On June 12th, we will be holding a communal kiddush-lunch to honour 2 international guests who are in town for Limmud Oz. The Dvar Torah will be given by Rabbi Danny Landes, Rav of Pardes. During lunch, Amichai Lau-Lavie will run an interactive 'Storahtelling' workshop. Rooted in biblical text and ritual practice, storahtelling uses dramatized interpretations, storytelling, chanting and song to bring the Bible off the page, and onto the global stage. This is an oportunity NOT to be missed. The kiddush-lunch cost is $20 for adults — kids under Bar/Bat Mitzvah are free of charge. Please click here to book via PayPal. Please book ASAP to help us organise catering.
Shavuot @ Shira
Shira and the ACJC invite you to this year’s Tikkun Leil Shavuot celebrations!
“Yerushalayim Shel Ma’ala; Yerushalayim Shel Mata — Jerusalem of Above; Jerusalem of Below.”
Tuesday 18 May 2010, 8.30pm till late
62 Orrong Crescent, North Caulfield
We thank the Lubitz family for generously hosting us for an evening of learning and cheesecake!
8.30–9.00pm - Nathan Wolski: ‘Navel of the World’ — Mythological Jerusalem from the Bible to the Kabbalah
9.00–9.15pm - Sari Eisen: Seven Generations of a Jerusalem Family
9.15–9.35pm - Ittay Flescher and Carmella Rose: Voices of Jerusalem, True and Personal
9.35–9.45pm - Michael Fagenblat: Poetry of Jerusalem
9.45–10.15pm - Yousef Alreemwi: Jerusalem from a Palestinian’s Perspective
10.15–10.45pm - CHEESECAKE BREAK
10.45–11pm - Debbie Masel: Short story — ‘If I forget thee’
11–11.10pm - Michael Fagenblat: Poetry of Jerusalem
11.10–11.30pm - Mark Baker: Holy Jerusalem — From Moshe to Moshe Dayan
11.30–12.00am - David Slucki and Jordy Silverstein: Diasporising Jerusalem
12.00–12.20am - Melanie Landau: Truth and Justice — A Prophetic Secret to Uniting the Upper and Lower Worlds
12.20–12.40am - Yvonne Fein: When Getting it Wrong is the Right Thing To Do — God's (Im)perfection on the Road to Jerusalem
For more information, please contact acjc@arts.monash.edu.au or call 9903-5002.
Purim @ Shira
Come to Shira this weekend for some fun Purim schtick!
Ma’ariv and Megillah reading begin Saturday night at 9:00pm, right after Shabbat goes out. So dress up in a costume or hat, and bring the kids! Hamentaschen will be served, Herzl Barak is coming from Israel to tell us about "The Mossad and Purim," and we'll even have some surprise musical numbers. 
The morning Purim service begins at 9:30am on Sunday, and Mark Symons will grace us with his masterful Megillah rendition at 10:00. Don't miss it!
Our very own Sibella Stern will play Esther in the Purim Spiel production "The 39 Shleps." Buy your tickets in advance at www.purimspiel.com.au -- all proceeds go to Emunah projects in Israel. Download the production poster here.
Lecture @ Shira
You're invited to hear Daniel Sokatch speak this Wednesday evening about Israel, Democracy and the Struggle for Social Values. Sokatch is the CEO of the New Israel Fund headed by Naomi Chazan, which has recently been the subject of controversy in our community and internationally. Sokatch has thrice been named one of the Forward newspaper's 50 leading Jewish decision makers and opinion shapers. While Shira does not endorse any political platform, it always supports discussion and critical engagement. The flyer can be downloaded here.
When: Wednesday 24 February, 8 pm
Where: Shira, 222 Balaclava Rd., Caulfield
Entry: $5
UPDATE: You can download a recording of the lecture here.
Tikkun Olam @ Shira
This past Friday evening, Vivan Parry shared with us her experiences volunteering at a drop-in centre for the mentally ill homeless people of Melbourne. For those of us who didn’t hear her moving Drasha, here’s what she said.
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Coming from what I now know as a “typically dysfunctional post holocaust” family, I wondered if there was a connection that guided me towards my journey into Community Welfare.
During my one year guide training course at the Holocaust Museum I was fortunate to hear a lecture by a Psychologist Dr. Ester Fay. Dr. Fay told us that our first Mirror reflection as to how we perceive ourselves is our Mother’s face. If our Mother is calm and happy, we see the world as a wonderful place and ourselves as being special. If our Mother’s face is drawn, anxious and fearful, we absorb these emotions and feel equally fearful and unsettled about ourselves,
No prizes for guessing my Mother’s reflection.
I grew up understanding something was vaguely wrong but never knowing what it was. Eventually piecing together the minute fragments of family history overheard, but never spoken out loud.
I came to know that my Mothers’ family fled Berlin in 1938, leaving most of their possessions and the life they desperately cherished behind. I still wonder if my Grandfather bothered to turn the key and lock the front door that final time. Would I, hopefully I will never know.
I became a young person concerned about the trials of others.
I told my mother when I was about ten years of age that I wanted to become a nun and work on a leper colony in New Guinea. She replied “They have enough problems without you there!” Not to be daunted, I have spent the last 30 years whilst still working and with family responsibilities, seeking out and doing my best to alleviate in some small way, the problems of those less fortunate.
I have had long term involvement with several organizations, always in the capacity of being called upon to assist with a particular families’ needs or as I personally chose, to keep as many people warmly clothed and as comfortable as possible.
Hanover family services told me about the St. Kilda Drop in Centre for homeless people with severe mental illness. “Off you go, Viv, this one is really for you.” 120 participants 80 men 40 women all homeless aged between 16 and 70 Some living on park benches others paying 95% of their pension for one tiny room in a boarding house, 5% isn’t very much left over for all the necessities of life. The Drop in Centre is their daytime home, 5 days a week.
I landed on their doorstep and put forward my proposal to supply as much clothing in good condition and household goods, like blankets and towels, as I possibly could. Immediately accepted. I rang and campaigned anyone that came within the line of vision, from the dog people at the park, to long supportive friends, neighbors, shop keepers, anyone who looked like they might have clothes to share. That was in 2000. My garage and front door step still receive welcome bags and boxes of goods. I visit friends for social occasions and leave schlepping bags of clothes
Everything that comes my way is sorted on a folding table in my garage and then delivered to the Drop in Centre in St. Kilda, the Nuns at the Brigidene Convent for their asylum seekers project at the Marybyrnong detention centre, the JCCV shop in Hawthorn rd. Rosalie Silberstein’s Posh Oppe Shop . Children’s toys and clothes go to an Orthodox lady who keeps a Gemacht in her home for the needy in her Community.
Some of the people who attend the Drop in centre include Vietnam vets, a cartoonist from a Canberra newspaper, 2 Ansett pilots, farmers off the land broken by the drought losing all to the bank, families as well.
Asking if there was a particular wish the participants might have, the social workers’ survey revealed they would like to “do photography.” When I asked why, I was told “because they just want to OWN some photos.” That night I dreamt I was able to buy 7 digital cameras for $500. My prayer was answered and I was able to purchase the cameras plus the 2 gig cards. There was nothing I reasoned with myself that would give me more satisfaction than to buy those cameras.
A dear friend unloaded a heap of ladies’ underwear at my door just before Christmas. “Sell it for whatever you can get and spend the money on one of your causes”. An unreal challenge. In $5 and $10 sales I raised $1200 which we spent on pedestal fans and set top boxes for my friends at the Centre.
There is a fine line between sanity and a life destroyed. I see a Jewish man there quite often; thin as a toothpick, front tooth missing, about 45 years of age. He often helps me unload my car making wise cracks about the goods I have brought. “You can leave that lot in the gutter” he tells me, and we have a good laugh. He can’t believe I remember his name, Rubin, as I watch him standing in the communal kitchen making his mug of coffee, I can’t believe he is one of ours…. Where have we failed?
We are all capable of throwing a little light into a dark space; my message is to not miss an opportunity to help another person in a simple way that shows you care.
At the appropriate time when Sister Catherine from the Convent or the Manager of the Centre asked me the inevitable question “Why do you do this Viv, it is a lot of work?” my answer is simply “because I am Jewish, and we know what it is not to have.”
Tree of Souls
Before you sit down for Friday night chicken soup, why not come and sing your hearts out at Shira?
This Friday evening, we're launching a new part of the tefilla: a five minute drasha to be given by different people engaged in Tikkun Olam — activities that fulfil the Jewish command to heal the world. Come and hear Sibella Stern tell us how her holiday took her to Indonesia, where she did her part to improve the local residents' circumstances in the aftermath of two earthquakes. Tefilla begins promptly at 6:30 pm.
This Shabbat we celebrate Tu Bishvat, the Festival of Trees, and we'll hear a special drasha by Nathan Wolski on the topic we've all been waiting for: The Theology of Avatar and the Tree of Souls. Services begin at 9:30 am.
Pandora’s Tree of Souls
Bring your kids to the new children’s fun-minyan run by enthusiastic Israel returnees, Helen Lewitan and Rachel Tamir (starts 10:30 am).
The kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by Lindy Tamir in honour of her Bat Mitzvah anniversary. Mazal tov!
Mazal tov also to Steven Prawer and Bella Hiler on their birthdays this week.
Last but not least, we'd like to welcome back Yaakov and Marion Gorr who have just returned from India, where they partnered with low-income villagers to produce profitable fair-trade embroidery.
Shabbat shalom
Kids at Shira
Don’t hesitate to bring your children with you on Saturdays, as we have a new and improved kids’ program run by Helen Lewitan and Rachel Tamir. See you there!
Jewish Response to Haiti Earthquake
While we are still on holidays, Shira encourages members to support Jewish Aid’s appeal for the devastation unleashed by the earthquake in Haiti.
To all concerned Jewish community members:
In Haiti, tens of thousands of people are reported dead and the death toll continues to rise after the most devastating earthquake to shake the region in two hundred years (for more info click here). Schools, hospitals and thousands of homes have been destroyed and over three million people have been left without adequate food, shelter, healthcare and basic infrastructure.
All proceeds from this appeal will be distributed to CARE Australia, which is a non-religious and non-political Australian charity, who are conducting a large scale relief and rescue operation:
"CARE is deploying additional emergency team members to the devastated city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti, where the worst earthquake in 200 years destroyed houses and left thousands homeless. While the exact death toll from the 7.0-magnitude quake is not yet known, it is expected to be catastrophic.
"It is just morning here now," describes CARE's Country Director in Haiti Sophie Perez on January 13, less than a day after the quake. "I can hear helicopters working on the search and rescue. The immediate need is to rescue people trapped in the rubble, then to get people food and water. We're particularly worried about the children, because so many schools seem to have collapsed. Children were still in school in the afternoon when the earthquake hit, so there are many children trapped. It's horrifying."
The Australian Jewish community is being mobilised to support Haitians in their time of need. Please consider a generous contribution to JAA's Haiti Appeal, to enable CARE to assist communities in Haiti to respond, recover and rebuild in the wake of this enormous disaster.
Donations can be made by credit card over here or direct debit online (see below). All donations are tax deductible. (Please allow one month for your receipt to arrive.)
Thank you for your generous support.
Sincerely,
Gary Samowitz
CEO, Jewish Aid Australia
ph: (03) 9500 2206
m: 0413 525 592
e: gary@jewishaid.org.au
For more information about Jewish Aid Australia click here.
For a direct deposit, Jewish Aid’s account details are as follows. (Please email us after you have transferred your donation.)
Bank: Bendigo
Account: Jewish Aid Australia
BSB: 633000
Account Number: 123798688
Mazal Tov!
Mazal Tov to Nitty Rapke and Marty Page on the birth of their baby girl, Ruby Alma.
Summer break
Shira will be closed for the next two weeks while many of our members are away.
We marked the last Shabbat before our annual summer break with the Shira Lunch 'n' Shmooze, which was a great success! Thank you all for coming and shmoozing, and we hope to see you all when we reopen on Friday, January 22.
In the meantime, for those of us staying in town, the next few weeks are an opportunity to visit other shuls and return to Shira refreshed.
Travel safely, and enjoy the break!