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).

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 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.

To mark the upcoming 70th Anniversary of Israel’s establishment, we invite you to view a fascinating documentary about the incredible tale of how the Israeli Air Force was established in time to turn the tide of the 1948 Israeli War of Independence.

Did you know:

• The US banned all its citizens from volunteering to fight on behalf of Israel in 1948?
• That there was a US-UK arms embargo against Israel at the time?
• That Israel established a clandestine civilian airline as part of its pipeline to beat the embargo?
• That the first aircraft were pressed into battle within 10 days of arriving in Israel?
• That these aircraft turned the Egyptian invasion around on their first day of combat?

The documentary trailer:

A number of Christians have banned together to put on a Passover 3-course meal at 220 Antigua St, 7th April 5.30pm to explain the significance of this wonderful rich biblical holiday.

Limited spaces available. $30 a head. If you would like to register please email  Simone for a registration form.

This is a great opportunity to book a table and invite your friends or just come and join in.

CHRISTCHURCH: The Joy of Hosting Israeli Travellers

2pm, Sunday 11 March 2018

Clubrooms, Northwood Villa Cres, Northwood.  (-43.465134, 172.617633)

New Zealand is one of the top travel destinations for Israelis.  To Israelis it is a much talked of country full of huge contrasts from their own: peaceful, temperate, green and offering spectacular vistas.

At the same time, many New Zealanders who support Israel and fight anti-Semitism, meet very few Jews and have had very little contact with them.

HIT is a homestay programme that allows young Israeli backpackers to meet New Zealanders in their homes and experience Kiwis in their own environments.

You are invited to an afternoon with Omri Jaakobovitch, founder of HIT.  Hear about how you can participate in this programme and how it is growing internationally.

Admission:  A collection will be taken to cover expenses; A plate of finger food for afternoon tea. Please no pork, bacon or seafood ingredients.

On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.

Numbers 29:1

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year festival and commemorates the creation of the world. It lasts 2 days. The traditional greeting between Jews is “L’shanah tovah” … “for a good New Year”.

Rosh Hashanah is also a judgement day, when Jews believe that God balances a person’s good deeds over the last year against their bad deeds, and decides what the next year will be like for them.

God records the judgement in the Book of Life, where he sets out who is going to live, who is going to die, who will have a good time and who will have a bad time during the next year. The book and the judgement are finally sealed on Yom Kippur.

That’s why another traditional Rosh Hashanah greeting is “Be inscribed and sealed for a good year” .

In the synagogue

A lot of time is spent in the synagogue on Rosh Hashanah, when there are special services that emphasise God’s kingship.

One of the synagogue rituals for Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the Shofar, a ram’s horn trumpet. A hundred notes are sounded in a special rhythm.

In the Home

New Year isn’t only celebrated in the synagogue, but at home too. A special meal is served, with the emphasis on sweetness.

Apples are dipped in honey, as a symbol of the sweet New Year that each Jew hopes lies ahead. A sweet carrot stew called a tzimmes is often served.

And at New Year the Jewish Hallah (or Challah) bread served comes as a round loaf, rather than the plaited loaf served on the Sabbath, so as to symbolise a circle of life and of the year.

There’s often a pomegranate on the table because of a tradition that pomegranates have 613 seeds, one for each of the commandments that a Jew is obliged to keep.