To live as Jew these days encompasses many aspects.
These few pages are just a few things that we at Coogee Synagogue feel that Judaism encompasses.
There is of course much more and from time to time we’ll be adding useful links and other ideas.
But it starts with our families, our Kehillah, our community that is you, me, our Rabbi, your friends and neighbours. Its who we are, who our friends are. It’s about who we talk to, what we talk about. Who talks to us and about us. Its where we eat and what we eat. What we read and what we write. Its what and how we celebrate and commemorate. It’s about Jewish continuity. In the recent Gen08 study published in the past year (2011) the most important factors determining Jewish continuity were the family, education and links with Israel.
At Home
It’s about keeping Kosher.
It’s about celebrating Shabbat and festivals.
It’s about Jewish marriage and continuity.
Education
So in Coogee it starts with our own education program from our Jewish family Day care, which leads into our Kindie, our local Jewish Schools. On to our Bar/Batmitzvah Program and our Adult Education Program . Its backed up of course with our regular Shul services, shabbatons, links with Jewish Youth Groups and our own new Coogee Youth Zone .
Finally
… its about Israel.
As Jews we have an intangible connection to Israel. It is an integral part of our heritage from which we cannot be separated. From our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their wives Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah to the present day modern State of Israel where every turn of a street corner reminds of where we’ve come from and where we belong.
Israel trips are offered by many organisations from the UIA for adults and families, to Jewish Day Schools , for the Y12′s just completing school through Habonim, Bnei Akiva, Netzer, Hineni, Betar and Maccabi who all offer Shnat programs. Uni students and young adults via the Academy and Birthright programs and AUJS (the Australian Union of Jewish Students ) don’t need to miss out. For those who don’t tick the boxes above Academy BJE also runs a Discover Israel Program for Year 10 Students who don’t attend Jewish day schools to spend 6 weeks in Israel.
NB Subsidies are available for most of these programs.
Go On click on the links and see what there is is store for you…
So you’ve no excuse get packing, don’t forget your spending money and your kippah boys!
