protest.
Coming back to your question about the ECAJ's 15-point plan, I say there's only really one thing that matters and that is to enforce the existing laws and the existing principles of our constitution about protecting religion. In November 2023, the government should have enforced the law and said that a synagogue is a holy place. If you come here and you disturb it, and you cause the synagogue to be evacuated, we're going to charge you. If they had, then maybe we
I've seen that our community leadership is trying to work together with government because they say we have no choice. To be dismissive of the government, would that not be giving up the ghost completely?
Menachem
Isn’t it better to be honest with the government and say, “hey, it's not working”? There was a parliamentary inquiry into the existing legislation and recommendation 21 thereof was to empower Victoria Police by removing a legislative requirement that necessitated the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before laying charges for racial or religious vilification.
When you first introduce legislation, it's not uncommon to have a hurdle such as DPP approval to ensure that it's not misused. But this legislation was originally introduced in 2001 and there's been only one prosecution under that act. Fast forward 24 years and we would say that the police should now know enough to enable them to charge using the legislation. The Victoria Police doesn't require DPP perusal to lay charges for murder, manslaughter or armed robbery, or so many other crimes because we've given them those tools.
wouldn't have had the terrorist attack on the Adass shul, the East Melbourne shul, the Newtown or Illawarra shul or any other shul in this country.
David
There's been an anti-racism task force launched by the Victorian government. You would be aware that the Victorian government has recently introduced new legislation to deal with hate and vilification. Is this more of the same from the government that has lost control dealing with antisemitism?
Menachem
Well, David, what do you think? Do you have confidence in Jacinta Allan?
David
I'm actually asking you, Menachem. I want to hear what you say because you've got a hand in the fire, much more than I have.
Menachem
I'd like to think that the views I have aren't singular. They're not just Menachem Vorchheimer’s views, rather my views represent the silent majority about how we, as all members of the community, feel.
David
I'm totally dismayed. I have very little confidence in our governments.
The parliamentary inquiry said that it's time to let those shackles go, but the government hasn’t done that. When we talk about new legislation, they’ve failed to adopt what has previously been recommended to empower police, to be able to charge people for racial and religious vilification without the approval of the DPP. Even if the DPP was to grant fresh approval, there can be a considerable delay between the time of an event and when that DPP approval is granted. We come now to when we've got this chant of 'death, death to the IDF' or 'All Zionists are terrorists'. Once the police put together a brief, the brief must go to the DPP. By the time they it’s assessed the chant 'death, death to the IDF’ will spread around the country. It doesn't take long for the chant to move from the UK on a Saturday to rear its ugly head here on Sunday.
The following Friday, Miznon is attacked. In the interim, Victoria Police probably wouldn't even have a chance to put together a brief for the DPP. By then, the violence has already happened. If Jacinta Allan is genuine about addressing antisemitism, she should have taken on board what the parliamentary inquiry had said and declared it's time to empower the police. The only way to move on hate is to move quickly. If you move slowly, it becomes normalised.
This is a slightly modified extract from an extensive interview David Schulberg conducted with Menachem Vorchheimer on ‘The Israel Connexion’ program on J-AIR community radio.
Menachem Vorchheimer
ANNE-MARIE ELIAS CONSIDERED OPINION
Much like happiness, sadness and fear, anger is a basic human emotion. It arises in response to situations that are perceived as threatening, unfair or obstructive. From an evolutionary perspective, anger has survival value. It prepares individuals to defend themselves, take action and correct wrongs.
U.S. freelance writer and photographer Alexandra Marvar wrote: “My therapist once told me anger is the part of you that loves you the most. It shows up when you’re being mistreated, ignored or disrespected. It’s a signal calling you to step away from what’s harming you. Whether it’s a room, a job, a relationship or an old version of yourself, anger lets you know when it’s time to walk away. If you learn to listen to it, to trust it and make it your ally, it won’t need to shout so loudly”.
It is important to differentiate between anger and aggression. Some people may express anger in an aggressive and/or violent way, which is not helpful or recommended.
Psychologically, anger often reflects unmet expectations, unfulfilled desires or violations of one’s values or boundaries.
CROSSWORD
Understanding anger
While anger is a universal emotion, how people experience and express it can vary widely based on cultural norms, personality traits and learned behaviour. For a variety of reasons, including familial, cultural, gender bias or personal experience with abuse, you may not be able to recognise the feeling of anger or equate anger with rage and violence. Anger can also be described as frustration, irritability, exasperation, annoyance and rage.
When we experience anger, our body has a physiological response. Our heart rate and blood pressure increase, preparing the body for physical action.
Our muscles tense in readiness for the body to respond. Finally, our breathing increases to have more oxygen to supply energy for potential action.
These changes are adaptive in short bursts, but can lead to long-term health issues, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, should anger become chronic. Some people develop chronic anger when they can’t resolve issues or let go of events, people or situations.
There is also a thought process that we engage in when we feel anger.
Firstly, there is a perception of threat. Think about the rise of antisemitism since October 7th and your reaction to that.
At the deli clues
22. "You've got mail!" brand 23. Game show decision at the deli? 28. Activity for many a little girl
Like a Hasmonean coin 32. Mark Zuckerberg, for one
(flaky layers included)?
55. Bonds rating
Baseball had a Steroids one
Feeling angry may be a response to a perceived injustice, lack of fairness or unmet expectations.
If you haven’t the tools to manage or express anger appropriately it is either internalised or externalised. When we internalise anger, it is suppressed and can lead to physical or mental health issues. If suppressed, the anger can erupt inappropriately.
Externalising anger manifests as rage with verbal outbursts and/or physical violence. So how should one express anger effectively?
1. Don’t hurt yourself.
2. Don’t hurt others.
3. Don’t hurt property.
Healthy expressions of anger involve:
1. Writing it out, using journalling, poetry or prose.
2. Artwork, such as painting or sculpture.
3. Breathing it out.
4. Counting to 10 – buy time so that you can talk it out.
Unresolved anger can lead to mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression or, even, substance abuse. Finally, we can’t resolve conflict while we are angry, which leads me to this quote from an unknown author: “When you let anger get the better of you, it brings out the worst in you”.
Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.
11. The font, not the mermaid
12. "Brady Bunch" mom
13. A good thing to do on stage
18. Abner and Wayne
19. Congeal, as blood
24. Lyndon Johnson's younger daughter
25. Gp. that delivers crude material
26. One of the "Guardians of the Galaxy"
27. "Cash" or "cop" chaser
28. "Aw, heck!"
29. Big name in pasta sauce
33. Approves, briefly
35. "Holier Than Thou" and "One" band
36. Chief Asgard god
37. 1993 film where the title character's name is chanted
39. MLBers, e.g.
40. Function as a bank
41. Censor, say
44. Samurai sash
46. In any event
48. Where Doc Gooden often operated?
49. "Dumb and Dumber To" star
51. Day-to-day worker, for short
52. Like this, to Lior
53. Israeli brigade
54. Kind of chip
55. Stat. for Stockton
58. A Ghostbuster
59. MDs for sinus sufferers
61. Picture of health, for short?
62. Org. concerned with air quality
63. It coincides with Av: Abbr.
64. Longtime Labor Day telethon org.
Edinburgher
Shire who often co-starred with Stalone
Posing activity
Wandered aimlessly
Crummy feeling
Degree for many a GM
"That's soothing"
Israeli party
"Seinfeld" character with the catchphrase "get out"
Pose
Tefillin or tallit item
YONI GLATT KOSHER
CONSIDERED OPINION
RAMONA FREEDMAN
ALIYAH ADVENTURES
After years of rewarding communal work in Sydney, upon arriving in Israel I officially went back to school – Hebrew school that is – for many months. As of this week, my formal Ulpan classes come to an end.
This is just as the sizzling summer dial here in the holy land is turned up more than a few notches. It is hot. Baking desert hot right now in August.
Luckily, we are all blessed when it comes to modern conventions. Well, mostly. Last Shabbat the air conditioner in my bedroom, which feels like a dear, loyal friend, had some sort of moody meltdown and started raining many, many drops of water onto the floor in dramatic fashion. One towel, two towels, then when a third was needed, I abandoned ship and went to sleep in the bomb shelter room. Yes, here we are considered very fortunate to have one within our home, rather than sharing a communal one.
It’s not just about location, location, location!
When I mentioned to our landlord that the AC was on the blink, he said his main man Dror, who intriguingly is both a ‘qualified’ plumber and electrician simultaneously, was far too busy to pop in for the next six weeks. Dear Dror, what are you good for?
Recently I held court in my penultimate Ulpan class. Usually I am quiet (truly!) as my command of Hebrew grammar is still elementary, at best. That day I told a story, I explained to my fellow classmates who hail from Russia, Ukraine, France, Brazil, Mexico and America that I was moving apartments in two days, and it would only be for a couple of months until we plan to move into our more permanent home on Yehuda Halevi Street.
I shared that it was a hassle to effectively move twice in such a short span of time. I shared that our new home was being renovated as the bathrooms and kitchen were unliveable. I shared that there are boxes everywhere and it is all a little hectic. A Ramona story told in broken, but earnest Hebrew. I paused, as I was oh so proud of myself. That is until cool, blue-eyed Ukrainian Tetyana piped up. I was royally schooled. With perfectly memorised Hebrew grammar, she trumped me big time.
Tetyana somehow was able to comprehensively explain to us all that when the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out, she was forced to move seven times. She caught buses, which broke down en route, and trains that stalled. She journeyed through the snow, sleet and bitter rain. Extraordinarily, sometimes she carried possessions on her back.
She arrived in Israel and since then has moved five times. All exhausting. All against the odds and, yet, here she was recounting it all triumphantly. One dozen moves in a span of three years due to war in one land and “yes”, war in another. Tetyana, you are amazing. You win. My small story of moving once because the electricity and water are still turned off
Yoffee Toffee
in my Ra’anana home is sweet nothing compared to the numbing navigation you have endured.
She ended with: “Ramona you are so lucky that is all you are dealing with. No wonder you always smile. You’re the first Australian I’ve ever met. Do all Australians smile like you?” I smiled back, but mostly because my brain actually translated the words she had said in realtime.
My paternal side hails from eastern Europe – there were great struggles and battles during the Holocaust and well beyond. In a way, despite being close in age, Tetyana and I are a couple of generations apart from each other when it comes to experiences in our country of birth. I was strolling along a local beloved beach. She was dodging missiles in war ravaged Kyiv.
And yet here we are both as new immigrants, both learning and communicating in a new common language. She doesn’t speak one word of English. My Ukrainian is … non-existent. Hebrew it is for each of us.
Ulpan has been a lot of fun. It’s been, as many say here: ‘yoffee toffee’. Technically the word ‘yoffee’ means beauty, but as the Hebrew language comprises far fewer words than English, each word can have multiple meanings. As my teacher, Nira says: it is all about context. Well, the word toffee refers to sweetness in English, but actually has no meaning in Hebrew. Yet, stringing these two together creates assonance and voila, we have a phrase that roughly
translates to our Aussie expression “Beauty, she’ll be right mate”.
When we look at the macro situation here in Israel, it is complicated, complex and difficult. War on several fronts simultaneously. Enemies. World opinion taking a skydive. And yet, on the ground, when you are somehow about to lug the world’s sweetest watermelon to your car in sweltering heat, Moshe, the older seenit-all-and-then-some type appears from the back of the fruit shop and carries it for you, all-the-while raining Sephardic blessings down on every Israeli soldier, as if each is his own child.
We get to the car. I am grateful. He just says two words: yoffee toffee. It just sums it all up.
To help brighten the mood and lighten the vibe, at the moment Israelis tend to watch TV shows that are not too serious. This week the number one series on Israeli Netflix is called Off Road. It features two famous Israeli actors, Lior Raz (from Fauda fame) and the intelligent and beautiful actress, Rotem Sela. As a bona fide member of the Israeli public, I can personally attest to the fact that this show is exactly what we needed.
Off Road is a candid, gentle meander of these two famous friends through Central Asia, examining both the beauty (yes, the yoffee) and the cultural landscape of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Along the way, it shines a light on the theme (and limits of) friendship too in a really endearing way.
Here, no one is eagerly waiting for the next season of Fauda. Some say many
of our heroic soldiers are living in a realtime version of Fauda. Some say we all are. Truth be told, they are not wrong. And yet, at the right time, we will love that new season too. Just not right now.
In fact, this spills into the life of everyone in Israel. Here is a case-inpoint: to improve my Hebrew, I have been consciously clicking onto Israeli radio stations each time I am in the car. But, as my language skills have been improving, I have realised that very often, throughout the day, broadcast programs are actually just communal therapy sessions.
One morning, you have distraught family and friends of the hostages calling up and telling their stories and making their desperate pleas. One afternoon, you have bereaved families recalling how incredible their loved ones were: their loved ones who have fallen in battle so Israel can be an eternal safe space for us all. It is heavy and intimate and honest. They cry and you find yourself crying with them.
Sometimes, when you are just driving to a supermarket and are suddenly searching for tissues, it can be a tad overwhelming. We are all one family, yet not everything is yoffee toffee.
Yet when they can, Israelis celebrate with more joy than anyone. It is a swinging pendulum of emotions here, but I can honestly say it is on the upswing far more than the down. Yoffee toffee.
With that, for now, it is over and out from Ramona in Ra’anana.
Israeli actor Lior Raz in the new Israeli hit show Off Road
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
YOASH DVIR CEO TECHNION AUSTRALIA
In the world of academia, where the pursuit of truth and knowledge should rise above politics, a disturbing trend is quietly gaining ground: the creeping academic boycott of Israel. This is not the highly visible and vocal campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions’ (BDS) movement rallies and fiery campus protests. Rather, it is a more insidious, silent form of exclusion, one that manifests as unreturned emails, rejected collaborations, missing invitations and research papers that are quietly declined without explanation. Israeli academics are feeling the chill and the world should take notice.
Is there a silent academic boycott against Israel?
A recent report from leading Israeli scholars paints a troubling picture. They describe a growing sense of isolation within the global research community, with their European and North American counterparts increasingly reluctant to engage. Some institutions have halted collaborative projects altogether; others grind to a halt. The damage is not just academic – it is moral. When the world’s universities, which pride themselves on
Students at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
and openness when no one is shouting. But the absence of overt hostility does not mean everything is fine. The silent
Academic institutions across the world must reaffirm their commitment to universal academic freedom. Researchers should not be judged by the passport they hold, but by the value of their ideas and the integrity of their work. Scientific progress depends on cross-border collaboration, especially in an era where pandemics, climate change and technological disruptions demand global solutions.
Now is the time for academic leaders to stand firm. University presidents, grant-making bodies and international research councils must make it clear: boycotting scholars based on nationality or political pressure has no place in academia. Remaining silent is not neutrality – it is complicity.
The academic boycott of Israel, silent or vocal, is not just a political statement. It is a step backward for science, dialogue and the core values of the academy. If we allow it to grow unchecked, we risk turning our universities into ideological
For donation options scan the QR code →
Proudly supported by:
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
DAVID SOLOMON, CEO AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Study reveals a surprising new form of plant-animal communication
In a discovery that’s poised to transform how we think about the natural world, researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have revealed the first scientific evidence of direct acoustic interaction between plants and animals. While plants don’t speak in ways we can hear, the research shows that they do, quite literally, talk … and certain animals are listening.
The “silent” sounds of nature
In this groundbreaking study, researchers found that female moths, on the hunt for safe places to lay their eggs, can detect and respond to distress signals emitted by dehydrated plants. The plants’ cries for help come in the form of ultrasonic sounds, beyond the range of human hearing, but audible to many insects. The moths then actively avoid laying eggs on plants that are sending out these silent distress calls. The discovery, led by Professor Yossi Yovel and Professor Lilach Hadany at TAU’s Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, marks the first verified case of cross-species acoustic communication between plants and animals, a new frontier in ecological science.
Whispers in the tomato patch
The research team worked in collaboration with the Plant Protection
Plants have a voice – and insects are paying attention
Institute at the Volcani Institute to design a series of experiments focused on female moths. These moths typically lay eggs on plants so their larvae can feed on them once hatched, a process highly dependent on the health and vitality of the host plant.
In controlled experiments using recorded ultrasonic emissions of tomato plants in various stages of health –played through hidden speakers – the researchers demonstrated that moths clearly preferred to lay their eggs on healthy or silent plants, interpreting
distress signals from unhealthy plants as a warning. This suggests a survival strategy that benefits both insect and plant. Other experiments underscored the fact that the insects were specifically responding to plant-emitted frequencies, not just any high-pitched noise in their environment.
Nature’s hidden language revealed “This is the first evidence we have of plants not only emitting sounds, but of animals detecting and responding to those sounds in a meaningful way,” said Professor Yovel. “We’ve opened a door to
Tel Aviv University Optimism at work
A healing solution
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.
a vast world of bioacoustics that we’ve only just begun to explore.”
Professor Hadany said: “We suspect that this kind of interaction is far more common than previously imagined. Insects, birds and, possibly, even mammals may be tuning into the soundscape of plant life in ways we are only beginning to understand.”
The implications of the research are wide-ranging. If insects avoid laying eggs on stressed plants, farmers and agronomists could one day use plant acoustics to guide pest management or monitor crop health without chemicals or invasive procedures. Likewise, sound-emitting technologies might be developed to simulate stress signals and deter insect infestations naturally.
A landmark year for TAU and AFTAU
This cutting-edge research is emblematic of Tel Aviv University’s position at the forefront of innovation, pushing boundaries in fields ranging from neuroscience to climate science, from cybersecurity to plant bioacoustics. It also comes during a milestone year for the Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU), which is celebrating 50 years of connecting Australian supporters with Israel’s premier research institution.
From left, Professor Yossi Yovel and Professor Lilach Hadany listening to their plants
The Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University
RABBINIC THOUGHT
RABBI DR BENJI LEVY
Tisha B’Av is behind us. The fast is over, the kinot are folded back into the bookshelf and life begins to resume its rhythm. But we’re not meant to simply move on. The purpose of mourning in Jewish tradition isn’t despair – it’s transformation. The question we must ask now is what do we build from our grief?
This was the heartbeat of our project, 9 Days, 9 Legends. Each day, leading up to Tisha B’Av, we shared the voice of someone who suffered unimaginable loss in the wake of October 7, 2023 and who is still choosing to live with meaning, purpose and faith. These were not stories of people who have “moved on”. They are stories of people who are moving forward. That’s what we’re called to do now. We heard from Chava Zenilman, a doctor and mother of three whose husband, Ari z”l, fell in Gaza. She continues to show up for her patients, for her family and for her community. Not because the pain is gone, but because her values are strong. She is not waiting to be healed before she heals others.
We heard from Senai Guedalia, whose husband Yosef z”l was killed rescuing others on October 7. In her quiet strength, Senai reminded us that love can outlive death and that we carry those we’ve lost in how we live. We heard from Ambassador Yechiel Leiter,
After Tisha B’Av: what comes next
speaking about his son Moshe z”l, with a voice full of brokenness and dignity. His words show us how mourning and leadership can exist in the same breath. These are the kinds of people we now walk with into the post-Tisha B’Av world – Jews who don’t just survive tragedy, but respond to it by building something lasting. It’s no accident that the word churban (destruction) shares the same root letters as boneh (to build). From the rubble of Jerusalem, Jewish history teaches us to pick up the pieces and begin again. Our tears are not the end of the story. They are the beginning of rebuilding.
This is why we created 9 Days, 9 Legends, as part of our larger project Legends Among Us. These aren’t just tributes to the fallen; they’re invitations to the living. We are invited to step up, to find meaning, to live with more integrity and more courage. So, now that Tisha B’Av has passed, the real work begins. Let’s build communities where people feel seen. Let’s raise voices of resilience. Let’s teach our children that from even the deepest darkness, light can still rise. We don’t need to be legends to follow in their footsteps. We just need to start.
Explore the full series and discover more stories at https://www.rabbibenji. com/legendsseason1, or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Let’s move forward together – with memory and mission.
Hope and destiny
RABBI MOSHE GUTNICK
RABBINIC ADMINISTRATOR THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY
As the embers of Tisha B’Av fade and the mournful echoes of lamentations fall silent, we stand at the threshold of memory and hope. On the sombre day of Tisha B’Av, we recall the destruction of both Temples, the razing of Jerusalem and the shattering of our national centre. Our hearts ache at the thought of the Western Wall, the last remnant of our Temple, strewn with debris and the blood of its defenders. Our souls tremble as we again confront the enormity of exile. Yet, even in this moment of collective grief, there flickers an ember of resilience, one that has carried us through two millennia of wandering and tribulation. Two thousand years of exile could have extinguished our spirit altogether. Scattered across continents, we endured persecution, expulsion and forced assimilation. Yet, we preserved our language, our laws and our longing for Zion. From the ghettos of medieval Europe to the dusty caravan routes of the Ottoman Empire, our ancestors clung to the promise of return. That dream became reality in 1948, when the State of Israel rose from the ashes and the decimation of the Holocaust. Desert sands bloomed, Hebrew became the colloquial tongue and, against every prediction, we reclaimed Jerusalem as our eternal undivided capital.
Even as we celebrate this miraculous rebirth, we face fresh storms. Since October 7, 2023, a surge of antisemitism has swept across the globe, starting in the once respected halls of higher learning, manifesting in protests, vandalism and online hatred. Again, we find ourselves defending ourselves against slander, when even our alleged friends turn on us. International headlines
paint us as aggressors, rather than a nation defending its citizens when, in fact, we are the most moral army in the history of warfare. But, we will not cower in the face of slander. We will educate, we will advocate and we will stand firm in the truth of our cause.
This moment demands that we draw upon the same fortitude that sustained our forebears. We must take pride in our
heritage, celebrate our achievements in every sphere of human endeavour and share our story with the world. By doing so, we transform the narrative from victimhood into victory. Unity is our shield: when we uplift each other –Jew by Jew, community by community – we weave an unbreakable fabric of solidarity. Our faith in tomorrow and our divine right to live in our land become the surest defence against those who would undermine our right to exist.
From the ashes of Tisha B’Av emerges a nation both humbled by history and emboldened by destiny. Though opponents may cast stones of hatred and alleged misunderstanding, no force can halt the journey we have undertaken. We have returned to our land, restored our language and rekindled the divine spark in our hearts.
With G-d's help, we have been victorious in every war we have been forced to undertake. Is it not demonstrably the hand of G-d that Lebanon and Syria are no longer a threat and Iran has been humiliated in triumphs no one would have imagined? As we step into the future, let us all hold our heads high, confident that we will always prevail.
United and driven by hope and G-d's promise, we claim our destiny foretold thousands of years ago … and no one will stand in our way. Now is our time.
Rabbi Benji sat down with these nine legends over nine days to talk about their heroic stories of loss and strength
RABBINIC THOUGHT
RABBI ARON MOSS
Question:
I am looking at creating a digital version of my late grandmother. I am gathering all her text messages, voice notes and videos and feeding them into AI, which will create a life-like version of her. I will be able to have conversations with her, ask her questions and hear her voice again. It will allow me to keep up my connection with her. What would the Torah say about that?
Answer:
Your intentions are good and your desire to see her again is understandable, but no one can replace your grandmother, including her digital double.
We are more than the sum of our text messages. Humans are spontaneous, original and ever-changing. We have free choice. We have a soul. The unique spark inside each one of us can never be accurately simulated by technology. There are risks involved in creating a simulation of a person you love.
What if you have a disagreement with them? Would that sour your relationship? And if you program it not to argue, would that be true to who they were?
Cherish the real conversations that you had with your grandmother. Let the
Bringing grandma back
memories remain with you as memories. As for the ongoing connection you seek, an AI bot can make you feel like you are in touch with your grandmother, but it is only one way. Your grandmother is not there.
However, there’s a different technology that can connect us with our dear departed relatives. It is a spiritual technology, not modern but as old as the world. It requires no device and can work anywhere, anytime. It’s the power of a mitzvah.
When you do a mitzvah in honour of your grandmother, she feels it. When you say a prayer in memory of your grandmother, she is lifted by it. And when you ask your grandmother to stand by your side and send down strength from heaven, she hears it.
Death is not the end of life. It is the end of the body’s time on earth. The soul lives on in another realm, not visible to us, but accessible to us. Whenever we connect to our own soul, whenever we enter a more spiritually in tune state, we can commune with those souls who have moved on to the next world.
Do a mitzvah for your grandmother. Awaken your soul and elevate hers. Send her your love and she’ll send hers back. Your soul connection lives on. Next-gen tech will not revive previous-gen loved ones. Your mitzvah will.
Gaza and the cult of conquest Why civil resistance never stood a chance
civil resistance. Not martyrdom, but the dignity of peaceful protest. It is not an impossible scenario. Israel is not a tyranny.
There is a narrative, popular in certain quarters of Western intelligentsia, that presents Gaza as a victim of circumstance – as though history simply happened to it. But this is a lie. It has had consequences beyond the realm of polite discussion.
The ground in Gaza did not split with the force of some divine retribution. It gave way, slowly, under the accumulated weight of choices. Or more precisely, under the long refusal to make any choice other than war.
Before the bloodletting of the October 7, 2023, when civilians were butchered in their homes and a nation was left in horror, Gaza was under a blockade, but not a hermetic one. Goods flowed through crossings with Israel and Egypt. Aid, from Qatar, continued without interruption. There were no shortages of funds. Only of moral imagination.
For nearly two decades, the rulers of Gaza, Hamas, have held the territory not merely with force, but with the mandate of a population that chose them. And chose them again. Hamas did not seize power. It was elected. The eradication of the Jewish state was not whispered. It was announced from minarets, broadcast on children’s television and etched into charters and sermons.
And so a question arises, though few dare ask it: What if Gaza had chosen differently? Imagine, for a moment, a leadership that pursued not war, but
It is a democracy with a fractious press and merciless self-criticism. It has made painful concessions before, and would again, were it presented with a partner, rather than an adversary. But that is not the path Gaza took.
The problem is not simply Hamas, but with the ideology it represents, one that holds peace to be treachery, compromise to be sin and coexistence a betrayal. Even if, by some miracle, a non-violent movement had emerged, it would not have been welcomed as a revolution. It would have been seen as a tactical feint: a temporary sheath over a blade.
Israel, hardly naïve, would have responded accordingly. A population that dances in the streets when Jews are killed is not easily mistaken for a nascent peace movement.
And so, we return to the silence. Not the silence of diplomacy. But the silence of the grave.
There was, once, a window. Brief. A chance to reach beyond vengeance. That window was boarded up by men who feared peace more than war, who saw in every olive branch as a dagger to be turned inward.
The garden did not die because of siege. In Gaza, the soil was reserved for rockets, the schools for propaganda, the children for sacrifice. And when you raise generations not to live, but to die, not to coexist, but to conquer, then do not feign surprise when the harvest is ash.
AB BOSKANY
Ab Boskany
CONSIDERED OPINION
Apple kugel Strawberry rhubarb kugel
How to stop having the same fight
Method:
Peel and slice thinly the granny smith apples.
Ingredients:
4-5 Granny Smith apples
5 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Emotional patterns keep couples locked in frustration. Here’s how to shift from reacting to reconnecting.
1 cup plain flour
Ever feel like you're stuck in the same argument—just with different words?
1 cup white sugar (which can be adjusted, if you want less sweetness)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup orange juice
Many couples keep having various versions of the same fight, stuck in cyclical emotional loop that keeps you and your partner in a repetitive dance.
Cinnamon sugar
Psychotherapist Terry Real calls it “the more, the more”.
The more she criticises, the more he shuts down.
The more he withdraws, the more she escalates.
The more she disrespects, the more harsh he becomes.
The more he avoids, the more desperate and overwhelmed she feels.
And round and round it goes. Until you name the loop, you’ll keep blaming each other, instead of interrupting the pattern.
Why it feels so personal (but isn’t)
Even though it’s a pattern, it feels personal.
She thinks: “If he loved me, he’d stay present when I’m upset.”
He thinks: “If she respected me, she wouldn’t speak to me like that.” But what if it’s not a character flaw?
Place them in two 9 x 9 inch baking dishes, or one 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Mix all other ingredients in a bowl. When combined, pour over apples in the baking dish.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 50-55 minutes until the edges are golden brown.
What if her criticism isn’t meant to hurt – but comes from feeling powerless?
What if his withdrawal isn’t indifference – but a sign he feels emotionally flooded?
When we see the cycle as the enemy – not our spouse – we open the door to compassion. And change.
Step 1: name your pattern
To shift a pattern, slow down enough to see it. Pause, before you react. Take a deep breath. Step back. Don’t react – reflect.
Ask yourself:
What just triggered me?
What did I feel?
How did I react?
What did my reaction spark in my partner?
How did their reaction impact me?
Then try mapping your cycle.
Complete this sentence:
“The more I ____, the more they ____.”
“The more they ____, the more I ____.”
Here’s an example:
The more I pursue him for closeness, the more he shuts down.
The more he shuts down, the more I panic.
The more I panic, the more I criticise.
Every time one person chooses vulnerability over reactivity, the grip of the cycle begins to loosen.
A Torah lens on relationship tension
In the Bible man and woman are described as “ezer k’negdo” – a helper who is also opposite (Genesis 2:18).
That tension is intentional. It’s built into the design.
Not to make you clash, but to help you grow.
How many common words of five or more letters can you spell using the letters in the hive? Every answer must use the centre letter at least once. Letters may be reused in a word. At least one word will use all seven letters and have a direct Jewish connection.
The Talmud teaches that what bothers you in others is often a mirror for something unresolved within yourself. When you stop resisting the mirror and start using it, you transform. Your partner isn’t just a trigger. They’re a teacher.
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.
The more I criticise, the more he shuts down again. Now the cycle is in sight.
That’s the first shift.
Reflection questions
Rating: 6 = Good; 10 = Excellent; 13 = Genius
Step 2: break the pattern
Judaism teaches that the yetzer hara – our negative impulse – doesn’t appear obviously evil. It appears justified.
“I have to defend myself.”
“They need to hear how they’re acting.”
“If I don’t stand up for myself, I’ll get trampled.”
But reacting from ego rarely leads to healing. It keeps the loop spinning.
Breaking the cycle doesn’t start with being right. It starts with being wise.
Step 3: shift the energy
Here’s what it looks like to change your part of the dance:\
Instead of “You never listen,” try: “I miss feeling close to you.”
REBBETZIN ESTY GUTNICK ANSWERS PAGE 19
As a couple, ask yourself the following questions:
What’s a pattern we seem to fall into again and again?
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". The only Jewish Burial Society in NSW - Since 1817
Instead of going silent, try: “I’m overwhelmed. Can I take 15 minutes and come back to this?”
Instead of “This is your fault,” try: “We keep ending up here. Let’s figure it out together.”
What do I feel in those moments – and how do I usually react?
What might be going on beneath my partner’s reaction?
How could we respond differently next time?
Try journaling your answers separately, then discussing them with curiosity – not blame.
Final thought: you can shift this
You’re not crazy. You’re not broken. You’re likely just caught in a cycle that’s been running the show for too long.
You don’t need to fix your spouse to change the pattern. You only need to become aware of your part – and choose differently.
Because every time you respond with intention instead of instinct, the entire dance begins to change.
Awareness breaks the loop. And love builds a new one.
BY DR. YVETTE ALT MILLER COURTESY: AISH.COM CONSIDERED OPINION
For years, the singer-songwriter – and math professor – Tom Lehrer kept a “dead” file on his desk, in which he placed all the newspaper clippings which erroneously described him as “the late Tom Lehrer”. It was an understandable mistake: Lehrer first came to prominence in the early 1950s with his zany, irreverent songs and added to his absurdist repertoire for decades. When he passed away on July 27, 2025, he was 97.
His absurd, often ridiculous, songs have thrilled and entertained people for decades.
Lehrer grew up in a warm Jewish family on the Upper East Side of New York. He took piano lessons as a child and remembered being drawn to pop music. Always a prodigy, Lehrer graduated from high school at the age of 15 and earned an honours degree from Harvard in Mathematics in 1946 when he was just 18.
He embarked on a Ph.D. but found a new outlet for his talents when he and a group of friends entered a music contest at Harvard Law School. They were the only entry, so the event’s organisers revoked the prize they’d promised to the winning act.
Lehrer wrote absurd lyrics, making fun of everyday life. His songs proved so popular that he gave up graduate school to become a full-time entertainer, singing his own songs in New York City. Then, in 1960, at the height of his fame –he’d sold over 1.5 million records by then – Lehrer quit performing to finish his Ph.D. (an endeavour he later abandoned). For the next several decades, he taught math at Harvard, MIT, and the University of California, Santa Cruz, and also wrote uproarious songs.
“I don’t like people to get the idea that I have to do this for a living,” he once mock-confided at a concert. “I mean, it isn’t as though I had to do this. I could be making, oh, $3,000 a year just teaching.” The audience roared with laughter, as
Tom Lehrer and his irreverent songs
they always did when listening to Lehrer. His biting, irreverent way of looking at the world appealed to audiences seeking a riposte to hypocrisy and cynicism.
Although he seldom shared details about his private life, he reflected on his family’s connection to Judaism in the liner notes of a compilation album released in 2000:
“More to do with the delicatessen than the synagogue. My brother and I went to Sunday School, but we had Christmas trees, and ‘God’ was primarily an expletive, usually preceded by ‘oh’ or ‘my’ or both.”
Some of Lehrer’s funniest songs were written about the Jewish community he knew so well, skewering topics like antisemitism and the lack of interest in Jewish culture.
In the 1990s, Lehrer lamented the fact that there were no well-known American Chanukah songs. All the famous Jewish
songwriters were busy composing Christmas music, Lehrer noted, with only a hint of sarcasm, instead of writing music about Jewish holidays. So, Lehrer wrote Hanukkah in Santa Monica, which was his answer to White Christmas (written by Jewish composer Irving Berlin).
I’m spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica / Wearing sandals / Lighting candles / By the sea … Amid the California flora I’ll be lighting my menorah / Like a baby in his cradle I’ll be playing with my dreidel / Here’s to Judas Maccabeus / Boy, if only he could see us / Spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica / By the sea. The song includes other Jewish holidays too (Shavuos in East St. Louis), which are seldom mentioned in mainstream American songs.
Sometimes Lehrer’s embrace of Jewish themes is darker. In National Brotherhood Week, he enumerates all the different ethnic groups which traditionally have disliked each other.
Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics, And the Catholics hate the Protestants, And the Hindus hate the Moslems, And everybody hates the Jews.
Lampooning SS officer Wernher von Braun
In 1945, the US Army quietly brought SS Officer Wernher von Braun, a senior Nazi engineer, to the United States. Von Braun’s recruitment was part of Operation Paperclip, a top-secret plan to transfer hundreds of Nazi scientists to the US, erasing their Nazi pasts and allowing them to escape punishment.
In Germany, von Braun used slave labourers to build the Nazis’ fearsome V2 rocket program, which devastated London; in the US he was feted and given the opportunity to run some of the Army’ most important missile programs. Despite his many accolades (after his death, President Carter eulogiwed von Braun as a great American patriot), Lehrer wasn’t impressed, and wrote a harshly comic song lampooning this supposed American hero: Gather ‘round while I sing you of Wernher von
Braun / A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience. / Call him a Nazi, he won’t even frown. / “Nazi, Shmazi!” says Wernher von Braun. / Don’t say that he’s hypocritical / Say rather that he’s apolitical / “Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?” / “That’s not my department!” says Wernher von Braun. / Some have harsh words for this man of renown / But some think our attitude / Should be one of gratitude / Like the widows and cripples in old London town / Who owe their large pensions to Wernher von Braun….
Political action
Lehrer’s Political Action Song, written in the early 1950s, could have been written today about anti-Israel protests being fashionable on campuses: Now when it comes to anything political / We’re int’rested, we’re militant, we’re critical / Though it’s not quite evident / Who it is we represent, / We take stands and issue statements by the score.
Whether comically absurd or bitingly political, Tom Lehrer’s unique songs changed the way his listeners understood the world and gave them confidence to mock the false pieties of the age. We need his darkly funny songs and the confidence they gave us today more than ever.
Dr. Yvette Alt Miller holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and has taught at Northwestern University, London Business School and lectured around the world. She is the author of Angels at the Table: A Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat, which had been praised as "life changing" and compared to having a friend guide the reader through a typical Shabbat and Portraits of Valor: Heroic Jewish Women You Should Know, which describes the lives of 40 remarkable women who inhabited different eras and lands, giving readers a sense of the vast diversity of Jewish history and experience.
Tom Lehrer lampooned false pieties with his comic music
ALAN BENDER SOUL GOURMET FOODIE CORNER
I cooked this fairly small, rolled shoulder for three hours, but if you really love your meat to fall apart, you could extend the total cooking time to four hours. I would also suggest that if you have a large piece of lamb, then, you should definitely go for the longer cooking time. By the end of the roasting, there will be a large amount of buttery juice in the pan and you will want to give the meat a good few bastes in it. Then, allow it to settle and pour the fatty layer off, preserving the delicious pan juices that lie underneath. These will serve as your gravy.
Because there is so much butter in the roast, steamed green beans will round things off nicely.
Ingredients:
Deboned shoulder of lamb approx. 1.5kg
6 small rosemary stalks
A few thyme stalks
6 garlic cloves, roughly crushed with the back of a knife
12 peeled baby carrots
500 grams of baby potatoes
2 red onions peeled and cut into quarters
¾ cup of water or lamb stock
Spicy "butter"
1 – 2 cloves of garlic
130 grams of Nuttelex or coconut butter
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp thyme leaves, removed from stalks
Spicy “butter” roast lamb roll
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Zest from half a lemon (optional)
1 tsp fresh lemon juice (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 220 C.
Mix all the spicy butter ingredients until they are well combined.
On the lamb shoulder, spread three quarters of the butter across the surface. Place the rosemary, smashed garlic and thyme stalks in the bottom of a
CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES
Friday, Aug 15, 2025 5:07 PM
Shabbat ends, Aug 16, 2025 6:04 PM Friday, Aug 22, 2025 5:12 PM Shabbat ends, Aug 23, 2025 6:09 PM Friday, Aug 29, 2025 5:17 PM
Shabbat ends, Aug 30, 2025 6:13 PM
Sydney Jewish Report Disclaimer:
Except where expressly stated otherwise, content in The Sydney Jewish Report is provided as general informations only. The articles in this paper have been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content here are presented solely by the author, and The Jewish Report assumes no responsibility for them. It is not intended as advice and must not be relied upon as such. You should make your own inquiries and take independent advice tailored to your specific circumstances prior to making any decisions. We do not make any representation or warranty that any material in the papers will be reliable, accurate or complete, nor do we accept any responsibility arising in any way from errors or omissions. We will not be liable for loss resulting from any action or decision by you in reliance on the material in the papers. By reading the papers, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for, and accept no liability in relation to, any reader’s use of, access to or conduct in connection with the papers in any circumstance. Photographs submitted by individuals or organisations are assumed to be their property and are therefore not otherwise credited. All articles in this paper have received the expressed consent of the author to publish in this paper.
The Jewish Report; ISSN 2204-4639
Publisher: The Jewish Report Pty Ltd (ACN 167302981)
Distributor: TJR Distribution Pty Ltd ACN 165158029
Comments or suggestions to: editor@thejewishreport.com.au
Article submissions to: www.thejewishreport.com.au/article-submission-guidelines
Advertising: editor@thejewishreport.com.au
Website: www.thejewishreport.com.au
Printer: Spotpress Pty Ltd
small high-sided roasting dish and put the meat on top. Then arrange the vegetables around the roast. Spread the remaining butter mixture over the lamb and add the water/stock to the pan.
Cover tightly with tin foil, so the dish is completely sealed and put it in the oven. Roast at 220C for 10 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 160C and continue to roast for three to three and a half hours. Remove the foil, turn the oven up to 180C and then finish off
Spelling bee answers
browning/roasting the meat for another 30 minutes. Baste the roast a couple of times during this final half hour. This recipe is also perfect for a beef roast. If you ever do a beef roast and find it is still tough, slice it and put it into the fridge overnight. When you reheat it, it will be fall apart soft.
Alan Bender is head chef at Soul Gourmet. To find out more, go to https:// soulgourmet.com.au
Jewish term: MAH PITOM?! 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 in today’s vernacular): HIPPO, HOTPOT, OOMPH, PATIO, PHOTO, PITAPAT, PITOM, PITOT, POMPOM, POTATO and TIPTOP Questions/comments/compliments: email Yoni at koshercrosswords@ gmail.com
Crossword answers
MOVIE REVIEWS
WEAPONS (MA) ALEX FIRST
The mysterious, dastardly story unfolds via a child narrator who says the events spoken about occurred at her school two years ago.
So, what happened?
In short, 17 primary school age children – all from the one class – simply disappeared.
It was 2:17am when each of those kids got up from their beds and fled out the front door of their homes with their arms spread, never to be seen again.
As dawn broke, only one child from that class was at school, along with his teacher.
Police have no leads.
The parents of the missing children are understandably distressed – sick with worry.
Suspicion falls on the teacher who was close to the kids.
For her own safety, the principal asks her to take a leave of absence.
She is intent on speaking to the one remaining youngster in her class, but the principal forbids her from doing so.
Not that that stops her and that is when the first teaser appears.
That only happens when the teacher turns up at the boy’s home and peers through a small slit in a window that has been covered with newspaper.
All the other windows have also been papered over.
There is much more to this story, but to say any more would be to spoil the surprise, which I am not about to do.
Strange happenings
Josh Brolin is a parent on a mission in Weapons
The narrative unfolds from the different perspectives of key players in the conundrum.
There is the principal, the teacher, a father, the surviving child, a policeman and a homeless drug addict.
Their stories cross over. Gradually, more and more is revealed, before a frenzied ending. It is a seriously well told, if twisted tale, one where you can’t possibly guess what is going on.
The man responsible for the script and direction is Zach Cregger (Barbarian).
He is a master at twisting the knife, without pushing it in too soon. Weapons is weird, wacky, occasionally gory and humorous.
The actors certainly play their parts.
A legal thriller
THE THREAD (M) ALEX FIRST
A mild-mannered man is accused of murdering his wife, leaving him to bring up five young children on his own.
Nicolas Milik (Grégory Gadebois) appears shell shocked when he is taken into custody, leaving his kids in the hands of social services.
Three years later he is brought to trial, his defence lawyer Jean Monier (Daniel Auteuil) convinced of his innocence.
Monier only became involved in the case because one night he agreed to help out his over-committed wife and fellow counsel, Annie Debret (Sidse Babett Knudsen).
Now, in Monier’s eyes, Milik’s only friend, the owner of the local pub, Roger Marton (Gaëtan Roussel), is responsible for the atrocity.
We learn that Milik’s wife had a drinking problem, one that had escalated to the point that she wasn’t looking after the children as she should have.
Arguments with her husband about her alcohol consumption had become common place.
And then she was found dead, her throat slit.
Through the three-day trial, we are introduced to various elements of the case, from different standpoints.
As teacher Justine Gandy, Julia Garner refuses to be silenced. That is not to say that, from time to time, she isn’t intimidated, just that she will keep going regardless. She is gutsy.
Josh Brolin, too, brings a “refuse to die without trying” attitude to bear as builder Archer Graff, the father of one of the missing children.
Benedict Wong is level-headed in his portrayal of the pragmatic principal who is not looking to create waves.
It feels like Alden Enhrenreich has the weight of the world on his shoulders in his role as Paul Morgan, a policeman not sold on his job.
Austin Abrams is on edge as drug addict and rough sleeper Anthony.
Cary Christopher is impactful, even though he plays a boy of few words, in realising the one youngster who is still with us, Alex Lilly.
Complete with evocative, deliberately overly applied make up, Amy Madigan is arresting as Alex’s aunt, Gladys.
There is much to admire in the restraint that Cregger shows as we try to piece together the puzzle.
And then we have an all guns blazing ending that has us cackling in our seats.
Rated MA, Weapons scores an 8 out of 10.
Daniel Auteuil plays a lawyer who defends a man accused of murdering his wife in the French legal drama The Thread
Milik remains stoic throughout, putting his faith in Jean Monier.
In fact, Monier last defended a client 15 years ago.
As a result of the outcome of that case, he moved to the other side and became a prosecutor.
But now, he is back … for the more he hears, the more he is persuaded that Milik is being prosecuted unfairly.
Based on truth, The Thread has been adapted from the memoirs of lawyerturned-bestselling author Jean-Yves Moyart. The central focus is Monier, who invests a great deal in trying to prove
Nicolas Milik’s innocence. The actor who plays him, Daniel Auteuil, also directs this talk heavy film, which requires concentration to follow.
Given what is at stake, there is an intensity about it from the get go.
It explores guilt, conceit and the slippery nature of justice.
And just when you thought you knew everything about the case, there is a twist … and then another.
Auteuil is at his stoic best as a disillusioned lawyer, past his prime, who is on a mission. Gadebois, too, is outstanding as a taciturn man accused
of a heinous crime. Cinematographer Jean-Francois Hensgens maintains a dark palette throughout, reflecting the shadowy nature of the crime.
While intriguing, I felt The Thread could have been pared back to give it even greater impact.
Still, it remains a compelling legal thriller.
Rated M, it scores a 7 out of 10.
For more of Alex First’s reviews, go to https://www.itellyouwhatithink.com
When Dr. Zachary Daitch decided to make Aliyah in the summer of 2023, he wasn’t just relocating his family; he was transitioning an entire medical career across continents. Now a practicing gastroenterologist at Hadassah Ein Karem in Jerusalem, Dr. Daitch’s story is one of professionalism, purpose and a deep desire to contribute to the Israeli healthcare system.
Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Daitch earned his medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College. He went on to complete his residency and fellowship in internal medicine and gastroenterology at Temple University Hospital. With advanced training in procedures such as ERCP and EUS, Dr. Daitch built a robust clinical background in the US before making the life changing decision to make Aliyah.
His move to Israel was driven by both personal and professional motivations. Settling in Beit Shemesh with his family, he sought a meaningful life in Israel and a smooth and sustainable path to practice as a specialist in the Israeli health system. That’s where the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP) and its flagship event, MedEx, played a pivotal role.
"MedEx made what felt overwhelming suddenly feel doable," Dr. Daitch shared. “There were people waiting at every stage of the process to walk us through licensing, employment and, even, relocation.” With events in Europe, North America and
How IMAP made this doctor's move to Israel possible
South America each year, MedEx brings together hundreds of doctors and medical specialists looking to make Aliyah. The event streamlines the complexities of transferring your medical license, receiving specialty recognition and finding a job in Israel.
At MedEx, Dr. Daitch was able to meet with representatives from Israel’s Ministry of Health, get real-time guidance on his
licensing paperwork, have his documents authenticated and interview directly with healthcare employers – all in one day. He also received support from IMAP’s team of medical licensing advisors, who provided personalised assistance and followthrough from the moment he registered for the event, until he was fully integrated into the Israeli healthcare system. Today,
Dr. Daitch sees patients at Hadassah Ein Karem. He brings a unique combination of American training and Israeli adaptability to his work, offering high-level procedural expertise, while adjusting to the dynamic pace of Israeli healthcare.
“There’s a sense of mission here,” he said of his work at Hadassah. “The patients are diverse, the needs are great and the opportunity to contribute is deeply fulfilling. I believe that there are so many unopened doors waiting for physician Olim to come through.” Dr. Daitch also emphasised how the support structure that IMAP provides was a key factor in making his Aliyah a success. “I went to MedEx two times. The IMAP team helped me streamline the process from A to Z. They spelled it out, step-by-step, so I didn’t have to figure it out on my own. I wouldn’t have my job without them and I definitely wouldn’t have a license without them.” His story is one of hundreds each year, as more Jewish medical professionals answer the call to bring their expertise to Israel. With the help of IMAP and MedEx, Dr. Daitch didn’t just transfer his credentials; he found his place in a system where his skills are needed and his presence makes a difference.
MedEx will be coming to Australia this October. Check out https://www.imap.org. il/medex-australia/ or email medpro@nbn. org.il for more information and to register.
IMAP provides doctors and specialists from around the world with: Step-by-step guidance → on licensing, specialty recognition, employment, and relocation. Personalized support → from the first question to your first job in Israel. Global events → that facilitate the licensure process. Your career. Your calling. Your next chapter - in Israel.
Reach out to our team and begin your journey today!
