1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation
Newsletter
Iyar, 5775 -! May, 2015
- Lag Ba’Omer & Shavuot Festival Edition -
BH
MAIN CONTENT
PAGE 2
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
PAGE 3
SYNAGOGUE NOTICES
PAGE 4
LAG BAOMER EVENT
PAGE 5
A WORD FROM OUR RABBI
PAGE 6
SHAVUOT ICE-CREAM PARTY 4KIDS
PAGE 7
SHAVUOT ALL NIGHT LEARNING
PAGE 8
ISRAEL & IRAN’S DEAL
PAGE 9
20 FRENCH MAYORS IN ISRAEL
PAGE 9
GUIDE FOR JEWISH EDUCATION
PAGE 10
THE BEAUTY IN EVERY JEW
PAGE 11
MENACHEM BEGIN & HOLOCAUST
PAGE 12
ASK THE RABBI
PAGE 13
WHAT IS LAG BAOMER
PAGE 14
YOUR SHAVUOT GUIDE
PAGE 16
ARCHAEOLOGY– BET GUVRIN
PAGE 17-19 ISRAEL-POINTS OF INTEREST
PAGE 20
MI-SHEBERECH PRAYER LIST
PAGE 21
NCJW COMMUNAL EVENT
PAGE 22-24 HEROES IN OUR MIDST
PAGE 24
TO MARRY JEWISH JEWS
PAGE 26
MARCH OF THE LIVING
PAGE 26
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
PAGE 27
NEW LECTURE SERIES
PAGE 28
LAUGHTER - THE BEST MEDICINE
PAGE 29
CHEF’S CORNER
PAGE 30
ADVERTISEMENTS
PAGE 31
SUNSHINE CLUB FOR SENIORS
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
The busy time of Pesach is behind us now until next year
BH.
We had a very successful Pesach Holidays with more
than 250 guests from interstate joining our Seder’s and
services. It was a great pleasure to share this wonderful
time with our interstate friends.
I am happy to inform you that the Katranski Communal
Hall is now fully renovated, and we hope that you will
use it for all your Simchas and special occasions. It has all
the necessary facilities for a successful function.
We have already 4 bookings for Bar and Bat Mitzvah
celebrations together with a function hosted by the
National Council Of Jewish Women Gold Coast (page 21
in this magazine).
Kol-Hakavod to our generous sponsors - The Katranski
Family, the Pelerman Foundation and all the others.
Sunday school Cheder is up and running again for the
new term, please contact the office if your child is would
like to attend.
I would also like to remind you that it is time for you to
renew your Membership for another successful year, so
please support us so we can continue to provide the vital
services to our community.
David Rebibou
President GCHC
PAGE 32-33 PHOTO PAGES
PAGE 34
SHULE ANNOUNCEMENTS
PAGE 35
JEWISH CROSSWORD PUZZLE
The articles printed in this magazine are not
necessarily the views or policies of the GCHC
Copyright © 2015
The Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation Newsletter
2
Iyar 5775 - May 2015 Edition
- IN APPRECIATION -
SYNAGOGUE NOTICES
OFFICE HOURS
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:
8:30am – 1:00pm
On behalf of the congregation, we would like to
SHOP HOURS
Shop is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday:
9:30am – 1:00pm
organising the upgrade of our beautiful
sincerely thank our President, David Rebibou for
his
tireless
efforts
in
coordinating
and
Katranski Communal Hall. Much effort and time
has been invested by David in organising this
SERVICE TIMES
WEEKDAYS
Shacharit: Monday & Thursday - 6:30am
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday - 6:55am
extensive operation of painting, plastering,
ordering
work,
the
new
flooring,
electrical
audio visual system, instillation of
specially designed curtains, overseeing that the
SHABBAT
Kabbalat Shabbat: Friday at 5:00pm
Shacharit: 9:00am. Shiur class at 8:40am
Mincha and Ma’ariv: 5:00pm
work is done satisfactory, and most importantly
SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Shacharit: 8:00am
Mincha and Ma’ariv: 5:00pm
We also thank David for personally raising ten
- raising the needed funds.
thousand
dollars
towards
the
Hall’s
upgrade. This is in addition to years of service
to our shule and the many projects initiated and
THE GOLD COAST HEBREW CONGREGATION
installed by David such as the new flooring in
our shule, our vital security upgrade around our
ADDRESS
34 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise
P.O. Box 133. Surfers Paradise Q 4217
OFFICE
Administrator - Belinda Werb
Phone: 5570 1851 Fax 5538 6712
Email: [email protected]
premises, a new office for our Rabbi, upgrading
our beautiful kitchen, renovation of our Mikveh
project and more.
We are confident that the Katranski Communal
Hall will be used for many years to come for our
RABBI NIR GUREVITCH
Mobile: 0419 392 818
Email: [email protected]
Kiddushim,
PRESIDENT
David Rebibou
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0449 988 398
corner for our various Jewish communal
WEBSITE: http://www.goldcoasthc.org.au
shiurim classes, social events,
‘mummy and me’ weekly get together, religious
events, Passover Seders, children and toddler
organisations who can utilise it for their events
when needed. We again thank all our generous
sponsors for their contributions and assistance.
Kol Hakavod
3
Lag Ba'omer 5775
BH
The Barbecue Kumzits
You Don’t Want To Miss!!!!
~ Bon Fire
~ Delicious BBQ & Drinks
~ Music & Dancing
~ Roasted Marshmallows
& more..
Wednesday Night, 6 May, 2015 @ 6:30pm.
At the spacious home of our gracious host Norman and Viola Lelah
44 Lutana Street, Nerang
Come along and bring your family and friends!!
For more Information please Tel: The Gold Coast Hebrew
Congregation on 5570 1851
4
The Lesson from a Stone
And since all were intensely involved in their own paths of
service, none would change. The tension between them
escalated, as the deep commitment every student felt to
his own particular approach prevented him from showing
respect for those who followed a different path.
What was wrong with the students' perspective? Nothing
and everything.
Nothing, because every one of the paths proposed by the
students could have been correct.
And everything, because their tunnel-vision prevented
them from seeing any version of the truth other than
their own.
Lag B'Omer is one of Judaism's days of festive
celebration. One of the reasons we celebrate it is that on
this day, a plague that killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's
students ended.
What was the reason for that plague? Because, our
Sages explain, Rabbi Akiva's students did not show
respect for one another.
That explanation has raised many questions. Rabbi Akiva
placed great emphasis on sharing and unity. It was he
who taught: "'Love your fellowman as yourself' is a great
general principle in the Torah." How then could his
students depart from their master's path and fail to
show one another respect?
Chasidic thought explains that because every person is
unique in his nature and thought processes, he has a
unique path in the service of G-d. Similarly, each of
Rabbi Akiva's disciples had his own approach. Because
they were highly developed individuals, each had
internalized his particular approach to the point that it
dominated his personality.
Operating from within his own perspective, each
considered any approach different from his own as
incomplete and inadequate. Being men of integrity, they
no doubt spoke their minds plainly.
No matter how deeply we are involved in our own service
to G-d, we must remain broad-minded enough to
appreciate that someone else may have a different
approach. Other paths may appear inadequate, but this
perception may stem from our own limitations.
Furthermore, even if someone is indeed underdeveloped,
his defi-ciencies need not prevent us from looking upon
him in a favorable light. For every individual possesses a
potential for growth. We should concentrate on helping
others realize that potential, rather than merely
accentuating their need to do so.
Rabbi Akiva's own life serves as an example of how any
person can reach greatness regardless of his background.
Rabbi Akiva descended from a family of converts, and did
not begin to study until the age of 40. Nevertheless, he
attained such heights of scholarship that our entire
knowledge of the Oral Law rests on his teachings.
We needn't wait for miracles to inspire us. Rabbi Akiva
was motivated to begin studying Torah by a simple
physical observation. Noticing how a rock had been worn
away by the constancy of dripping water - though each
drop had no apparent effect - he understood that Torah
(which is likened to water) could refine even those
aspects of his nature that were as rough as stone.
Rabbi Nir Gurevitch
5
The Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation
4 May
Sunday, 2
m
at 10:00a
An exciting children programme featuring games,
stories, nosh, cheese cakes and tons of Ice-cream
for all.
The Gold Coast Hebrew Cong. 34 Hamilton Ave.
Surfers Paradise. For more info tel. 5570 1851
6
DON'T SLEEP TIGHT ON SHAVUOT NIGHT
Rabbi and Dina Gurevitch invites you to Join us for an exciting all-night Torah study session to
celebrate Shavuot. The time-honored tradition of late-night learning on Shavuot dates back
thousands of years, and demonstrates our excitement at receiving the Torah! Enjoy lively learning
and delectable desserts, Tea & coffee.
SHAVUOT NIGHT, SATURDAY , 23 MAY, 2015
From 8:30pm onwards…. At the home of Rabbi Nir and Dina Gurevitch,
48 The Corso, Isle of Capri, Surfers Paradise. Tel. 5570 1851 or 0419 392 818
While awaiting the giving of the Torah 3327 years ago, our forefathers fell asleep at the foot
of Sinai. It has since been the custom to stay awake on the night of Shavuos occupying
ourselves with the study of Torah.
7
ISRAEL Israeli Officials: Iran Deal an
'Historic Mistake'
by Elad Benari
Left and right in Israel were on Thursday night
united in their opposition to the new framework
agreement reached between Iran and six world
powers on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Israeli government officials said that the framework
deal will be remembered as a "historic mistake".
"If an agreement is reached on the basis of this
framework, it is an historic mistake which will make
the world far more dangerous," said the officials,
briefing journalists on condition of anonymity.
"It is a bad framework which will lead to a bad and
dangerous agreement. The framework gives
international legitimacy to Iran's nuclear program,
the only aim of which is to produce a nuclear
bomb," they added.
Meanwhile, Yesh Atid chairman MK Yair Lapid
wrote on Facebook that “there is no opposition and
coalition when it comes to the Iranian nuclear
issue.”
“We all share the concern that the Iranians will
bypass [the agreement], and Israel must protect its
security interests. The ayatollah regime in Iran has
been engaged in years of fraud and deception and
promotes its nuclear program under the nose of the
West,” he continued
Lapid said that he is convinced that Iran's leaders
will try to deceive the international community as
they did in the past.
"There is no basis for determining that today Iran
was prevented from achieving nuclear weapons.
Israel should cooperate with the United States and
the international community to ensure that there is
no case of deception which endangers Israel's
security and the security of the world,” he wrote.
MKs Yitzhak Herzog and Tzipi Livni, heads of the
“Zionist Union”, said that “we are entering a new
phase in dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat.”
"We must remember that the main part is yet to
come and we must ensure that the final agreement
will set the Iranian nuclear program back so as to
prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons and
to ensure Israel's security interests,” they added.
MK Amir Peretz, also of the “Zionist Union”, said that
the framework agreement should raise concern in
Israel.
"The prime minister should establish teams that
include representatives of all factions from the
coalition and the opposition, who will cooperate with
one another and promote the Israeli position in both
public and discretionary ways," he said.
MK Yariv Levin (Likud), head of the Foreign Affairs
and Defense Committee, warned that the framework
is bad and dangerous to the world, to the region and
to Israel.
"The agreement, which is based on deception, will
turn Iran into a nuclear threshold state and give an
unprecedented boost to Iran's efforts to take control
of large parts of the Middle East,” said Levin.
"Given the blindness of Western leaders, Israel will
continue to fight in a determined manner to halt the
Iranian nuclear program and fight the radical Islamic
terrorism sponsored by it," he added.
Responding to the agreement earlier, Jewish Home
chairman Naftali Bennett said that Iran had “received
today an official kosher stamp for its illicit nuclear
program.”
“This is a regime that cannot be trusted and which
has already violated consecutive UN resolutions.
Today's deal paves the way for Iran to eventually
obtain a nuclear weapon, to further destabilize the
Middle East and to continue spreading terror across
the globe,” he warned.
“Today, it is important to stress: Deal or no deal,
Israel will do what is needed to protect itself and its
citizens,” said Bennett.
8
THE GUIDE FOR JEWISH
EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES
Monday - weekly at 7:30pm - Assorted Topics and
Kabbalah @ the Shule’s Katranski Hall
Thursday Talmud class - 7:00pm at the Rabbi’s
home.
Shabbat afternoon Topical insights: @ 5:00pm
20 French Mayors to Visit
Israel for Yom HaShoah
JNS.org - A delegation of 20 French mayors will visit
Israel next week to commemorate Yom HaShoah
(Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day). The mayors all
come from towns that have commemorated residents
who have been designated as Righteous Among the
Nations, an honor bestowed by the state of Israel
to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during
the Holocaust.
Personalised learning with the Rabbi - Please tel.
Rabbi Gurevitch 0419 392 818
The mayor of the
central
French
town of SaintAmand-Montrond
(pictured), Thierry
Vincon, is leading a
delegation to Israel
of 20 French to
commemorate Yom
HaShoah.
Photo:
W i k i m e d i a
Commons.
Women Learning Classes with Rebbetzin Dina
Gurevitch- Please tel. 0405 100 149
Women Rosh Chodesh Group - takes place every
Jewish new month where women of all backgrounds
and affiliation come together to learn, schmooze
and enjoy a scrumptious supper and interesting
speaker. To join us please contact our office on 5570
1851 or Rebbetzin Dina Gurevitch on 0405 100 149
After School Cheder - Every Sunday during school
term from 9:30am - 11:30am. For ages 5-13
At Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation. 35 Markwell
Ave entrance, Surfers Paradise
During your school hours - We come to you
Surfers Paradise State School - Every Wednesday @
1:10pm
Benowa State School - Every Friday @ 10:00am
Bellevue Park State School - Every Thursday @
1:55pm
The visiting delegation was organized by the French
Yad Vashem Committee and the France-Israel
Foundation. On their visit to the Jewish state, the
mayors will be welcomed and hosted by the mayor of
Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai, and will meet with the
descendants of Holocaust survivors and Righteous
Among the Nations. They will also be able to meet with
Israeli companies, including in the high-tech
sector, that are interested in doing business in France.
“A few years ago a Jewish friend showed me a picture
of a young woman holding a child. She was a Holocaust
survivor, a former resident of my own town. We did
not know her story and thus started digging and
looking for details and for more stories like that. We
contacted the French Yad Vashem Committee and
began working together,” said the mayor of the central
French town of Saint-Amand-Montrond, Thierry
Vincon, who will be leading the delegation,
the Jerusalem Post reported.
According to Jean-Pierre Gauzi, the French Yad Vashem
committee’s
secretary-general,
191
French
communities
have
created
memorials
for
residents who have been named Righteous Among the
Nations.
9
Lag B’Omer: The Beauty in
Every Jew
This Lag B’Omer, take a moment to identify
with another’s inner Godliness.
By Rebettzin Tzipora Heller
Joyous! Overwhelmed! Ecstatic! These words are usually
reserved for life’s big ones. Like the time the Human
Resources department called to tell you that you got
that dream job. Or when you finally heard the magic
words, “It’s a healthy baby.”
Lag B’Omer is that kind of day. The 18th of Iyar, April 28,
2013 is likely to draw close to a quarter of a million
people to the tiny northern Israeli village of Meron,
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s final resting place. It is a 24hour spiritual festival with music, dancing, intense
prayers, and a teeming street bazaar where the latest
edition of the Zohar (the core text of Jewish mysticism)
are raucously hawked alongside pictures of tzaddikim
(righteous rabbis), hand-shaped amulets, and colored
scarves. Scores of three year olds are there for their first
haircut, which will take place in the presence of their
family and the tens of thousands of Jews of all stripes
and colors who throng to Rabbi Shimon.
This all takes place in the midst of Sefirat HaOmer, the
50-day count up between Passover and Shavuot. This
time period is accompanied by laws that require a
degree of mourning. No weddings. No music. The
mourning is a reminder of the terrible death of Rabbi
Akiva’s 24,000 students who all passed on during this
time period.
Then comes Lag B’Omer, like a dazzling diamond in a sea
of banal grey. What’s it all about?
The famous reason for the joy of Lag B’Omer is that the
students of Rebbe Akiva ceased dying on this day. But the
reason they stopped dying was because there were no
more students left! Is that a reason to celebrate?
Why were so many Torah scholars struck down by the
plague? The Sages say that they did not treat each other
with kavod – respect – and therefore they were stricken
with a disease that caused them to choke to death. The
Hebrew term kavod shares the same letters as the
Hebrew word that means “heavy.” This heaviness implies
recognizing another person as significant. It means
making him feel that you want to listen to him, and that
he has a worthwhile message that only he can convey.
What makes a person unique? Externally, we may share
similar characteristics, but internally our souls are vastly
different. Rabbi Akiva’s students failed to recognize that
every Jew has infinite value and has a distinctive approach
– simply because he is different than all other people.
They were punished with choking – a state where a
person cannot take in air. Failing to give proper respect to
another person means ceasing to take in ruach – spirit.
When a person does not honor another Jew, it shows that
he has stopped appreciating that person’s unique spirit.
My son-in-law Yisrael was almost 20 when he joined our
family. I will never forget an incident that happened on
one of the very first Shabbats that he shared with us. A
family friend dropped in. Yisrael noticed my little fouryear-old shyly watching the scene. He had been enjoying
getting to know his new big brother-in-law but the
entrance of another unknown adult caused him to
retreat. Yisrael smiled, held out his hand and introduced
him to the visitor. “This is my friend Yehudah,” he said of
his young brother-in-law. Yehudah beamed. He was a
person, worthy of acknowledgment.
With this in mind, we can go back to Meron and get a
handle on what it’s all about.
Every Jew deserves respect, especially a talmid chacham –
a Torah sage – because his soul is entwined with Torah.
Really knowing someone means knowing his thoughts.
Learning Torah means knowing God’s thoughts and
bonding your mind to God’s mind. It means inculcating
Divine traits and growing close to God. So when one gives
respect to a Torah scholar, in essence one gives respect to
that part of God that lives inside every great Jew.
Why do we celebrate on Lag B’Omer? We rejoice that
Rabbi Akiva did not succumb to despair after his
monumental loss
10
Continue….Lag B’Omer: The Beauty in
Every Jew
We marvel at his exceptional fortitude in gathering five
new students and transmitting to them the Oral
Tradition we have today. Rabbi Akiva taught, “V’ahavta
l’rei’acha kamocha, zeh klal gadol ba’Torah – Love your
friend as yourself, this is a prime principle of the Torah.”
Torah takes you to a place where you can find God. The
first place where you can find Him is within the heart of
every Jew.
Menachem Begin on the Lessons
of the Holocaust
by Prime Minister Menachem Begin
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was one of the five students of
Rabbi Akiva. He revealed the secrets of the Torah – how
to find the divine spark within oneself and in other
people. Rabbi Shimon said to come to his tomb on the
anniversary of his death, Lag B’Omer, and to rejoice.
The Maharal quotes the Zohar which says it is easier to
build a connection with a tzaddik after his death,
because then he is no longer constrained by physicality.
Some aspect of the tzaddik’s spirit remains at his resting
place and it wishes to give of itself. However, the degree
to which you identify with the tzaddik is the degree to
which the tzaddik will identify with you. On Lag B’Omer
when we visit Rabbi Shimon’s tomb we are in essence
saying, “Rabbi Shimon, you brought inner meaning and
reality into the world, we want to see inner meaning and
goodness in ourselves and in other people. Please help
us do so.”
Wherever you may be this Lag B’Omer, if you take a
moment to identify with another’s inner Godliness, you
will absorb the profound message of the day.
In May 1981, a group of young American Jewish
leaders asked Prime Minister Begin what he thought
were the lessons of the Holocaust. This was his
answer.
First, if an enemy of our people says he seeks to
destroy us, believe him. Don’t doubt him for a
moment. Don’t make light of it. Do all in your power
to deny him the means of carrying out his satanic
intent.
Second, when a Jew anywhere is threatened, or
under attack, do all in your power to come to his aid.
Never pause to wonder what the world will think or
say. The world will never pity slaughtered Jews. The
world may not necessarily like the fighting Jew, but
the world will have to take account of him.
Third, a Jew must learn to defend himself. He must
forever be prepared for whenever threat looms.
11
Continue…..Menachem
Begin on Ask The Rabbi the Lessons of the Holocaust
Who Am I to Bring Moshiach?
Question:
Fourth, Jewish dignity and honor must be protected
in all circumstances. The seeds of Jewish destruction
lie in passively enabling the enemy to humiliate us.
Only when the enemy succeeds in turning the spirit
of the Jew into dust and ashes in life, can he turn the
Jew into dust and ashes in death.
During the Holocaust it was after the enemy had
humiliated the Jews, trampled them underfoot,
divided them, deceived them, afflicted them, drove
brother against brother, only then could he lead
them, almost without resistance, to the gates of
Auschwitz. Therefore, at all times and whatever the
cost, safeguard the dignity and honor of the Jewish
people.
Fifth, stand united in face of the enemy. We Jews
love life, for life is holy. But there are things in life
more precious than life itself. There are times when
one must risk life for the sake of rescuing the lives of
others. And when the few risk their own lives for the
sake of the many, then they, too, stand the chance of
saving themselves.
Sixth, there is a pattern to Jewish history. In our long
annals as a nation, we rise, we fall, we return, we are
exiled, we are enslaved, we rebel, we liberate
ourselves, we are oppressed once more, we rebuild,
and again we suffer destruction, climaxing in our
own lifetime in the calamity of calamities, the
Holocaust, followed by the rebirth of the Jewish
State.
So, yes, we have come full circle, and with God’s
help, with the rebirth of sovereign Israel we have
finally broken the historic cycle: no more destruction
and no more defeats, and no more oppression – only
Jewish liberty, with dignity and honor. These, I
believe, are the underlying lessons to be learned
from the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust
12
If all the great sages, mystics, and holy people of the
past generations were unable to bring Moshiach in
their lifetimes, how can we imagine we will be able to
make it happen?
Response:
The thing to realize about redemption is that it is not
an all-or-nothing proposition. Bringing Moshiach is not
the sole responsibility of any one generation; it is the
culmination of a collective effort, goodness
accumulated throughout the ages. And goodness
doesn't disappear.
Also, there is a specific benefit to being in this
generation.The Chassidic masters teach that the
purpose of creation is to make this world into a
dwelling place for G d. Not the worlds of the angels,
not some heavenly realm of souls and spiritual
beings—but this earthy, palpable, mundane physical
world. In order to bring Moshiach, this is what we need
to work on—we've got to bring G d down to earth.
Let me ask you: Is there any generation that better
qualifies as being "down on earth” than ours? For
Moshiach to come, the G dly needs to be revealed in
us. In what the Kabbalists call "the lower realms." In
fact, the generation before the coming of Moshiach is
called the "heel of Moshiach" because the world is at
its lowest point since Sinai.
When I was younger, I used to sew needlepoint
tapestries. One of the first ones I ever sewed was a
picture of a quaint cottage, surrounded with trees and
colorful flowers, with a bright blue sky and puffy white,
gray, and dark gray clouds. While sewing it, I decided
that the grays of the clouds were too dreary. So I
replaced them with bright blue and white. When I
finished the picture it didn't look quite right. Those
darker, "drearier" colors were necessary to make the
picture perfect. Sure, the vital reds and pinks and
yellows and bright greens "made" the picture—but
without the simple grays, the somber browns, and the
unobtrusive blacks, the picture was not complete.
Each and every one of us has a crucial role in drawing
the divine picture and bringing Moshiach; if you didn't,
you would not have been created. Telling ourselves that
we have no power, are insignificant, unimportant, and
don't matter is simply a product of laziness. On the
contrary, the very fact that we are such ordinary people,
struggling with the most earthly, mundane matters—
that's exactly what qualifies us more than any other
generation to bring G d down to earth. You can't invite
Him in unless you live there yourself!
FREE INTERNET &
COMPUTER SKILLS FOR
SENIORS @ K-HALL
Have you ever wondered what the Internet is?
Broadband for Seniors is funded by the Australian
Government to provide senior Australians, aged
50 years and over, with free access to computers,
Internet and basic training to help build their
confidence in using new technology.
Remember, G d put us in this position because He
believes in us. And if He does, so should we.
What Is Lag B’Omer
Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count—this year,
Sunday, May 18, 2014—is a festive day on the Jewish
calendar. It is celebrated with outings (on which the
children traditionally play with bows and arrows),
bonfires, and other joyous events. Many visit the resting
place (in Meron, northern Israel) of the great sage and
mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the anniversary of
whose passing is on this day.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who lived in the second
century of the common era, was the first to publicly
teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the
“Kabbalah,” and is the author of the basic work of
Kabbalah, the Zohar. On the day of his passing, Rabbi
Shimon instructed his disciples to mark the date as “the
day of my joy.”
Since it was announced in 2008, around 2,000
Broadband for Seniors kiosks have opened across
Australia with approximately 250,000 seniors
enjoying the benefits!
Broadband for Seniors aims to
The chassidic masters explain that the final day of a
righteous person’s earthly life marks the point at which
“all his deeds, teachings and work” achieve their
culminating perfection and the zenith of their impact
upon our lives. So each Lag BaOmer, we celebrate Rabbi
Shimon’s life and the revelation of the esoteric soul of
Torah.
•
•
•
Lag BaOmer also commemorates another joyous event.
The Talmud relates that in the weeks between the
Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged
amongst the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva,
“because they did not act respectfully towards each
other.” These weeks are therefore observed as a period
of mourning, with various joyous activities proscribed by
law and custom. On Lag BaOmer the deaths ceased.
Thus, Lag BaOmer also carries the theme of the
imperative to love and respect one’s fellow (ahavat
yisrael).
Provide senior Australians with access to
computers and the Internet via free Internet
kiosks;
Support seniors to gain confidence and build
skills in using new technology;
Address the issue of senior Australians feeling
isolated and ‘left behind’ in a technological
age; and
WE PROVIDE FREE INTERNET AND SKILL
DEVELOPMENT EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM
10:00 - 11:30AM AT OUR KATRANSKY HALL 35 MARKWELL AVE, SURFER PARADISE.
For more information contact our office on 5570 1851
13
BH
~ The Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation ~
Your Shavuot
Festival Guide
~ 2015 - 5775 ~
WHAT IS SHAVUOT?
Shavuot is a major festival. It's the second of the three
major festivals that comes exactly 50 days after the holiday
of Passover. It marks the giving of the Torah by G-d to the
entire Jewish people on Mount Sinai 3,327 years ago.
In Hebrew, the word "Shavuot" means "weeks" and stands
for the seven weeks during which the Jewish people
prepared themselves for the giving of the Torah. During this time they rid themselves of the scars of
bondage and became a holy nation ready to stand before G-d.
THE GIVING OF THE TORAH
The giving of the Torah was far more than an historical event. It was a far-reaching spiritual event one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul then and for all time. Our Sages have compared it to a
wedding between G-d and the Jewish people. We became His special nation and He became our G-d.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHAVUOT TODAY
Each year, Shavuot is the special time for us to reawaken and strengthen our special relationship with
Hashem. We can do so by rededicating ourselves to the observance and study of the Torah - our most
precious heritage.
WHAT IS TORAH: THE WRITTEN AND ORAL LAW
The Torah is composed of two parts: the written law and the oral law. The written Torah contains the
Five Book of Moses, the Prophets and the Writings. Together with the written Torah, Moses was also
given the oral law which explains and clarifies the written law. It was transmitted orally from
generation to generation and eventually transcribed in the Talmud and Medrash.
Throughout the generations our people have studied these works, commenting upon them, clarifying
their meanings, deriving practical applications of these principles and codifying the laws derived from
them. Thus, a continuous chain of tradition extends throughout the generations, connecting the
scholars of the present day to the revelation at Mount Sinai.
THE "BLUEPRINT" FOR CREATION
Speaking metaphorically, our Sages tell us that G-d constantly "gazes into the Torah and creates the
world." The Torah is not only a practical guide for our behaviour in daily life, but also on a deeper
level it is actually the "blueprint" for creation. Everything that happens in our lives is a manifestation
of G-d's wisdom, as expressed in His Torah. As such, Torah represents the very source of our vitality,
and the key to the fulfilment of our deepest aspirations.
14
CUSTOMS OF SHAVUOT
There is a custom to adorn the synagogue and home with flowers and greens.
Flowers: Our Sages taught that although Mount Sinai was situated in a desert, in honour of the Torah
the desert bloomed and sprouted flowers. Greens: Our Sages taught that on Shavuot judgment is
rendered regarding the trees of the field. Also, in the time of the Beis HaMikdash - may it be rebuilt
now – the first fruits were brought on Shavuot.
TIKUN LAIL SHAVUOT
The Torah was given at daybreak. Our tradition relates that the Jewish people did not rise early to be
prepared for that revelation, and that it was necessary for G-d Himself to awaken them. To
compensate for their behaviour it is customary to stay up the entire first night of Shavuot studying
Torah. This custom is called "Tikun Lail Shavuot." Everyone is invited to Rabbi and Dina Gurevitch’s
home on Saturday evening, 23 May at 8:30pm
CHEESE BLINTZES & DAIRY FOODS
Cheese blintzes are served hot, with sour cream or applesauce. They are a special favourite on Shavuot
when it is customary to eat dairy products (not hard cheese) before the main lunch meal.
There are several reasons given by our Sages for the custom of eating a dairy meal on Shavuot. One of
them is, that on Shovuos, the Jewish People were given the laws of Kashrut and they were unable to
use their utensils that day until they were rendered Kosher by the proper process of "kashering"
utensils. Thus their meal was a dairy meal.
THE SHAVUOT CALENDAR & TIMES FOR 5775/2015
This year, Shavuot falls following Shabbat, on Saturday night, Sunday and Monday. Thus, the first
night of Shavuot is Saturday night May 23, 2015
On Saturday evening – May 23 we light the Yom Tov Candles at 5:41pm from a pre-existing flame and
say blessings #1 and #2.
On Sunday evening at 5:41pm we light the Yom Tov candles from a pre-existing flame and recite
blessings #1 and AFTERWARDS blessing #2.
Monday – May 25 at 10:30am is Yizkor. Yom Tov ends after nightfall at 5:40pm.
BLESSINGS FOR CANDLE LIGHTING
Blesssing # 1 - Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-tav
Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
Blessing # 2 - Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heh-che-yoh-nu Vi-ki-ye-mo-nu
Ve-he-ge-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE COMING TO THE SYNAGOGUE.
Sunday, May 24, everyone, men, women and children, including young infants should attend
Shule in the morning and hear the reading of the Ten Commandments at approx. 10:00am
with a special children service and party. So please join us following a scrumptious Milchig
Kiddush.
15
Archaeology Israel's Beit Guvrin celebrated as
UNESCO World Heritage site
Caves become Israel's eighth site to join the UNESCO
World Heritage List.
The other Israeli sites on the list include Masada; the Old
City of Acre; the White City of Tel Aviv; the biblical tels of
Megiddo, Hatzor, and Beersheba; the incense route of
desert cities in the Negev; and Baha’i holy places in Haifa
and the Western Galilee.
Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park was nominated by
the INPA to the Education Ministry’s Israel National
Commission for UNESCO and the Foreign Ministry. It was
joined in its nomination by the Yoav and Lachish regional
councils, the Government Tourism Corporation, Bar-Ilan
University archeological institutions, the Archaeological
Seminars Institute, the Antiquities Authority, and the
Hebrew University’s Cave Research Unit.
The national park – which is part of “the land of a
thousand caves” – is a 5-sq.km. area within a 100-sq.km.
lowland region, containing many different types of
caves, according to the INPA .
Within the area, there are about 500 caves, most of
them contained in systems with dozens of rooms.
While the caves had many purposes, they were not used
for residences due to health reasons, the INPA said.
The ‘Bell Caves’ at Beit Guvrin. (photo credit:SHMUEL BAR-AM)
Joining the ranks of 1,006 other sites of outstanding
natural and cultural importance around the globe,
Israel’s Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park earned its
certification as a UNESCO World Heritage site on
Tuesday.
Calling Beit Guvrin a “microcosm of the land of the
caves,” the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization selected the site to the World Heritage List
during its 38th session in Doha, Qatar, in June 2014.
New - Mums and Bubs Get Together!!!
The caves, located in the Judean lowlands south of Beit
Shemesh and east of Kiryat Gat, contain a “city under a
city” characterized by man-made caves, according to the
World Heritage Committee statement at the time.
On Tuesday, representatives from the Israel Nature and
Parks Authority, UNESCO, and the surrounding regional
councils gathered to celebrate Beit Guvrin’s recognition
at a special declaration ceremony.
All mothers and toddlers are invited to a
morning of fun, learning, Jewish Arts and crafts
and songs. Incorporating Jewish festivals,
Alef- bet and games.
Every Monday at 10am, at Katranski Hall,
35 Markwel Ave. Surfers Paradise
Beit Guvrin is Israel’s eighth site to join the UNESCO
World Heritage List. Prior to Beit Guvrin, the most recent
Israeli addition to the list were the Nahal Me’arot caves
in the Carmel in June 2012.
$10 to cover snacks and arts & crafts
-Every Welcome -
16
Israel– Points of interest
~ Tiberias ~
Overview
Built along the shore of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), near
seventeen natural hot springs, the northern Israeli city of
Tiberias is known as the "City of Water." It is considered
one of the four "Holy Cities" in Israel.
Some 2,000 years ago, Tiberias was the center of Jewish
study and the last seat of the Sanhedrin (Supreme Court
of Jewish law). After enduring constant wars throughout
the Middle Ages, the city was revived by an influx of
kabbalists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The city's major attractions are the Kinneret, its natural
hot springs and the graves of many historical luminaries.
Meanwhile, the Jewish nation was undergoing a crisis. In
69 CE, Jerusalem and the Second Temple were
destroyed. Shortly before Jerusalem was destroyed,
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai snuck out of the besieged
city and established Yavneh as the new center for Jewish
learning and leadership (click here for the full story), a
response which later inspired German poet Heinriche
Heine to call the Torah the "portable homeland of the
Jew."
For the next seventy years, the Sanhedrin would meet in
Yavneh and then later in the small agricultural village of
Usha. After the Bar Kochba rebellion was quashed in 135
CE, virtually all Jewish life was wiped out of the entire
southern Judean region. At this point, the Jewish center
moved to the northern Galilee region. Rabbi Shimon bar
Yochai purified Tiberias of its graves (see story in
"Interesting Facts" - use tab above), and Tiberias, as well
as neighboring Tzippori, became the main centers of
Jewish learning and culture.
Following the death of Rabbi Judah the Prince in c. 220,
the Sanhedrin made its final migration from Tzippori to
Tiberias. From then on, Tiberias would remain the center
of the diminished Jewish society of the land of Israel
until the tenth century.
In 358, following another Jewish revolt (known as the
War against Gallus) the Roman emperor disbanded the
Sanhedrin. Despite these persecutions, the sages worked
on compiling the Talmud. Around 400, the "Jerusalem
Talmud" was canonized in Tiberias.
Basic History
Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, built the city in 17
BCE, naming it in honor of the Roman emperor Tiberias.
Tiberias became the capital of the Galilee, replacing
nearby Tzippori.
In the latter half of the millennium, Tiberias, now under
Muslim control, was the home of the Masoretes
(Mesorah means "transmission"), scholars who were
concerned with the accurate transmission of the biblical
texts.
The new city was set in a beautiful locale, along the shore
of the Kinneret, near natural mineral hot springs with
health giving properties. However, it was also the site of
an ancient cemetery. As such it was ritually unclean, and
Jews refused to live there. Antipas forced some Jews
from the Galilean countryside to move into his showcase
town, but for the next two centuries most Jews shunned
Tiberias.
17
Continue…..Israel–
Points of interest
Tiberias ~
These grammarians also introduced the vowel notation
system for Hebrew that is still used today. The Aleppo
Codex, which can now be seen in the Shrine of the Book
in Jerusalem, is credited to the greatest of the
Masoretes, Asher ben Asher. During this era, Tiberias was
struck by several major earthquakes which devastated
most of the city.
With the Crusaders' first conquest of the Holy Land in
1099, they demolished the ancient city of Tiberias and
built a new city just a few kilometers to the north, the
site of modern-day Tiberias. The Muslims soon took over
the Holy Land again, and Tiberias continued to be ruled
by various Islamic dynasties. But as a result of the
constant wars, the entire region underwent a decline. In
the twelfth century, the Jewish traveler, Rabbi Benjamin
of Tudela, found only fifty Jewish families living in
Tiberias
Mosaic floor from Tiberias synagogue featuring a lulav (palm
frond) and etrog (citron), now on display at Eretz Israel
Museum, Tel Aviv
In 1837, Tiberias was almost entirely destroyed by an
earthquake. More than five hundred Jews were killed,
and the wall surrounding the city was destroyed. While
many of the survivors moved to Hebron, Tiberias was
again resettled by Chassidic Jews. In addition to the
earthquake, the Jews of Tiberias also suffered from
poverty and the ravages of cholera. Jews in the Diaspora
would regularly send money to enable them to continue
living there.
In the 16th century, Doña Gracia, and her nephew, Don
Joseph Hanassi, former Portuguese marranos, restored
the wall around the city, built a yeshiva and encouraged
Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition to settle in the city.
Tiberias flourished again for a hundred years. However, it
was again destroyed and abandoned by the Jewish
community due to fighting between local farmers and
Bedouins.
By the beginning of the 20th century, Tiberias had a
population of 3,600, two thousand of whom were Jews.
Tiberias expanded beyond the old city walls onto the
hills above the old city.
In the 1740s, Rabbi Chaim Abulafia, a kabbalist from
Turkey, resettled Tiberias. He collected money from the
Diaspora to sustain the straggling community, built
yeshivas and synagogues, and renovated homes.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Tiberias
received an influx of rabbis who established the city as a
center for Jewish learning.
Spiritual Significance
One of these was Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitbesk,
one of the leaders of the third generation of the
Chassidic movement, who, in 1765, emigrated from
Eastern Europe together with a group of several hundred
followers. During this time, because of its concentration
of Jewish scholars and mystics, Tiberias became known
as one of the four "Holy Cities," along with Jerusalem,
Hebron, and Safed.
During the War of Independence in 1948, Israeli forces
kept Tiberias, while all the Arab inhabitants fled, leaving
the city completely Jewish
Tiberias is located in the Jordan valley, the lowest valley
on earth. The Sea of Galilee is nearly 700 feet below sea
level. The rabbis note that Tiberias is the lowest of all
cities, and attribute mystical significance to that. Tiberias
symbolizes the lowliness of our exile, when our
institutions have been eradicated and we have been
driven off our land.
Therefore, our rabbis teach, Tiberias will "arise" even
before Jerusalem. Just as the glory of Torah last sat in
Tiberias, so will it reappear there in times of Moshiach—
according to tradition, the Sanhedrin will reemerge in
Tiberias first, and will then relocate to the Holy Temple
in Jerusalem.
18
Continue…..Israel–
Points of interest
Tiberias ~
• Lately archeologists have discovered tomb entrances
reused as paving stones. Historians speculate that if
these tombs were no longer needed because the bodies
had been reburied at a different site, the entrance
stones could have been recycled as paving stones. This
somewhat corroborates the aforementioned Talmudic
account of the re-burial that following Rabbi Shimon's
purification ceremony.
Interesting Facts
• Tiberias was built on the site of the destroyed village of
Rakkat, mentioned in the Book of Joshua (19:35). Rakkat
was located along the ancient trade route from Egypt to
Damascus. Its economy centered around fishing,
agriculture and trade.
• In 324 CE the Roman Empire accepted Christianity as
the official religion, marking the beginning of the
Byzantine period. Tiberias became a major destination
for Christian pilgrims.
• The Kinneret is the largest source of the country's
drinking water. The sea also supplies water to the West
Bank and Jordan. The receding water level of the
Kinneret is often a cause for concern.
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk founded the
Chassidic community in Tiberias in 1777, raising the
hopes of many that the Redemption was imminent.
Shortly after he arrived, a deranged man climbed the
Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and sounded a shofar. A
rumor quickly spread that the shofar's call heralded the
arrival of Moshiach. When news of Moshiach's arrival
reached Tiberias, Rabbi Menachem Mendel was
informed, "Rebbe, the shofar was sounded on the
Mount of Olives! Moshiach is here!"
He slowly arose and walked to the window. He threw
the shutters wide open and sniffed the air. He sadly
closed the windows and remarked, "No, he has not
come; I cannot smell the scent of Redemption."
• Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai spent thirteen years in a cave
hiding from the Romans. Due to a dearth of clothing, he
spent most of the time buried up to his neck in sand
(click here for the full story). As a result, his skin wasn't
in great condition when he finally left the cave, so he
went to bathe in the hot springs of Tiberias and was
cured. When he gratefully asked the people of Tiberias
what he could do for them, they asked him to find a
remedy for the city's ritual impurity, so that Jews would
want to come and live there. He miraculously caused all
the corpses in the city to rise to the surface of the
ground, and they were removed.
• According to tradition, "Miriam's Well," the boulder
that miraculously supplied water to the Israelites in the
desert, ended up in the Kinneret. Recently, an Israeli
archeologist, based on centuries-old texts and legwork
around the sea, claims he's found the long-lost site of
the well.
• There are various traditions regarding the source of
the hot springs of Tiberias. According to one source,
during Noah's Flood, "the wellsprings of the great depths
burst forth, and the windows of the heavens
opened" (Genesis 7:11). The waters that spewed forth
from the depths were boiling, and thus obliterated all
that existed. Eventually, most of the wellsprings were
closed, but the springs of Tiberias remained.
• The atypical quality of the Tiberias hot springs, i.e.
waters that are heated, but not by means of fire,
consumes a considerable amount of space in halachic
literature. Examples: Is one culpable for cooking food in
the hot springs on Shabbat? Can one kosher utensils in
its boiling waters?
Today
Tiberias has a population of about 40,000 residents,
many of them immigrants from North Africa and Eastern
Europe. It is a major tourist attraction and a very popular
resort area. In addition to its drawing power as one of
the four "Holy Cities" of the land of Israel, Tiberias is
popular for its rich archaeological remains, gravesites of
holy people, the Kinneret and hot springs. There are
many hotels to choose from, ranging from luxury hotels
to youth hostels as well as a selection of kosher
restaurants. The beautiful Kinneret can be seen from
virtually the entire city as a result of its location on top
of a hill.
Water Attractions:
South of modern Tiberias is the Hamat Tiberias National
Park, which includes the seventeen natural hot springs
whose healing powers have attracted people for
thousands of years. You can see and even touch the hot
water which still streams forth from the ground.
19
Aside from the remains of the hot springs, the main
focus of the park is a synagogue which was in use at the
time when the Sanhedrin court was situated in Tiberias.
The synagogue features a mosaic floor with a zodiac
motif. You can also see the remains of ancient
courtyards and walls, and even sit on the stone
benches where our greatest sages may have sat.
In the park, you can visit a Turkish bathhouse from
more recent times. The waters from the springs feed
the luxurious Tiberias Springs Spa, where you can bathe
in the waters of the famous hot springs. For the
modesty-conscious, there are separate hours for men
and women. The Kinneret is a popular destination for
boating, fishing, and assorted water sports.
Graves: Just above the National Park lies the gravesite
of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes ("The Miracle Worker").
Rabbi Meir was one of the most important 2nd century
sages and a participant in the Bar Kochba revolt.
Although he died outside of the Land of Israel, he was
brought to Tiberias to be buried.
Misheberch - Prayer for the sick
Jewish tradition ordains that whenever the Torah is
read we are granted a special and uniquely opportune
moment to invoke blessing for those in need of divine
intervention. From time immemorial it has therefore
been the custom to recite a "Mi Sheberach" (prayer for
the sick) on behalf of people who are ill. We pray for
the people below, and wish them a speedy recovery:
Men
Further north, closer to the modern city of Tiberias,
there is an old cemetery. Famous graves include those
of many chassidic rabbis, including Rabbi Menachem
Mendel of Vitebsk.
Yehuda Avraham Ben Beila Chaya
Michael Ben Baila Chaya
Shmuel Ben Alter Chaya Reyna
Daniel Ha'Levi Ben Rochel
Shlomo Ben Dahlia
Adam Gideon Ben Leah
Michael Ben Mina
Mordechai Ha'Levi Ben Rochel
Yishai Ben Sara
Tom Ben Miriam
Chaim Ha’Levi Ben Miriam
Mordechai Ben Chana
Shimon Dovid Ben Sara
Michael Ha'Levi Ben Baila
Tzvi Avigdor Ben Chaya Shaindl
Zalmen Ben Rochel
Shmuel Ben Sara
Philip Ben Faygelle
Aaron Ben Sara
Yehushua Ben Leah
Shalom Ben Simcha
Within the city itself, a short walk from the city center,
is the gravesite of Maimonides Rambam (1135-1294).
He died in Egypt but, according to his wishes, his body
was transported to Israel for burial. Rabbi Yochanan
ben Zakkai (see above, History (link)), is also believed to
be buried nearby.
Higher up on the hillside, also within the modern city,
under a white dome, is the grave of Rabbi Meir's
teacher, the legendary Rabbi Akiba (link), who was
brutally executed by the Romans during the Bar Kochba
Rebellion. His wife, Rachel, who inspired him to study
and become the great teacher he was, is also buried in
the Tiberias area, between the National Park and the
old cemetery.
Women
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707-1747), known as
the Ramchal, author of Mesillat Yesharim is buried
adjacent to Rabbi Akiba.
Sarah Bas Leah
Dalia Bas Tziyona
Tziyona Bat Chana
Peryla Bas Chana
Gittel Bas Chana
Rivka Bas Sara
Faygelle Bas Chana
Sara Bas Chana
Tatyana Baas Fayna
Tirtza Bas Tikvah
Judy Bat Sarah
Archaeology: Ancient Tiberias, just south of the
modern city of Tiberias, is where most of the
archaeological remains of Roman and Byzantine
Tiberias can be found. A bathhouse has been found
that is thought to have been the main bathhouse of
Tiberias mentioned in the Talmud, as well as many
other public buildings.
20
21
- New Monthly Column Heroes in our midst
by Lynn Santer
Who could ask for anything more?
When I arrived in the home of Fae and Haymi Gordon it
was approaching Shabbat and Fae was sitting knitting
"trauma teddies" for the Red Cross. This is so typical of a
woman who has devoted her life to so many causes it's
impossible to adequately represent them all here. Her
adorable knitted teddies, given to children in hospital to
comfort and cheer them, is just the latest example of this
remarkable woman's giving spirit.
Her Shabbat table said it all, with a special message
included on it reading: "Wherever you go, no matter
what the weather, you always bring the sunshine".
Fae and Hymi Gordon at thier home
was a bit cheeky though," she grinned at me, glancing
towards Haymi who smiled broadly in reply. "Instead of
giving him my address, I asked for his phone number so I
could collect the photos when I was in Johannesburg. I
just knew he was THE one. Two months later, after
seeing Singing in the Rain, Haymi proposed to me and
we were married in the following January."
On their wedding day— 1953
Haymi, who will, please G-d, be celebrating his 92nd
birthday in May, sat looking lovingly at his wife of 62
years as Fae recalled how they first met in South Africa.
"We met on a beach in Cape Town. I was on holiday,
sitting alone, reading a book, when a friend spotted me
and asked me to join their group. Haymi was there and
photos were taken. He asked for my address to send the
photos to, because in those days it took time to develop
happy snaps.
One of the things that impressed Fae about Haymi was
how good he was to his parents. Fae's own father was
deaf and dumb and her mother, an emigrant from Russia
to South Africa, lost her sight completely aged 70.
Nonetheless, she continued to knit, even blind, and lived
to reach her 90th birthday. The little squares she knitted
were turned into blankets. "We call them Bubba's
Blankets," Fae told me. "We never use the heating in
winter because Bubba's blankets encircle us and keep us
warm."
It was these experiences which started Fae and Haymi
on their own life's mission of giving to others. With left
over wool from her trauma teddies, Fae too makes
blankets of squares for her grandchildren, hoping in
many years to come they will always feel her warmth
wrapped around them.
22
Continue….. Heroes
in our midst
Extra blankets are given to the Earl Haven Nursing Home,
neighbouring the retirement village where Fae and
Haymi have lived for nine years. "We moved here when
caring for a house became too much and we never
looked back. We love it here," she assured me.
Apparently the residents all love her too... because she's
the one who always tells "naughty" jokes during happy
hour on a Thursday night!
The ‘Hebrew Order of David’ honorary
membership for years of commuanal service
Fae catered all the lodge meetings (apparently everyone
adored her vegetable soup) and together they would
drive the elderly on outings. Of course we have all
Fae Gordon receives the ‘Rabin Communal benefitted from Fae's catering skills. For years and years
Award’ for many years of communal service
she would walk to the station, take the bus to Shule,
prepare a weekly kiddush, take the bus back and walk
home again. "I didn't mind," she smiled. "It was good
When their oldest daughter, Maxine, married she left exercise and I loved it."
South Africa, believing it an unsafe environment to raise
a family. She went first to the UK and subsequently While still in Africa, they also raised money for the
Australia. Once here she sponsored her sisters to join her Magen David Adom to buy ambulances and once settled
and in 1988, Fae and Haymi were convinced to leave in Australia that tradition continued. They joined the
South Africa to reunite with their children. The first thing Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation, the Chevra Kadisha
they did was to join our Shule. That was in July - the AGM and Gold Coast Jewish Welfare Association (where Fae
was in August. Philip Frankel was treasurer at the time was elected President in 1994 - a position she held for
and graciously invited Fae and Haymi to his home, where four years). Under her Presidency the very successful
Senior Citizens Club was held every Wednesday at
their vast network of friends on the Gold Coast began.
Temple Shalom. She has also been a weekly visitor at Beit
"In South Africa I did take the Dale Carnegie course: How Shalom House, visiting elderly Jewish residents.
to win friends and influence people," Fae grinned to me.
Haymi was in fact on the Committee at Chevra Kadisha
No doubt that explains a lot!
when the Holocaust Memorial was erected. Fae admits
Also in South Africa, Haymi was involved in the Hebrew she was at first terrified when Norma Conway
Order of David (a bit like the Masons). In due course he approached her, asking that she perform the ritual
was made an honorary life member for his tireless washing of bodies, but she soon realised they just looked
asleep and there was enormous peace in being able to
devotion to others.
say a dignified farewell. She is still on call for this duty
even today. But that's not all!
23
Continue….. Heroes
in our midst
Fae has been a volunteer at the Gold Coast Arts Centre,
meeting and greeting guests and informing them what's
on.
Together with Haymi they joined the University of the
Third Age (a broad range of learning for retirees) where
they quickly became members of the committee,
deciding the direction and implementation of activities.
Following this they joined Probus (a senior version of
Rotary) where they were also on the Committee and Fae
subsequently was voted in as President. On top of that, in
2005, Fae received the "Rabin Communal Award" in
recognition of her years of communal activism and
dedication beyond the call of duty. She has also received
the Community Services Award in the NCJW Honours.
"Haymi was always a huge support to me in everything I
did," she said, glancing at him both proudly and lovingly.
In parting words she asks that we all respect each other people of all religions and faiths. "We CAN do it," she said
firmly.
Who could ask for anything more?
Will Our Children Marry
Jewish Jews.
By by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
The Jewish people, having survived for thousands of
years in the most adverse circumstances, including the
Holocaust, is today threatened by intermarriage and
assimilation. Jewish communities throughout the
diaspora are experiencing demographic decline. Why
has this happened, and can anything be done to
reverse the trend?
The particular challenge facing Jews today is how
Jewish identity may be sustained in an open, secular
society. The greatest danger is failure to recognize that
times have changed and that, in consequence,
communal priorities need to change also.
Times have changed, and we are beginning to sense
how suddenly and radically they have changed. We had
grown used to a situation in which Jewish identity was
passed on through the generations by habit, memory,
external events and an inescapable sense that being
Jewish is what we are. Belatedly we have discovered
that for our children, being Jewish is no more than a
matter of choice. They know that they can choose
otherwise, if not for themselves then for their children.
They will choose to be Jewish for one reason only, that
knowing the drama of Jewish history, the richness of
Jewish life, the grandeur of Jewish ethics and the
majesty of Jewish faith, they are proud to be Jews.
There is only one cogent argument against
intermarriage, and it is this. To be a Jew is to be a
member of the people of the covenant, an heir to one
of the world's most ancient, enduring and aweinspiring faiths.
The Gordons’ Shabbat Table and moto
24
Continue...Will
Our Children
Marry Jewish Jews.
It is to inherit a way of life which has earned the
admiration of the world for its love of family, its
devotion to education, its philanthropy, its social
justice and its infinitely loyal dedication to a unique
destiny.
It is to know that this way of life, passed on from
parents to children since the days of Abraham and
Sarah, can only be sustained through the Jewish family;
and knowing this, it is to choose to continue it by
creating a Jewish home and having Jewish children. No
one who has been touched by Judaism's wings of
eternity would willingly break the link between the past
and the Jewish future. This and only this will ensure
that we have Jewish grandchildren.
FORGING THE PLAN
How do we achieve this? At the very outset, I knew that
this would be the greatest challenge of my Chief
Rabbinate, and the greatest single challenge facing
today's diaspora as a whole. Despite the fact that the
core of the solution is education, the process of
acculturation is already too far advanced for this to be
our sole response. Most of our children attend, and in
the future will continue to attend, non-Jewish schools.
There is the question of those who have left school and
perhaps have gone to university, or who have already
begun their careers. There is the problem of educating
parents as well as children, for what will we gain if our
children hear one message at school and another
conflicting message at home? What about the many
social contexts in which young Jews can stay Jewish
and which are not primarily educational, such as youth
clubs, friends, meeting places, organizations and social
events? How will any of this help if we do not make our
synagogues genuine centers of community, warm,
welcoming and all embracing?
A vast global policy is needed, with learning at its heart,
but wider than anything normally associated with the
word "education."
It will be difficult. But it will be possible, if we are
prepared to change our priorities because times have
changed.
RENEWED OR ABANDONED
Two factors might sabotage a solution. The first is
despair, which we must resist at all costs. If we believe
nothing can be done, then nothing will be done. The
Jewish people has never in the past yielded to despair,
and now is not the time to begin.
The second factor would be a failure to understand
that times have changed. Let me candidly admit that I
did not go to Jewish schools. Neither did my parents.
My generation, and that of our parents and
grandparents did not need intensive Jewish education
to remind us that we were Jews. But our children
belong to the fourth generation. What was enough for
us is not enough for them. In the fourth generation,
Judaism is either renewed or it is abandoned. There is
no other alternative.
We are not our parents, and our children are not us.
Our parents sought to give us the things they did not
have when they were children: material comforts, a
good secular education, the chance to pursue a
profession. They tried to give us the opportunities
which they themselves had missed.
We in our turn must try to give our children what we
lacked, namely the chance to experience, live, know
and understand our Jewish heritage. That is the
challenge.
- Kosher Meals at all Gold Coast
Public Hospitals' We would like to inform everyone that a
new service has been implemented in
which any Jewish patient at any Gold
Coast Public Hospital can request Kosher
food which will be supplied by the
hospital. Please relate this to anyone
you know who has been admitted to
hospital so they can take advantage of
this service
25
Thousands walk from
Auschwitz to Birkenau
in March of the Living
Each year, marchers commemorate more than a million
people – the vast majority of them Jewish men, women, and
children – who were murdered in the death camp.
Thousands of people were walked from the Auschwitz to
Birkenau in Poland on Thursday as part of the annual March
of the Living on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Each year, marchers commemorate more than a million
people – the vast majority of them Jewish men, women, and
children – who were murdered in the death camp.
This year, the program included some 10,000 students and
adults, Jews and non-Jews, from more than 40 countries. It
also commemorated the 70th anniversary to the end of the
Second World War.
“Seventy years ago, Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz,” said
Dr. Shmuel Rosenman, who has served as chairman for the
March of the Living since 1988. “But for most of this camp’s
inmates, they were too late.”
Only a few thousand frail and starving prisoners were still
alive, he said, calling Auschwitz-Birkenau the largest site of
mass murder in the world. He added that all across Europe,
the same scene was repeated, with allied troops coming
across scores of concentration camps filled with the few who
had managed to survive the brutality of the Nazis.
“On this march we insist that never again shall we be silent
when innocent people are being slaughtered,” said
Rosenman. “Whether they are our brothers and sisters, or
members of any other nation, race or religion, never again
shall we [be] indifferent to the suffering others. Never again
shall we be ‘too late’ in hearing the cry of the downtrodden.
And yet we look around the world today and see that our
work is not yet done.”
Rosenman said he considers the march and its surrounding
events an international educational program, bringing young
people and adults from all over the world together to learn
about the history of the Holocaust and Jewish life in Poland.
“The participants take the actual steps of the march of
death,” explains Rosenman. “The actual route which
countless numbers of Nazi victims were forced to take on
their way to the gas chambers or other concentration camps.
This time, however, there’s a difference. It’s the march of the
living – during which participants will affirm that intolerance
no longer has a place in our world.”
Personal Development:
Growing Each Day
By Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski
Accustom your tongue to say "I do not
know" (Berachos 4a).
While no human being can know everything, some
people cannot admit any ignorance about anything.
For them, any admission of lack of knowledge
threatens their fragile egos. Although they try to
impress others with their omniscience, they
accomplish the reverse, because the more they try
to conceal their ignorance, the more prominent it
becomes.
Furthermore, the only way we can acquire
knowledge is by accepting that we do not have it.
People who claim to know everything cannot learn.
Therefore, many opportunities to learn pass them
by, and their denying their ignorance actually
increases their ignorance.
We do not have to know everything, and no one
expects us to. Today, more than ever, with the
unprecedented amount of information available, no
one can be a universal genius. The simple
statement, "I don't know," is actually highly
respected.
We should also open ourselves to acquiring
knowledge from every source. Learning from
someone whom we consider to be inferior to
ourselves should not be demeaning. As the Psalmist
says, "I became wise by learning from all my
teachers" (Psalms 119:99). A willingness to learn
from everyone is a sign of greatness, while affecting
omniscience actually betrays ignorance.
Today I shall...
admit that there are many things that I do not
know. Instead, I will become willing
By David Stromberg, Jpost
26
- Our new variety of weekly classes -
27
Laughter….The Best Medicine
Jewish American Princess
Q: Did you hear about the JAP who had plastic surgery?
A: Her husband cut up her credit cards.
Morris the Contractor
Morris a building contractor was being paid by the week for a job
that was likely to stretch over several months. He approached the
owner of the property and held up the check he'd been given.
" This is two hundred dollars less than we agreed on," Morris said.
"I know," the owner said. "But last week I overpaid you two hundred dollars, and you never
complained."
Morris said impatiently.... "Well, I don't mind an occasional mistake. But when it gets to be a habit, I feel I have to
call it to your attention."
Bus Stop
An elderly Jewish lady approaches a man at a bus stop in Brooklyn. She tugs on the sleeve of his coat and asks,
"Farshtayn Yiddish?"
The man answers: "Yes, Ich Farshtay."
Elderly Lady: "Vot Time is It?"
Hanging Around
Rivkah Rubenstein was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She
left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she
had locked her keys in the car.
She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told
her that her daughter’s fever was getting worse. The baby sitter suggested, "Maybe you can find a coat hanger
and use that to open the door."
Rivkah looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground, but she
looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."
Rivkah was always a spiritual person, so she looked heavenward and asked God to send her some help. Within five
minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his
head. The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But she was desperate, so she was also very
thankful.
The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get
her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to
unlock my car?"
He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and
through her tears she said, "Thank you so much! You are a very nice man."The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice
man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, thank you God! You even sent me a
professional!"
28
Chefs Corner
Delicious Gluten-Free Desserts
Persian Shortbread (Nan-e Nokhodchi)
These rich shortbread cookies – a favorite in Persian Jewish communities – get their intriguing flavor from
chickpea flour. In professional bakeries, these cookies are usually made in a tiny four-leaf shape using a cookiecutter; I love making them at home and opt for an easier circular shape to save time.
2 cup chickpea flour
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter (plus 1-2 T butter, if needed)
1 t ground cardamom (or crush 10-12 whole cardamom pods,
discarding the outer shells)
Mix ingredients together using first a spoon, then your hands. The dough
will be very stiff: add extra butter as needed until it binds together.
•
•
•
•
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form dough into round balls, one inch in diameter. Place on parchment
paper and flatten the balls slightly with your thumb. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes, until barely golden.
Cool before serving.
Makes 2 dozen cookies.
Recipe from The Legendary Cuisine of Persia by Margaret Shaida (Interlink Books, 2000).
Chocolate Mousse (Mousse au Chocolat)
Chocolate Mousse makes an elegant dessert. This version is from the classic French cookbook, Ginette Mathiot’s
Je sais cuisine (“I know how to cook”), which has educated generations of French cooks. (Note: raw eggs are not
recommended for everyone. I’ve tried making this dish using pre-pasteurized
eggs; it comes out less stiff, but still delicious.)
7 oz chocolate
2 T water
6 egg whites
2 T powdered sugar
In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, gently melt the
chocolate in the water, stirring occasionally, to make a thick paste.
•
•
•
•
Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, add the sugar and continue whisking until
very stiff. Fold the chocolate gently into the egg whites. Pour into a bowl and
refrigerate for up to 3 hours. Serve cold.
Serves 6.
29
- Our new variety of classes in our new weekly Series Our lessons probe the depth of contemporary Torah thought, with a special focus on issues
surrounding spirituality, the human psyche, love and interpersonal relationships. Every experience
offers meaningful and timely lessons – from the most timeless of texts. You will walk away surprised,
inspired, and knowing more about who we are as Jews, and who you are as an individual. We invite
you to browse through the topics in this catalogue of classes below and join us for a weekly dose of
uplifting Jewish study. If you find any topics that you think may be of interest to your friends, please
encourage them to come along. Checkout our variety of classes on page 23
30
It’s not just about visitation.
It’s about friendship.
It’s about community.
The Sunshine Club is a unique volunteer program under the auspices of the Gold
Coast Hebrew Congregation designed to bring cheer and companionship into the
lives of Jewish seniors all throughout the Gold Coast.
Whether for seniors living on their own, in assisted living facilities or convalescent
homes, the Sunshine Club matches up caring friends to be there with and for
seniors - to visit, to assist and to uplift. To share experiences, to spend quality time,
to celebrate special occasions and to create wonderful memories together.
Programs:
•
•
•
•
Weekly Friendship Visits
Book-Reading
Family Connections
Educational Materials
• Recreational Activities
• Arts & Crafts
• Holiday Celebrations
• Cultural Events
If you would like to become a Sunshine Club Volunteer or if you are a senior – or know of a
senior – who can benefit from the Sunshine Club, please call our office on 5570 1851 or
Rabbi Gurevitch on 0419 392 818
31
PHOTOS OF THE MONTH
Holocaust Memorial Service with special guest speaker Mr. Vick Alhadaf of Sydney
ANZAC memorial
plaque
at
the
foyer of our shule
for an everlasting
memory for those
Jewish men and
women who gave
their
lives
in
defence of our
country
during
WW1
Our Katranski Communal Hall undergoing extensive upgrade
OUR NEW GIGANTIC KOTTEL-WESTERN WALL PERMANENT WALLPAPER PHOTO AT THE K-HALL ENTRANCE
32
PHOTOS OF THE MONTH
Pesach Activities 5775-2015
Our Communal Children Model Seder
St. Kevins School visit to our Shule
Burning of the Chametz
Our Pesach Kosher Shop
Torah symposium during Chol Hamoed Pesach
33
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WE THANK THE
FOLLOWING FOR THEIR
ALIYA OFFERING
YAHRTZEIT OBSERVANCE
FOR THE MONTH OF
Iyar - May
Sharon Gabizon
We extend our wishes for long life to the
following who are observing a Yahrzeit:
David Rebibou
Les Bassin
14th Iyar- 3rdMay
Hinda Bat Shlomo-Mother of Barry Katz
Norman Lelah
16th Iyar- 5th May
David Ben Benjamin-Father of Ray Israel
Arthur Zulman
Rabbi Nir Gurevitch
24th Iyar- 13thMay
Gertie Efron- Mother of Raymond Efron
Avi Franco
Gerald Moses
28th Iyar-17th May
Arnold Fiala– Father of George Fiala
M. Berman
Keith Nathan
28th Iyar-17th May
Pam Goldstein –Wife of John Goldstein
Andrew Berkhut
Zelig Berkhut
1st Sivan- 19th May
Stanley Brest Husband of Mercia Brest
Tommy Berribi
Pinchas Cohen
1st Sivan -19th May
Shepsl Ben Noah-Father of Graham Berkovitch
Isaac Zulaikha
4th Sivan 22nd May
Jolly Keleman
BIRTHDAYS FOR MAY
5th Sivan-23rd May
Sam Leneman-Husband of Paula Leneman
Mark Kornhauser 11th
Anny Scheuer
11th
George Pollak
14th
Melissa Enoch
14th
Judah Moses
21st
Ashleigh Lewis
23rd
9th Sivan-27th May
Lily Cohen-Mother of Betty Semp
12th Sivan-30th May
Adela Dym-Mother of Lorna Donath
12th Sivan-30th May
David Khedoori-Father-in-law of Isaac Zulaikha
Mira Finckenberg 25th
Hymie Gordon
We extend a Refuah Sheleyma – a full and
speedy recovery to Henry Malecki
29th
34
Jewish Crossword Puzzle by David Benkof
35
If undeliverable return to:
The Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation
P. O. Box 133
Surfers Paradise 4217
Queensland, Australia
POSTAGE
PAID
AUSTRALIA
100003857