We had a beautiful celebration for my daughter's Batmitzvah that was not how we imagined or planned it to be. Despite the restrictions, we were blessed with a simcha that was overflowing with yiddishkeit, connection, Jewish history, music, family, love and tradition.

Temple Beth Israel is hosting their 2020 AGM online

Sunday through Thursday, Temple Beth Israel hosts a 'virtual daily daven' online at 6.15pm.

" We join together with the youngest members of our community for music and engaging interactions designed to help families get ready for Shabbat. Join us at 10.30am every Friday Morning or if you prefer, you can view past episodes via our YouTube channel"

During the year, Cantor David Laloum at Temple Beth Israel hosted a Thursday Lunch and Learn on zoom, for people to learn Amidah together

Throughout the year, Temple Beth Israel hosted a weekly "Coffee and Conversation" on Wednesday afternoons, via zoom, with one of their rabbis.

This post advertises a webinar that took place, providing a link to the recording on youtube, of a 'Leadership in a Crisis' conversation with Ronni Kahn AO and Josh Burns MP, facilitated by Stand Up CEO Gideon Reisner

"In March, Stand Up founded the Jewish response | Coronavirus (VIC) group, a place to connect people who needed help because of COVID-19 to those who could offer it. After just a few days, hundreds of incredible volunteers sprung into action, helping coordinate food deliveries, delivering care packages, assisting other charities and so much more. One highlight was the creation of an informal 'buddy' system, pairing up people who were feeling isolated because of COVID-19 with volunteers who they could just have a chat and shoot the breeze with." This facebook post provides feedback from the program from people who participated in it.

"Yesterday, students at Mount Scopus Memorial College had the first of two opportunities to meet with (over zoom, of course) Hosna Hamouda and hear her story. Hosna was born in Sudan, her family fled when she was just one and arrived in Australia at the age of 5 after being in transit in Egypt. Hosna spoke to students about the challenges of beginning school without any knowledge of English and her experiences growing up in Melbourne coming from a Sudanese background. In the next session, kids learn more about the Sudanese community in Melbourne and will brainstorm ways to make a contribution! #StandUpStandOut"

"Yesterday we zoomed with Year 5 students at King David, exploring the connections between social justice challenges and Rosh Hashana. 🙏 What an inspiring way to bring in 5781! Here's hoping we can run this program again next year, but in real life this time! Shana Tova!"

Stand Up coordinated a community response to Covid in Victoria and NSW, connecting people and working to try to ensure that people had the assistance they needed, and that people were identified who could provide support.

"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."

"Last Friday, the Grade 6s welcomed vegan chef Michal Dawid Lachur all the way from Warsaw, Poland as their latest ‘Gast Oyf Shabes’. Michal taught the Grade 6s about vegetarian chef, Fania Lewando (1887-1941). Lewando ran a vegetarian restaurant in pre-WWII Vilna. The restaurant attracted figures such as Marc Chagall and Itzik Manger. She also had a cookery school, where she taught about vegetarian nutrition. Fania Lewando published the Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook (Vegetarish-Dietisher Kokhbukh) in 1938 in Yiddish. Many years later, it was translated into English and is available online. Michal led our students in a cooking workshop, where they learned to make a rice kugl and a prune tsimes. The students had a great time cooking with Michal and enjoyed learning to make Lewando’s take on these traditional dishes. A sheynem dank to Michal for joining us in the early hours of the morning to work with our students."

The staff at Sholem Aleichem College recorded a video celebrating 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!"

This is a photo album of screenshots of Mt Scopus students doing Kabbalat Shabbat at home, over zoom, together

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!!!"

This is a photo album of screenshots of students celebrating Rosh Hashanah together on zoom

"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"

"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"

"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."

"Despite our community’s difficult circumstances Principal Rabbi Kennard is still able to provide an end of term message detailing Mount Scopus Memorial College Highlights for Term 3, 2020."

This is a post by Community Security Group (CSG), encouraging people to look out for each other: "Humans are social animals. We crave connection. As we spend more time in our homes, cut off from friends and family in a bid to stop the spread of the virus, the lack of physical touch can be mentally challenging. For people who live alone especially, this extended lack of contact may be particularly tough. But just because we’re physically distant from each other doesn’t mean we can’t still be emotionally close. Maintaining regular human connection is more important than ever as we navigate these difficult times."

"Introducing Rivkah Yurkowicz from Chabad Malvern presenting a simple step by step guide to braiding your holiday challah"

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."

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"

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.

Chabad on Carlisle 'Cookoff August 2020': "A great team of very hard working volunteers cooked up delicious Shabbos packages today which will be delivered to isolated seniors. (Covid-safe protocols were followed). We may be physically distant but the love and care is always there! A big thank you to the awesome volunteers!"

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

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.

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".

Chabad on Carlisle - Jewish Russian Centre organised a fundraiser for Sukkos: "In a talk which he delivered on Erev Sukkos, the Rebbe described Yud Daled Tishrei as a day when Jews should literally splurge in giving tzedoka. This year, the call for generosity is so much greater due to the impact of Covid, and the funds you donate will be distributed to alleviate financial hardship and enable the celebration of Succos with true joy and peace of mind."

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

At the beginning of Victoria's lockdown in March, Sam Loff delivered a drash for parshat Ki Tisa

Melbourne went into lockdown in March, and shortly after, Josh Blode delivered this drash at the shabbat service for Parshat Vayakhel Pekudei

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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!"

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"

"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"

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

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.

Amongst its other fundraising efforts, Bialik College launched a special 'Covid-19 Relief' fundraiser: "Our goal is to ensure no child leaves Bialik College as a result of financial hardship caused by COVID-19. Help us make this a reality and support a family in need. We are all in this together." They also launched a fundraiser to create new outdoor spaces: "Help us transform our outdoor amphitheatre into a flexible event space. With current social distancing measures in place as a result of COVID-19, we need to think creatively to look for alternative ways to gather as a school community."

"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

Continental Kosher Butcher shared information on their facebook page after the Victorian Government announced Stage 4 of lockdown, which involved restrictions on the meat industry, explaining some of the short-term impacts, but reassuring customers not to panic about supply.

The Australian Jewish News reported on Fella Hamilton making PPE: "WITH delays of several weeks in the arrival of imported masks, surgical gowns and scrubs to manage COVID-19, an Australian garment label founded by a Holocaust survivor has stepped up, converting its facilities to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) wearables. The Fella Hamilton company has responded to an Australian government call for factories to retool to make products that help the fight against COVID-19. Sharon Hamilton, CEO, and her husband David, son of founder Fella Hamilton, decided to take action, switching fashion wear production at their Melbourne factory to PPE products." "Sharon said Jewish doctors have helped the company design isolation gowns now in use at Cabrini Health Australia and other private hospitals in Melbourne, and a WA aged-care provider."