• Imagine davening mincha in the same  Shule in Córdoba in which Maimonides or Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi or other giants of Jewry may have prayed eight hundred years ago. 

• Imagine stepping into the beautifully preserved Mikvah that generations of women immersed in Besalu. 

• Imagine visiting Lucena - the only city in Spain in which Jews lived inside the walls and the Gentiles outside. 

• Imagine visiting the cemetery in which lie Rabbi Yitzchak Alfasi and Rabbi Yosef Migas (Maimonides' foremost teachers). 

• Imagine viewing in Seville the Perpetual Almanac created by Rabbi Abraham Zacuta and used by Columbus to discover the New World. 

• Imagine meeting in Granada descendants of Crypto Jews who have married and embraced Judaism with all their hearts. 

For many years the Rebbetzen and I have imagined visiting Spain - home to some of the greatest giants of Jewry. And now that vision has turned into a reality. We have over the past two weeks seen all the above - and so much more. 

But with reflections on a Golden Age that is no more there have been encounters that have torn our hearts to shreds causing us to shed many a tear. 

• Imagine standing in the place in which the first auto de fe (burning of Jews) took place in Barcelona. 

• Imagine seeing the contract signed on the 10th July 1492 in which the Jews of Gerona sell their Synagogue to the church before being expelled from Spain three weeks later. 

• Imagine the tears that flowed in the Córdoba Synagogue  in the weeks leading up to Tisha B'Av 1942, 2 August 1492. 

• Imagine standing in the Hall of Ambassadors in the Alhambra in Granada - the very room in which Ferdinand and Isabella signed the Decree of Expulsion on 31st March 1492 ending centuries of Jewish life, learning and contribution to civilisation and changing the course of Jewish history. 

In the words of the famous kina-dirge - אלה אזכרה ונפשי עלי אשפכה - "these I remember and upon these I pour out my soul..."

So much to think about, so much to digest, so many lessons to be learnt...

Questions of Jewish survival in the Diaspora, no matter how apparently wealthy and comfortable, certainly. 

But also questions of what it takes for Israel to survive today. Should it have faith in the modern "kings and queens" and compromise? Or should it remain strong and independent? For, in the eyes of the world, Israel today is no different than the vast and successful Jewish community of Spain in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries was in the eyes of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand... Expendable!

In the end the personal service that the Jews gave the Catholic Monarchs in defeating their enemies - meant nothing. 

In the end the compromises that many Jews made to find favour in the eyes of the King and Queen - caused terrible suffering to the Jews of Spain. 

As we approach Tisha B'Av, the 523rd anniversary of our expulsion from Spain, it behoves us to think deeply not only about the importance of Jewish survival - but also about what it takes for Jews -and Israel - to survive. 

With best wishes for a Good Shabbos and an easy fast - may these days of sadness be transformed into days of joy and gladness with the coming of our righteous Moshiach. 

Rabbi Benzion and Henya Milecki

Tisha B'Av at South Head

Mincha 12.30 Maariv & Eichah 6.30 immediately followed by 

When faced with the worst ... MURDER  TERROR What do Jews do?  SURRENDER? take REVENGE? Are we .. HELPLESS?  HOPELESS? Or do we turn Despair to Hope? "tragedy always brings opportunity, you have a choice" - Judea Pearl "DO NOT GIVE UP - PUSH!!" - Rabbi Mangel "Our way of taking revenge is to fight with Good! we must continue!!" - Rabbi Lau Motzei Shabbat - from 7pm ..We're transforming broken hearts into weapons of mass construction!!!! We're building Ahavas Yisroel .. Come With Us!

South Head @ Fig Tree Theatre

South Head proudly co-presents the extraordinary true story of a young Catholic activist in the Polish resistance who tried to stop the Holocaust.

This is the story of a quiet hero, in conflict with his younger self, haunted by what he saw and struggling with what he failed to do. Who would sneak INTO the Warsaw Ghetto??  Jan Karski did - to witness first-hand the atrocities which he then reported to Allied leaders - with devastating results.

Join us Tuesday August 11th at the Fig Tree Theatre at UNSW 
click the poster or here to proceed to booking or call Helen for assistance 9371 7300 x 4

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Youth Report 

 

Hey Guys, Wow what a week - we've been catching our breath from Camp, but also very busy creating and planning and making sure we have lots for you to do in Shul - because we know how much you love being here!! (but not as much as we love having you!!!)

WE'RE BACK!!!! every second Thursday at 7.30pm from July-24

 

We are so excited to introduce our latest series of KosherChef - Desserts to Die For!! • see just how sweet Jewish life can be!! • boys & girls Yrs K-3 Tuesdays 4.30-6.00  Jul-28 - Aug-25 • this is a unique program offering children insights into the Kosher Kitchen. Each week they explore and discover their culinary selves in an artistic and fun way - and strictly kosher all the way! • Cost: $75 per term and includes a fabulous Chef pack including  utensils to take home at the end. •click the pic or here to book

 

Here's to a Great Shabbat!!    L'Chaim!!  Shaya, Shmuli & Tzemach

For more info on all programs: youth@southhead.org 
Tzemach Yemini 0412 482 770 or Shaya Greene 0412 542 770 or Shmuli Rosenbaum 0432 876 770

 

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Deeper than Psychoanalysis
Rabbi Azriel Chaikin

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The Rebbe said, “No, a person’s soul is much deeper than what mere psychoanalysis can penetrate. Freud’s theory concerns the ego and relates to people as if they were guinea pigs..." full story

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RECOMMENDED LIBRARY READING

 

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A MIGHTY HEART; The Brave Life And Death Of My Husband Danny Pearl, by Mariane Pearl.

 

For five weeks the world watched and worried about Danny Pearl, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal who was kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan. Then the news was released of his shocking and brutal murder. Mariane Pearl helped direct the urgent search for her husband. Her description of the search is riveting, illuminating and heartbreaking.

Shabbat Shalom,
Sylvia Tuback, Librarian
 

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COMMUNAL EVENTS
 

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