TELL April-May 2019

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{SPEAK UP IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE} Donna Jacobs Sife Of the many and various ideas that arise from the festival of Pesach, I find one particularly compelling. The sages tell us that the syllables of the word Pesach each represent a word in their own right: "Pe" means "mouth" and "sach" means "speaks". When I was 12, I became a ‘selective mute’. I stopped talking for several months. And now, when asked how I became a storyteller, this image of a mute young girl comes to mind. Perhaps I became a storyteller so that my words would be heard. And I suspect also that my penchant for social justice and speaking up also has roots in that young girl. However, the imperative to speak up in the face of injustice also has its roots in Judaism. The midwives Puah and Shifra spoke up when they refused to follow the orders of the Pharaoh and chose to save a little baby boy. The Pharaoh’s daughter spoke up when she saw that little baby floating down the river in a basket. Moses stood before the Pharaoh and spoke up in the name of his enslaved brethren. We are a People today, because others chose to speak and not remain silent in the face of injustice. It is in our origins, in our genesis. Dissent gave birth to us as a nation. Think of Abraham, when faced with the injustice as he saw it of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by God. Even to the highest authority, Abraham was not deterred. “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it?” Abraham points out that there are innocent people living in Sodom and Gomorrah who do not deserve punishment. He begins bartering with God, asking how many innocent people there would have to be for the cities to be spared. He ultimately bargains 18 down to 10 innocent people before the episode concludes. As Abraham says, “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Genesis 18:25). Elie Wiesel We know that Sodom and Gomorrah were not spared. But we also know by Abraham’s example, in the words of the Pirkei Avot: You do not have to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it. Of course, there are many in this troubled world who are silenced, because to speak up is a dangerous thing. To be silenced is to be controlled, oppressed, subdued. We know that in countries governed by despotic dictators, any hint of rebellion could be punishable by death. In 2015, the Australian parliament passed a law concerning workers and medical officers at the detention centres. It became a criminal offense for them to reveal to outsiders what is happening to asylum seekers, with a potential penalty of job loss and two years in prison. When refugees speak of their experience in public, they do so understanding that it could very likely adversely affect their immigration status. In Australia, for the most part, we are free. We can express our concerns, our criticisms, our protests, without fear of retribution. And yet, because this freedom is a given, we tend to take it for granted, and forget how lucky and privileged we are to live in such a country. And consequently, we do not use that privilege in the way that our ancestors have modelled to us. We forget that freedom and speaking up, pe-sach – are indelibly linked. Elie Wiesel in his acceptance speech for his Nobel Peace prize in 1986 put it this way: I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe. This Pesach, I hope to continue to speak up in the face of injustice, and to remember that I am one of the privileged few in this world who is free to do so. Tzdek Tzedek tirtof – Justice, Justice You shall Pursue.
Shabbat in the Circle One Saturday each month from 9:30am Join us for this new Shabbat morning gathering. We begin at 9:30am with the study of Hassidic and other mystical texts then discuss how we can apply them in our daily lives. This is followed at 10:15am by a collaborative musical gathering based on the Shabbat morning service incorporating melodies, poems and dance to enhance our Shabbath. Contact gmordecai@emanuel.org.au See: emanuel.org.au/shabbatcircle Awakening to Freedom Renewal Friday Night Pesach Service & Dinner 26th <strong>April</strong>, 6:15pm Join us for an evening of song and learning as we explore the meaning of freedom. with Cantor George Mordecai and Rabbi Dr. Orna Triguboff plus special guests Kim Cunio and Samurai Cunio. A light dinner will be served. Cost: $20 HEARTS ON FIRE Lag B’Omer Wednesday 22 <strong>May</strong>, 7pm Songs, teachings and meditations on the Omer and Jewish mystical tradition. with Cantor George Mordecai, Rabbi Dr. Orna Triguboff and guest musician. Free of charge 19
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Page 11 and 12: {NO MORE RIGHT AND LEFT?} Dudu Gott
Page 13 and 14: NEED A CELEBRANT? Jon Green Civil M
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Page 25 and 26: {LET MY PEOPLE GO} B. Karet Arguabl
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Page 29 and 30: {NETZER'S AMAZING SUMMER CAMP} 137
Page 31 and 32: {IN CONVERSATION WITH THOMAS MAYOR}
Page 33 and 34: Miss Chantal Abraham Mr Greg Bachma
Page 35 and 36: {...TZEDAKAH CONTINUED} Ms Judy Fis
Page 37 and 38: {PESACH AT EMANUEL} There is much t
Page 39 and 40: {PESACH PUZZLE PAGE} by Anne Wolfso

TELL April-May 2019

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