Aliyah: My First Hundred Days
24/05/2013 11:27:03 AM
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Shavuot at South Head Shavuot at South Head was a huge success due to the efforts of many people. The Ladies Guild and their assistants professionally prepared and presented a delicious Shavuot Meal: thank you Bernice Charif, Marianne Stern, Gail Bachmann and Barbara Mann. Our Youth Director, Brookie, did an outstanding job of bringing to Shul not only children but their parents too, resulting in an attendance of over 700 on First Day Shavuot. Hanoch Teller was a great success. Their was an impressive audience of well over 200 at the movie and his talks over Shavuot were humerous, entertaining, and inspiring. Rabbi Benji Levy, Moriah's new Dean of Jewish Life and Learning, made a great impression and touched people with his inspired dissertation on the need to ensure continued Jewish education so that we not become a "Kodak moment". As I wrote last week, our Shavout Learning and Discussion evening was a huge success and boasted a record attendance of 300 people. Judging by the responses and feedback, it seems that everyone left far more knowledgeable, and better equipped, than when they came. In view of the seriousness of the matter we brought together a panel of experts to create awareness and to suggest strategies for both the prevention and reporting of this terrible crime. The success of the evening would not have been possible without the time, energy and commitment of the speakers. A very special thank you to Norman Rosenbaum for leaving his family and coming to join us all the way from Melbourne. It was a discussion with Norman several months ago that inspired me to dedicate Shavuot to this painful but most important subject. And thank you Amanda Gordon, Superintendent Michael Fitzgerald, Rabbi Mendel Kastel, Pam Swinfield, John Hamey, Deborah Blackman and Joshua Levi. Each speaker brought a unique perspective and added value to the evening. --0-- I am incorporating here my brief introductory remarks to the Panel Discussion: Child Sex Abuse is a crime that affects one in three boys and one in six girls in the general community. We don't have statistics for the Jewish community, and of course we hope it's less, but there is certainly no reason to be complacent. Generally speaking it has been shown that child sex abuse crosses social economic, racial and cultural divides. The impact of abuse often leads to a life-time of mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and prostitution. Why Shavuot? The Midrash tells us that Beneinu Areivim b'adeinu - our children are the guarantors of the Jewish tradition. Or to quote Golda Meir - "Who is Jewish? One whose grandchildren are Jewish". But it is our responsibility to guarantee the safety of those guarantors! But it goes beyond that - Torah is a religion that is based on the tradition of those who come before us. If those previous generations prove to be corrupt, our entire tradition is undermined. Indeed studies have demonstrated that the prime cause of attrition from Judaism is when children hear disparaging remarks in their homes about their teachers and rabbis. Certainly a reason why parents should be careful about what they say in their children's presence. But if there is to be concern for comments about leaders that are untrue, imagine the impact on children when the remarks are true! When they realise that those whom they trusted to hand them the Torah either perpetrated these vile things, or allowed them to continue! There are those who have kept things in-house because they feared for the negative impact on the institutions. The reality is of course the opposite. The cover-up causes the most negative impact of all. Let me therefore make it clear:
On behalf of the Rebbetzin and all of us at South Head, I wish you and your family a Good & Peaceful Shabbos. Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM JLI
Pain, Pleasure and the Purpose of Life
 Brookie ReportsRegistration Open! It's great to see registrations already flowing in for Camp Shalom Winter Camp scheduled for the first week of July. There are some fantastic new excursions and as always great activities all led by the friendliest and most capable youth leaders in town. Full details below... Next week sees our first Bless the Kids for this year so that's super exciting! Wishing you all a Good Shabbos and looking forward to seeing you in Shule! Brookie and the Youth Crew  Bless the KidsNext Shabbat - June 1st from 10.15am Receive a blessing from the Rabbi as well as a special treat and make your own edible tzitzit! Children aged 0 - 10 come and be part of our wonderful tradition.  Camp ShalomRegister Now! • Xtreme Playzone • Kidsportz • Marian Street Theatre • Acquatic Centre • Urban Jungle Does this sound like you? Then hurry and register because places are filling fast. Camp Shalom is regularly booked out so don't you miss out! Register online - click here or call Brookie 0404 055 643  Parasha SheetBehalotcha * Aharon is given the important Mitzvah of lighting the Menorah every morning and every night. * The Levite tribe is initiated into its service in the Mishkan. * The Jewish people offer the Pesach sacrifice on the first anniversary of the Exodus of Egypt. * Pesach Sheini, 'the Second Passover' is instituted. * Quail rains down from the heavens for one month. * Miriam is punished with Tzara'at for speaking Lashon Hara about Moshe to their brother Aharon. To learn about the Parasha in more detail, download our Parasha sheet! Please share our Parasha sheet around your Shabbat table and let your family and friends explore the Parasha of the week together with you.
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666 Old South Head Rd Rose Bay, NSW 2029 (02) 9371 7300 |
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SHMINI
Rose Bay, NSW 2029
(02) 9371 7300