Messages from the Rabbi: Archives

July 2019, Parshat Balak

Dear Friends, There are certain days in one’s life that are hard to forget. I joyfully added last Sunday to the list of my most meaningful days, following of course…

July 2019, Parshat Chukat

Dear Friends, This Sunday, 14 July 2019, 11 Tammuz 5779, I invite all of you to join Mushka and I in celebrating our induction as the new senior Rabbi and…

July 2019, Parshat Korach

Dear Friends, This week’s Parsha, Korach, contains the famous rebellion against Moshe and Aaron. Led by their cousin Korach, along with well known Biblical provocateurs Datan and Aviram, Korach challenges…

June 2019, Parshat Shelach

Dear Friends, Parshat Shelach contains the famous tragic story of the Meraglim, the spies, who scouted out the land of Israel for 40 days. Due to the unfavourable reports brought…

June 2019, Parshat Beha’alotcha

Dear Friends, This past week I attended the Jewish and Vietnamese communities’ friendship dinner hosted by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria. Growing up I knew a little bit about…

June 2019, Parshat Naso / Men’s Health Week

Dear Friends, Trigger Warning: the piece below may cause distress for persons experiencing mental health hardships. Support numbers are provided at the end of this Dvar Torah. This week I…

June 2019, Shavuot

Dear Friends, Shavuot is finally here! I often think about a conversation with one of my university mates who said to me: ‘your religion seems to have so many festivals…

May 2019, Parshat Bechukotai

Dear Friends, This past week I attended the annual Jewish and Catholic Friendship Dinner held at the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation. It was a pleasure to represent our community at…

May 2019, Parshat Behar

Dear Friends, This week we celebrated Lag Baomer. In the life cycle of a Jewish child I can attest that Lag Baomer is one of the highlights in the Jewish…

May 2019, Parshat Emor

Dear Friends, By the time you read this Dvar Torah, Australia will be days away from an election which will determine who will be in charge of this country for…