This parsha is a new beginning, the start of a new book Devarim, and it begins with Moshe repeating events and reviewing laws to the assembled Israelites.
Kabbalat Shabbat is always a fresh and new sound to our ears, and is a beautiful end to the working week. Come and join us welcoming in Shabbat at 6pm.
Shacharit is at 9.45am, and we are looking forward to the Dvar Torah which will be given this week by Joel Lazar. A light Kiddush will follow the service, and as always, all are welcome.
We are in the midst of the Nine Days, and approaching Tisha Be'av. We invite the community to pray Maariv together at 6pm, followed by a reading of Megillat Eicha at 6.15pm.
After Megillah, Shira, together with Melbourne Moishe House & Habonim Dror are proud to be the first communities in Australia to screen "Wonderful Women (Nashim Nehedarot)", first screened in Israel on Tisha Be'av in 2013. This documentary was produced by filmmaker Hila Timor Ashur. She co founded the initiative "Wonderful Women" together with her friend Chaya Josovic. Hila is a secular woman, and Chaya is a Haredi woman, and they decided to create an initiative to bring women together from Haredi and Secular backgrounds, to get to know each other and break down stereotypes by creating films together. More information can be found at this link, and you can join our Facebook event group here.
Save the date — Performance @ Shira!
On Sunday 31 August at 7.45pm, Shira is excited to host senior specialist in informal Israel education, Helen Gottstein. Helen will be performing her most recent bestselling one woman show at THC: "Under the Radar: The Israel that doesn't make the headlines". Helen was born in Australia and has lived the past 20 years in Jerusalem. She has toured internationally, to great accolades, including in the US, Australia, Limmud UK and NZ. The cost for this session is $15, pay at the door. However, RSVP replies are essential! We look forward to seeing you at what promises to be a fabulous, thought provoking and entertaining evening. For more information, please join our Facebook events group here.
In other community news and events:
The Grassroots Dialogue Project is a new project run by the Council of Christians and Jews (Victoria), and Shira is pleased to be a supporter of this project. The project is looking for a presenter who is well grounded in their faith, confident to present themselves and their faith as they experience it, to those of other faiths and traditions. Please reply to Ilana if you are interested in obtaining a Presenters Position Description for further details about this exciting opportunity.
Tzedek is hosting a live screening of the new ABC documentary "Code of Silence", directed by Shira memberDanny Ben Moshe, on Tuesday 12 August at 8.30pmat Classic Cinema. This will be followed by a panel discussion with Danny Ben Moshe and Manny Waks, moderated by Colin Golvan QC. Click here to view trailer, and tickets can be purchased here.
Gift of Life Australia is holding an urgent blood testing session at Caulfield Red Cross Blood Donor Centre onTuesday 19 August from 4pm-7.15pm. There are currently 4 Jewish Leukaemia patients between 1-61 years who are in urgent need of matching stem cell donors. Appointments are essential, and more information can be found here.
Wishing all a Shabbat Shalom, with hopes and prayers for Peace.