Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.
“We must not forget.”
Those are the words of Holocaust Centre of New Zealand chairman Boyd Klap as the centre prepares to unveil an exhibition about Anne Frank and her diary, which is now over 70 years old.
But it’s not just about the past either, as the exhibition also tells the tales of teens who have suffered through their own discrimination.
The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand has welcomed a touring exhibition called Anne Frank: Let Me Be Myself, which will be at Auckland War Memorial Museum until May 13.
“Discrimination is a terrible thing but it happens all the time,” Klap said.
“But the discrimination by the Nazis – it was really was discrimination – destroyed a whole race, killing six million Jews, homosexuals, handicapped people,” Klap said.
The exhibition is wildly popular and has already been seen by more than 80 million people around the world.
There was much to be learned from the 14-year-old Anne Frank, who was extremely wise for her age, Klap said.
“I was a courier in the Dutch resistance when The Netherlands was liberated.
“It seems to me the message of the Holocaust has never been more important. We still have much to learn from stories like Anne’s.”
Frank was just 12 years old when she went into hiding with her family in a factory annexe in Amsterdam.
The family lived in secret for three years, helped by non-Jewish friends, but were finally discovered and sent to concentration camps.
Only her father Otto survived.
He had the diary published a few years after the war in the hope people
would learn from his daughter’s innocent words.
Since discimination was still so prevalent in modern times the centre had expanded to tell the stories of modern teens who were subject to discrimination, Klap said.
“Bullying, youth suicide is a major issue that concerns us all.
“We have added an aspect of teenagers who explain their own situation in an environment where discrimination takes place.”
The exhibition followed more than 12 months of preparation by the Holocaust Centre.
The team behind the tour are hoping 100,000 Kiwis aged 14 to 25 will see the exhibition.
After Auckland the exhibition will head to Wellington and Christchurch and will finish the year in Whangarei.
Next year, the exhibition will visit the National Army Museum in Waiouru, Waikato and Dunedin, and other locations across both islands are still being confirmed for 2020.
You’re invited to the Auckland Community’s Israel Independence Day celebration.
Independence Day (Hebrew: יום העצמאות Yom Ha’atzmaut, lit. “Day of Independence”) is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. The day is marked by official and unofficial ceremonies and observances.
Because Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, which corresponded with the Hebrew date 5 Iyar in that year, Yom Ha’atzmaut was originally celebrated on that date. However, to avoid Sabbath desecration, it may be commemorated one or two days before or after the 5th of Iyar if it falls too close to the Jewish Sabbath. Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and
Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day is always scheduled for the day preceding Independence Day.
In the Hebrew calendar, days begin in the evening.
This year, its a special one: Israel turns 70.
The Christian Nations Bless Israel organisation invite you to gatherings organised all over New Zealand to join with other supporters of Israel to bless Israel through prayer, worship, declaration and bible readings.
Here is a list of venues and local contacts in New Zealand. Click here.
Here is the link to the live video stream for the Evening Gathering. Click here.
There will be up to two events on April 29 at each location (contact your local coordinator to find out which events have been organised near you):
0700 Shofars at Sunrise
Simutananeously sound shofars and indigenous instruments. Pray and declare on high places, beaches, city centres and wherever the Lord leads you.
At the opening of the day – the sound of blessing will go across the country and around the globe.
It will pass from nation to nation as people sound shofars at 7am in their time zone.
1900 Evening gathering
Christians joining in love and unity, from many churches, organisations and cultures.
National events – will take place in many countries.
People in towns and cities will be able to join or host a combined event. Whether at a live service or by live-stream – each gathering will be linking, to stand in agreement throughout all nations.
An incredible opportunity to be part of releasing a wave of worship and blessing around the world.
Draft program: click here
You’re invited to join the Auckland Hebrew Community in celebrating Israel’s 70th birthday.
Who would have thought that from its shaky beginnings when its neighbouring countries invaded only 24 hours after the declaration of independence in 1948, and the fledgling state fought a desperate war of survival that it would not only emerge victorious, but it would go on to thrive despite numerous attempts to destroy the state along the way?
After 70 years, Israel has become a jewel in the Middle East, through trade, a source of prosperity for its neighbouring countries, a leader in technology development, a genuine democracy with an independent army, judiciary and a Press that is truly free.
Today, many of these countries have peace treaties with Israel and even its sworn enemy, Saudi Arabia has acknowledged that Israel has a right to exist.
This is indeed a time to celebrate the miracle that is Israel.
Kosher canapes supplied by Greys Ave Deli.
You’re invited to a celebration of Israel’s 70th anniversary of its establishment.
For those out of Auckland and unable to attend the event, it will be recorded and we will update you with a link when it becomes available.
Shavuot is a moed (appointed time) mandated as a commandment of God. It is also called the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.
Shavuot has a double significance. It marks the all-important wheat harvest in the Land of Israel (Exodus 34:22); and it commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai, although the association between the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah) and Shavuot is not explicit in the Biblical text.
The holiday is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer, and its date is directly linked to that of Passover. The Torah mandates the seven-week Counting of the Omer, beginning on the second day of Passover, to be immediately followed by Shavuot. This counting of days and weeks is understood to express anticipation and desire for the giving of the Torah. On Passover, the people of Israel were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot they were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God.[2] The word Shavuot means weeks, and the festival of Shavuot marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. The yahrzeit of King David is traditionally observed on Shavuot. Hasidic Jews also observe the yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov.[3]
Shavuot is one of the less familiar Jewish holidays to secular Jews in the Jewish diaspora, while those in Israel as well as the Orthodox community are more aware of it.[4][5] According to Jewish law, Shavuot is celebrated in Israel for one day and in the Diaspora (outside of Israel) for two days. Reform Judaism celebrates only one day, even in the Diaspora.[6]
You are invited to a showing of a documentary about the Jewish refugees that were expelled from North Africa and the Middle East after 1948.
The Forgotten Refugees is a 2005 documentary film directed by Michael Grynszpan and produced by The David Project and IsraTV with Ralph Avi Goldwasser as executive producer.
It is an aspect of the Middle East Conflict that is often overlooked.
Over 850,000 Jews were expelled or pushed out because of persecution after 1948. Today these Jews are often called “Mizrahi Jews” and they and their descendents number nearly 40% of Israel’s population.
Though tinged with much sadness, it is also a heartwarming story of people who have faced much adversity but gone on to accept resettlement and rebuilt their lives.
See also
You’re invited by the Jewish Federation to join members of the Hebrew Community for a dinner with Alex Ryvchin.
Alex Ryvchin was born in Kiev, Ukraine. His family left the Soviet Union as refugees and refuseniks in 1987, when Alex was 3 years old. He attended Sydney Boys High School and went on to study law and politics at the University of New South Wales.
He worked for a member of the state legislature as a researcher and speechwriter before practising law at two of the world’s largest law firms, first at Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Sydney and then at Herbert Smith in London. He served as a spokesman for the Zionist Federation UK, and was awarded a prestigious Israel Research Fellowship to work as a research fellow and staff writer at a Jerusalem-based think-tank.
In 2013 he joined the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Australia’s premier representative and advocacy body for the Australian Jewish community, and was promoted to co-Chief Executive Officer in February 2018, becoming one of the youngest leaders in the Jewish diaspora. He is a member of the Jewish Diplomatic Corps.
A prominent speaker and writer on the Arab-Israeli conflict, foreign and national affairs, and religion and identity, he writes for leading publications throughout the world including the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator, Fox News Opinion, the Guardian, the National Post, the Australian and the Age, and is a regular commentator on TV and radio. His first book is “The Anti-Israel Agenda – Inside the Political War on the Jewish State”, (Gefen Publishing House, 2017).
Amir Tsarfati was born in Israel and has lived there most of his life. Since fulfilling his mandatory service in the Israeli Defense Force, he has continued as a major in the IDF Reserve. Amir has been a tour guide in Israel for the last twenty years, and served as chief tour guide of Sar El Tours and CEO of Sar El Tours and Conferences.
In 2001, he became founder and president of Behold Israel – a non-profit organization which provides worldwide real-time access to reliable sources of news and information about Israel from within the powerful context of Bible history and prophecy.
Amir is married to Miriam, and together they have four children. His home overlooks the valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) which is a constant reminder of the call that the Lord has placed on him to teach from the Bible what God’s plans are for the end times.
| July 24 7pm | Calvary Chapel Christchurch |
| July 25 7pm | Calvary Chapel Wellington |
| July 26 7pm | Shoreline Church Tauranga |
| July 28 1.30pm | Calvary Chapel Hamilton |
| July 29 7pm | Calvary Chapel Auckland |
See http://calvarychapel.org.nz/calvary-chapels-in-new-zealand/ for individual venue locations.
In collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington & AUT – Auckland University of Technology, & supported by New Zealand Human Rights Commission the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand brings you, ‘At the Forefront – Human Rights Speaker Series’, a forum for discussion & debate on Human Rights.
Paul Moon is a New Zealand historian and a professor at the Auckland University of Technology.
He is a prolific writer of New Zealand history and biography, specialising in Māori history, the Treaty of Waitangi and the early period of Crown rule.