The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for December, 2022

Our Queensland and Australian community is reeling from the horrific and tragic shooting, in the quiet rural Western Queensland town of Wieambilla, tragically taking the lives of two young police officers, and an innocent civilian.

May Hashem bless the families and community of those who have been so deeply affected by this most shocking act of murder. May they be comforted and may we all experience only revealed good and peace in our beautiful and blessed country.

This week, we begin the epic story in the Torah of Joseph, which is filled with so much drama, pain and suffering, only to eventually bring Joseph to the elevated position of viceroy of Egypt, a position from which he becomes  instrumental in preserving the lives of his family and  bringing them down to Egypt, thus commencing the story of the long and arduous journey of our people through the ages.

It is in challenging times such as these, that we may draw inspiration and strength from the stories of the Torah and, through the amazing resilience of our community, which always comes together in times such as these in support of one another with a strong resolve to act with extra Chesed – loving kindness, just like the Biblical Joseph, may we as a community grow stronger and intensify our resolve to bring more light into the world.

This above theme is also the message of Chanukah, which commences this coming Sunday evening, which celebrates the ultimate triumph of light over darkness.

Please see information below regarding upcoming Chnanukah festivities, taking place in our Synagogue and community and we look forward to celebrating the festivities with you.

Wishing you and your family Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful and uplifting Shabbat and a happy and illuminating Chanukah

Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe

Thank you Nat Trieger for assistance with the above message    

This past week, while visiting a dear Russian member of our community, who has limited command of the English language, and recently suffered a stroke, our conversation, which took place through a young Ukrainian interpreter who came to Brisbane with her family to seek refuge from the war in Ukraine, meandered to the topic of the Yiddish language and, in frustration, this special Russian lady expressed her apology for being unable to speak more that a few basic Yiddish words, such as ‘Zei Gezunt‘.

I excitedly responded that I could actually sing for her in her language, and commenced to sing a popular upbeat Chassidic song about the oneness of Hashem. Not only did the eyes of this sweet lady light up in ecstatic joy, but the non-Jewish Ukranian interpreter began to join in the song and excitedly exclaimed that this was the favorite song of her five year-old son, which she had picked up while working with the Jewish community in Ukraine.

This moving experience has left me on a high for the past few days, as we are currently conducting the final class of the current ‘My G-d’ JLI course and we are talking about the legacy of Avraham, the first Jew, and his mission to bring the awareness of the One G-d to the world. How amazing that over four thousand years later, in a far away hospital room Down Under, a total stranger in a foreign land is comforted and uplifted by a song expressing the unity of Hashem in the world.

Ashreinu Mah Tov Chelkeinu – ‘How happy we are with our lot’, to be living in such unprecedented times, in which we are able to comfortably speak, and even sing, with people across all faiths and cultures about our common belief in the one G-d, Creator or heaven and earth.

Kol Hakavod again to the many members of our congregation and community, who have travelled with us over the past six weeks on a profound journey of self-discovery, and relationship building with each other and with Hashem.

Please see information on this website regarding upcoming Chanukah festivities, taking place in our Synagogue and community and we look forward to celebrating the festivities with you.

Dvorah and I wish you and your family Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful and uplifting Shabbat

Levi Jaffe