Shabbat Shalom
Consecration of the East Melbourne Synagogue, 1877. Illustration: Australasian Sketcher
July 10, 2025, 8:00 am
Shule attacked last Friday steeped in rich history
Much history lies behind the venue of last week’s attack on a Melbourne city shule.
By YOSSI ARON
The Menorah of rocket casings that adorns the Sderot Hesder yeshivah. Inset: Rabbi Fendel. Photos: friendsofsderot.org
June 27, 2025, 9:03 am
From the chuppah to the skies over Iran
For the devoted, nothing stops that which must be done.
By YOSSI ARON
Gathering of the Zionist Federation in Iran, 1920. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
June 26, 2025, 2:16 pm
A potted history of Persian–Iranian Jewish life
As we learn from the Tanach, the history of the Jews in Iran – formerly known as Persia dates back to biblical times.
By YOSSI ARON
The government now refers to all areas beyond the Green line – including the Western Wall – as ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’. Photo: Liorpt/Dreamstime.com
May 26, 2025, 12:47 pm
Yerushalayim – a city of multiple realities
Experiencing life in Yerushalayim where contradictions abound.
By YOSSI ARON
The Four Questions (Ma Nishtana) from the 14th-century Sarajevo Haggadah. Photo: Wikipedia.com
April 4, 2023, 3:30 pm
Ma Nishtana – Why is this night different?
This ritual and others like removing the food early on, as if the meal was over were established to encourage a culture of questions.
By Rabbi Mendy Ajzenszmidt
Part page from the Golden Haggadah, probably Barcelona, c. 1320. Right: cleaning of the house. Left: slaughtering the Passover lamb and cleansing dishes. Photo: Wikipedia.com
April 4, 2023, 10:31 am
The essence of the Pesach seder
There is the seder we will have – and one we recall.
By YOSSI ARON
Damage in a building entrance after the shelling by Russian forces of Constitution Square in Kharkiv. Photo: by Sergey BOBOK/AFP
February 23, 2023, 9:17 am
Shabbat for Ukraine this Friday
For Shabbat this Friday, February 24, join the community for a "Shabbat for Ukraine", by lighting an extra candle and saying a prayer for those affected by the conflict.
By Mia Gardiner
A collapsed building in Kahramanmaras Province, southern Turkey, February 6, 2023. Photo: Times of Israel/Depo Photos
February 16, 2023, 12:19 pm
Israel and the recent earthquake
Albeit lightly, Israel too was impacted by the recent regional earthquake activity – as it had been by many past such events.
By YOSSI ARON
Rabbi Ari Rubin and Aaron Standley next to the menorah constructed out of recycled cans for the public lighting in Cairns on December 18. Photo: Ari Rubin
December 15, 2022, 1:11 pm
The public celebration of Chanukah
With Chanukah upon us once again it’s time to focus on the meaning of its celebration.
By YOSSI ARON
Yemenite Jews wait to board a plane to Israel as part of the ‘Magic Carpet’ airlift in 1949. Photo: David Eldan/GPO
December 8, 2022, 11:51 am
The other side of ‘Nakba’
The recent UN decision to commemorate “Nakba Day” flies in the face of historical reality.
By YOSSI ARON
October 28, 2022, 12:00 pm
Noah and the storm of adolescence
Shabbat Shalom to all our readers.
By Rabbanit Judith Levitan
Rabbi Yisrael Blassberger holding the baby about to be named Aharon Chaim.
October 28, 2022, 11:00 am
Circumcision – is it justified
By Rabbi Raymond Apple
Meat display at Continental Kosher Butchers, Melbourne.
October 28, 2022, 10:00 am
The great flood and our diet
It seems clear from the first two parashiyot of Bereshit that God’s original design at the time of creation was that man should be vegetarian.
By YOSSI ARON
September 9, 2022, 3:30 pm
The early years of Mizrachi in Melbourne
This year 5782 (2021/2) that marked 120 years of Mizrachi worldwide also marks the arrival of Mizrachi in Caulfield, 70 years ago.
By YOSSI ARON
September 9, 2022, 7:30 am
The ultimate moral test
Shabbat Shalom to all our readers
By Rabbi Gary J Robuck
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