The Chief Rabbi in Melbourne
The Chief Rabbi of theUnited Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis attended a Victorian Jewish communal event in his honour.
Sam Tatarka, Chief Rabbi Mirvis, Jennifer Huppert, Danny Lamm and Jeffrey Appel
The event was hosted by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV), the Zionist Council of Victoria (ZCV), the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), the United Israel Appeal (UIA) and Caulfield Hebrew Congregation (CHC).
He is the 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth to take office since the office was introduced in 1704.
Chief Rabbi Mirvis spoke to 200 members of the Victorian Jewish community including community leaders, Rabbonim and many people interested in the Chief Rabbi’s views on ‘Modern Judaism and Contemporary Israel’. The audience included a diverse range of the Jewish community from secular and traditional Jews, representatives from the Progressive movement and many Orthodox Jews.
The Chief Rabbi was an inspirational speaker who spoke passionately about the importance of education, dialogue within and across communities, service to G-d through community and acts of loving kindness, Tikkun Olam. He spoke strongly about the centrality of Israel to modern Judaism, and the importance of demonstrating support and solidarity with Israel.
He also highlighted the need for a fully inclusive approach to Judaism where all streams of Judaism were welcome, whether secular or Orthodox, as all instruments in an orchestra had their part to play.
The Chief Rabbi spoke positively about the hope for peace. He explained that the word for doves and pigeons in Hebrew was the same: Yonah. Doves traditionally symbolised peace as pigeons symbolised communication, as suggested by homing pigeons. Thus, there was one word for peace and communication, highlighting that it was essential that the two went together.
Leaders of the hosting organisations welcomed and introduced the Chief Rabbi, including Dr Danny Lamm, President of the ZFA, Rabbi Genende, Chief Rabbi at CHC, Sam Tatarka, President of the ZCV with Jennifer Huppert, President of the JCCV presenting the vote of thanks.
Prominent Victorian community leaders in the audience included Telmo Languillor – Opposition spokesperson for Multicultural Affairs, Murray Davies – President of the Faith Communities Council of Victoria, Dr Philip Bliss from the Council of Christians and Jews, and Grahame Leonard – Victorian Multicultural Commission Commissioner.
Greetings Rabbi and all readers, first off , may your new year be a blessed one filled with safety, love, and wisdom, looking at what the Australian government has done to the Jewish members by not allowing them into the synagogue, disgusting to say the least, is it time to support another political party that may have more sympathy toward us.
Family Unification
Good Day. Recently I wrote requesting an intervention/mediation/facilitation on behalf of my younger brother, Maurice Goodman regarding his son Daniel Goodman. What I need is an email address for my nephew (who is married to Naomi Wloschowsky) so that the community Rabbi, Jonathan Fox, may start a dialogue with Daniel with a view to forgiveness in the first place of his father Maurice, and then hopefully to proceed to a full unification of that family. Please note that I have not included myself as I have no need to be in touch with Daniel and Naomi.
Maurice is a resident in the Selwyn Segal unit of the Chevrah Kadisha as he suffers from a brain trauma caused by an unsuccessful suicide attempt. He presents as normal, his emotions are not engaged (but he does sometimes tear up when I speak to him of his son and grandchildren. After the failed suicide he was diagnosed with Bipolar Mood Disorder (Manic Depressive) which was previously unknown.
It is my belief that Daniel and Naomi can arrive at a place and time in their lives when they will welcome Maurice as part of their family unit. If there is a similar place of safety for Maurice closer to them than let’ say Johannesburg South Africa, my first prize is that the will be sponsored by them to join them there in Melbourne. However, that is not in the close future although miracles have been known to occur.
This is my second letter and I hope that you will kindly respond so that I can forward your comments/remarks/suggestions and most importantly Daniel’s email address.
Thank you.
Carole Jane Venier
[email protected]