The Day Europe Went Mad
18/08/2014 12:36:01 PM
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Stop Press: We have managed to access another of Rabbi Yossi Jacobson's brilliant Tisha B'Av videos.
World War I & the Jews Tisha B'Av 1914: The Day Europe Went Mad Also featuring Rabbi Pesach Krohn of the Chafetz Chaim Foundation 6.20pm following Eicha
The Rebbetzen and I are currently in New York. As everywhere in the Jewish World, not a conversation goes by where the situation in Israel is not discussed. And here, as everywhere, there is deep concern at the level of anti-semitism unprecedented since before WWII. In response to 9/11, the US embarked on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of innocent civilians. When NATO bombed Yugoslavia, leading to hundreds of civilian deaths, NATO spokesman, Jamie Shea said, "There is always a cost to defeat an evil. It never comes free, unfortunately. But the cost of failure to defeat a great evil is far higher.”
Any nation has and would respond with far greater force than that used by Israel - and with far less concern for tragic deaths among the civilian population. The world knows this all too well - so why the double-standard? Because just as in the past the Jewish People were deemed illegitimate, so too now the Jewish State is deemed illegitimate. This is not a war about settlements, unless you view the entire State of Israel as a settlement - an aberration in the midst of the Arab and Muslim Middle-East.
Giving away Land for “Peace” won’t solve the problem. A two-state solution won’t solve the problem. The only thing that will solve it is the abolition of the State of Israel just as in the past the only thing that would solve the “Jewish Problem” was the annihilation of the Jewish People, Heaven protect us.
In reality anti-semitism is not a Jewish Problem. There is nothing that Jews can change about themselves to placate those who hate us. The vast majority of Jews have always understood this and have not succumbed to the battered-wife syndrome of blaming themselves.
Quite to the contrary! Jews have traditionally viewed irrational anti-semitism as a wake-up call and their response, irrespective of their level of observance or commitment, has been to become more Jewish.
Fellow Jews: This is a time to feel enormous pride at being Jewish. Israel is ridding the world of a cancer which if left unchecked will eventually consume everyone (as we are currently seeing in Iraq and Syria where every day atrocities are being committed without any attempt by the world to put a stop to them). And while destroying Hamas and related parties, Israel is doing more than any other nation to protect civilian lives.
And once you have a deep sense of Jewish PRIDE, use it into something practical.
Tisha B’Av represents both loss and hope. We mourn the loss of the past and hope for an even brighter future. As Jews, we have mourned long enough. It’s now time for the realisation of the hope - the coming of our righteous Moshiach - a time when truth and justice will finally pervade the entire world.
Important Announcement:
The Changing of the Guard  As you know, South Head Youth has always been very close to my heart and a very high priority of our Board of Management.
For the past three years South Head Youth has been ably and devotedly led by Brookie. During that time, Brookie has demonstrated exceptional leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills and these have gained her the love and respect of both parents and children as well as her staff of very able counsellors.
When Brookie told us that she would be leaving for overseas several months ago, we asked her to stay on for an extra few months until we found someone capable of taking her place. To be honest, we were anxious - the new youth director would have very big shoes to fill.
It seems that Hashem was looking out for us, because we believe that we have found a couple of very capable Youth Directors - Tzemach Yemini and Shea Greene.
When Tzemach and Shea applied from New York, I asked our son Chony - who had served as Youth Director over a decade ago but still has a good understanding of our community - to interview them on our behalf. Chony came back with a very positive report. The Youth Committee of the Board then conducted a video interview with them via Skype. Finally, on our way to New York earlier this week, the Rebbetzen and I stopped in LA where they are each heading a Day Camp in different parts of that very big city and spent three hours talking to them.
What should I say - we are very impressed with Tzemach and Shea and believe that they are capable of filling the roll well, continuing all the activities that Brookie has led and initiated (including Mummy and Me!). In addition, because they are male, and there are now two Directors - members can expect to see further development of our programmes, especially those related to pre- and post- Bar Mitzvah boys, older teens and young adults as well as other areas that Brookie did not have time for.
In addition, we are currently in discussion with the Ohr M’Tzion programme and are hopeful that our Youth Directors will be assisted by their young men and young women - broadening the scope of our activities even further.
Tzemach and Shea are expected to arrive in the first week of September, and we expect them to hit the ground running. Brookie will continue to lead South Head Youth over Yom Tov and will oversee and ensure a smooth transition.
More exciting details as they become available!
With best wishes for a Good Shabbos and Peace and Protection for our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel and everywhere.
On behalf of the Rebbetzen and all of us at South Head.
Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM
From the Board
The Board thanks all those people who generously responded with offers of assistance as we prepare for the arrival of our new Bochrim. If anyone can help with the following we would be very grateful:
Call Brian Rosmarin at the Shul office if you can help with either. Thank you and Shabbat Shalom from the Board.
Hi Everyone, Mummy & Me children had a great time this Thursday! The children created their own siddurim which they will be presented with next week. Click here to see lots of great pics. To Strengthen Jewish Communities
Mrs Leah Bronner " ..we expressed our concerns about the political situation, which had many people leaving the country in anticipation of future unrest." Click here to read about the ideals of "breaking out, spreading out" of Jewish ideas throughout the world, told by originators of the first Yeshiva College in South Africa. Parasha Sheet
Devarim Click here for this week's Parasha Sheet and please share it around the Shabbos table with your family and friends. South Head Presents
The Chosen Join South Head at Shalom College Theatre for the Moira Blumenthal's Production of Chaim Potok's The Chosen - Wednesday September 3rd. Click here for more.. COMMUNAL EVENTS
24 - 25th October 2014 The Shabbos Project stay tuned ...
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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