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Two Torahs presented to The Great

Gloria Goldstein and Louise Rosenberg with the two new Sifrei TorahPeople in Hyde Park had an unusual treat on Thursday evening as two new Sifrei Torah were danced through the part to The Great with klezmer music accompaniment and under a chuppah made by the congregants.
One scroll was presented in memory of Morris Forbes OAM from his estate, and the other by Gloria Goldstein and the Goldstein family in memory of Col Goldstein.
As Mr Forbes had no relatives in Sydney, his friends from the Australian Jewish Historical Society of which he was patron attended in his honour.
Many members of the Goldstein family, from Sydney and Israel, attended in Col’s honour as well as old friends from The Great, the North Shore Synagogue, his workplace and the many charitable organisations which he supported.
Morris Forbes was “a man of principle and of tradition, supported by a real knowledge of Jewish law, as well as secular law, and ever hungry for greater knowledge”, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence said.
Col Goldstein was visionary, enterprising, hard working and generous and in a very real sense, “a builder of synagogues and a builder of Israel”.
“Col Goldstein and Morrie Forbes were people of principle and people of discernment – proud Jews, proud Australians, proud members of the community.
“They lived the lives they believed, were true to their principles and promoted them,” Rabbi Lawrence said.
“In sponsoring Sifrei Torah they continue to highlight the values they cherished and will live beyond their lives.
“And in commissioning for themselves Sifrei Torah, they give us an opportunity to perform the mitzvah of ‘writing a Sefer Torah’,” he said.
The Goldstein family sponsored a number of letters in Col’s Torah in honour of his family and friends and many letters, words and parshiot were sponsored in the Forbes Torah.
Rabbi’s auctioning of the last letters in the Forbes Torah was entertaining, and all the congregation joined in the dancing and celebration afterward, to the voices of The Great Synagogue choir.
A Kiddush, sponsored by Gloria Goldstein, rounded off the evening.

Second debate reaches out

Second Debate speakersShould the Jews live Torah-inspired lives and radiate ethical morality to the world?
Or should they mix with the non-Jewish world and work together to repair God’s universe?
This was the debate put to the audience at the second of the Great Debates season II and, finally, won by the negative – that Jews should reach out to the non-Jewish world.
Rabbi Lawrence opened the evening with reference to Richard Dawkins a “crusader for atheism who is arguing for a godless universe”.
As Jews we believe we were chosen to sell the idea of monotheism to the world, he said.
Opening the argument for the positive – That Inreach, not Outreach should be our priority, Rabbi Ritchie Moss said that there could be an argument for outreach, that we should be preaching the moral message of the Torah.
But he quoted from Isaiah about the nations walking by the light of the Almighty.
A light, he said, stays in its place and shines to the outside world.
We must make sure the Jewish people are a source of inspiration but most of us are ignorant of our traditions.
“Before we start thinking about being a light to the nations we have to make sure we are shining lights by living in accordance with Jewish pinciples.
“If we reach within ourselves, others will reach out to us,” he said.
Arianne Schneider, who also argued for the positive, said we are supposed to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”.
Our holiness needs to be uplifted, so our first duty is to ourselves – to know the Torah and live by its precepts, she said.
“The Jewish people were chosen by God as a pilot project.
“If we get it right, it will bring others of the world to the Torah,” she said.
“Our obligations extend beyond the family of Israel but must begin with the family of Israel.
“If we don’t understand our own ways, then how can we teach the world,” she said.
Arguing the negative, mathematician Jeff Cohen said there are only three possibilities for our existence: that the Torah is true, that the Torah is false but someone else’s teachings are true, or that Dawkins got in right and we live in a godless universe.
If this last is true, there are still realities of existence. When Haman wanted to kill the Jews, he only aimed at the Jews of Persia; when Hitler tried, he aimed at all the Jews of Europe and failed; but today we are in a connected world and killing all the Jews is not impossible.
Therefore convincing others that Jewish survival is in their interest is a workable survival strategy, he said.
If another group has got religion right, we don’t know which one they are, so we have to reach out to everyone.
And if the Torah is right, then it leads us to outreach.
Using Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks as his model, Jeff said he is the very embodiment of outreach, using Jewish imagery and thought to speak about external matters.
However, we can’t weaken the chain of history so we must look inward as well as outward – both are necessary.
Judy Levitan, also speaking for the negative, took up the same idea of both inreach and outreach being important.
It is a fundamental mistake to presume they are mutually exclusive.
One of the basic principles on which to justify outreach is that of tikkun olam, the imperative to repair the world with the assistance of the Almighty.
Although it once had different meanings, today it’s seen as undertaking acts which relate to social justice in the world in which we live.
“As Jews we show the gift of ethical monotheism to the world by undertaking acts of tikkun olam,” she said.
If we provide positive role models of Jewish society to the world, we promote social harmony and sanctify God’s name in public.
Rabbi Lawrence compiled a source booklet on the relationship between Jews and the nations of the world.
He rounded off the evening citing a source that the Torah was given as a sign upon Israel that they should declare God’s glory to the nations.
The signs and symbols of observance are important. The Paschal lamb identified us in Egypt and the mezuzah on our doorposts marks a Jewish household today, he said.
“As well as championing ethical and family values, it is important that we are proud to wear the Jewish brand.”
Please join us next Monday at 7pm for “It’s time to update our feasts and our fasts.”

 

The media get a thumbs up

Speakers at first debateAs Spiderman and Superman both worked in newspapers and both had Jewish parents (creators), it’s no wonder that the Jewish community thinks that journalists are superheroes, fighting for justice and truth.
But in the words of Australian Jewish News editor Zeddy Lawrence, the media can make mistakes.
“It’s not that the media necessarily let us down, but that your expectations of the media might be too high.”
Zeddy was arguing for the negative at the first of the Great Debates Series II on the media.
In an entertaining and informative evening, the 80-strong audience were given an insight into the world of the media from high profile Jewish journalists including Zeddy, Dr Rachel Kohn from the ABC, Henry Benjamin, founder and editor of J-Wire and Vic Alhadeff, former AJN editor and now CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
With Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence as the gavel-wielding host, the four argued the proposition that “The media lets us down”.
In the end, the negative won by acclamation, but it was a close fought debate.
Zeddy Lawrence continued his defence of the media by arguing that this includes the positive good media can do on behalf of a community, particularly the Jewish media. But members of the community should be aware that Jewish newspapers are not only read by a Jewish audience and they must tread a careful line on some debates.
Henry Benjamin, for the proposition, argued that newspapers are businesses and need to make profits.
“So the media want to give the market exactly what it wants, and to some degree Israel is the sacrificial lamb.”
The media fails to focus on other trouble spots in the world where shocking events are occurring, to concentrate disproportionately on Israel.
“But in the end, the media select the truth that sells.
Also arguing for the positive, Vic Alhadeff said the media are about “headlines, a local angle and beating the opposition”.
He said the majority of Jewish media consumers believe Israel is not dealt with fairly and that they have, indeed, frequently let us down.
Arguing for the negative, Dr Rachel Kohn pointed out that she has been given freedom at the ABC to present any topics in her various religious programs and that they have been disproportionately about Jews, Judaism and Jewish attitudes.
She believes this is because Jews are “hungry for knowledge” and around the world many of the great achievers are Jews.
As an example of the ABC’s attitude to this concentration on Jewish matters in her programs, she explained that in 2008 she was permitted to go to Israel for its 60th anniversary and record six programs, each of which was played.
“With programs like these, the ABC has been tremendous in allowing this disproportionate support for Jewish issues,” she said.
She also made a strong case for supporting public broadcasters like the ABC because they are “not open to corruption by advertising” and in other ways.
For the guests, Rabbi Lawrence produced a fascinating pamphlet on Jewish sources concerned with honest reporting, quoting from T’nach and Talmud and other sources a surprising list of admonitions and advice from rabbis throughout the centuries on and around the issue, finishing with a dictum of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter: “It is quite easy to write but far more difficult to erase.”

For documents prepared by Rabbi Lawrence relating to Jewish attitudes toward honest reporting pleases click here 
 

Purim 2010

There was fun for young and old at The Great's Purim celebrations on Sunday morning 28 February.

The Megillah was read by Chazan Hilton in Wizard mode, while Rabbi (Mr Darcy) Lawrence looked on. Greggars were whirled and boos and hisses uttered at the name of Haman and as always everyone had a thoroughly good time.

Then it was downstairs for hamentashen until the entertainment started. For the little people there was  Captain Bandana (aka Sharon Saul) and Splash the Mermaid (aka Amanda Mayhew) as well as a magician, Adrian Dean.

For the grownups (who wanted to behave like children!) there was a very funny Purim Spiel called Megillah Mia which told the Purim story to the tunes of ABBA.

For pictures, click here
 

Mazal Tot Shabbat

Nicholas HenleySome gurgling, some crying and others overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of The Great Synagogue – some ten babies under one year old were blessed by Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence during a special Mazal Tot Shabbat.

The blessing of babies and their parents by Rabbi Lawrence took place on the bimah under an outstretched tallit with proud grandparents and some great-grandparents taking great nachas from the event.

A project of The Great Synagogue’s Services committee, Mazal Tot Shabbat included a baby-oriented sermon and each tiny tot was given a bib incscribed “I’m a GREAT baby” with a logo designed by Ilana Wahnon based on The Great’s exterior with the towers replaced by baby bottles. Pictured left is Nicholas Henley wearing his "Great bib" .

President Michael Gold said even our most conservative congregants responded warmly to the event.

Gourmet flavours and Jewish memories

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Gourmet Journey

Ginette Matalon, who was born in Egypt, and Monica Brik from Venezuela told the 80-strong audience about their memories of food and customs for Shabbat and festivals and something of their differing experiences before migrating to Australia. Interviewed by The Great’s Administrator Susan Bures, Ginette recalled one of her earliest memories as visiting the schochet with a number of live chickens then taking the carcasses home to pluck and use every portion of the bird in different dishes. Monica recalled her earliest memories as fruit; tropical Venezuela has fruit available all year round and eaten three times a day. Both women talked about the way the Jewish communities in each place adapting the food of the surrounding culture to Jewish traditions. The Great’s chazzan, Rev David Hilton, also a noted chef, then demonstrated how theseDavid Hilton cooking various exotic dishes were prepared and cooked. And everyone had a chance to taste the result, to great delight and compliments all round. Pictured above are Ginette Matalon and Monica Brik and, right, David Hilton cooking. 

On Wednesday 24 Feb, it was time to travel to India and Hungary.

Rachel Goldberg told us about the cooking of Jewish Calcutta and the impact of the founding of the State of Israel at the time of the Indian independence movement; for one thing, most of the rabbis and the shochtim left India for Israel so kosher meat became almost impossible to find.

Anna Marks talked about growing up in Communist Hungary and the deprivation of those times when having two eggs was a luxury! She recalled the stories so familiar to many migrants of taking her shnitzel and pickles sandwich to her Australian primary school and dreaming of a Vegemite sandwich instead. Her mother obliged, but lovingly spread the bread with a good half inch of Vegemite, so the experiment wasn't repeated.

Pictured below are Rachel Goldberg (left) amd Anna Marks with chef extraordinaire, Chazan David Hilton!

Rachel GoldbergDavid Hilton and Anna Marks
 

Belahat Lahma and Loobia, La Reina Pepiada and Hallacas – travellers on The Great Synagogue’s “Gourmet Journey” on the first of our two Wednesday night were tantalised with the flavours and stories of Egypt and Venezuela.

Law Shabbat

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Law service 2010

Law Service draws many

A parade of bewigged judges in scarlet and purple robes led by NSW Chief Justice J J Spigelman AC formed a procession into The Great Synagogue on Friday night 5 February for the annual Law Service to mark the opening of the law term.

More than 150 judges, QCs, SCs, barristers, solicitors and legal academics as well as members of the congregation, heard Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence give an inspired address on the source of the authority to rule.
 
Quoting thinkers like Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau on the principles of governance, Rabbi Lawrence compared these ideas with those of the Jewish tradition.
 
He spoke of the Jewish belief in the centrality of law to society
In the end, he said, “the administration of justice is a partnership with God precisely because we bring the best of our human qualities into a divine enterprise”.
 
The Law Service was followed by the Shabbat service and a dinner attended by 100 guests from within and outside the Jewish community.
 
Special guest speaker at the dinner was Zeddy Lawrence, national editor of the Australian Jewish News and the brother of Rabbi Lawrence.
 
In a thoughtful but funny address, Mr Lawrence spoke of the role of press in society, and the role of Jewish press in particular.
 
He articulated examples of the way the press can sometimes right wrongs or ensure certain important issues are aired.
 
But he also spoke lovingly of his brother and family and shared with the enchanted audience the Case of the Missing Cookies.
 
Great Synagogue president Michael Gold OAM welcomed guests and introduced Mr Lawrence.

Bat Mitzvah Centenary success

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From a Bat Mitzvah celebrated in 1932 to one celebrated in 2009, women of all ages attended The Great Synagogue’s Centenary Bat Mitzvah celebration last Sunday.

More than 150 women, many with their families, attended the ceremony followed by the opening of the Centenary Bat mitzvah exhibition in The Great’s museum and an afternoon tea.
 
“While The Great synagogue and avant garde are not expressions we freely associate”, Rabbi Lawrence said, he detailed in his speech to the congregation the many ways in which The Great has been ahead of its time.
 
“In this building we saw the first Confirmation of Jewish women, the first Bat Mitzvahs of Jewish women as groups and the first individual Bat Mitzvahs in an orthodox synagogue in Australia.”
 
“I believe it was here and in this building that women first celebrated Bat Mitzvahs on a Shabbat and first spoke during the service; here that they were first able to hold and process with the Torah scroll, first admitted to the Boards."
 
“It is here that we celebrated the first woman to become President of an Orthodox congregation in Australia.”
 
Rabbi Lawrence said the centenary of Bat Mitzvah celebrations is another reason for The Great Synagogue to be proud of its contribution to a more fulfilling position for women within orthodoxy.
“And we continue to do so through our Women’s Shabbat, our association with the women’s tefilla group and our promotion of pre-nuptial agreements,” Rabbi Lawrence said.
 
The Great is a leader and can continue to play a dynamic role in making Jewish orthodoxy accessible and relevant to the fullest extent that Halacha permits.
 
“Today confirms and celebrates a century of commitment to innovation and change.”
 
A concept of congregant Marcelle Marks, the Bat Mitzvah Centenary exhibition was designed by curator Lori Burck and shows the names of all the women who marked their “Confirmation, Presentation” or Bat Mitzvah at the Great.
 
There are pictures of groups of Bat Mitzvah girls when that was the fashion and some of the individual B’not Mitzvah of today. Dresses worn by some of the B’not Mitzvah are on display and even a pair of plaits, cut from the head of Marcelle Marks to signify her “coming of age” at her Batmitzvah. There are veils worn by the girls when the “Confirmation” ceremony had echoes of the Christian custom, and symbols of both Shavuot and Chanukah when the group Bat Mitzvah ceremonies were held in the past.
 
At the afternoon tea, the oldest Bat Mitzvah “girl” cut the cake and presentations were made by President Michael Gold OAM.
He paid tribute to the organisers and “the strength of spirit and enthusiasm our members have for the congregation”.

As one congregant said about the function: “What an innovative idea – The Great is always at the forefront of good ideas.”