Purimshpiel spectacular!
The children of Or Chadash delighted their parents, grandparents and friends, and caused more than a few chuckles, with their unusual rendition of the Purim story, complete with musical interludes. Narrators Ari, Esther and Rafi, and actors Avigayil, Sara, Grace, Nadav, Itay, Josh, Eli, Davi, Sam, and musician Yoni - you are all stars!

Thanks to the internet, myjewishlearning.com, George Konnoff and the congregation of a Conservative shul called Temple Beth Israel, Port Washington, NY, and the scriptwriting and organising skills of Hannah and Liora Ensly, Sarah Charak and Jacquie Seemann Charak.

We now eagerly await next year's performance!
Posted by Site Administrator on 14 March 2012

Join our excellent shiurim
Come and discover the themes and messages of the Book of Shmuel with Rabbi Simcha Jacob - 8:30pm WEDNESDAYS, at 119 Murriverie Rd, North Bondi. BUT for the month of March, we are taking a break from Shmuel to look at Pesach themes.

9:00am Shabbat mornings, get ready for tefila with Rabbi Jacob, as he explores the parsha of the week.
Posted by Site Administrator on 12 March 2012

Tikkun Leil Shavuot 2011
Our Tikkun Leil was a great success, with over 50 people joining us to to dine on delicious dairy dinner and be part of the learning of our own limmud fest at our traditional meal at the Charaks' home.

Our theme was: 'Learning: what's it all about, anyway?' Jacquie Seemann Charak and Shira Lawrence started us off with a rereading of 'Talmud Torah keneged kulam'; David Klahr reread the Book of Ruth as a text dealing with hunger and charity; Leonie Jacob enhralled with Written Torah Rules! - a look at how we learn the basis of meat and milk; and Rabbi Simcha Jacob encouraged us to think about Becoming a Torah Personality.

And it didn't even rain!!
Posted by Site Administrator on 11 June 2011

Mincha and seuda shlishit with Rabbi Poupko
We had a terrific mincha and seuda shlishit with Rabbi Poupko on 26 February. Rabbi Poupko, who was visiting from Israel, lectures at Yeshivat Orayta (Yeshiva University's Israeli program in Jerusalem) and the Orthodox Union's Israel Center. 'Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko defines both the nature of man and the ethical challenge to the Jew through his literary, philosophical, and halachic inquiries into Biblical narratives and midrashic commentaries. He dramatically engages his listener as he skillfully applies the rich, classical interpretive tradition to examine the most mythic and mystifying Biblical and Talmudic texts. In the timeless encounter between man and his Creator, between talmid and text, imagination complements knowledge to provide interpretive solutions that are sensible, psychologically satisfying, and profound.'

The topic was: 'A Golden Calf becomes a Golden Opportunity'. An analysis of the cryptic dialogue between G-d and Moshe in the aftermath of the Golden Calf sheds light on the revolutionary transformation of 'Teshuva me'Ahava', that leads to the Second Tablets.

Thanks to Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence for making this event possible.
Posted by Site Administrator on 1 March 2011

Gittel's list
Gittel's list was started by Di Kuchar and Anne Wiseman. It was a meeting of the minds as we both wanted to start such a list after having experienced the benefits of lists in Israel. We had to give the list a name - something short that people would remember, something that would reflect our culture/community but not something that was confined to a particular locality nor a particular interest.
Gittel's list acts like a local self-help community noticeboard. The list is modelled on "Craig's list" and the many local lists that exist in Israel. The list assists people to find what they need, to borrow or to buy. Find or offer accommodation. Sell or give-away unwanted household items. Swap helpful information, look for car-pooling opportunities, babysitting, house-swapping, rentals etc. The possibilities are endless. The list has assisted people to find Purim costumes and flower girl dresses or someone to take a credit card to Israel. Membership is based in Sydney with some Melbourne and international interest.
The most recent success story concerned someone who needed a receptionist for a few days at short notice. Within 10 minutes of posting the notice he received 3 replies and engaged someone for the job.
The list is only as good as the participation by the members. After 2 years we have reached critical mass however we would like more members. If you would like to join the list go to Gittel's List and register on the website. Membership is FREE.
Posted by Site Administrator on 28 December 2010

Purim features - Spirituality or story?
Is the Megillah just a story?
Posted by Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple on 07 Mar 2012

Torah reading: Ki Tissa - Counting heads
There is an English phrase, "to count heads". It probably comes from the Bible, from the opening words of this week's portion...
Posted by Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple on 07 Mar 2012

Torah reading: T'tzavveh (Zachor) - Ear, hand & foot
Three parts of the high priest's person had to be especially dedicated to the Divine service - the ear, the hand and the foot (Ex. 29:20).
Posted by Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple on 29 Feb 2012

Ask the Rabbi - Mirrors in the Bible
Q. Did they have mirrors in Biblical times?
Posted by Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple on 29 Feb 2012

Torah reading: T'rumah - Inside & out
The portion of T'rumah details the layout and appurtenances of every part of the Tabernacle.
Posted by Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple on 23 Feb 2012

Shabbat hospitality
Need a meal or two? We'll see what we can do!
Visiting from interstate or overseas or even over the Harbour Bridge?
We are a friendly modern Orthodox community in the Bondi area.
Contact Lior Misrachi if you require Shabbat hospitality and let us know:
Your name
Number of people
Number of children
Dates/meals required
Contact phone #
Contact email address
Any special dietary requirements

Daylight saving ends 3.00 am Sunday 1 April. Please put your clocks back one hour.

Mazal tov to everyone celebrating birthdays in March: Isaac Abrahams, Chani Charak, Avigayil Erlich, Gabrielle Kaplan, Esther Lieb, Lior Samuel and Jack Stein.

Mazal tov to Shelley Einfeld and Paul Baram who are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary and sponsoring the kiddush this week.

Mazal tov to everyone celebrating birthdays in February: Milton Massel, Paul Joshua, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence, Peta Jones Pellach, Judah Ratner, Ezra Franklin and Oscar Naar.

Mazal Tov to Leonie and Rabbi Jacob on the birth of a son this morning, Tuesday January 17.

8. Aviva Zornberg: Dr Aviva Zornberg View

Tisha B'Av Artwork: Artwork by the children of Or Chadash, Tisha B'av 2006 View

Shabbat Parashat Behar-Bechukotai 27 Iyar, 5772 - 19 May, 2012 Friday Candle lighting 4.42 pm Kabbalat Shabbat 5.30 pm Saturday Shiur 9.00 am Shacharit 9.15 am Children's service 10.00 am Shabbat ends 5.39 pm Yom Yerushalayim Sunday May 20 Rosh Chodesh Sivan Tuesday May 22

Week-1 Gifts A great way to send presents to new babies in Israel Contact us to become a sponsor.

Sydney Eruv Australian Jewish News NSW Kashrut Authority NSW Jewish Board of Deputies

Founded in 1995, Or Chadash is a modern Orthodox, community-oriented, nusach Ashkenaz shul with an emphasis on personal growth and learning. Donations to Or Chadash Contact details Get contact and location details for Or Chadash. Who we are Find out about our origins and aims. Rabbi-in-residence: Rabbi Simcha Jacob Consulting rabbi: Rabbi David Freedman