28/05/2026
Coogee Synagogue Weekly Newsletter - www.coogeesynagogue.org
Think Again – Shavuot
My 29 readers will wonder why my Think Again this week is headlined Shavuot. Shavuot, we celebrated last week, it’s been done and dusted, we read the Ten Commandments, received the Torah anew again and undertook to dedicate our lives to the Knowledge and study of the Torah. The children certainly agreed with us as they came in numbers to receive the Ten Commandments. The promise of ice cream had nothing to do with their attendance. They had fun as they came into the main sanctuary, alighted onto the Bimah which we called Mount Sinai and they loved imagining, being under the rolling rumbling cloud of Sinai standing under the large tallit canopy that we roofed over them. They all answered AMEN to the commandments received a gift of lollie’s and off to the ice cream party. I must mention our home-made blintzes which alone was enough to make our Shavuot so memorable for the adults. Our exclusive Coogee blintzes were lovingly created by the MasterChef’s, Zvika Charlupski and Alex Bitterman, who made over 350 blintzes and not one was left over. We had good crowds over Yom Tov but not 350 people so they were just drooling dribble down the side authentic homemade cream cheese blintzes that enticed our congregants to come back for more. It was an uplifting holiday for the entire community. Rivky (Koncepolski) and the Ladies Committee headed by Monica Foltyn added all the extra panache, flamboyance and style over the two memorable days.
But it is indeed most appropriate to headline this Think Again with the headline Shavuot as this year’s Shavuot surpassed all other Shavuot’s of them all. I felt that this year our presenters and topics of discission were especially and particularly intellectually stimulating, inspirational and thought-provoking. We had 5 speakers on the night, all from within our community, all talented and knowledgeable of their subject matter. Miri was the headline speaker during the day. All the speakers left, I felt a memorable impact on our minds thoughts that challenged us all to Think Again and again. Maybe that is where I get my title for this newsletter “Think Again”. I never thought about it until now, where did I get the name Think Again from. But this Shavuot certainly made all the participants “Think Again”
I was the first speaker on the night after dinner was served so everyone was satisfied and calm. The thread of the evening’s topic was the “Aftermath of Bondi Beach”. How does our community respond and react after the horrific murders of Bondi Beach that killed members of our own Sydney Jewish Community. One of our regular congregants, Andrew Zhukov was wounded, shot in the thigh.
I was asked to address the question “Where was G-d - How does G-d allow such for such an horrific act to happen. This of course touched onto the charged debate. Why do bad things happen to good people. Reward and punishment does not seem fair. It is the same question “How did G-d allow for the Holocaust to happen”. I gave four responses to the question leading to G-d being both infinite, limitless within a finite and fixed universe. I spoke about the contradiction of our souls the ability to be both sad and happy, ecstatic and anxious, mind and heart, body and soul. I concluded “Where is G-d – G-d is in us - a G-dly spark. The G-d or G-dess in you”. It is why we can maintain and accept the paradoxes of our lives.
Our President Wilfred Lax spoke from his experience of his Psychology Practice. He had volunteered extensively on the government’s program and initiative to assist the many hundreds of people both Jewish and non-Jewish affected and traumatized by what happened at Bondi Beach. Wilfred was at the center of trauma-counselling providing support and encouragement and just listening to so many people who were really broken and shaken. His talk allowed us to feel supported. He too touched on coping with paradox.
Rivky spoke of the reverberating message that screams at us still now from Sinai.
Noach spoke of his work at the Chabad House at Bondi Beach – He has been at Bondi every day and it is he that brings light to a place of darkness.
Perhaps the deepest message of the night came from our congregant Teresa Pirola. Teresa shared her personal story decades in the making of her journey the long road to Judaism. Teresa only recently converted to Judaism. Hers was the real Shavuot story of them all. Hers was the story of Ruth. Ruth the Moabite princess who chose Judaism and became the great grandmother of King David. Hers was the Shavuot messaging of them all, that we were all converts at Sinai. We, whether in body or soul, were all at Sinai over 3000 years ago. We all stood in awe under the dark clouds of the morning and heard the reverberating Ten Commandments. We accepted the yoke of the Commandments “ Naseh V’nishma - We will do and we will Hear”. Teresa came from a background of a staunchly Catholic upbringing, her family were practicing Catholics and Teresa professionally works for the Catholic Arm of Education. Hers was a fascinating story which has still not ended. We love having Teresa with us on a Shabbat morning. Suffice to say we were all stunned into silence after her presentation. The only person who asked a number of questions was Professor Bernie Tuch.
Anyway, I think all of the above was a good enough reason to call this Think Again “ Shavuot”
As always L’chaim
Praying for a quick victory in the Middle East and for real peace in Israel
See you in shule
Shabbat Shalom
THEY ARE ALL HOME
Elozer Gestetner
[email protected]
SHABBAT SERVICE TIMES:
Naso 29/30 May
Candle Lighting time 4.37pm
Friday Night: Kabbalat Shabbat Service
• 5.45pm: L’chaim club
• 6:00pm: Kabbalat Shabbat – with Chazan Noach
• 6.00pm: Kitchen Klub with Devin & Ethan
Shabbat Morning:
• 9.10am: shachrit -
• 10.15am: Torah Reading –
• 10.30am: children’s programme with Ruby Borer
• 10.45am: Maftir Reading –
• 11.00am: Haftorah Prophet of the Day –
• 11.10am: Memorial Prayer –
• 11:15am Sermon
• 11.30am: Musaf followed by Kiddush/Brocha- All Welcome
SEEN AND SPOTTED – Chaya Chanin-Gestetner Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZIyIl6Na7RM4mcZhqC2f
Sunday Morning Tefillin Club: 1st Sunday of the month: 9.00am followed by breakfast. (next club Sunday June 7th)
Board Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month contact [email protected]
Consecration:
The consecration of the late Robert Levi will take place this Sunday 12 Noon at Rookwood Cemetery. The management Clergy and members wish long life to his wife Barbara and daughters and sons in law Nicole, Wayne, Karen and Rob and to great grandchildren Emily, Jessica, Zac and Aslee. Members and friends are requested to attend. May his soul be bound in the bond of eternal life – תנצב''ה
Refuah Shelaima: Jonathan Moses - Shmuel ben Mordechai Rachamin and Aliza; Annie Jordan; Andrew Grosz - Mordechai Pinchas ben Avraham David; Paulette Blackman – Pessa bat Sarah; Koby Berkovic; Ivan & Judy Devai; Rabbi Yossi Rodel of Newcastle Yosef Hacohen ben Shterna Rivkah; Esther Nothman; Mike Rosmarin, Joe Berman, Saroya bat Moshe
