Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.
Thomas Keneally, celebrated author of Schindler’s Ark (also published as Schindler’s List) will be visiting Wellington as a guest of the NZ Festival for Writers Week. He will be giving a talk at the Embassy Theatre about his work.
Born in Sydney, Keneally was educated at St Patrick’s College, Strathfield. Subsequently, a writing prize there has been named after him. He entered St Patrick’s Seminary, Manly to train as a Catholic priest. Although he was ordained as a deacon while at the seminary he left without being ordained to the priesthood. He worked as a Sydney schoolteacher before his success as a novelist and was a lecturer at the University of New England (1968–70). He has also written screenplays, memoirs and non-fiction books.
Keneally was known as “Mick” until 1964 but began using the name Thomas when he started publishing, after advice from his publisher to use what was really his first name.[1] He is most famous for his Schindler’s Ark (1982) (later republished as Schindler’s List), which won the Booker Prize and is the basis of the film Schindler’s List. Many of his novels are reworkings of historical material, although modern in their psychology and style.
Keneally has also acted in a handful of films. He had a small role in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (based on his novel) and played Father Marshall in the award-winning Fred Schepisi film The Devil’s Playground (1976).
In 1983 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).[2] He is an Australian Living Treasure.
Keneally was a visiting professor at the University of California, Irvine(UCI) where he taught the graduate fiction workshop for one quarter in 1985. From 1991 to 1995, he was a visiting professor in the writing program at UCI.[3]
He is a strong advocate of an Australian republic, meaning the abolition of the Australian monarchy, and published a book on the subject Our Republic in 1993. Several of his Republican essays appear on the web site of the Australian Republican Movement.
Keneally is a keen supporter of rugby league football,[4] in particular the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the NRL. in 2004 he gave the sixth annual Tom Brock Lecture.[5] He made an appearance in the 2007 rugby league drama film The Final Winter.[6]
In March 2009, the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, gave an autographed copy of Keneally’s biography Lincoln to President Barack Obama as a state gift.[7]
Most recently[when?] Keneally featured as a writer in the critically acclaimed Australian drama Our Sunburnt Country.
Keneally’s nephew Ben is married to the former Premier of New South Wales, Kristina Keneally who is now the CEO of Basketball Australia.
The Tom Keneally Centre opened in August 2011 at the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, housing Keneally’s books and memorabilia. The site is used for book launches, readings and writing classes.[8]
Ticket prices range from $28 to $33.
Website: http://festival.co.nz/tom-keneally/
Date: 12 March 2014, Time: 6.15pm
Venue: Embassy Theatre, Wellington
Ticket Information: http://tinyurl.com/lfsw9ob
Purim (Hebrew: 
פּוּרִים (help·info) Pûrîm “lots“, from the word pur פור,[3] related to Akkadian pūru) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire where a plot had been formed to destroy them. The story is recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther (Megillat Ester מגילת אסתר in Hebrew).
According to the Book of Esther, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus (presumed to be Xerxes I of Persia[4][5][6]), planned to kill all the Jews in the empire, but his plans were foiled by Mordecai and his adopted daughter Esther who had risen to become Queen of Persia. The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing.
Based on the conclusions of the Scroll of Esther (Esther 9:22): “[…] that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor” Purim is therefore celebrated by:
- Exchanging reciprocal gifts of food and drink known as mishloach manot.
- Donating charity to the poor known as mattanot la-evyonim.[7]
- Eating a celebratory meal known as a se’udat Purim’.
- Public recitation, usually in synagogue, of the Scroll of Esther known as kriat ha-megillah.
- Reciting additions to the daily prayers and the grace after meals known as Al HaNissim.
- Other customs include drinking wine, wearing of masks and costumes, and public celebration.[8]
Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar (and on Adar II in Hebrew leap years that take place every 2 to 3 years), the day following the victory of the Jews over their enemies. In cities that were protected by a surrounding wall at the time of the Biblical Joshua, Purim is instead celebrated on the 15th of the month of Adar on what is known as Shushan Purim, since fighting in the walled city of Shushan continued through the 14th day of Adar.[9] Today, only Jerusalem celebrates Purim on the 15th of Adar.
We are having another sausage sizzle at Shirley Bunnings on Marshland Road.
Each sausage sizzle has been a wonderful opportunity to meet the public, raise awareness of Israel, the Middle East and Jewish culture.
The funds will go toward furthering Holocaust Education.
If you can help out for a morning or afternoon, then feel free to email us on contact@nzfoi.org or call (027) 433 9745
You are invited to share an evening with Michal Lotan.
Michal Lotan is an Israeli singer-songwriter. Her voice has been likened to a folksy version of Norah Jones. With just her voice and guitar, she takes a course exhibiting both impressive virtuosity and high spirited exuberance. Lotan describes her music as “diva oriented folk”.
You can hear a sample of her music here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHzZF1kGC64
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zTC-QBVXz4&list=PLD3i-q2GIHexqNAmsWKMjmARCemj1MfeR
Canterbury Hebrew Congregation, 406 Durham St, Christchurch. Tuesday May 13, 7pm $5 admission.
We have often heard of Anti-Semitism and NZFOI’s newsletter has carried a number of articles in recent months about Anti-Semitism and how it is continuing to gain momentum in Europe. During a recent conversation with Perry Trotter the creator of the acclaimed “Shadows of Shoah” exhibition, he asked NZFOI what we were doing in the area of Christian Anti-Semitism. But what is it? How has it affected Christian thought on the Jews and its relevance to a Christian faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? What can we do about it? Susette McLachlan will be addressing these issues and more at a lecture she will be giving in May.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Susette McLachlan is a Christchurch-based educator and writer. She is also a member of the NZFOI committee.
SHAVUOT
2pm, Sunday 15th June
Northwood Villa Clubrooms, O’Neill Ave, Northwood, Christchurch.
Admission: Plate of finger food.
This month, we are privileged to present an address by Rebecca Marchand on the biblical feast, Shavuot. She will be covering its origins, its meaning to the Jewish people, its associated customs, ceremonies, and how it is relevant to Christians today.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Rebecca Marchand is Secretary of the New Zealand Friends of Israel Inc, and a long time student of the bible.
TWO MILLENNIA ago the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate derisively declared, “Ecce Homo” – “Behold the Man!” Today Christians around the world are being quickened to look afresh at the Jewish Sage, Jesus of Nazareth. With the restoration of Israel, the remarkable advances in archaeological discoveries and biblical studies, and the unprecedented cooperation of Jewish and Christian scholars investigating the Hebraic background to the life and teachings of Jesus – all this gives fresh and impressive glimpses into his life.
“Behold the Man!” is a 12-part bible study that reconstructs the historical and cultural context in which Jesus lived. This study is ideal for those just starting out in understanding the Hebraic roots of Christianity.
The study is written by Dr Dwight Pryor, founded the Centre for Judaic-Christian Studies in 1984 and served as its president until his death in 2011. He was a founding board member of the Jerusalem School of Synoptic Research in Israel. Dr Pryor held a Bachelor of Arts degree, with Special Distinction, in Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma, extensive postgraduate studies in Philosophy and Judaism from the University of Texas, and a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Centre for the Study of Biblical Research.
The study will be held every Wednesday, beginning on 21 May at 7.30pm at 5 Oaktree Lane, Bishopdale, Christchurch. The subsidised workbook will cost $10 per copy. Call 359 7937 or (027) 433 9745 for more details.
TWO MILLENNIA ago the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate derisively declared, “Ecce Homo” – “Behold the Man!” Today Christians around the world are being quickened to look afresh at the Jewish Sage, Jesus of Nazareth. With the restoration of Israel, the remarkable advances in archaeological discoveries and biblical studies, and the unprecedented cooperation of Jewish and Christian scholars investigating the Hebraic background to the life and teachings of Jesus – all this gives fresh and impressive glimpses into his life.
“Behold the Man!” is a 12-part bible study that reconstructs the historical and cultural context in which Jesus lived. This study is ideal for those just starting out in understanding the Hebraic roots of Christianity.
The study is written by Dr Dwight Pryor, founded the Centre for Judaic-Christian Studies in 1984 and served as its president until his death in 2011. He was a founding board member of the Jerusalem School of Synoptic Research in Israel. Dr Pryor held a Bachelor of Arts degree, with Special Distinction, in Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma, extensive postgraduate studies in Philosophy and Judaism from the University of Texas, and a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Centre for the Study of Biblical Research.
The study will be held every Wednesday, beginning on 21 May at 7.30pm at 5 Oaktree Lane, Bishopdale, Christchurch. The subsidised workbook will cost $10 per copy. Call 359 7937 or (027) 433 9745 for more details.