The Israel-South Head Connection

Shabbat Vayakhel 5768 - 24 Adar I

Israel's Sixtieth Anniversary is just around the corner. Her achievements over this short period of time, and in the most adverse circumstances, are nothing short of astounding.

What does the future hold for the Jewish State?

Please join us on Wednesday, 12th March, when we host Amotz Asa-El, as he shares his vision for Israel.

In a new initiative for South Head, I am in the initial stages of forming a relationship with AIJAC and with JNF with the aim of bringing to our community some of the best speakers and ambassadors of our people. Amos Amotz Asa-El is the first of these speakers.

For this venture to succeed, we of course need the support of the South Head community. We are keeping the costs as low as possible, with a small entry charge of only $10.00 to cover expenses. Please come and bring along your friends. RSVP Helen on 9371 7300 or secretary@southhead.org

Now a few words about Amotz Asa-El.

Amotz Asa-El has contributed a weekly column to "The Jerusalem Post" for the past 13 years and is also currently a Fellow at the Shalem Centre's Institute for Philosophy, Politics and Religion. In January this year he launched the Israel edition of "Business Week" Magazine.

He is a former Foreign Correspondent and previously served as Business Editor, News Editor and Executive Editor of "The Jerusalem Post" as well as Editor of the paper's international edition.

Mr. Asa-El is the author of a best-selling book "The Diaspora and The Lost Tribes of Israel" which was published in 2004.

He is a former Israeli Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly and holds Masters degrees in Journalism and Jewish History from Columbia University, New York and The Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

Mr. Asa-El often appears as a social and political commentator and analyst in the international print and electronic media and as a guest-lecturer at universities and for Jewish institutions.

Appointment of Honorary Life Wardens

It gives me great pleasure to inform the community that President William Maynard and the Board of Management are honouring two elders of the South Head Community as Life Wardens. This is the first time that this honour has been bestowed for a number of years.

The honourees are Mr Max Wahlhaus and Mr Harold Milner. Each have, in a non-assuming but significant way, contributed greatly to the success of our congregation.

Max has always made himself available to assist with services - reading the Yom Tov Megillot and assuming the role of Baal Tefilah and Baal Tokeah in the Herbert Hall Service - to name just a few.

Harold's contribution to laying the shule on strong organizational and financial foundations and his sage advice at challenging times - has been indispensible to our development.

The honours will be bestowed on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Adar II, March 8th, with a special Kiddush, sponsored by the families of the honourees, following the service. Please honour our honourees with your attendance.

Righting Wrongs

One of our regular South Head News readers has informed me of a serious media wrong that he has managed to right. I commend him on his initiative.

Doron Samuell is a psychiatrist and father of 3 Moriah children who runs a small consulting business in the Sydney CBD. On the way to work on the 7th of November 2007 he heard the ABC broadcast a deeply inflammatory Palestinian propaganda piece. The broadcaster asserted that Israelis were getting Palestinians addicted to drugs to control them and that they were "selling their houses to Jews". As he later discovered it was 'Arab Israelis' not Jews. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics gave false data and no Israelis were asked to respond.

As a psychiatrist familiar with the global problem of drug addiction and the collaborative efforts made to fight drug problems, Dr Samuell considered this a libellous report and made a detailed complaint to the ABC. It took them 4 months to make a response. They acknowledged breaching their own editorial guidelines, acknowledged bias and agreed to give an unprecedented apology on AM on the 28th of February for this terrible mistake.


Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM  - 29 February 2008