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Can you believe it's Friday already!... I hope you've had a safe and productive week. In an effort to stay mentally and physically fit and healthy, besides for my regular running, I’ve joined the Push Up Challenge. From this past Monday and over the course of 21 days, together with 3 of my colleagues we are doing 3,046 push ups in total, representing the number of lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2018 - sadly a similar number in 2019. You can learn more about this initiative here. There is a strong correlation between exercise and mental health, so if you can get out there for a walk, run or some push ups, your mind will thank you!! On the Shule front we celebrated two Bar Mitzvahs (photo below) and sadly farewelled a dear member of our community, Tony Michaels ob'm, a wonderful man who will be sorely missed. We also updated you that following the Premier's easing of some of the restrictions, our Shule will remain closed for the time being - Read the communication here. We continue to engage with our community to the best of our ability, with online services, shiurim, WhatsApp videos and phone calls - and we thank you for your kind feedback and support. This week we also took part in making history! The event Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks predicted would make history has not only made history, it has exceeded even the most ambitious expectations of the organisers. The “18 for 18” initiative, aiming to bring together 18,000 Jews from across Australia and New Zealand for 18 minutes of Jewish unity and pride on Lag B'omer, surpassed the anticipated number of Jewish viewers from across the Tasman and has been hailed by its organisers as “simply astonishing”. According to data analytics gathered from viewership on the multiple platforms through which the event was broadcast, over 40,000 Jewish people of all ages gathered online for a kaleidoscope of Jewish music, teachings and inspiration. Viewers watched the live stream via multiple platforms including Facebook, Youtube and the official website. “The coronavirus can separate us but nothing can stop us celebrating Jewish life together” commented one of the online participants. Indeed it was a truly amazing display of unity and I'm so glad so many of our members participated.
This Shabbat we read the double portion of Behar and Bechukotai and with this we finish the 3rd book of the Torah, Vayikra. In Shule we would be wishing each other loudly 'Chazak Chazak V'nitchazek! - Be strong! Be strong! We will be strengthened!' Let us be strong and let us strengthen each other! May it be a pleasant and healthy weekend and week ahead, in which we hear and share B'surot Tovot - only good news! Shabbat Shalom! Please have a scroll through the email for news, events and photos. Hope to see you soon, 4:15pm, for a Pre Shabbat Zoom!
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Join us this evening, 4:15pm, for our Pre Shabbat Live! Story and songs for the kids, followed by Shabbat classics like Yedid Nefesh, Lecha Dodi, Shalom Alechem and more! Tune in on Zoom here, p/word 015870, on www.facebook.com/elwoodshule, or on J-Air 87.8fm, https://j-air.com.au/.. |
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Ladies, please join us for our upcoming Book Club Meeting. Mon, 18 May, 8:15pm. We’ll be discussing An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris. All ladies welcome! Join the Zoom Meeting here. Email sisterhood@elwoodshule.org for the Zoom password. Paris, 1895 – an army officer, Georges Picquart, watches a convicted spy, Alfred Dreyfus, being publicly humiliated in front of a baying crowd. Dreyfus is exiled for life to Devil’s Island; Picquart is promoted to run the intelligence unit that tracked him down. But when Picquart discovers that secrets are still being handed over to the Germans, he is drawn into a dangerous labyrinth of deceit and corruption that threatens not just his honour but his life. |
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Zoom Shiur with Rabbi Shmuel: Journey from. Journey to - Bamidbar and life after Corona. Tues, 19 May, 7:15pm (Maariv 7pm). on Zoom here p/word 015870. All welcome! |
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Shule Services via Zoom
Daily Maariv (S-T) 7:00pm Followed by a burst of inspiration, on Zoom here, password 015870. All welcome! If you or someone you know has a Yahrtzeit, please let me know and I will recite the Memorial Prayer in their memory following Maariv. Many have joined us over the last couple of weeks and have found it very comforting.
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Candle Lighting
Friday, 15 May Light Candles at 5:01pm Please say a prayer for my uncle Rafael Avraham Yeshaye ben Rivkah to have a complete and speedy recovery! |
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Please keep us in the loop by notifying us of your lifecycle events!
Birth! Mazal Tov to Fay & Adrian Colman on the birth of a grandson! May he be a source of naches and joy, in good health! Click here to read about the Jewish perspective on pregnancy and birth.
Happy - Jewish - Birthday! We wish a very Happy Jewish Birthday to Terry Gerler, Eva Goldberg, Morrie Gore, Mia Grosman, Aaron Hirsh, David Kiper, Noa Michaels, Henry Mittelman, Henry Muscatel, Michael Shaw, Eva Teitelbaum, Rinat Zalcman. We wish them good health till 120. Click here to read about a Jewish Birthday and for a Jewish Birthday Converter.
Bar Mitzvah Mazal Tov to Rhys Chait on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah! Mazal Tov to his parents Lorin & Craig and to his grandparents Lionel & Maureen Cohen. May Rhys continue to be a source of joy and naches, in good health. Mazal Tov to Milo Friedman on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah! Mazal Tov to his parents Vikki & Michael and to his grandparents Vera & Harry Friedman and Sharon & Malcolm Stern. May Milo continue to be a source of joy and naches, in good health.
Condolences We mourn the passing of Tony Michaels ob'm. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his mother Essie, his wife Barbara and children Richard and Kate. We wish the whole family blessings of comfort, healing, good health and long life. Click here to read about the Jewish perspective on death and mourning.
Yahrtzeits This week we remember: Shabbat Mala Brandsteter - Mother of Teresa Sunday Abraham Lichtenbaum - Husband of Luba, father of Helen Tuszynski Aaron Kagan - Father of Barbara Rabinov and Evelyn Puszet Monday Barbara Kuperholz - Mother of Lois Cohen Tuesday Regina Kalkopf - Mother of Helen Granek Yankel Lebovich - Shammes of our Shule
We wish the respective families blessings of long life. |
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This week we read Parshat Behar and Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1 - 27:34). Learn about the Parsha here. |
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Three guys sitting in jail. One asks the other “what are you in for?” "I got six months for walking my dog after 9 o’clock in the morning, and what are you in for?” “I got a year and a half for visiting my mum...” Then they ask the third guy “what are you in for?” “I got one month for robbing a bank”, he replies. “What, just one month for robbing a bank?!” the two exclaim. “Yes,” he answers, “I was fully compliant... mask, gloves, everything!” |
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As always, I'm available anytime for a chat or just to be a listening ear, my number is 0433 676 300. Given the unique time we're living in, my phone remains on for the duration of Shabbat. If talking to me will even potentially preserve your physical or mental health and wellbeing, please call me even on Shabbat. |
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