WHO BEARS THE WITNESS? Earlier this month, Harry Olmer died at the age of 98. He was a survivor of the unimaginable brutality of the Nazi death camps, and dedicated decades of his life to Holocaust education. With his passing, we have lost another of the few remaining eyewitnesses to the evil that was perpetrated. Despite the vast archive of documents, photographs and film, there is nothing as immediate – and nothing as morally compelling – as hearing first-hand testimony from someone who was there. That truth goes to the heart of how Judaism understands memory. And it goes to...

MOSES, THE FIRST ENVIRONMENTALIST? The drama begins. Pharaoh and the Egyptians are smitten by plagues: blood, frogs, lice, pestilence, boils, and the rest. But Pharaoh’s heart is “hard” or stubborn, and he doesn’t let the Israelites go. Moses famously did not initiate the first three plagues – the blood, the frogs, and the lice. Instead, it was Aaron who held out the staff. This shift in leadership for the Nile and the ground is no mere detail; it reveals a profound lesson in character. The explanation given by Rashi is striking. The river had protected Moses when he was an...

ACTS OF COURAGE Ahmed al-Ahmed, the Muslim hero of Bondi Beach whose quick and courageous action helped prevent a far greater tragedy, continues his recovery. Last Sunday, he was given a hero’s welcome at the Ashes Test – though it did little to improve England’s fortunes – and on Tuesday he visited the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York to offer prayers for humanity. It was a gesture that resonated deeply with many Jews, reminding us of the profound bonds of shared sanctity. His heroism belongs to a long tradition of individuals from the wider world who had...

FAMILY REUNION Much of the country has been gearing up for annual festive season celebrations. Media outlets discuss menus and the tricky dynamics of family members and friends who have not been together for some time. Family dynamics of a different kind emerge in this week’s parasha. When Joseph has revealed his identity to his brothers, he sends them back to the land of Israel with a message that Jacob should relocate to Egypt. In order to facilitate the long journey for his father, Joseph sends wagons to Jacob. The Bible says that when the brothers returned to Jacob: “They...

Chanukah After Bondi Beach At a time when we are still stunned by the terrible events at Bondi Beach, we need to remind ourselves, more than ever, of the core message of Chanukah. Chanukah is not simply a time for parties, gifting presents, or eating doughnuts. It is not a Jewish substitute for the immeasurably more visible Christmas. Chanukah expresses something far more challenging. It commemorates a victory in war, but equally, a victory over assimilation. Chanukah faces outward, against the Syrian Greeks who sought to eradicate Judaism itself. But Chanukah also faces inward, against those Jews of the time...