Ameer Jhingoor • Brad Sewitz • Craig Haycock • John Cohen • Justine Cameron • Peter Hersh
Ameer Jhingoor • Brad Sewitz • Craig Haycock • John Cohen • Justine Cameron • Peter Hersh OAM
ANNE-MARIE ELIAS AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Did you know that we have our very own superpower?
No, this does not mean that we are superheroes. We remain human. We do, however, need to learn how to use our emotional intelligence (EI).
EI has a positive impact on our overall health and wellbeing. If we can develop and subsequently use our EI, it can reduce stress and enhance our interactions with others.
Therefore, people with high EI are more likely to have effective interpersonal relationships because they have empathy, good communication skills and can resolve conflict constructively. They may also be open to change and show a strong sense of self-awareness.
Like any skill, we can improve our EI by learning strategies and practising them. These skills include:
• recognising and understanding your feelings;
• managing your emotions effectively;
• showing empathy towards others;
• showing care and concern in interpersonal relationships;
• coping with change; and
• dealing with setbacks and failures.
Unleashing your superpower
In order to read a situation more accurately we can do the following:
1. Use our emotional intelligence by tuning in to our feelings and getting a sense of others’ emotions.
2. Develop contextual awareness by learning to read body language. Do not, however, assume you know what someone else is thinking. We are not mind readers and if we are unsure about what someone else is thinking, don’t be afraid to ask them. For instance, a person may have their arms crossed and we
Acronyms
may assume they are defensive and have shut us out, but they may simply be feeling cold.
3. Use critical thinking. Stay objective by breaking things down and check the facts.
4. Engage your cognitive flexibility by being willing to see another person’s point of view. Be willing to try new ideas and toss out a rigid mindset that stops you moving forward.
5. Practice emotional regulation. Learn to stay cool even when tension is building. Don’t make decisions
when emotions are running high. Take some time out to be present and stay focused.
6. Adjust your behaviour by adapting your verbal and non-verbal communication to match the situation. Trust is built when people feel understood.
Ensure that you can unleash your superpower by having self-awareness. Think about your feelings and how they may influence your actions.
Some people find it difficult to describe what they are feeling. It is most important that you learn the words to enunciate exactly that. This will not only help you understand your emotions, but will enable you to communicate how you feel to others.
Be an active listener, which means being willing to listen to others, as well as talking to them.
Deep breathing and stress management techniques can help us stay calm in difficult circumstances.
The final say goes to David Caruso (retired US actor and producer): “Emotional intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence, it is not the triumph of heart over head,, it is the unique intersection of both.”
Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.
3. Six pack developers
4. Gateman's shout
5. Book before Jeremiah: Abbr.
6. Extensively
7. Overall, they treated Jews well a thousand years ago
One year ago, Hamas terrorists unleashed unimaginable horror on southern Israel, massacring more than 1,200 people and taking upwards of 250 hostages.
On this painful anniversary, Sydney Jewish Museum reflects upon the immense loss of life. A year on, people are still dying and racial hatred is on the rise.
Sydney Jewish Museum also recalls the messages of the Holocaust survivors that founded the museum, who for decades have urged people not to hate and to stand up for humanity, respect and tolerance.
Throughout October, the museum has been and continues to be a space dedicated to reflection and memorialisation.
Contribute to the memorial installation
Visitors are invited to contribute to a memorial of peace and hope in memory of the victims and in solidarity with all those affected. Inspired by the tradition of placing pebbles on graves to signify that the deceased have been visited and remembered, visitors can create a personalised pebble from clay and
Together, our collective work will memorialise those slaughtered on October 7 and in the subsequent violence in the Middle East, in the hope that one day there will be peace.
See Into the Heartless Light of Darkness
Visitors will be able to experience the museum’s exhibition by acclaimed photographic artist Emmanuel Santos, which captures the aftermath of the October 7 massacre. The photographs, taken during Santos' visit to Israel just 70 days after the massacre, document the profound and ongoing impacts of the tragedy.
Raw, intense, and not to be missed, the works reveals the immense pain and resilience of a nation grappling with the lasting effects of violence.
Many who have visited the exhibition have used the word “beautiful” to describe it – a word that seems paradoxical for an exhibition dealing with the aftermath of horrific violence.
Yet, there is beauty there, because Santos’ photographs speak to the core of something deep within us: our humanity.
The memorial is open until the end of October and the photographic exhibition is on until late 2024.
In December of 2023, photographic artist Emmanuel
travelled to Israel to document the profound and ongoing impacts of the October 7 massacre The result is a powerful visual narrative of a nation grappling with the lasting effects of violence
This exhibition of Santos’ works is a powerful memorial to all the lives lost It’s a space of quiet reflection, contemplation, and hope that one day, there will be peace
SYDNEY JEWISH MUSEUM
Emmanuel Santos, who is responsible for taking the photos in the exhibition Into the Heartless Light of Darkness (photo by Gavriel Maynard)
A visitor placing a pebble on the collective memorial for October 7, 2023 at Sydney Jewish Museum (photo courtesy Sydney Jewish Museum)
A photography exhibition by Emmanuel Santos
Santos
NOW OPEN AT SYDNEY JEWISH MUSEUM
ADAM KREUZER AUSTRALIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Following World War II, a new wave of Jews settled in Victoria as refugees. Many of these were Eastern European Jews who were Holocaust survivors and spoke Yiddish. My paternal grandparents were amongst them.
From Lodz, Poland, they survived the Holocaust, having lost their respective families at the hands of the Nazi Genocide of European Jewry during this period.
Suffering unimaginable loss, they lived with that pain and trauma for the rest of their lives. Yet, they were able to remain staunchly Jewish and raise their future family with strong Jewish values and traditions.
Melbourne is home to the largest population of Holocaust survivor families outside Israel. This is a result of the city's welcoming attitude toward Jewish refugees, when many survivors sought to rebuild their lives far from the devastation of Europe.
Post-war immigration policies in Australia, especially in the late 1940s and 1950s, enabled thousands of Jewish survivors to settle in Melbourne, where they established a vibrant community.
Today, the city remains a centre of Holocaust remembrance, education and Jewish culture, housing institutions like the Jewish Holocaust Centre, which serves as a beacon of memory and learning for future generations. The enduring presence of survivors in the city reflects the resilience of the Jewish community and its commitment to preserving the lessons of history.
Melbourne offered my grandparents a place of refuge, an opportunity to start over again and be free. They embraced Australia as their safe haven and were grateful for the way they were accepted amongst many cultures and religions.
My grandfather proudly employed people from a broad range of cultures and religions in his business. He was tolerant and understanding. Sadly, the Australia we live in today does not resemble the supportive and inclusive country that my grandparents were lucky enough to call home.
For many Jews, the October 7 attacks in Israel evoke painful memories of the Holocaust, particularly for Holocaust survivors who have witnessed both the horrors of Nazi persecution and the modern-day acts of terror. The massacre of innocent civilians and the targeting of Jews stirred deep fears and trauma.
It is this generation of Holocaust survivors who should be looked on as a source of inspiration and guidance to draw the emotional and psychological strength to keep moving forward as a unified Australian Jewish community. The legacy of their strength and endurance in the face of adversity was on proud display at the commemoration of the October 7 massacre.
Regardless of where one sits on the political spectrum, Jewish communities in Melbourne and Sydney proudly demonstrated their solidarity for the State of Israel on the first anniversary of
Jewish community unites to mourn and commemorate tragic events of October 7, 2023
the barbaric and murderous acts by Hamas on October 7th, 2023.
Prime Ministers come and go. The glue that binds us as Jews, regardless of political beliefs, was proudly on display on October 7, 2024. Traditional, Progressive and Orthodox Jews came together to hear the harrowing tales of those who were in Israel at the time of the terrorist attack, saying prayers and singing songs in remembrance at organised communal events in both cities.
The Age newspaper reported how “after a year of grief, anguish and deep introspection, many from Melbourne’s Jewish community gathered in a tightly guarded, converted warehouse in Moorabbin for a night of song, prayer, reflection and commemoration.”
The event, organised by Zionism Victoria and Habayit, drew a large crowd of about 8,000 people. It began with a lantern-lit procession, called the "Walk of Light," where more than 1,600 handmade lanterns were carried, each representing one of the victims.
This gathering offered a moment of unity and reflection for the community. Speeches, music and performances from local schools and synagogues added to the solemn yet hopeful atmosphere.
Community leaders, including Zionism Victoria president Yossi Goldfarb, expressed deep concern about the rise in antisemitism. Despite this, the event conveyed a powerful message of
resilience and solidarity with Israel during these challenging times. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and AttorneyGeneral Mark Dreyfus were present at the event, highlighting its importance. Various leaders spoke of the need for unity and the ongoing struggle for peace and security, not just for Israel, but for all who oppose violence and terrorism.
Make no mistake, the Australian Jewish community was deeply shaken by what occurred on that day a year ago and the subsequent conflicts that have broken out in the Middle East as a result. As Jews, we will never be the same again.
Antisemitic incidences in Australia have increased by several hundred per cent since that day. This is not an easy, comfortable time to be Jewish in Australia. We watch on with fear and dismay as our Holy Land is threatened by Islamic extremism like never before. Everyone has an opinion on the conflict.
Rather than inciting division, hatred and conflict, the Australian Jewish community should be proud of how they have worked tirelessly to positively influence the public narrative about where to from here, from a Jewish perspective.
The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) is a membership-based community organisation guided by Torah values. It is through this lens that we understand the caring, respectful and optimistic approach taken by the Australian Jewish community since the tragedy of October 7, 2023. Torah is the eternal source of
truth that provides a framework for how we live our lives as Jews. The Jewish values of tolerance and understanding are deeply rooted in the principles of chesed (kindness), tikkun olam (repairing the world) and b’tzelem Elohim (the belief that all humans are created in the image of God).
These values call for respect for the dignity of every individual, regardless of their background and encourage us to embrace differences with an open heart. Jewish tradition teaches that by fostering empathy, practising kindness and seeking to understand others, we contribute to a more just and compassionate world, in which peace and harmony can flourish.
This is the blueprint for how the Australian Jewish community moves forward. We embrace our Jewish values, guided by Torah, as the shining example for how we collaborate with other faiths and communities that are willing to connect with us in a productive and meaningful way.
October 7, 2023 was another pivotal and tragic event in our long and storied history, but we will continue to do what we do best as Jews – educate, understand and embrace a more inclusive, multicultural Australia for future generations.
Adam Kreuzer is a board member and antisemitism education and strategies officer with the AJA. He can be contacted at adamkreuzer@gmail.com
Up to 10,000 people attended the Illuminate October commemoration of October 7, 2023 in Moorabbin, in Melbourne’s southeast (photo by Peter Haskin, courtesy Zionism Victoria)
Earlier this month, JCA, in collaboration with JewishCare, Jewish House, the Rabbinical Council of NSW, AUJS NSW and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, introduced the Never Alone mental health support project. Following the events of October 7th, community members have been grappling with heightened anxiety and stress due to the ongoing situation in Israel and the rise of antisemitism locally and globally.
Never Alone and everyone involved are dedicated to providing compassionate, culturally sensitive resources and trained professionals who understand the unique challenges faced by community members, creating a safe space for individuals to share their feelings and concerns, facilitating access to counselling, support groups
New mental health support initiative
someone is seeking help, Jewish House is available 24/7. We must emerge
We have various services, including Jewish House and JewishCare, as well as
crucial to recognise that a wealth of support services exists for mental health and related stress. Everyone is welcome to access these resources through JewishCare, regardless of background or circumstances – be it as a student, a corporate professional, or someone feeling socially isolated.”
AUJS NSW co-president Dani Tischmann’s life changed on October 7th. “The atmosphere on campus shifted significantly, with palpable tension and confrontational chants supporting the Intifada. In lecture halls, some students openly declared their support for Hamas and encouraged others to attend rallies. After this, I decided to rejoin AUJS as the New South Wales co-president, knowing the coming year would be challenging for Jewish students.”“We've just commemorated the one-year anniversary of October 7 and we've also reflected on 12 months of incredible stress, tension and emotional duress for the community as a
CONSIDERED OPINION
SARAH PACHTER COURTESY: AISH.COM
Ofri’s profound experience of loss, grief and trauma is helping her to inspire others to find strength in adversity.
On October 7, 2023 Ofri Reiner was excited to enjoy her last day of vacation from the army. “Someone I had a crush on had asked me to go to the Nova festival. I immediately agreed.”
Ofri went with four of her friends, Timor, Nastia, Aviad and Yael. Together they danced the night away. Amidst sweating and smiling, rockets began infiltrating the area at 6:29 am.
“To me, rockets are like peanuts, they come, they go and I was not really worried,” Ofri said in an Aish.com interview.
Timor began to panic and nudged everyone to get into the car. “When 3,000 people are all heading to their car,” Ofri explained, “it is complete chaos.”
They managed to get into the car and start driving. They approached a T intersection, which only gave two choices: north or south. They chose north, only to come face to face with Hamas terrorists moments later. Hamas was shooting bullets in every direction.
The accident that saved their lives Aviad, who was driving, made a U-turn and hit a car in the process.
Ofri found her phone, called her father and asked him to help guide them to safety by using the GPS location.
Driving south, Ofri and her friends arrived at the gate of a kibbutz hoping to enter to find safety. There was a civilian in front of the gate.
“We pulled up next to him and said, ‘Are you okay? Can we help you?’ He pointed at us and said, ‘Do you remember the car accident driving north? That was me! We need to exchange details.’”
Ofri and her friends were shocked! The girls raised their voices, “Really?! At a time like this, you are asking to exchange details?”
Ofri explained, “Aviad is a sweetheart and exchanged details to placate him.”
It took a while to exchange information and by the time they finished, another car came out of the gate and warned them not to enter the area – there were terrorists inside.
The kibbutz they had wanted to enter was Kibbutz Beeri where 101 civilians were murdered.
“This was nothing short of a miracle,” Ofri said.
Running for our lives
With the south and north blocked, the group had no option but to return to the parking lot.
There was an anxious silence in the car when Ofri grabbed Nastia’s hand and said, “I have to go to the bathroom, come with me!”
Ofri was looking for a private area to relieve herself when terrorists started shooting at her.
Ofri and Nastia managed to swiftly get back into the car. The group attempted to escape by driving into the potato field, but after three bumps, the car got stuck.
Everyone got out and started running for their lives.
At the festival, Ofri had twisted her ankle. Every step was incredibly painful, but she understood that if she fell between the cracks she would die.
My post October 7 trauma: interview with Nova survivor Ofri Reiner
“No one could have ever prepared me for the fear of death. I was like a deer running from a lion. I cannot explain the feeling.”
One thousand people were running through the potato field not knowing if they were getting closer or further away from the lurking danger.
They ran 11 miles in the scorching sun for four hours. “After a full night of dancing and drinking my lips were so cracked that it felt like a microwave was on my mouth.”
Oranges
At one point they came to an orange field. Although the oranges were green, Ofri described it as the best orange she ever tasted in her life.
She started to call out, “Tapuzim! Oranges!” Throngs of people ran to find more oranges to eat.
For Ofri, oranges have become a symbol of hope. She recalled that her great grandfather walked the Auschwitz death march. He used to hide small parcels of bread in his clothing and at night he shared it with everyone.
“I'm not saying Nova and the Holocaust are the same, but I am proud that in such inhumane conditions, I had the same core values as my great grandfather and I was happy to share my oranges and to tell everyone about them.”
The large contingent of people arrived at Kibbutz Patish, where they were greeted by kibbutz members with huge pots from their Shabbat meal. They handed out plates of food and offered any assistance that they needed.
“They arranged for buses to bring us to Beer Sheva to safety. This is how I survived. I'm not sure I would have made it if I was not with my friends.”
Ofri’s stepbrother was murdered Ofri survived, but her stepbrother Shalev, an IDF soldier, was murdered.
“We were both fighting for our lives at the same time.” He and his unit rescued Kibbutz Nirim. No terrorist was able to enter Kibbutz Nirim because of him. He lost his life saving others.
“Shalev was always getting into trouble as a young kid. He had charisma that could fill up an entire room. He was a brave soldier who loved this country so much. Every time he sang Hatikvah, he would cry.”
Recovery
“The presence of death that lingered in my room was circling around me for
so long. When death is so close to you, it changes your whole lens. I suddenly felt like I knew nothing about myself and that all my core beliefs were deconstructed.”
Ofri managed to step towards something called post traumatic growth.
“My therapist introduced me to this phrase and changed my prism. I learned that I have the capacity to take my pain and trauma and transform it into something good. I can become greater and stronger than I was before.”
Ofri began drawing as a form of therapy and simultaneously began a speaking tour throughout the US. Both these elements have helped heal her.
She saw that so many Jews in the diaspora were losing hope and felt so removed from Israel. Her speaking tour has brought hope to Jews around the world.
Ofri explains that after a traumatic event there is a huge range of how your body or mind will react towards the trauma. Most people will experience natural recovery with minimum therapy. Many people experience post-traumatic stress disorder. But 65 per cent of people respond with post traumatic growth.
“Post traumatic growth is a response that the Jewish people are built upon. What comforts me is that post traumatic growth is part of our nation's journey for so long. Our country was built over the ashes of the Holocaust.”
Ofri explained the four stages of post traumatic growth.
1. Shattering of core beliefs
When Ofri was 14 years old, she participated in an organisation called Seeds of Peace. Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians and Jordanians were all invited to go to summer camp together to make peace. “I thought my mission in life was to bring peace to the Middle East. I was very idealistic.”
After October 7th, Ofri came back home and saw that the group chat with her “friends” from Seeds of Peace was full of memes and jokes about October 7th. “They completely accused me and ignored everything that I felt.”
After October 7th, Ofri lost her belief in peace. She now believes that as a nation the priority is to help secure Israel and to have compassion for fellow Jews.
2. Cognitive processing
“There is a stage where intrusive thoughts keep resurfacing.” Ofri explains that the mind repeats the same event over and over, with no control. Your job is to go back
to the memory and recharge them with a new meaning. Then, your mind moves from intrusive thoughts to deliberative thoughts. One example of an intrusive thought Ofri experienced was, Why him and not me? This survivor's guilt was pushing Ofri down. Over time she managed to deconstruct it by speaking to her stepmother and other Nova survivors. Instead of fighting negative thoughts, she allowed them to surface and then float away on their own, much like a cloud passing by at its own pace.
3. Rebuilding
Ofri admitted that the pain can be so large that you can’t see beyond it, but what helped Ofri rebuild was meeting with others, because it helped her step out of her own pain and create a new perspective.
She works towards making constant “active” choices. Instead of lying in bed all day in depression or anxiety, she gets up and makes an active choice. “The moment you let the pain soak in and drown you it's harder and harder to get up. You have to get up and do. It can be baking, running or meditating. It's just you trying to signal to your own brain that you’re not helpless and you’re not inactive.”
4. Meaning making Holocaust survivor Dr Victor Frankl posits that you are the one in charge of creating the meaning in your life. Ofri has found a way to make meaning by sharing her story and practical tools of resilience with audiences around the US. “In the States, I am managing to turn my pain into something beautiful.”
Reaching the audience
Ofri isn’t a politician; she speaks to audiences as a young Israeli who loves to dance. This enables her to open up conversation with so many people who otherwise would not hear Israel’s side.
“I meet with a lot of college students throughout the US. They bring their nonJewish friends to the room. Many of them shared that after my talk they spent three hours talking about Israel from a place of curiosity, not hatred. There are many Jews and non-Jews standing on the fence. They don’t want to advocate or take a side because they are either afraid to or do not know enough. Those are the people we can approach with compassion and pain.”
Ofri believes that pain is something many people try to push away and ignore. “They want to lead a happy life and that means to avoid suffering. But suffering is something that is inseparable from life itself. After the darkest of moments, there is the biggest light. The deeper I feel the sadness, the bigger the joy and thankfulness that comes after. It's like waves in the ocean – every emotion comes and goes. It depends on which wave you are in.”
After October 7th, Ofri ironically feels happier. Although she is not sure she fully believes in God, she finds herself thanking Him for more time on earth. “Life looks so much more beautiful to me now. I got a gift, a new lease on life and I want to take advantage of it. I have so many times that I’m in awe of the beauty of landscapes and the beauty of the people I meet. I’m experiencing expansion instead of depression.”
UIA will host Ayelet Nahmias Verbin, chairperson of the Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT) at its AGM and 2025 Campaign launch event on Monday, 11th November.
As a trained lawyer, Ayelet specialised in corporate law and is considered an expert in corporate governance. Having started her career as an assistant in the Prime Minister's office under the leadership of the late Yitzhak Rabin, Ayelet also cut her teeth in the private sector as the first woman in the positions of chairperson of the Israel Export Institute and vice president of Israel’s Manufacturers’ Association.
For the past four years, Ayelet has been chairperson of The Fund for Victims of Terror, which is the first responder for families impacted by acts of terror and violence. The FVOT provides grants to victims within 48 hours. As of July 2024, 7,987 immediate grants and 1,265 longterm grants have been distributed to victims of October 7.
Special guest at AGM and Campaign launch event
worldwide for the Victims of Terror Fund has come from the support of Australian donors.
However, as the situation in the north of the country continues to escalate, thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate from their homes.
As a result, the focus of UIA-support efforts has had to shift to assist those in need through core projects such as Youth Futures, Amigour and Aliyah and Absorption. This includes support for immigrants that have recently made Aliyah and have been evacuated from absorption centres. With the help of UIA, these Olim are being provided with housing, hot meals, security measures and structured Hebrew classes.
conflict-affected regions near the Gaza and Lebanon borders, to help about 1,600 vulnerable children and families. Additionally, essential supplies and food baskets are being provided to residents of Amigour sheltered housing for senior citizens who are unable to leave their homes due to the current situation, especially in high-risk areas in the north and south of the country.
UIA-supported projects like Youth Futures, Amigour and Aliyah and Absorption have been established for decades and are ideally structured to respond to the unprecedented needs now apparent in Israel.
Upwards of 60 per cent of the total funds collected by Keren Hayesod-UIA
The grant is two-pronged, helping victims with immediate needs, such as accommodation, food, clothing, funeral expenses and emotional and psychological support. The fund also helps with long-term needs, such as ongoing psychological support, extensive rehabilitation programs and resilience-building camps for children and teenagers. These long-term needs will be the focus of UIA support over the next 12 months.
The Youth Futures program provides vulnerable children and their families with community-based interventions via mentorship. This initiative swiftly responded to the current crises by implementing an emergency response plan for maintaining contact with families, providing emotional therapy, distributing computers for remote learning and offering financial grants.
As the war continues, the project is adjusting its strategic plan to focus on expanding its mentorship support in
The impact of these projects on the ground and the outcomes of Australian support on beneficiaries in Israel will be reported on at the upcoming AGM and Campaign launch events. Preliminary announcements will also be made about the 2025 Campaign events.
To register for UIA’s AGM and 2025 Campaign launch event, where Ayelet Nahmias Verbin will speak, and for more information, see https://uiaaustralia.org. au/upcoming-events
How many common words of 6 or more letters can you spell using the letters in the hive? Every answer must use the centre letter at least once. Letters may be reused in a word. At least one word will use all 7 letters and have a direct Jewish connection.
Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. Score 1 point for each answer and 3 points for a Jewish-related word that uses all 7 letters.
Rating: 13 = Good; 19 = Excellent; 25 = Genius
Ayelet Nahmias Verbin
CONSIDERED OPINION
BY NOMI KALTMANN COURTESY: THE JEWISH INDEPENDENT
Understanding Hebrew allows me to feel closer to the unfiltered experience of Israelis.
When I was 16 years old, I won the Australian Chidon Hatanach, the International Bible Quiz. It’s a competition that has acquired legendary status in Israel and is televised on Yom Ha’atzmaut each year. As one of three Australian representatives, I got to spend two weeks in Israel with 60 other nerdy kids from around the world, who like me, loved studying Torah and were in Israel for the final round of the Bible competition.
I spent months studying roughly half the Bible (approximately 450 chapters) and ended up finishing tenth in the world in the final competition. However, in hindsight, what stuck with me most about the trip was how it shaped my love of the Hebrew language.
Growing up in Australia, with two Australian Jewish parents, we did not speak Hebrew at home. Sure, when I was five years old, I learned to read Hebrew and I knew all the prayers, but I couldn’t understand what I was reading and I did not speak the language.
For me and most kids at school, any Hebrew lessons we had, which were at least three or four times a week, were the worst. They felt more like a punishment than a privilege. Hebrew lessons were full of difficult grammar, confusing concepts of feminine and masculine words, and so many tests, where it seemed getting the spelling right was nearly impossible.
I’ve never been more grateful to know Hebrew
However, as a 16-year-old Bible nerd, I found out that there were children from other countries who were not only learning Hebrew at their schools, but could perfectly communicate in the language I so detested. Like me, their parents were not Israeli, but they understood that speaking and understanding Hebrew was the key to being part of the new Jewish future.
When I returned home, I decided that I had made a huge mistake. Hearing and seeing other children my age speaking Hebrew fluently helped me to understand that without it I would always have trouble understanding the differences between Jews living outside Israel and those in Israel.
Without Hebrew, I couldn’t understand the announcements on the bus, I couldn’t listen in to the chitchat of everyday people in cafes, I couldn’t read Israeli newspapers and I wouldn’t be able to properly keep up with Israeli culture.
Until you speak Hebrew, it’s very hard to explain what phrases like achla (awesome), ani meta alayich (I adore you), chaval al hazman (a waste of time), or even kapara alecha (sweetheart) mean. It’s a way of communicating with Israelis in a way they understand, that shows a deep understanding of their way of life and their idioms.
After seeing what I was missing out on by not speaking Hebrew, I knew that I wanted to be able to listen to Israelis and understand their words. I wanted to be able to read any Israeli newspaper
and watch Israeli TV shows without even realising it was in another language. So, I spent thousands of hours learning and conquering Hebrew and my Year 10 teacher Morah Debbie was thrilled with my newfound determination and commitment to excellence. Eventually I completed Year 12 Hebrew and it was one of my top subjects.
Since October 7, 2023 I’ve never been more grateful for 16-year-old Nomi’s decision to learn and become accomplished in Hebrew. Since the war began, I’ve been attached to the news. While I do read English newspapers, my feed is filled with Hebrew news and podcasts that can provide me with upto-the-minute updates.
I’ve learnt a full repertoire of words that I never thought I would need to know in modern Hebrew, such as hostage or rocket. More concerningly, reflecting the current predicament that many Israelis are in, I am also familiar with the words for unmanned aerial vehicle and hostage deal.
Listening to daily Hebrew podcasts has helped me to understand the war from Israel’s perspective. I’ve read and heard things in Israeli newspapers that have not filtered their way into English. On daily Hebrew news podcasts, I hear from the children and parents of hostages in their mother tongue – their longing and their fears, their tears and their worries.
I follow Israeli peace accounts, those who demand a ceasefire and relentlessly criticise Bibi and his government with a harshness that does not often make
its way into translation. I read the comments on articles in Hebrew and hear the passion and the longing of so many regular people in Israel, who want a change to the constant cycle of war.
In Hebrew, I hear the passion of those who demand that things can be done differently at a time when violence seems to continue incessantly. I read everything, from the Left and Right, trying to make sense of this complex war. When I read or watch TV in Hebrew, the news hits me differently. It’s raw; it’s unfiltered. It’s in the language of the people that are living through one of the country’s longest wars. In Hebrew, it’s in the voices of those that are closest to the fire. I’m here, in Melbourne, but with some of my siblings living in Israel and so many friends there, I want to understand what they are living through.
Hearing and understanding Hebrew makes me feel that I am part of the Jewish story in a way that I could never feel in English. It helps me to understand the nuanced arguments of those I agree and disagree with, without the sanitisation and interpretation of translation.
Reading and listening to news in Hebrew helps me feel the raw unfiltered pain of so many in Israel. But more than that, it makes me feel, despite my distance, closer than I could have ever imagined.
For those seeking conversion to Orthodox Judaism, the Beth Din, Sydney’s Rabbinic court, holds the key. As the final authority in determining eligibility for conversion, the Beth din plays a pivotal role in this spiritual journey.
In October 2023, the Sydney Academy of Jewish Education (SAJE) was established to streamline the process. It operates under the auspices of the Beth Din and creates a bridge between candidates and the Rabbis guiding their conversion.
At the helm of this transformation is Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, senior judge of the Beth Din and a pillar of the Jewish community. Rabbi Ulman, revered for his knowledge and wisdom, wears many hats, with his role in overseeing conversions being one of the most significant.
His leadership, along with that of his fellow rabbis, ensures that each candidate’s journey through conversion is carefully guided.
SAJE aims to create a more approachable pathway for students, demystifying the process of interacting with the Beth din. Through a structured curriculum, SAJE equips candidates with the knowledge required for conversion,
The Beth Din’s role in streamlining Orthodox Jewish conversion
while also facilitating regular meetings with the Beth Din.
Rabbi Ulman’s involvement has been instrumental in shaping SAJE into what it is today.
His input ensures that every conversion is conducted with the utmost integrity, recognised by Orthodox communities worldwide.
A new era for Jewish conversion
In the past, the path to conversion was perceived by many as a long, arduous and often lonely process. SAJE seeks to alleviate that. The program was developed after community leader Harry Triguboff AO voiced concerns that the traditional conversion process was frequently daunting.
Always welcoming ways to improve the aesthetic nature of the process, the Beth din partnered with Triguboff to create a more structured and supportive approach.
The result was SAJE’s 12-month program, based on weekly classes in Bondi and online, designed to build not only knowledge, but also a sense of community for those seeking conversion.
Since its inception, SAJE has introduced nearly 100 candidates to the conversion process.
This strong interest serves to highlight the need for a supportive, communitydriven program, which allows candidates to connect with others on the same journey.
The conversion process Jewish conversion involves a deep commitment to learning and living,
according to Jewish law. Through SAJE, candidates follow a curriculum that covers essential aspects of Jewish life, including Shabbat observance, keeping kosher and regular synagogue attendance.
The Beth din, meanwhile, checks in every three months to assess each student’s progress, evaluating their knowledge and the extent to which they have integrated Jewish practices into their daily lives.
Rabbi Ulman and his fellow judges monitor not only the candidates’ intellectual understanding, but also their practical observance of Judaism, ensuring that each is fully prepared to embrace an Orthodox Jewish life.
For those considering conversion or knowing someone who is, SAJE provides an approachable and supportive environment.
It combines tradition, halachic integrity and knowledge with community support, and a feeling of belonging.
For enquiries, email candice@saje.org. au or go to the website https://saje.org.au
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, senior judge of the Beth Din
EDUCATION FEATURE
Mount Sinai College Early Learning Centre students
One year on – under new leadership
As Mount Sinai College celebrated the one-year anniversary of its principal Noelene Bellingham, she reflects on her journey so far. The transition into her role has been remarkably smooth thanks to the unwavering support of the College Board and the dedicated staff. This collaborative environment has been pivotal in ensuring her successful integration and the positive changes witnessed.
Ms Bellingham has articulated a clear and inspiring vision for Mount Sinai College. Her commitment to academic excellence and student wellbeing is evident in every aspect of her leadership. “We aim to offer support across the spectrum of learners to empower our students to reach their full potential academically, morally and personally.
Through rigorous academic programs, enriched by Jewish teachings and traditions, and teaching our Six Kinds of Best, we are seeking to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and ethical foundation needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world,” Ms Bellingham said.
In preparing students for the future, she emphasises cultivating critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills. She believes that by encouraging exploration, students will discover and pursue their passions with confidence and purpose. Technology and innovation are at the forefront of her educational strategy.
With the expertise of its IT team and the school's designation as an Apple
Distinguished School, she leverages technology to enhance teaching and learning experiences. “Our teachers are highly trained in technology and are always seeking new and innovative ways to enhance learning,” she said. This forward-thinking approach ensures that Mount Sinai students are prepared for jobs yet to be invented.
Addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the College, she acknowledges the impact of the cost of living on families.
She is committed to providing highquality education cost-effectively, keeping fee increases to a minimum and making the school accessible to a broader demographic.
Reflecting on her first year, she highlights the school concert at the end of 2023, which highlighted the talent of students and teachers, as a standout moment. The daily display of community spirit and the involvement of parents and teachers in bringing Jewish culture to life are also among her most cherished experiences.
Outside her role as principal, Ms Belingham has a diverse range of interests and hobbies, which contribute to her dynamic leadership style. Her willingness to explore new opportunities and encourage others to do the same defines her as a leader passionate about helping students and teachers find and pursue their passions.
To learn more about Mount Sinai and to book a tour, go to www.mountsinai.nsw. edu.au
Early learning enriching lives
Mount Sinai College’s early learning centres (ELCs) in Kingsford and Maroubra are deeply committed to nurturing hearts and minds, setting youngsters on a path of lifelong learning and growth.
The ELCs cater to those aged two to five. They are places where young children can grow, thrive and lay the foundation for future success. With a focus on literacy, numeracy and playbased learning, the ELCs’ highly qualified educators are passionate about early childhood development and fostering a love of learning.
Mount Sinai College understands the importance of getting children ready for school, not just academically, but also in terms of emotional and social development. Its educators create a warm and supportive environment where children feel safe to explore, express themselves and build meaningful connections with peers and teachers.
The Kingsford campus caters to twoto three-year-old children. With a strong connection to the school’s main campus, each week the children participate in a variety of enriching activities, led by experienced educators. These include lessons by the school’s sports coach, early childhood Hebrew and music, as well as visits by the College rabbi that help enrich the educational experience. Further, there are celebrations of Jewish festivals, challah bakes and Shabbat celebrations that provide valuable insights and knowledge, highlighting
Jewish traditions and values. After their experience at the Kingsford campus, children move to the ELC Maroubra campus, which caters to children aged three to five.
There, the comprehensive educational program continues with specialised music, Hebrew and sports lessons that make for a seamless transition into kindergarten and later years.
Integration with primary school teachers ensures continuity of care
and fosters a sense of community and belonging from the early years through primary school. The ELCs are an integral component of the Mount Sinai College experience.
Their nurturing environment, experienced educators and comprehensive educational program lay a vital foundation for children to cultivate friendships, embrace routines, foster independence and develop emotional resilience. These skills not
only prepare children for a smooth transition to MSC primary school but also equip them for success in their ongoing educational journey.
For more information and to book a tour of the ELC Kingsford or Maroubra campuses, please contact enrolments director Rachel Schwartz at rschwartz@ mountsinai.nsw.edu.au. Limited spots are available, so register now.
MOUNT SINAI COLLEGE
MOUNT SINAI COLLEGE
Mount Sinai College principal Noelene Bellingham with students
Mount Sinai College students build a strong foundation to be valuable contributors to an enriched society
Masada’s bus service: a game-changer for the east
Masada College stands at the forefront of an exciting transformation, welcoming an increasing number of families from the East, thanks in large part to its extended, free school bus service from Maroubra and Bondi Junction. This surge in enrolments is not solely about transportation. It is the result of the school’s proactive outreach to a wider audience within the Jewish community, showcasing the exceptional and affordable education it provides.
Affordability in Jewish education is an urgent concern for many families, as reflected in the rising enrolment of Jewish students in public schools throughout Sydney in recent years.
In response, Masada College has not only expanded its bus service to Maroubra and Bondi Junction, but has implemented measures to alleviate financial pressures. This enables families to access an outstanding Jewish education at a critical time when our community's cohesion and identity are more important than ever.
Masada College prides itself on fostering an environment of diversity and unity. Its inclusive approach ensures a warm welcome to students from across Jewish identities and cultures, enriching the school community. This diversity is not merely acknowledged; it is celebrated,
allowing every child to thrive and feel at home. Masada College’s commitment to inclusivity is deeply woven into the fabric of the school, enabling families to express their authentic selves in a safe and supportive environment. Jewish core values lie at the heart of
the school’s ethos. Masada College integrates these principles into its daily activities, shaping its students into wellrounded individuals with a strong ethical foundation. Masada’s dynamic Jewish Life department offers a wealth of formal and experiential learning opportunities,
encouraging students to explore their heritage, deepen their understanding of contemporary Judaism, develop connections with the land of Israel and celebrate their Jewish identities. This comprehensive approach fosters a profound sense of community and pride in being Jewish.
Choosing Masada College means joining a community that values diversity, inclusivity and educational excellence. It is a place where Jewish children from varied backgrounds come together to grow, learn and thrive, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and values needed to become future changemakers.
Masada College passionately believes that a Jewish education should be accessible to all families. It strives to provide financial support and flexible options to ensure that every Jewish child has the opportunity to receive an enriching Jewish education. As the school continues to welcome new families into its extended community, it remains dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can succeed, both academically and personally, supported by a strong sense of Jewish pride.
For more information go to: https:// masada.nsw.edu.au email enrolments@staff.masada.nsw. edu.au or call 9449-3744.
MASADA COLLEGE
From left: Year 5 Masada College students Karah, Emily, Ella, Adam and Toby
Ancient wisdom, modern learning
KESSER TORAH COLLEGE
Kesser Torah College is using immersive technology to bring the Torah to life.
As a Torah school, KTC teaches its students to see everything that G-d has created as a tool to be able to serve Him better and become finer people.
That includes the use of technology.
To that end, the College is investing in tech and innovation to enhance the learning experience for teachers and students.
"It's incumbent upon us to make use of the most modern means and methods to deliver our ancient and undiluted heritage in a way that speaks to the children,” school principal Rabbi Yaacov Chaiton said.
“When managed carefully and responsibly as a means towards an end and in an age-appropriate manner, advancement in tech and innovation can be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat.
“As parents and educators, we have a responsibility to teach our children how to have a healthy relationship with technology," Rabbi Chaiton said.
KTC has rolled out a virtual reality program, which takes students on a fully immersive tour of the Beis Hamikdash.
Using Mikdash VR gaming technology, students from K-12 learn about the First
and Second Temple by exploring rooms and collecting tokens along the way.
The initiative follows a staff development day, when "AI for teachers" was a hot topic.
They were informed of available AI programs and explored which would be most useful in increasing staff efficiency and elevating curriculum.
Importantly, KTC believes the distraction and risk of smartphones does not serve to facilitate students’ growth, nor does it nurture their social interactions.
While it may be big news for some schools to finally see the benefit in banning them, KTC has been ahead of the curve in forecasting that risk.
The College has never allowed students to have them on campus (including strongly discouraging or delaying their use at home).
This approach has been heavily supported by KTC parents, who introduced the R.E.S.T. (Ready and Empowered to Stall Technology) program two years ago.
Its intent is to delay the uptake of smartphones and help parents navigate technology within their children’s social cohort.
KTC is pleased that other schools are adopting the phone-ban policy and are addressing the risks of technology and social media.
Year 7 student Liba Joseph experiencing the virtual reality program at Kesser Torah College
A Jewish journey well worth taking
BJE
From celebrating the richness of Jewish festivals to engaging in vibrant educational programs, BJE’s Jewish journey allows students to explore and express pride in their Jewish identity, forge Jewish friendships and develop the strengths of character that will make a difference not only in their own lives, but also in those around them.
BJE’s programs have been designed to nurture Jewish identity through education and engagement aimed at students attending non-Jewish schools. Classes are held in 56 schools every week and include scripture (during school), Hebrew and Jewish studies.
BJE students explore and learn about a range of engaging and relevant topics and identify the importance of tradition and Hebrew in preserving Judaism. This is achieved through discussions about some of the unique practices that have been passed down within their own families and how these traditions continue to enrich their lives by creating a sense of connection and community. Classes are held in 56 schools every week and include SRE (during school), Hebrew and Jewish studies.
BJE’s new learning hubs are designed as welcoming, dynamic workspaces outside a classroom setting. The hubs focus on creating a sense of community while offering a range of programs, from informal education to cultural events. They serve as a focal point, fostering connections, developing friendships and promoting Jewish learning. BJE’s Youth Engagement team, ShinShinim (youth leaders from Israel) and experienced educators
bring Jewish culture alive with experiential opportunities around Jewish festivals, Hebrew, traditions and collective values. The first BJE hub is running in Bondi Junction and BJE is working to launch more hubs in Sydney’s southeastern suburbs and the north in 2025.
BJE’s Youth Engagement team plays a significant role in creating and facilitating experiences and social networking in all BJE’s Jewish journey programs. The team develops and coordinates a variety of educational programs in primary and high schools, in the BJE hubs, at Shabbatons and camps. The team is integral to the Year 10 Nesiah Israel program. Due to current circumstances, its Nesiah Israel program will not be going ahead this year.
Following the success of BJE’s Year 10 camp in October,to further connect and engage its students, Camp Beseder will be held in December. It is open to all year 10 students (including those that were not going to Israel). BJE’s Shinshinim will be bring a vibrant Israeli flavour to the camp. To find out more, please contact Ronen@bje.nsw.edu.au
This year, BJE welcomed John Hamey as CEO to further drive BJE’s education engagement and connection. Mr Hamey comes with a wealth of experience, having been principal at Moriah College for seven years.
BJE is grateful to the many families that have partnered with it to provide a meaningful and inspiring Jewish journey for their children from year K to 12. BJE does not underestimate the privilege of walking this journey with parents and hopes that those who have not experienced its programs will enrol in 2025.
Go to http://bje.org.au/enrol/ or email info@bje.nsw.edu.au
BJE's Jewish Journey offers engaging educational programs and enriching experiences for Year K-12 students at non-Jewish schools, including: Scripture (SRE) Jewish Studies Hebrew lessons The BJE Hub Social Events Year 10 Nesiah Israel Program
From back to front, BJE program participants Eli Judelman, Sammy Judelman, Shelley Gershberg, Maya Hollender, Noam Marouani and Bella Poddebsky
DAVID SOLOMON, CEO AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have achieved a significant breakthrough in the early detection of Parkinson's disease, potentially paving the way for earlier treatment and, possibly, even prevention of this debilitating condition.
Global impact of Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease affects approximately 8.5 million people globally. It is characterised by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Current diagnostic methods rely heavily on observing clinical symptoms, which typically manifest only after substantial neuronal damage has occurred.
Research overview
The study was piloted by researchers from the Faculty of Life Sciences, the Sagol School of Neuroscience and the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at TAU. Led by Professor Uri Ashery and PhD candidate Ofir Sade, together with another 15 experts from various TAU faculties, the multidisciplinary team utilised super-resolution microscopy combined with advanced computational analysis. This approach allowed for precise cellular level mapping of the molecules and structure of protein aggregates associated with
New hope for early detection of Parkinson's disease
area of the brain are already dead. Consequently, available treatments are quite limited in their effect and usually address only motor problems.
In this study, we began to develop a research tool to enable diagnosis of Parkinson's at a much earlier stage, when it is still treatable and deterioration can be prevented."
Ofir Sade said that protein aggregation in Parkinson’s starts years before symptoms appear. “Our method allows us to detect these aggregates in individuals as young as 30 or 40, offering a window of opportunity for preventive interventions that may slow down or halt the progression of the disease." he said.
years before the first motor symptoms appear."
Future applications for other neurodegenerative diseases
With ongoing clinical trials testing new drugs aimed at halting the progression of Parkinson's pathology, the researchers are optimistic about the prospects for preventive treatments in the near future.
Looking ahead, Professor Ashery emphasised the broader implications of their research: "Our ultimate goal is to develop tools for early diagnosis that can also be applied to other neurodegenerative disorders characterised by protein aggregation in neurons, including Alzheimer's.
Parkinson's disease. The team also collaborated with medical professionals from Tel Aviv’s Ichilov, Sheba, and Meir Medical Centers, as well as researchers in Germany and the USA.
Early diagnosis and intervention
Professor Ashery said: "Today, diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is based mainly on clinical symptoms, alongside relevant questionnaires. However, these symptoms usually appear at a relatively advanced stage of the disease, when between 50 per cent and 80 per cent of the dopaminergic neurons in the specific
Next steps
Building on their initial success, the researchers plan to expand their research with support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
"We aim to develop a machine learning algorithm that can correlate our microscopic findings with motor and cognitive assessments," said Ofir Sade. "This approach could potentially predict disease progression and guide personalised treatment plans by enabling the detection of initial signs of Parkinson's at the cellular level up to 20
The gift of a lifetime.
The things we care about don’t stop when we do. What will be your legacy?
From research to application
The collaboration between academia and medical centres remains pivotal in transforming early detection into effective clinical practice. This is an approach where Tel Aviv University excels. Innovation of this kind not only holds promise for improving patient outcomes and improving the quality of life for millions of people worldwide, but also underpins Tel Aviv University's leadership in advancing neurological research on a global scale.
Now, more than ever, the future of our people in Israel is paramount. A bequest - a promise today for Israel’s tomorrow - is one of the most inspiring gifts you can give. Join TAU’s global family of supporters who, beyond their lifetime, have committed to ensure Israel’s future by supporting its greatest natural resourceits people. The education of future generations at TAU will have an enduring and global impact. Making a gift in your will to Tel Aviv University will ensure your legacy lives on with Israel, forever.
From left, the Tel Aviv University research team, Professor Uri Ashery and PhD candidate Ofir Sade (photo courtesy Tel Aviv University)
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
M. WEINBERG TECHNION AUSTRALIA
Several months ago, paratroopers in the IDF 55th Brigade wrote a letter to their commander declaring their willingness to carry the fight forward against Hamas “until victory”, even if that means serving in the Army Reserves for many more months.
“How can we go home to our families before we create the conditions whereby Israeli residents of the Gaza Envelope towns can go home to their towns and families?” They asked for the “honour” of continuing the battle. Gutsy patriotism and positivity oozes from every paragraph of the letter.
The young Israeli men who signed the letter with their full names and military identification numbers are faithful members of their nation, devoted to Israel’s future and confident in Israel’s ability to overcome all adversity.
Their buoyant and brave sentiments are at one with the resilience demonstrated by broad segments of the Israeli public, from muscular mothers holding down the home front to the hundreds of thousands of Israelis (and Diaspora Jews) who are volunteering in myriad ways to make up labour shortfalls in fields, factories and hospitals.
A public opinion poll of Israel’s younger generation conducted earlier this year makes it clear that Israel is blessed with the most believing youth,
Israel’s future is guaranteed by gutsy youth
a generation of future leaders that are upbeat and keen enough to drive Israel towards every success, despite all the demanding challenges ahead.
Fifty-nine percent believe that Israel is strong and will win all current wars and has a great future. Forty-nine percent say they are mobilised to the military or are volunteering in civilian frameworks and are “devoted” to the State of Israel. Forty-two percent say that Jews have no other place in the world.
(Thirty-five percent are more worried about Israel’s future and 20 per cent say they are disillusioned and do not see
their future in Israel.) At the same time, today’s Israeli youth are not wearing rose-colored glasses. Fifty-seven percent recognise that tough times are ahead and Israel’s path to renewed strength and growth will be a long haul. (Twentynine percent see a swift recovery from the current crisis and believe that mass Aliyah can be expected soon, while, on the other hand, 14 per cent fear that Israel faces insurmountable difficulties.)
Eighty-two percent of Israel youth are prepared (to some or to a great extent) to pause the “good life” in terms of personal plans for work, study and
vacation, and are prepared to forgo travel abroad all-together. Sixty-one percent very much understand and 25 per cent partially agree that now is the time to restrict their purchases and save for the future.
Paradoxically, the connection of young Israelis to Tik Tok and Instagram that had linked them to the broader world now, more than ever, has rooted them in Israeli and Jewish identity – a backlash against the horrors of October 7 and its global antisemitic aftermath.
As Israel fights for its very existence, it is important to push aside the naysayers, to reject the pessimist and depressive discourse dispensed by some in Israel’s “old guard” and much of the international community as to the Jewish State’s ability to overcome Iran and its terrorist armies that encircle Israel.
It is important to understand the resilience and amplify the optimism expressed by Israel’s younger generation and much of Israeli society. The Jewish People cannot afford to contemplate anything less robust or authentic.
David M. Weinberg is executive director and senior fellow at the Jerusalem-based Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy. His diplomatic and defense writings are at davidmweinberg.com. He will be the keynote speaker for Technion Australia at its December gala events in Sydney and Melbourne.
For 100 years, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has strengthened the State and people of Israel. No institution holds more promise for its future.
It educates global entrepreneurs, develops pioneering technologies, expands our scientific frontiers and betters life around the world.
DAVID
Students at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa
AROUND
THE COMMUNITY
TOBIAS SIEGAL AUSTRALASIAN UNION OF JEWISH STUDENTS
From candlelight vigils to commemoration installations and fundraisers, Jewish students across Australia and New Zealand put their exams and assignments on hold this month to commemorate the greatest tragedy in Israel’s history.
At Monash University, which is home to the largest population of Jewish students in an Australian university, AUJS erected an installation made up of a table adorned with traditional Rosh Hashanah dishes and decorations alongside chairs with pictures of Israelis still being held hostage by Hamas. At universities with a smaller Jewish presence, students held candlelight vigils and fundraisers for devastated Israeli communities.
Other related events held in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland included meetings and discussions with Israeli survivors.
In Sydney, together with several campus-based initiatives, AUJS took part in the main community event organised by the Zionist Council of NSW, alongside representatives from youth movements and other community organisations.
“The ZCNSW October 7 vigil was an incredible experience and an opportunity to mourn and heal as a community. I really appreciated being able to stand alongside other youth movements, promoting community
Defying attempts to silence our pain, AUJS commemorates October 7
harmony. Youth movements have played a pivotal role in the last year as guiding lights for the young Jewish community, providing spaces for emotional support as we grapple with life post October 7,” said AUJS incoming co-president Danielle Tischmann.
And while most events were held without a hitch and managed to draw AUJS members, curious students of other faiths and Israelis looking to come
together, some seemed adamant to prevent us from mourning our loved ones.
At La Trobe University, where visible Jewish presence is scarce, an AUJS stall had to be dismantled after an aggressive group of students surrounded it and prevented others from approaching.
“A member of this mob became very aggressive in his language and behaviour. He shouted lines such as
‘Baby killer! Baby killer!’ at us,” said Maxwell Kalman, who heads the AUJS branch on campus.
“Another girl said, ‘what you are feeling today is what Palestinians have been feeling for over 70 years’.”
“Oddly, security told us to walk backwards, even though we were pinned between a mob with our backs to a wall. They also told us to stop, even though we were just standing there and not the aggressor in the situation,” Kalman added.
The university is currently investigating the incident.
Despite the disruption, the event drew support from non-Jewish students, with one approaching the stall and handing us a hand-written prayer to show her support for Israel and the Jewish People.
Many Jewish students in Australia have friends and family in Israel and feel directly impacted by the ongoing war. They deserve to be able to mourn. And “no”, that does not come at the expense of Palestinian or Lebanese suffering.
We must learn how to allow space for the trauma of all affected parties. Until we acknowledge that everyone’s pain is valid, this tragic conflict will never end and we will all continue to suffer.
Reflecting on October 7 far from home
October 7 is a day that is deeply etched in our collective memory, a place that many of us dare not tread … afraid of where our emotions will take us … afraid that our tears may spill over and never stop … afraid that our hash tags will never come true. It’s a day to mourn with friends and family, sharing our pain and disbelief that we are here again –365 days on.
On October 6, I found myself in wet, wild and stormy West Yorkshire, 16,929 kilometres from home in Australia. How would I be able to fill the gaping hole in my soul in a place that, while familiar, was so far away?
Conversely, in wet, wild and stormy West Yorkshire, I consider myself lucky. I am with friends-who-are-family and it is with them that my heart has slowly gathered its missing pieces.
Together we attended an event in Leeds’ ‘Hostage Square’, organised by Leeds Leads Against Antisemitism. As I stood there, together with around 400 others, I realised that although the group was small, the feelings, the ache, the longing would have been the same whether I was in Leeds, Sydney or Beit Shemesh (where my family-family lives).
We were surrounded by the CST, the UK’s equivalent of the CSG, and a truck full of bobbies.
We felt cocooned and ‘safe’ … until we felt we weren’t.
My friends-who-are-family and I were standing next to a collection of yellow balloons, each marked with a pair of child-sized shoes and a teddy bear. While listening to Adam Ma’anit recount the horrific story of his cousin and hostage, Tsachi Idan, a loud bang bounced off the surrounding buildings. We instinctively ducked and my heart rate exploded momentarily, before
I realised that a yellow balloon had popped. It was in that smidgen of time that I felt just a tiny sliver of the terror that those at the Nova, in Be’eri, Nachal Oz, Kfar Aza and the surrounds would have felt – an insignificant nanosecond compared to the hours of horror that many had experienced and continue to do so. Despite that assault on my senses and a lone voice shouting ‘Free Palestine’ during the minute’s silence, the event continued uneventfully.
I was particularly struck by Emma Levy, president of JSOC (Jewish Society) at Leeds’ universities, sharing the students’ experiences of antisemitism, fear and intimidation, sadly mirroring our own unigoing kids’ experiences. But coupled with this was youthful hope, resilience and a deep commitment to the State of Israel.
This was echoed by a group of impressive young adults from Habonim. Jack Horwitz, a Habo madrich, shared that that they were there not only to rally for the immediate return of the hostages, but also to “support each other within the Jewish community”.
On the following evening – October 7 – I joined a congregation of about 600 at ‘my’ local shule for another deeply moving event. Among the many inspiring speakers was Hagit Greenberger, who shared her spoken word rendition of October Rain. It was raw, it was powerful and at that moment, when she left the world behind, thoughts of my late dad flooded my mind.
I realised, with desperate sadness, that while we adjust to a world post October 7, I am sadly and deeply grateful that he is not here to witness this October Rain.
#bringthemhomenow #letmypeoplego #amyisraelchai
Michelle Favero was visiting her mother (who lives in Leeds) for the chaggim, when she wrote this piece.
MICHELLE FAVERO
AUJS president Noah Loven and Nova survivor David Bromberg at an AUJS-Diller event in Melbourne
A commemoration of October 7 in Leeds’ ‘Hostage Square’
CONSIDERED OPINION
RAMONA FREEDMAN KESHER COMMUNICATIONS
Early September heralds the start of the school year here in Israel. Ulpan classes start with one clear mission: to teach Hebrew to new Olim. A big shalom to those fresh off the proverbial boat who have recently arrived here in the Holy Land from more than 100 countries. Talk about the ultimate melting pot. Let’s open my classroom door and peek inside.
Our teacher, Michal, loves emojis and the classroom is literally covered with smiling, happy images – she’s checked a few boxes with this theme. It is cross-cultural, which is quite clever and simultaneously distracting from how ancient these classrooms are. In fact, for those who recall education back in the 1960s and 1970s, we are still using those individual minute desks attached to each chair. Yes, the kind with no room to place anything on so books, pens, water bottles and everything else routinely interrupt classes by falling off and dramatically hitting the floor.
No complaints – to be fair, it is free. I can’t help but feel sorry for the handful of lefthanded students. If it is hard for us righthanders, it is ridiculous for them.
Very quickly the French formed what I can only describe as an impenetrable blockade across the entire front row. Don’t get me wrong, they are all lovely and it does help my Israeli integration that I speak ‘schoolgirl’ French. There are lots of “ooh la las” when things don’t quite go their way. They do bring in decadent delights from the local authentically French patisserie where you must order … in French. And they share them generously with … each other. This is followed by the mutual tuttutting that the treats are not quite what they would get back in France. Too much sugar. Not good enough. Quintessential French superiority. I just love it.
Of course, it is not the brioche buns that distract me, nor the superior grasping of all-things Hebrew from a midwifein-another-life and mum of four, Anaïs. Confession: I am completely distracted by their mode du jour – their fashion. Bonjour Christian Dior white sandals, Louis Vuitton satchels and keyrings, Hermes summer slip-on shoes and Versace sneakers. Bienvenue (welcome) to the effortlessly upturned black polo collar on the monsieur who sits on the far left. Day in day out, they all look … magnifique.
I sit in the second row, with a Russian stronghold on my left. We were told that in the past year Israel absorbed more than 33,000 new Olim, 19,000 of those from Russia. So true to those stats, they are very well represented at Ulpan Ra’anana. It isn’t lost on me that the back row has Ukrainians and Russians sitting side by side having a good laugh. And the focused, quiet yet astonishingly clever Vadim sits to my immediate left, with no interest in cultural or religious matters, but he has organised his mind to analyse Hebrew grammar as if it is a straightforward computer processing equation. As for the two Svetlanas – they are doing very well too, spasibo (thank you).
Planet Ulpan
I have also made friends, which all say is a bonus when on Planet Ulpan, undertaking a five-month course. I walked in a little nervous … as if it was my first day of high school – just many moons later. At least I have my Anglo crew I can sit with during strangely long break times. I love that we each have accents from different cities – Johannesburg, London, New Jersey, Los Angeles and some sort of special Swedish-English fusion.
I don’t know who writes the syllabus for this course, but a rethink is required. Instead of learning how to speak in a shop or how to communicate with humans, we are painstakingly learning about the conjugation of obscure, irregular verbs. It feels like there are more unusual ones than usual, which begs more Ulpan-content questions for another day.
I feel I need to learn about the real world – walking into a supermarket or fruit shop and knowing how to say relevant words when purchasing bread, meat and vegetables. But, I am told that grammar is foundational. “Building blocks darling, building blocks.” Well, when you are being screamed at because you are so spoilt for choice with the European cheeses and you don’t have the word ‘sliced’ in your lexicon, the cheese guy serving couldn’t give a kosher Camembert about anything else! He looks at you like you are a sad and silent soul.
We were taken down to the building’s bomb shelters a few weeks into term. Two classes were allocated per bomb shelter. Once we all got to ours, the teacher made an announcement: “Students, listen carefully: this was a practice run.
In reality, you will only have 90 seconds to get into the shelter. If this was a real attack, you would all be dead.”
Okay, yalla, now, let’s go back and learn more past tense verb infinitives.
Ummm, how exactly does one flick that switch and nestle back into our teeny tiny tables to learn more about nothing that applies to real life? And yet that is exactly what we did.
That day, there was no drama. As the teacher said, it was practice and, historically, almost no rockets are aimed at Ra’anana. In my head I called it a sweet spot geographically. I spoke too soon …
Just before we broke up for Rosh Hashanah, after we had all practiced our New Year songs as if we were each five-and-a-half, we were seated for a little concert where students sing and clap. Incidentally, the cohort is aged by 18 and 96.
Just as everyone had settled into the right seats and it was about to begin, a few students in the rows in front of me jumped up. I thought to myself, gosh, these teachers can’t make up their minds about where they want us to sit. But that wasn’t the case. It was real. Then a cacophony of mobile phones were going off with wailing sounds. Then the municipality street loudspeakers started. I jumped up and got caught in the throng heading towards the shelter –could I remember exactly where it was?
How long did I have again?
I saw a member of my class, a stylish septuagenarian with big blue eyes. I linked arms with her and together we navigated the throngs to the correct shelter. We made it in, just, and then
heard loud sonic booms in the sky. Go the mighty Iron Dome! The stoic Eastern Europeans seemed unfazed, one young French mum had an anxiety attack, tears formed in my eyes.
As an Australian, it is so hard to comprehend that Israel is surrounded by enemies who want its total destruction –and that includes eradicating Australianborn me. Strange things go through one’s mind. First thought: I have got to check in on my husband and kids – is everyone okay? How wide reaching is this thing? Is it safe to walk home?
Next thought that pops into my head: is my almost-completed book manuscript safe? If the crazies try and bomb my laptop and I lose one word of this personal passion project about breast cancer I will completely lose it. Ramona – get a grip! Kids are safe. Book is safe.
I am proud to know I am a person who didn’t run and leave others behind. I am proud to know I helped someone in that mad moment. And I am proud to be a member of this Jewish nation. Less than 30 minutes later, we were all seated again and singing sweet songs at the top of our lungs. In defiance. In unison. That day was my initiation into the real Israel, a microcosm of all the madness and meaning that transpires each and every day.
Until the next issue, it is over and out from Ramona in Ra’anana.
Ramona Freedman contributes a monthly column about her Aliya journey. To contact her directly, please email ramona@keshercommunications.com.au
ISRAELI NEWS
ZIV KOREN COURTESY: AISH.COM
An award-winning documentary photographer captured the devastation of communities, the resilience of citizens, and the experiences of the bereaved, offering a powerful firsthand account of a nation in crisis.
On October 7, 2023, Israel faced unprecedented chaos as Hamas terrorists launched a massacre of civilians in Israel, marked by unimaginable cruelty. Award-winning documentary photographer Ziv Koren immediately recognised the need to capture this horror, embarking on a monumental project to document the destruction, along with the fighting that continues to this day.
Over five months, Koren chronicled the events that transformed Israel forever, taking over a quarter of a
October 7th: a photo essay from the front lines
million photographs of the massacres in the south, military operations and life on the home front. His work captured the devastation of communities, the resilience of citizens and the experiences of the bereaved, offering a powerful firsthand account of a nation in crisis.
The October 7 WAR (https:// gefenpublishing.com/product. asp?productid=3463) by Ziv Koren serves as a profound visual history of one of the most significant events in Israeli history. Blending sorrow and hope, it highlights the heroism of ordinary citizens and soldiers while presenting a stark collage of trauma and resilience.
Published to ensure we remember and never forget, it stands as a testament to the strength of the Israeli spirit.
Sderot | October 7, 2023
A vehicle riddled with bullets from the terrorists, its passengers shot dead. During that bloody Saturday, over 80 civilians and security personnel were murdered and fell in the city of Sderot.
Sha’ar HaNegev Junction | October 7, 2023
Abandoned and partially burned cars scattered across Highway 34 – evidence of the massacre that took place on Saturday morning.
Highway 34 | October 7, 2023
Israeli forces rush to aid the photojournalists caught in the terror ambush. The IDF soldiers were driving in the opposite direction when they noticed the photographers lying on the road next to their cars, trying to take cover. The soldiers quickly took up positions behind the median barrier for their assault.
Ashkelon | October 9, 2023
A direct hit by a missile on an apartment building in the southern city. In a heavy barrage fired at noon that day toward Ashkelon and Ashdod, several residents were injured, some of them seriously. Several buildings suffered direct hits, and cars caught fire.
Between Ness Ziona and Rehovot | October 11, 2023
An alarm in the middle of the road: Orit Gutkind and her three children take shelter on the side of the road upon hearing a red alert siren.
Kibbutz Be’eri | October 10, 2023
The doll of 13-year-old Hila Rotem Shoshani left at the entrance of her home. On October 7th, Hila was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri along with her mother Raya and her friend Emily Hand. She refused to part with the doll until one of the captors snatched it from her hand. Hila, Emily and Raya returned to Israel as part of the prisoner exchange deal.
Kibbutz Be’eri | October 11, 2023
After days of body removal from the kibbutz, a ZAKA volunteer breaks down on the shoulder of a CounterTerrorism Unit fighter.
ZIV KOREN COURTESY: AISH.COM
October 7th: a photo essay from the front lines
Kibbutz Be’eri | October 28, 2023
Bloodstains on the floor of a family home in the kibbutz bear witness to the horror that unfolded here.
Kfar Aza | November 13, 2023
ZAKA personnel collect human remains in one of the kibbutz homes. Many bodies were desecrated –mutilated and burned. The volunteers performed holy work to gather the remains for proper burial.
Kibbutz Be’eri | October 28, 2023
The numerous bullet holes in the ceiling of one of the Be’eri homes – evidence of the hell that unfolded in the kibbutz on the morning of October 7th.
Near Netivot | January 24, 2024
Vehicles collected from the southern roads of Israel near Gaza and from the area of the Nova festival in Re’im piled one on top of the other at a makeshift junkyard. About 1,600 vehicles were hit by gunfire and rockets on October 7, some of them set on fire and completely burned.
Kfar Aza | October 11, 2023
After four days of heavy fighting and exposure to the horrific sights of carnage that the terrorists perpetrated in the Gaza Envelope communities, counterterrorism unit reservist Yair Ansbacher cannot hold back tears at the sight of the holiday table prepared for the Sabbath and Simchat Torah celebrations. The image gained widespread publicity in Israel and sparked resonance around the world, becoming one of the photographs most identified with the October 7 massacre.
Tel Aviv | November 4, 2023
The heartbreaking Shabbat table, set with over 200 empty places, became a sad monument honouring the Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza. This symbolic table, assembled at Hostage Square in front of the Tel Aviv Museum, was replicated throughout Israel and in many cities across the world.
Gan Yavne | October 17, 2023
The funeral for the five members of the Kutz family from Kfar Aza. Fifty-three-year-old Aviv, 49-year-old Livnat, and their three children Rotem (19), Yonatan (16), and Yiftach (14) were murdered on the morning of October 7. Responding rescue forces found the family embracing one another in one bed. The family had moved back to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where Aviv grew up, four years earlier.
ZIV KOREN COURTESY: AISH.COM
the sydney jewish report | October 2024
October 7th: a photo essay from the front lines
Ashdod | October 16, 2023
The funeral of Naor Hasidim, who was murdered along with his girlfriend Sivan Elkabetz.
Shura Camp near Ramla | October 25, 2023
The task of identifying the victims continues and is expected to take much longer. Since the October 7th attack, day by day and hour by hour, bodies and human remains are being removed from the cooling containers for forensic examinations including DNA, fingerprints and bite marks.
October
Tel Aviv| January 23, 2024
Ilanit Levy parts with her son before he is laid to eternal rest. Twenty-four-year-old Major Ilay Levy, a platoon commander in the 202nd Battalion of the 35th Paratroopers Brigade, fell in battle in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. His younger sister Ori enlisted in the IDF on the day he fell.
Near Gaza Border | October 31, 2023
An M-109 self-propelled howitzer from a reserve artillery battery fires 155mm shells into the Gaza Strip. Intensive artillery fire, along with air strikes, created a “rolling curtain of fire” that assisted the IDF advance into Gaza.
Gaza Strip | November 22, 2023
Soldiers from the Jerusalem Brigade place explosives at the entrance of a terror tunnel located in the eastern Gaza Strip. Months later, the IDF estimated that there were no fewer than 5,700 tunnel shafts in the Gaza Strip, providing entry points for a network of tunnels hundreds of kilometres long.
Near Gaza Border | October 31, 2023
Reservists, part of an artillery battery, prepare to fire shells at targets in the Strip. In the days of preparation for the ground manoeuvre, the IDF amassed forces on the border on a scale not seen since the 2006 Second Lebanon War – five divisions, including infantry, armoured, combat engineering, artillery, special forces and many supporting units.
Gaza Strip | December 7, 2023
Kfir Brigade infantrymen examine weapons and ammunition found during the operation to capture Shuja’iyya. Nearly every building in the neighbourhood contained large amounts of weapons, allowing Hamas operatives posing as innocent civilians to surprise IDF soldiers.
Gaza Envelope|
15, 2023
Hundreds of volunteers prepare 15,000 hamburgers daily for IDF soldiers and security personnel in the area of the conflict line in the south.
ZIV KOREN COURTESY: AISH.COM
October 7th: a photo essay from the front lines
Sheba Medical Center | October 24, 2023
Yael Golan was wounded along with her parents Elai and Ariel in their home at Kibbutz Kfar Aza. All three were severely burned after the terrorists threw a butane gas cylinder into the house and set it on fire. The parents shielded Yael with their bodies and later managed to escape through a window. Yael’s grandparents were by her side at the hospital while her parents were sedated due to extensive burns on their bodies.
Gaza Strip | December 28, 2023
IDF soldiers move through Beit Lahia. The reservists left their families, jobs and daily routines to defend the country – some of them for months of combat operations with no end in sight.
Ramat Gan | January 15, 2024
"After losing friends, home, and community," says Dr. Elai Hogeg Golan, "we are learning to rehabilitate ourselves.”
Gaza Strip | February 27, 2024
The Yahalom unit has played a major role in the Iron Swords War. On October 7, Yahalom teams were rushed to the besieged communities around Gaza. They battled terrorists, rescued and evacuated civilians, and cleared numerous improvised explosive devices.
Ramat Gan | December 16, 2023
Twenty-one-year-old Mia Schem with her sister Danny two days after undergoing complex orthopaedic surgery. Close to the time the photo was taken, Mia was informed that her good friend Eliya Toledano, with whom she spent time at the Nova festival, was no longer alive. Mia, who was abducted from the party in Re’im and was considered missing for days, returned from Gaza after 55 days in captivity. Mia became a well-known and identifiable figure in Israel and around the world after appearing in the first video of hostages released by Hamas.
Sheba Medical Center | January 3, 2024
Ben and Gali "making a train" on their way to physiotherapy practice. The couple was wounded by grenades thrown by the terrorists into the shelter they were hiding in after fleeing the Nova music festival.
Gaza Strip | December 19, 2023
This massive subterranean terror tunnel – the largest found in northern Gaza – was constructed at the direction of Mohammed Deif, the elusive head of the Hamas military wing (believed killed in an Israeli strike on July 12, 2024). It was discovered by operators from Yahalom, the Engineering Corps’ special operations unit, as they searched for the Hamas tunnel network that became known as the “Gaza Metro”.
Ziv Koren is a professional photojournalist with more than 25 years experience, beginning his career as a photographer in the Israeli army. Currently with Israel Hayom and Polaris Images, he focuses on global humanitarian issues, including the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, poverty and disasters like the Southeast Asian tsunami and Haiti earthquake, while also documenting the Israeli Defense Forces.
His award-winning photographs have been showcased in exhibitions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Tokyo and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Koren’s work is published in major media outlets like Time Magazine and Newsweek, and he has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Photo District News Award. His iconic 1995 photograph of an exploded Israeli bus was recognised as one of the 200 most important images by World Press Photo.
You can order your copy of October 7th WAR on this link: https://gefenpublishing. com/product.asp?productid=3463
Both lost their right leg.
Gan Yavne | October 17, 2023
The five members of the Kutz family
– Aviv, Livnat, Rotem, Yonatan, and Yiftach, are laid to rest.
RABBINIC THOUGHT
RABBI LEVI WOLFF
As this edition of The Sydney Jewish Report goes to print, we are in the midst of Sukkot, known across the Jewish world as Zman Simchateinu, the season of our joy, immediately followed by Simchat Torah.
When we hear that festival name, we instantly, quietly appreciate the gravity of what this means as we enter 5785. It has been one year. One long, harrowing year since the heinous atrocities committed on Simchat Torah – October 7, 2023.
For most of us, this will mark the first time we are tested in this overwhelming way. How should we mark a day traditionally observed with unrestrained singing and dancing, in celebration of our Torah and tradition? An important question when we know that it was on that very day – just one year ago – that so much pain and suffering was inflicted upon our people.
How do we move forward?
We learn from the most resilient generation, our Holocaust survivors. Just over half a century ago, immediately following the Yom Kippur War, Nobel Laureate Professor Elie Wiesel wrote in the Jerusalem Post: “On the eve of Simchat Torah (following the horrendous losses of the Yom Kippur War,) every rabbi is faced with the question: What were the Jews to do during this particular holiday?
Determined to dance
Should they or should they not celebrate Simchat Torah? And the answer is unequivocally: Yes – they should."
He recalled an episode that took place inside Auschwitz. Hundreds of Jews had gathered to celebrate Simchat Torah. There was no Sefer Torah, yet they longed to dance Hakafot, when we typically celebrate with Torah scrolls. An old man noticed a young boy standing nearby. "Do you remember what you learned in cheder? Do you remember your Shema Yisrael?" "Yes, and I remember much more," said the
To dance and cry
RABBI MOSHE GUTNICK
RABBINIC
ADMINISTRATOR
THE KASHRUT AUTHORITY
The events of October 7, 2023 are all still very much at the forefront of our minds. It has been a year where we have seen an ongoing war in Israel and rising antisemitism globally. We have been challenged more than at any time since the Holocaust.
Indeed, our raw emotions were on display earlier this month on the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks that claimed so many lives. More than 12,000 people gathered in Sydney at an inspirational and uplifting event.
A few things have become clear over this past year, namely who are our friends and who are not, and who tells the truth and who does not. A special shout out to Sky News Australia and its staff who stand up for Israel and the Jewish people. It has also become clear which politicians truly support the Jewish People and which ones pay us lip service.
While the media often gives the impression of a world against us, I truly believe that the silent majority of our fellow Australians support us and recognise terrorism and evil for what it is. On October 7 this year, an elderly gentile neighbour from two doors down gave my wife and I a small vase with flowers she picked from her garden. It came with a note, which read: “Just sending our special love to you all on this very sad weekend anniversary”. We were so touched. I would like to believe there is a lot more love out there than
boy. "Shema Yisrael is enough," said the man.
He lifted the boy and danced with him as if he were the personification of the living Torah. Everyone joined in singing, dancing and crying with fervour. Never before had Simchat Torah been celebrated with such emotion, even in the shadow of death.
Wiesel continued: “Our enemies want our destruction. We shall not allow them to tell us when to be joyous and when to mourn, when to sing and when to be silent! I shall not allow them to
determine my holidays and my days for remembrance.”
Drawing from this, Rachel Goldberg, mother of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, reflected, “There are people who walked out of Auschwitz and went on to have a good life. They never forgot their parents and their siblings, but they went out and they decided to live life – and it took tremendous effort –and they had good lives. And there are people who walked out of Auschwitz and … never left Auschwitz.”
She then stoically stated, “We’re in mourning. We’re suffering, but we are making a choice – to live life. We need to do it for ourselves,and we need to do it because Hersh would want us to, so we will live life.”
As counterintuitive as it may sound, this upcoming Simchat Torah must be the most joyous one ever. Throughout this war we’ve seen clear evidence of G-d’s protective hand over Israel. Miracle after miracle.
Let’s echo Elie Wiesel’s words, “Gevalt Yiden, do not permit the enemy to rob us of our joy and our hope: to give up would be the enemy’s victory and he does not deserve it … We have never been worthier of victory than now.”
We must continue to celebrate not only Simchat Torah, but every day, until we merit the greatest victory of all – the arrival of Moshiach, bringing peace and stability to the entire world. May it be speedily in our days. May it be now.
Commemoration of October 7, 2023 in Christison Park, Vaucluse
we sometimes imagine. While October 7 was the secular anniversary for the world, the uniquely Jewish anniversary will be on Shemini Atzeret (also Simchat Torah in Israel). It is the day when we also say Yizkor.
Here is the dilemma. Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are supposed to be the happiest days of the year, when we joyously celebrate our connection to our Holy Torah. How can we dance and cry at the same time? How can we remember those we have lost at Yizkor?
How can we remember the horror of that black day, still being felt by the hostages
and their families? And then how can we rejoice?
We read on Yom Kippur of the martyrdom of Rabbi Chanina Ben Teradion. The Romans wrapped him in Torah scrolls and burned him alive. They placed wet bales of flax over his vital organs, so that he should live longer and suffer more. His students watched in horror as he grimaced in pain.
The end was very slow in coming, but suddenly they saw a change in Rabbi Chanina. An other wordly peace appeared to descend on his countenance, as if he was seeing
something in the distance. They asked him “what do you see?” He said: “The parchment is burning, but the letters are dancing heavenward”. No matter what the Romans did to us, no matter what our persecutors have done to us throughout the millennia, they can at most harm us physically, but our souls … our spirit, symbolised by the light of the letters of the Torah, are eternal and can never be taken from us.
On this Yizkor, we cry for the burning parchment, but we dance and sing with the letters of the Torah. Indeed, we are the eternal people.
RABBINIC THOUGHT
Question
Why do Hasidic Jews wear long black coats and black hats? I don’t mean to be rude, but you look like a cross between a 17th-century Polish nobleman and an Italian mafia boss. How is that appropriate for Jews in Australia in 2024, especially on a hot summer’s day?
Answer
I wear a black coat and hat. And I have never been mistaken for a mafioso or a Polish nobleman.
I do get looks from people on the street, but no one seems to be scared of me, as they would if I were a mobster. And I haven't noticed anyone taking a bow or curtsy as they would if I were a nobleman.
The looks I get are looks of pride from Jews happy to see a conspicuous member of the tribe. And greetings of “Shalom” by friendly non-Jews who admire the Jewish people.
Now of course, I also occasionally receive some not-so-friendly greetings from those who have less admiration for Jews. And yet, I have never once been called a dirty Italian or filthy Pole. So, it seems whether friend or foe, everyone gets it right. They know I am a Jew.
And that is the point. That’s why I wear this uniform … so everyone will know I am a Jew.
What’s the Mafia look?
Many factors may be considered when choosing what to wear. Some check the latest fashions to see what is in. Others check the latest weather to see what it’s like out. Both are making a choice based on outside factors.
A Hasidic Jew dresses to express what is inside. We dress to look Jewish. We want everyone to know who we are and what we stand for. We wear our souls on our sleeves.
The message is unmistakable. To our enemies: you can’t get rid of us.
To our non-Jewish friends: the people of the Bible are still around, sticking to our beliefs. And to our fellow Jews: there’s nothing to fear. Be a proud and unapologetic Jew.
Not the black hat type? That’s fine. You too can wear your soul on your sleeve. Show your Magen David with pride. Keep your kippah on, not just in shule.
The existential blues
Can you be too smart for your own good?
The influential literary critic Harold Bloom suggested that you can. In Western literature, Hamlet is often seen as the quintessential overthinker. But Bloom argues that Hamlet’s issue isn’t overthinking – it's that “he thinks too well. His is simply the most intelligent role ever written for the Western stage.”
Why would intelligence make someone anxious or miserable? Being smart doesn’t guarantee happiness, but does it hurt? Maybe Hamlet’s intelligence allows him to see some grim reality that others cannot.
That was Nietzsche’s position. He believed that the truth is too terrible to bear, that life is short and often filled with pointless suffering and that morality is a human construct to create meaning in an uncaring universe.
This idea – linking intellectual depth to existential pain – has a long tradition. The Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky observed, “pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.”
Maybe these thinkers have a point. Perhaps the truth is harsh and the best way to cope is to avoid thinking about it too much. Life may be meaningless, but we can find joy in distractions,
before facing the inevitable. Consider Dostoevsky’s sentiment: “If God is dead, then everything is permitted.” Great individuals strive for immortality, often disregarding ethical boundaries, while most people live lives of mediocrity, comforted by illusions.
But nihilism isn’t the only answer. Faith offers a different path to counter existential despair. Faith suggests that the universe is more than just atoms and quantum mechanics – a belief that morality isn’t a comforting lie.
What is faith, especially in the Jewish tradition? Religious belief is often seen as a source of comfort. King Solomon said: “I said I will be wise, but it is far from me. That which is, is far off and deep, exceedingly deep.” Even for the devout, “man cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
Even the wisest among us find the nature of reality mysterious and unknowable. Solomon, faced with existential despair, sensed a profound mystery in the universe but struggled to
And when you see us black-hatters, give us that knowing smile. You are right, I am not dressed for the weather. My warmth comes from my soul, not from the sun. And I am not fashionable. I don’t care. What’s in today is out tomorrow. The Jew is here to stay.
Rabbi Aron Moss is the director of the Nefesh Centre in Bondi Beach. For more information, go to www.nefesh.org.au
grasp it. Yet, there is a kind of release in embracing that mystery. “When all has been considered, revere God and keep His commandments.”
Surrendering to mystery doesn’t mean inaction, nor does it imply resignation. Judaism is not about passive acceptance or blind obedience. It commands us to act.
Jewish faith is more than rejecting nihilism. It’s about working to embody the Living Torah, the blueprint of creation that holds the secrets of existence. And we don’t just admire its wisdom – we live by its teachings.
Belief in a better world is central to Jewish faith. We anticipate redemption but know it won’t come overnight.
Instead, we practice tikkun olam … healing the world’s brokenness. While we may never finish the job, faith gives purpose to our efforts. Belief in the Divine enriches our struggles and everyday life.
Judaism offers more than faith as guidance. Through our actions –prayer, study, joy, and community –we occasionally catch a glimpse of something greater. We sense the Divine presence among us.
In classic Jewish fashion, it’s not just that faith guides us; our efforts bring a kind of transcendent joy, the essence of faith, a joy that animates creation.
So, next time you meet a melancholy intellectual, invite them for a festive Friday night meal and some sweet challah. They might find that life isn’t so bad after all.
RABBI ARON MOSS
Rabbi Yaakov Brooks in Lorne (photo courtesy Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia)
RABBI DR BENJI LEVY RABBINIC THOUGHT
Rabbi Dr Benji Levy with his wife, Renana, in Caesarea
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Helping Israelis during unprecedented tragedy
Even before October 7th, 2023 more than one million Israelis benefited from JDC-developed social services each week. Since the war started, needs have skyrocketed.
In response, JDC (The Joint) has already helped in excess of 450,000 of the hardest-hit Israelis. It is now addressing the spiking emergency needs of millions of others that hadn’t previously required assistance and may now be forced to rely on JDC for their survival.
JDC’s efforts include:
Treating trauma and building resilience in Israel’s children – creating daycare centres in evacuee hotels, providing trauma and play therapy in schools, and emotional support and guidance for parents and teachers.
Addressing a national mental health crisis – using tech tools for on-demand mental health solutions. The former include Nafshi, a website connecting people to diverse therapy options and Dugri, a peer support group app to meet the surging wartime need for psychological services.
Providing employment services for evacuees, reservists and the newly disabled – through job training, help in job placement and business planning assistance.
JDC (The Joint) provides services to the most vulnerable segments of Israeli society.
Since October 7, 2023 JDC has worked with 20,000 extra people living with disabilities, helping get them back into the workforce
Assisting the elderly who are evacuated, isolated or living under fire – providing daily essentials and emotional support, as well as increased caseworkers and day centres to ensure physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
The frustrations of Miles Franklin
outrageous idea that Hitler’s Germany is a model for strong leadership. His passion for Australians to create their own culture and break with Britain is more important to Miles.
Strengthening and revitalising frontline communities on the southern and northern borders – through community resilience initiatives, expanded social services and economic aid.
Bolstering emergency readiness and recovery in the north – including high-
risk disaster response preparations and distribution of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and emergency kits to communities under fire, as well as setting up a 24/7 humanitarian situation room.
Since October 7th, 2023
450,000+ Israelis have received assistance from JDC, including:
51,000 Children, teens and parents
46,500 Elderly, that are isolated, displaced or living under fire
153,000 Israelis have accessed mental health services
17,500 People with disabilities
10,000 Evacuees, reservists and injured soldiers trained for employment
76,500 Israelis from hard-hit cities have participated in resilience programs
64,000 Professionals trained in crisis response and trauma support
3,000 Small businesses have received assistance
30,000 Emergency kits have been distributed to vulnerable Israelis in northern Israel
366,000 Emergency medical supplies have been delivered to hospitals, municipalities and first response teams
BLUMENTHAL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
Noted Australian author and feminist Miles Franklin is front and centre in a new 90-minute play coming to Bondi Pavilion this month.
Titled The Kingdom of Eucalypts: The enigma of Miles Franklin, the work takes place in the post-Depression era, with fascism on the rise.
The King of Eucalypts focuses upon Franklin’s return to Sydney in 1932, having spent years in Chicago and London.
She is still trying to get her books published, with little success.
Frustrated by living with her elderly mother, a lack of money and feelings of failure, Franklin struggles to reignite her fame as it was as 20-year-old when she wrote My Brilliant Career.
Hope glimmers when Miles meets the mercurial publisher Inky Stephenson.
The pair becomes firm friends. She ignores the warning signs associated with Inky’s
Sarah Greenwood plays the young, idealistic Franklin and Beth Daly is cast as the disillusioned older author in her 50s.
Alice Livingstone takes on the role of Miles’ demanding elderly mother.
James Coetzee plays Edwin Brindle, who tries unsuccessfully to woo the independent young creative.
Lloyd-Alison Young is the publisher Inky, a blustering, larger-than-life figure who fails at everything he puts his hand to.
The play is written by Alice Spigelman, with dramaturgy by Timothy Daly and direction from Moira Blumenthal.
The Kingdom of Eucalypts: The enigma of Miles Franklin runs from 30th October to 17th November.
To purchase tickets, go to: https://events. humanitix.com/the-kingdom-of-eucalypts
In this powerful new Australian play, written by Alice Spigelman, discover the untold story of Miles Franklin, the author of “My Brilliant Career”. Set in 1930’s post-depression Sydney with fascism on the rise, Miles becomes part of the “Australia First” movement that looks to Hitler’s Germany as a model for strong leadership. She hopes this group will help reignite her fame at home. But it delivers something else.....
Miles Franklin
CONSIDERED OPINION
KYLIE ORA LOBELL COURTESY: AISH.COM
Yehudah Pryce had just spent three years in county jail. The 22-year-old gang member was involved in an armed robbery, where he robbed some drug dealers with the help of an accomplice. The accomplice turned him in for a plea deal and Pryce ended up behind bars.
After being in jail, he was set to receive his sentencing: 24 years in prison. The court gave him four years for robbery, 10 years for a gang enhancement and 10 years for a gun enhancement. He was promptly sent to Pelican Bay State Prison, a maximumsecurity prison in California.
“I thought prison was cool,” Pryce said in an Aish.com interview. “I understood what it meant to be a gangster and a thug and in this sort of environment. It made sense to me. I was aggressive and confrontational. I felt like I could outsmart my adversaries. And I didn’t care if I lived or died.”
Becoming a gangster
Pryce grew up in Orange County, California, a sunny SoCal enclave. He is the son of a Sri Lankan mother and a Jamaican father. His parents were divorced, so his mother and Caucasian stepfather raised him. He felt out of place because in his neighbourhood, he was a minority.
“Before I turned 8, my identity crisis started,” he said. “If I got into an argument with a friend who was black, he’d bring up my family. I viewed it as my Achilles heel. Everyone what super invested in race and what I looked like. I couldn’t enjoy my life.”
Pryce didn’t fit in at school and he didn’t feel like he belonged at church, either.
“We only went on specific holidays,” he said. “When my biological father took me to church, we’d try to get there late and leave early.”
By the time Pryce was a teenager, he was lost – until he discovered the gang lifestyle. He started selling drugs, stealing and carrying guns at 13.
“I wanted to take control and belong to something,” he said. “I was living the way I wanted and not being weighed down by my family’s or society’s ideas of what I should or shouldn’t do. I was not excited by the idea of going to work every day, getting married and having kids. It wasn’t enough for me. I was trying to actively avoid that.”
He didn’t have a role model, so he admired the gang members.
“I didn’t look up to anyone or see myself in anyone,” he said. “Once I got connected to the gang members – who were violent and sold drugs – I looked up to and respected them.”
When the teen became a gangster, he didn’t belong to any one gang and that was on purpose.
“That’s how I could gain notoriety amongst a multitude of gangs and in the subculture generally,” he said. “Your reputation precedes itself when you go from gang to gang.”
Pryce was sent to juvenile hall a few times for robberies and selling drugs. When he was 16, and his entire family was at home, his house was shot up. No one was hurt, thankfully. The dramatic event didn’t stop him from leaving the gang lifestyle.
“I felt like I belonged,” he said. “There was a camaraderie. When you are doing crimes together, it builds a bond among people. No one questioned my identity, either. Maybe it was out of fear. Beyond that, I loved having guns. There was a sense of power, where you controlled life
Gang member and convict turned Orthodox Jew
and death. It solidified me in this world. I liked being feared and respected.”
When Pryce legally became an adult, he decided he’d rob drug dealers, since he thought they wouldn’t call the cops. He’d be less likely to get arrested. But after his robbery at 19 – when his accomplice turned on him – his days on the streets were over.
He was now facing over two decades behind bars.
Finding his faith in prison
At Pelican Bay, where prisoners spend all day in their cells and are rarely allowed to go outside, Pryce suddenly had a lot of time to fill. He picked up some books on Christianity, Buddhism and Islam, but didn’t connect with any of them.
And then, Pelican Bay brought in a rabbi to speak to the prisoners. The rabbi came during lockdown and was there to meet with a few incarcerated individuals. The prison offered him a chair but, instead, he sat on the floor with the prisoners.
“It wasn’t meant to make a statement of any kind,” Pryce said. “His natural character traits stood out to me.”
That rabbi was only temporary; Pryce would go on to form a six-year relationship with the next one who came in.
He’d argue with the rabbi about organised religion, calling it the opiate of the masses. One thing that stood out about the rabbi’s talks was he said that to be a good person you didn’t have to be a Jew.
“That made so much sense to me,” Pryce said. “My problem with religion was people saying their religion was the only way. I thought, how could you claim that?”
He also learned about discrimination towards the Jewish people throughout history.
“The Jews were persecuted wherever they lived and they thrived,” he said. “This, to me, was evidence that God existed. I wanted to be more connected to it.”
After reading books on Judaism, Pryce turned to the prayer book, which resonated with him. He memorised the silent Jewish prayer, the Amidah. “I wanted
to be able to pray by heart in case we went into lockdown,” he said. “Then, I could daven three times a day.”
Pryce’s fellow inmates were anything but encouraging. Race and identity meant everything behind bars; Pryce was once stabbed simply because he’s black. Once they saw him learning about Judaism, they taunted him.
“They told me the Jews wouldn’t accept me,” he said. “They said I wouldn’t fit in.”
Still, Pryce had to follow his heart. He got hold of a smuggled smartphone and read up on Judaism as much as he could. He also ordered a tallit and tefillin and put them on every day, and met a Jewish woman named Ariella on Instagram. He started keeping kosher in prison and observing Shabbat on his own.
He became a Jewish chapel clerk and ran Jewish groups.
After two years of studying Judaism, he decided he was going to convert and do an Orthodox conversion – even though he’d never met an Orthodox Jew. When he was in his 13th year in prison, there was a legal ruling in California that because the prisons were overrun, inmates who were convicted prior to the age of 23 could become eligible for early parole.
Three years later, in 2018, after spending 16 years in prison, Pryce got out. He was now dating Ariella, who had grown up in an Orthodox family but had strayed from practice and he had applied for his conversion. When he met the Orthodox rabbi who performed conversions, he was taken aback by the response.
“He didn’t judge me,” Pryce, who is covered in tattoos, said. “He told me, let’s give it a try. My experience has been one of full acceptance.”
Living as an Orthodox Jew Pryce joined the Orthodox Jewish community in Irvine and converted in 2020. He then married Ariella, who moved from Canada to California to be with him. His family accepted his decision. “My mom converted from Islam to Christianity and my dad is a Baptist, but both of them have respect for Judaism,” he said. “They saw
me as a fully committed gangster and criminal, and now they see me living this wholesome life. They’re super appreciative of Judaism and supportive of me.”
Now, Pryce is a father of four and lives in Los Angeles with Ariella, in an Orthodox Jewish community. He earned his doctorate and is a clinical social worker at Chabad Treatment Center. He has a large following on his Instagram, where he shares videos about his life and combatting antisemitism, and he posted up multiple photos and videos of his powerful postOctober 7 trip to Israel.
He also posts about his personal life, letting his followers know about what’s going on with his family. Recently, he celebrated his son Yochanan’s upsherin, the haircut boys get when they turn three, along with tzitzit, a kippah and a prayer book.
This milestone was a miracle: When Yochanan was four months old, he was close to death and rushed to the hospital.
“My wife and I agonised as doctors struggled to figure out how to treat him,” said Pryce. But with the help of their fellow Jews, they and their beautiful son pulled through.
“It was my Jewish community, family and friends, and Chai Lifeline that enabled my wife and me to weather the storm,” said Pryce. “After five months, my son was released from the hospital and now he has completely recovered.”
Looking back on his life, Pryce can see that he is blessed. And if he could tell anything to his younger self, it would be this: “You’re facing challenges and tough situations and making poor choices. How do you want the next chapters to unfold? You need to create a story that matters. You do matter and you only have one life to live.”
With every moment, Pryce is using his platform to be a proudly visible Jew and is constantly working on his mission in life: to cultivate a strong relationship with God.
“I want to continue to grow my connection to God,” he said. “The more I draw closer to Him, the clearer everything becomes.”
Yehudah Pryce spent 16 years in prison, underwent a personal and spiritual transformation, and decided to become a Jew
CONSIDERED OPINION
The media coverage of the Hamas/ Israeli war has been disgraceful and shameful.
Starting just a few days after October 7, 2023 the entire emphasis has been on Israel’s response and, overall, Hamas has been barely mentioned. Israel is endlessly blamed for all the civilian deaths, the destruction in Gaza and death toll numbers are distorted and skewed.
This one-sided coverage reminded me of a dispute I had with The New York Times in 1997 about its coverage of the general conflict between the Palestinians and Israel.
It was prompted by a letter from The Times’ news editor to a subscriber which implied – more than implied – that a double standard exists at the paper on how The Times covers violence by the two parties.
It is worth, I think, revisiting that exchange; it may shed some light on not only The Times’ coverage but the media as a whole.
Thus, I went to my files. In 1997, Sherman Miller, of Longwood, Florida sent a letter to The Times in which he charged its coverage of alleged torture by Israel and Palestinians was “uneven and lacked professional integrity.” He said he was surprised by the distortion from a paper which is “supposedly the bastion of actual reporting.” In a one-paragraph reply, William Borders, then news editor,
Israel and the media’s double standard
wrote: “The whole point is torture by Israel, a democratic ally of the United States, which gets huge support from (the U.S.) is news. Torture by Palestinians seems less surprising. Surely, you don’t consider the two authorities morally equivalent.”
Miller responded to Joseph Lelyveld, then executive editor, (top dog), with the following: ”If I were to take his [Borders’] hypothesis to its conclusion, then we would have to assume that the recent Palestinian terrorist bombing in Jerusalem is not news and would not be covered by your paper, since it was carried out by [an] amoral authority. How absurd! What an insult to the intelligence of not only me but to your readers.
“So, factual reporting is no longer the issue, but the morality of the participants is the criteria for emphasis and coverage.”
In a column I wrote at the time: “Probably never in the history of journalism has any mainstream publication ever confessed to such a bias and it is nothing short of astounding coming from the executive who has policy responsibilities at this prestigious news organisation.”
I joined others is discussing the letter publicly, which led Borders to state in an interview: “If I had known it [the letter] would be widely circulated, I would have worded it more carefully. I’m sorry and I repudiate it.” Borders
did not deny the double-standard; he just regretted that it became public. Further, to this day, I still don’t know how one repudiates his own letter.
But that was not the end of it.
Lelyveld wrote to me, defending The Times. “I deny we have had a dual moral standard, Bill Borders’ formulation notwithstanding.” Oops, an admission there was something amiss with Borders’ definition of news.
He said Borders was “baited” by Miller (I loved that) and concluded with the following: “Mangling language, you say our policy is ‘incredulous.’ But there is no such policy and there never has been.”
I responded to Lelyveld, stating that I did not know that such a powerful person as poor Mr Borders could be baited by one subscriber into making such an admission.
Then, I told him that I shared the letter with colleagues at two university journalism departments where I was teaching and everyone mangled language in interpreting the original letter. So did students whom I assigned to write a paper on the letter.
Through the years, Israel has continually been held to a double standard. Thus, I raise the issue because there appear to be some parallels that I think might apply to the war in Gaza.
Perhaps the media considers Hamas amoral and gives it a pass on
its butchery and savagery and the deaths it causes in the strip. Perhaps the media expect more from Israel and thus places most of the blame on the Jewish state.
Maybe that is why the media ignore several other humanitarian disasters that are far worse around the world.
None of that, of course, excuses the slanted coverage by the media, but it helps explain the reality.
Whatever the reasons, the consequences are formidable in that it provides the public with a onesided view of the war, gives Hamas cover, and, equally condemnable and frightening, stokes antisemitism worldwide.
What’s more, the situation is much more serious in today’s political climate then when Miller challenged The Times in the late ‘90s.
Given attacks from Iran and its proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, Israel faces potentially fatal threats never experienced before. And that is not mangling language.
Berl Falbaum is a former political reporter for Detroit News. He has been writing political commentary for decades and taught journalism as an adjunct professor at Detroit's Wayne State University for 45 years. He is the author of 12 books.
BERL FALBAUM
Tzimmis and dumplings
REBBETZIN ESTY GUTNICK
This recipe is a family favourite for Rosh Hashanah. It is from my maternal grandmother and is always thoroughly enjoyed in our household. It is traditional to eat carrots at Rosh Hashanah, as it reflects our wishes for the coming year. In Yiddish, carrots (or merrin) also means increase. We ask G-d to increase our blessings in the coming year.
Ingredients:
Carrots and dumplings
8 carrots
To make the dumplings:
1 large onion, finely grated
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
Method
Peel and slice the carrots. Place them in a pot, ensuring the carrots are just covered with water. Boil the water until the carrots are almost soft.
In the meantime, mix all the ingredients for the dumplings in a bowl. Shape them into round balls and add them to the pot of carrots.
Continue cooking until the carrots are soft and the dumplings are cooked through.
Add honey to taste. Enjoy!
CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES
Friday, Oct 25, 2024 6:59 PM
Shabbat ends, Oct 26, 2024 7:57 PM
Friday, Nov 1, 2024 7:05 PM
Shabbat ends, Nov 2, 2024 8:04 PM
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 7:12 PM
Shabbat ends, Nov 9, 2024 8:11 PM
Friday, Nov 15, 2024 7:18 PM
Shabbat ends, Nov 16, 2024 8:19 PM
Friday, Nov 22, 2024 7:25 PM
Shabbat ends, Nov 23, 2024 8:26 PM
Sydney Jewish Report Disclaimer:
Except where expressly stated otherwise, content in The Sydney Jewish Report is provided as general informations only. The articles in this paper have been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content here are presented solely by the author, and The Jewish Report assumes no responsibility for them. It is not intended as advice and must not be relied upon as such. You should make your own inquiries and take independent advice tailored to your specific circumstances prior to making any decisions. We do not make any representation or warranty that any material in the papers will be reliable, accurate or complete, nor do we accept any responsibility arising in any way from errors or omissions. We will not be liable for loss resulting from any action or decision by you in reliance on the material in the papers. By reading the papers, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for, and accept no liability in relation to, any reader’s use of, access to or conduct in connection with the papers in any circumstance. Photographs submitted by individuals or organisations are assumed to be their property and are therefore not otherwise credited. All articles in this paper have received the expressed consent of the author to publish in this paper.
The Jewish Report; ISSN 2204-4639
Publisher: The Jewish Report Pty Ltd (ACN 167302981)
Distributor: TJR Distribution Pty Ltd ACN 165158029
Comments or suggestions to: editor@thejewishreport.com.au
Article submissions to: www.thejewishreport.com.au/article-submission-guidelines
Advertising: editor@thejewishreport.com.au
Website: www.thejewishreport.com.au
Printer: Spotpress Pty Ltd
Spelling bee answers
Jewish Answer: SHATNEZ. 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): TENSENESS, ANTENNAS, HEATHENS, NEATNESS, ANTENNA, ASSENTS, HASTENS, NEATENS, SENATES, SNEEZES, STANZAS, TENANTS, TENSEST, ASSENT, ETHENE, HASTEN, NEATEN, SANEST, SENATE, SENSES, SNEEZE, STANES, STANZA,TANNA, TENSES, TENANT and TENTHS.
Crossword answers
are strictly prohibited under Jewish law. The Sydney Chevra Kadisha alone provides services according to Jewish tradition and Halacha.
Oxford & Wallis Streets, Woollahra
REVIEWS
A taciturn American, Lee Miller (Kate Winslet) – who was born on 23rd April, 1907 and passed away on 21st July, 1977 – is about to be interviewed in her London home.
She questions why she should allow the interview to take place and then agrees on the condition that she can ask the interviewer some hard questions of her own.
That is Lee Miller to a tee –unapologetic, surly, determined, driven and not suffering fools gladly.
Hence begins a deep dive into the world of one of the most famous war photographers of all time.
Mind you, her real story didn’t come to light until her son unearthed the evidence. In her younger years she was a model and a muse, who liked to drink, have sex and take photographs.
In short, she was a free spirit who enjoyed the company of likeminded friends in the south of France.
That was where she met and fell for American art dealer and artist Roland Penrose (Alexander Skasgard), who was besotted by her.
Living with Penrose in London, she sought and eventually got a job as a photographer and later a photojournalist for British Vogue magazine.
That is how she came to forge a friendship with its editor, Audrey Withers (Andrea Riseborough).
World War II was beckoning and Miller became Vogue’s war correspondent.
Shattering Holocaust and WWII photos
A feminist, she broke down barriers and covered events such as the London Blitz, the liberation of Paris and concentration camps at Buchenwald and Dachau.
Lee is her warts and all tale of grit and endurance, including an experience with Hitler. She is painted as a ball breaker, a drinker and heavy smoker, who barges through life. The screenplay by Liz Hannah, Marion Hume and John Collee is based on Lee’s son Anthony Penrose’s book The Lives of Lee Miller.
Kate Winslet, who also serves as one of the film’s producers, does a fine job getting inside Lee’s skin. She plays her as
Strength in adversity
A remarkable, insightful, inspiring documentary, it shines a light on the happiness and despair of Superman lead actor Christopher Reeve.
An intelligent he-man with a cando attitude and an extremely active lifestyle, he suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury on 27th May, 1995.
At the time, he was 42 years of age. He was left paralysed from the waist down and was very close to death.
In an instant his life changed forever, as did the lives of those of his nearest and dearest.
Super/Man tells his story through interviews and home videos of him going about his daily business before and after the accident.
Among those interviewed are his partner of 11 years, Gae Exton (he met her while filming one of his four Superman movies), with whom he had his first child, Matthew.
Looming large is his selfless wife, Dana (after five years together, they married in 1992), with whom he had two more children, Alexandra and Will.
Each of the children is also extensively interviewed.
Then there are conversations with Reeve’s high-profile actor friends.
Among them are good mate Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Jeff Daniels.
an uncompromising force of nature who will not be tamed.
Josh O’Connor portrays her patient interviewer, someone intent on getting to the nub of the truth.
Andrea Riseborough is stoic and respectful as the British Vogue editor.
As Roland, Alexander Skarsgard indulges Lee’s brusque nature and runs with it.
Another key figure in her life was Life magazine photographer Davy Scherman, to whom Andy Samberg gives voice. On the battlefield, the pair forms an impenetrable partnership. As
His relationship with Williams seemed particularly tight.
The documentary reveals the impact Reeve’s own broken family had on him and how he was always trying to please his father, Franklin Reeve.
The latter didn’t approve of Christopher’s Superman role (1978).
Reeve was a committed theatre actor before auditioning as the superhero, opposite Marlon Brando, Gene
Hackman and Margot Kidder. Although branching out into other, more serious parts, Superman remained by far the highest profile role in his acting career and it undoubtedly opened doors for him. Regarded as a risky proposition at the time, Superman was huge success. Reeve was lauded and feted the world over. The doco spotlights Reeve’s darker and isolated moments.
It focuses on how he and his family
the film shows it, he admires her tenacity and pluck.
The atrocities the pair witness are quite overwhelming. Playing smaller roles are Marion Cotillard and Noemie Merlant, as two of Lee’s dear friends.
Cinematographer turned director (who makes her narrative feature debut with Lee) Ellen Kuras brings a keen eye for detail to a compelling production.
The focus is rightly on Kate Winslett, who delivers a powerful portrait of a woman of substance.
Rated M, Lee scores an 8 out of 10.
picked up the pieces after he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition.
Dana not only stood by him, but became his rock, as he evolved to become an activist and passionate advocate for disability rights.
After the accident, family became paramount for Reeve, although he did appear in other films and stepped behind the camera.
From the tragedy came the formation of what is now known as The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
It is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.
Super/Man – The Christopher Reeve Story is an eloquent portrayal of love and loss, of pivoting and finding renewed meaning and purpose.
Beautifully written by Peter Ettedgui, Ian Bonhote and Otto Burnham, direction from Bonhote and Ettedgui is exemplary.
Seeing the documentary was a deeply moving experience, one I would highly commend to all.
Super/Man scores a 9 out of 10.
For more of Alex First’s reviews, go to https://www.itellyouwhatithink.com
SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY ALEX FIRST
LEE (M) ALEX FIRST MOVIE
Christopher Reeve in Superman
Kate Winslet stars in Lee
AROUND
THE COMMUNITY
JIFF
Jewish-themed stories from 17 countries, including Israel, Australia, the US, France, Germany and Portugal, are on the slate for JIFF 2024.
The 41 feature-length films, two TV series and several special, short films reflect the diversity, complexity and richness of Jewish culture.
Artistic director Eddie Tamir said JIFF is “a vibrant celebration of Jewish voices”.
“Our 2024 program showcases stars and change makers, offering audiences a rich tapestry of stories that explore the depth and diversity of Jewish life.
“We present films that span thousands of years of history and culture, reflecting on the ancient traditions that have shaped our world and the contemporary challenges we face today.”
Opening and closing night films
Kicking off the festival is A Real Pain, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. This Sundance award-winner blends dark humour and heartfelt emotion as two cousins embark on a tour of Poland to honour their grandmother, confronting family tensions and intergenerational trauma.
The festival closes with The Performance, where Jeremy Piven plays Harold May, a Jewish-American tap dancer lured into performing for Adolf Hitler in Berlin.
Rich Jewish culture captured at JIFF
Adapted from an Arthur Miller short story, this tense period drama examines fame, personal integrity, and artistic survival.
Centrepiece film
At the heart of the festival is the Sundance and Berlin International Film Festival selected Between the Temples, an unconventional comedy starring Jason Schwartzman as a cantor navigating loss and rediscovery with the unexpected help of his former music teacher, played by Carol Kane.
Special presentation
The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrien Brody and Australian actor Guy Pearce, tells the powerful story of Hungarian-Jewish architect László Toth, as he rebuilds his life in postwar America. This Special Presentation at JIFF 2024 is a rare opportunity to experience the film ahead of its official release in January 2025, with only two exclusive screenings during the festival.
Other highlights of the 2024 program JIFF 2024 delves into stories of survival and reckoning with history.
The Commandant's Shadow follows Hans Jürgen Höss, the son of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, as he confronts his father’s horrific legacy. In a deeply emotional meeting with Auschwitz survivor Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, the film draws a poignant parallel to The Zone of Interest, the Academy Awardwinning film that centred on the Höss family’s life in chilling proximity to the Auschwitz death camp.
Tatami is the first-ever collaboration between Israeli and Iranian filmmakers. Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival, the film follows an Iranian judo athlete forced to choose between competing for gold and protecting her family’s freedom – an impossible decision set against the high-stakes backdrop of the Judo World Championship.
Australian voices take centre stage in Welcome to Yiddishland, a documentary that explores the revival of Yiddish culture, showcasing the remarkable contributions of Australian artists to this global resurgence.
Pita with Vegemite: An Israeli Australian Story captures the reflections of Israeli/ Australians as they navigate their identities after the October 7th attacks.
Festival dates: Sydney – Ritz Cinemas, Randwick from 28th October to 5th December, 2024. For bookings, go to www.jiff.com.au
Experience over 40 of the best new Jewish-themed and Israeli films at the 2024 Jewish International Film Festival, screening only in cinemas from October 28.
JIFF 2024 opens on Monday October 28 with the Australian Premiere of A Real Pain. PLAYING AT — TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE JIFF.COM.AU
Cinemas, Roseville Ritz Cinemas, Randwick
The Performance is the closing night film at JIFF 2024
