Chief Rabbi Mirvis brings message of hope

Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth Sir Ephraim Mirvis brought a message of resilience and unwavering hope to Melbourne’s Jewish community during a breakfast address at the South Caulfield Hebrew Congregation on March 8.

Speaking to a packed shule, Rabbi Mirvis drew on Torah, personal experience and the timeless capacity of the Jewish people to find strength in adversity, as he reflected on the challenges facing Israel and Diaspora communities in the wake of October 7.

“Right now we’re worried. We’re deeply concerned about what’s happening in the State of Israel,” he told the gathering. But rather than dwell on fear, Rabbi Mirvis offered four reasons for genuine optimism.

The first was the power of tikvah (hope) itself – hope as the defining characteristic of Jewish existence.

The second was the support of allies, notably the United States, in confronting the Iranian threat.