The Z.F.A. Newsletter “The Finger on the Pulse”
Edition No.9 – The Last for the Millenium
Index
Farewell to Our Australian Ambassador – Frank Stein’s farewell to H.E. Ian Wilcock The Australian Referendum – Republic vs Monarchy - What actually happened? What’s Happening? – Things going on for Aussies in Israel An Urgent Cry for Help - Help an Australian family in real distress News from DownUnder – A Spotlight on News from Australia I Come From the Land DownUnder – An Aussie in Israel’s Story. Wallabies and Frogs – No biology lesson! A review of the thrashing that France took in the Rugby World Cup! F.Y.I. – As an Australian, you should be aware… The Wonderful World of Computers – This segment is back next edition with some great Australian web sites. A Gastronomic Revelation – Recipes for the Australian Palate Travels in a 1973 VW Campervan – A short article by Margaret Gottstein. Quote of the Day – Something to Get Your Mind Working Handy Hints – This segment is back next edition, so take some time to try out those handy hints from the last editions. Laughter is the Best Medicine – An Aussie Joke or Two The Controversial Aliyah Debate – Following the Shaw Family’s return to Oz, after Aliyah, read their story and Isi Leibler’s response & have your say. The Notice Board – Find Someone You’ve Been Looking For, Post a Message E-Mails/Letters to the Editor
FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR
Australian Ambassador to Israel, H.E. Ian Wilcock and his wife, Tamara, will be leaving Israel in the next few days to take up a new post in Canberra. Ambassador Wilcock has been given a major promotion which, while our total loss, will be the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s very real gain. Those of us who have had the pleasure in dealing with Mr. and Mrs. Wilcock are fully aware of their caring, dedication and genuine friendship. This has been their second time in Israel, they were first here during the Yom Kippur war as third Secretary at the start of their career. Their current period in Israel was marked by the Maccabiah Bridge disaster, where we were to very quickly learn of the true humanity and dedication of the Wilcocks. Ian and Tamara, together with all the other Embassy staff worked tirelessly to ease the pain and suffering of the victims and their families, as well as organising the return of the bodies to Australia, and dealing with Government and other bodies and the press. They did an exemplary task in such tragic circumstances and will be remembered always for their sterling work then. Personally, I have come to know Ian and Tamara during their time here and will miss them. On behalf of all the Australians in Israel, as well as those who have been here and enjoyed their hospitality and assistance, I wish them well in the future and trust that we shall maintain the contact we have built. Kol HaKavod and Yasher Koach. Frank Stein Director of the Zionist Federation of Australia Israel Office & Absorption and Immigration Services of the U.J.I.A.
Republic vs Monarchy
What actually happened in Australia’s Referendum?
The Issue
On the 6 of November, 1999 Australians had their say in the referendum to decide whether Queen Elizabeth would remain Australia’s head of state. The result was that Australian voters decisively rejected the republican system on offer.
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The Statistics
The results of the vote were as follows:
NATIONAL: NSW: ACT: WA: TAS:
NO 54.72% NO 53.38% YES 63.77% NO 58.45% NO 59.84%
VIC: QUEENSLAND: SA: NT:
NO NO NO NO
50.04% 62.58% 56.35% 50.21%
Enrolled: 12,361,694 Total Votes Counted: 9,788,267 Percent Counted: 80.50% (Statistics are from The Age Newspaper, 9.11.99)
The Situation
Victoria appeared the only state with a real chance of embracing the republic, although country Victorians joined their bush cousins across the nation to overwhelmingly turn their backs on it. The electorate of Melbourne recorded the highest yes vote in the nation. The inner-city electors had mostly voted yes but every Victorian country electorate voted against the republic. The highest no vote was in Mallee with 72%. The further an electorate was from Melbourne city centre, the more likely it was to vote no. Among the supporters for a Republic were author Tom Kenneally (Schindler’s List, among other books), art critic Robert Hughes and actor Bryan Brown. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke said that it was clear that a majority of Australians wanted a republic but that there was confusion about the model and warned John Howard that irrespective of the seeming success, the majority of Australians still wanted a republic. Robert Hughes said that a republic was inevitable and attributed part of the blame for the defeat to Mr. Howard.
The History of the Referendum
Referendums in Australian history have had less than one in five chance of success and none has succeeded without the support of the Prime Minister and the government. The Australian Constitution can only be changed with a “double majority” which means the approval of a majority of voters in a majority of states and this has hardly ever occurred. st Since the 1 of January, 1901 when Australia’s states united to form the Commonwealth, 42 referendums have been put to the people and only eight have passed. Five of the 34 unsuccessful won a majority of votes but not a majority of states. The last time a referendum succeeded in changing the Constitution was in 1977 with the Fraser government. Three minor reforms passed including setting a retirement age of 70 for federal judges. 1988 marked the last referendums, during the Hawke government. These were unsuccessful and failed to win a majority in any state.
To Sum it all Up
The Independent Newspaper summed the situation up well when they said, “…But for whom or what was it a victory? Not for the monarchy, certainly, which commands the support of less than one-tenth of the population. Not for republicans, who may have to wait decades for another chance to get rid of the Queen. And most assuredly not for the Australian people, three-quarters of whom favour a republic with their own head of state.” (Monday 8 November 1999)
What’s Happening?
WHAT DO YOU DO … WITH 90 AUSTRALIAN TEENAGERS… IN ARAD… FOR 5 DAYS?
Throughout the year the Hagshama Department of the WZO together with the ZFA organised a series of meetings and seminars for Australians, South Africans and New Zealanders on long term programmes of the Jewish Agency. These participants from the Machon L’madrichei Hutz La’Aretz, Bnei Akiva, Netzer
Etgar, Habonim Dror Shnat and the Aviv programme met in order to develop their skills and to enhance their involvement in the wider Jewish Community upon their return. We gathered the remaining 90 in Arad. Unfortunately, Bnei Akiva did not send any of their participants and the Aviv Programme finished in June. The time was spent processing the year, its experiences, lessons and highlights; as well as discussions on communal activism and the needs for involvement within the wider community. The Machon L’Madrichei Hu”l graduates received their machon badges in a special ceremony. Major and lengthy discussions were held concerning Aliyah and programmes in Israel for future visits. This series of meetings over the year was a first. As far as is known, no programme of this type has been run before. Participants in the various programmes must make a moral commitment to work within their movements/organisations for a period of two years upon return, but there is no recognition of the fact that the wider community also needs their skills. There is also the serious problem of what happens to the people once they finish their commitment to their group. For those not making aliyah then, we must find a means of ensuring continued involvement in Jewish causes, as a means of helping the community, as well as preserving the Jewish Identity of the participant. Whilst some of those at the meetings did not participate fully, overall the project has been successful. The meetings will continue in Australia with seminars to be held in February 2000 to enhance their return to their community, and ease the return to Australia. Much work and effort has been put into this project. My deep thanks and appreciate to three special people – Linda Futterman and Marcus Levitt of the Hagshama Department, and Mark Lazar, director of the English Speaking Programme at the Machon, as well as the Madrichim, lecturers and makshrim of the movements. Frank Stein Director of the Z.F.A. Israel Office and Aliyah & Klita Services of the U.J.I.A.
AN URGENT CRY FOR HELP
An Australian Olah with three young children aged 7, 4 and 3 has had to flee her home in Israel to a shelter due to an abusive husband. The family was forced to escape without taking anything with them. The Olah urgently needs clothing, toys and books (in English) as they have nothing at all. Accordingly, we are organising a drive to assist this family in distress. If you are able to donate good clean clothes for the children, and/or the mother, toys or books, or would like to make a donation so we could buy them things, please contact us. Any cheques can be made out to the U.J.I.A.: Jerusalem UJIA Tel Aviv UJIA Carmiel UJIA Ra’anana Telfed (02) 563 4822 (03) 696 5244 (04) 998 9940 (09) 744 6110
They do not need bedding and kitchen equipment as these are supplied by the shelter. We may need volunteers to collect the goods and we will arrange to pick up from the volunteers so if you are willing to volunteer to collect goods, please let us know. Let’s show how we can help a fellow Australian in desperate need.
UJIA ISRAEL JERUSALEM OFFICE & ZFA ISRAEL OFFICE, 13 Ben Maimon Blvd, Jerusalem 92262 email: frank@ujia.org.il tel (972) (02) 563 4822 fax(972) (02) 566 3193
News From Downunder
The year that was
(Australian Jewish News, Melbourne Edition, pg.23, 10.9.1999)
It was the year Joe Gutnick voted Labor, the mikveh succumbed to the gas crisis and a gay group failed to storm the JCCV. Alan Rosenbaum and John Kron take a lighthearted look at 5759 through the pages of the Jewish News. In September we were smitten by election fever. There were harsh words exchanged between Melbourne Ports candidate Michael Danby and Fiona Snedden on the GST fallout on Jewish schools. Hansonism tapped a deep vein of concern and many community leaders accused John Howard of tardiness in responding to the threat she posed. Joe Gutnick publicly switched to Labor in a show of protest and we saw five Melbourne Jews tackle Hansonism head-on with the formation of the Unity Party in Melbourne Ports. In October, Michael Danby went to Canberra, becoming the first Jewish MP to serve since 1991. Drunken antics at a Simchat Torah street party provoked widespread concern. But foremost on our minds was the gas crisis, which affected everything from challah production to the mikvah. November seemed quiet in Australia when local news was overshadowed by the Wye agreement in Israel. But Perth’s Carmel school made headlines when a Reform Rabbi enrolled his daughter in an Anglican school after Carmel asked him to prove that she was Jewish. And in Tasmania, there were efforts to prosecute Olga Scully over a hateful website portraying Judaism as a satanic cult. December’s prime issue of debate was whether women should be allowed to dance with the sefer Torah - with the majority of Orthodox Rabbis deciding the Torah belonged on only one side of the mechitzah. Leaders in Kfar Chabad denounced Joe Gutnick for compromising Chabad by his support for Netanyahu, an accusation he dismissed. Locally, ECAJ and JCCV saw a leadership shake-up with Nina Bassat and Philip Bliss voted in to head the respective community umbrella organisations. The brutal murder in Thailand of Monash University student Elijah Yeo, in what was believed to be a retribution killing cast a dark shadow over the New Year. January, being carnival month, saw Maccabi in the firing line with victims of the bridge disaster angered over plans to hold the games, in 2001.. And there were more general concerns that the future of senior carnival was being jeopardised by state rivalries. In February there was talk of building a shtetl on the south coast of NSW with a synagogue, mikvah, kosher shops and restaurants within a stone’s throw of Falls Creek. Migration issues were raised with migrants from the former Soviet Union petitioning the Federal Government to increase its intake of Jews from the FSU. In March, the Life is Beautiful debate raged with the community divided over whether it was appropriate to use humour in the context of the Holocaust. The inclusion of God in the constitutional preamble got approval from Orthodox Rabbis. Revelations on drugs in Jewish day schools also had people talking. In April a review of the 1996 census revealed that Melbourne’s Jewish community was growing at over twice the rate of the general community. April also unlocked a dark chapter in Australian immigration history with revelations hat anti-malarial experiments had been carried out on the Dunera Boys. In May, the Aleph debate was smoldering in the shadow of Barak's landslide victory in Israel. The motion for the gay and lesbian group to join the JCCV was rejected after the Council for Orthodox Synagogue s threatened to resign from the organisation and the Melbourne Beth Din put out a psak halacha on the issue. And in Sydney campuses, Jewish students came head to head with Jews for Jesus. In June, the extent of the community’s drug problem came to light when Ephraim Finch of the Chevra Kadisha told the community he saw a drug death each week. Then the Ku Klux Klan came on to the scene championing a brand of racial hate which proved too extreme even for Pauline Hanson, who expelled party members linked to the Klan. July brought Jewish students onto the streets, joining worldwide protests following the arrest of Iranian Jews on dubious charges of espionage. Debate over a joint communal appeal was reignited, with community leaders looking at whether it would be beneficial for charitable organisations to pool their resources. And on the international front, a letter stating Pope Pius XII's opposition to the State of Israel was found in the Simon Wiesenthal archives. In August, Perth’s Carmel school was taken to the Equal Opportunities Tribunal for allegedly discriminating against the child of a convert. Problem gambling in the Jewish community prompted the establishment of a gambler’s help-line. A Brit Milah Society was established to provide halachic and medical standards for mohelim and the issues of Nazis in Australia was raised again.
In Search of a New Zionism
(by Alan Rosenbaum, Australian Jewish News, pg6, Melbourne Edition, 12.11.99)
ZIONIST models need to be updated to address social and environmental problems that beset Israel, according to lecturer Danny Ben Moshe. Speaking to a Melbourne University audience, he said that settlements are a sign that old models of Zionism no longer apply. At one time they epitomised the Zionist dream. They were all about returning to the soil, inhabiting new land and defending it against foreign incursion. But now, as Shimon Peres has pointed out, “Israel needs technicians who can control satellite missiles coming from hundreds of miles away, not men in trenches with backpacks and rifles.” Environmental issues, which are “virtually nowhere on the Israeli political agenda”, must be incorporated into new Zionist model. With the belief that all Jews have a pace in Israel, current models of Zionism holds population increase as their objective. But Israel, he says, is already suffering the consequences of over-population. Sewage finds its way onto Israeli beaches and there are “traffic jams in the big cities by 6:00am.” A new Zionism would also need to address the growing divide between rich and poor, Ashkenazy and Sephardi and most importantly Orthodox and secular. “There is contempt between Jew and Jew in Israel. The Rabin assassination showed the depths to which that can go. Israel is a society being strained from the margins and the middle ground is being undermined. Whether that middle ground can reassert itself is going to be the make or break issue for Israel.” He says that new Zionist models would need to develop a “Jewish Zionist flavour” that would reunite Israel and the Diaspora. If Zionism continues to be defined in secular terms, then the people of Israel would become “just Israelis” and Israel would lose relevance to the Jewish people as a whole. Subscribing to the post-Zionist school, there are many Jews, particularly in Israel, who believe that Zionism has become redundant. On one side there are those who argue that Zionism has fulfilled all of its objectives. The Hebrew language thrives, the Army is among the best in the world and the country is fast becoming an economic power-house, exporting sheep to New Zealand, vodka to Russia and technology to Japan. On the other side of the debate, there are those who believe that Zionism is undemocratic and built on the rock of Palestine’s despair. But Mr. Ben Moshe says that Zionism is vital to national stability. “We need a Zionism. It is going to be one of the only things which is going to find commonality and unify in a creative form the different sectors of the Israeli population. It will keep ties together with the Diaspora.”
Each edition, we intend to bring to you a spotlight on an ex-Aussie living in Israel. We’ll be introducing to you Aussies from all over Australia, living in different parts of Israel.
Name: Wendy Saffer Place: Melbourne, Australia Year of Birth: 1970
Wendy did things a little differently than many olim. While visitors to Israel were trying to get flights out of the country, she decided to make aliyah. Wendy arrived on the 19 th of February, 1991 at age 20 and went to stay with her sister who lives in Raanana. Since she was about 12 years old she knew that she wanted to make aliyah, even though she had never been to Israel before. Her involvement in Betar youth movement and attending Yavneh College, which is a Zionistic school, attributed to this. Apart from being very conscious of her Judaism and wanting to be in a Jewish country, her older sister relayed to her wonderful stories from her own trip to Israel on A.U.J.S. Academy. Upon graduating from McRobertson Girls‟ High School she went on Machon which cemented her feelings of wanting to make aliyah. However, before doing so she studied Office Administration for a year at the Swinburne Institute of Technology (as it was then called). Wendy is in touch with a number of ex-Aussies in Israel, including some ex-madrichim and fellow Betarniks as well as some friends from Yavneh College days. In addition to which, her sister still lives in Raanana with her husband and 3 children. Serving in the army helped Wendy feel part of Israeli society. She served for one year in the Air Force, at the Israel Aeromedical School at Tel HaShomer and worked as an English-speaking secretary. Having, though, spent her whole “adult” life in Israel means that Wendy doesn‟t really know what it is like to be an “adult” in any other country. She understands Israelis and the culture. She says, “There are so many aspects of Israeli society and the definition of Israeli society keeps changing. In the 10 years since I
first came to Israel, the society has changed so much. The Israel that I was told about when I was in Betar and at Yavneh is not the reality of the end of the 90‟s. Sometimes I think I could be living anywhere I the world – that the differences between Israel and the “rest of the world” are less and less. Sometimes I think this is a good thing and sometimes I think it is a chaval.” Wendy‟s advice to new olim would be “to try not to idealise Israel. To remember that, like all other countries, there is bureaucracy and problems. That “Tel Aviv” wasn‟t built in a day and that everything takes time.” Her other big piece of advice to new olim is to “open your mouth” and that in Israel, possibly more so than in Australia, it is important to let people know what you want and how you feel. She says, “I have found that by opening my mouth I have found places to live, jobs and new friends.” Wendy doesn‟t sit and consider whether her aliyah has been a success or not, but she considers whether her life for the last 29 years has been successful. She has had her fair share of successes and failures, however she is happy, healthy, has a good job, a loving family and will be getting married in March 2000. She made aliyah on her own, with no degree and 9 years later she thinks that other people would look at her aliyah and deem it successful. She just calls it “getting by one day at a time”. Her present day goal is to continue doing what she is doing and living like an Israeli – “one day at a time”. We wish Wendy Mazal Tov on her forthcoming marriage and all the success in the world.
Wallabies and Frogs
No biology lesson! A review of the thrashing that France took in the Rugby World Cup! Australia beat France 35-12 in the final at Cardiff on November 6 , 1999 to win its second world cup. Australia’s triumph in the Rugby World Cup was indeed that…a triumph! No matter which way one looks at the situation, Australia are worthy world champions. Sean Fitzpatrick described the team of management and players as “humble, modest and relaxed men who have worked incredibly hard for the success they are now enjoying.” (The Sydney Morning Herald, 9.11.99) Tim Horan, the player of the tournament excelled throughout the game and was a key figure, contributing greatly to the win. The homework that Australia had done was evident, in the lead-up to the final. They closed down on two key players – Abdelatif Benazzi and Olivier Magne – preventing them from making the yardage that they did against the New Zealand All Blacks. The French say that one tree can never hide a forest and, indeed, all the weaknesses that were visible before the semi-final against New Zealand, were once again evident. France lost the audacity and courage to attack and failed to create openings. The Australian team’s scrummage definitely dominated towards the end and Australia’s win was a wonderful way for Andrew Blade to retire after a successful career in rugby. The team felt elated on the day of their win, except for the defeat of the Republican vote and noted that it was quite strange to see the Queen handing out the trophy on the same day that they tried getting rid of her. If you’re a great fan of rugby, take a look at this web site: http://www.rugbyheaven.com/index.html
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F.Y.I. As An Australian You Should be Aware
“JOINT COUNSELLING SERVICES”
In our continuing efforts to provide an even better service to our olim and prospective olim from South Africa, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, Scandinavia, New Zealand and Germany, the SAZF (Israel), Telfed and UJIA (Israel), formerly BOS, whilst not merging, will now offer counselling services jointly to our olim, in all our offices. The professional and experienced counsellors, former olim from South Africa, Great Britain and Australia have direct and constant communication with shlichim abroad, the Jewish Agency and all bodies involving olim in Israel, providing in depth and comprehensive information, guidance and assistance whenever needed. This combined effort will provide a wider support base for all our olim, with counsellors expert in the various fields, with personal contacts and thorough knowledge of the local area. Staff have been trained to deal with issues specific to the various countries and experts are available, as required, in the fields of immigrant rights, education (school to University), housing and social services.
In the newly expanded Employment Resource Centres in Tel Aviv and Haifa (Ra’anana in the future), experienced employment counsellors are at your disposal facilitating employment seekers in their job search. Regular employment assistance will continue in all our offices. We are confident that this pooling of resources and expanded assistance will be of great benefit to our community of olim. You are invited to make an appointment to meet with a general or employment counsellor at any of our offices. Alternatively, feel free to contact us by telephone, facsimile or e-mail.
“JOINT COUNSELLING” OFFICE LOCATIONS: Tel Aviv: 76 Ibn Gvirol Street Tel: 03- 696 5244 fax: 03- 696 8696 e-mail: aliya@ujia.org.il Raanana: 19/1 Schwartz St. Tel: 09- 744 6110 Fax: 09- 744 6112 email:telfed@inter.net.il Jerusalem:13 Ben Maimon Blvd.Tel: 02 5634822 Fax: 02 5663193 email:jerusalem@ujia.org.il Karmiel: Merkaz Klita Karmiel Tel: 04- 9989940 Fax: 04 9980939 email:karmiel@ujia.org.il Haifa (Employment Resource Centre): 131 Hameginim Blvd. Tel: 04- 851 2726 Fax: 04- 851 7846 e-mail: haifa@ujia.org.il
A Gastronomic Revelation
We endeavour to bring you Australian recipes for you to try.
Beer Bread
Ingredients
3 cups self-raising flour 1 pinch salt 1/2 pannikin (small pan or metal cup) sugar (this translates to “half a cup”) 1 can beer.
Method
(Note: instead of yeast, the beer is used.) Heat your camp oven over hot coals (or frying pan). Mix all ingredients together forming a semi-dry dough, then place in floured camp oven. Cook for 30-40 minutes. When cooked take a clean leaf (or knife) and paint butter over the bread. Pull it apart and start eating - Yummo!
Aussie Shovel Burgers
Ingredients
finely chopped beef 1/2 cup soaked damper crumbs sprinkling of dried onion flakes lettuce 1/2 cup flour 1 egg lard (fat) cheese (optional) shovel bread roll beetroot tomato
Method
Place shovel (or grill plate) over hot coals (or heat frying pan). Mix all ingredients and form into hamburger patties. Heat lard on shovel and fry the burgers until cooked. Warm buns over coals and spread butter lightly on both. Add burger patty, lettuce, cheese, tomato and beetroot and enjoy! Tip: You can add fried onion and tomato or bbq sauce, or anything else you like on your burgers.
Bon Appetit – בתאבון
Travels in a 1973 VW Campervan
This article was sent to us by Margaret Gottstein who made aliyah from Melbourne in 1993. Following Arthur Stark’s story of “Life with Henry”, I am reminded of an incident in our travels in our 1973 VW Campervan. We were in Queensland, in the mountains inland from Nambour, looking for the home of one of my husband’s oldest friends. The road was a narrow dirt track, running along the top of a ridge, with steep slopes going down on both sides. Houses, on large blocks, were well below the level of the road. Visibility was poor. It was late on a dark night. Finally we decided it was just too hard, we should turn round, go back and try the next day in daylight. In order to turn round, we had to enter a little way into the drive of one of the houses, as the road was too narrow for us. Then, we would reverse out and go back. Fine – BUT it was a gravel drive and the wheels would not grip. They just spun around and soon dug quite a hole. So, we went a bit further in, hoping for a firmer
patch. Same result – more drive being churned up. So we descended, stopping and churning until we reached the house where we landed in the carport, which already contained a car. We could not go back, and we could not go forward, so we squared our shoulders and knocked on the door of the house where the resident could be seen inside watching T.V. We explained we had ruined his drive and were parked in his carport! A lesser man would have been taken aback, but we were lucky. This man just said, “Oh, it happens to us all the time. I’ll drive my wife’s car forward round the house and up the circular drive to the road, and you can follow me”. Long live Queensland!
Quote of the Day
If Noah had been truly wise, he would have swatted those two flies.
*Helen Castle
You’re basically killing each other to see who’s got the better imaginary friend.
*Richard Jeni (On going to war over religion)
God made man before woman to give him time to think of an answer for her first question. *Anonymous
Handy Hints
If you have a garlic or unusual smell on your hands, take a stainless steel spoon and rub over the smell while running water in your sink, this will normally take the smell out. Use Life Savers sweets to hold candles in place on your next birthday cake. (or any other sweet with the hold in the middle) Do you have unwanted rodent visitors (rats) in your roof? Try this- get hold of a used kitty litter tray complete with cat’s droppings (either from your own cat or from a cat owning neighbour) and put it in the roof cavity. The rats will smell it and think there is a cat nearby and vamoose! If an ink stain in your clothes is fresh, spray it with hair spray before laundering. It will usually come out. If you have any tips on how to stop the crying, whilst cutting onions PLEASE let us know! Meanwhile, here are some tips people have given me over the years. When you peel onions, if you will take shallow breaths through your mouth and not breathe through your nose. To take the crying out of chopping onions, plug in a portable fan and turn it up to high. It will blow the fumes away from your eyes. Wear swimming goggles. It will stop the fumes getting into your eyes. Place a peg on your nose. It will prevent you from breathing in the odors. Peel the onion under running water. Keep the onion in the fridge prior to cutting it. Leave the end of the onion on while cutting.
IT IS WRITTEN
Q. A. Q. A. Q. Q. Q. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. Q. A. Q. Q. A. Q. Q. Q.
Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? Noah was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible? Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet. What kind of man was Boaz before he got married? A. Ruthless. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? A. Samson brought the house down. Where is the first baseball game in the Bible? A. In the beginning, Eve stole first, Adam stole second, Cain struck out Abel and the prodigal son came in last. How did Adam and Eve feel when expelled from the Garden of Eden? They were definitely put out. What is one of the first things Adam and Eve did after they were kicked but? They raised a little Cain. What excuse did Adam give to his children to explain why he no longer lived in Eden? “Your mother ate us out of house and home.” What is the best way to get to Paradise? A. Turn right and go straight. Which servant of Jehovah was the most proficient lawbreaker in the Bible? Moses broke all ten commandments at once. Where is the first tennis match in the Bible? A. Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court. Where is the first recorded Biblical case of constipation? In Kings where it says that David sat on the throne for forty years. Which Bible character had no parents? A. Joshua was the son of Nun. Why didn’t Noah go fishing? A. He only had two worms! How do we know they didn’t play cards in the ark? A. Because Noah sat on the deck.
The Controversial Aliyah Debate
Over the last few months, the Jewish News has run a number of articles about Barbara Shaw and her family’s yerida from Israel. Their story has sparked much debate within the Australian Jewish communities both in Israel and Australia. Below are the 3 main articles published. We’d love to hear your comments, reactions and feelings, so drop us a line.
(Yehonathan Tommer – AJN Sydney edition, 6 of August, 1999, pg 27)
Disillusioned family returns from Israel th
IN a painful twist of irony, Barbara Shaw and her family are leaving Israel for Sydney this month for the same reasons which took the to the country 13 years ago. “I just couldn‟t find a decent middle-of-the-road religious high school in Jerusalem to give our son, Simon, a modern Orthodox liberal Jewish education combined with broad humanistic values,” Ms Shaw said. We‟re not Yeshiva types, and we didn‟t want him to attend a boarding-school far from home. A secular school was not a option; Simon is observant and loves Torah studies and we didn‟t want him influenced by an anti-religious atmosphere.” Uprooting to Tel Aviv was not an option, as Ms Shaw and her husband David has established occupations and social lives in Jerusalem. The Shaws also baulked at enrolling their sons – Simon, 15, Amos, 13 and Boaz, 8 – in the strict Horev Independent School. “I don‟t cover my hair and I‟ve worn pants all my life,” Ms Shaw said. They were also troubled by the social stereotyping and growing ethnic divide in the school, which frequently brought Boaz running home in tears because of name-calling by his Sephardi peers.” Eventually, the family decided to return to Sydney to ensure that their sons would acquire a solid education. “Simon deserves a good education,” Ms. Shaw said. “He‟s a bright boy, but he needs a routine, orderly school environment. He didn‟t have a chance in the degenerating chaos of the co-ed. high school he was attending.” In Sydney, Simon will attend the Conservatorium of Music and undertake private tuition in Torah studies. Amos and Boaz will probably be enrolled in Ms Shaw‟s alma mater, Moriah College. A second-generation Holocaust survivor, Ms Shaw first visited Israel at the age of 17, shortly after the Yom Kippur War. She completed a BA degree in Art History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem before returning to Sydney in 1976 where she undertook a Master‟s in Marketing at Sydney University. After working in a management position, she went on aliyah in 1986. Living in Israel for 13 years has been an uphill battle, she says the establishment of a small business – designing, manufacturing and marketing textile products for the kitchen and home – was difficult “in a male-dominated society”, and her husband, David Shaw, underwent a “humiliating nine-year conversion odyssey”.
A journalist and former director of the Australian Film Promotion Council and SBS Television, Mr. Shaw took his first steps towards conversion in Sydney under the tutelage of Great Synagogue Chief Rabbi Raymond Apple. Nonetheless, the rabbi whom they approached in Jerusalem was unwilling to take him through the conversion process. “We weren‟t looking for an easy way around, but we were appalled at the merciless humiliation,” Ms Shaw said. “The family did not fit any of the standard frameworks designed for young Scandinavian women wishing to marry Israelis or groups of Jews from doubtful communities undergoing Orthodox affirmation conversions. We hadn‟t come to Israel to make a fortune but to raise our children in a Jewish environment. The last thing we needed was the persisting unresolved conversion merry-go-round.” Critical of Israel, Ms Shaw said the Maccabiah bridge disaster symbolises the malaise of Israeli society, and that a lack of accountability percolates through every sphere of life. Indignant also at what she sees as a declining status of women in Israeli public and economic life, she was appalled at the lack of incentives given by the Jerusalem Municipality to women entrepreneurs starting up small businesses. “In Australia, more business start-ups are made by women than men. In Israel loans are hard to get and municipal rates are exorbitantly high. In Jerusalem there are no female mentors from whom women can seek advice during business start-ups.” Despite all that, the Shaws hope to return to Israel one day.
Israel’s attractions outweigh the sacrifices
(AJN Sydney edition, 20th of August, 1999, pg. 22)
Disillusioned with Israel after living there for 13 years Barbara Shaw and her family have returned to Sydney. In a recent interview with the AJC, she cited her inability to find “a decent middle-of-the road religious school”, declining status of women and a general malaise and lack of accountability among her reasons for leaving Israel. World Jewish Congress chairman Isi Leibler responds in this article FAMILY aliyah is fraught with enormous challenges, and it continues to amaze me how most Australian olim have in fact succeeded in settling happily in Israel. Yet even under the best of circumstances, there will invariably be a number of olim who, for entirely legitimate reasons, return to their country of origin. However it is noteworthy that in recent years there have been proportionately more dropouts from immigrants to Australia than from Israel. The interview with Barbara Shaw (AJN 6/8/99) tells a sad tale of a family who came to Israel with idealistic motives, but could not integrate and ultimately returned to Australia. I am not personally acquainted with the Shaw family but I understand that they were respected and liked. So let me stress that my remarks are neither judgmental nor critical of the family. Rather, a refutation of comments attributed to Mrs. Shaw which I consider to be erroneous or based on atypical personal experiences. Contrary to what Mrs. Shaw maintains, most religious olim believe that one of the greatest benefits of living in Israel is the quality of Jewish education – which is immeasurably superior to that provided even in the best Diaspora Jewish dayschools. And that applies to the overwhelming majority of children who do not enrol in the handful of elite schools in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. However, non-observant Jews who wish to provide a traditional Jewish education for their children in the secular system do face a problem. By and large, the Israeli educational system only caters for two categories: those who are observant and those who receive an education largely devoid of Jewish tradition. Unlike the Diaspora, there are few schools which cater for both religious and non-observant. One has to choose either an Orthodox or a primarily secular Hebrew education. This is a major contributing factor to the increased polarisation between religious and non-observant, and represents one of the major challenges to be overcome by the new government. Within the religious school framework itself, there is a wide range of options, extending from the ultra charedi through the modern Orthodox. My grandchildren receive an excellent religious education. Yet the level of their general secular studies is at least as good, if not better, than what they would receive in a good Australian school. I do not dispute that Mrs. Shaw‟s younger son may have encountered difficulties at his school. Bu the reality is that children can be cruel to one another – no less and no more in Jerusalem than in Paris, New York or Sydney. As children in Australia, most of us encountered bullies and anti-social behaviour in even the best of schools. However, with respect, allowing for the fact that her son had some unhappy experiences, her suggestion that the schools are battlegrounds between Sephardim and Ashkenazim is simply nonsense. I was disappointed that Mrs. Shaw‟s husband was humiliated in his efforts to undergo an Orthodox conversion. She refers to the Hovevei Zion congregation which, by chance, is my synagogue. When I related her remarks to the members of Hovevei, they were astonished. They had tried to assist him with
his conversion, and the rabbi had advised him how to proceed and personally intervened on his behalf with rabbis specialising in conversion. Conversion remains a major problem area in the Jewish world. But in Israel, anyone genuinely seeing Orthodox conversion will find the process much more straightforward than in the Diaspora. However, one must seek out the relevant rabbis to conduct the process – and there are many willing to do so in an appropriate and sensitive manner. I know of many converts, including some associated with members of Hovevei Zion synagogue, who are now fully integrated into the congregation. Perhaps the Shaws just had bad luck, or were not willing to undergo the accepted conversion process. I categorically refute Mrs. Shaw‟s critical remarks regarding the status of women in Israel. The reality is that there is a revolution taking place in Israel. Orthodox feminists are spearheading a drive for change and enjoying the support of many of the younger enlightened Orthodox rabbis, as well as a broad stream of modern Orthodox academics and laymen. A few weeks ago, over 1000 Orthodox women assembled at Jerusalem‟s Binyamei Haooma hall for a remarkable gathering devoted exclusively to the promotion of women‟s issues. Of course there are those opposed to any change, particularly in the Charedi world. But I am already witnessing winds of change in the status of religious Jewish women in Israel. A major contributing factor is the tremendous progress which women have achieved in the educational system, where many girls learn Gemarra and other Limmudei Kodesh at the same level as boys. Barbara Shaw is also unfair in blaming the Maccabiah bridge disaster and subsequent events on Israel. I was one of the most outspoken critics of the disgusting behaviour of the World Maccabi leaders. Paradoxically at one stage, I was actually publicly castigated by Australian Maccabi officials for being too critical. The reality is that mot Israelis are deeply ashamed about the whole affair and share our hope that the prosecutions currently taking place will lead to indictments. As the president of the Zionist Federation of Australia recently observed, the fault lies not with Israel, but with the Maccabi national organisations who defended World Maccabi, instead of supporting the legitimate Australian demands. I now live in Israel with most of my family. I read the press and listen to Israelis who, if not masochists, would certainly qualify as the most self-critical people in the world. Conversely, they tend to take their incredible achievements for granted. Being in Jerusalem, I feel that I am located at the centre of the Jewish universe, where the future of the Jewish people is unfolding. I enjoy every second of my involvement in this great and pulsating country. Having said that, I realise that my circumstances and the factors which motivated me to come to Israel are not necessarily applicable to others. I am also aware of the great difficulties and unhappy personal encounters that can make efforts to transplant a family to a new country, including Israel, a sad and traumatic experience. The tensions and struggles to maintain a livelihood make living in Israel a far cry from the more relaxed and far superior material quality of life in Australia. But Israel has also changed enormously over the past two decades. It is incredible that a tiny nation of six million is second in the world only to the United States in the number of hi-tech start-ups. Israel today has emerged as an affluent and independent society and no longer seeks handouts from Diaspora Jews. So it is perhaps not surprising that most Australian olim have succeeded in settling here and consider that sacrificing many of the material benefits of an Australian lifestyle are more than compensated by the spiritual and cultural attractions of living in this vibrant Jewish homeland.
Isi Leibler is a former president of the ECAJ and chairman of the governing board of the World Jewish Congress. He lives in Israel.
Our reasons for leaving Israel
(AJN, Sydney Edition 8th of October, 1999, pg20)
Returning to Sydney after living in Israel for 13 years, Barbara Shaw explained her reasons in a recent article in the AJN. Her remarks elicited a strong reaction from World Jewish Congress Chairman Isi Leibler, and her husband, journalist David Shaw, now responds. Let me reply firstly to some broad descriptions of my wife and myself. We are not a “sad tale” – Mr. Leibler‟s words – nor are we “disillusioned” – a word chosen by the Australian Jewish News. We have made some hard-nosed decisions regarding our family, in particular the education of our children, and for that we make no excuse. Mr. Leibler is off the mark in his sweeping remark that our family “could not integrate”. I am, I hope, a man of the modern age and therefore enjoyed the fact of being Mr. Barbara Shaw. It is quite something for me to meet people and hear them say “not the Barbara Shaw?” This is one of the measures of my wife‟s success in Israel. The business she established is not merely a commercial success; her artistic input into the gift products she made, and the emphasis on religious and Israeli themes, where a big part of the respect she earned. Barbara might have left Israel, but her name there lives on. The people who bought her business are keeping her name, and you can still buy Barbara Shaw Design gifts. There
are other stories such as the many people who have come back to say thanks for the help they got from Barbara‟s inspired lectures on marketing and setting up small businesses. Mr. Leibler‟s defense of his synagogue may be understandable in view of his important position in Australian and World Jewry. But the rabbi of whom he speaks not only did not give me any help, he disappeared. Besides, what he was asked to do was to accompany me to the Beth Din. That was the request of the court. I do not criticise the rabbi if he didn‟t want to go; but he never gave any answer or information of any kind. In the end, I made my own way by adopting my own tactics. I went away from the Anglos, from American rabbis and the Chovevei Zion congregations, known in Jerusalem as the English-speaking shule. O found another rabbi, a man in his 70s and not very well. We waited time after time in the corridors of the Beth Din where there is nowhere to sit – the old rabbi and myself, past 60, leaning on my stick as I hoped to get through conversion before a hip replacement operation. I finally told that rabbi not to come because I felt it was too much for him, but his good work was done and our goal was achieved. I am glad to say he officiated at our religious wedding. I must record my amazement at the speed with which the administrators of the Beth Din acted once I was approved. Fortunately, the efforts of a country doctor in Western NSW back in the „30s were rated suitable and a small drop of blood was extracted with a strange-looking needle. Then we jumped into cars ad tore off to the mikveh. There I found three stalwart, sunburnt soldiers of the IDF laying down their weapons and taking off their uniforms. They were brothers, all in the army, and the age differences between them were much the same as those of my sons, Simon, Amos and Boaz. I felt a strange symbolism in this as all four of us plunged in. They were born in Israel, but their mother had not been Jewish. The parents told me it had taken a long time to get through. Thus the process of conversion goes on. I do not propose to answer all Mr. Leibler‟s comments. Let me take up a word or two of his which I find revealing. He is saying that the Shaws have got it all wrong and that, in effect, everything in the garden is rosy. What we are saying is that there is a problem in religious schools in Jerusalem and it is concerned with places for boys in high schools (not girls by the way, they are better off). That is our particular problem as observant Jews. Mr. Leibler, however, says: “non-observant Jews who wish to pro vide a traditional education for their children face a problem…One has to choose either an Orthodox or a primarily secular Hebrew education”. Apparently, he finds this satisfactory If I as a wise old far-seeing person in the political and religious establishment I Israel, I would favour bigger and better religious schools open to all comers. Wouldn‟t this help close that gap between religious and secular that everyone is so worried about? Our sons have been at a state religious elementary school called Yehuda Halevi over the past nine years. Mr. Leibler‟s grandchildren have also been at this school. I know many parents at that school who are not observant but desired such an education for their boys. Now they have nowhere to go. If you don‟t think that the situation is bad, dare I quote the words of that leader of the secular left, Meretz Party leader Yossi Sarid, Israel‟s new Minister for education. There are three underprivileged areas in Israeli education, he said a few weeks ago: “the Bedouin, the Arabs and the state religious schools”. By chance, I know that one of Mr. Leibler‟s grand-daughters attends an outstanding girls‟ religious school in Jerusalem called Pelech. This school was raised to a high level by the efforts of a formidable Jerusalem intellect, Professor Alice Shalvi. She is a woman of 70 or so with a long background in Orthodoxy. Recently, she left the Orthodox religion and went over to the Conservatives. She says there is a crisis in Israel concerned with attitudes towards religious education and in women‟s affairs wish she and Barbara had had a talk before we left. *David Shaw is a veteran Australian journalist and broad caster who served as a correspondent for London‟s Daily Mail in Jerusalem and previously wrote for The Australian and The Age. He was known in Australia as Lachlan Shaw.
The Notice Board
We have set up this “Notice Board” for people wanting to share their details, get in touch with others, advertise any services, those who are looking for something or someone, and anything else of interest. “Byron English+” is looking for bright and intelligent certified English teachers of English as a second language: “Byron English+” gives professional courses to many of Israel’s leading companies (such as Hi-Tech) from the Jordan Valley and all the way down to Eilat. Their teachers go into these companies and give these highly professional people English courses in Business English, conversation and presentation skills. They are looking for several more bright and intelligent, certified English teachers of English as a second language. This could most certainly be a door-opener to some very interesting
projects. Contact Armand Byron at byron01@netvision.net.il or teachers can send their C.V.s to their office fax at 08-9432480. Items for Sale – Must Go! Just moved apartments – De Longhi oven/grill: excellent condition, as new, self-cleaning, turbo options, 4 gas tops, on wheels, original tray for oven only NIS1,900 - Grey 2-seater Couch: only NIS 150 call Rochelle/Yoni on wk: 02-6204391 mobile: 052635274 Math, Physics and French Tutoring in Jerusalem or its periphery (e.g. Maale Adumim, Kfar Adumim, Givat Zeev, Pisgat Zeev, Kiryat Moshe) for all ages and levels. Call Yoni 052-635274. Speaks English, Hebrew and French. “Isn’t it time you did something for yourself?!” For treatment of: Pain; allergies; respiratory problems; digestive problems; hormonal imbalances; stress; children’s problems and more.......Come for a consult Lucy Blaser - TCM practitioner (Chinese Medicine); Master Reiki; Aromatherapy. Tel: 02-561-8115/ 052-602730. Note: For anyone from Elwood, Vic. - 20% discount!!!!” Wanted: Someone for the “I Come from the Land Downunder” segment of this newsletter – I am looking for an ex-Aussie who would like to prepared to answer a short questionnaire and appear in our “I Come from the Land Downunder” segment of this ZFA Newsletter. If you are interested I’d love to hear from you. Please e-mail Rochelle Shushan at jerusalem@ujia.org.il Know of any other ex-Aussies that would like to receive this newsletter. Please send us their contact details to the ZFA Israel office.
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Dear Rochelle, Our company “Byron English+” gives professional courses to many of Israel’s leading companies (such as Hi-Tech) from the Jordan Valley and all the way down to Eilat. Our teachers go into these companies and give these highly professional people English courses in Business English, conversation and presentation skills. We are looking for several more bright and intelligent certified English teachers of English as a second language. This could most certainly be a door-opener to some very interesting projects. If you could pass this on we would be most grateful. Yours sincerely, Armand Byron (If you are interested and have the qualifications, please contact Armand Byron at byron01@netvision.net.il) Thank you to those people who expressed interest in appearing in our “I Come From the Land DownUnder” section of the ZFA Newsletter. I apologise for any delay in response. We would love to receive articles from our readers. If you are interested in contributing to the Newsletter, please be in touch by e-mail, post or fax at the above numbers and addresses. – Rochelle “Thanks, excellent as usual. You should ask if people want their names and adresses published.” - Unbiased (Ben Kotek)
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