The Brisbane Synagogue

Archive for July, 2024

It is both sad, yet gratifying to hear that Australia has appointed a special envoy to combat antisemitism and preserve social cohesion, amid rising community tension over the Israel-Gaza war.
Sad, that we have come to such a situation in which there is a call for such an envoy, yet it is encouraging that our Government is responding to this call in an attempt to address this age-old sickness, which is rearing its ugly head once again in Australia and throughout the world.
As Jillian Segal AO, who has been appointed as Jewish community liaison to the Prime Minister in this regard, stated, “Jewish Australians want to feel free to live their day-to-day lives, and also want to feel safe to practice and express their religion without fear”.
Antisemitism, like many other aspects of life, is not always comprehendible, as the name this week’s Parsha – Torah portion Chukat – Statutes, referring to the category of Mitzvot which are beyond the capacity of human rationale, suggests.
Etymologically, the Hebrew word Chukat, relates to the word Chakika – engraved, alluding to the concept that, just as an engraving becomes one with the object on which it is engraved, the deeper we impress upon ourselves our own faith and identity, the stronger our ability is to handle our relationship with others and the world around us.
With the above message in mind, it is important, especially during these challenging times that, within ourselves, we nurture a healthy sense of Jewish identity, and an awareness that our connection and claim to the Land of Israel is based on the firm foundation of the promise made by Hashem, creator of the universe, to our forefather Avraham Avinu – Abraham over four thousand years ago, as conveyed to us in the first book of the Torah, Genesis, and reiterated countless times throughout TeNaCh – the Holy Jewish Scriptures, that the Land of Israel was gifted as an eternal inheritance to the Jewish people.
Please consider joining us for our upcoming JLI course, back by popular demand next month, entitled “Outsmarting Antisemitism”. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
With heartfelt prayers for the release of the remaining hostages, for the security and safety of our Chayalim, and enduring peace in Israel and throughout the world!
Shabbat Shalom and may we share good news,
Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe

There is much discussion currently going on in the global political arena, particularly in the US, regarding the qualities required for effective leadership and, at what point it may be advisable for people to consider stepping aside to allow others to take on various public positions.
How timely that these discussions are taking place during the week in which we read of the earliest recorded leadership challenge in history namely, the story of Korach, who brazenly and publicly challenged the leadership of Moshe, his first cousin. The name of Korach goes down in history by, not only recording this episode in the Torah but actually naming the entire Parsha – portion after him, a man who was clearly on the wrong side of history, as evidenced by his subsequent downfall, as he and all of his supporters were dramatically swallowed up in the earth.
As always, the Torah is conveying to us an important message by recording this story for perpetuity and by naming the Parsha after Korach. The essence of Korach’s challenge was the notion that all the congregation is holy, so why do you Moses, and your brother Aaron elevate yourselves above the nation. Korach was fighting for egalitarianism, and he was championing the cause for everyone to have equal rights and for everyone to be entitled to achieve high aspirations in life, which was a noble cause, and his descendants indeed became great people, among them Samuel the Prophet. We can all learn from this to aspire for growth in our daily lives, and to continually strive to achieve more in our quest for character improvement and spiritual refinement.
It is gratifying to witness the many members of our community, who are taking this message to heart, through their active involvement in nurturing their Jewish knowledge and identity, through Synagogue attendance and Jewish learning, via the various classes and courses on offer for children and adults, and the outpouring of voluntary service and support for our brothers and sisters in Israel during these challenging times.
Our new Minyan Management Whatsapp group is working reasonably well, and we thank all those who have joined however, in order for this group to work more effectively we require more members and friends to please join the group. If you are not part of this group and would like to join, please respond by return email.
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov and we look forward to seeing you at Shul.
Rabbi Levi & Dvorah Jaffe