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Don’t forget to check our website at www.hobartsynagogue.org
9
Dignitaries at a Seder
This year I had the chutzpah to invite His Excellency the Governor of
Tasmania, the Honourable William Cox AC, RFD, ED; The Chief
Justice, Mr Peter Underwood, and the Dean of Saint David’s
Cathedral, the Right Reverend Dr. Lindsay Stoddart and their
respective wives to our Seder on the first night of Pesach.
All three take an interest in Jewish affairs and have honoured me and
the Jewish Community in Hobart by including my presence at various
functions. I have been honoured many times by being asked to read
a lesson from the Old Testament in the Cathedral. The last time was
in February at the Opening of the Law Year, when I joined the
procession of clergy, wearing my tallit and kippah and read the First
Lesson.
A couple of years ago His Excellency the Governor expressed a wish
to attend our Yom Hasho’ah and Liberation of Auschwitz Memorial
Service, which he did.
A few year ago Renee and I invited the then Dean of the Cathedral, Stuart Blackler, to dinner, which
happened to be on a Friday night. Renee lit the candles and I made Kiddush and Hamotzi. Stuart was
absolutely thrilled with the ceremony. He said that he had been a school friend of a Jewish boy, who
later on in life became Rabbi Apple, and though he had eaten in his home many times, never on a Friday
night and had never witnessed the ceremony that later became the Eucharist.
It was on the assumption that there were probably many Christians who had never seen Kiddush and
Hamotzi being made and who would be just as thrilled as Stuart was, that I decided that probably my
‘would be’ guests would be even more delighted to partake in a re-enactment of the Last Supper,
especially if they had not attended a Seder before, which turned out to be the case.
From the time our guests accepted our invitation Renee was stressed out but she needn’t have been -
everything went well, the company was relaxed and the conversation flowed. Great interest was shown
in all aspects of the Seder - the Dean saying that what he had read about in the Old Testament had now
come to life. Although the Governor’s and Peter Underwood’s chauffer driven cars called for them at 9.45
they stayed to complete the Seder, finally leaving at 10.50.
I have received a very nice letter from His Excellency thanking Renee and me for sharing our Seder
which concluded with the following quote: ‘Such a spiritual experience, combined with a beautiful meal,
excellent company and an informative commentary made for a memorable occasion.’
It will certainly be a memorable occasion for Renee and me.
Len Freedman
Welcome Karen Rosauer
You could say I'm one of those people who can't decide what she wants to do with herself, or that I have
broad life-experience. Personally I think I'm rather lucky. I've done jobs from debt collector, to computer
programmer, social worker to Jewish Educator. I've studied psychology and social work, education, and
Judaism, a little computing, a little Arabic, and a little about nonviolent social change.
I grew up through Netzer, our Progressive Jewish Youth Movement, which gave me a solid foundation in
love of Judaism and Jewish learning. Many years down the track, having studied a Masters in Jewish
Education at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, in Jerusalem and Los Angeles, I'm
finding ways to bring together my love of writing, my love of Judaism, and my previous experience as a
Social Worker.
Currently I am team leader of a small Sunday School, and also teach at an after school Jewish Religion
School, I teach Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, and lead Shabbat Services at a Jewish aged care home,
and occasionally at other synagogues. I've also been working in a community organisation supporting
volunteers to work with people with disabilities, and have been developing some research looking at the
experience of non-Jewish teachers working in a Jewish school, with the view to pursuing a PhD next
year.
I am excited to be coming to be with you in Hobart for High Holy Days, and am looking forward to meeting
you all.
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