Volume 26 Issue 13 12 May 2017 16 Iyyar 5777

Ma Koreh

Weekly Torah portion:

Parashat Emor – Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23.

This week’s Torah portion includes special sets of laws and requirements for the kohanim (the Priests). These laws included not coming into contact with the dead and restrictions on whom a kohen could marry. The Torah then describes a variety of holy days – Shabbat, Pesach, Yom Kippur and Sukkot and what is entailed to observe these days. We are currently in the Omer period, counting forty-nine days between Pesach and Shavuot. The Torah describes the obligation to bring the Omer – the first reaping of barley to the Kohanim as an offering during this time. The Israelites are reminded that during the harvest period to leave the corners of their fields for the needy.  

Family Discussion:

  • Do you think there should be different rules and expectations for people, depending on their position and role?
  • What is your favourite Jewish holiday and why?
  • What can we learn about the commandment to leave the corners of one’s field during harvest time for the poor and needy? Given many of us are not farmers, how can this mitzvah relate to our lives today?

General Sir John Monash Commemorative Service

 

Last Friday, the Primary House and Vice Captains joined some of our Year 9 students to attend The Spirit of Australia Foundation Monash Commemorative Service, which was held at St Catherine’s School. The service was held to acknowledge and pay tribute to a great Jewish Australian who was an influential and inspirational scholar, engineer, soldier and nation builder. Students from various local schools and representatives of the military and a Monash scholar spoke about the life, achievements, values and legacy of Sir John Monash, who is regarded as one of the greatest Australians.

Monash House Captains and Vice-Captains reflected on the commemoration:

Jake Sharp: “General Sir John Monash is such an interesting person. He was very clever and valued education. He used his degrees in Engineering, Law and Arts to help others and make a difference in the world.”

Jett Sher: “The ceremony was very informative and I learnt a lot about the life and achievements of Monash. He is such a respected person who has inspired many people.”

Ava Rose: “I learnt that General Sir Monash faced some discrimination because he was Jewish and his parents were German. But he worked hard and achieved great things during the War and afterwards”

Try the following links if you are curious and would like to learn more about the amazing life and achievements of General Sir John Monash:

www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676516/

www.smh.com.au/world/did-an-aussie-general-john-monash-actually-win-the-decisive-battle-of-the-western-front-not-the-british-whove-hogged-all-the-glory-20160421-gobrqz.html

https://johnmonash.com/john-monash