The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for July, 2023

For the first time since Covid, it is an absolute pleasure to currently be attending a  conference of Rabbis from across Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne, at which former Chief Rabbi of Israel, and Chairman of  the Yad Vashem Council,  Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau delivered a keynote address. Many important topics of communal Rabbinic interest and Jewish outreach are being discussed, and it is deeply inspiring to be present with so many fellow representatives of communities throughout Australia and New Zealand.

This Shabbat we will conclude the fourth book of Torah, Bamidbar – Numbers, which primarily covers the travels of the Jewish people in the desert, prior to their entry into the Holy Land of Israel. In many ways, this book contains the inspiration and preparation of the Jewish people for their imminent engagement with the physical world, after forty years of being living in a spiritual cocoon of their desert life, when all their physical needs were miraculously provided for them.

Our ultimate goal in life is to be weened off the dependent reality of being nurtured and provided for by others, to build on the earlier experiences of our youth and to grow and to flourish as independent adults.

We are about to enter a more intense  period of mourning in the Jewish calendar, known as the Nine Days, which culminate with Tisha BÁv, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, on which both Batey Mikdash – Holy Temples were destroyed. Although this is a sad time, it contains huge potential for us to transform the sad experiences of exile into uplifting and redemptive experiences of rebirth and growth.

According to our sages, the primary cause of the destruction of the Temple, was disunity among our people, which makes it even more special to unite with so many Rabbinic colleagues for the purpose of strengthening and promoting

As we enter our transition, from the conclusion of this weeks double-portion of Matot – Mazei, into the new book of Devarim – Deuteronomy, as we will proclaim in unison, Chazak, Chazak, Venitchazek – Be strong, be strong, let us strengthen ourselves, let us pray for the transformation of all pain and challenge into open blessings of  good health and happiness and enduring peace in Israel and the world.      

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov    

Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe

Today was the Fast of  Tammuz, as we commence a period of mourning in the Jewish Calendar, known as ‘the Three Weeks’, during which we commemorate the destruction of both of our Batey Mikdash – ancient Holy Temples in Jerusalem.

Although this is a sad period, our sages emphasize that through our increased efforts to extend increased acts of kindness towards each other, and through studying about the structure and design of the Bet Hamikdash, we are being instrumental in building the third and final Bet Hamikdash. Contained within the sadness is the power and potential for rebuilding and rebirth.

At the formal opening of the Queensland Holocaust Museum last Friday, in conversation with child survivor, Mr Aron Fresco, it was discovered that, due to various circumstances after the war, Aron was not afforded the opportunity to formally celebrate his Bar Mitzvah and that he had never had the opportunity to put on Tefillin.

After explaining to Aron and his wife Sally that it was never too late for a Bar Mitzvah, and what better place and time to celebrate one’s Judaism than at the opening of a Holocaust Museum, with some encouragement from Sally, Aron enthusiastically proceeded to roll up his sleeve, eager to seize the moment to celebrate a very special Bar Mitzvah.

After donning the Tefillin, Aron proceeded, word by word, to proudly recite the Shema Yisrael, our declaration of faith, the very same moving words with which many of those who perished during the Shoa, went to their tragic deaths

This moving ceremony, was a bold and powerful demonstration that, while the wicked regime which tried to destroy our people and our faith is relegated to the dark pages of history, Judaism and our sacred traditions are alive and well.

Aron’s Bar Mitzvah Celebration 

Following the little ‘Bar Mitzvah ceremony’, Siman Tov Umazal Tov was sung together with Aron and Sally, along with another Holocaust survivor Suzi Smeed, who was standing nearby. All were all elated by this unique and special experience, which will long be remembered and cherished.

May we merit to experience the transformation of all negativity and evil into positivity and revealed good, and the building of our third and final Holy Bet Hamikdash – Temple

Shabbat Shalom and well over the fast    

Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe