Parashat HaShavua

 Ki Tavo (Deut) 26:1 – 29:8

Since we spend so much time around our parents, it’s easy to forget to appreciate them and treat them with respect. This week’s Torah portion (27:16) reminds us that the way we treat our parents isn’t something to take lightly.

Does respecting our parents mean we are obligated to do everything they want us to do?

Bar Mitzvah Mazal tov

Toby Port

Elul Inspiration

As we age, our brains are hardwired to reject change. We are conditioned to resist new challenges and remain within our comfort zones. However, growing older should not mean that we must exist within self-imposed boundaries. In the 1960s, President Eisenhower received the gift of a rare, white tiger named Mohini. For years, Mohini lived in the Washington Zoo and spent her days pacing back and forth in a 12×12 foot cage. Finally the zoo decided to build her a larger cage so Mohini could run, climb and explore. But when Mohini arrived at her new home, she didn’t rush out, eagerly adapting to her new habitat. Rather, she marked off a 12×12 foot square area for herself, and paced there until her death, never enjoying the new opportunities in front of her. Mohini exemplifies the classic conditioning most of us live within, either as a result of what others have done to us or we do to ourselves. Although she was a magnificent, powerful creature, Mohini was convinced her ‘place’ was just a 12×12 foot square.

We all have the propensity to behave exactly like Mohini. Based on our conditioning, we create invisible cages for ourselves, limiting our lives within their boundaries. But we don’t have to succumb to our internal imprisonment. Throughout the High Holidays, we will hear the shofar blast. Historically, the shofar signaled the release of all slaves at the end of the Jubilee year. That sound should make us ask, “What enslaves us? What weighs us down? What baggage do we hold onto?” And then, let it go. The High Holidays present us with a lifeline, an opportunity to break free from our self-imposed cages, to find our route to freedom and live life with renewed passion. The shofar inspires us to free the Mohini inside and move beyond our boundaries.

Year 8 Ivrit Camp

Last weekend  Year 8 Ivrit students went to a Ivrit camp as a fun weekend activity. We all slept, ate and had a lot of fun together at Emanuel Synagogue, participating in engaging activities together, such as Ivrit masterchef. We became closer as friends as well as becoming great friends with the madrichim from Israel. Not only did our Ivrit skills improve, but we all had a lot of fun.

Thanks so much to Morah Harvey and Morah Gaida for organising this amazing camp and making it really enjoyable. We recommend it to everyone who has the opportunity to attend it next year.

Talia Sinani and Rebekah Goldsworthy

Ivrit Camp was an amazing experience that immensely improved our spoken Ivrit. We spent two nights at Emanuel Synagogue with five incredible Madrichim from Israel who ran this camp. We played games including birthday parties, charades and Masterchef which were all explained in Ivrit. We followed Ivrit recipes and created our own מחנה עברית (Ivrit Camp) shirts. We can’t wait to attend this camp again next year!!

Mimi Silberstein and Sasha Baskin

Ivrit camp was a really fun and enjoyable experience. The Madrichim were really nice and kind. I enjoyed each activity and was always having fun. I came back from the camp wanting it to be longer than it was.

Rachel Zwarenstein

This was a great experience for me and the rest of the students because we were able to participate in the many activities, all in Ivrit. We spent time with the Madrichim and really bonded with them well. Apart from all the fun activities, we also did Ruach and even got to create our own dance. On the last night, the students, teachers and madrichim all watched a movie together with popcorn. This was one of my favourite moments as we all bonded together. The end of the camp was bittersweet, as Ivrit camp was ending, but we were able to make our own t-shirts which were signed by everyone there. I will cherish this t-shirt always. Overall, Ivrit camp was an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone.

Mikaela Fraser