Shana Tova
Shana Tova: A Radical Act of Hope I was recently reminded of a story about a student who came to his rabbi in despair. His shoulders were heavy, his voice…
This is our gathering space for thoughts and ideas as we respond to Melbourne’s Jewish community’s changing needs and opportunities. Join Gersh and Tammy as they explore and discuss innovative approaches to maintaining and enriching Jewish identity in today’s world. Stay connected, stay inspired.
A State or A Statement?
A State or A Statement? We choose to see the Australian Government’s move toward recognising a Palestinian state as an act of care for the dignity and rights of the…
I’m That Jew
I’m That Jew This past Sunday night, just after Tisha B’Av, we welcomed Eitan Chitayat to Shtiebel—the creative force behind the I’m That Jew campaign that’s now being worn as…
Two Things
Two Things Last week, my daughter sent me an article that’s been sitting with me ever since. Ezra Klein’s latest piece in The New York Times, “The Israel Debate is…
Memory and Meaning
Memory And Meaning This Shabbat brings with it Rosh Chodesh Av, the beginning of the Nine Days — the final and most intense period of mourning in the Jewish calendar.…
The Face Of Our City Has Changed
The Face Of Our City Has Changed Last night, in our beautiful city of Melbourne, something happened that demands clarity and courage. A rally was held, ostensibly a protest, but…
Finding Your Place In Tradition
Finding Your Place In Tradition Not long ago, I sat across the table from a young person preparing for their B’mitzvah. They looked up at me, wide-eyed and a little…
Shalom Rav
Shalom Rav There are weeks when the news feels like a constant drumbeat of dread, when each alert or headline chips away at our sense of safety and certainty. And…
Bedtime Prayer
Bedtime Prayer There is a time for commentary, and there is a time for kavod, for reverence. Over the past several days, the world has witnessed events that will no…
Of Service
Not Just Services – But Service Why the Shtiebel Isn’t in the “Services Industry” In many Jewish settings, “services” are the centrepiece. The community gathers, prayers are led, sermons are…
Fire & Fury
Fires and Fury: Holding Zionism in a Time of Grief and Grit by a heartbroken but unshaken Zionist This is meant to be a sacred week in the rhythm of…
New & Holy
Harnessing AI to Deepen Jewish Life: Shtiebel’s Approach At Shtiebel, we are deeply committed to honouring the traditions that…
Ha Lachma Anya
Another Year, Another Seder: A Reading for Those Still Held Captive As we gather this Pesach to celebrate our people’s journey from slavery to freedom, we are reminded that the…
Marrying In
Marrying In – Building A More Inclusive Jewish Future! Recently, my father, who just celebrated his 80th birthday, shared that he had discovered three first cousins he had never…
Light on the Shoreline
Tilly’s Bat Mitzvah: Light on the Shoreline Last weekend, just as the sun began to sink behind the horizon, we gathered on the St Kilda promenade—just in front of…
Adding Joy in Times of Uncertainty
Adding Joy in Times of Uncertainty: Embracing Adar, Purim, and the Beauty of Tradition The month of Adar arrives with an ancient Jewish prescription: “Mi’shenichnas Adar, marbin b’simcha”—“When Adar enters,…
Weeping for Us All
Weeping for the Bibas Children, Weeping for Us All I cannot stop crying. The news that the remains of Kfir and Ariel Bibas—two innocent children who should never…
Holding Onto Joy in Troubling Times
This morning, as the first light of Shabbat peeked through the window, I sat in quiet stillness. The birds were chirping, their song rising above the hum of a new…
Complexity In Complex Times
At Shtiebel last night, I spoke about the importance of facing complexity—particularly in times of conflict and division. I reflected on the need to hold two conflicting emotions or opinions…
Jews Love Freedom
As we stand at the crossroads of darkness and light this Chanukah, we are painfully reminded that the struggles of ancient days persist in our modern era. The hateful rhetoric…