It appears to be a combination of ignorance, stupidity and insensitivity for Geoff Hutchison and his guests to think that the passage of time should turn Hitler into “just another historical figure”.

Bill Johnston MLA, State Member for Cannington, called the station to admonish the Announcer and his guests. I was just debating with myself whether to phone in, but was reticent because it shouldn’t be just Jews who speak against such ignorance, stupidity and insensitivity. A call, coming from a prominent, respected leader of the wider community, was extremely salutary.

As it turned out, a Jewish caller “Michael” phoned in immediately after Bill, and did a fine job of expressing the revulsion that we were feeling as Jews about the announcer’s treatment of the story.

I’m sure most listeners learned something that morning, thanks to Bill and Michael.

Question #1: What should I be grateful for as I begin the New Year?

I spend so much of my days saddened by the things I don’t have that I forget to be grateful for all the blessings God has showered upon me.

We take so much for granted about what we’re given and only notice our gifts when we fear they will be taken from us. Why do we only fully appreciate our health when we no longer have it? Why do we only fully appreciate our parents when they are no longer here with us? Why do we only fully appreciate our wealth when we are afraid that we’ll lose it?

Jews make at least 100 blessings every day. God doesn’t need that much praise but we need at least that many reminders of all the wonderful things He continually sends our way. At the start of a new year I need to make a mental list of all the good things I am blessed with.

Am I guilty of not having really noticed that my life’s balance sheet is overflowing with assets?

Question #2: What do I owe God for all the things He’s done for me?

I love the business card a rabbinic colleague once gave me. On the flip side of the basic name/ address/ phone information it read: “What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake?”

It’s a great question all of us should be asking ourselves as we take stock of the meaning of our lives here on earth. We are all here for a purpose; every one of us has a unique mission. The way to identify it is to be aware of our special talents. To develop our individual gifts and to utilize them on behalf of others is to leave a legacy that validates our lives and proves that we have done something “for heaven’s sake.”

As the New Year approaches I want to make certain that I won’t be a parasite, only taking of the world’s bounties but not reciprocating.

Am I guilty of not doing enough on God’s behalf here to earn my stay?

Question #3: What can I do to insure that God hears my prayers?

The difference between prayer and the study of Torah, Rabbi Kook beautifully explained, is that in prayer man speaks to God, but with Torah God speaks to man.

Throughout the High Holy Day period we’re busy telling God what we want from him. We have so many needs we ask him to take care of – our health, our finances, our families. We ask the Almighty to carefully review the lengthy book of our concerns.

Isn’t it only fair for us to commit ourselves to spending some time studying the book in which He outlines what He wants from us?

The world recognizes the uniqueness of the Jews by calling us “the people of the book.” To study it is to learn the secret of making our lives sacred. And yet even as we become ever more adept at multitasking we seem to find no time for spiritual refreshment. Do we really have no opportunity to study Torah every day when statistics reveal that the average person spends more than four hours a day watching TV and reading magazines and newspapers?

Am I guilty of not caring enough to spend time listening to what God has to tell me – and then have the nerve to be all upset when He seems not to hear what I’m saying to Him?

Question #4: Am I optimistic about the coming year?

Judaism demands that we always be optimistic. A pessimist is nothing but a misfortune-teller, a person who lacks all hope for redemption because he fails to believe in a redeemer.

In a time of economic crisis such as the one we find ourselves in today, it is imperative for us to remember that God identified Himself as the one who “took you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage.” God knows our personal pain. God is aware of our suffering. God hears our prayers. We share a profound relationship with him.

Our hope is the greatest indicator of our belief. Our optimism is the sign of our confidence in divine help. Our trust is the key to God’s willingness to grant us a favorable response.

Am I guilty of giving up too soon for my personal problems so that my lack of faith in God’s assistance is responsible for a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Question #5: What is my dream for the coming year?

The Talmud says, “Whoever does not have a dream at least once every seven days is called wicked.”

What goal can I commit to for the coming year that would transform my life if I seriously pursued it?The commentators explain that every seven days include a Shabbat, and if a holy day is to have any meaning it must endow us with the capacity to dream. Our waking state is limited by reality. Our dreams reflect our desire to rise above who we are at the moment and to fulfill our greatest potential.

Our forefather Jacob dreamt of a ladder rooted in the ground but with its head in the heavens. So many of us, too, began our lives with idealistic visions. Tragically, all too often our dreams have become forgotten, victims of limitations we come to assume are insurmountable.

Am I guilty of giving up on my dreams to become the kind of person I thought I could be? What goal can I commit to for the coming year that would transform my life if I seriously pursued it?

Question #6: What should I be doing differently this coming year?

It was Albert Einstein who famously defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

So why do I really expect my life to change if I don’t do anything proactively to make it happen?

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are all about change. If I don’t work to improve any of my failings, I just didn’t get the message.

Am I guilty of doing nothing to become a better person and then hoping for a better Divine judgment? And even if I know I can’t be perfect, what area can I work on to begin the job of improving myself?

Question #7: What should I pray for?

What if you could be assured of getting one and only one wish granted, what would you ask for?

The rabbis tell us that our prayers on the High Holy Days are affected by the unspoken sense of priorities we incorporate into them. Is our greatest fervor reserved for our finances and our appeal to God centered mainly around Tevye’s fantasies about what he would do if he “were a rich man”? Are our prayer for material goods or for spiritual gains? What would give us the greatest joy if God would guarantee its fulfillment?

Am I guilty in the past for not having prioritized properly? Have I finally learned the difference between what I want and what I need to be blessed with a good life?

Question #8: Who should I pray for?

With all of my problems, I know that there are many far worse off than I am. To pray for them is to acknowledge my blessings.

And more: there is a remarkable teaching in Judaism that one who prays for others will himself derive the benefit first.

Within the circle of our family, friends and community there are many who could use our prayers. If we become their spokesman we strengthen the bonds of our friendship even as we create a larger stockpile of merit for ourselves.

Have I thought carefully about all those whom I care for that I might add to my list of people for whom I pray?

Question #9: What small step can I take to begin meaningful change?

My favorite teacher once told me, “It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward.”

The best kind of progress comes piecemeal. Whenever I set out to lose 40 pounds my dieting plan predictably failed. But when I decided I’d give up drinking sugared sodas, I succeeded in reducing my weight slowly over a period of many months.

Courage, it’s been said, is an accumulation of small victories. I know this is true for my spiritual life as well. That’s why I’ve made up my mind to choose one mitzvah, be it however small, to perfect throughout the coming year.

Am I guilty in the past for trying to take on too much and ending up with not even a little difference?

Question #10: What can I do for my people and for the land of Israel?

I know that I am but one link in the long chain of Jewish history. And if I am but for myself, who am I?

I have lived through the horrors of the Holocaust and witnessed the miracle of our people’s return to our national homeland. I am part of the generation who know all too well the need to insure that “never again” must define our historic mission.

Elie Wiesel put it beautifully when he said that what he fears more than man’s inhumanity to fellow man is his indifference.

I tremble when I think I may be guilty of the sin of silence in the face of the renewed genocidal threats against Israel. Do I do enough for my people even as I expend my efforts on behalf of my family?

My 10th and last question coincides with Yom Kippur. That is the day when we close all of our prayers with the hope that next year we will be privileged to come together in the rebuilt Jerusalem. May we merit to hasten that day.

Whilst introspection in its true sense can be a scary proposition, I find that beyond the fear of the liturgy associated with Teshuva lies a reward within the opportunity itself.  We live in a day and age where we expect a lot and where we rarely express appreciation and gratitude for what we do have.  In particular our interpersonal relationships, when based on more “take” than “give” create a selfishness from which we have to escape and correct. 

The word teshuva means to “return”, and is quite different in conceptual terms to the notion of “repentance”.  We are returning to our ideal state – one that is based on appropriate conduct and motivation.  No matter what level a person’s observance or stature may be, there is always room to regulate character, mindset, and willfullness to help others. 

What is most amazing about the Yomim Noraiim is that it is our life itself that we put at stake.  We revisit the limitation of mortality, and recognise that our tendency to take life for granted is a false and fragile pursuit.  When we look around and remind ourselves that some of our family and friends who we shared last Rosh Hashana with are no longer with us, the reality of the years we are gifted becomes a truely valueable cheshbon. 

We greet our mourners with the cry of “a long life”, but a closer look at Hebrew greeting shows that it “length of days” that we part as the traditional blessing.  This is a subtle but important distinction.  Whether or not we have long lives, we can all take each waking day and make it a “long” one.  Long in terms of how much we can accomplish, in terms of how many mitzvot we perform, and how much contribution we make.  If our day is full of meaning and purpose, then we can add our days together.  However if we do not spend our day well, we will not be able to answer the bigger question – how did we apply our life?  Put another way, we don’t get to choose how many days we live, but we do get to choose how we live our days.

Thank you to those readers who have read Jewgle, including my own blog posts over the past year.  I’ve been asked why my blogging has not been as regular in recent times.  Most of it relates to the pursuit of parnassah.  Nonetheless, I will try to continue to regularly post my thoughts to this blog over the next year, and share what I hope are constructive thoughts about how to focus and build the Perth Jewish community so we can all work together to realise our collective potential.

I may still get to post some more lighthearted thoughts prior to Rosh Hashana, but bli neder, this is not a good time of year for making promises!  In the event that I do not find my way back to Jewgle in the next week, I wish all the Jewgle blog team, and our readers (in particular the posters of comments) a ktiva vchatimah tovah.  May we be inscribed for a good and productive year ahead. 

Gedalia.

To honour Gilad and pray for his speedy release we are having a special Mincha and Seudah Shelishit in his honour.
5pm, Chabad House, August 28th

Thanks
Stanley Keyser
Hagshama W.A
www.speakup4israel.com

In particular, I was greatly enthused by the public level of support and understanding, with a strong Christian Zionist support base, that is so prevalent in the Perth community.  Too often the despondency of the media and the outright hostility of misguided Palestinian advocates can leave Jewish supporters of Israel feeling victimised and isolated.  Today’s event was a definate boost to the strength of the nation of Israel. 

I think that the context of this moment in time adds even greater importance to what the new Friends of Israel committee have accomplished in just a matter of weeks.  We are in the middle of an election campaign, yet senior Parliamentarians made the time to be present today.  Moreover, you would struggle to find such bipartisan support for any issue, let alone one concerning foreign representation, in many places.  The resolute strength of Australian political support for the modern democracy of Israel as was clearly on show at this event.

Estimates of the crowd ranged from around 1,300 to 1,500 people.  This was a strong display of solidarity.  Several hundred members of the local Jewish community were present, my only criticism being directed toward the apathy of those local Jewish community members who once again did not extend the effort to be present and counted  when it counted the most.

The launch of this movement could not have been more successful, or better constructed than it was.  The presentations preceeding the launch were very relevant, and worthy of postings in their own right.  For the main event, there were a number of very poignant addresses.  Being an apolitical event it was not the time for electioneering, or for discussing policies and views relating to Israel with the aid of technical detail.  This was respected and diplomatically upheld across the entire program.

I commend Foreign Minister Stephen Smith for being present and addressing this event.  Mr Smith knows that the local Jewish community has been very supportive of his political career, as much as he knows that the sentiment within Australian Jewry generally has been very negative towards several key decisions regarding Israel under his Ministry in the former Rudd Goverment.  Mr Smith in his address tonight was unequivocally supportive of Israel as a democracy with the right to defend itself.  Whilst I personally continue to feel that actions speak louder than words, and there was much that could have been said and wasn’t said by Mr Smith, it was still a very appropriate and commendable speech that he delivered, and one that from the perspective of the Jewish voter, was very necessary.

Local Member Michael Keenan provided a masterful address that reiterated Israel’s security predicament.  His focus remained positive, noting that it is when you need friends the most that freindship counts.  Sure, they were big lines to read between, but I was delighted to hear the clarity and assertiveness by which Mr Keenan spoke of Israel’s freedoms.  I don’t wish to portray the undertones as being too political.  That Mr Keenan was flanked by his challenger candidate Louise Durak, and other Labor candidates such as Alannah MacTiernan and Peter Tinley, demonstrated that this was not a partisan political occasion.  The full list of dignitaries can be viewed here.

State Parliamentarians Michael Sutherland and Kate Doust both delivered stirring speeches, forceful in tone and drawing on their first hand experience of being in Israel.  Mr Sutherland spoke of the growing campaign against western liberal freedoms, and the importance of Australia’s moral position being clearly articulated on the global stage. 

Both the Ambassador of Israel and by video link the Israel Deputy Foreign Minister expressed their thanks to the WA Community for their support.   Above all, Mr Bob Kucera again provided very touching and emotive support for Israel as the host, and is a very distinguised choice of leader for this new organisation.

Friends of Israel has made a spectacular start, and deserves full credit for their accomplishment.  If nothing else, today demonstrated the potential of broad Western Australian support, understanding, and education of all that Israel represents.  This event drew a crowd that was predominently linked to the Jewish community and host church.  My only suggestion to the organisers is to arrange a bigger venue, and potentially a civic facility as opposed to a religious institution, if nothing else to provide more of a diplomatic and less of an evangelical tone to the event (if any prayers are to be cited into future events, perhaps a non-demoninational focus should also be maintained).  However the broad support base for Israel, being Jewish, Christian, and secular Zionist adherents should be extended the opportunity to come together more often, and the Friends of Israel organisation has suddenly emerged as the right medium to acheive this.   The Friends of Israel concept has garnered global momentum, and now within Western Australia, we should all be proud to show that we too are a community that stands in solidarity with the religious and political freedoms of Israel, and against the outrageous campaign of delegitimisation that threatens us all.

Perhaps in Australia we used to oscilate between Governments every two to three terms.  One party would save, the other would spend, and the pendulum would swing between the two depending on the fiscal wellbeing of the economy.  However if we take an honest look at the campaign today it would appear that restraint is an ailment of the past.  Both parties are committed to spending big, particularly on distributing taxpayer dollars to voting recipients in the perceived form of a handout.

Aside from dumming down the campaign and focussing on two relatively (and comparatively) uninspiring leadership options, there has been a lot of commentary to suggest that voter choice will be negatively focussed.  We will be voting for the least undesirable  party, as opposed to the most opportunity ahead of us.  That hardly imbues confidence.

My own voter choice is grounded in the notion that politics is about balancing the economic equation and about wealth creation and distribution.  I am less concerned by social policy, as much of this sits at the level of indivudual choice, to the exclusion of the nanny state.  Most of the bigger policy discussions on items such as abortion, euthenasia, gay marriage etc are currently sitting within a balanced legislative framework and unlikely to be dramatically changed as a result of either party manifesto that is put in front of us this election.

I am less phased by the personal relgious or marital choices made by Julia Gillard, the colour of the speedos that Tony Abbott wears, or the personal shortcomings of any other candidate for office.  When I visit a medical professional, financial professional or any other person who I trust or remunerate to make decisions that  will impact me, I stop to evaluate their knowledge and expertise.  Their marital status, sexual orientation or other private decisions do not impair my judgement, nor should they.  Whilst understanding the stronger moral imperative that should be associated with public office, I see no reason to treat career politicians any differently when it comes to their private lives.   The mudracking over personality attacks that have no bearing on competency for office is a vile form of media entertainment, and merely takes value out of the importance of good political choice. 

When I have previously blogged about politics, I have mentioned that attitudes towards Israel amongst the mainstream political parties are on the whole bipartisan.  Certainly, few Jewish voters determine their voting choice solely on the issue of foreign policy.  In WA, with the exception of Melissa Parke in Fremantle, there are no Labor or Liberal candidates that are on record as being outrightly hostile towards the basic freedoms that Israel represents.  However the Green’s policy towards Israel is something that is important to understand.  It is a dangerous, disingenious, destructive, biased, and foolish manifesto that in effect, denies the right of Jewish people to national self determination.  Many local voters can see the lack of realism within the Green’s social and economic policies, but are often unaware of the insideous impact that their foriegn policy platform represents.  The Greens would see Australia’s control of its own destiny relinquished to the powers of global Government, into a system that does not tolerate western freedoms or values. 

My greatest fear is that this election will deliver a split Labor-Liberal vote and that the balance of power will be held by the Greens.  This party have already proven themselves to be unworthy kingmakers.  It is with this in mind that I have determined to strategically cast a vote.  I only hope that the electorate understands the old maxim “the voters get the Government they deserve” and understand the stragetic nature of voting. 

So how does it work?  Australian’s seem to be in sync when it comes to delivering the power of Federal Government to one party and the power of State Government to the Opposition.   However at the Federal polling booth we are inclined to blindly follow How To Vote Cards without looking into the impact of assinging preferences.  This election could be determined by the number of voters who offer their first preference vote to the Greens.  Liberal candidates in particular should be reminding their electorates of this.

The other thing that we as voters tend to forget is that we have two houses of Parliament.  They way to deliver a balanced outcome to this pole is for Liberal supporters to vote for their candidates in the lower house, but to resign themselves to the fact that it is better to have Labor control of the Senate, as opposed to a minor party kingmaker.  Therefore everybody should vote en masse to deliver a Labor Senate and a Liberal Government.  It not only provides a check and balance into an otherwise unfettered legislative system, but it also provides some stability and constraint during a volatile period when it is needed the most.

Most voters do not pause to consider the outcomes of a strategically split vote.  It’s time to generate some creative awareness about our political system and use the power of our vote to marginalise the real threat within the current political environment, being the non-centralist parties.

So, even if you are a diehard Liberal voter who thinks Labor are a festering, gratuitous pile of self serving tribal hacks who deserve to be punished for displacing their leader before the public had the right to cast their verdict, my How To Vote Card still says give your senate vote to Labor.  It’s the best opportunity we have for good Government in the next electoral term.

There is some breaking news in the Israel press that five rockets were fired at Israel this morning.  It would be easy to conclude that more of those enemies of Israel whose vision of the world does not allow for the existence of a Jewish State were launching a terrorist attack against the Country.  So, here is how the Australian News Services, taking the Associated Press feed chose how to report the issue:

Just another day in the world of Middle East reporting from Associated Press.  As an afterthought at the end of the item it is casually mentioned that rockets were aimed at Israel.  Surely this is the story that should be the focus of the headline.  Or is that Israel under seige is just not news anymore?

THERE HAS BEEN MASSIVE INTEREST FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY AND FROM THE MEDIA. THERE WILL BE A LARGE MEDIA PRESENCE AT THE EVENT AND INTENSE INTEREST IN IT.

SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BIG ATTENDANCE, TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE OF SUPPORT ACROSS WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Support Israel as the State of the Jewish people.

Defend Israel’s right to live in peace and security.

Ensure accurate and fair reporting on the Middle East.

ATTEND THE LAUNCH OF FRIENDS OF ISRAEL

When:  3.45PM for 4 PM start – Sunday 8 August 2010.

Where: Victory Life Centre, 1 Neil Street Osborne Park.

 The Friends of Israel (WA) Inc will be launched by

 *Chairman The Hon. Bob Kucera, former Minister for MultiCultural Affairs

Ray & Judith Halligan, nominee FOIWA Vice Chairman, former Member for North Metropolitan Region

*Senator Glenn Sterle, Senator for Western Australia

Senator Mark Bishop, Senator for Western Australia

Senator Michaelia Cash, Senator for Western Australia

Senator Mathias Cormann, Senator for Western Australia

*Hon Julie Bishop, Federal Member for Curtin; Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

Mr Michael Keenan MP, Federal Member for Stirling

*Ambassador Yuval Rotem, Israel Embassy to Australia

*Mr Michael Sutherland MLA BA, LLB, DipEd, Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly

*Hon. Kate Doust MLC, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Council; Shadow Minister for Energy; Science and Innovation

Hon. Liz Behjat MLC, State Member for North Metropolitan Region

Peter Abetz MLA, State Member for Southern River

Albert Jacob MLA, State Member for Ocean Reef

Bill Johnston MLA, State Member for Cannington

Councillor Rod Willox AM RFD ED JP, Councillor, City of Stirling

*Hon Rev Dr Margaret Court AO, MBE,Phd LLD

Stephen Price, WA Secretary, AWU

 * = will speak at the event