Howzat!
As a community we deal with a lot of serious issues.
Overall we’re on a pretty good wicket.
But there is still the ever-present issue of antisemitism, differing communal views on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, counterproductive political motions on the Israeli–Palestinian issue, rabid anti-Zionism on our campuses, the list goes on.
Looking to the outfield, Israel is constantly under threat, whether externally (such as from Iran and its proxies) or internally (the ongoing societal fragmentation highlighted by the judicial overhaul debate).
It all gets exhausting. Thank God every so often we can turn off – and turn on the cricket.
And of course this week, the Lord’s Ashes Test – arguably the most prestigious fixture on the cricket calendar – gets underway, with Australia already coming in with a 1-0 series lead.
How marvellous is that?!
But it gets better. This year, to coincide with the famous Test at the most famous of grounds, a new exhibition about Jewish cricketers has opened, featuring among others, former Aussie internationals Michael Klinger and Julien Wiener. They are a credit to both our community and our country. Kol hakavod.
Those in our community hailing from South Africa can be proud that the tzitzit Mandy Yachad wore in the very first one-day international after the country’s readmission to the international stage, form part of the exhibition.
The Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has called the exhibition “thrilling and amazing”, though we disagree with his prayer asking Hashem to bless England to win.
Speaking of the divine – there would be barely a Jewish parent of young kids reading this now who hasn’t watched the recent Bluey cricket episode, and as you’ll read in this week’s AJN, one can find some Jewish themes in that popular children’s show as well.
But back to cricket. Our kids play it at school and on summer weekends for Maccabi.
It is the great unifier; our communities in Sydney and Melbourne may bicker over which footy code is superior – whichever city you’re reading this in, you’re right – but we all agree on the cricket.
May this exhibition have a long innings (and perhaps a tour to the SCG and MCG?) and of course, Australia to win.
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