Thoughts on Shavuot Torah from Heaven The revelation at Mount Sinai was not just a religious event. It was a political event of a unique kind. It was the birth of a nation. Throughout Genesis, the heirs of Abraham had been an extended family. At the beginning of Exodus we hear them for the first time described as an am, a “people.” Pharaoh says, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are too many and powerful for us” (Ex. 1: 9). What made them a people were many things. There was kinship: they were all descendants of Jacob. There...
MISSION ALERT Earlier this week, was the tenth yahrzeit of Lady Amelie Jakobovits or Lady J as she was affectionally called. Those who remember this remarkable personality would surely agree that she would have brought her unique perspective to bear in dealing with coronavirus pandemic! Her father was the distinguished Rabbi Elie Munk of Paris who wrote an insightful (French) commentary to the chumash that has been translated into in English, The Call of the Torah. In his remarks at the beginning of the book of Bamidbar, Numbers that we begin this week, Rabbi Munk makes a pertinent observation He...
Irving Carter together with Dayan Binstock putting up the mezuzah to the Carter Club, February 2016 Our Dad was born on 20 April 1944, he was a wonderful father, husband, grandfather and cousin and a friend to all who knew him. Our Dad has touched so many people in so many different ways, he was larger than life, hardworking, humble, understated and a great philanthropist for many causes. We would like to express our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to everyone, the Rabbonim and friends from our community both here and abroad. We have taken great comfort in all your words...
Professor Gerald Goodhardt and Mrs Valerie Goodhardt on the occasion of receiving an honorary doctorate, University of South Australia, 2015. When Prof Goodhardt was being buried in London, it was already Shabbat in Australia. Rabbi Ian Goodhardt recorded the following message which was played at the funeral. I have spoken, as a rabbi, at many funerals. I hope you will permit me, on this occasion, to leave the rabbinic duties in the capable hands of Dayan Binstock, and speak to you simply as a grieving son. At the centre of my father was a core of goodness. And even though...
Annette’s daughter, Tamara, lives in Kansas, and delivered the following tribute via zoom at the funeral, Bushey New Cemetery. A year and a half ago we were celebrating Mum’s 90th birthday surrounded by wonderful family and friends. And what made it truly special was that both her grandsons Benjamin and Marc were there to celebrate with her. I made a speech then, which I feel is still appropriate for today. Some of you may already have heard this at the funeral on Friday. However, since Friday I have received the most wonderful condolences from around the world as to how...
