Hineni
Shabbat Message from Hineni
On Monday night 20 February we will be launching a new discussion series On the Secrets behind the Dead Sea Scrolls. The scrolls are the most ancient biblical manuscripts on earth that were discovered between 1947 and 1956 and they transformed our understanding of the Bible and Jewish history. The scrolls are considered to be the greatest archaeological discovery of all times not only from a Jewish perspective but in world terms as well. Join me in a journey deep into our ancient heritage. The course is designed as an academic think tank where all points of view are welcome. The series will consist of three sessions. I hope to see you there.
The Dead Sea scrolls as mentioned above had an impact on the entire world including the other Monotheistic religions. In the same way that throughout history Christianity attempted to relate the Bible to their belief so it also tried to do the same with the scrolls. Christianity and Islam sought to adapt the moral code from the Torah to the principles of their fate. It is that moral code which is set out in detail in our Parsha.
We read in the Parshiot over the past months about the history of our ancestors and the way the Jewish people became a nation on Mt. Sinai. Last week we just read about the completion of the organizational structure and the Ten Commandments which are in short form and need to be explained. That structure needed to be filled with content, an ethical code which encompasses the majority of our Mitzvot.
The epitome of that ethical code can be found through the verse: “If you see the donkey of someone you hate crouching under its burden, would you refrain from helping him?- you shall help repeatedly with him”. Can there be something more moral than a demand to help your foe?
Throughout history these ethical principles characterized Jewish life. When Iran and Turkey suffered from an earthquake Israel immediately offered aid. Many people do not know this but Israel supplies directly to the Gaza strip with most of its requirements for food, water, electricity and other utilities. Regardless of the hostile countries surrounding Israel, it still financially supports the Palestinians and has on countless instances indicated its willingness to give land for peace despite the security risk involved. More so, there are many occasions in which Palestinian lives are saved through receiving body organs which are donated by Israelis in Israeli hospitals.
We are left to imagine what action would be taken by any country, if it were surrounded by hostile countries with countless provocations threatening its right to exist. Something tells me that they would not have shown the restraint that Israel demonstrates time and time again.
The Torah is not just another scroll written thousands of years ago with no relevance to us. It is a Torah of life, ethics and morality which is still the ideal of our State of Israel. The achievement of which should make us very proud of being Jewish and active supporters of the State of Israel. May we and our home land continue to be a light onto the nations.
Shabbat Shalom
Hillel
Israeli Fact
Did you know that this has been the wettest January in decades in Israel?
About Hineni
Hineni is a forum for Jewish Youth to explore Modern Orthodoxy, Pluralist Zionism as well as General Political and Global Issues. Hineni strives to be an environment for the social interaction and informal education of as many Jewish youth as possible. Hineni hosts regular programmes, events, youth minyanim, winter and summer camps, as well as leadership and educational seminars for the youth.
Through Hineni's hadracha (leadership) training, we play an important role in encouraging Jewish youth to develop skills and attributes to grow as young people, to assist the movement and subsequently the wider community. Many of Hineni's senior madrichim spend a year on the Shnat Israel Program designed for school leavers. They always return inspired and enthusiastic to share their new found knowledge and experience.
Hineni is run by the youth, for the youth and we strive to infuse informal education with fun, to create experiential learning that leaves a lasting impact on our chanichim. Hineni, literally meaning "Here I Am", aims to instill its madrichim and chanichim with a strong sense of Jewish identity, a commitment to social justice, tikkun loam and derech eretz.
In Sydney, Hineni is directly affiliated to The Central Synagogue. Our Hineni rooms are located within the shul and we have access to all of the shul's facilities. In conjunction with the Synagogue we celebrate and participate in all the Jewish festivals throughout the year, host Shabbat dinners and partake in minyanim and shul services.
Our website address is : www.hineni.org.au
Hineni's current Roshim:
Alon Tal
Alon is responsible for the senior chanichim -Years 7-12
Ella Lobensten
Ella is responsible for the junior chanichim - Years 2-6
Hineni's current Shaliach:
My name is Hillel Fried and I'm the new shaliach of Hineni and The Central Synagogue.
I have come over from Israel and feel very privileged to be part of this amazing community. Having a representative from the State of Israel provides a strong link with our homeland and a reminder of the importance of Israel in our lives as Jews, even though we are physically distant.
I look forward to meeting each of you, working with you and cooperating in the vital tasks that lie ahead in promoting and building not only Hineni, but also the many activities at Central. My aim is to unite the youth of Central to ensure that there is continuity, for it is the youth who are the foundation for the future of this significant community.
For more events check out the What's On page.