Great Innovations @ South Head

Shabbat Mishpatim 5768 - 26 Shvat

As we recommence the year invigourated and refreshed there are a number of new innovations that I should like to share with you.

Mazal Tov to Dr S G Friedman OAM
Firstly, though, I would like to wish a very hearty Mazal Tov to our Life-President, Dr Sam Friedman OAM on receiving the Order of Australia. Sam has been a tireless worker for the community for many years, and was President of South Head for over nineteen years. The Order of Australia is apt and fitting recognition for his many years of devotion to our community. Mazal Tov also to Sam's wife Eva for her unstinting support of her husband throughout the years.

Sparkling New Monthly Calendar
By now, members would have received our newly revamped monthly calendar in the mail. The calendar, which I initiated more than twenty years ago, has been a fixture on fridges throughout our community. For years we used the same time-tested programme, but technology has moved on, and now so too has our calendar. The printed version is still not in colour - but you can download a colourized version from here and print it on your home computer. Nothing like South Head's new calendar to brighten up your fridge!

Beyond Belief is Beyond Capacity!
Baruch Hashem, our new JLI Monday night course "Beyond Belief" is once again full, with a complement of forty students and a waiting list of about fifteen. We are trying to see if we can accomodate more, but space and educational considerations may make this difficult. There are still a few places left for our Wednesday morning class which can accomodate approximately thirty. We are already taking bookings for our next course, "Talmudic Ethics" which will commence in May. Please book now to reserve a place.

Totally Revamped Bat Mitzvah Programme
For ten years, South Head has been excellently served by Rebbetzen Shternie Althaus, our Bat Mitzvah teacher. She developed a fantastic rapport with the girls, and with many has developed a relationship that has lasted years. We especially appreciated the friendship and good working relationship that existed with myself and the Rebbetzen. Although Shternie is retiring as our Bat Mitzvah teacher, we anticipate that she will continue to have an active role in the shule in the future. We wish her all the best in this and in all her other endeavours for Yiddishkeit, and thank her sincerely for her many years of devoted service.

With the employment of our Youth Rabbi and Rebbetzin, Rabbi Yossi and Rivky Shuchat the time has come to bring the Bat Mitzvah classes in-house. This should make it easier to create continutiy of the Bat Mitzvah experience as the girls move into their teens, hence enabling the continued growth of South Head Youth.

Indeed, as part of our ongoing commitment to lead in the development of quality educational programs, we have just completed a total revamp of our Bat Mitzvah program. Far from a formal classroom, these sessions will be a journey undertaken by the Bat Mitzvah girls in a fun and exciting way. The newly revised program, under the continued direction of Rebbetzen Henya Milecki, will feature many exciting innovations as outlined below.

A new instructor, our very own Rebbetzen Rivky Shuchat, will teach the course. Employed as the Youth Rebbetzen of our community she has quickly become a favorite with our children. Rebbetzen Rivky will not only teach, but will endeavor to foster a long lasting friendship with the girls.

A newly redeveloped curriculum featuring many exciting topics will be taught. The lessons have been designed to encourage discussion and involvment by the girls.
 
A Friday night Shul Acquaintance group will be held every Friday night in our Bat Mitzvah room.
The famous Practical Mitzvah session with Rebbetzen Henya Milecki will continue to be a central part of the course.

All classes will all take place at Shul in our newly built youth rooms.


The new course of five months will run twice yearly - February to June and August to December. To enable your daughter to complete the course before her Bat Mitzvah, it is required to book at least one year in advance. An exception will be made for 2008 only where six months will be sufficient. So if you have a Bat Mitzvah coming up soon, please call the office right away.