Saturday 15 February, 10am Shabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Allison - Webb baby naming & Kiddush
Sunday 16 February, 4 – 5.30pm Confronting Death Part 2 - Jewish Views on Doctor assisted dying, organ donation, cremation, and leaving our body to science
Tuesday 18 February, 4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program
Wednesday 19 February, 4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program
Saturday 21 March, 10amShabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Allison
Sunday 22 March, 6pm Women’s Seder at Etz Chayim
Tuesday 24 March, 4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program (last class for Term 1)
Wednesday 25 March, 4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program (last class for Term 1)
Thursday 26 March, 4.30 – 6.30pm Etz Chayim Bnei Mitzvah Class (last for Term 1)
Friday 27 March, 6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat followed by dairy pot luck dinner
Saturday 28 March, 10amShabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Allison
Tuesday 31 March, 10amCuppa Club
APRIL
Saturday 4 April, 10am Shabbat Morning Service
Wednesday 8 April, Erev Pesach 1st Night Seder
Thursday 9 April, Pesach Day 110am Morning Service with Rabbi Allison
Friday 10 April, Pesach Day 2, Day 1 OmerGood Friday Public Holiday
Saturday 11 April, Pesach Day 3, Day 2 Omer10am Shabbat Morning Service
Monday 13 April, Pesach Day 5, Day 4 OmerEaster Monday Public Holiday
Tuesday 14 April, 4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program begins for Term 2
Wednesday 15 April, 4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program begins for Term 2
Saturday 18 April, Day 9 Omer10am Shabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Allison
Tuesday 21 April, Day 12 Omer4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program
Wednesday 22 April, Day 13 Omer4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program
Thursday 23 April, Day 14 Omer4.30 – 6.30pm Etz Chayim Bnei Mitzvah Classes begins for Term 2
Friday 24 April, Day 15 Omer6.30pm Kabbalat Shabbat followed by dairy pot luck dinner
Saturday 25 April, Day 16 Omer ANZAC Day 10am Shabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Allison
Tuesday 28 April, Day 19 Omer10am Cuppa Club4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program
Wednesday 29 April, Day 20 Omer4 – 5.30pm UJEB Afterschool Program
Thursday 30 April, Day 21 Omer4.30 – 6.30pm Etz Chayim Bnei Mitzvah Classes
4 HAKOL | February - April
President’s Update
Maureen Barten
Welcome to the ROARING TWENTIES! And what a roaring welcome it has been here and across the world. There is no doubt we are living in challenging times – forcing us to be more creative and more resolute in our convictions – whatever they are.
As you all will have read in our email to you last month, we are very proud to be hosting new tenants at Etz Chayim – our neighbours from McKinnon – the Reformed Presbyterian Church. While they are rebuilding their premises, they are renting use of our facilities for their Sunday services and one evening during the week. During a social climate where division and hate are spreading equally as the bushfires that are ravaging our beautiful country, we can all feel incredibly humbled by the opportunity to share welcome and develop friendship with the leadership and members of the Church. Truly walking the walk, Etz Chayim demonstrates through kind and generous actions that we truly are welcoming, warm, tolerant and committed to building sustainable relationships throughout the community. Let our example be a model for other religious organisations and communities to emulate – breaking down walls and barriers; replacing fear and ignorance with understanding, trust and friendship.
We start this year deeply engaged in various grant activities including still pending funding from the CSG grant that was awarded late 2018. With enormous thanks to Ron Popper, our capital campaign grant writing has expanded significantly, and we have 2 additional potential grant applications pending.
I am also delighted to welcome Suzie Eisfelder to the grant writing space – she has just completed a submission for digitisation of our more than 50 years-worth of paper archives. This will potentially provide a tremendous gift to our community which will serve generations to come. Access to family histories, the rich stories of our development and that of the community at large for over half a century, will be an enduring outcome of this activity.
Pam Spiegel is reviewing a new grant supporting volunteer work – which would potentially provide funding for training, equipment and transportation.
With the many grants we have won, as well as the potential of those still pending – it may seem that finances are not an issue. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The grants we are being awarded all come with very specific application requirements. At this point in time, most of them are CAPITAL in nature – which means BUILDING, SAFETY and “bricks and mortar”. The two cultural grants (digitisation and volunteerism) are also very specific in nature. While they support meaningful activities, the bottom line is they DO NOT in any way support our daily operating expenses. OPERATION COSTS HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
I started this by drawing attention to the ROARING TWENTIES. It is my hope that as this new decade roars by – it is with the COMMUNAL conviction to SECURE our FINANCIAL
future. The Board of Management has worked tirelessly over many years, to reduce expenses, increase funding opportunities, all while bringing more value to our members and the community. The reality is it costs money to exist. The year ahead of us will be challenging and force us to be more creative and more resolute in our convictions. I have the confidence in our Board and entire community that together, we can break through the financial cloud and build a sustainable model. We must do it!
The time is now.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO SURVIVE. Please come to our AGM on Sunday morning February 23rd and participate. Your attendance matters.
“NOW OR NEVER”
A MUST READ!!
5Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
Making news!!
6 HAKOL | February - April
According to both Ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology, the Phoenix was a beautiful, red and gold coloured bird, as large as an eagle, who lived no less than 500 years. As its time of death grew near, this special bird created a special nest for itself, then erupted into a ball of fire and turned to ash. Miraculously, a new phoenix was birthed, coated in the ashes of its father, where it flew to Heliopolis (the City of the Sun) and deposited the ashes on the altar of the Egyptian sun god, Re.
According to the Midrash, Rabbi Judah, son of Rabbi Simeon, referred to a bird (later translated as the Phoenix) that “…lives a thousand years, at the end of which its body is consumed (by fire) and its wings drop off, yet a small piece the size of an egg is left, whereupon it grows new limbs and lives again’” (Genesis Rabbah 19:5). Another midrash describes Noah talking to a bird (also translated as the phoenix) asking “Don’t you need food?” The phoenix responds, “I saw that you were busy, so I said to myself: I will not bother you with feeding me, too.” So moved by this thought, Noah responded, “May it be G-d’s will that you never die.” (Sanhedrin 108b).
But what does this bird symbolise? Why was it given eternal life in at least three different traditions? Aside from the human joy in and attraction to fanciful stories, there also exists universal pain and suffering from which all peoples look for messages of hope. The myth of the phoenix reminds us that new life and possibilities can emerge from the ashes. Three times in our people’s history, we have literally risen from the ashes: after the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem, and after the Shoah (Holocaust).
After the destruction of the first Temple, the prophet Ezekiel told of his vision where the hand of G-d took him to the valley filled with dry bones. G-d asked Ezekiel if he thought the bones could live again. The wise (and diplomatic) prophet responded, “Only G-d knows” (Ex. 37:3). Thereupon G-d asked Ezekiel to prophesy over the dry bones: “Thus says Adonai G-d unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am Adonai” (Ez. 37:5-6). And then the bones came to life. And God told Ezekiel: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off…Behold, I will open your graves…O My people; and I will bring you into the land
of Israel…And I will put My spirit in you, and you shall live…”(Ez. 37:11-14).
We did rise again, finding renewed life in our ancient homeland. But, like the phoenix, our time is limited, and we know not exactly when the fire will come to consume us again. We know only that from the ashes, we will continue to rise. I do not mean to imply that our time as a Jewish people is numbered, nor that our time since ’48 has been completely idyllic and coming to a close; rather, I wish to convey that all peoples, and individuals, have their times of strength and victory, and their times of hardships and travail. Sometimes these struggles seem more than we can bear and take us to the brink. Sometimes we feel consumed and are left as dust or feel abandoned in a valley of dry bones – lifeless or hopeless.
And yet, life continues. Sometimes, miraculously, spontaneously, circumstances change, and we are renewed. Other times (more often), change happens slowly. We are reborn (or rebuilt), limb by limb, sinew by sinew, one step at a time, until we feel the life flow freely through our bodies, hearts, minds, and souls.
This summer, some of us have been directly affected, or knew people directly affected by the fires. Others of us endured the smoke and weathered the shock of the tremendous impact this unprecedented period has unleashed upon our part of the planet. It has been shocking and stirred many people to their cores. Many are concerned that this is just the beginning, while others claim the worst is behind us. Some of us fear for the future of our children and grandchildren. Others just want to move on and put it behind us.
Regardless of our reactions, I would like to remind all of us of the difference between the myth of the phoenix and that of our prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the resurrection of the dry bones. With the phoenix, fire, consumption, and death were followed immediately by rebirth. With the dry bones, Ezekiel was guided by G-d, had to believe, then act. And the resurrection of the dry bones was just the beginning, more was to follow, thus conveying a message that rebirth happens in stages inspired by belief, followed by action.
So, as we come out of the fires (recognising many still remain), we must believe that restoration is possible and make active choices to rebuild and prevent further
Allison RH Conyer
Rabbi’s WordsWhat do the Phoenix and Dry Bones Have in Common?
7Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
devastation to our land. The fires did not come out of nowhere - the fires that burn in our personal lives and those on a national and international scale. But we were unprepared. I encourage all of us to educate ourselves about the reality of how our climate is changing and its impact on our lives. I also encourage each of us to beware of the dangerous sparks in our relationships and in ourselves, to take action and contain them before it is too late.
As we begin anew, life will go on. Children will be born, named, and celebrated. People will marry, divorce, or remain single, be hired, fired, resign and die. Life will go on. People will be happy and sad, have good times and bad times. And life will go on. The phoenix always rises from the ashes. We must remember, have hope, believe, act, and life will go on. Ken y’hi ratzon – This is G-d’s will.
8 HAKOL | February - April
Our new Musical Co-Director
Sharon Mattatia is a talented and inspiring singer and educator who completed her Bachelor of Arts/Music and Master of Primary Teaching from the Australian Catholic University (ACU) within the last decade. Ironically, one of her music lecturers from the Catholic institution was so interested in her dedication to being Jewish that he asked her to be a “guest lecturer” and provide a class on Sacred Jewish Music! Little did she know that a few years later she would be working in a Synagogue and promoting liturgical music in a job that she is really passionate about!
In December 2015, Sharon began her training as a Cantorial Soloist under the guidance of Cantor Michel Laloum from Temple Beth Israel (TBI). This involved preparing repertoire for Friday night services as a part of a musical ensemble and Saturday morning services where she assisted in promoting musical liturgy with Michel and Rabbis Gersh Lazarow and Kim Ettlinger.
Music at Etz ChayimAs we embark on the year 2020, we hope for a year of continued growth as we continue to introduce aspects of Etz Chayim’s new music vision.
Our vision includes the importance of building upon a collaborative music team. We welcome Sharon Mattatia as Co Music Director this year. This is a shared role with Carolyn Patkin-Watters as we aim to expand our music offering for congregants in 2020. Sharon will be building upon our newly formed High Holyday choir for Shabbat. Sharon will be introducing new pieces which will require an increased musical skill heightening the beauty of our services enhancing “ruach”. I would like to thank Sharon for her dedication and commitment to this position and bringing an uplifting energy and enthusiasm to the team. Youth led music this year will also be an opportunity for younger members of Etz Chayim. Alongside Sharon we welcome our new Music Administrator Naomi Jandausch who will be working closely with the team organising our music library, assisting, sourcing and organising new music and bringing Etz Chayim into the digital age! Thank you Naomi for taking on this role and bringing your love of laughter, singing and community to our team this year.
We welcomed new cantorial soloist; Jordan Walters to our 2019 team and welcome back to 2020 our continuing members of the cantorial, musician team including Galit Klas (cantorial soloist), Shannyn Einsohn (song leader, guitar), Sharon Mattatia (cantorial soloist) Vered Harel (cantorial soloist), Jade Rosenberg (cantorial soloist), James Fredman (piano)and Hanna Silver (piano). I would personally like to thank our new soloist and continuing soloists and musicians, for their contributions to the team and music vision and look forward to a fulfilling 2020.
Music inspires congregational singing which helps build upon our community. We look forward to a shared, collaborative experience of music this year that continues to move our hearts and souls bringing further growth!
Carolyn Patkin-WattersMusic Director
9Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
In November 2016, she completed her training and led her first Shabbat Service at Etz Chayim alongside Rabbi Allison Conyer, and has continued to sing as a soloist there as well as at TBI and the Leo Baeck Centre (LBC).
Since 2018, Sharon has been at Etz Chayim as a part of the High Holy Day (HHD) services as a Cantorial Soloist, a member of the Choral Quartet/trio and as the director and leader of the newly reinstated choir. Her role as Choral Director has been quite rewarding, and she was really proud of the choir’s progress and positive feedback received from the 2019 HHD season. Now, she is about to embark on the new role of Co-Musical Director of Etz Chayim alongside current Music Director, Carolyn Watters.
Her other experience within the Jewish community includes being a B’nei Mitzvah Tutor at TBI, participating in TBI’s HHD choir and Purim Spiels as well as being a musical leader as a part of the Nava Tehilla
We are delighted to celebrate with parents Maya and Nathan, and big brother, Louis, to welcome Pip into the Jewish community.
We wish the entire four generations of the Webb family – Sam, Les, Danielle, Mikaela, and Noah, a huge mazal tov on this occasion. Looking forward to celebrating with the entire family for the naming on Shabbat Yitro, 15th of February at 10am.
To Geoffrey King, who is celebrating 80 years of dedication to life and to our
congregation.
10 HAKOL | February - April
Our B’nei Mitzvah & Pre-B’nei Mitzvah ClassThere are many b’nei mitzvah programs available in Melbourne, so how do you know that the program here at Etz Chayim will be the right one for your child and family? Get in touch and ask questions about all the programs you’re considering to ensure that you are making an informed choice.
Some programs solely focus on the aspect of coming of age and what it means to become an adolescent (rather than a full-fledged adult) – the challenges, the responsibilities, and the benefits. Other programs offer a quick fix – boys learn the minimum three verses to read from the Torah, or just learn the bracha (blessing) when being called to the Torah; while girls learn how to bake challah, learn the brachot for candle lighting on Shabbat and deliver a dvar Torah (a speech about either a Jewish value or the Torah portion of the week). Some just have a party when they come of age. Other programs are focused on the social values and actions inherent in our Jewish tradition, thus they teach about these values, then find opportunities for the children to fulfill the mitzvot based on the social values.
At Etz Chayim, we aim to combine these three elements – understanding the meaning of coming of age, emphasis on understanding and actualising Jewish values, and developing the skills and confidence to read from the Torah and lead a community in prayer – while also learning about Jewish traditions in an egalitarian environment strongly situated within our community.
Boys and girls learn together and prepare for their b’nei mitzvah ceremonies based on their abilities and interests rather than their gender. We believe that becoming bar or bat mitzvah endows these children with the gift and responsibility of being a Jewish liaison in the wider Australian community, and thus we aim to prepare them with a well-grounded understanding of our tradition. We also encourage individual thought, to challenge and question, enabling the children to make sense of Judaism on their own terms. We believe that by encouraging our b’nei mitzvah students to “own their Judaism” they will feel a sense of authenticity and pride in their Jewish identity and value and cherish both the preparatory experience and the bar or bat mitzvah ceremony.
At Etz Chayim, we recognise that being Jewish is not only about prayer and the bar or bat mitzvah ceremony, but about making Jewish choices based on Jewish values. As the Israelites said after G-d gave them the 10 commandments – naaseh v’nishma – we will do and we will hear (and understand) – we impress upon our
students and their families the importance of action and encourage their participation in wider events consistent with our Jewish values.
We also emphasise the importance of family and community, welcoming parents, siblings, and grandparents to their presentations, encouraging learning about both their own family stories and the stories of our Jewish people. We also encourage them to participate in communal events reminding them that becoming bar or bat mitzvah is not just something celebrated in their family, but in the wider Jewish world.
As the Mishna says, “According to the effort is the reward”(Pirkei Avot 6:26). In other words, the more they put into the process, the more meaningful the process becomes. We ask a lot of our students and their families. And, for most, they are incredibly grateful for the experience.
Our b’nei mitzvah program is not a quick fix, nor simply about coming of age or about male or female identity or a series of social action excursions. The program at Etz Chayim is a deeply thoughtful and fun opportunity for children to explore their Jewish identity, learn about Judaism and find ways to make it most meaningful and relevant to them, gain skills and confidence to lead a service and read from the Torah, to learn about Jewish values and perform Jewish actions actualising those values, to mix with other boys and girls of a similar age from different schools and backgrounds, to experience what it means to be part of a community, and to make themselves and their families extremely proud.
This year, we will be combining our pre-bnei mitzvah students with our b’nei mitzvah students with a healthy balance of discussions, presentations, and games. Classes meet Thursdays from 4:30-6:30pm commencing the 6th of February. For more information, contact Rabbi Allison at [email protected] or call the office 9563 9208.
11Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
AFTER-SCHOOL AT MERKAZ BENTLEIGH
certificate is presented to
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
4 - 5.30 pm
A full Hebrew language and Jewish studies program that covers traditions, customs and festivals.
Our students develop a lifetime of knowledge and skills, which ensures that they are able to participate in Jewish communal life. They also build a deep love and appreciation for Jewish practice.
This program is an approved child care service, and eligible families can receive the Child Care Subsidy.
Located at 549 Centre Rd, Bentleigh.
For more information or to enrol/re-enrol for 2020
This very moving video shows us Sam Wabnik, together with three generations of his family visiting his home town of Brest-Litovsk, 82 years after he left.
Until 1938 there were 20 Wabnik families in Brest, very few of them survived. About 30,000 Jews were killed in the Brest ghetto, a few managed to survive by leaving the country. Sam remembers his hometown in detail, even to the point of being able to locate his family's house, the apple trees are still there. After 82 years some of the houses have disappeared, the streets are slightly different but he can still recognise his native Brest-Litovsk. Sam walks down what was Dombrovskogo Street and is now Sovetskaya Street. This main street leads straight to what was the synagogue, but is now a cinema with some of the synagogue features remaining in the interior walls of the building.
While in Belarus Sam and his family had to visit Minsk to pay tribute in the Memorial Complex, not just to his uncle, aunt and cousins who were killed there but also the 5,000 Jews killed by the Nazis.
If you click on this link you can see the news article, it’s a 6:32 minute video of the story of Sam Wabnik returning to Brest. Warning: images of the Holocaust.
Our Community
13Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
The celebration of Tu BiSh’vat has a long and varied history, with the theme most commonly ascribed to it being the environment and the natural world. Trees are part of the natural wonder of our world and have always been a special symbol for Jews. This year we delighted to join our sister congregation TBI in honouring their members Leslie and Katrina Heine at their home ‘Frogmore’ on 9 February for their first ever Tu BiSh’vat Picnic and Tree Planting. Frogmore is the perfect venue, as it is not only of architectural, historical and archaeological significance to the State of Victoria, but is also the site of Charles Wyatt’s celebrated Frogmore Nursery, one of the earliest nurseries in the country.
Calling parents, grandparents and children of every age, this is a family-friendly and free event. Activities include a genizah burial as an act of spiritual repair, and a tree will be planted for the books that are being buried. Included among these books will be copies of our old Machzor for the High Holy Days. There will also be outdoor games. A summer-inspired, light picnic meal will be provided, so bring your blanket, sunscreen and sunhat and join us in celebrating our connection to the earth and our role as caretakers of our environment. Bookings are essential to help with catering. Bookings close 6 February and can be made by right clicking on this link: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=591725&
For more information contact TBI at 9510 1488 or [email protected] Next Dor (formally, Young TBI, a group of Jews in their 20’s and 30’s) will be hosting a
bushwalk before joining up with the TBI Tu BiSh'vat picnic and celebration. Meet at TBI at
10am for a 10.30am departure. Transport will be provided. They will be visiting Organ
Pipes National Park and then moving onto Frogmore.
For more information please contact [email protected] or follow them on Facebook.
14 HAKOL | February - April14
Celebrating at Etz Chayim
The concert was very good indeed! We had about 40 people, an intimate evening. Sophia engaged the audience with her songs. The atmosphere was great. We lit the candles and sung a few Chanukah songs. The repertoire was mainly meditative music which created a safe environment.
Etz Chayim and the Australian Friends of Rambam Hospital are collaborating for the second time and as the first time this event was a success. Even though we had a smaller crowd, it was magical!
Australian Friends of Rambam have developed the program "Circle of Health" which aims to educate the community about mental health.
We are looking to have more events in the future which will bring us all light, peace and harmony.
Vered Harel
Fifty years is a wonderful achievement, and on 30 December 2019, our members Ian and Faye Kirkwood celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Ian had a fabulous career as a maths lecturer, while Faye was a nurse. Now retired, they are busy with Rotary, Rotarians for bees, University of the third age, and helping at the synagogue. Family is important to Ian and Faye who raised Clair, Adrian and Anne. Now they are proud grandparents to Nathan, Rebekah and Amanda who they are always happy to talk about.
“Mum and Dad, you have taught us about love, respect, family and community. Values we will carry through life.”
They will be celebrating with family and friends at Etz Chayim on Saturday 29th February at the Shabbat service. Please join them!
A Chanukah Concert...
Celebrating Faye and Ian
15Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
FundraisingThese photos were taken at the Postie Fundraising Clothing Party.
Thank you to our models Faye Kirkwood & Ilana Ornellas who did a fabulous job showing off the clothes and tempting the guests to buy and help raise money for our Shul.
Thanks should also go to Faye Patkin for hosting the party & also to our members who contributed to the delicious afternoon tea.
STOP PRESS!Rabbi David Saperstein, President Obama’s Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, to speak for UIA Progressive Appeal.
Stay tuned for more information and your invitation.
MethodSift flour into a bowl.Heat oil slightly and add to beaten eggs.Add slowly to flour to make a firm paste.Roll out as thinly as possible.Cut into rounds.Cut each round across into four. Heat frying oil and drop pieces of dough, a few at a time, into the pan.Draw up with two skewers whilst frying to shape like ears.When golden brown, drain on paper.Sprinkle with castor sugar.
Hamentaschen
Ingredients for dough2 cups plain flour60 gms butter1/2 cup milk (approx)1 tspn baking powder1 tblspn sugar
MethodSift flour & baking powder.Rub in butter until breadcrumb consistency.Add sugar and enough milk to make soft dough (not sticky).Roll out to 6mm thickness and cut into circles, using saucer for a guide.
Filling1 cup poppyseeds1 tblspn golden syrup60 gms chopped raisins60 gms melted butter
MethodCombine all ingredients.Put spoonful of filling in the centre of each circle of dough.Fold edges together completely sealing in the filling and forming 3-cornered cakes.Place on cold greased tray and bake at 200° for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
What is Tu b’Shvat?
Tu b’Shvat is celebrated on 15th day of Shevat, this year is Sun 9th February – Mon 10th Feb 2020. It is a minor chag on the Jewish calendar, but one that makes as aware of taking care of our environment. This chag is also called “New Year of the Trees”. Israelis plant trees and often celebrate with a seder with fruit and nuts that are grown in Israel. At the seder participants enjoy the 7 kinds of produce (Sheva Minim) that the Torah uses to praise the Land of Israel: “wheat and barley, of grape and fig and pomegranate; a land of oil-rich olive and sweet date." (Devarim 8:7-8)
Things to do to celebrate:
If you are able to, plant a tree. If you don’t have room for a tree, plant some parsley so it is ready for Pesach and use it on the seder plate.
Make a Seder with the 4 cups of wine with the 7 kinds of produce, “wheat and barley, of grape and fig and pomegranate; a land of oil-rich olive and sweet date."
The farmers also had the habit of donating 10% of their produce to the poor. Think about donating 10% of your wages for the week to charity.
Make a family tree and hang it up so you can appreciate where you came from. It is a great record for your family history to pass on to the next generation.
18 HAKOL | February - April
Pesach ActivitiesAfikomen Bag Craft
Make a bag from felt and have the children decorate it.
Make Ten Plague
• wooden craft dowels• colored paper• recycled cereal box cardboard• orange plastic plates (for the lion)• long bumpy piper cleaners for the lice legs, frog's tongue and to attach blood drops• a black permanent marker for all the details• a hole punch (for the blood drops)• double stick tape, to stick it all together!
19Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
And More RecipesWe would love to try your recipe. If you are interested in submitting a recipe to HaKol, please email the
recipe together with a story that connects with your recipe to [email protected]
Chocolate Matzo Farfel Stacks
Ingredients 1 1/2 cups matzo farfel5 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate1/4 cup toasted, shredded sweetened coconut1/2 cup unsalted, roasted, peanuts coarsely chopped1/2 cup dried cranberries, cherries or apricots, coarsely chopped
Directions In a 350-degree oven, toast the matzo farfel for 5 minutes to crisp up. In a completely dry bowl or double boiler set over barely simmering water, melt the chocolate. Mix in the farfel, coconut, peanuts and dried fruit. Form 1-inch haystacks of the mixture on a parchment lined cookie sheet and refrigerate for 1/2 hour to set. Serve chilled.
COCONUT MACAROONS (the easy way) Ingredients 250g desiccated coconut1x400g sweetened condensed milk25g slivered almonds Directions Empty the coconut packet in a bowl. Add the condensed milk and mix well. Take a walnut size amount of mixture in the palm of your hand and roll it. Place on an oven tray which has been covered with baking paper. Continue making the macaroons till you have used all of the mixture. Push a piece of almond in each biscuit. Bake in a moderate oven about 10-12 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen.
KHOSHAF
This is a Middle Eastern dried fruit salad. The fruit is soaked in warm water, not cooked. It can be prepared 2 or 3 days ahead. A variety of fruit can be used; however, the following is classic and a superb combination. Ingredients 500g dried apricots250g pitted prunes120g sultanas120 blanched almonds60g pine nuts1 tablespoon of orange blossom water (optional but it adds to the authenticity) Directions Wash the fruit put all the ingredients in a large glass bowl and cover with warm water. Place in the refrigerator. The syrup will be thick and rich with the juices of the fruit. Everyday stir it up and add water if necessary.Serve cold.
20 HAKOL | February - April
1 - 8 FEBRUARY
Hilda Joan Crawcour sister of Michael CrawcourClaire Isaacs mother of Robyn SharpIlse Abrams grandmother of Nicholas KollinerBette Bearman mother-in-law of Ruth BearmanIda Mohrenwitz grandmother of Bernard MooreDoris Crawcour mother of Michael Crawcour
9 - 15 FEBRUARY
Fritz Suran father of Ilse SherwinEsther Van Praag grandmother of Dan PollSandra Myers wife of Lewis MyersWilliam Peter Simpson father of Sarah DavisMargot Abrams mother of Zilla RothVivienne Green wife of Robert GreenHelen Windholz mother of Vera Freidin and grandmother of Kathy KaplanVera Felicia Kleniec sister of Eva Lehner
16 - 22 FEBRUARY
Doris Joseph mother of Brian Emanuel JosephAlice Victoria Hall mother of Noel Hall OAMFenton Hall brother of Noel Hall OAMMargaret Poll mother of Dan Poll
23 - 29 FEBRUARY
Hilde Kay mother of Greta EisfelderMagda Nanasi mother of Mary ReicherBelle Ruby Jones aunt of Faye Kirkwood
1 - 7 MARCH
Jayme Reifman grandfather of Mara ReifmanRon Bearman brother-in-law of Ruth BearmanBelinda O’Gorman granddaughter of Ilse SherwinDavid Gill cousin of Suzanne EisfelderLeah Miller mother of Beatrice MillerMiriam Morley mother of Ruth BearmanLeah Barlin mother of Edith Ornellas and grandmother of Shaun Ornellas
Life Events - Yahrzeits8 - 14 MARCH
Joseph Morley father of Ruth BearmanGodel Mydlarz father of Henry MydlarzRebecca Ostovsky great-aunt of Michael GalakMillie Lewis wife of Barry John LewisMarcus Coleman father of Phillip Coleman
15 - 21 MARCH
Trudy Nathan mother of Janet Levi-CohenLouis Segal father of Yvonne SegalValerie Leah Maltz (nee Morris) mother of Jonathan MaltzKathy Lancaster remembered by Maureen Barten
22 - 28 MARCH
Kenneth Stanley Barten father of Maureen BartenGizella Berenyi aunt of Mary ReicherHeinz Abrams father of Zilla Roth and grandfather of Nicholas KollinerPhoebe Finkelstein mother of Peter Finkelstein
29 - 31 MARCH
Louis Horace Green father of Robert Green
1 - 4 APRIL
Gottfried Popper grandfather of Ronald PopperJan King wife of Geoffrey KingAnka Moskovic mother of Edith WinogradMinna Segal (nee Morris) grandmother of Ilana OrnellasRobert Feigin husband of Monica Feigin and father of Alexander FeiginNettie Feldman mother of Judith FeldmanAbraham Snyder brother-in-law of Greta Eisfelder
5 - 11 APRIL
Sheila Zivin mother of Kerri GuySamuel Cohen father of Shirley SperoSolomon Reicher father of Marek ReicherFrances Sullivan sister of Lorraine Ercegg
21Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
February Anniversaries
Keith & Fanny Hoffman, Morrie & Freda Trytell, Richard & Sarah Davis, Lewis & Jenny Bearman, David & Suzanne Langley, Graham & Mary Gilbert, Peter & Helen Felder, Buck Rosenberg & Isabelle de Solier, Sonja & Ben Rink, Max & Robyn Freilich
March Birthdays
Juliana Levine, Gil Dromi, Leslie Webb, Joseph Kahn, Carolyn Patkin Watters, Eva Betts, Samuel Jandausch, Paula Bloom, Leila Kleiman, Helen Wolff, Brendan Guy, Ivri Goldberg, Margaret Mendoza, Ziv Dromi, Joshua Sacks, Janet Green, Asher Mendoza, Faye Patkin, Niv Salkind, Melissa Popper, Debra Zivin, Margaret Gonshor, Beatrice Miller
March Anniversaries
Otto & Eva Ash, Colin & Lyn Benson, Monty & Leila Kleiman, Ron & Rita Blint, Philip Levy & Rosemary Chang, Phillip & Beatrice Coleman, Noel & Barbara Hall, Frank Moore & Yvette Bentata-Moore, Dan Poll & Mazal Langley, David & Debra Zivin, Horst & Greta Eisfelder
April Birthdays
Daniel Gocs, Otto Ash, Marom Schell, Myra Mendleson, Cheryl Gelfand, Benjamin Levy-Chang, Rosa Mowszowski, Louis Lubman, David Slade, Holly Watters, Shaun Ornellas, Raphael Bloch, Olivia Mendoza, Benjamin Gonshor, John Levine, Francesca Kuperman, Daniel Goldberg, David Menahem, Barry Lewis, Eva Lehner, Lior Kalisse, Ilana Ornellas, Johanna Eisfelder
April Anniversaries
Shaun & Ilana Ornellas, Gerry & Dina Sabel, Gary & Ruth Trytell, Sean Sacks & Desiree Sacks
12 - 18 APRIL
Elise Gilbert mother of Madeleine ZufiOra Segal (nee Indikt) mother of Ilana OrnellasRachel Aarons mother of Julia FinkelsteinFred Beecher father of Monica FeiginDavid Gilbert father of Madeleine ZufiJohn Gresham step-father of Gerry SabelMarion Blumberg sister of Walter Kahn
19 - 25 APRIL
Louis Barnett Goldstein father of Theodore GoldsteinGretl Gresham mother of Gerry SabelArthur Heymanson father-in-law of Noel Hall OAMNaureen Hughes sister of Lorraine Ercegg
26 - 30 APRIL
Jacob Joseph Maltz father of Jonathan Maltz
Life Events
February Birthdays
Mikaela Webb, Ashley Watters, Ruth Bearman, Jenny Bearman, Robert Green, Michael Trytell, Judith Firestone, Gabriel Harari, Lewis Myers, Gary Trytell, Lillian Harris, Sallyann Kirkwood, Yvonne Segal, Henry Mydlarz, Dorothy Payne, Jemma Wines, David Bloom, Max Freilich, Rayne Harari, Valentina Galak, Rebecca Trytell, Zilla Roth, Nicholas Kolliner, Gadi Bloch, Robyn Freilich, Eva Ash, Heinz Wolff, Dana Gonshor, David Langley
22 HAKOL | February - April
Zichronam LivrachahMay Their Memories Be a Blessing
Charlotte Janout
Valerie will be remembered for her Audrey Hepburn-like beauty, her beautiful smile, her caring about and looking after everyone else, her bravery, her ability to overcome her personal obstacles and find the beauty in the natural world around her.
Valerie Abrahamson
Cyril Spenser
Charlotte, or Lotte, as most of us knew her, was kind, considerate, creative, and a good host. She was also particular, could be abrasive, stoic, and proper. But, most of all, she was a free spirit who knew how to look after herself.
Cyril will be remembered as an absolute gentleman - a cheeky, funny, bombastic, jocular, impatient, opinionated rebel who was engaging, giving, caring, flirtatious, adorable, multi-lingual, and, above all, a family man.
23Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
Opinion PieceAnother Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity?
By Michael Galak
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has declared that Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria will, for the US, no longer be regarded as illegal. This reversal of long-standing policy is no less than a change of paradigm. This declaration, however, does not change the US position on Judea’s and Samaria’s jurisdiction – it is for the parties to determine.
This seemingly unexpected announcement in mid-November triggered a firestorm of condemnation, denunciations and threats around the globe, including from morally upright, ‘woke’ Australians. The shock and ensuing venom with which anti-Israeli mobs reacted cannot be overestimated. It ranged from hysterical proclamations of ‘Death of the peace process, irresponsible behaviour and the breach of international law’ by the Palestinian Authority ‘moderates’, to traditionally blunt Iranian threats to annihilate the Jewish State, and to further barrages of the Gaza Strip jihadis’ rockets.
The supposedly pro-Western Jordanian Government’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, was ‘concerned’ about ‘dangerous consequences’ and warned that “Israeli colonies in occupied Palestine ignore international law and prevent the possibility of conflict resolution by the creation of two states for two people.”He did not explain under which international law Jordan has occupied Judea and Samaria for 20 years and then settled these areas with then Jordanian citizens. The paradoxical aspect of this hypocrisy is that he will claim that Jordan did not break any international law by moving citizens to disputed areas. He will be correct, because no law prohibits settling in a territory under no-one’s jurisdiction.
Judea and Samaria have always been the historical heartland of the Jewish people. They have maintained an unbroken record of connection to this land since Biblical times, some three thousand years ago. They have never formed part of any Arab state, which could possibly have legitimately claimed them – because there were no Arab states. International law, often cited as being broken by Israel, does not apply to areas under nobody’s jurisdiction, the legal status of these territories when Israel re-conquered them.
This situation has an historical precedent – the Reconquista of Spain. The Christian armies, after their loss of the Iberian Peninsula and after centuries of Moorish rule, defeated the occupiers and retrieved their native land by force of arms.
The demand that Israel return these areas to the Arabs is comparable to a demand that Spain be returned to the Arabs. Spain (Andalus in Arabic) is still regarded by Muslim extremists as illegitimately occupied by Crusaders. (For completeness, the same logic could demand that North America be returned to the American Indians and South America to the descendants of the Incas and Aztecs.)
None of the above precludes direct negotiations between Arabs and Israelis to settle jurisdiction. The idea would have to be acceptable to the Arabs, notorious for their ‘all or nothing’ attitude, ie Israel’s ceasing to exist.Considering that this paradigm has not brought joy to either party for the past 70 years, one can only hope that a rational compromise could be achieved and that the Palestinian hierarchy will not again ‘miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity’. The long-suffering Palestinians are in danger of being forgotten and abandoned by their brethren, who treat them as caged captives, good for only one purpose – to destroy Israel.
The US decisions to transfer the US embassy to Jerusalem and disregard the settlements as illegal are acts of supreme political realism. They could give the Palestinians the freedom to throw off the shackles of the delusion that they could defeat Israel. Now they could start negotiating a real peace, a real separation, their real survival, instead of the current tragedy of loss of life, destruction and fear.Regrettably, ‘peace’ as the West knows it is not even conceived of in Islam. The closest is a hudna – as exemplified by Mohammed’s unexpected return to attack the Quraishi again – a temporary truce while withdrawing and re-arming. That is the Islamic version of ‘peace’. As Mohammed said in his 632AD farewell address, “I was ordered to fight all men until they say ‘There is no God but Allah.’”
If I had an opportunity to talk with the Palestinians, I’d say, “Haven’t you suffered enough? Haven’t you lost enough children in senseless violence, which you could have avoided in 1948? You would have had our own State then. Do you simply hate Jews?
“Well, I think that the Israelis will survive without your love. Your hatred, the real enemy, corrodes your soul, stops you from being free and prosperous. Don’t you wish
24 HAKOL | February - April
a future for your children? Or was Golda Meir right when she said that you hate the Jews more than you love your own children?
“I don’t want to believe that. What kind of life does your hatred of Jews brought you and your children? I do not believe that you like this kind of life.
“You have a choice. You can either continue to believe falsely that you can destroy Israel, or you can abandon that thought and start talking to your ‘enemies’ about living in peace the Australian way – ‘live and let live’. It won’t be easy – there’s a lot of hurt on both sides. But if your Jewish neighbours could believe that you are serious this time, you might be pleasantly surprised.”
I gratefully acknowledge the help of Dr Peter Arnold OAM in writing this article.
For a Nation on Fire By Rabbi Nicole Roberts
Senior Rabbi, North Shore Temple Emanuel, Chatswood NSW “In the beginning,”1 You created a garden and on the 6th day, us to tend it. Rabbah emunatecha— How very great, Your faith.2 You called to us from a burning bush3 So we would learn Responsibility. Rabbah emunatecha— How very great, Your faith. Heaven and earth, Blessing and gift - All entrusted To us.
But “little less than Divine”4 are we – Not quite You. So today our burning bush speaks Its revelation, and is consumed. Will we heed its call? After our exhausted Heroic angels have done their human best, The rest Of us Will decide how best To respond. Rabbah emunatecha— How very great, Your faith.
1 Gen. 1:1 2 Shacharit liturgy 3 Ex. 3 4 Ps. 8:6
For a Nation on Fire By Rabbi Nicole Roberts
Senior Rabbi, North Shore Temple Emanuel, Chatswood NSW “In the beginning,”1 You created a garden and on the 6th day, us to tend it. Rabbah emunatecha— How very great, Your faith.2 You called to us from a burning bush3 So we would learn Responsibility. Rabbah emunatecha— How very great, Your faith. Heaven and earth, Blessing and gift - All entrusted To us.
But “little less than Divine”4 are we – Not quite You. So today our burning bush speaks Its revelation, and is consumed. Will we heed its call? After our exhausted Heroic angels have done their human best, The rest Of us Will decide how best To respond. Rabbah emunatecha— How very great, Your faith.
1 Gen. 1:1 2 Shacharit liturgy 3 Ex. 3 4 Ps. 8:6
25Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
From the Community
ASSEMBLY OF RABBIS AND CANTORS AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND ASIA
It is with great sadness that the Union for Progressive Judaism and all the members of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia mourn the passing of Rabbi Brian Fox AM. Rabbi Fox was one of the leading rabbinic figures within the UPJ (under its former name ANZUPJ) and the Rabbinical Assembly. He was dedicated to the passing of our tradition to future generations and was therefore closely involved with the foundation of The King David School in Melbourne, the Emanuel School in Sydney and Netzer Australia. He served congregations in Melbourne, Sydney and the UK with dignity and great success. Rabbi Fox was indomitable in his work to build Progressive Judaism in our region. Everyone who knew him felt his kindness and charisma. As a colleague, he was wise and trusted, loving and kind, admired and witty. He was always eager to share words of praise, encouragement, and advice. He will be greatly missed by all of us. Our hearts go out to Rabbi Fox’s wife Dina and the family, and we send them prayers of healing and hope. May the Eternal comfort them among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Issued 9 January 2020 David Knoll AM and Brian Samuel OAM, Co-Presidents of the Union for Progressive Judaism Rabbi David A. Kunin, Chair of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Rabbi Nathan Alfred, Vice-Chair of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Rabbi Nicole Roberts, Treasurer of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Rabbi Shoshana Kaminsky, Secretary of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia
ASSEMBLY OF RABBIS AND CANTORS AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND ASIA
It is with great sadness that the Union for Progressive Judaism and all the members of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia mourn the passing of Rabbi Brian Fox AM. Rabbi Fox was one of the leading rabbinic figures within the UPJ (under its former name ANZUPJ) and the Rabbinical Assembly. He was dedicated to the passing of our tradition to future generations and was therefore closely involved with the foundation of The King David School in Melbourne, the Emanuel School in Sydney and Netzer Australia. He served congregations in Melbourne, Sydney and the UK with dignity and great success. Rabbi Fox was indomitable in his work to build Progressive Judaism in our region. Everyone who knew him felt his kindness and charisma. As a colleague, he was wise and trusted, loving and kind, admired and witty. He was always eager to share words of praise, encouragement, and advice. He will be greatly missed by all of us. Our hearts go out to Rabbi Fox’s wife Dina and the family, and we send them prayers of healing and hope. May the Eternal comfort them among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Issued 9 January 2020 David Knoll AM and Brian Samuel OAM, Co-Presidents of the Union for Progressive Judaism Rabbi David A. Kunin, Chair of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Rabbi Nathan Alfred, Vice-Chair of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Rabbi Nicole Roberts, Treasurer of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Rabbi Shoshana Kaminsky, Secretary of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia
26 HAKOL | February - April
Notice Board
27Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue
Rabbi: Allison R H Conyer [email protected] President: Maureen Barten [email protected] President: Gary TrytellTreasurer: Dan Poll Assistant Treasurer: Lewis Bearman Hon Secretary: Jade RosenbergImmediate Past President: Frank MooreBoard: David Bloom, Beatrice Coleman, Max Freilich, Siri Clemans, Cassandra Barrett, Jade Rosenberg
Articles reflect the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Editors or the Board.
Affiliated with the Union for Progressive Judaism(Australia, New Zealand, Asia)
Kabbalat Shabbat Services: Last Friday of the month 6.30pm, followed by a shared dairy meal
Shabbat Morning Services: Saturdays 10:00am
Upcoming EventsWe are grateful to all of our donors. Your support is vital to ensure our continuity. Contributions may be made in memoriam, to honour others, in gratitude and in celebration. Each month we acknowledge with sincere thanks the gifts made by our congregants and friends.
Recent Donations - Thank you!Geoff & Elaine King , Ann Orre, Judy Firestone, Phillip & Beatrice Coleman, Judith Feldman, David Menahem, Lynda Green, Linette Mydlarz, Bill Menahem, Sean Sacks, Peter Finkelstein, Frank Moore, Inna Vainer, Dan Poll, Barbara Lewis, Pam Spiegel, Peter Gonshor, Vera Unger, Margaret Gonshor, Barbara & Barry Lewis, Phyllis & Michael Crawcour, Mark & Jade Rosenberg, Leslie Clemans, Lewis Myers, Charlotte Janout, David & Sue Langley, Gary Trytell, Valerie Abrahamson, Shirley & Howard Glance, Naomi & Steven Halperin, Gerry & Dina Sabel
