Parshat Korach

In this week's Parsha, Moshe made light of bad opinion polls and didn't foresee the mutiny coming his way. The 'faceless men', led by Korach, stormed into his office and demanded an election. Maybe it was the choice of September 14th - Yom Kippur - that caused the earth to split and swallow them whole. Luckily, Moshe made it through to serve another term as leader of the Jewish Nation. Can the same be said for Labor? Maybe this week's drasha given by Shaynee Barnett can elaborate!

Join us on Friday night at 6pm for Kabbalat Shabbat and on Shabbat morning at 9.15am for a shiur followed by Shacharit at 9.45am. Kiddush will follow the Service.

Yom Limmud: Warm your Jewish spirit on a Winter's afternoon, with local and international speakers to enjoy. Come to Yom Limmud on Sunday 16 June 2013, 1.30-7.00pm at Monash Caulfield . For the line up of speakers, and for bookings see www.limmudoz.com.au.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Shlach

What a wonderful week to turn 13! Mazal Tov to Max Denishensky, and his parents Andrew and Lisa, and sister Anna, who are delighted for Max's Barmitzvah this Shabbat. It is a juicy Parsha, filled with spies and giants and big grapes. There is the unfortunate punishment to wander the desert for 40 years after the bad report on the Holy land, but this did provide for many more adventures along the way. Max, we wish you many adventures as well as favourable report cards in your coming years!

Please join us on Fri night for Kabbalat Shabbat at 6pm for some delightful harmonies, and then at 9.15am on Shabbat for our weekly shiur, followed by Shacharit at 9.45am. The drashot will be given both by our Barmitzvah young man Max, and by family friend Tal Spinrad, the Director of Beit Lama Loh. A truly delicious Kiddush is being sponsored by Max's family in honour of this occasion.

Yom Limmud: Warm your Jewish spirit on a Winter's afternoon, with local and international speakers to enjoy. Come to Yom Limmud on Sunday 16 June 2013, 1.30-7.00pm at Monash Caulfield . For the line up of speakers, and for bookings see www.limmudoz.com.au.

Nava Tehila CD: Many of our Friday night tunes originate from a shul in Jerusalem called Nava Tehilla, who have released a new CD that you can purchase here. 

Warm Toes: Keep bringing in your new and pre-loved socks for distribution to homeless people. Collection box is at the front of the women's section. Socks will be distributed shortly so please try to bring them in soon.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Beha'alotcha

It feels like most people on earth are searching for mannah from heaven for one reason or another, but not so the wandering Jews in this week's parsha. They are dissatisfied with their “bread from heaven” and demand that Moses supply them with meat. Perhaps it's a good thing they didn't come to Shira... although we'd have converted them to marinated tofu in no time!

Please join us on Friday night at 6pm for Kabbalat Shabbat and on Shabbat morning at 9.15am for a shiur followed by Shacharit at 9.45am. Mark Baker will be giving the Drasha. This week's Kiddush is being sponsored by Pebby Wald, in honour of Max's return to our minyan in good health. Max, it's great to see that your heart can pump for Pebby like a man of thirty again!

'Arafat in Therapy': Shira member Jeremie Bracka is having a show, playing from June 4-9th.  Don't miss Arafat's return to couple's therapy! Tickets here or 8290 7000. 

"Wear Some, Share Some" is a campaign aiming to collect socks for homeless people for the Winter months. Helen Lewitan is collecting socks (new or old, but in good condition) in the front of the women's section in shul. Feel free to donate to keep their toes toasty.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Naso

It is back to shul as 'normal' this week, now that Shavuot is behind us. We'd like to acknowledge and thank the guest speakers who came to make the night of Tikkun Leil so special, and all those who helped us finish off the cheesecake. (More of that on Shabbat too!)

Kabbalat Shabbat starts at 6pm on Friday, and it is a final Friday for regular chazzanit Deb Neumann who is off to travel the world. We wish you a bon voyage and hope you come back to sing with us again soon!

The shiur on Shabbat morning starts at 9.15am, followed by Tefilla at9.45am. We look forward to some passionate discussion that will arise from the Torah reading - outlining the laws of sotah, a woman who is suspected of adultery, who is made to drink 'bitter waters'. The practice was abolished by Johanan ben Zakai, one reason being the "uncontrollable number of cases of adultery". This complex and disturbing ritual will be discussed by Ittay Flescher in the Drasha.

The Producers: Tickets are still available to see JYM's show starring Joel Lazar and many others talented folks. Details here.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Bamidbar + Shavuot

This Friday we will have our regular Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6pmat Shira, as well as an extra Kabbalat Shabbat for residents of Montefoire Homes 619 St Kilda Road, at 4pm in the foyer. Please come along to either, or both, and bring the family! On Shabbat morning we have a shiur at 9.15am followed by Shacharit at 9.45am. A drasha will be given by Benji Prawer. 

Shavuot Tefilla (prayer) Times: 

Erev Shavuot (Tues eve) 6pm with communal dinner to follow, and tikkun leil

Shavuot Day 1: 9.30am. Drasha by Michael Sifris
Shavuot Day 2: 9.30am. Drasha by Ellyse Borghi. Yizkor is said on second day Yom Tov.

We are delighted to invite you to our Shavuot Dinner and Tikkun Leil night of learning on May 14th.   The dinner will be Ottolenghi themed, and will be truly delicious! It is also convenient to be at shul in time for the speakers, rather than rushing from your dinner at home. Bookings close by Friday. For dinner bookings please click here. All are welcome (no charge) to our night of learning and cheesecake that will follow from 7.30pm with guest speakers:

Dr Michael Steinlauf, visiting American scholar in Yiddish and Jewish Culture and guest of the ACJC at Monash, will be sharing and discussing a Y.L Peretz story that he translated entitled "The Poor Boy". Feel free to read in advance here.

"Your God Is My God - conversion stories" with Evan Thornley, Sue Taylor and Dean Ogden who have chosen Judaism as their religion. Mark Baker will give an opening address.

Professor Andrew Benjamin, Chair of Philosophy and Jewish Thought at the ACJC, Monash University, will speak on 'Justice and Holiness: Notes on Tehillim 89'

It is going to be a really stimulating night of learning and we really look forward to seeing you there! 

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Behar Bechukotai

We are delighted to invite you to our Shavuot Dinner and Tikkun Leil night of learning on May 14th. The dinner will be Ottolenghi themed, and will be truly delicious! Early bird dinner bookings before Wednesday. Adults $35, Uni/school students $20. For Dinner bookings please click here.

All are welcome (no charge) to our night of learning and cheesecake that will follow from 7.30pm with guest speakers:

Dr Michael Steinlauf, visiting American scholar in Yiddish and Jewish Culture and guest of the ACJC at Monash, will be sharing and discussing a Y.L. Peretz story that he translated entitled "The Poor Boy". Feel free to read in advance here.

"Your God Is My God — Conversion Stories" with Evan Thornley, Sue Taylor and Dean Ogden who have chosen Judaism as their religion. Mark Baker will give an opening address.

Professor Andrew Benjamin, Chair of Philosophy and Jewish Thought at the ACJC, Monash University, will speak on 'Justice and Holiness: Notes on Tehillim 89'

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This Shabbat: Kabbalat Shabbat at the family friendly time of 6pm(yay for all the kids who came last week!) and on Shabbat morning 9.15am for the Shiur and 9.45am for the Tefillah. We have Adele Stowe-Lindner giving our Drasha this week, with a Kiddush to follow.

Montefoire Kab Shab: Next Friday, 10th May at 4pm, Shira and Jewish Care are volunteering to hold a Kabbalat Shabbat service for the residents of Montefoire Homes. We'd love it if you could join us, especially with kids and anyone who loves to sing along to the guitar. Instruments and singers welcome. Meet us in the foyer of 619 St Kilda Road at 4pm. Please reply to this email with an RSVP if you can make it.

Drasha Givers: We always appreciate people who can give their time to prepare and give over a Dvar Torah in shul each week. If you'd like to volunteer, please be in touch.

Salad Spinners: We'd like to acknowledge Mandi Katz who has been making fresh salads each week to complement our Kiddushim. We'd like to set up a roster of people who can volunteer to bring in salad ingredients to shul and prepare the salad in our kitchen on the day. Shira will happily pay for the ingredients, and you can be as creative as you like. Please reply if you are able to help out.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Emor

We are having a really special Shabbat this week, beginning tonight at 6pm with Kabbalat Shabbat. At 9.15am we have our regular shiur, followed by the Tefillah at 9.45am. We have the great pleasure of welcoming Yael, daughter of Alex Fein and Yaron Gottlieb, with a Simchat Bat. Yaron will be giving the Dvar Torah. The Fein and Gottlieb families welcome everyone to a Kiddush in Yael's honour. We wish you all much naches!

Shavuot dinner: The Omer is about counting days till Shavuot- and we have just over 2 weeks to go until our wonderful Shavuot Communal Dinner on May 14th, followed by a night of learning. Features of the night include "Your God Is My God" conversion stories, and guest speakers Michael Steinlauf with a discussion on Yiddish literature related to sin, and Andrew Benjamin presenting a philosophical view of justice based on biblical texts. Early bird booking by Wed 8th May, the dinner is $35 for adults and $20 for university/school students. We hope you can join us - bookings here.

Condolence: We wish a long life to Ros Zwier and family on the recent loss of her mother, Sonja Zwier z'l. May you know only simchas from here on. 

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Fundraiser: Benji Prawer is raising money for 'Live below the Line', a project where people live off $2 a day for food for 5 days. The money raised goes to building schools in third world countries in order to break the poverty cycle. Benji is undertaking this challenge and is looking for people to sponsor him by clicking here.

The Producers: The talented Joel Lazar is starring as the charactor of 'Franz Liebkind' in The Producers from May 11th - 25th, put on by JYM, Jewish musical theatre company. For bookings please go to http://www.jymtheatre.com/.

Shabbat Shalom!

Parshat Acharei Mot Kedoshim

The New Zealand Parliament legalized marriage equality yesterday, redefining marriage as between two people rather than man and woman.  Clearly this will raise a great deal of discussion in communities of all faiths. It is fortuitous that on Shabbat we have a guest speaker on the topic:

"Building inclusive Torah communities: Welcoming LGBTI Jews into Halachic Partnership"

We warmly welcome Gávriel Ansara and his husband Dr Sruli Berger to join us for Shabbat. Gávi will be speaking after the Kiddush about challenges faced by the LGBTI community who want to live a halachically observant life, and be part of an Orthodox Community. He will share his thoughts about how to build halachic partnership in a fully inclusive way and welcome people who have experienced exclusion for their sex, sexuality or gender back into our minyanim, our Shabbat tables, our families, and our communities. A full description of Gávi's work and talk topic can be found on the facebook group "shira" - look us up if you haven't already joined. 

Kabalat Shabbat starts tonight at 6.00pm. On Shabbat, our regular Shiur will run at 9.15am and shul starts at 9.45am.

SHAVUOT: On Tues May 14th we are having a dinner and Tikkun Leil, night of learning with a brilliant line up of speakers. Details next week.

FOOD ROSTER: Shira are arranging a food roster for Annette Charak and family. If you would like to be included, please go to this link.

MAZAL TOV: We warmly welcome Yael, daughter of Alex Fein and Yaron Gottlieb, born last Friday. Mazal tov to all the grandparents and extended family as well!

The Producers: The talented Joel Lazar is starring as the charactor of 'Franz Liebkind' in The Producers from May 11th - 25th, put on by JYM, Jewish musical theatre company. For bookings please go to http://www.jymtheatre.com/.

Jewish Care Volunteers:  Jewish Care is in great need of volunteers for a 2 hour shift to help their annual appeal telethon. Contact Helen: hlewitan@jewishcare.org.au or sign up here.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Tazria-Metzora / Yom Hazikaron-Yom Ha'atzmaut

This week ushers in the mixed emotions of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut, remembering fallen soldiers and then celebrating the birth of Israel as a State. To recognise these events, we are having a very special Shabbat. Tonight we will be doing Kabbalat Shabbat to the tunes of well known Israeli songs, staring at the new time of 6pm due to daylight savings. 

On Shabbat morning we will be starting at 9.15am with our regular Shiur, and then shul at 9.45am. The Drasha will be given by Chooch Takac on the topic"Poems of loss and land". We wish a hearty Mazal Tov to Osher Gutnick on the anniversary of his Barmitzvah, and we thank him for sponsoring our festive Israeli style Kiddush, filled with falafel and hummus. Following that, we will be sharing our favourite Israeli quotes, poems and stories, including 'only in Israel' moments. Please bring along something to share, or feel free to just come and listen.

Guest Speaker: Next Shabbat we welcome Gávi Ansara to speak after our Kiddush on the topic  "Building inclusive Torah communities: Welcoming LGBTI Jews into Halachic Partnership". Gávi recently returned to Australia, where he is  working in national LGBTI health policy while completing his PhD in Psychology. He and his husband Sruli, as practising Orthodox Jews, are dedicated to realising the dream of Torah communities that embrace the dignity and value of all people.

Condolence: We wish a long life to Russel Jaffe and his family on the loss of his mother Audrey Jaffe, z'l. Wishing you only simchas from here on.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Shemini

Tonight we are commemorating Yom Hashoah at Shira, and marking 70 years since the Warsaw ghetto uprising. We invite you and your families to join us for a special Kabbalat Shabbat at6.30pm infused with Chassidic Niggunim from the war era, and a talk by Mark Baker before Ma'ariv. 

On Shabbat morning we start with a shiur at 9.15am and then are delighted to be celebrating a double simcha - the Barmitzvah anniversary of Steve Ehrenreich and a Simchat Bat for baby Isabella, a daughter born to Eitan and Rachel Sifris. Shul starts at 9.45am. Mazal Tov to Michael and Adiva Sifris on their second grand daughter, who will be receiving her Hebrew name in shul. The Kiddush will be co sponsored by the Ehrenreich and Sifris families and all are welcome. The Drasha will be given by Brett Nathan.

Ilana and Steve Ehrenreich would also like to share an email of thanks from their family in South Africa for the support they received from our community after a recent family tragedy, which you can find on the Shira noticeboard in the foyer.

Yom Ha'atzmaut: Next Shabbat we will be celebrating Yom Ha'atzmaut at Shira with an Israeli themed kiddush and a short program to follow the shul service. We ask people to bring either a poem or a quote attributed to an Israeli, or an 'only in Israel' story that they'd like to share. Spread the word!

We wish a Bon Voyage to newlyweds Daniel Harris and Aliza Pinkus who are off to travel the world and have adventures. Their smiling faces and beautiful leyning will be missed. 

Condolence: We wish a long life to Aaron Zelman on the passing of his grandmother. It was great to hear that the whole family had a seder together only last week.  Wishing you and your family many simchas.

Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat Chol Hamo'ed Pesach

So by now your know what to call a silly frog (a "dum tsfardeya") and you've worked out why this 'Knight' is different to all other knights (ba boom chhhh), but have you eaten enough matza to give you charosis of the liver? If so, a great remedy is to come to shul this weekend and join us for a musical reading of Shir Hashirim, the Song of Songs,traditionally heard on Shabbat of Pesach.

Regular Fri night services are on at 6.30pm, and on Shabbat we are starting the Tefillah at 9.15am (no shiur) to allow time for the special poetic reading. Shir Hashirim is a love poem set in Jerusalem, and the authorship is attributed to King Solomon. It is filled with incredible love, romance and fabulous analogies such as 

"Your hair is like a flock of goats
Streaming down Mount Gilead.
Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
Climbing up from the washing pool;"

And you won't believe what King Solomon likens to a pair of gazelles.....

Ittay Flescher and Carm Rose will do an interpretive translation following the reading.

PESACH DAYS SEVEN AND EIGHT:
Services will be held both days at 9.30am. Yizkor is said on Day 8 (Tuesday) at roughly 11.30am. We wish you a wonderful end to your Yom Tov and a great Exodus from whatever it is that has you enslaved.

Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat HaGadol

Pesach and freedom may be upon us, but there's a lot more to do before we cross the Red Sea! Please join us tonight for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat at 6.30pm, followed by our Pre-Pesach Dinner and night of storytelling (bookings for the dinner have now closed).

On Shabbat we start at 9.15am with a shiur by Yaron Gottleib followed by the shul service at 9.45am. MAZAL TOV to Lionel and Rita Lubitz for their respective simchas - Lionel for his Barmitzvah anniversary, and Rita for her birthday. Thank you for sponsoring our Kiddush and letting us celebrate with you. 

PESACH TIMES:
Monday night 7pm
Tuesday morning 9.30am
Wed morning 9.30am

Selling chametz: If you haven't yet sold your chametz, you can do so here. Please submit the form before 9am on Monday morning.

Donations: Please bring in some kosher le'pesach food products to donate to the Jewish Homeless at the St Kilda Crisis Centre, particularly macaroons or sweet things, to help make Yom Tov more festive. Thanks to Viv Parry for arranging the drop off of goods. Tonight is the last opportunity to bring things in - there's a basket at the front of the shul.

Thank you:We'd like to thank Marion and Yaakov Gorr for donating the beautiful fair trade fabric that will adorn our tablecloths tonight, it will certainly add to our festive feel! Another thank you is to all our volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make these things happen - the organisers, the guest speakers and everyone who chips in to clean up at the end!  

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Vayikra

Imagine that Parshat Vayikra was in fact written by Matt Preston ofMasterChef. He gives great detail about different types of animal 'meal offerings' that are accompanied by olive oil, frankincense and fine flour. During 'plating up', he seems unimpressed by the Jews tendency to overcook to the point of burning - but apparently that was considered fine dining, Temple style.

Join us tonight at 6.30pm for Kabbalat Shabbat to start unwinding for the weekend in song. After Kabbalat Shabbat we welcome Robert Berman from Jerusalem who is giving some guest lectures in Melbourne. Robert is the founder and director of the Halachic Organ Donor Society.

Stimulate your neurons on Shabbat morning at 9.15am with our regular shiur, followed by Shacharit at 9.45am. This week's Dvar Torah will be given by Romy Browne on the anniversary of her Bat Mitzvah. Mazal Tov!

Pre Pesach Dinner - this coming Friday eve, in the spirit of the retelling of our Exodus, there will be a night of storytelling, featuring Michelle Prawer, Joel Lazar, Natalie Krasnostein and Ellyse Borghi to name a few. The theme of the stories is FREEDOM. We will enjoy anEgyptian/Moroccan themed banquet with recipes inspired by the celebrated Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi. Bookings must close by Tuesday, so please book today to help our organisers. $25 for students and $40 for adults. Children under the age of 13 are free. 

Please try to invite your extended families along, we would love this to be a night for the whole community. See our website for bookings. 

Shabbat Shalom

Pre-Pesach Dinner

Shira will be holding a dinner for the entire community. In the Pesach tradition, we will be entertained throughout the evening by storytelling by members of the community.  The theme of the night will be Freedom. The event will be in the style of the Moth. 

What: A delicious vegetarian meal, accompanied by even more delicious stories.
When:  22nd March following Kaballat Shabbat.
Where: 222 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield.
Cost: $25 for students and $40 for adults. Children under the age of 13 are free.Bookings close Tuesday 19 March. You can book via our website.

Shabbat HaChodesh

Shabbat: Join us at 6:30pm as we bring in Shabbat with an inspiring Kaballat Shabbat. Shabbat morning will commence at 9:15am with Yaron Gottlieb’s weekly parsha Shiur, followed by Shacharit at 9:45am. The Dvar Torah will be given by Ittay Flescher. A kiddush will follow the Service.

Pre-Pesach Dinner: Shira will be holding a dinner for the entire community. In the Pesach tradition, we will be entertained throughout the evening by storytelling by members of the community. The evening will be in the style of the Moth. 
What: A delicious vegetarian meal, accompanied by even more delicious stories.
When:  22nd March following Kaballat Shabbat.
Where: 222 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield.
Cost: $25 for students and $40 for adults. Children under the age of 13 are free. Please book via our website.

Board Portfolios: It was decided that the board should be comprised of specific portfolios. Members are invited to nominate themselves for one of the following portfolios if the area is interesting to them and if they are willing to spend several hours a month on making things happen more efficiently.  The portfolios available are: Education, Simcha, Halakha, Pastoral Care, Shul Events, Kiddush, Membership and Tikkun Olam. The deadline for nomination is Friday 14 March. Financial members may nominate for positions by emailing the Secretary.

Sale of Chametz: Seraphya will be selling chametz on behalf of the community. If you would like him to sell your chametz, please complete this form before 9am on Monday 25 March.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Ki Tisa

Shabbat: Join us at 6:30pm as we bring in Shabbat with a melodious Kabbalat Shabbat. Shabbat morning will commence at 9:15am with Yaron Gottlieb’s weekly parsha Shiur, followed by Shacharit at 9:45am. The Dvar Torah will be given by Melanie Landau who is visiting from Israel. Melanie will be speaking on the topic “Covenant and Conflict.” A kiddush will follow the Service.

AGM: Shira’s AGM will be held this Monday the (4th March) at 8pm at 222 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield. Financial members may nominate for positions by emailing the Secretary.

Pre-Pesach Dinner: Shira will be holding a dinner for the entire community on the 22^nd March. Booking details will be released shortly.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Tetzaveh

Mazal tov: We wish mazal tov to Galit and Dean on their aufruf. We look forward to celebrating the occasion during Shabbat.

Shabbat: Join us at 6:30pm as we bring in Shabbat with a festive Kabbalat Shabbat. Shabbat morning will commence at 9:15am with Yaron Gottlieb’s weekly parsha Shiur, followed by Shacharit at 9:45am. The Dvar Torah will be given by Dean Ogden. The Ogden and Hasen families invite the congregation to aKiddush following the Service.

Purim: Purim falls straight after Shabbat ends on Saturday night. Shira will be hosting Megilla reading at 9:20pm. Please try to be on time. Our Purim day celebrations will start with a tots event at 10:30am, followed by a special puppet-aided Megilla reading and communal Seuda. Entertainment during the Seuda will include Emily Lubitz performing Dumb Ways to Die! Those attending are invited to make a donation to help cover costs. You can do so via our website.

Times for Purim are as follows:

Saturday, February 23: 9:20pm — Megilla reading

Sunday, February 24:
10:30am — Tots event including arts and crafts, a puppet show and mishloach manot
11:30am — Megilla reading by Mark Symons, accompanied by a puppet re-enactment
12:15pm — Communal Seuda with entertainment for both adults and children

AGM: Shira’s AGM will be held on at 8pm on the 4th March at 222 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield. Financial members may nominate for positions by emailing the Secretary.
 
Twitter: Shira has a new Twitter account @shiramelbourne #pleasefollowus.  

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Terumah

Shabbat: Join us at 6:30pm as we bring in Shabbat with a joyous Kabbalat Shabbat. Shabbat morning will commence at9:15am with Yaron Gottlieb’s weekly parsha Shiur, followed by Shacharit at 9:45am. The Dvar Torah will be given by Aaron Zelman on the topic 'Do God’s Architectural Plans Fit Within Sefer Shmot?' A Kiddush will follow the Service.

Purim: Shira will be hosting Megilla reading on Feb 23 at 9:20pm. Our Purim day celebrations will start with a tots event at 10:30am, followed by a special puppet-aided Megilla reading and communal Seuda. Entertainment during the Seuda will include Emily Lubitz performing Dumb Ways to Die! Those attending are invited to make a donation to help cover costs. You can do so via our website.

Times for Purim are as follows:
Saturday, February 23:
9:20pm — Megilla reading

Sunday, February 24:
10:30am — Tots event including arts and crafts, a puppet show and mishloach manot
11:30am — Megilla reading by Mark Symons, accompanied by a puppet re-enactment
12:15pm — Communal Seuda with entertainment for both adults and children

AGM: Shira’s AGM will be held on at 8pm on the 4th March at 222 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield. Financial members may nominate for positions by emailing the Secretary.
 
Bar Mitzvah Present: Recently, a family in South Africa was affected by the murder of the father. The son is approaching his Bar Mitzvah. A number of Shira members are related to the family, and we thought it would be nice to collect money for a present for the Bar Mitzvah boy. Note: the money collected will go towards buying the child a present, not to charity. If you would like to donate, you can do so here. We will be collecting for one week only.
 
Twitter: Shira has a new Twitter account @shiramelbourne #pleasefollowus.

Shabbat Shalom.

Shabbat Shekalim

Shabbat: Join us at 6:30pm as we bring in Shabbat with a melodious Kabbalat Shabbat. Shabbat morning will commence at 9:15amwith Yaron Gottlieb’s weekly parsha Shiur, followed by Shacharitat 9:45am. The Dvar Torah will be given by Mandi Katz. AKiddush will follow the Service.

Purim: Shira will be hosting Megilla reading on Feb 23 at 9:20pm. Our Purim day celebrations will start with a tots event at 10:30am, followed by a special puppet-aided Megilla reading andcommunal Seuda. Entertainment during the Seuda will include Emily Lubitz performing Dumb Ways to Die! Those attending are invited to make a donation to help cover costs. You can do so via our website.

Times for Purim are as follows:

Saturday, February 23:
9:20pm — Megilla reading

Sunday, February 24:
10:30am — Tots event including arts and crafts, a puppet show and mishloach manot
11:30am — Megilla reading by Mark Symons, accompanied by a puppet re-enactment
12:15pm — Communal Seuda with entertainment for both adults and children

AGM: Shira’s AGM will be held on at 8pm on the 4th March at 222 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield. Financial members may nominate for positions of President, Vice President, Secretary or Members of the Board by emailing the Secretary.

Shabbat Shalom

Parshat Yitro

Shabbat: Feel like you’ve been wandering in the wilderness all summer? Join us at Shira this week as we re-enact the receiving of the Ten Commandments. We will bring in Shabbat with a rousingKabbalat Shabbat at 6:30pm. Shabbat morning will commence with a shiur given by Yaron Gottlieb at 9:15am, followed byShacharit at 9:45am. The Dvar Torah will be given by Ari Perlow. A Kiddush will follow the Service.

Purim: We will be holding Megilah Reading on both Saturday night 23 February and Sunday morning 24 February. The morning reading will be followed by a communal Seudah, so save the date!

Bnei Mitzvah Program: Shira’s Bnei Mitzvah Program is starting up again after a break over summer. The program is led by Yael Prawerand nurtures individual relationships to Judaism while focussing on knowledge of Jewish texts and history, social action, mizvot, chaggim and Jewish leadership. For more information about the program, please contact Yael. This week’s session will be held at Caulfield on Sunday from 7-8pm and Ittay Flescher will be guest presenting on music and Judiasm. Students potentially interested in joining the program should feel free to attend this week's session to get a taste of the program.

Celebrations at Shira: Do you have a birthday, anniversary orspecial date coming up? Please contact Ari if you would like information about celebrating in shul by sponsoring a Kiddush or learning leyning or haftorah. 

Shabbat Shalom