Chanukah Gold Party
December 21, 2011 by Community Editor
The Central Synagogue, Hagshama and J-Junction end the year with a bang!! On Sunday, 18th December, over 400 young Jewish adults came together in style, to celebrate the end of the year and the coming of Chanukah at the legendary ‘GOLD PARTY’. Read more
Jewish College Aboriginal resident becomes a doctor
Dr Josef McDonald, a member of the Awabakal tribe, graduated from the University of NSW as a doctor the 16th December…the 3rd graduate of the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship Program. Read more
Shir Madness on Track
December 21, 2011 by Geoff Sirmai
Following the smash success of its inaugural festival in 2010, SHIR MADNESS® returns to Bondi Beach with a fresh and generous helping of wild and wonderful Jewish Music. Read more
Award for Our Big Kitchen
December 21, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
For the second year in a row, Yeshiva’s Our Big Kitchen at Bondi was awarded the National Community Service Award by the Restaurant and Catering Association. Read more
The story of the Dreidel
The Chanukah festival has three central motifs – light, miracles, bravery – which are expressed through the spinning of the dreidel. But how did this spinning top – a game so beloved by children and, let’s admit, by adults as well – become one of the main symbols of Chanukah?…writes Itzik Peleg. Read more
Community leader dies at 103
December 21, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
Ray Ginsburg, a former president of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia has passed away at the age of 103. Read more
Tower Heist **
December 21, 2011 by Arts Editor
Whether suffused with tension or laced with humor, the heist movie has enjoyed enduring appeal since the heyday of film noir. Good heist movies proceed according to an established template that includes meticulous attention to the details of the scheme both in the planning stage and in its execution. The twists – there are often many but always at least one – are ingenious and the screenplay is often referred to as “smart” and “cunning.” Unfortunately, few (if any) of these characteristics apply to Brett Ratner’s Tower Heist, as sloppy a heist movie as I can remember. It is redeemed, at least to a degree, by the comedic performances of lead actor Ben Stiller and supporting player Eddie Murphy. The pace, emphasized by Christophe Beck’s relentless score, is so fast that viewers might miss some of the king-sized plot holes (although not all of them). But the caper is a dud – so stupid and implausible from beginning to end that it’s impossible to take it seriously for even the briefest of moments.
Watch the trailer
The Adventures of Tin Tin ***
December 21, 2011 by Arts Editor
Had The Adventures of Tintin been a live motion picture rather than a motion capture-driven animated endeavor, it would have been compared to Raiders of the Lost Ark and Pirates of the Caribbean. Read more
Go Mendel
December 20, 2011 by Community Editor
Mendel Slavin has made the finals of JewishKidsGotTalent.com and he needs your vote… Read more
Chanukah Greetings from Victor Dominello
December 20, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
The NSW Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello, has sent a Chanukah message to the Jewish community. Read more
Jewish Radio Off the Air
Multicultural broadcaster SBS Radio has taken 17 language programs off the air during the summer break…including Ivrit and Yiddish. Read more
Australia’s 2011 U.N. Israel-Palestine Report Card
December 19, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has released a statement on Australia’s activities within the U.N. with regard to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Read more
Mums helping Mums
December 19, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
24 volunteers are currently serving 24 mothers from 15 countries in The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia MUM for MUM program. Read more
Two Reasons why the ECAJ must vocalise its support for marriage equality
December 19, 2011 by Michael Barnett
On December 3 2011 the Australian Labor Party voted in favour of supporting marriage equality…writes Michael Barnett. Read more
Young Kiwis to experience Israel
December 19, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
A new international initiative allowing young New Zealanders the opportunity to stay for an extended period in Israel has been established. Read more
Monte says ‘thank you” and receives an award
Sydney’s Sir Moses Montefiore Home has hosted its volunteers on a harbour cruise to thank them for their work in 2011. Read more
Moriah Band in Israel
December 18, 2011 by David Singer
The current tour of Israel by Sydney’s Moriah College School Band is offering expat Aussies a taste of home…. Read more
Palestine – Time to tell the Truth
December 18, 2011 by David Singer
Republican front runner for next President of the United States – Newt Gingrich – has done himself and his campaign great credit in branding the Palestinians as an invented nation…writes David Singer. Read more
The New York Times Hates Israel
December 18, 2011 by Isi Leibler
The brouhaha over the recent New York Times column by Tom Friedman highlights the newspaper’s increasing hostility against Israel…writes Isi Leibler. Read more
From Masada, Emanuel and Kesser Torah with Pride
Sydney’s Masada College, Emanuel School and Kesser Torah College have announced the highlights of their students’ successes in the HSC. Read more
New Mayor for Glen Eira
December 16, 2011 by Henry Benjamin
Jamie Hyams is the new mayor of the Melbourne Council of Glen Eira. Read more
Moriah Makes the Top Ten
December 15, 2011 by Community Editor
Sydney’s Moriah College has achieved ninth spot in the Higher School Certificate…and all Sydney Jewish day schools have elevated their rankings over last year’s results. Read more
Award for Our Big Kitchen
December 15, 2011 by J-Wire
Sydney’s Our Big Kitchen has won a $2500 award for its work with homeless people of all denominations. Read more
Westfield’s Worldwide Chanukah
December 15, 2011 by Henry Benjamin
A chance conversation between Westfield’s Steven Lowy and Sydney’s The Central Synagogue’s Rabbi Levi Wolff will see the shopping centre giant welcoming Chanukah in its centres on three continents. Read more
Ger Conducts Perlman
December 15, 2011 by Henry Benjamin
Sydney’s Russell Ger’s dreams of becoming a recognised conductor have taken a massive leap forward…he has just completed a recording session in New York conducting an orchestra featuring the iconic Itzhak Perlman. Read more
Dec-20 Sydney: Young Adult Chabad Chanukah Party
December 15, 2011 by J-Wire
Celebrate Chanukah is style at Watsons Bay – minimum age 18. Read more
Israeli windsurfers shine – next stop London
December 14, 2011 by J-Wire
Israeli windsurfers are shining at the International Sailing Federation World Championships in Perth. Read more
Sir Zelman Cowen
December 13, 2011 by J-Wire
Sir Zelman Cowen, the second Jew to hold the position of Governor-General of Australia who passed away last week at the age of 92, was laid to rest in Melbourne today. Read more
A Broken Promise
West Australian Labor senator Glenn Sterle has written to SBS questioning the multicultural channel’s decision to screen “The Promise”… a drama series focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Read more
Winners are grinners
December 13, 2011 by Community Editor
Happy families in NSW today as the State’s Board of Studies named the 107 students in the 2011 HSC First Place in Course. Read more
