Writing the new Torah of their future
Rabbi Heschel was an inspiration to generations of Conservative (Masorti) Jews and the Jewish world at large.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel – considered one of the greatest Jewish thinkers and rabbis of the 20th century – said, “A religious person [is one] who holds God and [hu]man [beings] in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.”
Rabbi Heschel was an inspiration to generations of Conservative (Masorti) Jews and the Jewish world at large.
It was this ethos of the symbiotic relationship between our faith in God and our calling for compassionate, just and loving action that characterises the culture of Kehilat Nitzan.
It was this ethos and a desire for a modern and traditional shule that inspired John Rosenberg and others to establish Masorti (Conservative) congregations in both Sydney and Melbourne.
This year Kehilat Nitzan, Melbourne’s Masorti congregation, celebrates 25 years since our humble beginnings and is marking our anniversary by commissioning the writing of our first Sefer Torah.
A Masorti sofer (scribe) and rabbi in Israel is writing this new Torah and the congregation are very excited about their arrival at the end of November to write the first letters of Bereshit.
All at Kehilat Nitzan take pride in how we have contributed to the Jewish and greater Melbourne community with kindness and compassion.
Our Tikkun Olam Committee, chaired by Fran Feldman, serves the greater community providing and caring for old and young alike.
Our food van is in Alma Park every Tuesday evening at 5pm feeding those in need, which it has been doing for the past 18 years.
Deb Korman has been giving selflessly with her 60 volunteers for many years.
Our fundraising campaign will not only birth a physical Torah into the world, and the donations we receive for books, parashiyot and other special readings will not only support the writing of the Torah itself, but will help our congregation to raise funds to continue to grow and contribute to the wider community in significant ways through projects of inclusion, outreach, in-reach and above all, tikkun olam.
At Kehilat Nitzan we admire kind people and all pray together, without mechitzah, division, and participate in the service equally regardless of gender.
It is our belief that religious and spiritual tradition is essential but must reflect the Jewish values that Rabbi Heschel taught.
The Torah must always lead us to become a better, more honest, caring and compassionate person and community with our heart and actions for the benefit of all in need.
To join us for the High Holy Days call 9500 0906 for details.
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