Parshat Mishpatim

Any budding lawyers amongst you will appreciate the complexity of this week's Parshah, that discusses 53 commandments; 23 imperatives  and 30 prohibitions. There are some great commentaries to read about the idea of justice, including laws against mistreatment of foreigners - which could open some pandoras boxes in Israel and Australia today.

Shul starts at 6.30pm tonight, and 9.30am on Shabbat morning. We need some help getting our Minyan started on time so please come have your cup of coffee with us at the start of shul. Our Dvar Torah will be given by Mandi Katz on the topic: "These are the rules, but where are the principles?"

PURIM at SHIRA! - Save the date, Wednesday March 7th for our Megilla reading. Kids entertainment will be from 7.30pm, with megilla reading at 8.30pm. More details on the way soon.

This is your last opportunity to buy tickets for Footnote, showing next Thurs night, 23rd Feb, 7pm at the Classic in Elsternwick. Tickets are $15, contributing to a fundraiser for Jewish Aid Australia. To book, please transfer $15 per ticket to Shira's account (Account name: Shira Hadasha, BSB: 013 445, Account Number: 4978 30199, and write Footnote and your name) or use PayPal on our website. Footnote Plot: revolves around a power struggle between a father and his son who both teach at the Talmud department of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

Do you have a life cycle event you'd like to celebrate or commemorate with Shira? Would you like to sponsor a Kiddush or reminisce with your Bar/Batmitzvah Haftorah? Please be in touch and book it in.

Parshat Yitro

Thou Shalt Remember...  to join us in shul this week where we read the Ten Commandments during Parshat Yitro! This is going to be a huge weekend at Shira, with guest speakers David Shneer and Gregg Drinkwater joining us on Friday night at 6.30pm for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat and a short talk on Judaism and Homosexuality. 

On Shabbat day at 9.30am we welcome everyone to shul for the Service. We are commemorating the Yahrzeit of Steven Ehrenreich's father, Chaim Mordechai ben Naphtali, and Steve and Ilana are part sponsoring our Kiddush Lunch in his memory.  Dr. Daniel Gordis will be speaking during our Kiddush Lunch. Bookings for this event have now closed.

MAZAL TOV to Ilana, Simon and Zivia Faivel on the birth of their daughter and sister this week! May she bring you much naches and delight.

Shira at The Movies: Shira is going to watch 'Footnote' (Israel's official entry to the Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film) on Thursday, 23rd February, 7pm. Ticket: $15, contributing to a fundraiser for Jewish Aid Australia. To book, please transfer $15 per ticket to Shira's account (Account name: Shira Hadasha, BSB: 013 445, Account Number: 4978 30199, and write Footnote and your name) or use PayPal on our website. Take a look at the trailer here. It's a great film!

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Beshalach

This shabbat we celebrate the splitting of the Red Sea as the Jews escape from Egypt. Might have looked a bit like this?

On Friday night at 6.30pm we are thrilled to invite you for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat. All welcome! On Shabbat day at 9.30am, with hot drinks for the early birds, we invite you to the Aufruf of Daniel Ajzner and Sarah Shnider. The Dvar Torah will be given by uncle of the Chatan, Michael Harari. Mazal Tov to the almost - weds, and to your parents Les and Lynda Ajzner, and Harry and Annette Shnider.  A Festive Kiddush will follow the Service at 9 Labassa Grove, Caulfield, to which the entire community are invited.

Next week: Kiddush Lunch with Dr. Daniel Gordis 

Shira are delighted to invite you to our first Kiddush Lunch for 2012, next Shabbat on Feb 11th. Our guest speaker is Dr. Daniel Gordis, President of the Shalem Foundation, and Senior Fellow at the Shalem Centre in Jerusalem. He is a regular columnist for the Jerusalem Post and a frequent contributor to the New York Times. He is the author of numerous books on Jewish thought and currents in Israel, and a recent winner of the National Jewish Book Award. 

Dr. Gordis will be speaking at the Kiddush Lunch at Shira on Feb 11th about his writings. We need to know booking numbers for catering lunch ASAP. Please RSVP by booking online via paypal here. Adults $20, Concession $10, little kids free. If you would rather pay by direct transfer, details are below - must include your NAME: 

Account Name: Shira Hadasha
BSB: 013 445
Account number: 4978 30199

Bookings close by Wed Feb 8th, so book soon please!

Friday night speakers — Feb 10th, 6.30pm

On Friday night before Kab Shab, Shira is hosting David Shneer and Gregg Drinkwater for a short talk about Judaism and Homosexuality. David and Gregg, married, are two of the three editors of  Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible. David is a Professor of History and the Director of the Program in Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado. There is no charge for this event - join us at 6.30pm.

Shira at the Movies

'Footnote' — Feb 23rd, 7pm at The Classic cinema.

Cost: $15. Bookings via our website here or direct transfer details above.

Shabbat Shalom

Shira Cinema

We're going to watch the Israeli film 'Footnote' together on Thursday, Feb 23 at 7pm at The Classic. The film is universally acclaimed and has just been nominated for an Oscar! The plot revolves around a power struggle between a father and his son who both teach at the Talmud department of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Tickets cost $15, a portion of which goes towards Jewish Aid Australia. Book here.

See you there!

Guest Speakers

Kiddush Lunch with Dr. Daniel Gordis Feb 11th 

We're delighted to invite you to our first Kiddush Lunch for 2012, to be held in 2 weeks on Feb 11th. Our guest speaker is Dr. Daniel Gordis, President of the Shalem Foundation, and Senior Fellow at the Shalem Centre in Jerusalem. He is a regular columnist for the Jerusalem Post and a frequent contributor to the New York Times. He is the author of numerous books on Jewish thought and currents in Israel, and a recent winner of the National Jewish Book Award. Dr Gordis has just co-released a book about conversion, and his next book on Israel, The Promise of Israel: Why Its Seemingly Greatest Weakness is Actually Its Greatest Strength, will be published in 2012. Dr. Gordis will be speaking at the Kiddush Lunch at Shira on Feb 11th about his writings. We need to know booking numbers for catering lunch ASAP. Please RSVP by booking online via PayPal here. Adults $20, Concession $10, little kids free.

If you would rather pay by direct transfer, details are: 

Account Name: Shira Hadasha
BSB: 013 445
Account number: 4978 30199

Bookings close by Wed Feb 8th so book soon please!

Friday night speakers Feb 10th, 6.30pm

On Friday night before Kab Shab, Shira is hosting David Shneer and Gregg Drinkwater for a short talk about Judaism and Homosexuality. David and Gregg, married, are two of the three editors of  Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible. David is a Professor of History and the Director of the Program in Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado.  Called "taboo-breaking" by Tikkun magazine, Shneer's work concentrates on modern Jewish society and culture. There is no charge for this event — join us at 6.30pm.

Dr. Daniel Gordis, David Shneer and Gregg Drinkwater are guests of the Monash ACJC Conference, 12th and 13th Feb. Learn more about the conference on their website here.