 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Don’t forget to check our website at www.hobartsynagogue.org
7
UPJ - Report on November Conference
Union for Progressive Judaism – Report on November Conference
Caroline Heard, President
It has been my privilege, as President of this congregation, to attend this year’s Conference, held in
Sydney. As always, my sense of this community being part of a large ‘family’ was reinforced.
Meeting with friends – old and new – and sharing and comparing, are all part of the experience; and
overarching the whole conference is the sense of learning.
Learning comes in different guises: there are the ‘workshops’ given by rabbis and Jewish educators.
This year, I attended a workshop given by Rabbi Fred Morgan, entitled “The Jewish People in
Relationship to the Non Jewish World”, a workshop by Janice Alper, entitled “Taking the Bored out of
Board Meetings”., a workshop by Alan Gold [author] entitled “Writing Your Own Jewish Family
History” and a fourth by Rabbi Jonathan Keren Black, entitled “Green Rabbis”. All four workshops
were totally different, totally absorbing, inter-active and very informative. In addition, there was a very
stimulating meeting of Presidents and Treasurers and it was interesting to hear about the challenges
that are faced in large and small communities in our region and how they are dealt with.
As the conference was held in Sydney, we were hosted at two of the largest Progressive Jewish
congregations in Australia. Friday night service was at North Shore Temple Emanuel [Chatswood]
and Shabbat morning services were at Temple Emanuel [Woollahra]. The Friday night service was
joyous and bright, with Rabbis Gary Robuck and Alison Conyer leading from the bimah, and the
music from the choir under the direction of Judy Campbell was amazing!
I have written Shabbat morning services, because at Temple Emanuel [Woollahra] there were
THREE services – Renewal, Conservative and Progressive! Your President chose to attend the
Progressive service and I can confirm that the voices of the choir, under the leadership of Cantor
Joseph Toltz, simply soared in the restored splendour of Temple Emanuel. Rabbi Jackie Ninio
conducted the service, with Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins delivering the sermon.
The World Union for Progressive Judaism held their Governors’ Meeting one day prior to the
Conference and it was good to meet members of the Executive. We heard from the President [Mrs
Ruth Cohen], Rabbi Uri Regev [a dynamic orator!], Mr Leslie Bergman, Treasurer of the WUPJ and
Rabbi Joel Oseran. They took part in and were part of the Conference. We were addressed by Dr
Rachael Kohn on “The Importance of Spiritual Values for Individuals and the Society at Large” and
the concluding speaker was Dr Leanne Piggott whose topic was “The Middle East Update: Where
now for Israel”.
I had the honour of meeting and speaking with the Acting Israeli Ambassador, Mrs Orna Sagiv who
has kept herself well informed about Hobart and Tasmania and what is happening here. She is
hoping to come and meet us in the not-too-distant future.
KOSHER KORNER
Coles Supermarket, Sandy Bay has some items heavily discounted, so please go and check these
out … bargains await the “early birds” !
Due to a change in Coles [mainland] warehouse personnel, the start of kosher meat and bread has
been unavoidably delayed but I am reliably informed by Rod Sanders, Coles Sandy Bay manager,
that it will happen!
Also, please remember that every time you make a kosher purchase of a product made in Israel, you
are doing “your bit” for the Israeli economy, however small this may seem!
 |