JDC (The Joint) Australia hosted a “We Sing As One, Jointly For Israel” concert at Kehillat Kadimah synagogue (see page 8)
For nearly a decade, MedEx served as a beacon for medical professionals in North America with aspirations to make Aliyah to Israel. As an annual standalone event, MedEx offered invaluable support: it connected healthcare professionals with Israeli hospitals, facilitated the licensing process and helped expedite the Oleh’s transition into Israel’s healthcare system. The program quickly became a trusted pathway for motivated practitioners seeking to contribute their talents in Israel and make the move. Its success caught the attention of Israel’s key policymakers. With Israel facing a severe physician shortage, the Israeli Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration recognised that MedEx’s impact could be amplified far beyond North America. The government approached Nefesh B’Nefesh with a bold proposal: expand MedEx into a structured initiative that could serve physicians around the world. Responding to this vision, Nefesh B’Nefesh, already renowned for its effectiveness in facilitating Aliyah, embarked on an ambitious transformation, forming the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP).
Officially launched in March 2024, IMAP represents the next chapter in Israel’s strategy to fortify its healthcare system amid growing physician shortages. Nefesh B’Nefesh signed a multi-year agreement with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Negev, Galil and National Resilience, in cooperation with The Jewish Agency for Israel to formalise IMAP, committing to streamline the recruitment, licensing and placement of medical professionals worldwide. The goal is to bring in at least 2,000 physicians over the next five years.
The cofounder and chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tony Gelbart, said: “Confronting the growing challenges of healthcare personnel shortages, especially in times of crisis, remains a critical mission for us. The International Medical Aliyah Program is designed to ensure a seamless transition for these committed medical professionals and passionate Zionists and we are thrilled to now offer this expedited process to professionals from all over the world. We are honoured to have been given this role by the Israeli government and extremely grateful to our philanthropic partners in
IMAP continues to expand globally
making this possible.” With the framework in place, IMAP immediately began to expand. The program launched its first European MedEx in Paris on March 31st, 2024, following the annual MedEx New Jersey held earlier that month. The rollout continued with large scale events in Buenos Aires, London and Los Angeles, and small-scale events around the world, reflecting IMAP’s international ambition. Europe saw strong engagement. At the second annual MedEx in France, held in May 2025, more than 300 European doctors and medical students, particularly from France, Belgium and Switzerland, gathered to explore their Aliyah options and career pathways. Officials underscored the importance of their participation, especially as Israel continues to face acute personnel shortages in regions like the Negev and Galilee.
Meanwhile, South America became another focal point. In Buenos Aires, IMAP hosted events that built on the region’s growing interest, laying the groundwork for robust support networks to assist medical professionals in their Aliyah journeys. These regional expansions underscore IMAP’s adaptability and the universal need among medical professionals for structured and tailored Aliyah assistance.
In a defining move, IMAP is slated to officially hold the first ever MedEx Australia in October 2025, signaling yet another significant milestone in its global trajectory. Ahead of the official launch, two information sessions were held in July – one in Melbourne and another in Sydney. These sessions drew strong attendance from doctors and medical specialists. Participants expressed gratitude for the clarity and comprehensiveness of the information provided. Many shared how daunting the Aliyah process can feel – particularly when it comes to professional licensure, relocation logistics and navigating the Israeli healthcare system – and how critical IMAP’s role would be in easing the transition. The feedback clearly illustrated that IMAP’s presence in Australia is not just welcome: it may be transformative in helping medical Olim relocate with confidence.
This enthusiasm mirrors the sentiment witnessed in Europe and South America. Dedicated professionals are eager to contribute to Israel’s healthcare landscape, but they need a clear, supportive and efficient framework to make it happen. IMAP delivers that.
By transforming MedEx into IMAP, there is now a clear-cut mechanism for Israel to recruit not just professionals,
but loyal Zionists, motivated by a deep sense of purpose. This strategy resonates deeply when set against Israel’s current healthcare realities.
Since its launch, IMAP has already facilitated the Aliyah of a recordbreaking 786 physicians, with hundreds more in the pipeline. With its operational footprint now firmly established across Europe, South America and Australia, IMAP is poised to deliver on its ambitious five-year goal of bringing thousands of healthcare professionals to Israel.
Yet beyond numbers, the program reflects a broader vision, where medical professionals become agents of change, strengthening healthcare in Israel, while actualising their own aspirations. What began as a standalone North American conference has evolved into a global initiative, with real impact and deep resonance. IMAP exemplifies how vision, collaboration and compassionate infrastructure can transform dreams into reality. As the program grows, its mission remains steadfast: to facilitate medical Aliyah, fortify Israel's healthcare system and connect devoted professionals with a meaningful Zionist mission that transcends continents.
MedEx participants help to secure the future of Israeli medical services (photos by Shachar Azran)
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DR DVIR ABRAMOVICH CONSIDERED OPINION
As I approach this Jewish New Year, there is a heaviness in my chest. It is not the ordinary solemnity of the season, the reflective pause, the taking of stock. It is something more jagged, more raw: the sense of a people suddenly aware that the ground beneath them is no longer firm.
The Hamas massacres did not only kill more than a thousand Israelis. They uncorked a wave of antisemitism that broke on distant shores. And in this country, where so many once believed themselves securely at home, it has left a bruise that language struggles to name. For the past twelve months, Jews in Australia and across the diaspora have continued to carry October 7 like a scar they cannot hide.
The catalogue of incidents is sobering, but if you want to understand the mood, begin not with a ledger of incidents, but with a feeling of siege. What does siege feel like in a country that calls itself lucky? It feels like hearing your name spoken as an accusation. It feels like watching the familiar landmarks of belonging take on a new edge, as when the Sydney Harbour Bridge filled with more than 90,000 people and a single chant carried through the air, ‘From the river to the sea’, a phrase that erased a nation and a people with six words.
The there is the recent revelation that the Adass Synagogue firebombed in Melbourne was not a random act, but part of a plan traced back to Tehran. Or the July night when an arsonist struck the East Melbourne Synagogue, another reminder that even prayer houses are not exempt from the fury of those who despise us. Or the mob that stormed Miznon, an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne, shattering its glass and chanting ‘Death to the IDF’, as if eating hummus and pita were now acts of war. For Jews watching, it felt like Kristallnacht in miniature, an ordinary corner of the city suddenly turned against them.
Consider the weekend marches that have become a ritual, filling Melbourne’s streets with banners and megaphones. Week after week, Jews listened as the chants hardened: Zionists branded as war criminals, fascists, pariahs. The effect was not abstract. Families decided not to step into the CBD, conceding it no longer felt like their city on those days. These aren’t just headlines. They settle into the bones. You absorb them like the ringing in your ears after a crash. The body flinches, long after the noise stops. The word that I keep hearing from my fellow Jews is betrayal. It does not always present as anger; often it arrives as disappointment and fear. I have sat in living rooms where this fear has a face. After the Adass bombing, a grandmother who had lived here for 60 years whispered that she had never imagined she would utter the word Aliyah to her children. Now she had. A father called me late one evening, asking for words to reassure his anxious Year 9 daughter at a public school who had been called a ‘baby killer’. A
The year that shattered Jewish trust in Australia
young professional confided that he no longer posts photos of himself at Jewish community events on LinkedIn. “It’s not worth the risk,” he said. He fears that in today’s climate, a visible Jewish identity is a liability, a mark against his career. The burden is not just theoretical. It is in the ordinary calibrations of daily life.
A poll confirmed what we already knew. Sixty-six percent of Australian Jews said they feel unwelcome, but are staying. Eighteen percent are considering leaving for Israel. Three percent have already decided to go. Add it together: more than four in five are living with some degree of unease about their future here. This is not statistical noise. This is a seismic shift in the psychological weather of a community that has been here since the First Fleet.
Safety is not just locks and guards. It is the assumption that when an old hatred stirs, your neighbours will stand beside you. That the country you love, will love you back. When that trust is shaken, the damage goes deeper than smashed windows or graffiti. A synagogue can be rebuilt. A wall can be scrubbed. But when belonging itself feels provisional, the music of citizenship goes out of tune.
Australian Jews are bereaved. They are grieving a quieter loss, which is the easy, unselfconscious trust they had in Australia.
Some point to the statements from leaders and “yes”, there were strong words. The government expelled Iran’s ambassador. Politicians across parties condemned antisemitism. Those things matter and they deserve acknowledgment. But let’s not pretend they are enough.
Words do not walk children to school. Words do not stand at bus stops with teenagers who can’t decide whether the Star of David should be tucked inside a shirt. I keep returning to a smaller
question: what does it do to a child to grow up with this hum in the air? Not the spectacle, not the headlines, the hum. For Jewish children, coming of age has meant learning the weather of mistrust earlier than they should.
The test before Australia now is not abstract. It is whether this country wants to be a place where a child can wear a Jewish school jacket without secondguessing; where a small community can gather for prayer without calculating exit routes or revealing the location at the last minute; where being identified as Jewish in public is as unremarkable as being identified as anything else.
This year, Jewish life did not curl in on itself; it became more deliberate. Cultural festivals and events went ahead. The rallies for the hostages and Israel gained in strength and frequency; books about the Jewish experience were written; Shabbat tables lengthened. Some Jews chose not to lower their profile, but to live a little more openly.
Not out of bravado, but out of fidelity to those who rebuilt their lives after the Holocaust, to children who watch, to a tradition that outlasted empires. They reminded everyone that a nation’s character is revealed not only in its crises, but in its small refusals to let cruelty set the tone.
How does it feel to carry all this into the New Year? It is like entering a familiar room and finding that the furniture has shifted a few centimetres in the night.
Rosh Hashanah is the season when Jews perform a moral inventory of the self, of the community, of the world. This year, the record is heavy. Fear has crept into the ordinary.
Belonging, once automatic, feels conditional. Trust, once solid, is fractured. These are not abstractions; they are the climate of the soul in a year of screams and slogans.
Even as we gather for the New Year, we cannot forget that the hostages remain in Hamas’s grip. Lives suspended in captivity, families left in limbo, a human silence that shames the world.
The year ahead will not be easy. The dark currents that swept through our cities will not vanish overnight. The slogans will not dissolve, just because we wish them to. But there is an older sound that carries farther than any chant and it calls all of us, Jews and non-Jews, to an ethic of attention and care.
It asks Australians to be guardians of one another’s dignity, to re-learn the simple arts of decency: speaking up, shutting down, refusing to trivialise or excuse hate.
I cannot tell you how the next 12 months will unfold. I can tell you what will be required if we are to be the country we say we are: vigilance against antisemitism and shared intolerance for the casual cruelties that make people feel like outsiders in their own home.
As this New Year dawns, I think of the people I met this year: the inspiring ones who told me they had not hidden a necklace with the map of Israel or a Jewish symbol; the dignified ones who said they were raising children to be proud, even when the world would not make it easy; the weary ones who challenge the bigots online. The load is heavy. But so is the resolve.
And perhaps that is the truest meaning of this season: that even when the night has felt too long, we gather, we bless our children and we dip apples in honey.
And we begin. Again.
Dr Dvir Abramovich is chair of the AntiDefamation Commission and the author of eight books.
Dr Dvir Abramovich
As we approach Rosh Hashanah 5786, a time of reflection, renewal and hope, JNF Australia is supporting two powerful initiatives in Israel that demonstrate a profound truth: environmental rehabilitation is human rehabilitation. In the aftermath of trauma and displacement, these projects show how tending to the land can also nurture the spirit, rebuild communities and restore resilience.
Kibbutz Malkiya: healing through a community greenhouse
For decades, Kibbutz Malkiya’s 400 residents have lived under constant threat. The recent war and forced evacuation further tested their strength. As families return, JNF Australia is supporting three projects designed to restore land and community. Together, these initiatives create a holistic vision of renewal in which agriculture, animal care and environmental responsibility come together.
• Community greenhouse: A 200-square-metre greenhouse will provide a therapeutic environment where residents can process trauma through cultivation, while producing sustainable food, reviving agricultural traditions and creating an intergenerational gathering space.
Rosh Hashanah 2025 Blue Box campaign
• Animals heal – a place of compassion and rehabilitation: This unique project will combine an advanced dog park with meeting areas for animal-assisted therapy, promoting social connection, education and emotional healing. It will also expand green space within the kibbutz, encourage active living and foster awareness of animal welfare.
• Bringing back life – from waste to hope: An advanced recycling centre will dramatically reduce landfill waste, generate green income for the kibbutz and provide educational programs for schools. The project will not only improve soil and water quality in the region, but also embed
environmental awareness into the community’s rehabilitation process.
Netiv HaAsara: “Between the Olive Trees” healing garden
On the southern border, Netiv HaAsara was devastated by the terror attack of October 7, 2023. Families endured enormous loss and months of uncertainty. Now, as they return home, they face not only the practical task of reconstruction, but the deeper challenge of restoring a sense of peace and belonging.
At the entrance to the moshav lies a barren, sandy area – empty ground that residents now see as an opportunity. Their vision is to transform it into “Between the Olive Trees”, a community healing
garden. This green sanctuary will feature fruit trees, native plants, shaded seating areas and pathways designed for quiet reflection. The first two olive trees have already been planted, symbolising roots of resilience and anchors of hope. When complete, the garden will offer calm and beauty to those entering the community, while also providing a visible reminder that renewal is possible, even after the darkest of times. By turning neglected land into a flourishing, welcoming space, Netiv HaAsara is reaffirming life, unity and the enduring power of growth.
Though separated by geography, Malkiya’s greenhouse and Netiv HaAsara’s healing garden share the same mission: to restore communities by restoring their environment. When Israelis living on the periphery cultivate their land, they are also cultivating resilience, dignity and hope.
This Rosh Hashanah, through the Blue Box campaign, JNF Australia invites you to be part of this journey. Together, we can help ensure that environmental rehabilitation becomes human rehabilitation, bringing strength, renewal and healing to communities across Israel.
Donate today at https://jnf.org.au/ nsw-bbrh25 or call 1300 563 563.
CONSIDERED OPINION
DAVID SCHULBERG
Dr Andrew Thomas is
a lecturer in International Relations and Middle East Studies at Deakin University, specialising in Middle East politics and non-Western international relations theory.
David Schulberg spoke with him after the Australian government declared it would recognise a Palestinian state.
David: Andrew, was this the best time for Australia to declare that it will recognise a Palestinian state?
Andrew: We don't know what we don't know in terms of the other considerations that Australia is making right now. I'd say there'd be a lot of geostrategic ones, some of them concerning how involved is the United States going to be in Australia's defence policy over the next three to four years? Does Australia want to actually put pressure on the United States through this? Do we want to pivot more to Europe, which I think is certainly something? Do we want to pivot more to countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore? But putting that aside, there would be some that would say that if Australia really supported a twostate solution, why hasn't it recognised a Palestinian state long ago? I don't know whether we could say this is the right time. Certainly, there does appear to be an escalation in a couple of things that probably pushed Australia to that conclusion, including growing humanitarian concerns and obviously some of the pronouncements by Benjamin Netanyahu that he intends to reoccupy the Gaza Strip.
These factors are putting considerable political pressure on Australia from their allies to the north. What Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said about this being the right time to build momentum adds to the question: build momentum to what? The closer we get to something like the Oslo Accords, maybe that's good. Maybe after the violence transitions into political discussion, maybe that's a good thing.
But then the same questions keep popping up. What happens to Jerusalem? What happens to the territory already settled in the West Bank? Are we talking about moving more people? Are we talking about moving Israelis? Are we talking about moving Palestinians? That sort of nitty-gritty has always been the problem with the two-state solution. That is why the Oslo Accords fell apart in the second Camp David meeting with Yasser Arafat and the Israelis, because they couldn't figure out how to work out the minutiae. That is the jump from the momentum – trying to build a political solution to this conflict to the reality of where that momentum is taking us.
The Foreign Minister can't really speak to that because it's not really Australia's decision. That's a mediation decision that the Israelis and the Palestinians have to come to. On the one hand, that recognition is important, but it's still not
Recognising a Palestinian state
Dr Andrew Thomas
clear exactly what Australia wants to get out of that momentum, if that makes sense.
David: Can I remind you of the UN General Assembly resolution that demanded Israel withdraw from all the occupied Palestinian territories that they have allegedly been illegally occupying. Doesn't that seem to suggest where Labor is going to go?
Andrew: The Australian government doesn't really have much power to enforce that. Anyway, the General Assembly is basically just a guidance body. I suspect that Australia wouldn't actually say that publicly.
David: They signed on to that declaration at the UN.
Andrew: Sure, but at the same time, making that policy, making that like a coherent foreign policy of the Australian government, that is another step to ask Israel to withdraw from those territories. Israel is still a sovereign state. Israel still has control over its borders. It has control over who it conducts its relations with, just like Australia has control over whom it has relations.
If it chooses to recognise a Palestinian state, then so be it. I would say it goes beyond symbolism because it is designed to re-establish Australia as a moral middle power in the region. We are about the national security of our region. We are about the values of our region,
talked about how (French) President (Emmanuel) Macron has said that Palestinian statehood can no longer be a consequence of good behavior from both parties; it has to be used to put pressure on the parties to come to an agreement.
Australia is following that lead and is probably working very closely with France on the messaging regarding this. I genuinely think it's that coordinated. You can tell that Australia doesn't really know what to do if the conditions required of the Palestinian Authority aren't met. A couple of those conditions effectively have already been met. One of them is the Palestinian Authority officially recognises Israel. The current Fatah government has no interest in having anything to do with Hamas.
If only we can get to the point where we're talking about a peace deal like Oslo with the two parties sitting down together. I don't think the current Israeli government will end up doing that, but maybe a future one will.
Demilitarisation is going to be one of the big sticking points. Would the Palestinian state still be allowed some kind of national guard? Is it more like a Japan situation – where it's not allowed to have a foreign Asian force. Can it have a national guard to protect itself? Can it have nothing to protect itself? And then that comes down to whether you're a state, if you can't protect yourself.
pointing to, again, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the other ASEAN nations, but also recognising certain geopolitical realities that they probably need to jump on Europe's bandwagon a little bit more and not keep assuming the United States will support Australia's interests. There is a coherent policy element to this, not just symbolism, but that is adjacent to what's happening in Gaza and, obviously, the humanitarian crisis there.
David: What do you make of the government's decision to recognise a Palestinian state with conditions that can only be met after recognition is declared by Australia at the special UN conference taking place in September? The government maintains that the Palestinian Authority has agreed to Australia's conditions of recognition, which include Palestine recognising Israel's right to exist, that it will demilitarise, that elections are held and Hamas will have no role in a future government. Isn't Labor, in fact, putting the cart before the horse?
Andrew: It is putting the cart before the horse, but this is a coordinated move by a lot of different countries. That is the strategy in the article ‘A twostate solution is gaining momentum again for Israel and the Palestinians. Does it have a chance of success?’ that I wrote for The Conversation, that
Not to get too academic, but in the Weberian context of a state, it has a monopoly on the use of force. I think it does come down to the strategy: putting the cart before the horse here. The strategy is trying to lead Israel into recognition or trying to lead the international community into recognition. Again, those unanswered questions still kind of haunt this decision. They really do still loom large over all of this.
David: How will Hamas be made to relinquish control in Gaza? Who can do that other than Israel? Labor has insisted that Hamas can play no role in a future Palestinian state, but that appears to have gone from being a requirement to being little more than wishful thinking now.
Andrew: Yeah. With the proviso that a lot of foreign policy is wishful thinking. Foreign policy in this context is projection, right? It is basically saying, this is what we want to see.
We can't make it happen. This is up to other people. We're trying to lead people to that eventual outcome. But basically, they can't.
Moreover, there are some reports that Hamas has actually consolidated a lot of their fighting power inside Gaza City.
This is a slightly modified extract from an extensive interview with Dr Andrew Thomas who was speaking to David Schulberg on ‘The Israel Connexion’ program on J-AIR Community Radio.
SHARI LOWE ACTING CEO JCA
As we approach Rosh Hashanah and prepare to usher in a new year, we do so with both hope and reflection.
It has been a difficult and deeply challenging two years since October 7th. Our community has endured rising antisemitism and hate – not just from afar, but increasingly here, at home. The impact has been personal, painful and persistent. In 2025 alone, we have seen an unprecedented rise in threats and attacks directed at our Jewish community, shaking our sense of safety and belonging.
At JCA, we have to remain positive. We are working tirelessly to ensure that our organisations have the resources to support our community. We continue to prioritise and strengthen our fundraising efforts to support the organisations on the front line – organisations like CSG and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies – who advocate for us, protect us and ensure our communal voice is heard loud and clear.
But keeping our community safe is about more than security alone.
It is also the wrap-around support that holds us – in our schools, in aged care, community support and in cultural and sporting programs that bring people
together when they need connection the most. It’s the quiet reassurance that when one of us is in need, the rest of us are there. Like family.
I have seen our community grow stronger through these tough times and I continue to see individuals and organisations step up to help each other. I recently spent time with the ACT Jewish Community and AUJS, at a magical Friday night of connection and Jewish journey. The warmth of this community and their engaged AUJS leaders was comforting, and I was delighted to hear from a panel of local Canberrans about the diverse ways in which they connect. These vital networks are only made possible because of people like you –our donors and supporters – who year after year continue to prioritise the community. And this year is no different. In fact, the needs are only growing.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I invite you to reflect on what community truly means to you and how we can each play a role in strengthening it. Because we are always stronger together. And in times like these, unity is our greatest strength.
On behalf of all of us at JCA, I wish you, your loved ones and your friends a Shana Tova Umetukah – a sweet, safe and meaningful new year, with prayers for peace in Israel and the world.
Shari Lowe, Acting CEO JCA NSW and ACT
CONSIDERED OPINION
NOMI KALTMANN COURTESY: HERALD SUN
If I ever want to know what the world was like more than 100 years ago, I don’t have to Google it. I can just walk a few doors down and talk to my neighbour, Mr Berysz Aurbach.
On 17th August, Mr Aurbach turned 105. Yes, that’s right, one hundred and five years old! That number alone is hard to wrap your head around, but when you know his story, it feels nothing short of miraculous.
Mr Aurbach is not just a local icon in Caulfield (in the heart of Melbourne’s Jewish community), he’s an institution. A regular presence at Caulfield Beth Hamedrash, where he once served as president, Mr Aurbach is wheeled to shul each week, impeccably dressed, full of warmth, wit and history. His mind is sharp. He remembers details from his early childhood with astonishing clarity. He tells stories about growing up in Poland before the war, escaping the Warsaw Ghetto uprising while the ghetto was on fire and rebuilding his life in Australia after the Holocaust.
He has lived through things that most of us will never be able to imagine. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was just three months old. His father and three brothers were murdered during the Holocaust. Only one sister, who had moved to British Mandated Palestine, survived the war. However, despite the hardships, Mr Aurbach doesn’t dwell in bitterness. He carries a profound will to live.
Each year, on the anniversary of his mother’s death, he recites Kaddish. It’s something he’s been doing his whole life. To think of a man reciting Kaddish
At 105, a living treasure
annually for a mother he never got to know is deeply moving. That alone might be a world record. His story is now on display at Melbourne’s Holocaust Museum and it should be.
Mr Aurbach still lives in the same home he’s lived in for decades, with his devoted son, Moshe, who takes care of him. And every time I see Mr Aurbach, I’m reminded that he is one of the last living links to the old world of European Jewry, a world that was shattered, but not extinguished. He is living proof. My kids
know that we have an “old neighbour”. They talk about it without irony, saying things like, “He’s more than a hundred years older than us!” Which is true. But it’s also such a strange, wonderful thing for them to grow up knowing that history is not just something you read about, rather, it lives here. On our street.
Each year, when Mr Aurbach celebrates his birthday, he doesn’t do it quietly. He orders one of the biggest cakes you’ve ever seen from Haymishe kosher bakery in East St Kilda and
invites the whole street and his entire synagogue to celebrate.
He holds court from midday until well into the night, telling stories of his childhood, his family and of his brother, Mordechai, who did not survive the Holocaust, but organised for Mr Aurbach to be saved from the ghetto.
He tells the history of the Jewish community in Poland, what life was like before the war, how his family was from Biala Podlaska and had connections to the Gerer Hasidic rabbinic dynasty. And he does it all with the energy and passion of someone far younger.
You sit in his presence and you forget, for a moment, that this is a man who was born in 1920. There’s a French term, joie de vivre (joy of life) and if ever anyone embodied that, it’s Mr Aurbach. He’s not defined by what was taken from him, but by what he built afterwards.
He’s not interested in pity or platitudes. He believes in life. He knows that his children and grandchildren are lucky to grow up in Australia.
Sometimes I think about how surreal it is that our lives intersect … that my kids get to grow up a few doors down from someone who survived the Warsaw Ghetto.
That he gets to see another generation of Jewish children walking freely down a suburban street in Melbourne.
When you turn 100, you receive a letter from the British monarch. In 2020, Mr Aurbach received one from Queen Elizabeth. This year, another from King Charles. Mr Aurbach may have lived through empires rising and falling, but he still appreciates a nicely worded royal letter.
This article first appeared in the Herald Sun.
From left: Tali Jackson (one of Berysz’s four grandchildren), Hadassa Aurbach (one of Berysz’s two daughters), Berysz Aurbach, Moshe Aurbach (Berysz’s son) and Dani Jackson (another one of Berysz’s grandchildren) celebrating Berysz’s 105th birthday
Berysz Aurbach with congratulatory cards from His Majesty King Charles III, the Governor General and the Prime Minister
COMMUNITY
AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM AROUND THE
The siren wailed. The streets of Jerusalem blurred past the ambulance windows. In the back, 28-year-old Chaya held the hand of an injured teenager, whispering the few Hebrew words she had just learned: Atah b’seder – you’re okay.
Only six weeks earlier, Chaya had arrived in Israel for what she thought would be a short visit. She planned to see friends, explore the country and return home, but fate had other ideas. A chance encounter with Magen David Adom’s Overseas Volunteer Program set her on a life-changing path, from curious visitor to frontline first responder.
“I had no medical training and hardly any Hebrew,” Chaya recalls. “I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I wanted to contribute in a meaningful way.”
She enrolled in MDA’s 60-hour emergency first aid course, a comprehensive program designed to train international volunteers in lifesaving skills. The course, taught in English, covered everything from CPR and trauma care to working under pressure in real emergency situations.
Within days of completing her training, Chaya was part of an ambulance crew in Jerusalem.
This country is being run by kids … and it works! Saving lives in Israel
Who can volunteer?
The MDA Overseas Program is open to anyone aged 18 and over. No prior medical background is required, only a willingness to learn, a good level of English and the ability to commit to a minimum of four weeks in Israel. Volunteers come from all walks of life, from students and professionals to retirees seeking a meaningful adventure.
Participants can choose from programs lasting four weeks, six weeks or longer.
All include the 60-hour first aid training, followed by placement at active ambulance stations across Israel.
For Chaya, the experience was unforgettable. “The friendships, the teamwork, the pride in helping people when they needed it most, it is something I will carry forever,” she says.
“I came to give, but I received so much more.
This country is being run by kids … and it works! I’m proud to have worn the MDA uniform.” Magen David Adom,
She responded to car accidents, treated patients at the scene and provided vital support during transport to hospital.
Israel’s national emergency medical service, depends upon a network of thousands of volunteers, both Israeli and international. These volunteers free up resources, expand coverage and bring hope to people in their most vulnerable moments.
Israel’s MDA teams are on the front lines 24/7. Right now, they need more hands, more hearts and more people willing to step forward.
Whether you can give a month or a season, you can gain the skills, the memories and the pride that comes from knowing you have saved lives.
Chaya
CONSIDERED OPINION
RAMONA FREEDMAN ALIYAH ADVENTURES
Recently, I had the most quintessentially Israeli day. Unsurprisingly, it started dramatically.
The Jewish world is hyper aware that our collective exasperation and desperation increases with each minute that our precious hostages are not back home.
Advocates on their behalf declared it a day of disruption. With fear growing that they are running out of time, I appreciated that frustrated organisers wanted to ensure every single person knew. Oh, we knew all right!
On a good day, there is a ridiculous amount of heavy traffic on many highways across the length and breadth of Israel. On that assigned day of disruption, it reached another level early on. It began with unparalleled traffic chaos – tyres were deliberately burnt on roads. Manpower blocked intersections. Some hostage families were for all this. Others distanced themselves from it.
On a day such as this, the wise move would be to stay local and not schlep anywhere too far. Limit travel. Well, normally I would willingly adhere to this unspoken rule, but that day happened to be the day my dear friend was making a wedding for her delightful daughter in Jerusalem.
With my whole heart I wanted to be there early for the chuppah, as these were friends I had met at my sensational shul, Kehillat Lev Ra’anana (KLR) on the eleventh day after I made Aliyah. Apparently, I told them this precise number and was verbose in conveying all my emotions across the previous fortnight.
This family is incredible and warmly welcomed me into their world. They are Israeli, but all impressively bilingual in both Hebrew and English. We have this funny thing going where Orli, the mother, messages in Hebrew and I reply mostly in English. Yes, I admit I throw a bit here and there into Google Translate. Yet, quicker than you can say ‘pass the hummus’, we are communicating with ease.
Well, up until this point, having now been in the Holy Land for over one year, I had been harbouring a genuine fear about driving in Jerusalem and had successfully avoided that. With my husband, Oliver, working in Australia and New Zealand for a short while, he was unable to attend the wedding and therefore unable to drive there. I thought I was very sensible and organised a lift with another family I loosely knew. But that arrangement fell through and I was left in a quandary. Do I stay home and avoid it all and miss the wedding or be brave and get behind that steering wheel on the left-hand side and give it a go.
Deep breath. Over the past few months that bride-to-be became very close to my heart. She looks like a young Elizabeth Taylor and shines brightly both physically and spiritually.
I wanted to be there, so I put the wedding venue location into my navigation system.
Day of disruption
The first win of the day was that WAZE wasn’t scrambled by the government telling me cryptically I was in Cairo or a remote location within Jordan. Oh yes, that happens more than you might think! I pulled over and needed to fill up with petrol by myself for the first time. Who knew that was a little test on its own, given all instructions were in Hebrew words I hadn’t learnt in Ulpan? Naturally, it took a while longer than it should have. Again, I needed help with the translation of key words, but I got there.
With a full tank of petrol and happily heading in the right direction, I was dressed up and determined to make it in time, traffic or no traffic. Well, after the hideous predictions for that afternoon, most drivers must have heeded the warnings and stayed home. It wasn’t too bad, after all.
As I veered off the main highway on the outskirts of Jerusalem, I was suddenly within the Arab Israeli town of Abu Ghosh. The roads were winding up a hill and were unfamiliar to me.
I took a moment to marvel at the landscape and at the realisation that I lived so close to these biblical Judean hills. I was listening to Israeli songs on the radio, attempting to sing out loud and practice this new (but ancient) language. A minute later, the music stopped and via both the radio and my phone, a piercing siren blared. Critical alerts began pinging on my phone with notifications of an incoming missile.
Now, standard practice when you are driving and this happens is to swiftly pull over. You are then supposed to get out of your car, crouch down and place your hands over your head. Yes, I know what you are thinking. Are they really serious? Apparently, yes, this is supposed to help you.
At this point, I was conflicted. On the one hand, I am the eternal A student and always want to do the right thing, even if it seems a tad ridiculous. On the other hand, let’s just say I wasn’t in comfortable surroundings. I wasn’t sure if the right thing was to get out of my car at all.
Do I stop and risk another type of challenge in an unfamiliar area, alone on the side of the path (it was barely a road) or do I take my chances and keep driving?
By that point, even with the air conditioner blasting, I was perspiring. I looked out at the vista and thought, “well, I don’t see any rockets in the air” … so I kept driving. The missile was intercepted. Emergency over.
I made it to the wedding venue. I allowed myself to sit alone in my car for a few minutes just to regroup. I duly changed out of my Israeli Teva sandals to strappy heels (now only trotted out for really special occasions) and in I went, to wish them all a huge mazel tov.
Those alarming alerts occurred exactly one hour before the chuppah commencing. I ate some chocolate
in the car, squared my shoulders and walked into the stunning space. The drama of the day melted away. The bride was exquisite. The groom was attentive to her, in the most gentle and caring way. The chuppah was held atop a mountain. There were a few clouds, but no chance of rain. The sun was peeking through. It was a photographer’s dream. A string quartet was playing. None of the guests seemed to mention or register the drama a short 60 minutes earlier.
Israelis have the extraordinary ability to live fully in the present: to dance, to smile, to laugh, to revel in the here and now. I am learning so much from them. Oh, and by the way, I managed to drive all the way back to Ra’anana alone, despite there being no streetlights on that mountain.
That day of disruption came to an end, with another one planned the following week. This tiny country has an uncanny ability to juggle many realities in real time. War, fear and hostages. Joy, happiness and hope.
It seems impossible and yet, miracles abound here. After all, Israel’s very existence is a blessing and we build on that fabulous foundation, one simcha at a time.
Wishing all Shana Tova. May it be a year when all our prayers are answered. I have so much more to share with you, but for now, it is over and out from Ramona in Ra’anana.
Hila Holland and Erel Baron were married in the Judean Hills, in central Israel
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
SAJE
Rabbi Gad Krebs has been involved in Jewish education, in schools and in the broader community, for nearly 30 years. After migrating to Australia from South Africa immediately after finishing high school, he studied a Bachelor of Commerce at UNSW, while remaining deeply engaged in Jewish life through youth movements and as a madrich in Counterpoint programs.
Although opportunities in the corporate world were open to him, Gad instead chose to pursue Torah learning. He spent several years studying at Yeshiva Har Etzion and Hamivtar in Israel, ultimately receiving rabbinical ordination. During that time, he and his family would regularly return to Sydney to run Counterpoint, a commitment that reflected his passion for education and Jewish continuity.
Upon completion of his semicha (rabbinic ordination), Rabbi Krebs was invited back to Sydney to serve as youth rabbi at Masada Synagogue on the North Shore. His role soon grew into that of full-time rabbi and he went on to lead the Masada community until mid-2021. Alongside his communal work, he completed a Masters in Psychotherapy and Counselling, as well as Dayanut (advanced rabbinic ordination).
He is currently pursuing a Masters in Jewish History through Yeshiva University.
Reflecting on his journey, Rabbi Krebs said: “I’m a constant learner and need structure to help promote my own personal
SAJE.ORG.AU
Rabbi Gad Krebs – community profile
growth and development. We must always grow and challenge ourselves, making sure we achieve all that we are meant to with the talents Hashem has given us.”
After a short sabbatical, Rabbi Krebs joined Moriah College as College Rabbi, a role he has embraced wholeheartedly. He has found a warm home within the Moriah community and plays an active role in both formal and informal education, working with students across the school, as well as serving the wider Sydney Jewish community. As a scholar-in-residence, he is regularly invited to deliver shiurim (Talmudic study sessions) to people of all ages and continues to engage university students and Moriah alumni.
Rabbi Krebs has also been deeply involved with the SAJE program since its inception. He is a strong advocate of its value, both in the structured path it provides for conversion and in the unique community it builds for those on that journey. He said: “SAJE is a real game changer for our community, not only for Sydney and Australia, but I believe we are becoming a world leader in this space. Conversion used to feel like a never-ending road, with little clarity on timelines or readiness. SAJE has brought professionalism, stability and structure to the process, while creating an inspiring community. The excitement and enthusiasm that greets me every class I teach is itself a source of inspiration.”
Through every stage of his career, Rabbi Krebs has been motivated by a single mission: to teach, inspire and guide others in bringing Torah into their lives in a way that is meaningful, relevant and enduring.
SYDNEY ACADEMY of JEWISH EDUCATION
Rabbi Gad Krebs
CONSIDERED OPINION
SARAH PACHTER COURTESY: AISH.COM
Miss Israel, Noa Cochva, never dreamed of pageants – but now she’s using her crown to share Israel’s beauty, courage and unity with the world.
“Mum, I got an email about a Miss Israel Pageant. Should I try out?”, Noa asked her mother after receiving a mysterious acceptance email. “Oh yeah, I already signed you up!” her mother casually replied. Noa had never dreamed of entering a pageant, let alone that she could become Miss Israel.
Growing up, she was never into makeup or anything beauty driven. Noa grew up on a moshav in Israel, surrounded by nature. She’d walk around barefoot amongst animals and go on camping trips with her family. Physical beauty or glamour were not part of her childhood. “I was actually pretty nerdy and shy,” she confessed.
As a child, Noa was part of a special program that only the top kids in Israelis school could participate in. The program had a strong focus on technology and biology. She loved to explore and learn. She was also paralysed by her shyness and could barely speak to people. But when she joined the IDF, everything changed. “The military really opens you up and changes your personality. You basically turn into an adult overnight.”
Noa started gaining confidence, but after her release from the Army, she went through a tough break-up with her boyfriend. She was 22, COVID had hit the country and she was heartbroken. “I was crying in my bed and my mum,
The unlikely Miss Universe of Israel
trying to cheer me up, decided to sign me up for the Miss Israel Pageant without me knowing. I wasn’t into those types of things. I wanted to learn biology.”
Her mother would always tell her she was beautiful, though, like every mother does. “Every mum thinks their daughter is beautiful. My grandmother used to call me ‘the beauty queen.’” At first Noa didn’t want to enter the contest. “I thought they would reject me and it would hurt my self-esteem. But my mum said, ‘Just go – for me.’ So I went, just to prove her wrong. I didn’t think I’d pass even one audition, but I kept moving forward, stage after stage. It was so
weird – I was surrounded by models. I was just this nerdy, shy girl who didn’t even know she was pretty.” Noa eventually competed in and won the Miss Israel Pageant. “It’s not where I ever planned to be, but here I am.” She became Miss Universe Israel at the end of 2021, at the age of 23. Then she found out that the Miss Universe competition would take place in Israel in 2022. Eighty-two women from around the world were coming, many with millions of followers. “My job was to show them what it means to be Israeli, what it means to be a woman who served in the military. I wanted to show them that
I grew up surrounded by people very different from me, but we lived together in peace.
“Other queens talk about peace, but in Israel, we live it. I feel like I’m a strong woman because I went to war. Not many women do that. That made me unique.” All the contestants arrived in Israel on the first night of Chanukah. Noa told them the story of the holiday – why Jews light candles and what miracles happened. “They had no idea. I realised at that moment that my goal wasn’t to win. My goal was just to teach them everything I can about Israel and the Jewish people and give them a real experience. Not what they see in the media.”
Noa believes she succeeded. The contestants were posting daily positive messages about Israel. Afterwards, many of the contestants messaged her saying they couldn’t wait to return to Israel with their families. Miss India, who won the competition, reached out. “Every girl had the best time in Israel.”
Why she was chosen
Noa believes she was selected to be Miss Israel because of the Zionistic values she grew up with. Her mother served in the military for 16 years as a psychologist; her father for 40 years in the Israeli Air Force as a pilot and squadron commander. Her grandparents were Holocaust survivors. “We were the biggest Zionist family. That’s what mattered to me – to love Israel.” Judges were drawn to the fact that she came from the countryside, unaffiliated with pageant life. “It wasn’t
Continue to page 18
Noa Cochva
As a nation, we speak of, dream of and pray for Jerusalem. Each year, as Yom Kippur ends, together we declare: L’Shanah HaBa’ah B’Yerushalayim (next year in Jerusalem). For generations, Jerusalem has been a symbol of our shared vision of unity, peace, home and for the right to live freely and proudly as Jews.
With the help of UIA, this vision becomes a reality. Through the support of the Australian Jewish community and UIA’s strategic partner The Jewish Agency for Israel, UIA is helping Jewish families from around the world make Aliyah, find safety and start new lives in Israel.
This year, that dream came true for Tadela and Sarah. Tadela made Aliyah from Ethiopia 27 years ago. Her daughter Sarah, just a child at the time, was forced to stay behind. Across continents and decades, mother and daughter remained in contact, holding onto hope, praying for the day they could be together again.
That moment finally came this year. Sarah, now an adult and qualified doctor, arrived in Israel in an emotional reunion at Ben-Gurion Airport.
Next year in Jerusalem
It was a miracle made possible by the generosity of UIA supporters –people who understand that no family should ever be separated by politics, poverty or persecution.
For the first time in nearly three decades, mother and daughter embraced on the soil of the Jewish homeland. But their journey isn’t over. Now, their road to absorption and integration into Israeli life begins.
This Rosh Hashanah will be Tadela and Sarah’s first Yom Tov together in almost 30 years.
With your help, UIA can make it not only memorable, but dignified.
By sending a UIA e-card to friends or family, your donation will directly support new olim through food vouchers and Yom Tov dinners at UIA-supported absorption centres. In this way, our community can bring comfort and celebration into the homes of those starting fresh in Israel. All donations are tax deductible.
In a time of global uncertainty, here is something real and hopeful our community can do. Make their Yom Tov, and your Yom Tov, extra meaningful. Send a UIA e-card today. Go to https://uiaaustralia.org.au/ecards
The UIA family wishes you and your family a healthy, happy and sweet year. We pray for our hostages, our soldiers, Am Yisrael and for a safe 5786 globally. Thank you for your ongoing support for the People of Israel.
New olim supported by UIA
ELIAS CONSIDERED OPINION
As we approach Yom Yippur and reflect on the Jewish concept of atonement, it is pertinent in this column to consider the concept from a psychological perspective.
Atonement refers to the process of making amends or seeking reconciliation after committing a wrongdoing. It encompasses various dimensions –moral, social and emotional – and plays a crucial role in individual and relational healing.
At its core, atonement involves recognising one’s actions, understanding their impact on others and taking responsibility for them. The psychological significance of atonement can be traced back to theories of moral development, such as those proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg. According to Kohlberg, moral reasoning evolves through a series of stages, ultimately leading individuals to understand the importance of justice, empathy and personal responsibility.
Atonement is closely tied to these concepts, as it requires people to reflect on their behaviour and its consequences, thus fostering moral growth. The act of atonement can lead to significant emotional benefits for the wrongdoer and the victim. For the person
The psychology of atonement
seeking atonement, acknowledging wrongdoing and expressing remorse can alleviate feelings of guilt and shame. Guilt, in particular, can be a powerful motivator for change. Brené Brown, a well-known researcher on vulnerability and shame, emphasises that guilt can drive individuals to make amends and improve their behaviour, while shame tends to lead to withdrawal and defensiveness. Therefore, the act of atonement can serve as a pathway to emotional healing and personal growth. Moreover, atonement has broader implications for relationships and social dynamics. Relationships thrive on trust and mutual respect. When one
party violates that trust, the process of atonement is essential to try to restore the relationship. John Gottman, a prominent relationship researcher, highlights the importance of repair attempts in relationships. He suggests that genuine expressions of remorse and the willingness to make amends can significantly increase the likelihood of relationship recovery after a conflict.
In the context of group psychology, atonement can also play a vital role in societal healing. Collective atonement, where groups or communities acknowledge historical wrongdoing, is crucial for reconciliation. The psychological impact of such collective
Film franchise
Far from eager
Magen David vs. pentagram?
Wife of Indiana 20. Org. with Kangaroos and Magpies
Fold-up bed
USC rival
Game-winning trio 29. One in charge of kiddushin? (with "The")
33. "...___ is not this day!", memorable line from 29-Across
2023 Cy Young winner Blake
"Gladiator" garb 38. Judaism, e.g. ? 41. Alternative to an iPhone, once
Snitches, slangily
44. Sam who made "Spider-Man" 46. Competitions on 10 Tevet? 51. + word
"...the ___ for speed!" 53. Full of flavor 55. One with a long, long sentence 57. Ghost word 59. Martin Kove's Cobra group 60. Cover stories
62. Nickname for one who loves lighting Chanukah candles? 64. Stiller's co-star in a comedy franchise
atonement can foster a sense of closure and facilitate healing among affected communities.
The journey of atonement, however, is not always straightforward. It may be met with resistance from victims, who might struggle to forgive or trust again. Additionally, the effectiveness of atonement can be influenced by the sincerity of the remorse expressed. Atonement requires genuine empathy and understanding of the victim’s feelings. If the wrongdoer is perceived as insincere or self-serving, the process is likely to fail, leading to further resentment and conflict.
So, atonement encompasses a multifaceted process of acknowledging wrongdoing, taking responsibility and seeking to restore relationships. It has profound implications for individual emotional well-being and relational dynamics. By fostering moral growth and promoting healing, atonement serves as a vital mechanism for personal and collective reconciliation, contributing to healthier relationships and societies. Understanding the psychological underpinnings of atonement can enhance our ability to navigate conflict and foster a culture of accountability and empathy.
Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.
11. Andy Dufresne or Hannibal Lecter, for a time
12. That, in Lima
13. Last name in some 17-Across films
18. Last name in some 17-Across films
22. YU, e.g.
24. Jerry of "Beauty and the Beast"
25. Said
27. Take a long, longing look
28. Capital in "Czechoslovakia"?
30. Like Aleve, briefly
31. Alpine evergreen
32. Soon enough
35. Demolition compounds, casually
36. Diamond Head is here
37. 1984 Spielberg-produced hit with a mogwai
39. Conductor's asset
40. Do some work at the City of David, maybe
43. Pontiac car, once
45. Birkat follower
47. "Schindler's List" lead in some 17-Across films
48. ___ toshav
49. Inuit, formerly
50. Dash of "Clueless"
54. "Gadzooks!"
56. African wading bird
57. Fett from 17-Across
58. ___ Shalom (synagogue name)
60. Rights org. founded by B'nai B'rith
61. Christopher of 17 and 29-Across
62. It's used on the radar in "Spaceballs"
63. Financial daily paper, for short
ANNE-MARIE
65. Hoops org. of old 66. "Hook" role
Abate
"Top Gun" name, for short
Delights Down
Like the Dodger in "Oliver!"
3. Bridge over the Grand Canal 4. Obsolete program saver, for short 5. One may be on the wing 6. Writer Horn 7. They're included in some streaming services
Hot candy
Major Cameron films
Petty
AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become embedded in daily life, one Hebrew University legal scholar is raising an urgent concern: these systems may be quietly narrowing our worldview.
In a new article published in the Indiana Law Journal, Professor Michal Shur-Ofry of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem warns that the outputs of large language models (LLMs), the advanced AI systems behind chatbots, tend to reflect mainstream, standardised perspectives. While this may make them accessible and efficient, it also means users risk being exposed to fewer diverse voices and ideas.
“If everyone is getting the same kind of mainstream answers from AI, it may limit the variety of voices, narratives and cultures we’re exposed to,” Professor Shur-Ofry told The Jewish Report. “Over time, this can narrow our own world of thinkable thoughts.”
Her study highlights that when asked to name important figures of the 19th century, ChatGPT predictably offered Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin and Queen Victoria – plausible but repetitive Anglo-centric answers. Similarly, when asked to list the best television series, the model returned a handful of AngloAmerican hits, leaving out a vast cultural landscape of non-English works.
Hebrew University scholar issues timely warning about AI
The problem lies in the way these systems are trained. Built on enormous datasets, much of it in English and dominated by Western culture, LLMs rely on statistical frequency. Popular names and narratives rise to the top, while less common perspectives are sidelined. Over time, a feedback loop develops: outputs from one generation of models become the training material for the next, further concentrating what users see. Professor Shur-Ofry argues this “narrowing effect” could have profound
consequences. It risks marginalising minority cultures, reducing cultural diversity, weakening democratic discourse and, even, eroding collective memory – the way communities preserve their shared past.
To counter this, she proposes a new principle for AI regulation: multiplicity. Instead of offering one dominant “most likely” answer, AI systems should present users with multiple perspectives and highlight that alternative answers exist.
She suggests two steps. First, building
multiplicity into AI tools, for example by letting users adjust the system’s “temperature” to increase variety or flagging that there are other possible responses. Second, fostering an ecosystem of diverse AI platforms, so that people can easily seek a “second opinion”, rather than relying on a single provider.
Equally vital, she says, is AI literacy. “If people understand how these systems are built, they will ask better questions, compare answers and think critically. AI should not be seen as a single source of truth, but as a tool that reflects the richness of human experience.”
Professor Shur-Ofry is now collaborating with colleagues, including Dr. Yonatan Belinkov and Adir Rahamim of the Technion and Bar Horowitz-Amsalem of the Hebrew University, to test practical ways of increasing diversity in AI outputs.
As the Hebrew University marks its centenary, the study underscores its continued role at the cutting edge of global research.
“If we want AI to serve society, not just efficiency, we have to make room for complexity, nuance and diversity,” Professor Shur-Ofry concludes. “That’s what multiplicity is about – protecting the full spectrum of human experience in an AI-driven world.”
Professor Michal Shur-Ofry
COMMUNITY
Professor Tal Dvir AROUND THE
DAVID SOLOMON, CEO AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
As Rosh Hashanah – a time for reflection and new beginnings – approaches, Israel is preparing for a medical milestone that could change lives worldwide: the first attempt to repair a human spinal cord using tissue engineered from a patient’s own cells. The surgery, expected in coming months, offers the possibility that people living with paralysis might walk again. According to the World Health Organization, more than 15 million people worldwide are living with spinal cord injuries. It is one of the few human injuries where the body has no natural regenerative ability. Neurons are cells that do not divide and do not renew themselves naturally, and the tissue is both structurally complex and extremely sensitive. At the centre of this extraordinary development is Professor Tal Dvir, Head of the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology and the Nanotechnology Center at Tel Aviv University (TAU). He also serves as Chief Scientist of Matricelf, a biotech company founded in 2019 to bring this groundbreaking research from the university laboratory to the clinic.
“This is undoubtedly a matter of national pride,” says Professor Dvir. “The technology was developed here in Israel, at Tel Aviv University and at Matricelf.”
The new year provides a new chance to walk – a global first in paralysis treatment
The beginnings
Three years ago, in Professor Dvir’s TAU lab, his team succeeded in creating a personalised three-dimensional spinal cord. In preclinical trials, mice with severe paralysis regained the ability to walk after receiving the engineered implant.
The results, published in Advanced Science, were hailed internationally as a major advance in regenerative
medicine. The science, while complex, is based on a simple idea: use the patient’s own biological material to build replacement tissue that the body will accept. Scientists at TAU and Matricelf collect blood and fat cells from the patient, reprogram them to behave like embryonic stem cells and then grow them within a customised hydrogel made from the patient’s own tissues. This produces a spinal cord engineered to
fit the individual perfectly. If successful, the procedure will repair the broken “electrical cable” of the spinal cord, reconnecting the brain’s signals to the body. The scar tissue that normally prevents healing is replaced with living, functional nerve tissue.
Next
steps
Marking a historic step for Israeli science and medicine, the Israeli Ministry of Health has given preliminary approval for up to eight patients to undergo “compassionate use” trials.
For Tel Aviv University, the project reflects its growing reputation as a global leader in regenerative biotechnology. From pioneering organ engineering to advancing nanotechnology, TAU researchers are not only expanding scientific frontiers, but also offering real hope to people facing conditions once thought untreatable. Professor Dvir says, “Our goal is to help paralysed patients rise from their wheelchairs. The animal trials showed extraordinary success and we are hopeful that the results in humans will be just as promising.” This Rosh Hashanah, that hope resonates more strongly than ever. A season of renewal for the Jewish people may soon bring new beginnings for those that have lived too long without the ability to walk.
The gift of a lifetime.
No matter your stage in life, now is the perfect time to plan for your values to be represented long after you are gone. What do you want your legacy to be?
Supporting Israel’s greatest natural resource - its people - and contributing to the education of future generations, is one of the most inspiring gifts you can give. It’s a promise today for Israel’s tomorrow.
Making a gift in your will to Tel Aviv University will ensure your legacy lives on with Israel, forever.
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
YOASH DVIR CEO TECHNION AUSTRALIA
Sometimes history has a way of circling back. More than a century ago, the Technion was established in Haifa as a place of refuge and learning for Jewish students who had few safe spaces in Europe. Now, in 2025, that same spirit of sanctuary is alive again.
This month, the Technion launched a new program for international students who no longer feel safe on their own campuses. The ugly rise of antisemitism across universities abroad – whether in North America, South America, Europe and, as we all experienced and saw, in Australia – has forced too many young Jews to ask themselves an impossible question: Can I learn here and still be myself?
The President of the Technion, Professor Uri Sivan, put it best: “The program is about much more than classrooms and degrees. It is about creating a haven: a place where students can grow academically while also knowing they are welcomed, supported and free to
Technion opens its doors to students seeking safety and belonging
ulpan that promises to challenge and connect them. Soon enough, they’ll be fully integrated into the Technion’s
he still hasn’t decided what field to pursue, but he’s thrilled at the chance to learn Hebrew so he can chat with his
the Technion wasn’t just an academic decision – it was about peace of mind. In Haifa, she found not only a prestigious institution, but also a safe community, where she can study without looking over her shoulder.
What the Technion has done is extraordinary. It’s easy to talk about combating antisemitism in abstract terms, but much harder to respond with something so concrete, so human and so hopeful. This program says to Jewish students worldwide: You belong. You have a future. And if you can’t find it where you are, Israel is waiting with open doors.
It also reminds us of the enduring role Israel’s universities play – not just as engines of innovation and discovery, but as protectors of dignity. In the midst of rising hate, the Technion has chosen to lean into its history and say, “We’ve been here before and we will be here for you again.”
This isn’t only about building the next
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The Combustion and Diagnostics Laboratory in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Technion (photo by Sivan Shachor)
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The unlikely Miss Universe of Israel
From page 12
about talent. The competition was based on interviews, the way you speak and what your message is.”
Jewish identity and spiritual awakening
Noa’s father grew up in a religious home and raised Noa with strong Jewish traditions. “We said kiddish on Friday night, but everyone does that in Israel. To be honest, I was completely disconnected. I wasn’t even sure I believed in God.”
That all changed after October 7, 2023. During the first two weeks of war, the local moshav rebbetzin gave her a card with the Wayfarer’s Prayer and told her it would protect her. Noa carried a tiny Book of Psalms in her army uniform as well. “Even when I wasn’t religious, I felt like something was watching over me. Something inside me changed. I felt like something in my heart was softer … it’s something I can’t explain in words.”
Then, when she actively went to serve on the Gaza border, the feelings only grew stronger. She was a medic, but it was her first time actually treating anyone. It was also her first time seeing blood.
Just five hours after the October 7th attacks began, she got a call – they needed more medics immediately. She would be deployed into the field. She froze the first time she was placed in a real-life situation. The soldier she treated was bleeding out from shrapnel in his leg.
“I froze. I had a blackout. Everything I learned – gone. My doctor snapped me out of it, ‘Noa, wake up!’ He clapped in my face! Then I just went on autopilot. I don’t remember anything. I just did and kept doing.” She recalls another emotional moment, treating a young, 19-year-old soldier. “He had the same green eyes as my brother. I was holding his life in my hands and I was watching his eyes open and shut, fighting the pain. I realised it could have been my brother. I still carry that moment and cannot shake it.” As she served on the Gazan border, her spiritual connection grew.
“When RPGs and rockets are falling all around you, it’s terrifying. One day, they threw an RPG at our white ambulance.”
It missed. “Usually, the miracles you see are things like, ‘Oh, I got a promotion at work’, or ‘Something happened to me in the hospital and it led to my recovery.’
But this…this was so much bigger than me. “When I saw miracles happening to other people, right in front of my own eyes, I was in a position where everything felt so much bigger.
This is bigger than myself. When you see a 19-year-old kid fighting for his life, you realise you’re such a small piece. There are so many other miracles happening. It’s not about you anymore.
“I felt something shift. I realised I needed to take small steps back – back to Shabbat, back to lighting candles, saying Modeh Ani … I used to not care if I missed kiddush. Now, I do it, even if I’m alone. Every small thing brings you closer.”
Forever fighting
One of the most powerful influences in Noa’s life was her grandmother, Nili, an Auschwitz survivor. Nili and her two sisters were on the selection line at a Nazi labour camp. Nili had become dangerously ill with tuberculosis and was selected to be sent to the gas chambers. “The Nazi guard pointed at my grandmother and said, ‘You. It’s time. You will go there.’ … and pointed to the gas chambers.” Nili’s sister, Leah, jumped out of the selection line and shouted, “If she’s going, I’m going too.”
A moment later, their third sister, Eva, also stepped out and joined them.
The Nazis were stunned. Leah was their fastest worker and she knew they needed her. The soldiers paused and then gave a choice: “We’ll spare your sister, but then you have to do double the work. Since she’s too sick, you have to do her work for her.” That act of courage saved Noa’s grandmother’s life and shaped her entire family’s future. “Without Leah saying that, my grandmother wouldn’t be alive and neither would I.”
Nili later became a phenomenal cook, known for her warmth and generosity. Noa hopes to honour her memory through a cookbook featuring her recipes. “Food is love, especially in the Jewish community. My dream is to share her food and her story with the world.”
A new mission
Noa says her biggest realisation is that her connection to God is personal. “It’s not all or nothing. Everyone mitzvah helps you feel close to God.” Her message to the world is simple, yet powerful. “Everyone talks about sinat chinam – baseless hatred. But we need ahavat chinam – baseless love. Be kind. Say ‘thank you’. Smile. You can change someone’s whole day.” Today, Noa takes baby steps forward in her observance. “I want my future family to keep Shabbat. There’s nothing more beautiful than disconnecting from the world and honouring it together.”
What she loves most about Judaism is the sense of family and interconnectedness that comes along with the religion.
“No matter where you are in the world, you have the Jewish community. You feel at home.
I moved to New York five months ago to continue my advocacy work and share my story with Jewish communities across America. When I moved to New York, away from my family, the Jewish community was so welcoming; it was like they gave me a giant hug. There’s no other group of people like this in the world.”
How many common words of five or more letters can you spell using the letters in the hive? Every answer must use the centre letter at least once. Letters may be reused in a word. At least one Jewish word will use all seven letters.
Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. Score 1 point for each answer and 3 points for a Jewish related word that uses all 7 letters.
Rating: 10 = Good; 13 = Excellent;17 = Genius
ANSWERS PAGE 22
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".
Noa Cochva
CONSIDERED OPINION
DR YVETTE ALT MILLER COURTESY: AISH.COM
Eliza Davis refused to accept the antisemitism of her age and changed the course of literary history.
When Eliza Davis was born, in 1816, antisemitism seemed like a fact of life. Raised in a large Jewish family, she grew up in Jamaica’s vibrant Jewish community. At the time, Jews had fewer political rights than Christians in Jamaica – a condition common throughout much of the world. Eventually, Eliza moved to London and married a distant relation, James Phinneas Davis, who was building a successful legal career, despite the rampant antisemitism of the day. Together, Eliza and James immersed themselves in London’s Jewish community, raising a family and supporting local Jewish institutions. They would go on to have ten children.
In contrast, Charles Dickens’ life was marked by early misfortune. At age 12, his father, John Dickens, was sent to debtor’s prison, forcing young Charles to leave school and work in a boot-blacking factory, with other impoverished children. The exploitation he experienced there deeply informed his later writing, inspiring his memorable portrayals of abused and neglected children.
By the time Eliza was raising her family, Dickens was becoming one of England’s most celebrated authors. His literary career took off in 1836 with the serialised comic tale The Pickwick Papers, a runaway success that unfolded in 19 instalments, before being published in book form in 1837. He followed it with a much more ambitious project: Oliver Twist, a dark indictment of child exploitation, drawn from his own traumatic experiences. The book introduced one of English literature’s most infamous characters: the Jewish criminal Fagin.
Creating the demonic Jewish character Fagin
Over 24 magazine instalments published over two years, Dickens told the story of Oliver Twist, a pitiful orphan caught in a web of crime and abuse. Central to that web was Fagin, a Jewish criminal who kidnapped and exploited the innocent Oliver. In a later preface, Dickens explained that the story illustrated “the principle of good surviving through every adverse circumstance and triumphing at last.” Much of that adversity came in the form of the demonic figure of Fagin. British barrister and author Anthony Julius, in Trials of the Diaspora: A History of Anti-Semitism in England, calls Oliver Twist a “Christian fable” and likens Fagin to a vampire: “He rules over [the boys] as a life-giving and life-forfeiting sovereign … Fagin corrupts the boys, draining them of life as he morally drains them … His infant captives have no future; they live handto-mouth, day-by-day. In this living death, Fagin is something akin to a vampire. He is a slayer of children, the suppressor of a new generation, the destroyer of fresh life and the thwarter of its promise …”
The Jewish woman who changed Charles Dickens’ mind about hating Jews
Dickens describes Fagin as nearly supernatural in his evil: “He glides stealthily along, creeping beneath the shelter of walls and doorways.” “Like some loathsome reptile.” “Some hideous phantom, moist from the grave, and worried by an evil spirit.” In early editions, Fagin is referred to almost exclusively as “the Jew” – a total of 257 times in the first 38 chapters. By contrast, the non-Jewish villain, Bill Sikes, is never described by his ethnicity.
Oliver Twist was an immense success. It has never been out of print – and its portrayal of the evil Jew Fagin has embedded antisemitic stereotypes in English literature and beyond.
English fiction’s Jewish-hatred problem
As Dickens’ fame grew, he continued to include anti-Jewish tropes in his work. In The Old Curiosity Shop (1840–41), the villain Quilp declares, “He’s richer than any Jew.” In Barnaby Rudge (1841), the character Gashford equates Jews with money and beards. Montagu Tigg in Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-44) sneers at a pawnbroker needing to “weigh out his pound of flesh”. Similar slurs appear in Hard Times, Great Expectations, short stories and nonfiction.
This literary antisemitism reflected a wider English cultural norm. Pamphlets, books and cheap literature routinely depicted Jews as filthy, dishonest and bloodthirsty. In the 1860s, Eliza’s husband, James, was targeted in one such smear:
a popular penny pamphlet titled The Vampires of London, by John Colborne. Meant to expose so-called “usurers” and “moneylenders”, the piece portrayed Jews as deceitful predators and named its villain – the “arch-vampire” – Davis.
The Davises sued for slander in 1865. The trial attracted considerable attention and the courtroom was packed. After just 30 minutes, the judge ruled in James’ favour, but fined Colborne only a token amount. As he left the courtroom, Colborne received applause. The message was clear: literature held immense power to reinforce antisemitic lies and the public was all too receptive. Selling Dickens’ house to a Jewish family – and warning the neighbours
During his most productive years, Dickens lived with his family in Tavistock House in London. By 1858, however, he separated from his wife, Catherine, and took up with a younger woman. Catherine moved out with one of their ten children and Dickens moved to Kent, putting Tavistock House up for sale. The buyers were none other than Eliza and James Davis. Despite their integrity, Dickens indulged his prejudices in a letter to a friend: “If the Jew moneylender buys (I say ‘if’ because, of course, I shall never believe him until he has paid the money) …” But once the deal was completed, Dickens praised Eliza warmly in another letter: “Mrs. Davis appears to be a very kind and agreeable woman. And I have never had any money
transaction with anyone more promptly, fairly and considerately conducted than the purchase of Tavistock House has been.”
A budding friendship
Three years later, Eliza wrote to Dickens again. The prominent Jewish philanthropist Lady Judith Montefiore had recently died and Eliza was helping raise funds for charitable works in her memory. Aware of Dickens’ philanthropic legacy, she wondered: would he give to a Jewish cause?
She began by praising his contributions to social justice: “It has been said that Charles Dickens, the large hearted, whose works plead so eloquently and nobly for the oppressed of his country… may justly claim credit (for) the fruits of his labour, the many changes for the amelioration of the condition (of the) poor now at work.”
Then she addressed the elephant in the room: “Fagin, I fear, admits only of one interpretation,” she wrote, charging that Dickens “has encouraged a vile prejudice against the despised Hebrew.” She concluded by urging Dickens to contribute to the Judith Montefiore Memorial Fund as a gesture of justice and atonement.
Dickens waited 18 days before replying. He sent a donation – and a defence of Fagin: “It unfortunately was true of the time to which that story refers that that class of criminal invariably was a Jew.” He added that he would have written a villain as a “Spaniard”, “Roman Catholic”, or “Chinaman” if criminals at the time belonged to those groups. He also rebuked the Jewish community, writing that if they were offended by Fagin, “they are a far less sensible, a far less just and a far less good-tempered people than I have always supposed.”
Despite this, Eliza persisted. She continued writing, pointing out that while Dickens created both good and bad Christian characters, his only Jewish character was a villain. She explained that due to systemic exclusion, Jews were often confined to marginal professions: second-hand clothes sales, rag picking and informal moneylending.
In letter after letter, Eliza explained how painful antisemitic portrayals were to her and other Jewish readers: “I hazard the opinion that it would well repay an author to examine more closely into the manners and characters of the British Jews and to represent them as they really are.”
Altering Oliver Twist
Gradually, Eliza’s arguments took root. Dickens halted a reprinting of Oliver Twist mid-production to make changes. The first half of the book had already been printed, but in the second half, he replaced references to Fagin as “the Jew” with simply “Fagin”. (This accounts for the 257 occurrences of “the Jew”
Charles Dickens
RABBI DR BENJI LEVY RABBINIC THOUGHT
As parents and children, citizens and Jews, we are again entering the High Holy Days in a world filled with challenge and uncertainty. The headlines remind us daily of wars, rising antisemitism and instability across the globe. Yet, Rosh Hashanah comes to remind us of something eternal: while we cannot always control our surroundings, we can control our response. We can choose how we gather, how we celebrate and how we hold onto one another.
Traditionally, these days are filled with large family meals, crowded synagogues and the warmth of communal gatherings. For some, those spaces will still feel full and vibrant. For others, this year may be tinged with absence, fear or disconnection. Wherever we find ourselves, the question is not only how we will celebrate as individuals, but also how we will strengthen our sense of community.
A few years ago, during the pandemic, I shared an initiative that began in Sydney, named “Together – Never Apart”. The idea was simple but powerful: before Yom Kippur, take the time to connect with someone you have not spoken to in a while, or someone you know could use a word of kindness. Send a message of gratitude, reconciliation or encouragement. In a world that often feels fragmented, a small act of connection can help weave us back together. The following day, on Yom Kippur itself, the initiative invited us to pause – wherever we
Together – never apart: Rosh Hashanah 2025
were – for a shared moment of reflection at noon. It didn’t matter whether you were in a packed synagogue or sitting alone at home. What mattered was that Jews across the globe were pausing together. That moment of unity reminded us that we are part of something larger than ourselves. I remember vividly how, during the pandemic, my family and I stood on our balcony in Jerusalem on Seder night as voices rose from around the city, singing Ma Nishtana. At first, it was only my daughter’s voice, then we joined and soon an old man on his balcony, a young family around the corner and more and more voices from the neighbourhood were heard. A chorus filled the streets of Jerusalem and later we learned it filled the entire country. That moment reminded us that while we cannot always choose our situation, we can always choose how we react. Now, in 2025, we are no longer confined by lockdowns. But the need for intentional connection is just as urgent – perhaps even more so. Our people face new tests and the temptation is to retreat inward. Instead, let us lean outward. Let us reach across divides of distance, opinion and experience, and remind one another that we are never truly apart.
Rosh Hashanah is a time of introspection and rejuvenation. As we crown God as King, we also crown our relationships with renewed attention. This year, may we recommit to reaching out, to pausing together and to reminding ourselves and each other that though times may change, the truth remains: we are, and always will be, together – never apart.
A time of renewal: the king’s two Torahs and our path of teshuvah
RABBI MOSHE GUTNICK
RABBINIC ADMINISTRATOR THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY
As the shofar’s call echoes through synagogues around the world, we stand at the threshold of the Jewish New Year – Rosh Hashanah – a time charged with renewal, reflection and divine compassion. The Torah teaches us that every king must maintain two Torah scrolls: one kept in his palace treasury and another he carries on his journeys. This practice, rooted in Devorim 17:18, offers a profound metaphor for our own spiritual voyage, as we enter the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe.
When the monarch departs the palace, he takes a personal Torah scroll to guide his decisions far from home. Yet, the Torah mandates a second Sefer Torah to remain under lock and key in the royal treasury.
Why this redundancy? In the course of travel – amid unfamiliar customs, long days, competing priorities – a leader may unwittingly compromise, making choices that dull the clarity of his sacred text. Mistakes can metaphorically “erase” letters and verses from the scroll he carries, leaving gaps in its guidance.
Upon returning to his throne room, the king unrolls both scrolls side by side. He studies the treasury’s pristine manuscript, comparing it line by line against the one marked by his journey.
Wherever a letter or word has faded, he restores it from the flawless copy. This ritual safeguards the integrity of the Torah and, by extension, the moral compass of the realm.
As individuals, we each hold two “scrolls” of our own making: the ideal record of values, dreams and commandments we aspire to uphold, and the lived record
of our actions – imperfect, incomplete, but deeply instructive. Over the past year, we may have missed words of kindness, let frustration erase patience, or compromised on a commitment to honesty.
Rosh Hashanah invites us to unfurl both accounts. We pit our daily behavior against the higher calling of our souls.
This comparison illuminates where we have fallen short and shows us precisely which “letters” need restoration. It’s not an exercise in guilt, but an opportunity for compassionate self-examination and growth. The two-scroll ritual culminates not in shame, but in correction. Likewise, the New Year season is not a trial without mercy – it is a court of compassion. Hashem welcomes our teshuvah, our return, with open arms. When we sincerely acknowledge missteps and resolve to amend them, be it with family, friends or our own conscience, we mirror the king’s act of restoration. Every word we repair, every vow we renew, strengthens the scroll of our soul.
This sacred process fuels hope: no error is so profound that it cannot be corrected. The blank spaces in our personal Torah beckon for heartfelt teshuvah, inviting us to recommit to kindness, truth and the observance of mitzvot in the months to come.
As the new year dawns, let us stand confidently before our two scrolls. May we recognise not only our imperfections, but the kindness woven into each moment of reflection. By comparing our deeds against our highest ideals, we tap into the divine gift of renewal. May our restored Torah guide us toward a year of deeper faith, richer compassion and unwavering integrity. L’shanah tovah tikateivu. May you be inscribed and sealed for a sweet and blessed year.
RABBINIC THOUGHT
RABBI ARON MOSS
Question:
I have become anxious since the proPalestinian (or, simply, anti-Israel) protest on the Harbour Bridge. I pass by there every day on my way to work. But since the massive march, I’ve avoided it. I know it’s irrational, but I feel the bridge is now contaminated by hatred. Is there some kind of cleansing ceremony we can conduct to restore the energy –maybe parading across the bridge with Torahs? I don’t know what could change the minds of all those haters. They seem to be everywhere. Maybe I should just stay home.
Answer:
Put the Harbour Bridge aside for a moment. Let’s talk about another bridge, the one mentioned in a famous Jewish song: The whole world is a very narrow bridge.
But the main thing to recall is to have no fear, have no fear at all.
That seems like a tall order. If life is a very narrow bridge, how can we have no fear at all? What if our bridge is shaking? What if bad actors are trying to knock us off? Is it realistic to feel no fear at all? The original source for this song’s
CORNER
I went to the local Harris Farms in Lindfield and they helpfully butterflied and deboned two red fish. The “One that got Away” in Bondi can offer the same service. Please don’t forget to score the fish skin with a sharp knife about one centimetre deep.
Ingredients:
1 butterflied head-on whole fish descaled, with fins removed
2 lemons
2 tablespoons MasterFoods Tuscan Spice
Stuffing:
1 cup thinly sliced leeks
½ cup thinly sliced celery
½ cup thinly sliced carrots
½ cup frozen or fresh pomegranate rubies
10 thinly sliced dates
1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced in rounds and cored
Method:
1: Preheat the oven to 220C
2: In a medium size pan on medium to high heat, pour in 50 ml oil. When hot, add the leeks and stir-fry. Cook until soft and slightly brown. Add the celery and cook for two minutes.
Add the carrots and cook for a further two minutes. Then, add the rubies and
Should we boycott the bridge?
lyrics is a teaching of the great mystic, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: Know that a person must cross a very, very narrow bridge. And the most important rule is: don’t let yourself become fearful at all. Notice the nuance. It doesn’t say “have no fear”; it says, “do not let
yourself become fearful”. That is different. It means fear exists, frightening things happen, but the decision whether to surrender to fear is ours alone. Nothing can make me afraid unless I give it permission. Since our inception, the Jewish people have been crossing
a very narrow bridge. Our history is one long crossing. The bridge is often shaky, stormy winds of hate blow at us, enemies shout from the sidelines trying to push us off. And yet, somehow, we never fall. Because we know the secret to crossing a narrow bridge: don’t look down, don’t look to the side, just look forward and keep walking.
You can’t allow bullies and noisemakers to shake you. Their only weapon is intimidation. Ours is confidence and faith. They won’t rattle us, if we don’t let them. When we allow their shouting to dictate our movements, we hand them a victory they don’t deserve. But when we continue walking proudly, living openly as Jews and carrying on with our routines, we show that their hatred is powerless.
The Harbour Bridge is just steel and stone. What matters is the bridge inside you, the path of faith, courage and conviction that no protest can contaminate. Keep walking that bridge with strength. Our people always have and that is why we are still here.
Work on your faith, steady your stride and remember that G-d walks with you. As for your daily commute across the Harbour, well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Whole line fish with simanim stuffing
dates and remove from the heat. Set the pan aside.
3: Take the butterflied fish. Open it up and carefully rinse off under cold water, before patting dry. Season the flesh with a little salt or fish seasoning.
4: Spoon the stuffing on one half of the open fish. Then, neatly spread the rounds of apple over the stuffing. Fold over the top of the fish and make sure everything is tucked in.
5: Score the skin of the fish three to four times each side. Give it a good spray with cooking oil and sprinkle over the Tuscan spice, rubbing it into the score lines.
6: Place the fish on an oiled baking sheet and then place it in the middle of the oven.
7: Bake for 45 minutes or until cooked through. As it comes out of the oven, squeeze the juice of the lemons over the fish.
Cook’s tip:
If you don’t want the hassle of a whole fish, then use small pieces of fried fish cocktails placed on a platter. Cook the stuffing recipe without the apple. Then, when cooked, add some red wine, honey and lemon juice mix in a bowl. Season to taste and pour over the cocktails. It makes a great fish dressing.
ALAN BENDER
SOUL GOURMET FOODIE
CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES
12,
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The Jewish woman ...
From page 19
in the first 38 chapters and the drastic decline thereafter.)
Creating a positive Jewish character Dickens’ final novel, Our Mutual Friend (1865), appears crafted in part to reassure Eliza. It introduced Mr Riah, a kindly Jewish character whose name means “friend” in Hebrew. Though he is slandered and abused as a greedy moneylender, Mr Riah proves generous, gentle, and heroic – helping the novel’s female protagonists escape peril.
In one of the book’s most poignant passages, Mr. Riah laments: “Men say, ‘This is a bad Greek, but there are good Greeks …’ Not so with the Jews … They take the worst of us as samples of the best … and they say ‘All Jews are alike.’” Eliza was deeply moved. She sent Dickens a treasured gift: a copy of the Hebrew Bible in English, translated by Dr. Abraham Benisch. This edition likely matched the one Eliza studied herself – a profoundly personal and generous gesture.
Charles Dickens died in 1868. He and Eliza Davis remained in correspondence until the end. Eliza lived another 25 years, long enough to witness the lasting popularity of Dickens’ work and the real change she helped inspire.
A model for today
Eliza Davis’ determination is a model of moral courage. Surrounded by antisemitism, she refused to remain
silent. Letter by letter, she chipped away at Dickens’ prejudices. She could have easily dismissed herself as a mere housewife, unfit to debate a literary giant. Instead, she embraced her responsibility.
Her efforts call to mind the words of Rabbi Tarfon: “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to neglect it” (Ethics of the Fathers, 2:16). In today’s fight against rising Jewhatred, Eliza Davis reminds us that even one voice – persistent, principled and patient – can change the world.
Apple kugel
Spelling bee answers
Jewish Answer: SHTAYIM. Here is a list of some common words (“yes”, we know there are more words in the dictionary that can work, but these words are common to today’s vernacular): ASSAY, ASSAYS, HASTY, MAYIM, MISSY, MISTY, MYTHIST, MYTHISTS, MYTHS, SASHAY, SASHAYS, SASSY, SHIMMY, SHTAY, STAYS, TASTY, TATTY and YAMIM.
Method:
Peel and slice thinly the granny smith apples.
Questions/comments/compliments: email Yoni at koshercrosswords@ gmail.com
Crossword answers
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.
REBBETZIN ESTY GUTNICK REBBETZIN
REVIEWS
THE ROSES (MA) ALEX FIRST
The phrase all is fair in love and war is attributed to a book on wit by English author John Lyly in 1579.
Clearly, acerbic couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) have taken that to heart.
This is a reimaging of The War of the Roses (1989), which, too, was based on a novel by Warren Adler and featured Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
In London, Theo is a talented and creative architect, while Ivy is an equally gifted and imaginative chef.
The pair gets together unexpectedly when Theo seeks time out after expressing disgust at his boss’ final choice of design on new, multi-level accommodation.
Ivy and Theo’s witty repartee sees them connect instantly and move to Northern California.
A decade later, with two children in tow, they still seem very much in love.
Theo has designed a game-changing museum with a nautical theme, while Ivy’s gastronomic delights are simply at home these days. That is when Theo gifts Ivy a chance to open her own casual dining restaurant. So, she creates seafood bistro We’ve Got Crabs!
While business is slow (barely existent actually), a fierce storm sees Theo’s career vanish in an instant and the trajectory of their lives change markedly.
Theo has become a laughing stock, while a gushing, high profile food review suddenly sees Ivy’s business flourishing and new opportunities aplenty for her.
She becomes the sole bread winner and Theo a house husband, bringing up
No shortage of thorns
the kids. Much to Ivy’s chagrin, he builds in the children a zealot’s commitment to health, fitness and nutrition. She, on the other hand, has a relaxed attitude to sugar treats for the youngsters.
As her time away from home skyrockets, Ivy and Theo argue more and they drift apart.
Their friends can see it, so too the children, but for a long time they deny it, until their differences explode into outright war, which is set to blow up their marriage.
It all comes to a head after Ivy gives Theo the go ahead to design his dream home. Caustic writing and wickedly
clever acting are the hallmarks of this compelling, satirical dark comedy.
Tony McNamara, the writer behind Oscar winners Poor Things, Cruella and The Favourite, has again woven his magic with umpteen pithy one liners.
It is funny stuff, indeed, as Ivy and Theo spar with one another and in front of astonished friends.
Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch are undoubtedly two of the finest actors going around.
Their interactions and razor-sharp timing in the delivery of the priceless dialogue is magnificent.
Around them is a talented cast, led by Kate McKinnon as Amy, the wife of
A shattering secret unveiled
SORRY, BABY (M) ALEX FIRST
Sensitive and insightful, moving, distressing and, at times, amusing, Sorry, Baby focuses on Agnes (Eva Victor), who is trying to figure out her place in the world.
She lives a quiet life in a university town, where she studied alongside her best friend, Lydie (Naomi Ackie), who has moved to New York and is back for a visit.
The pair was inseparable, so Agnes feels the distance and is particularly pleased to see Lydie.
While Agnes is still trying to come to terms with a significant, upsetting incident in her past, Lydie shares big news.
Then, we cut back to their student days. Agnes is being mentored by highly regarded academic and author Preston Decker (Louis Cancelmi).
It is clear that Agnes is his standout student. He is overseeing her thesis and has only good things to say about it.
In time, she will not only complete her studies, but return to the university as an accomplished full-time professor.
Mind you, that doesn’t please one of Agnes’ former fellow students, the intense Natasha (Kelly McCormack), who she trumped in being offered the role.
Still, what she learns from Natasha will send her spiralling.
Theo’s best friend, real estate lawyer Barry (Andy Samberg). In a deliberately awkward display, she makes it clear that she has designs on Theo. Florian Hoffmeister’s cinematography brings out the best in the stunning, picture perfect, locations where the film is shot.
Jay Roach (Meet the Fockers) ensures he milks the barbs for all they are worth. This is mental and physical comedy at its finest and makes for a thoroughly enjoyable time at the cinema.
Rated MA, The Roses scores an 8½ out of 10.
On the personal front, Agnes is in a casual relationship with her next-door neighbour, Gavin (Lucas Hedges), while Lydie is in a committed same sex relationship.
Eva Victor is not only the star of the piece, but she also wrote and directs it.
Emotionally fraught, it is intelligent, profound, empathetic filmmaking, which unfolds in a series of chapters.
The opening is titled The Year with the Baby.
It then moves to The Year with the Bad Thing, The Year with the Questions and The Year with the Good Sandwich,
before returning to The Year with the Baby.
The film features many memorable scenes. Among them is a courtroom sequence in which Agnes is up for jury selection and another where she is hyperventilating and forced to pull over her car. In an impressive, naturalistic showing, as Agnes is wrestling with the way forward and with her sexuality, Victor inhabits her insecurities like a tightfitting glove.
Naomi Ackie is a tower of strength, support and comfort to Agnes as her confidante, Lydie.
I was also taken by the performance of John Carroll Lynch as Pete, a good Samaritan who lends Agnes a helping hand in a time of need. He appears raw and real.
There is something very special about Sorry, Baby, which marks a stunning debut feature for Eva Victor, who stamps herself as a filmmaker to be closely watched.
Rated M, it scores an 8½ out of 10.
For more of Alex First’s reviews, go to https://www.itellyouwhatithink.com
Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are far from lovey-dovey all the time in The Roses
Eva Victor has written, directed and stars in Sorry, Baby MOVIE
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Rich and diverse program of films
Returning to screens from 20th October to 26th November, the Jewish International Film Festival features 50 of the best new Jewish and Israeli films.
The program showcases a rich and diverse slate exploring the Jewish experience and its contributions to Australia’s multicultural landscape.
JIFF opens with the amusing antics of Bad Shabbos.
David and his fiancée Meg are nervously anticipating Shabbat dinner at David’s parents’ Manhattan apartment. The pressure is high because Meg’s Catholic parents are flying in from Wisconsin to meet David’s whole family. They’ve barely blessed the challah before an accident happens and a dead body turns up in the powder room. Was it murder? What will they do with the corpse? How long can they keep this a secret from Meg’s pious parents?
Bad Shabbos took home the Audience Award at Tribeca Film Festival for its keenly observed comedy about faith, family foibles and crisis management. The ensemble cast includes Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) and Australian Ashley Zukerman (Succession), with a turn from Wu-Tang Clan rapper Cliff ‘Method Man’ Smith as the friendly doorman who lends a hand to his favourite tenants.
A special presentation as part of JIFF 2025 is Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, Eleanor the Great.
After a devastating loss, Eleanor, a sassy, wise-cracking 94-year-old, moves
from Florida to New York City to live with her daughter, Lisa and grandson, Max. To encourage her to get out of the house, Lisa suggests Eleanor visit the local Jewish community centre to make some new friends. There, Eleanor accidentally winds up in a Holocaust support group, where she tells a moving story of survival and resilience. But there’s one small problem –the story isn’t hers.
June Squibb (Nebraska) bring to life this bold and brassy nonagenarian. At the heart of the film is a charming intergenerational friendship between Eleanor and Nina, a young journalism student who’s inspired to write an article about Eleanor. The movie explores themes of ageing, truth, loss and our human impulse to tell stories.
Of the program, Festival director Eddie Tamir said: “The multicultural utopia we crave in Australia is a fragile thing which requires nourishment now more than ever. JIFF 2025 presents 50 new films that provide a glimpse into the Jewish experience, with all its achievement, grappling and diversity of opinion.”
The full JIFF 2025 program will go on sale on Thursday, 18th September.
Website: www.jiff.com.au
Festival Sydney venues:
• Ritz Cinemas, Randwick: Monday, 20th October – Wednesday, 26th November
• Roseville Cinemas, Roseville: Thursday, 30th October – Wednesday, 12th November
Experience over 50 of the best new Jewish-themed and Israeli films at the 2025 Jewish International Film Festival, screening only in cinemas from October 20.
JIFF 2025 opens on Monday October 20 with the Australian Premiere screening of the entertaining and fast-paced comedy, Bad Shabbos
