Items

• 
  2019-04-05

  Pesach mutual aid, care packages for solitary seders!

  When we went into lockdown in Naarm (Melbourne), many Jewish people realised this meant doing their seders solo or over zoom. Restrictions on number of guests meant that a seder with the family wasn't possible. Whilst at most seders you would usually have multiple people who had divided the seder night responsibilities (someone on charoset, matzah ball soup, gefilte fish, kosher wine, boiled eggs and each item for the seder plate), this night was different from all other nights. Our seders suddenly felt bare with the looming responsibility to create an entire seder's worth of food, for one. For those of us who lived away from our families and the bagel belt, there were additional challenges. For the queer jews who left their south-eastern homes for the cramped share houses of the inner north, finding Kosher and seder specific ingredients was near impossible at our local Piedemontes. I called my closest Woolworths and asked if they had ingredients for passover, "You could try the international food aisle?" they suggested, I knew that wouldn't suffice. I was grieving the loss of my most important cultural holiday of the year and the foods that came with it, when I decided I would drive to Southside, and collect ingredients from there. Knowing it would be useless to cook for one (and that I still haven't learnt the skills to do so) I decided to buy enough that I could make up care packages for other Jewish people doing their seders alone. The buba of the northside, giving just enough of everything for a table of one. 3 matzah balls, a jar of broth, enough matzah to break, hide and dip in charoset, etc. Other Jewish people contributed ingredients or made gefilte fish to distribute too. I managed to distribute over 25 packages to people joining their seders via zoom. For me, it was such an important way for me to feel connected to community despite distance, and honour pesach at a challenging time.
• 
  2020-09-16

  Jewish Melbourne

  Reflection and Resilience
• 
  2020-09-08

  Jewish Melbourne

  Rosh Hashana 2020 Style - Achieving Inner Peace, Spirituality & Connection: Discussing Rosh Hashanah in a Covid world, the redefining of Rosh Hashanah 2020 Style! As part of our focus on Spiritual Health, the JCCV welcomed back two professionals who shared their insights on how to make the most of celebrating Rosh Hashanah this year, and offer ideas to achieve meaningful experiences for you and those closest to you.
• 
  2020-09-18

  Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care writing from staff about celebrating the HHD in lockdown

  This is a blog post by Cassandra Barrett, the Program Manager, Healthy Communities, about getting through the High Holy Days while separated from family.
• 
  2020-10

  Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Museum of Australia's 'Sukkah'

  "While we won’t open our doors until January – and set hearts aflame with MIRKA from Valentine’s Day – we’re delighted to reunite with you at Sukkah. A collaboration with Zahava Elenberg, Creator of Clikclax, Director of Move-in and Co-Founder of Elenberg Fraser Architecture, Sukkah invites you to reflect on humanity and what it means to be in a community. Crafted from Polycarbonate in translucent earth, sky and desert colours, it provides shelter and encourages us to look out towards the never-ending sky and beyond adversity. So until we can meet again at our Museum, we hope you enjoy Sukkah – and think, dream and feel together."
• 
  2020-09-14

  Jewish Melbourne: Sholem Aleichem Grade 6s ‘Gast Oyf Shabes’ - with Bronia Koperszmidt making the traditional Sholem Aleichem College honey cake recipe in Yiddish

  "Last Friday, the Grade 6s welcomed Bronia Koperszmidt as their latest ‘Gast Oyf Shabes’. Bronia, who is a former Sholem Aleichem College parent and current SACCEC student, taught the children how to make the traditional Sholem Aleichem College honey cake recipe in Yiddish. This recipe, which Bronia has been using since her children attending the school, is the recipe of Mira Zylberman (the former directress of the Sholem Aleichem Preschool and bobe of Lererin Reyzl Zylberman and Lererin Dvora Zylberman). The students were also taken on a photographic trip down memory lane to see how Bronia’s family connections to the College related back to the students themselves and their own journeys. We hope this will instill in them the understanding that our Sholem Aleichem College families remain a part of our community well-after leaving our college."
• 
  2020-09

  Jewish Melbourne: Sholem Aleichem Rosh Hashone staff video

  The staff at Sholem Aleichem College recorded a video celebrating Rosh Hashone
• 
  2020-09-17

  Jewish Melbourne: Sholem Aleichem students baking for Rosh Hashone

  "This week our students have been busy preparing for Rosh Hashone! Our Grade 4 students enjoyed learning how to braid a khale through an amazing baking session, while our Grade 1 students loved baking delicious honey oat slice!"
• 
  2020-09-11

  Jewish Melbourne: Mt Scopus pre-Rosh Hashanah video

  This is a short video of students blowing to shofar, to encourage the community to "‪Get excited because there’s only one week till..... ROSH HA’SHANA!!!"
• 
  2020-09-18

  Jewish Melbourne: Mt Scopus students celebrate Rosh Hashanah online

  This is a photo album of screenshots of students celebrating Rosh Hashanah together on zoom
• 
  2020-10-07

  Jewish Melbourne: Mt Scopus primary students virtual Sukkot

  "Our Primary Students have also been learning about Chag #Sukkot From a virtual Sukkah to LEGO demonstrations, this year’s #Sukkot5781 has certainly had a point of difference! #JewishIdentity #Gettingthroughthistogether"
• 
  2020-09-24

  Jewish Melbourne: Mt Scopus ScopusTorah@Home - Yom Kippur 5781

  "What does Purim have to do with Yom Kippur? In this week’s ScopusTorah@Home Mrs Adina Bankier-Karp will explain why channeling our inner Esther is key this Yom Kippur. #JewishIdentity #Gettingthroughthistogether"
• 
  2020-09-20

  Jewish Melbourne: Mt Scopus Rosh HaShana 5781 Greeting from Rabbi Kennard

  "Rabbi Kennard passed on his Rosh HaShana greetings to staff, students and the whole #ScopusFamily at the conclusion of the virtual Student Leadership Induction Ceremony on Tuesday 15 September, 2020."
• 
  2020-09-03

  Jewish Melbourne: Project High Holydays round challah braiding video

  "Introducing Rivkah Yurkowicz from Chabad Malvern presenting a simple step by step guide to braiding your holiday challah"
• 
  2020-09-26

  Jewish Melbourne: Sassoon Yehuda Sephardi Synagogue - Yom Kippur message

  This is a video by Sassoon Yehuda Sephardi Synagogue of a "2020/5781 Pre-Yom Kippur inspiring message from Rav and Rabbanit Hassan, for our community."
• 
  2020-09-20

  Jewish Melbourne: Sassoon Yehuda Sephardi Synagogue - Rosh Hashana message

  This is a video of the 2020-5781 Rosh Hashana message from Rabbi Ben Hassan and Rabbanit Sharona Hassan for the Sassoon Yehuda Sephardi Synagogue: "We were delighted to have Rabbi Hassan deliver a drasha and inspire us for for the year ahead"
• 
  2020-10-02

  Jewish Melbourne: Chabad on Carlisle Weekly Message for Sukkot

  This is a weekly video message from Chabad on Carlisle to their congregation. This one is for Sukkot and encouraging people to donate to their charity appeal.
• 
  2020-09-15

  Jewish Melbourne: Chabad on Carlisle Q & A with the Rabbis about Rosh Hashanah

  On Tuesday 15 September Chabad on Carlisle held an online Q&A with their Rabbis, along with musical entertainment, for Rosh Hashanah
• 
  2020-04-01

  Jewish Melbourne: Rabbi Chaim Herzog of Chabad Melbourne distributes shmura matza during pandemic

  In this photo Rabbi Chaim Herzog of Chabad of Melbourne is delivering shmura matzah to Claude Schwarz. In the period before Passover the custom is to receive hand baked shmura matza for the seder night.
• 
  2020-04-25

  Anzac Day in the Street

  HIST30060: Anzac Day was commemorated in a COVID-safe fashion. Some rose at dawn to stand at the end of their driveway, with many leaving messages or objects around the streets. I went for a walk and spotted several commemorative pieces in my area, including this ute with an electric candle and mat reading ‘Lest We Forget’.
• 
  2020-04

  Family facetime

  At the start of lockdown it became clear that my family would not be able to see each other for a while. Most of my family lives in Sydney, some of us live in Melbourne, regional Victoria and Canada. In response, my sister initiated a Coffey Family FaceTime every night at 6:30pm with whoever was available. However, this meant teaching my grandmothers how to use Facebook and how to start a call. More than 8 months later and both my grandmothers still can’t turn their video on without direction and also can’t start Facebook calls. This call kept us together when we felt far away. Celebrating father’s day and birthdays and anniversaries on FaceTime made some moments more memorable and some feel more lonely. Face timing each other was fun until there was a family dinner in Sydney and you couldn’t leave the state. However, there were fun moments, stirring up my parents dogs by yelling “walkies” or “dindins” and then leaving the call, FaceTiming on empty trams and using the weird face effects to confuse my grandmother about who’s camera was whose. The call gave structure to the days spent inside and caused me to talk to my grandmothers and extended family more about the current world events. HIST30060
• 
  2020-04

  ANZAC Day 2020

  Like many families we participated in a dawn service unlike any previously held this year. As gatherings and official ceremonies were cancelled people looked for alternate ways to commemorate ANZAC day. Across the country there was a movement to participate in a unified but socially distanced way. Lighting a small candle and observing the minute silence made us all feel a little more connected during the height of the Sydney lockdown.
• 
  2020-09-16

  Jewish Melbourne: Chabad on Carlisle Rosh Hashanah deliveries to seniors

  During Rosh Hashanah Victoria remained in lockdown, and so Chabad on Carlisle - Russian Jewish Centre organised for volunteers to deliver "Challahs, meals, candles and honey cake to seniors in honour of Rosh Hashana".
• 
  2020-10

  Jewish Melbourne: Chabad on Carlisle Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah at home resources

  Simchat Torah occurred during lockdown, and so Chabad on Carlisle-Jewish Russian Centre provided resources for their community to observe Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah at home
• 
  2020-04-03

  Jewish Melbourne: Kehilat Kolenu Pesach drash

  Pesach in 2020/5780 came at the beginning of Melbourne's lockdown, and services were held online. Tal Cohen delivered a drash during Kehilat Kolenu's services.
• 
  2020-09-19

  Jewish Melbourne: Kehilat Kolenu Rosh Hashanah drash

  Kehilat Kolenu had an online service for Rosh Hashanah, due to Melbourne's lockdown, and Leah Justin delivered the drash
• 
  2020-09-27

  Jewish Melbourne: Kehilat Kolenu Kol Nidre drash

  Kehilat Kolenu ran services online for the High Holy Days, and shared the drash that was delivered by Alice Chipkin for Kol Nidre
• 
  2020-09-18

  Jewish Melbourne: Rabbi Ralph Genende for Rosh Hashanah

  For Rosh Hashanah, Caulfield Shule's Rabbi Ralph Genende pre-recorded a sermon and a short video celebrating apples and honey
• 
  2020-09-20

  Jewish Melbourne: Caulfield Shule Rosh Hashanah online

  While synagogues were closed under lockdown for Rosh Hashanah, Caulfield Shule provided a 'Rosh Hashanah highlights' service online before Rosh Hashanah started, as well as a standalone video of the Chazzan singing a "Rosh Hashanah Highlights Medley" with a choir in Israel
• 
  2020-09-28

  Jewish Melbourne: Caulfield Shule Yom Kippur online services

  Due to the lockdown, Caulfield Shule was unable to have a Yom Kippur service. Instead, they pre-recorded abridged Kol Nidre and Yizkor services, and livestreamed an abridged Neilah service after Yom Kippur had ended.
• 
  2020-09-29

  Jewish Melbourne: Caulfield Shule Avinu Malkeinu

  Caulfield Shule was locked down and unable to hold a Yom Kippur service in person, so as part of their online content they posted a video of "Chazan Dov Farkas and Kolot Min Hashamayim singing Avinu Malkeinu. Dov was recorded in Melbourne, the choir recorded in Israel, which was all blended together with the help of technology!"
• 
  2020-09-29

  Jewish Melbourne: Caulfield Shule making Sukkot decorations

  A video as part of the online programming for Sukkot from Caulfield Shule: "Batmitzvah girls Shaylee Klinger and Hanna Sion teach you how to make Sukkot decorations"
• 
  2020-10-08

  Jewish Melbourne: Caulfield Shule Pre-Shmini Atzeret “Abridged Yizkor Service”

  "Go online with Caulfield Shule's Rabbi Ralph and Chazzan Dov Farkas this Yom Tov for a Pre-Shmini Atzeret “Abridged Yizkor Service” Thursday Night, 8th of October, 8.00–8.20pm"
• 
  2020-10-06

  Jewish Melbourne: Sukkot Party

  Organised by a range of Jewish organisations, including Project High Holy Day, a virtual Sukkot party was held online.
• 
  2020-10-07

  Jewish Melbourne: Caulfield Shule Chol Hamoed lolly bags

  Melbourne was still in lockdown during Chol Hamoed Sukkot, so Caulfield Shule organised treats for their congregation, encouraging people to come down and pick them up.
• 
  2020-09-15

  Jewish Melbourne: Year One students at Bialik College wish Emmy Monash residents Shana Tova

  "The children of Year One at Bialik College share with us their messages of love, hope and resilience" through Rosh Hashanah messages sent to residents of Emmy Monash Aged Care
• 
  2020-10-31

  Eagerness to Celebrate

  HIST30060. My first journey to the city after months of staying within 5km of my own home, you begin to take for granted the daily trips to university, the train and tram rides, and being around other people. I got to go to shops I haven't been to before and have discovered during lockdown as well as food that I have missed dearly and was a welcome change after so much monotony and repetition. These places were bouncing back after months of hardship and everyone seemed so keen to participate in society again. It's a first step towards normality, and I believe nothing speaks to that greater than seeing Christmas decorations on Halloween. It was October, and there was a giant Christmas tree in QV. Not many superficial things cause me to seethe, but it was over 50 days until Christmas. However, it's an annoying but nice way to demonstrate that there's a level of hope among everyone with the December holidays being a point in the future that everyone in Victoria holds dear. We hope that we will be able to travel interstate to visit friends and family for Christmas, that we can have gatherings at home around a BBQ celebrating Christmas and the holidays, but also the love we share for one another and the joy at being able to be together again. I believe this year will be the only one where I will not mind as much to see these decorations so early, as they demonstrate hope and a return to everything we know and love.
• 
  2020-09-24

  Jewish Melbourne: Souper Kitchen's Yom Kippur campaign

  Souper Kitchen ran a campaign for Yom Kippur, encouraging people to donate, given the hardships many have faced due to Covid-19.
• 
  2020-09-23

  Jewish Melbourne: CCare Buddy Program

  Around Rosh Hashanah, CCare established a buddy program during Melbourne's lockdown: "Shana Tova! Are you looking for a way to make a positive impact from the comfort and safety of your own home? This Jewish New Year, pledge to spend 30 minutes each week chatting to a new friend! After an incredibly successful pilot, The C Care Buddy Initiative is ready for official launch! We can’t wait to welcome our next group of Buddies into the program. *So, how does it work?* We’ll match each volunteer with a C Care recipient (or more, if you’d like) and take you through a short training session where we'll provide tips and guidance to make you feel comfortable going into your first call. Then, we’ll send both you and your buddy a ‘Buddy Welcome Box’ complete with tea and treats, and you’ll be ready for your weekly shmooze!"
• 
  2020

  Jewish Melbourne: FOJAM's best of 5780

  Festival of Jewish Art and Music (FOJAM) produced a 'Best of 5780' list: "Without getting too heavy and nostalgic for the year that has passed, 5780 has been uh pretty challenging. But hey, Jews never expect anything to be easy. We want meaning and enrichment more than anything else right? That's why we love our arts! This last six months has really felt like we have a community of people surrounding us and we are feeling good going into 5781. We have created a Best of 5780 (Hebrew calendar year) for you to consume over the high holidays and hopefully you come back rejuvenated and inspired."
• 
  2020-09-27

  Jewish Melbourne: St Kilda Hebrew Congregation pre-Yom Kippur sermon

  Due to the halachic restrictions on using technology during Yom Kippur, and that lockdown prevented synagogues from having congregations attend services, St Kilda Hebrew Congregation's Rabbi Yaacov Glasman pre-recorded and shared online a Yom Kippur sermon
• 
  2020-09-24

  Jewish Melbourne: St Kilda Hebrew Congregation Facebook calendar for Yom Kippur

  St Kilda Shule shared their weekly calendar for the week of Yom Kippur on Facebook, writing: "St Kilda Shule is #stayingintouch bringing you the services, song, prayer and sermons of the Shule to your homes. This week’s calendar includes our YomTov activity. #stkildashule #highholidays "
• 
  2020-09-17

  Jewish Melbourne: Kehilat Nitzan online arrangements for High Holydays

  These emails were sent to members of Kehilat Nitzan who registered to attend High Holyday services through the synagogue, providing information about how to stream the services: where to find the livestream and how to ensure a kosher livestream.
• 
  2020-09

  Jewish Melbourne: TBI Kol Yisrael newsletter

  Temple Beth Israel's September newsletter, addressing the High Holy Days, online activities, and ways that the community is making meaning and staying together during Covid-19
• 
  2020-09-25

  Jewish Melbourne: Chabad Kingston & Moorabbin newsletter 25 September

  In this newsletter from Chabad Kingston & Moorabbin shul, they discuss the upcoming holiday of Yom Kippur and provide details of virtual events which will bring the community together in the lead-up.
• 
  2020-09-04

  Jewish Melbourne: Chabad Kingston & Moorabbin newsletter 4 September 2020

  Newsletter from Chabad Kingston & Moorabbin Shul to their community, providing details of synagogue events, during this time of lockdown. It includes information about connecting over the High Holy Days
• 
  2020-08-20

  Jewish Melbourne: RCV Letter to the Community re Yamim Noraim

  In August the Rabbinical Council of Victoria wrote to community members about the plans being made for the Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days), explaining the conversations that were happening with government as well as the launch of Project High Holy Days, to accomodate the community's needs.
• 
  2020

  Jewish Melbourne: SPECIAL KA GUIDELINES FOR PESACH 5780 - 2020 DUE TO COVID-19

  "Rabbinic Administrator of The Kashrut Authority, Rabbi Moshe D. Gutnick, advises the community that due to the urgent situation for so many in relation to the impact of the coronavirus, COVID-19, The Kashrut Authority is issuing a unique set of guidelines to assist with this difficult situation." They provide an outline of the new guidelines and a list of items that are Kosher for Passover, even if they do not have a hechsher, given the limits of the moment. They also provide guidelines for adequate Passover cleaning.
• 
  2020-09-12

  Jewish Melbourne: Project High Holy Days Selichot

  The Rabbinical Council of Victoria's Project High Holy Days organised an online Selichot gathering involving many congregations
• 
  2020-09-20

  Jewish Melbourne: Project High Holy Days shofar blowing

  For Rosh Hashanah 2020, Project High Holy Days coordinated with DHHS and the Police and organised for people to hear the shofar being blown on their street or outside their home on Second Day Rosh Hashanah. They put out a call for people to sign up to hear the shofar and then coordinated shofar blowers. As they explained: "Volunteer Shofar blowers have been allocated zones which comprise of a few streets (which they will walk up and down). In locations where Jewish population is more sparse and there were fewer volunteers available, the DHHS has created a protocol for creating shofar blowing central points. Like the home reservations, these points require registration and have specific time locations. Times of volunteers arriving in your area will be emailed to you (if you reserved). If you did not book a shofar blowing, please listen out for the shofar and come out to the street as the shofar blower will blow multiple times on each street."