The Melbourne Jewish Report | May 2024

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

ANNE-MARIE ELIAS

With the world as it is, confronting issues including wars in Israel and Ukraine, climate change and domestic violence, we find ourselves in a state of flux and stress.

Some people seem to cope better than others.

Canadian psychiatrist and author of The Brain That Changes Itself, Norman Doidge, found that our brains are adaptable and malleable.

We can change how we think, feel and behave. We can learn to cope better with stressors.

Let us consider some different strategies.

1.Problem solving skills are behaviours that help us deal with the source of the stress and reduce its negative impact. Examples include asking for support from a psychologist or friend, setting boundaries, being assertive and leaving unhealthy or unhelpful situations, as well as tackling the root cause of the problem rather than avoiding it.

Coping styles and strategies

2.Emotional focused techniques include:

• Meditation and relaxation.

• Mindfulness or living in the present.

• Journaling – obtaining clarity by putting on paper thoughts and feelings and freeing mind clutter.

• Self-forgiveness.

3. Cognitive reappraisal or reframing means thinking about yourself and/or the situation you are in in a new way. We can modify a charged emotional response by taking a new or different perspective.

Another way to understand the concept of reframing is to imagine looking through a camera lens. The picture seen through the lens can be changed to a view that is closer

How well do you know your Jewish History?

Here is a selection of questions covering the arc of many centuries of Jewish history. Ask around your Shabbat table this week – learn and laugh with family and friends.

1. Who was the first king of Israel

a) Saul

b) David or c) Herod?

2. Elijah challenged the Prophets of Baal on a) Mt Sinai

b) Mt Carmel or c) Mt Moriah?

3. Which biblical personality had three daughters named Jemimah, Keziah and Keren-Happuch

a) Jeremiah

b) Job or

c) Jonah?

4. The leader of the Jewish rebellion against Rome in the second century CE was commonly known as Simon Bar Kochba, this being the name given to him by the famous Rabbi Akiva; but what was his original name?

5. Where were the Dead Sea Scrolls found?

6.According to tradition, Hillel II created what in 359 CE that is still used by every Jewish community in the world right up to the present day?

or further away. By slightly changing what is seen in the camera, the picture is both viewed and experienced differently.

4. Positive thinking enables a person to focus on maintaining an optimistic attitude. This enables us to find the ‘silver lining’. Positive thinking does not mean ignoring reality or making light of problems, rather approaching the good and the bad in life with the expectation that things will go well.

5. Time management is an important component of the coping toolkit. Consider whether you are time poor. Do you feel harried and unable to cope because every minute of every day is busy? If you start to diarise everything that you do in a 24-hour

Test your knowledge

7. Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire during the reign of Constantine the Great (306337 CE). Anti-Jewish laws followed, for example, the saying of Shema was outlawed because it denied which aspect of Christian theology?

8. The major Jewish community during the first millennium CE was in Babylon (modern day Iraq) this era is known in Jewish history as the Geonic period. Who or what were the Geonim?

9. Which of the following Jewish communities can trace their origin to Roman times or earlier a) Spain b) Italy or c) France?

10. The most famous French rabbi was known by the acronym, Rashi (1040-1105). What was Rashi’s real name?

11. Jewish life was affected both in Europe and in the Holy Land by the Crusades. Raymond of Toulouse, for example, during the First Crusade (109699) held Jews and Jewish books for ransom. Among the Jewish texts was the famed Aleppo Codex, some of which still survives to this day and is found where?

12. The Alhambra Decree, also known as the Edict of Expulsion, resulted in the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. Which monarchs of Castile and Aragon issued the edict on March 31st 1492?

13. Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal wrote a book entitled ‘Sails of Hope’ about Christopher Columbus. Wiesenthal suggests that Columbus was of Jewish origin and that he had deliberately delayed his voyage until August 3rd 1492 so that he would not need to sail on which important day in the Jewish calendar?

period (including sleep), is your day manageable and does it leave you feeling that you are coping with dayto-day life?

6. Spiritual coping involves utilising practices related to spirituality to overcome challenges. It encompasses a wide variety of approaches that incorporate what an individual holds sacred. An example of spiritual coping is prayer or finding a higher power.

7. Humour is a great asset. A sense of humour can build resilience to stress and improve overall physical and emotional wellbeing. It enables us to bond with others, look at things in a different way and normalise a stressful experience. It is also the reason for black humour being used by people that find themselves in stressful situations.

I will finish with the words of American theologian and ethicist Reinhold Niebuhr, in what became known as The Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”

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

14. Martin Luther wrote his treatise, ‘On the Jews and their Lies’ in which century?

15.The seventeenth-century Hebrew chronicler Gavri’el ben Yehoshua Schossburg characterised which Jewish community as “a delight to all the lands of the Exile for its Torah, honour and greatness”?

16.David Alroy (12th century), Shlomo Molcho (1500-1532), Shabbetai Zevi (1626-1676) and Jacob Frank (1726-1791) all had what in common?

17. Jews were readmitted to England in 1655, and, by 1690, about 400 Jews had settled in England. Emblematic of the progress in the social status of Jews was an honour (the first ever for a Jew in England) accorded to Solomon de Medina by William III in 1700. What honour was bestowed upon Solomon de Medina?

18.According to historians, how many Jews were transported to Botany Bay, New South Wales, on the First Fleet?

19. Dubbed ‘The Jewish Luther’, which famous German-Jewish philosopher and theologian died in 1786?

20. There was a massive earthquake in what part of the Holy Land in 1837?

21.Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew who had risen to the rank of captain in the French army, was accused and convicted in the 1890s of spying on behalf of which European country?

22.By what name is Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli better known?

23.The declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel was proclaimed on 14 May 1948 (5 Iyar 5708) by David BenGurion. On which day of the week and in which city did this take place?

24.Who, in 1994, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for "outstanding and lasting contributions toward improvements in world education, morality, and acts of charity"?

25.In what year was Israel’s defence system known as Iron Dome declared operational a) 2001 b) 2011 or c) 2021?

ANSWERS PAGE 17

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RABBI DAVID FREEDMAN JUDAICA QUIZ

THE COMMUNITY

THE KING DAVID SCHOOL AROUND

The coming-of-age musical ‘13’ was front and centre for senior school students at The King David School last month.

King David’s Head of Performing Arts and Productions Eli Erez said given the current global challenges Jews face, it was important to choose such a production.

‘13’ focuses on Evan Goldman’s journey to becoming a man.

The central character grapples with his Jewish identity and values.

As his Bar Mitzvah approaches, he learns to master the complex social circles within his new school.

Among the characters involved in the storytelling, song and dance are rabbis, jocks, cheerleaders, geeks and goths.

During the scenes that reference Goldman’s Bar Mitzvah, the set design consisted of 12 triangular shaped pods that formed a giant Star of David.

‘13’ was well received by audiences and proved highly rewarding for students involved, be they on stage talent or crew.

Senior school musical

Jules Salter as Evan Goldman in The King David School musical ‘13’ Kiera Edelstein

Jules Salter (left) and Debbie Pastor

Delilah Rose in the foreground

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

ALEX ROBINSON

The Australian dream of owning your own home in a Jewish area, has been out of the question for many … until now. The New Jewish Community (NJC), located at Fraser Rise, 25 kilometres northwest of Melbourne’s CBD, aims to provide luxurious and affordable housing, while supporting a Jewish lifestyle.

The first five families have already moved into their new, double storey, custom designed homes. Fifteen more families have bought land, where they will build their homes.

The community holds weekly prayer services on Shabbat, in a home setting, with plans for a purpose-built synagogue.

With soaring property and rental prices, Jewish families are increasingly struggling to afford housing located in traditional areas in Melbourne and Sydney.

NJC house and land packages start at $550,000, with a $15,000 deposit. First time buyers may be eligible for a first homeowner’s stamp duty waiver and a grant of $10,000. The home designs offer multiple bedrooms, large backyards and the option of additional space for a Pesach kitchen or a sukkah. It is estimated that houses are a third the price of Caulfield homes and five times cheaper than Bondi.

First families more into new Jewish community

For those not keen on building their own homes, there is always the option to buy an existing house in the area (starting from $600,000), while rents start at $450 a week.

There are plans for an eruv (a symbolic boundary that makes it permissible for Orthodox Jews to carry items within that area on Shabbat), mikvah and a shuttle bus service to transport children to Jewish

schools in Melbourne’s east. There are overtures to local supermarkets to stock additional kosher food. A few of the mothers at (or soon to be at) Fraser Rise are registered childcare workers, so the intent is to start a home day care centre.

In 2023, community members acquired two adjoining blocks of land, which could accommodate both a shule and day care centre. The developer has

Yom Hazikaron: a reminder and an obligation

TOBIAS SIEGAL AUSTRALASIAN UNION OF JEWISH STUDENTS

This year’s Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism (Yom Hazikaron) is a painful reminder of the price that we’ve paid and continue to pay for our freedom. It also highlights our responsibility to remember the often unseen heroes and victims of terrorism.

This year feels different. The pain – so personal for so many of us – is still fresh. But we must not forget that October 7th was just the latest event in a long history of wars and acts of terror against the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The Passover holiday we recently celebrated was not only a warning that "in every generation they rise up to destroy us", but also a reminder that freedom has never been free.

As much as our current challenge is existential in nature, we must not forget that we are also fighting for our values. Our future will not be determined by our wars alone, but also by the way we overcome them.

Deeply concerned for my country, I came to Australia as a Jewish Agency emissary (shaliach) nearly a year ago, at a time when Israeli society seemed to be on the verge of the abyss. We then argued over our future, with different groups holding different visions for how it should look. And while the way we conducted the debate threatened to tear us apart from within, the debate itself reflected a deep desire by all of us to improve our lives and create a better future for our children.

This yearning to improve has characterised the Jewish people for

thousands of years and is the root of our success. We do so by working together and helping each other in times of need. As the late Rabbi Jonathan Sachs elegantly put it: “If you want to know the strength of the Jewish people, ask them to give and then count the contributions. To win the Jewish battle … you do not need numbers.”

We do not need numbers, nor do we have them. Instead, we must stick together using the glue that is our shared values.

This year, I will be doing so by remembering my relative, Haim Ben Arye.

Haim was a complicated person. For many hours and kilometres on October 7th, Haim, a bus driver by profession, evacuated dozens, if not hundreds, of survivors from Kibbutz Be’eri - babies, children, and elderly - and brought them to safety. His wife of 30 years, Irit, said Haim returned home a changed man.

Throughout his life, Haim experienced and survived three terrorist attacks while driving his bus. Nevertheless, he always wore a broad smile on a radiant face. But what he saw on his bus that day did not leave him. "I couldn't help them", he later told his wife. "The silence was deafening. Even the babies didn't cry”, he said. Two weeks later, Haim was no longer with us.

Like many before him, Haim could not cope with the new and brutal reality he faced. I see it as my commitment to shed light not only on Haim's story, but on the unseen impact that is Israeli reality. Many of us are in pain. Many of us still need help.

Let us not forget our sons and daughters that are still held captive. We must do everything in our power to prevent them from becoming more names at next year's Memorial Day ceremony.

indicated zoning laws would permit the construction of both.

The long-term ambition is to create a thriving new Jewish community like successful such communities in Israel, the US and the UK.

For more information, email info@ newjewishcommunity.com.au or visit newjewishcommunity.com.au

A new Jewish community has been formed at Fraser Rise, northwest of Melbourne

Haim Ben Ayre

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

Naale Elite Academy provides fully subsidised, three- or four-year scholarships to Jewish teens seeking quality education in Israel. The program caters for diverse backgrounds, offering excellent education in religious and secular schools. Students make life-long friends and earn an internationally recognised diploma, while gaining invaluable tools for life and a deeper connection to Israel.

Students participating in the program attend schools throughout Israel and make up a small but significant proportion of the student body at different youth villages attached to the schools. Some of Naale schools are religious, single-sex schools. Others are co-educational and non-religious. A few of the schools involved are described below, with the first four having a religious focus.

Shaalvim Yeshiva High School: Excellence in Torah and general studies in a tranquil environment. An established boarding school located in Kibbutz Shaalvim, offering a warm atmosphere and a high level of Jewish and secular studies. The school fosters strong connections among students from diverse religious backgrounds.

Ulpanat Amana for Girls: Creating future Jewish leaders with a proud religious identity. Located in the city of Kfar Saba and considered one of the premier girls’ religious schools in Israel, the school provides students with a warm family environment. The staff works with the Naale program to assist girls academically and socially.

An Israeli high school education for Aussie teens

Israeli society. It offers electives, a Hebrew ulpan program, matriculation test preparation and coeducational activities. A large variety of extracurricular activities – such as art, krav maga, mixed martial arts, yoga, meditation, Zumba, volleyball, running and music – is

Nahalal Youth Village: An exceptional education for exceptional minds.

NahalalTech is a top co-educational, academic institution for local and international students, training leaders in science, technology, high-tech, medicine, academia and politics.

Ideal for gifted students who excel in STEM subjects, it offers a full range of academic subjects, including additional classes in chemistry, physics, robo-physics and

Beit Chana for Girls: High standards in Chassidut, along with academic excellence.

Located in Safed, Beit Chana offers a warm and nurturing environment for the daughters of Chabad shluchim from around the world. The curriculum is designed to integrate Jewish values and the spirit of Israel into students' everyday lives.

Beit Chaya Mushka: This is a homey and warm school located in Kiryat Shmuel, Haifa.

Students attending Naale’s Beit Chaya Mushka are the children of Chabad shluchim from around the world who want to receive a high-quality education at an established Chabad high school for girls.

Ayanot Youth Village: Upholding core values of meaningful work, joyful cooperation and boundless creativity, Ayanot Youth Village is a community where individuality and innovation flourish. Its classes emphasise academic pursuits and farm experiences, along with a special Earth Sciences track in collaboration with the prestigious Weizmann Institute in Rehovot. Extracurricular activities are available in sports, art, music, technology and more.

Mosenson Youth Village: hub, in the centre of Israel, where learning is an experience, Mosenson celebrates diverse backgrounds and integrates students into

With social interaction and recreational activities, Nahalal accommodates religiously observant students (there is a synagogue, Shabbat services and kosher food), but it is not a religious school.

Naale Director of the Western World Region Shoshana Becker is making her first visit to Australia. All are invited to attend an “open house” gathering on May 12th, when she will share insights about Naale Elite Academy. It will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

NAALE ELITE ACADEMY

Naale Elite Academy students at Mosenson Youth Village

CONSIDERED OPINION

SARAH PACHTER COURTESY: ASIH.COM

Walking to her sorority house one afternoon, Amanda opened up her phone to see a personal Instagram message calling her a Zionist pig and disparaging her as a disgrace to the human race. Laced throughout the message were several expletives.

Amanda couldn’t believe her eyes! Although she doesn’t have definitive proof, she has reason to believe that the post was sourced from a fellow Cornell student. After all, Amanda has become an easy target; she is the Vice President of Chabad, a board member of the Cornellians for Israel and the house manager for her Jewish sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. She also walks around campus with a water bottle with an Israeli flag and wears a dog tag to remember the hostages in Gaza.

With daily rallies led by pro-Palestinian groups getting louder and increasingly more aggressive, being a Jew on campus has become more than uncomfortable. Yet, Amanda, who grew up in New Jersey, always dreamed of attending Cornell and is determined not to back down. Both her siblings graduated from Cornell and she was excited to follow in their footsteps.

Although her siblings had experienced a tinge of antisemitism, she was ready to expose herself to a diverse group of people. “Unless you plan to attend Yeshiva University or Stern College, no matter which college you choose, you are going to encounter antisemitism. It’s an issue that is deeply ingrained in the fabric of the universities across the country.”

Amanda believes that these ideologies are espoused by professors in a systematic manner. Many of the staff employed by Cornell are indoctrinating students with their own political ideologies. Professor Russell Rickford spoke at a rally on Oct 15th, just days after the October 7th massacre.

“He claimed that he was exhilarated and energised by these atrocious and barbaric attacks. He was placed on a leave of absence for a short time, but is now back. Today, he is still found marching through classroom halls, leading the students with despicable chants.”

She believes that professors are taking advantage of impressionable students to spread their personal agendas. They are creating ‘indoctrinated robots’ who consist of students from all backgrounds, chanting for the genocide of the Jewish people with “From the River to the Sea!” and “Globalise Intifada!”

Jewish students taking exams hear the chants of pro-Palestinians through the halls, right outside their classroom

This Cornell student is fighting back

door. “The Jewish students are irritated and want to be left alone. Ultimately, they sheepishly sink down into their chairs, keep their heads down and do nothing.” At one point, the cafeteria had to be locked down because of the multitude of threats, while Jewish students stayed in their rooms waiting out the night to see what would happen. A few days after the cafeteria closure, students were informed that Patrick Dai, a junior, was arrested for posting graphic and threatening comments about the Cornell Jewish community online.

Amanda and other students are shocked by what they see is a similar pattern of Nazi Germany propaganda resurfacing. “Antisemitism on campus is inescapable unless you seclude yourself and create a bubble.” A few weeks ago, Amanda was walking to Shabbat dinner when several organised antiIsrael organisations were having a vigil for Aaron Bushell, the service man who lit himself on fire in front of the embassy while screaming “Free Palestine!”

“The vigil attendees praised Bushell’s self-immolation as noble. Romanticising suicide at a university with one of the highest suicide rates in the country is unacceptable.”

She decided to call out, “Bring them home!” as she walked by. They taunted her with, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and, moments later, “No wonder you're so ugly.”

“They are nothing more than bullies with bullhorns whose goals are merely to silence students into submission.”

Cornell anti-Israel groups have posted many one-liners: “All Zionists must die!” “Zionism is a death cult that is only satiated by the blood of Palestinians.”

Amanda explained that these blood libels are a result of years of policies promoting this antisemitic and anti-Israel programming. “This is not a switch that can be flipped and easily reversed.

It is going to take a lot of effort from administration to re-evaluate their choice of professors that they put in these places of power.”

Cornell refuses to take action and hold individuals responsible, claiming that this falls under the category of “free speech.” “They are cloaking their antisemitism under the guise of a social justice issue and academic freedom of speech,” explains Amanda.

Amanda refuses to back down. “To hide is to concede. It’s what Jews had to do in the Holocaust. We should not have to deal with this in 2024.”

Amanda testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee. Initially, it was supposed to be a hearing primarily about free speech. However, it shifted towards how to contend with antisemitism.

Amanda stated that these groups are demonising Israeli and Jewish students, while the Cornell administration throw their hands up and claim that ‘there is nothing they can do to stop it.'

Amanda believes that this makes reversing the situation a near impossible task. Especially when you consider that Cornell is receiving the highest amount of funding from Qatar. “It’s no coincidence that Cornell takes an exorbitant amount of money from Qatar.” Since the administration is not stepping up, Amanda organised a massive rally with Mosab Hassan Yousef (Son of Hamas), Montana Tucker and Mandana Dayani. “It's difficult to motivate students to care enough to show up,” Amanda said. Meanwhile, the pro-Palestinian vigils are well attended with droves of students from all walks of life.

“What's happening is that these Palestinian groups twist the narrative by falsely assigning Israel and Jewish people as the white colonisers and the Palestinians as the oppressed. They pretend that they are advocating for what is moral and just. If you’re saying

the other side is supporting murder and you want justice and peace, it’s a compelling pitch. Most college students do not care enough to do their due diligence. If you're presenting that simplistic world view, it is truly difficult to resist it. People do not care to look beyond that.”

Being a student at Cornell has forced Amanda to step up and fight against continuous on-campus antisemitism. “Even though it has detracted from other parts of my college experience, parts that I should be enjoying, I would not change a thing. Every day that Jews remain on campus, we may be able to change someone’s mind about Israel and the Jewish people. Today we have a voice. We can say ‘no’ and fight back. In honour of the six million who perished in the Holocaust and countless millions before who died in the face of antisemitism, we have a duty to remain resilient and push back when confronted by ignorant students with posters and chants who want to destroy us.”

For Amanda, Zionism was a badge of honour. “It is something that showcased our eternal values. Now it's being weaponised as an epithet to taunt students and make them feel inferior and demonize them.” She offers practical advice to students everywhere: “Do not listen to those who get their news from a 15-second TikTok video. Get more involved in pro-Israel groups on your campus. We are not afraid, and we must not allow ourselves to be intimidated. Our strength will drown out their attempts to silence us.”

She urges other students to be proud about being Jewish and to strengthen their Jewish communities on campus. “That's how we demonstrate our fearlessness and our refusal to surrender. We have to show that our love is stronger than their hate.”

Cornell students called Amanda Silberstein an ugly Zionist pig. They picked on the wrong person.

Amanda Silberstein testifying in front of the House Judiciary Committee

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

ROBERT GREGORY AUSTRALIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION

Two prominent media identities and an Australian Senator headlined a key event held by the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) at Maroubra Synagogue on ANZAC Day. More than 200 people attended.

AJA president Dr David Adler began by paying respects to the ANZACs and highlighting the lasting importance of Australia’s achievement at the Battle of Be’er Sheva.

Maroubra Synagogue Rabbi Zalman Goldstein welcomed the speakers, Sky News host Sharri Markson and British magazine Spiked’s chief political writer Brendan O'Neill. Markson and O’Neill have distinguished themselves as passionate defenders of Israel and the Jewish community.

The themes of both ANZAC Day and Passover were present throughout and the audience was treated to a rendition of Vehi Sheamda from the Haggadah by Rabbi Yossi Friedman.

Markson conducted an interview with O’Neill about some of the major issues confronting the Jewish and wider community. She didn’t shy away from hard hitting questions on topics including free speech, local politics and the Middle East conflict.

In the second hour, AJA friend Senator Hollie Hughes (Liberal – NSW) joined the pair to take questions from the audience.

News crafters stand behind the Jewish community

The Senator shared her reaction to the atrocities of October 7, which occurred while she was on her honeymoon.

Those attending ranged widely in age and in levels of religiosity. Even as Markson was leaving to get ready for her appearance on Sky News, there were still many queuing to ask questions.

It is clear that since October 7, the community is much more engaged with both local and international political debates. There is a real passion for highlevel talks, where community members can meet those who are shaping the news.

It was important for the Australian Jewish Association to bring these two friends of the community to Maroubra Synagogue and a pleasure to see so many members of the community attend.

The event was the latest in a series of events that the AJA has held. If you want to host an AJA event at your synagogue or organisation, please contact Teneille at office@jewishassociation.org.au

The next major AJA event will be the premiere of the important film, ‘Whose Land?’, which explores the Jewish people’s claim to the Land of Israel. We are planning to have both the director, Hugh Kitson and the narrator, Col Richard Kemp, in attendance in Melbourne and Sydney. For details, make sure you are following AJA on social media and have signed up to the free email list at www. jewishassociation.org.au/subscribe

Sharri Markson and Brendan O’Neill at an AJA event at Maroubra Synagogue in Sydney on ANZAC Day (photo by Ben Klein)

CONSIDERED OPINION

WALTER G. WASSER

Introduction

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the United States. This phenomenon is not only alarming due to its immediate impact on Jewish students but also because it reflects deeper societal issues that are currently affecting American society. This essay examines the historical context of student protests in America, compares current antisemitic incidents to past movements and discusses the broader national and international implications of these events.

Historical context of student protests in America

Student protests have been a fixture on U.S. college campuses since at least the 1960s. Traditionally, these protests have focused on major political and social issues, ranging from opposition to the Vietnam War to advocacy for civil rights. Such movements have generally sought to challenge perceived injustices perpetrated by or through the support of American policies. For example, the Vietnam War protests were fuelled by opposition to the compulsory draft and the war’s moral implications, while the civil rights protests aimed to secure equal rights under the law for African Americans.

The shift in nature of campus protests

Unlike the protests of the 1960s and 1970s, which were directly related to U.S. government actions and policies, the recent wave of incidents on campuses primarily targets Jewish students and their perceived association with Israel. This shift marks a troubling evolution from protests, rooted in demands for an expansion of rights or correction of injustices, to movements characterised by their exclusionary and often hateful rhetoric.

Antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment

The current campus protests often conflate Jewish identity with support for Israeli policies, leading to generalised attacks against Jewish students. Such incidents have included harassment, discrimination and even physical assaults. These actions are frequently justified by protestors under the guise of anti-Zionism, which they distinguish from antisemitism. However, the targeting of individuals based on their identity or perceived political affiliations crosses into outright discrimination and hate speech.

Comparisons to historical movements

When compared to the civil rights movement or Vietnam War protests, the present-day campus incidents are distinct in several troubling ways. Firstly, they lack a direct connection

Campus denial of American Jewish Rights

Mutterings

to U.S. policies, focusing instead on an international issue – the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – which does not directly involve the protesters as American citizens. Secondly, the protests are not aimed at expanding rights for a disadvantaged group but rather at limiting the rights and safe participation of Jewish students in campus life.

International and political implications

These campus incidents are not isolated events but are linked to larger geopolitical and social movements. Some groups involved in organising these protests have connections to international organisations with antisemitic ideologies. Furthermore, the rhetoric used in campus protests often mirrors propaganda that seeks to delegitimise the state of Israel and, by extension, to marginalise Jewish voices and presence globally.

The role of social media and modern communication

The proliferation of antisemitic incidents on campuses is facilitated by the widespread use of social media, which helps to organise, recruit and spread misinformation rapidly. Social media platforms have enabled the quick formation of large and highly mobilised networks that can exert considerable influence on public opinion and campus policies.

Institutional responses and their consequences

The responses of university administrations and government bodies to these antisemitic incidents have varied widely, ranging from strong condemnation and action to apparent indifference or tacit acceptance. In some cases, the lack of a decisive response has been perceived as an endorsement of the protestors’ actions, further emboldening discriminatory practices and contributing to a hostile environment for Jewish students.

Legal and ethical considerations

The rise of antisemitic incidents on campuses poses significant legal and ethical challenges. Universities must balance the protection of free speech with the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and policies. Additionally, they face the difficult task of nurturing an inclusive educational environment while addressing hate speech and ensuring the safety of all students.

Future outlook and the need for action

To address the rise of antisemitic incidents on campuses effectively, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. This should include educational initiatives to promote understanding and tolerance, stronger institutional policies against discrimination and a re-evaluation of

how hate speech and related activities are treated under campus codes of conduct. Furthermore, there is a need for a broader societal acknowledgment of this issue and a commitment to combating antisemitism in all forms.

Conclusion

The increase in antisemitic incidents on U.S. college campuses is a disturbing trend that reflects broader societal issues and challenges. These events differ significantly from past student protests in their intent, implications and impact. Addressing these incidents requires not only immediate actions by universities and legal bodies but also a comprehensive societal response to ensure that campuses remain spaces for safe and constructive dialogue. As America grapples with these issues, the core values of democracy, tolerance and justice for all must be upheld to prevent the further erosion of civil discourse and rights.

Adapted from: Glick, C. (2024). The Denial of American Jewish Rights on Campus. In-Focus. JNS TV. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=Doq3BMSlR14&t=833s Walter G. Wasser is a specialist in nephrology and internal medicine and lives with his wife and family in Jerusalem.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

Since its establishment in 1920, UIA has become the preeminent worldwide fundraising arm for the People of Israel. With its roots woven deeply into the fabric of our Homeland, UIA has formed an unparalleled support pipeline in partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) to supply relief and assistance where it is most needed.

To address the current urgent and changing needs of the People of Israel, UIA has worked with local authorities, government agencies and JAFI on a strategic plan to focus its 2024 fundraising activities. That goes over and above its ongoing coreproject commitments, which include Aliyah and absorption, strengthening global Jewry, supporting youth at risk and caring for the elderly. These projects also require greater support due to increased demand at this time.

The Fund for Victims of Terror

The Fund for Victims of Terror provided immediate emergency aid and financial assistance within 48 hours of the October 7 atrocities. UIA donors’ support was on the ground within days, making a tangible impact to the lives of the People of Israel who needed it most. The Victims of Terror Fund has started distributing long-term rehabilitation grants for psychological therapy as well as small business loans to get those affected, and their families, on the road to recovery.

Communities2Gether

UIA, in partnership with JAFI, local municipalities and the Tekumah (Revival) Authority, has launched a long-term rehabilitation project aimed at restoring

UIA’s commitment to rebuilding Israel’s communities in the south – together

personal and communal resilience in 10 communities along the Gaza Envelope. UIA is the principal philanthropic partner in this extensive, multi-pronged project, which comprises community development and leadership building, and psychological and physical rehabilitation programs, including UIA programs such as Youth Futures, programs for the elderly and summer camps abroad. Through this initiative, war-affected Israeli communities will be paired with Jewish communities abroad to aid in their rehabilitation. Funds collected through the project will be disbursed to individual communities according to specific needs

How many common words of five or more letters can you spell using the letters in the hive? Every answer must use the centre letter at least once. Letters may be reused in a word. At least one word will use all seven letters and have a direct Jewish connection.

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

Rating: 7 = Good; 12 = Excellent; 17 = Genius

Yoni Glatt has published more than 1,000 crossword puzzles worldwide, from the LA Times and Boston Globe to The Jerusalem Post. He has also published two Jewish puzzle books: "Kosher Crosswords" and the sequel "More Kosher Crosswords and Word Games".

and adapted to the circumstances of each community. This assistance will serve as a basis for expanding relationships with the following communities:

• Kfar Aza

• Yated

• Magen

• Yesha

• Mivtachim

• Shlomit

• Ein Habesor

• Nir Am

• Be’eri

The Tekumah Authority will focus on rehabilitating areas destroyed by Hamas terrorists, including Sderot and its environs, and homes in communities that are within seven kilometres of the Gaza Strip within the following regional councils: Eshkol, Hof Ashkelon, Sdot Negev and Sha’ar HaNegev.

Fortitude for Israel

UIA will also support a national network comprising three operating centres and staffed by 150 professionals throughout Israel that will enable a comprehensive response to address collective trauma by fostering resilience, coping strategies, solidarity and prosperity. The program will focus on five major areas: mental health, education, resilience, employment and resilience for first responders.

UIA’s commitment

UIA Australia CEO Yair Miller OAM said that “the responsibility on all of us to come together and rebuild our homeland is immense and we are so proud of the Australian Jewish community’s commitment and selflessness so far. As you can see from the incredible scale of projects that we have responsibility for, we are only at the beginning of this sacred journey. The work of UIA and the support that our community continues to give have never been more important or urgent.”

For more details on how you can contribute to UIA’s commitment to rebuilding Israel’s communities in the south, go to www.

Keren Hayesod-UIA has been the official fundraising arm for the State of Israel for 104 years.

Today we are united in our responsibility in helping rebuild our homeland whilst continuing to support Aliyah, at-risk youth and the elderly.

This Yom Ha'atzmaut, our thoughts and prayers are with all of Am Yisraelwe pray for peace and for our brave soldiers.

Survivors mourn victims of the October 7 massacre in Southern Israel (photo courtesy FLASH90)

NOMI KALTMANN COURTESY: THE JEWISH INDEPENDENT

Authorities in Jewish law have shown a notable openness towards integrating new technologies, though philosophies on abortion remain divided.

This year, I’m completing an advanced Halachic (Jewish Law) fellowship on Zoom through Yeshivat Maharat in New York. Focusing on fertility, IVF, miscarriage, abortion and anything related to women’s reproductive rights, it’s been a fascinating learning journey.

It extends my four years of previous study, culminating in my graduation in June 2023 as one of the world's inaugural female Orthodox rabbis.

Learning about these topics has opened my eyes. In certain aspects, Jewish law has demonstrated a progressive and adaptive approach to emerging technologies.

Unlike the Catholic stance, which has prohibited IVF due to its departure from natural conception, authorities in Jewish law have shown a notable openness and permissiveness toward integrating new technologies, acknowledging the evolving landscape of medical advancements.

Jewish law develops through Piskei Halacha, where rabbis who possess a deep understanding of Halacha interpret and apply Jewish law to address diverse situations through Halachic responsa. This involves a meticulous analysis of traditional Jewish texts, including the Torah, Talmud and legal codes, such as the Shulchan Aruch, to derive fitting responses to modern challenges or dilemmas.

Think of it like a court that interprets legislation. Decisions written by rabbis are called Psak Halacha and hold significance within the community or groups that acknowledge the authority of the issuing rabbi. Distinct Jewish communities may adhere to varying Halachic authorities.

Within the realm of intricate Jewish legal matters, various rabbis engage in extensive correspondence spanning centuries. This extensive exchange encompasses debates on minute details, featuring instances where rabbis countermand one another or offer alternative interpretations of the law.

In the 20th century, perhaps the two greatest arbiters of Jewish law were Rav Moshe Feinstein, originally from Eastern Europe, who moved to America in 1936 and Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg from Jerusalem. Their responses span various topics, encompassing enquiries about smoking, cosmetic surgery and the use of electricity on Shabbat.

Orthodox law sends surprising messages about reproductive rights

In the 20th century, amid rapid advancements in reproductive technologies, both rabbis extensively addressed issues related to fertility, miscarriage, abortion and women's reproductive rights.

Like so many areas of Orthodox Judaism, their decisions also deal with women and their bodies. My fellowship delves into the perspectives of these rabbinic authorities and their impact on shaping Orthodox Jewish law's treatment of women and their bodies in the 21st century.

Born in Belarus, but living in America, Rav Moshe is known for his compassionate responses to women who wrote to him about a range of issues, including birth control and the participation of women in wedding ceremonies.

When looking at the range of Feinstein’s Halachic responses, one can see that he carefully weighed numerous factors, including medical information, individual backgrounds and Orthodox Jewish legal principles, when making his legal decisions. Through his responses, we gain insights into women facing challenges, experiencing heightened emotional stress and for whom the prospect of bearing another child posed an overwhelming burden.

As a woman, discovering his responses in these areas is heartening. It reveals an uncommon consideration for the modern woman, a perspective frequently missing in other aspects of Jewish law, where women

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES

are mentioned casually or sometimes without due consideration.

And yet, Rav Moshe’s approach to birth control and abortion was famously hardline. In contrast to earlier interpreters of Jewish law, he categorised abortion as akin to murder. Unless the pregnancy carries a very serious threat to the mother’s life, Rav Moshe did not permit abortion at all. Although he died in 1986, his approach became the normative Jewish law approach for many decades.

Why did Rav Moshe adopt such a stringent stance, deviating from the traditional Jewish perspective on terminating pregnancies, which had never seen it as murder? Describing it as murder seems excessively harsh and unjust to women. The key lies in considering the timing and context. Rav Moshe penned his Halachic responses during the tumultuous 1960s and 1970s, a period marked by a sexual revolution and societal upheaval in America. This era witnessed transformative shifts with the advent of the contraceptive pill, the women’s liberation movement and changing views on marriage, reshaping attitudes toward sexuality.

Situated in the midst of these profound changes in his New York home, Rav Moshe inevitably felt the impact of evolving perspectives on sexual rights. Perhaps driven by concerns over the sexual revolution, it appears that he struggled to separate sexuality from reproduction,

leading to his opposition to birth control and abortion.

With this stringent stance, categorising abortion as murder except in the gravest circumstances, the trajectory of Halachic innovation in this domain takes a sombre turn. A void in Halachic responses on this matter persists for over two decades, until Rabbi Waldenberg, who wrote his responsa under the pen name of the Tzitz Eliezer, introduces a significantly more lenient perspective on abortion, in line with previous arbiters of Jewish law.

Rabbi Waldenberg’s Halachic response on abortion reflect his firm belief that the foetus should not be regarded as a "person", allowing for a more permissive approach to abortion.

Exploring the absence of American Halachic progress during that 20-year span, between Rav Moshe’s ruling and Rabbi Waldenberg, evokes a sense of sadness in me. Not because I advocate for widespread abortions, but because I champion the importance of providing women with choices.

It seems incomprehensible that concerns related to the sexual revolution resulted in a stricter stance in Jewish law, which had been notably more lenient for centuries. Unjustly, women, the bearers of pregnancies, were guided by one of the greatest Torah scholars of the 20th century to perceive terminating an unwanted pregnancy as equivalent to murder. Understanding the evolution of Jewish law and involving women in the study of these texts is crucial. It not only breaks the barriers that have excluded us from decisionmaking, especially in matters concerning our experiences and bodies but also secures our presence at the table.

As a mother who loves her children dearly, I cannot fathom the guilt and distress that any woman would endure when labelled a murderer for choosing to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

In my pursuit of a more compassionate and nuanced understanding of Jewish law, which takes into the account the voices of women, I’m enjoying navigating the intricacies of Jewish law, striving for a future where women's choices are met with empathy rather than judgment.

I know that even being able to study these texts, after four years of rigorous training to become a female Orthodox rabbi, is a privilege that no one in previous generations had.

But I know in the future, there will be more women who will be able to add their voices to the canon of tradition.

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1, 2024 5:52 pm

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Illustration by Avi Katz

AUSTRALIA

As night fell over Israel on April 14, an unsettling silence pervaded amidst what could have been a scene straight out of a Hollywood apocalyptic movie. Iran's missiles were en route and the uncertainty of the hour brought a mixed bag of fear and resignation among the citizens. Contrary to the chaotic scenes often depicted in films, Israel's streets remained calm, devoid of panic or disorder, as people either grappled with the possible end or retreated to the comfort of their beds. The resilience demonstrated by the citizens, backed by the robust defence systems, was a testament to the technological prowess and strategic foresight that Israel has cultivated over the decades.

This was possible due to the country’s multi-layered anti-missile defence systems that include the famous Iron Dome, The Arrow, David’s Sling and the long-standing Patriot system that has been operational since 1991. These systems, in collaboration with fighter jets from Israel, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Jordan and even Saudi Arabia, successfully thwarted the Iranian attack. Each system is designed to address specific threats, creating a

Israel defending stoutly

comprehensive shield that safeguards the nation.

Iron Dome: Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, led by Technion alumnus Chanoch Levin, the Iron Dome specialises in intercepting short-range rockets and artillery shells. Effective from four to 70 kilometres, this highly mobile system can be deployed quickly to protect urban areas and critical infrastructure against immediate threats.

Arrow System: Comprising Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, this series targets longer-

range missiles. Arrow 2, developed at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) by a team including Technion alumni like Dov Raviv, destroys ballistic missiles in the upper atmosphere. Arrow 3, led by Technion alumna Inbal Kreiss, is designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles at even greater distances. It is capable of neutralising threats from the air up to 2,500 kilometres away.

David’s Sling: Operational since 2017 and used in the Hamas-Israel war, David’s Sling covers medium-range

threats, identifying and destroying airborne threats from 40 to 300 kilometres away.

Its capability to intercept rockets aimed at major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem has been proven, marking it as a critical component of Israel's defensive array.

Patriot System: This long-standing system has been a backbone of missile defence. It complements the other systems by targeting a variety of aerial threats, including aircraft, drones and tactical ballistic missiles, ensuring a broad protective coverage.

The synergy between these defence systems, developed with the foresight and expertise of Technion alumni, illustrates the pivotal role of advanced education and research in national security.

This network of defences not only protects lives but also secures the peace of mind necessary for the nation to thrive amidst regional tensions. As we continue to enhance these systems, including the development of the Iron Beam, with its revolutionary laser technology, we are reminded of the critical importance of continuous innovation and preparedness in safeguarding our future.

Iron Dome defence system

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

DANIELLE SALOMON AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY

With the world becoming increasingly interconnected, the pursuit of higher education is transcending borders like never before. More and more students are choosing to study abroad and expand their academic horizons internationally. Since October 7th, antisemitism has risen to worrying heights in the diaspora. Unbridled displays of antisemitism have been demonstrated at top academic institutions, including American Ivy League institutions such as Columbia, Yale and Harvard and at many of our own Australian universities. Jewish students have been made to feel unsafe and unwelcome on campus and in the worst cases, they have been subjected to harassment and verbal and physical assault.

This is one reason why many Jewish students are seeking tertiary education opportunities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s preeminent university and a global top 100 university.

There are many exciting opportunities awaiting high school graduates, postgraduates and students seeking exchange and research opportunities. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) offers students a special experience that combines academic excellence with Jewish heritage and vibrant campus life, in one of the world’s most dynamic locations – Jerusalem.

Tailored academic experience BA program

At HU Rothberg International School, students learn from leading experts, gain realworld experience and develop the skills to thrive professionally. A range of flexible, threeyear multidisciplinary BA degree programs

Discover a world-class education at the Hebrew University

are offered in English, allowing international students to reap the benefits of earning a degree in Israel while studying in their native tongue. By choosing two out of three fields of specialisation – liberal arts, business and English – students are free to design a doublemajor tailored to their academic pursuits and professional aspirations.

Through stimulating courses, study tours and internships, participants gain the experience of a lifetime in Jerusalem, which becomes a living laboratory and their second classroom. In addition, they connect with a

thriving community of international students from more than 90 countries and benefit from personalised support, social activities and trips designed to complement their studies and immerse themselves in the heart of Israeli culture.

Career-propelling programs

HU offers international students an education that is recognised globally, opening doors to professional opportunities across many fields. One of the program’s greatest advantages is its accelerated pace, enabling students to complete a double-

major in just three years and gain a head start toward advanced studies or their first career move.

Jerusalem: gateway to infinite experiences

Studying at HU goes hand-in-hand with an unforgettable journey of discovery in the city of Jerusalem. With its rich history, diverse culture and religious significance, Jerusalem offers a unique backdrop for each student’s academic journey. From ancient landmarks to outdoor markets, museums, festivals and a culinary paradise, students get to explore and experience the capital while connecting with others.

Kickstart your career

Career development is an integral part of the academic journey at HU. Many degree programs include embedded internships tailored to the field of study and lifestyles of students. These are designed to equip them with the skills to hit the ground running once they graduate.

Scholarships and financial assistance available

Through the generosity of donors the Australian Friends of the Hebrew University may be able to offer financial assistance to eligible students (Jewish and non-Jewish) from Australia and New Zealand who are accepted to study or conduct research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Financial assistance is considered on the basis of academic merit, financial need or communal involvement. Visit www.austfhu. org.au to discover more.

Students on campus at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

In the aftermath of the October 7th terror attacks and the ensuing war, Israel is grappling with a mental health crisis. While all Israelis have been affected, Israel’s Ministry of Health reports that more than 100,000 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers of all ages have been directly exposed to traumatic incidents, resulting in a surge of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases. This debilitating condition poses a serious threat to daily functioning and mental wellbeing.

Setting up a post-trauma clinic

In response to this need and in collaboration with the IDF and Israel’s National Insurance Institute, on January 1st Tel Aviv University (TAU) began operating a post-trauma clinic. A part of the University’s National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience (NCTSR), the clinic was originally scheduled to start in two years, namely once its permanent home had finished construction. However, the University fast-tracked the launch in a temporary location and hired 30 plus expert clinicians to address the dire need for treatments.

The Head of the NCTSR, Professor Yair Bar-Haim, said that after October 7th it was quickly realised that there would

Supporting Israel’s post-trauma treatments

be large numbers of PTSD sufferers that would require long-term professional treatment. “Conservative estimates are for 30,000 new cases of PTSD and related pathologies resulting from the current war. So, we decided to undertake this national mission, harnessing TAU's academic resources and vast professional knowledge on treating PTSD to provide reliable treatment for large numbers of people. Israel's best PTSD therapists responded to our call and

joined the clinic's permanent staff, with many of them closing or partially closing their private practices to do so.”

World-renowned in post-trauma research, treatment & prevention

TAU is a global hub for state-of-theart practical, theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of post-trauma.

The NCTSR brings together in excess of 100 mental health and medical researchers from across campuses.

In turn, they work in close collaboration with mental health organisations throughout Israel and around the world. Their work is aimed at advancing the research, treatment, prevention and education about PTSD and related conditions. The Center also provides training for PTSD professionals in local and global conflict areas.

Unique

in Israel

The clinic stands out as a unique resource in Israel with the following characteristics:

• Specialising exclusively in PTSD and stress-related disorders.

•Operating within a research framework, ensuring data collection and systematic monitoring of treatment effectiveness.

• Utilising only PTSD evidence-based protocols, tailored to individual needs.

•Treatments administered by experienced trauma therapists with 15 to more than 40 years’ expertise.

• With over 150 weekly referrals since opening, it is the only clinic of its scale in Israel and outpaces other treatment providers in Israel, including hospitals.

Since January 1st

The clinic has already reached capacity, serving approximately 10 per cent of the projected 30,000 severe PTSD cases expected over the next few years. Each patient receives personalised treatment, ranging from short-term interventions to longer-term therapy sessions.

Patients include:

•Reservists returning from conflict zones (~50 per cent).

•Civilians evacuated from the southern regions, including those who were trapped in their safe rooms, others who witnessed atrocities and people from the Nova Music Festival (~20 per cent).

• Individuals coping with trauma from everyday life (~30 per cent).

Looking ahead, with additional funding, the clinic aims to expand its capacity. Further information on the opportunities to support TAU’s posttrauma response are available from David Solomon, CEO of the Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University on 0418 465 556. You can also him: davidsolomon@ aftau.org.au

They fought for us - now let’s fight for them.

Support TAU’s Uniform to University Scholarship Fund.

When duty called, they came! Now, it’s up to us to help them return to class - worry-free - and become the bright future of Israel. The moment the war broke out Israel re-enlisted its reservists and over 6,600 of them are Tel Aviv University students. They already completed their regular IDF duty and are now in a different chapter in their lives: the one where they study to make their dreams and goals a reality. It’s up to us to ensure that our returning students, our heroes, have the academic and financial assistance they need to succeed in their studies. Help our students follow their true calling.

“You are too busy focusing on the mission and your team to even miss home. As I recover after being wounded in combat, my goal is still to become an R&D scientist in energy applications.” – Yonatan

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

THE COMMUNITY

SIMONNE WINECIER JDC (THE JOINT) AROUND

Israel is a country transformed by the October 7th attacks and the war it ignited. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis who never needed social assistance are now relying on it to survive and build their future in the aftermath of these devastating events. This has resulted in a mental health crisis impacting some 55 per cent of the population, or five million Israelis. They live in debilitating fear, trauma and stress. The loss of family and friends, the fate of the hostages, ongoing bombardment in the North, concern for a wider conflict and widespread displacement and job loss have led to a steep rise in psychiatric medication prescriptions and the influx of calls to crisis hotlines over the past six months.

These mental health conditions have a devastating effect on the person suffering, their family and their communities. If treatment is delayed or not provided, these conditions can intensify, become more entrenched and harder to resolve. Before October 7th, Israel’s mental health system was already overstrained from COVID, terrorist attacks, military flareups and the social-political upheaval. Israelis in need had to wait months for an appointment with a mental health professional. As the current war rages, Israel’s mental health crisis is growing to epidemic proportions. Millions of Israelis need mental health

Israel’s mental health crisis

care now. They cannot afford to wait. As a result, JDC (The Joint), together with leading NGOs, philanthropists and the Israeli government, is developing the Emergency Resilience and Mental Health National Initiative.

That offers new ways to provide readily available, tailored, quality-assured mental health care services to a large number of Israelis. It includes developing measurable targets and impact indicators for Israel’s national mental health, as well as establishing standards for and expanding interventions.

JDC (The Joint) is utilising cutting-edge technologies, such as VR and digital platforms, to provide widespread access to mental health tools that traumatised Israelis need. It has deployed the flagship Nafshi website, providing users with access to validated mental health options, tailored to their individual needs. These include self-care techniques and tools, community and social support options, peer-to-peer emotional support for the workplace, youth groups, medical clinics and other, more intensive, forms of therapy. This effort will free senior healthcare professionals and one-on-one therapists to handle severe cases without leaving others untreated. The initiative has already reached 9,000 traumatised Israelis.

To support JDC (The Joint), go to www. thejoint.org.au

A strong South African connection

JANICE ILONI PRESIDENT ST KILDA SHULE

Last month, the Jewish community was treated to an online presentation with South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein who was interviewed by St Kilda Shule's Rabbi Yaakov Glasman. Coincidentally, the two rabbis matched each other onscreen in terms of ‘look’, with similar blue ties and a large bookcase of Jewish literature in the background.

Rabbi Goldstein has recently also become an incredible ambassador for the Jewish community, not just in South Africa, but around the world.

During the session, Rabbi Goldstein discussed several topics. He first spoke about how during Pesach we experience a duality of feelings, both sadness and joy in the celebration of freedom.

The Zohar, Judaism's most seminal text, describes the human capacity to experience “joy on one side of the heart and bitterness on the other”. Both are real and each has its place. The communal joy of the festival retains primacy and should not be diminished by what is happening in Israel. Contemporaneously, the plight of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, and the plight of the hostages held for over 200 days were also incorporated into our Pesach experience. Rabbi Goldstein spoke also about the dichotomy of the South African government’s virulent anti–Israel stance versus most of the

South African population, who support and are positive towards the Jewish community and Israel. In fact, ironically, South Africa has had one of the lowest increases of antisemitism globally since October 7th. There can be no doubt as to the disgraceful stance South Africa’s government has taken in baselessly accusing Israel of genocide at the United Nation’s International Court of Justice.

Rabbi Goldstein led a significant public campaign to educate the masses about the flaws of his government’s case.

At the same time, he took comfort in the knowledge that the South African government does not speak for the majority of the population. He explained that the vast majority of South Africans are Christians, many of whom are evangelical, and have an instinctive connection to the Tanach/Torah, which they refer to as ‘The Hebrew Bible’.

On the topic of Jewish education of our children, Rabbi Goldstein believes Shabbat is the best pathway. Shabbat centres around family and love, buffering the family against the ‘hurricane’ of events and stress that is the world today. Shabbat is a time for digital detox, during which many Jews switch off their phones and other gadgets so they can be fully immersed in their connection to family and community. Rabbi Glasman agreed wholeheartedly, concluding the interview by citing the oft heard phrase, ‘More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews!’

JDC (The Joint) is addressing Israel’s mental health crisis

South Africa's Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein (top) and Rabbi Yaakov Glasman AM

RABBINIC THOUGHT

RABBI DANIEL RABIN

At our recent Passover Seder, amidst the four questions and discussions about freedom and plagues, my son, fork in hand and curiosity in his eyes, threw a delightful curveball: "Do dinosaurs fit into the story of Judaism?" His question, innocent and profound, opened a door to a discussion that's as large as, well, a Brachiosaurus.

Our table, usually buzzing with debates about Pharaoh and freedom, now ventured into the Jurassic world. It’s a testament to the Jewish tradition of asking questions, the very essence of the Seder night, which encourages even the youngest at the table to enquire and engage.

So, how do we mesh the colossal, scaly giants of a bygone era with the ancient, sacred texts of Judaism? It turns out, Judaism has quite a bit to say about these ancient creatures and the discussion is anything but extinct.

First off, the Torah isn’t shy about giants. Take, for instance, the “giant Tanin”, mentioned in the Book of Bereishit. While traditionally translated as a giant sea creature, some commentaries suggest these could very well be our friends. Even more, the Talmud speaks of creatures that were so enormous, they were phased out of creation because the world simply couldn’t handle their

A Pesach with bite

taught that apparent contradictions between Torah and science are due to our limited understanding of one, the other, or both.

So, how do we answer a curious child at a Seder, or at any time for that matter? We might say that Judaism welcomes scientific exploration as another pathway to marvel at the wonders of creation. Each dinosaur bone unearthed is not a challenge to our faith but an invitation to expand our understanding.

Even more heartening, this approach turns our dinner table into a vibrant classroom, in which faith and science sit side by side. It teaches our children that their heritage encourages dynamic inquiry. Whether it's splitting the Red Sea or splitting scientific theories, Judaism asks us to engage deeply, think critically and embrace our natural curiosity.

Rabbi Daniel Rabin embraced his son’s question at the Seder table by inviting a small crocodile (and other critters) to attend the 2024

might. If that’s not a nod to the likes of T-Rex, I don’t know what is!

But here’s where it gets interesting. When the first dinosaur fossils were uncovered in the 19th century, rather than causing a crisis of faith, many Jewish scholars embraced these discoveries.

Rabbi Yisrael Lifshitz, a commentary giant in his own right, viewed these prehistoric revelations as a vindication of Kabbalistic teachings, which speak

Jewish life in Thailand

Thirty years ago, a young Australian rabbi, Yosef Chaim Kantor, and his American wife, Nechama, together with their twomonth-old daughter Mushka moved from New York to Bangkok. Their mission was simple. Sent by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, they had instructions to provide for the Jewish community of Thailand and surrounding countries.

At the time, Thailand was an up-andcoming regional centre of commerce and business, but it was still very different from the first world lifestyle that the young rabbi, his wife and new baby had left behind. While New York had many shules and kosher restaurants to choose from, the small Jewish community in Thailand had no readily accessible kosher food and just one, small shule.

No one would have dared imagine that just three decades later, Chabad in Thailand would have grown into an enormous and well-oiled operation. It has much to offer those seeking a Jewish experience.

Tourists, backpackers, business people and members of the Jewish community in Thailand can now eat at one of several kosher restaurants in Bangkok, Phuket, Ko-Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Chiang Mai.

There are two other synagogues in Bangkok. Even Chen is Bangkok's Sephardic synagogue, while the oldest

children’s activity at

of worlds that existed before our own.

According to these mystical traditions, each creation cycle improved upon the last, not unlike the geological layers that tell the story of Earth’s past epochs.

And it’s not just about fossils. Jewish thought, deeply entrenched in centuries of scholarship, holds that there’s no conflict between the discoveries of science and the truths of the Torah. The medieval philosopher Maimonides

is Beit Elisheva. The latter is overseen by the Jewish Association of Thailand and functions as the spiritual and social nucleus of Bangkok's Jewish community.

Each year, more than 100,000 Israeli travellers pass through Thailand.

Many of these backpackers are former soldiers, some who have fought in Israel’s recent wars and are looking for a place to unwind and heal their minds and bodies in a Jewish environment. Chabad across Thailand welcomes

them with open arms. When the Israeli newspaper Ynet surveyed Israeli tourists about their favourite places to visit while travelling in Southeast Asia, Thailand was overwhelmingly ranked as one of the top destinations.

This demonstrates that for people travelling far from home, Chabad in Thailand and across Southeast Asia has become not just a place for tourists to sit, relax, eat and pray, but also a place to revitalise themselves spiritually and touch

So, next year, along with the bitter herbs and charoset, there might just be a dinosaur or two at the Seder table. Not as guests, of course, but as points of discussion, sparking curiosity and wonder in the next generation of Jewish thinkers. And who knows? Perhaps by then, my son might have moved on to asking about quantum physics or the mysteries of the deep sea. Whatever the question, the spirit of inquiry – the very essence of Judaism – will ensure that the conversation, like the history of the dinosaurs, live on.

base with their faith. Anyone who passes through the doors notes the warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The services and hospitality of Chabad do not just extend to backpackers and tourists, but to all Jews who may find themselves in Thailand, Laos and Mynamar. Across Southeast Asia there are 11 permanent shluchim (emissaries), living with their families, providing an enduring and convivial home to those that seek their services or a place to chill.

Rabbi Kantor, the head Chabad emissary and Chief Rabbi of Thailand, notes that when he first arrived in Thailand all those years ago, his wife Nechama would prepare a few large challahs, a pot of yellow rice, some cans of tuna and salads and they would head off into central Bangkok hoping that they would be joined by a few Israeli backpackers for Shabbat.

These days, Chabad in Thailand hosts hundreds of people each week for Shabbat meals, minyanim and at its centres where there are fully functional restaurants serving Israeli and Thai cuisine, as well as well-stocked kosher stores.

If you are travelling through Thailand, you can check out Chabad in Thailand’s website at jewishthailand.com, go to the Facebook page, or contact Rabbi Kantor via email at rabbi@jewishthailand.com

ANZAC Day

Caulfield Shule

RABBI GABI KALTMANN

From left: Rabbi Gabi, Shlomi Mochkin, Rabbi Joseph Kantor, Eli Feiglin and Moe Philips in Phuket

What does Yom Ha’atzmaut actually mean?

RABBI DR BENJI LEVY

There is a tradition that the first time the root of a word is mentioned in the Torah the essence of that word is established for the rest of time. The first time the root of the word ‘atzmaut’ was uttered was part of the first words spoken by a human (Genesis 2:23).

‘Etzem mi’atzamay’ (a bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh …). As humanity separated into two independent beings, the concept of independence was born in the word ‘etzem’. The next verse, immediately after, says that the two independent beings got married: ‘al ken yaazov ish et aviv v’imo vedavak b’ishto’ (and they shall be one flesh).

Why is it that as soon as the two individuals gain their independence for the first time, they immediately lose it by cleaving to one another and getting married?

Perhaps, every one of us is always dependent upon something or someone: the child and parent, fashion trends and the economy, friends and colleagues, health and sustenance. No one is truly independent in the pure sense of the word. So, the greatest expression of independence is the choice of who and what we want to depend upon. This choice is perhaps the ultimate expression of our freedom as individuals.

Independence is thus a paradox of sorts, whereby true independence is being ‘in dependence’, because to be independent is to choose the right people to depend upon.

Quiz answers

5. Qumran Caves near Ein Feshkha on the northern shore of the Dead Sea

6. The Hebrew calendar. Hillel II created a lunisolar calendar based on mathematics rather than observation. Until then, the entire Jewish community outside the land of Israel depended on the observational calendar sanctioned by the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem

7. The Holy Trinity

8. The Geonim (singular Gaon, lit. ‘Excellency’) was the title given to the leading rabbis in Babylon, such as Saadia Gaon, Hai Gaon and Amram Gaon who led the great academies of Jewish learning in Sura, Pumbedita and Nehardea

9. All three – The Jewish community in Rome is likely one of the oldest continuous Jewish communities in the world, existing from classical times until today. Most certainly, it is known that in 139 BCE, Simon Maccabeus sent a Hasmonean embassy to Rome in order to strengthen his alliance with the Roman Republic against the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom. There is ample evidence of Jews in Spain during Roman times, but there are some scholars who believe that Jews might even have moved to

Spain as early as Biblical times.

As for France, it is said that some Jews lived in the south of France as early as 6 C.E. as well as living in Lugdunum (modern day Lyon) around 40 CE

10. Rabbi Shlomo ben Itchaki (Rabbi Solomon the son of Isaac)

11. The Aleppo Codex is a 10th century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible written in Tiberias. The Codex was kept for five centuries in the Central Synagogue of Aleppo, until the synagogue was torched during 1947 anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo. What remains (roughly 40% of the original manuscript) is housed in the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem

12. Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon

13. August 2nd, 1492, was Tisha B’Av, the fast day commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temple

14. 16th century. Luther wrote this infamous treatise in 1543. He demanded that no mercy or kindness be given to Jews, that they be afforded no legal protection, and "these poisonous envenomed worms" should be drafted into forced labour or expelled forever. In the 20th century, it became compulsory reading for members of the Nazi party

15. Poland (Petateshuvah, 1651 4a)

16. They all claimed to be the Messiah

17. He was knighted and became Sir Solomon de Medina

18. Eight convicts were transported to Botany Bay in 1788 aboard the First Fleet have been identified as Jewish. (There were probably more, but exact numbers are not possible as the transportation records did not indicate a convict's religion.)

19. Moses Mendelssohn

20. It was known as the Galilee or Safed earthquake. A 1977 assessment of the event that was published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America had the epicentre just north of the city of Safed with a magnitude of 6.25–6.5, but in 1997 seismologist Nicholas Ambraseys argued that the event may have been even more substantial. The only earthquake of similar intensity in that area since then was the Jericho earthquake of 1927

21. Germany – his trial exposed the raw antisemitism that existed in France and inspired Theodor Herzl to campaign for a Jewish state

22. Pope Pius XII, whose leadership of the Roman Catholic Church during World War II has been a subject of much controversy, particularly in relation to the Shoah

23. The declaration took place on a Friday in Tel Aviv. The ceremony was held in the Tel Aviv Museum (today known as Independence Hall) but was not widely publicised as it was feared

that the British Authorities might attempt to prevent it or that the Arab armies might invade earlier than expected. An invitation was sent out by messenger on the morning of 14 May telling recipients to arrive at 15:30 and to keep the event a secret. The event started at 16:00 (a time chosen so as not to breach the Sabbath) and was broadcast live as the first transmission of the new radio station Kol Yisrael

24. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who died on June 12th, 1994 (3rd Tammuz, 5754)

25. b) Iron Dome was declared operational and initially deployed on 27 March 2011 near Beersheba. On 7 April 2011, the system successfully intercepted a rocket launched from Gaza for the first time

Spelling bee answers

Jewish Answer: KORBANOT. 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 the most common): BANKBOOK, BABOON, BANANA, BOOBOO, RABBAN, ABBOT, ABORT, ARBOR, BABKA, BARON, BATON, BORON, BROOK, KABOB, ROBOT, TABOR and TABOO .

Rabbi Benji with his son Yehuda and father Geoff

The biographical drama Golda is a new film about Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and the Yom Kippur War, written by Nicholas Martin (Florence Foster Jenkins).

The movie stars Helen Mirren in the title role and is directed by Guy Nattiv (Skin).

Alex First spoke with him and found out that pre-pandemic it was going to be a $120 million blockbuster. That changed and the film took on a much more claustrophobic feel.

These are the edited highlights of their conversation:

Q: So, who's the film aimed at? Who do you see as your primary audience and what do you want them to take away from this movie, Golda?

A: Look, cinema is for everyone. You don't make a movie for one specific audience. In Israel, parents took their kids to see the movie. In the (United) States, it was more of an elderly audience that came, you know, people who were 60 plus that remember Golda as kids, as teenagers, as grownups and they told me that they didn't go to cinema since the pandemic and it was their first movie, so that was refreshing.

Q: Obviously, if you live in Israel or if you are an American, I presume you will have heard of Golda Meir being the first female Prime Minister of Israel. I wonder how many people are going to see this movie who have never heard of Golda Meir?

A:Many, many and that's the people that are fascinated by her and fascinated by the history of what happened to her and who she was.

Q: Have you painted a picture of Golda Meir that is similar to that of the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher and what she stood for because they were both dogmatic and determined?

A: I think that they are different leaders. I see Golda as somebody unique. She was coming from the pograms in Ukraine. She obviously came to Israel from Milwaukee (USA). She thrown into the role of Prime Minister. She didn't even want to be Prime Minister, but she found herself in this impossible situation. You know, the wrong woman in the wrong time, in the wrong place. And she was the first female leader in the world in modern times.

Q: I read about the fact that you were born the year that she became Prime Minister. Is that correct?

A:I was born two months before the war started and my mom ran with me as a baby to the shelter. So, Golda was already Prime Minister, so I was born when the sirens went off.

Q:So how important was it for you to make this movie and why?

A:I wanted to make this movie because of the fascination of a woman that was considered a pariah in Israel throughout my entire childhood. She was the face of the debacle, the face of the failure. You know, she was always the woman that was in charge of this failure until …

Q:For those people who haven’t seen the movie, we’re talking about the failure to mobilise earlier when there were already suggestions that war was imminent, are we?

A: True, but also the failure of listening to what the enemy wants. The enemy, so-called Egypt, when (Anwar) Sadat a few days before the war wanted to

Insights into Golda

make peace with her … and she did not believe him. She was a refusenik. So, she's a tragic, tragic story. But when the declassified documents came out, we understood that she was not the only one. It’s the entire intelligence department and the head of intelligence that led her wrong and did not tell her exactly what's going on. So, we always thought, oh, she was the one to blame because it was easy to blame an older woman, and she's not from Israel, she's American. What does she know? Right? But, I think I wanted to clear her name in a way that she was not the only one, and also show that she took responsibility and resigned, which we don't see today with Benjamin Netanyahu and his horrible cabinet. You know, after the debacle of October 7th, we don't see him taking this responsibility. And she did. That's why it was so important for me.

Q: And of course, the Commission (of Inquiry, held in 1974) cleared her as well.

A:The Commission cleared her, but she didn't clear herself. She always blamed herself for what happened.

Q: For not taking up Sadat’s offer?

A: For not understanding and knowing and open(ing) her sensors to the world. For not listening to her gut feeling. For not believing people like the Angel, the spy who told her war is coming. She said: ‘Oh, he's lying, what does he know?’ And that's why she's considered a tragic leader rather than just a bad leader. Because she was a great stateswoman. Because of her relationship with (US Secretary of State, Henry) Kissinger and the Americans, because she was American, she knew how to talk to them. She helped a lot at that war.

Q: Some have called into question casting a non-Jew, unquestionably a brilliant actor, but still a non-Jew, in the title role. How do you respond?

A: When I came on board, Golda was a A$120 million movie with Amazon, like the Private Ryan of The Yom Kippur War. It was 80 per cent war, tanks, blow ups, like massive war scenes and 20 per cent

Golda. That's what I read. But then the pandemic happened and we lost all our budgets and Amazon said goodbye. And we understood that we have to bring the war into the war room. Rather than shoot it outside, bring it inside. And that was one of my influences by seeing the (Francis Ford) Coppola film with Gene Hackman, The Conversation. That was entirely based on sound and I thought that would have been great to have the original sound from the war exactly like Golda experienced it, because she couldn't go to the front. So, she was locked between those four rooms, four walls. And it became a chamber movie, a claustrophobic chamber movie.

Q: The writer wasn't changed?

A: The writer was not changed, but he changed the script. All those war scenes became sound and Golda’s part and her intimate scenes were rewritten. It was new to the script. (Previously), we didn't have those intimate scenes with her secretary. It was more of a war movie and it became more of a portrait of an older lady.

Q:Was Helen Mirren already associated with the movie when you came on board?

A:Helen Mirren was already attached the project when I came on board. The grandson of Golda thought about her. He said: “I see my grandmother in Helen.” The humour, the charm …how intelligent she is. He totally said: “I see her”. And when I came on board, Helen was already attached.

She came to my house. We spoke for over four hours here in my house in Los Angeles and she told me about her(self). When she was 29, she visited a kibbutz in Israel and she volunteered and she lived with her Israeli boyfriend for two or three months in Israel. So she understood what it means to be Israeli.

Q: And I suppose that response is what many people are thinking – you get the best person for the job, regardless of their religion.

A:I'm quoting Helen Mirren right now. Let's say that only a Jew can portray the Jew. But tomorrow there's a beautiful role of a Protestant or a Catholic. That means that a Jewish actor cannot portray a Protestant or a Christian. It's a very dangerous discussion because if you say that only Jews can portray Jews, only Christians can portray Christians and an Arab who's not Muslim, who is Christian, cannot portray a Muslim Arab.

Q: As you well know Hollywood has changed in recent times whereby with diversity you can't just have white actors. You have got to make sure that there's greater diversity.

A: That's true and it's great and I love the fact that let's say the film Coda has authentic actors. I think a movie like a Rain Man would never be able to have Dustin Hoffman playing a man with autism today.

Q: So it is good and bad in a sense.

A: It’s good and bad, but we need to be very careful not to have the pendulum swing too much because I think that what I did surrounding Helen with Israeli actors – I'm an Israeli American director – I made it authentic enough. It's not like there wasn't anyone Israeli in the film. The film was surrounded by Israelis.

Q:The makeup artists and those that constructed Meir’s prosthetic facial features have done extraordinary job. How long did Helen Mirren spend in the makeup chair before and after each day's shoot?

A:Three and a half hours from 4:30am to 7:30am and when we went home to our hotels to take a shower and just relax, she took off the prosthetics for an hour and a half. And not a bit of complaining.

Q: And how long was the shoot?

A: 35 days … in the pandemic. And this woman is 78. She had the stamina of Golda.

Golda is out in cinemas now.

Helen Mirren as Golda Meir and Liev Schreiber as US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Golda

RBG: OF MANY, ONE ALEX FIRST THEATRE REVIEW

RBG: Of Many, One is distinguished by a virtuoso performance from Heather Mitchell, in which she metamorphosises into Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In fact, it is unquestionably one of the greatest solo theatrical offerings this country has had the good fortune to witness.

As Ginsburg, the second woman to be appointed to the US Supreme Court, Mitchell talks about her love of family, the law and opera.

She is also passionate about gender equality and abortion rights.

That starts from a position where she struggled to gain a foothold in the legal profession, even though she topped her year at Columbia Law School in New York.

She had three strikes against her. She was a woman, she was a mother and she was Jewish.

Nevertheless, when she did get her chance, she was nothing if not fiercely intelligent, thorough and vociferous.

She prosecuted case after case, many high profile, for win after win.

RBG: Of Many, One starts in 1993, as Ginsburg is preparing to meet the then US President, Bill Clinton.

He must decide whether Ginsburg will fill one of nine positions on the Supreme Court bench.

After their meeting, she nervously awaits a phone call that will determine her fate.

A brilliant performer captures the essence of a brilliant mind

One of the many distinguishing features of Heather Mitchell’s exquisite offering is her ability to mimic the voices and accents of some of the key players in RBG’s life.

So, it is with Ginsburg’s beloved husband Marty and Presidents Clinton, Obama and Trump.

Resonating throughout her discourse are the words of her mother, which call upon her to hold her outrage.

That, and her strict adherence to her belief in separating the judiciary from the executive.

On the latter, much to her chagrin, she slipped up badly only once, when she

spoke out against Donald Trump during the 2016 Presidential campaign. She had earlier survived a tête-à-tête with Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, during which he encouraged her to step aside for a younger female representative.

Taking to exercise late, Ginsburg also became a cult figure, a pop icon known as the Notorious RBG, a play on the late rapper Notorious B.I.G.

She graced the cover of Time magazine, had people take selfies with her, was made into a meme and had cups, t-shirts and bags sporting her visage.

Ginsburg was known by her loved ones as Kiki, a nickname given to her by her older sister Marilyn, who tragically died from meningitis at the age of six.

The moniker was afforded because it is said that as a young’un she used to kick her legs all day.

Grief and overcoming adversity are themes that resonate throughout RBG: Of Many, One.

Still, Mitchell manages to channel the remarkable life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg with heart and soul, with warmth, humour and humanity, dynamism and dexterity.

She is flawless, readily portraying RBG as feisty and formidable – just her with only a handful of props holding us, the audience, riveted for 100 minutes without interval.

Beautifully written by Australian-British playwright, screenwriter, novelist, librettist and lawyer Suzie Miller (Prima Facie), the play moves back and forth in time.

Stirring operatic interludes add gravitas (the composer and sound designer is Paul Charlier). So, too, the well realised colour palette in the lighting design by Alexander Berlage.

The costuming – from leisurely to exercise gear and judiciary robes – by set and costume designer David Fleischer is noteworthy.

RBG: Of Many, One is the complete package – triumphant, dramatic, at times comedic and totally enthralling, directed with aplomb by Priscilla Jackman.

Do Not Miss It!

It is on at Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne, until 12th May, 2024.

How Israel came back from the brink

Israel’s first and only female Prime Minister Golda Meir, who served in that capacity from 1969 to 1974, is painted as tough and unrelenting in Golda.

The greatest challenge for the chain smoker was navigating a conflict that could have finished Israel for good, namely the Yom Kippur War.

I should quickly add that there is so much smoking in this movie, it is almost as if lighting up itself is a character, a way of coping with stress … but I digress.

In a case of hubris in the wake of its victory in the Six Day War, Israel was caught napping when Egypt and Syria launched coordinated attacks on 6th October, 1973.

Although intelligence had suggested war was imminent, the Israelis hadn’t mobilised earlier, when they could have.

Golda deals with that three-week war and its aftermath, focusing on the pressure the PM was under.

What was kept secret at the time was that she was also fighting cancer.

But the movie is not just about her. It is also about those around her, including her then Minister for Defence, Moshe Dayan and Chief of Staff David “Dado” Elazar.

How many troops to mobilise at the outset was just one of the points of contention.

Vital to the war’s outcome was support from the Americans. That is where the Prime Minister’s relationship with the US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was critical.

The movie juxtaposes Golda’s political wiles with the close ties she had with her long-time personal assistant and confidante Lou Kaddar.

The war devolves to an individual level when the son of a typist within Meir’s ministerial department is called into service.

Written by Nicholas Martin (Florence Foster Jenkins), Golda is directed by Guy Nattiv (Skin).

The latter was born in Israel the year the war broke out and grew up with stories about the war. Dealing with the

politics of the time was integral to the ultimate success that Israel had, but that was far from easy or straight forward, as is shown in the film.

Helen Mirren makes an astounding Golda Meir.

Her representation of the Prime Minister is uncanny in terms of movement. The make-up artists have done an extraordinary job with prosthetics, hair and more. The story unfolds through visions that Meir has while relaying her take on what happened to a commission of inquiry that was assembled in 1974. Mirren represents Meir as weary but determined and defiant.

Camille Cottin is painted as devoted and stoic as personal assistant Lou Kaddar, Meir’s rock.

Impressive too is Liev Schreiber as the calm and measured US Secretary of State. Rotem Keinan is a straight shooter (no pun intended) … all business as Zvi Zamir, the head of Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency.

I was intrigued by the representation of Moshe Dayan by Rami Heuberger as rattled, after he flew to inspect the extent of the initial impact of the war on Israeli fighters.

But this remains very much Helen Mirren’s film and she doesn’t put a foot wrong.

Tension-filled, Golda the movie requires concentration to follow … and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

It plays out through a series of meetings that the Prime Minister has and phone calls she took and made, rather than through the actual fighting that took place.

Underlying that is Meir’s personal travails.

Through it all, she is seen as dignified and determined.

A notable feature of the film and an effective device is the use of close ups and extreme close ups focused on Meir. As they are served up, they are presented as windows to her soul.

Director Nattiv has ensured that the intense pain, the scrutiny and the decision making of the times are writ large.

Rated PG, Golda scores a 7 out of 10.

For more of Alex First’s reviews, go to www.itellyouwhatithink.com

Heather Mitchell is mesmerising as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in RBG: Of Many One (photo by Prudence Upton)

GOLDA (PG) ALEX FIRST MOVIE REVIEW

Helen Mirren as Golda Meir in Golda