The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for April, 2023

Kol Hakavod to the many wonderful and dedicated members of our community who were responsible for organizing the most moving and nostalgic combined farewell function to our much-loved Bar / Bat Mitzvah and conversion teacher and communal identity Shmuel Ancri, and our final function in the Memorial Hall, which has for almost seventy years, served as a social, educational, and entertainment venue for our congregation and community.

We extend our deep thanks and sincere appreciation to Shmuel and Aliza for their wonderful contribution to the growth of Yiddishkeit within our community and wish them much good health, happiness, prosperity and Nachat, as they settle in Melbourne, in close proximity to their children and grandchildren.

This week we read the double Torah portion of Acharei Mot – Kedoshim – ‘After the Passing – Holy’, which conveys the idea that, following a sad or even tragic experience, this can and should serve to raise us to a higher level of holiness and joy.

Although, for many of us it will be sad to witness the demolition of our beloved Hall, which has been filled with so many lovely experiences and memories, we look forward please G-d, in a few years time, to enjoy a brand new modern and enhanced building, in which we will host many exciting programs and events.

We extend our Mazal Tov wishes to the modern State of Israel for seventy five years of incredible achievement and we express our deep gratitude to Hashem for gifting us our ancient homeland, where all Jews from around the world are welcome and assisted to settle. May they be blessed with enduring peace, security and prosperity!

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Wishing you an uplifting and enjoyable Shabbat Shalom    

Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe

As we reflect on the past, through the various important and somber commemorations during these days namely, Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Memorial Day, ANZAC Day, and Yom Hazikaron – Israel Remembrance Day, we remember, and consider the great sacrifices that have been made by those who came before us, many of whom made the supreme sacrifice, which have enabled us to enjoy the great freedoms and the blessings in life, which we often take for granted.

Please join us for the various commemorations and, for our formal farewell the Memorial Hall this Sunday, and our much loved Communal identity, Shmuel Ancri, who has made a huge contribution to the lives of many individuals and families within our community, and played a significant role in enhancing Judaism in our community.

Kol Hakavod to the many dedicated members of our community, who are doing so much amazing work behind the scenes to organize these wonderful functions, and events, and who have been assisting with the preparation of the Memorial Hall for handover to the developers in a few weeks.

Among the themes conveyed to us this coming Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, during which we will read the double portion of Tazriah / Metzorah, is the concept of renewal and that, as is often the case, in order to grow, we are often required to go through a stage of becoming smaller, of challenge and of pain, as in the birth of a new Jewish month, and the re-emergence of the New Moon, which follows the diminishing of the moon towards the end of the previous month.

The same idea expressed in the Parshah which primarily discusses about the affliction of Tzoraat – ‘a leprosy-like skin disease, which would develop’ on people, clothes and even ancient Jewish homes, which would often result in the demolishing of the walls of the home, only to discover great treasures hidden behind the afflicted walls.

We too will witness the sad demolition of our beloved Memorial Hall, filled with so many wonderful communal memories, though this will lead to the soon-to-be-built brand new building, which will PG usher in an exciting new era of future growth and vibrancy to our congregation and community, much like the sad commemorations of the past, and the sacrifices of those wo came befor us,  which have paved the way for a brighter more blessed world.

May we very soon merit to experience the ultimate transformation of all sadness and challenge, and witness true enduring peace in Israel and throughout the world with the imminent revelation of Moshiach NOW!                                   

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov,   

Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe