Harmless Gossip
April 27, 2012 by Rabbi Michoel Gourarie
Judaism considers gossip a serious transgression. But what is the definition of gossip? Is it only malicious slander that is harmful to another, or can it even be a casual, harmless comment that is negative…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie? Read more
Personal Musings on Aliya on Independence Day
April 26, 2012 by Isi Leibler
In Israel, the past few weeks epitomize the contrasting emotions of sadness and exhilaration which embody the life of the Jewish people…writes Isi Leibler. Read more
The Story of Mary Maclane by Herself – a theatre review
Bojana Novakovic’ The Story of Mary Maclane By Herself is as haphazard as the apparently erratic life of its real-life subject…writes Brad Syke Read more
Shirlee’s Day Out
April 3, 2012 by Shirlee Finn
Sydney community stalwart Shirlee Finn recently visited Israel where she caught up with Aussie ex-pat Ari Briggs…. Read more
Family Fun Day at the Montefiore
April 2, 2012 by Sarah Hanniffy
Sydney’s Montefiore Home has celebrated Family Fun Day as part of NSW Seniors Week 2012. Read more
At the Bottom, but Climbing
March 30, 2012 by J-Wire
At the beginning of the Pesach Seder, just after Kiddush, we eat “Karpas” – a small piece of vegetable dipped in salt water…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more
Is it time time to pardon the crimes of the Nazis?
March 27, 2012 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
Two generations after the Holocaust, the shivers still pierce our being when people say, “can’t you forgive and forget?” …writes Rabbi Raymond Apple. Read more
Abduraimov shines
March 27, 2012 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The International Pianists in Recital series held in Sydney’s Angel Place City Recital Hall got away to an exciting start with 22 year old Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov…writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more
Have you eaten dessert?
March 23, 2012 by Rabbi Michoel Gourarie
Question:
I have worked hard to be a good, decent and honorable human being. I don’t drink, smoke or eat unhealthy food. I don’t cheat, lie, gossip or humiliate other people. I stay away from bad company and am allergic to shady business. But I am still unhappy and constantly have this ongoing feeling of emptiness. Can you help…asks Rabbi Michoel Gourarie? Read more
Meet the London Klezmer Quartet
March 21, 2012 by Community Editor
A Klezmer Workshop by London Klezmer Quartet is to be held in Melbourne next month. Read more
iPad app for Toddlers’ Ivrit
March 19, 2012 by J-Wire Staff
A new free app for your iPad is now available to help teach toddlers basic Ivrit. Read more
Help the Friendship Circle win $2500
March 16, 2012 by J-Wire
Please help the NSW Friendship Circle win a grant of 2,500 to train our volunteers in first by visiting projectlocal.com.au and registering to vote for Keeping Special People Safe! Read more
London Klezmer group for Shir Madness
The London Klezmer Quartet will appear at Jewish music festival Shir Madness in Sydney next month as part of an Australian tour. Read more
Cooking for Love
February 18, 2012 by Odile Faludi
Are you looking for an ice-breaker, a way to really get to know someone?…writes Odile Faludi. Read more
UNESCO Must Choose – “Palestine” or the World?
February 17, 2012 by David Singer
The Obama administration formally announced its intention this week to ask Congress to waive a ban on American funding of 22% of UNESCO’s budget following UNESCO’s decision to admit “Palestine“ as its 195th member state on 31 October 2011…writes David Singer. Read more
Diplomats under attack
This week we woke to the news that two Israeli Embassies had been struck by car bombs, one in New Dehli, India and the other in Tbilisi, Georgia. ..writes Emily Gian. Read more
Ice Cream and Conversion
February 14, 2012 by Isi Leibler
When the Israeli Chief Rabbinate decreed that Haagen-Dazs ice cream is no longer kosher because it is not based on Chalav d’Yisrael – milk extracted under authorized Jewish supervision – it is imposing the most stringent interpretation of kashrut on all Israelis…writes Isi Leibler. Read more
A Jungle or a Garden?
February 3, 2012 by Rabbi Michoel Gourarie
The two words ‘jungle’ and ‘garden’ create very different images in our minds..writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more
Palestine Poison Pill Paralyses UNESCO
February 3, 2012 by David Singer
Palestine’s admission as the 195th member state of UNESCO – in possible breach of UNESCO’s own Constitution – has become a very painful poison pill for UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova to swallow…writes David Singer. Read more
New Aussie artist showing in Perth
January 22, 2012 by Arts Editor
Scottish-born artist/photographer Jamie Harris has made a new life for himself in Perth and an exhibition of his work will open in the Western Australian city next month. Read more
Remembering Wannsee
January 21, 2012 by Danny Ben-Moshe
On January 20, 1942, the Nazi leadership gathered in a villa on the outskirts of Berlin and adopted the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.” The Wannsee Conference, as this became known, from the suburb where the meeting was held, formalized the process that exterminated so much of European Jewry…writes Danny Ben-Moshe. Read more
Do Rivers Have Feelings
January 20, 2012 by Rabbi Michoel Gourarie
In this week’s Torah portion we read about the ten plagues. G-d punishes the Egyptians with a series of ten devastating blows that destroy the infrastructure of this powerful country, paving the way for the much-awaited Jewish exodus. Moses, the Jewish leader, is G-d’s messenger to issue warnings to Pharaoh and to perform certain tasks that would bring about these plagues…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more
Grovelling to the Moslem Brotherhood
January 19, 2012 by Isi Leibler
It is profoundly disconcerting to read media reports of the unseemly competition between the US and Western governments to curry favor with the Moslem Brotherhood in the wake of its electoral victory in Egypt…writes Isi Leibler. Read more
2012: The Year of the Foreign Passport
January 17, 2012 by Raffe Gold
Will 2012 be the year of the foreign passport? Will left-wing Israelis, after experiencing gender segregation; political sidelining and the threat of religious coercion find themselves researching how much it would cost to move away from Israel for good? What will happen when these Israelis say that enough is enough? When they believe that the Zionist dream remains just that…a dream that could have been so much more…writes Raffe Gold. Read more
UNESCO Commissioner Spells Out Global Fallout From Palestine Decision
January 14, 2012 by David Singer
Global programs in literacy, gender equality and clean water initiatives will be impacted as a result of America suspending its dues to UNESCO totalling about $225 million dollars until 2013 – according to United States National Commissioner to UNESCO – Emilya Cachapero….writes David Singer. Read more
On Democracy, McCarthyism and Fascism
January 10, 2012 by Isi Leibler
The collapse of the Palestinian initiative to achieve unilateral independence and the widespread consensus within Israel concerning the principal threats confronting us, have deeply frustrated marginalized far left groups. Their response has been to launch a global campaign portraying us as a State losing its democratic ethos and adopting fascism – a theme eagerly endorsed by much of the Western media…writes Isi Leibler.
Ray Ginsburg – Eulogy
Victoria Nadel, the President of The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia NSW Division delivered a eulogy at the funeral of Ray Ginsburg who passed aaway this week at the age of 103. Read more
Confront Unbridled Religious Zealotry Now
December 22, 2011 by Isi Leibler
Once again I feel impelled to express anger, frustration and pain concerning the primitive behavior displayed by our religious zealots and their frenetic efforts to reject modernism…writes Isi Leibler. Read more
Two Reasons why the ECAJ must vocalise its support for marriage equality
December 19, 2011 by Michael Barnett
On December 3 2011 the Australian Labor Party voted in favour of supporting marriage equality…writes Michael Barnett. Read more
Palestine – Time to tell the Truth
December 18, 2011 by David Singer
Republican front runner for next President of the United States – Newt Gingrich – has done himself and his campaign great credit in branding the Palestinians as an invented nation…writes David Singer. Read more
