Coogee Synagogue

18/08/2026

COOGEE SYNAGOGUE SELICHOT SERVICE

13/08/2026

Coogee Synagogue Weekly Newsletter - www.coogeesynagogue.org
Think Again – calling all Virgo

Virgo is the star sign for the Jewish Calander month of Elul. It is the month, believe it or not, yes it is that time of the year again, and how quickly does it come around, the time we herald in the Jewish New Year. Its Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Elul is the month we plan for renewal and rebirth. Elul has the anacronym of Ani Ledodi vedodi li – I am to my beloved as my beloved is to me. It is the time of New Year resolutions especially Jewish resolutions. So I trust we will all take time out to make our renewed Jewish resolutions around our personal levels of Jewish commitment, around our Jewish communal commitment and around ther totality of our Jewish peoples commitment. There is no denying it, there is something in the air at this time of the year, and it is not just the advent of spring, it is getting the Rosh Hashanah dinner invitations out, appeasing and delighting family and friends, consolidating your stake in your synagogue with a seat that has your name on it. Elul is fermenting your Jewish resolve and there is no better way to do that than joining your brethren in the sanctuary of Coogee Synagogue, opening your heart to be the recipients of overflowing and abundant blessings.

The Lubavitcher rebbe would say, there is an aroma in the air, the scent and fragrance of the time, you just feel it in the air, in your bones. All you have to do he speculates is open the window and the Elul vibe is intense, you can feel it with your touch. He would say that the word “reh’ach ריח – scent, smell, is directly related to the word Ruach – רוח – spirit”. They are spelt so similar one with a yud and the other with a vav. “When you smell the aroma, you sense the spirit”. Often he would say that G-d is so accessible during this month of Elul. G-d is in the field, he is out there, available, his diary is clear for petition during this month. So, we add an additional psalm in our prayers during Elul. Psalm 27 with the powerful and poetic (in Hebrew) line “ Achat Shaalti me’et Hashem – I ask of you G-d only one thing – that I may dwell and smell your presence in your house”. Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach made a beautiful song on this psalm. You will notice in our Coogee services that we add this psalm to the liturgy after the shacharit Service.

Virgo is the star sign of the maiden. It is the sign of purity, innocence and clarity. A virgo will live their dream fulfill their hopes and experience the wishes of their pure desires. They carry a sense of calm, quietude and clarity. They have a heightened sense of anticipation and are confident and hopeful for the future. A Virgo is getting ready for their big day of a grand wedding with her intended, her beloved. The analogy is the Jewish people’s collective anticipation, looking forward to our big day our grand wedding day with G-d. On Rosh Hashanah we so to speak re-marry G-d, we renew our vows, we pledge our love again. It’s one big happy family wedding day, complete with all the relatives and guests and it is why we are all together in shule, to share both the solemnity of the occasion and the joy of the times.

A Virgo is kind hopeful and gentle, but they can also be shy, critical, worrisome, and wary.

So calling all Virgo, this is your month. You are born again, recharged, restored and renewed. You are empowered to give blessings and receive blessings. Elul is my preparation to the Days of Awe. I get excited because this is my big month. I can catch up with all of you in shule, share a lolly or two and over Yom Kippur share some s***f, that’s the smell and scent sensation again.

It is also my month of trepidation, I have to start thinking about High Holiday Sermons. This is the one time in the year where I really do get to prepare a sermon. I call them my State of the Nation address. Am I going to have to talk about antisemitism yet again. A Virgo does not react to antisemitism, she is carried into her own world. The Iran War still rages, Isreal on the precipice of war and uncertainty. Our Sydney community still dealing with the shock of terror at Bondi Beach and the Royal Commission has become the anticipated deep pain and anguish that we all knew that it would be, Sadly it gives a platform for antisemites too.

So my dear 29 loyal and noble readers I will be taking a four-week break from this Think Again. Think Again will enter High Holiday mode. I will be busy looking at a brick wall wondering what I should write about, how may I inspire, how may I motivate, how can I share the Jewish message to get involved in Synagogue life. The evidence is out; there are many Jewish organizations, schools, charities and programs, but it is the Synagogue membership that do the most for Jewish continuity, for Jewish family life and for Jewish values.

So, kindle that Virgo spark in you and ask just one thing, Psalm 27 - “ Achat Shaalti me’et Hashem – I ask of you G-d only one thing – that I may dwell and sense your presence in your house”. Or in normal English, See you in shule!

For High Holiday Seating please go to our website - www.coogeesynagogue.org

Our Synagogue is underwriting a wonderful innovative initiative to encourage young and new families to belong and join our synagogue. We are extremely grateful to our anonymous benefactor for his outstanding vision in supporting Coogee Synagogue. Please see the flyer below and contact our president Wilfred Lax. [email protected]

For those who don’t know, we have our own star sign expert in our congregation. Our own Annie Jordan is a palm and star reader. Annie has the unique gift to decipher and read those long, short, tangled, knotted old and new lines that appear on the palm of your hand. No two hands she says are identical; each relays a story and conveys a narrative over the passage of time. To find out more about Virgo and the Maiden, please go to anniejordan.com.au

As Always L’chaim
See you in shule –
Praying for victory and peace in the Middle East.

Shabbat Shalom
THEY ARE ALL HOME

Elozer Gestetner
[email protected]

SHABBAT SERVICE TIMES:
Parshat Shoftim – 14/15 August
Candle Lighting time 5.06 pm

Friday Night: Kabbalat Shabbat Service
• 5.45pm: L’chaim club
• 6:00pm: Kabbalat Shabbat – with Chazan Neach Koncepolski
• 6.00pm: Kitchen Klub

Shabbat Morning:
• 9.10am: shachrit -
• 10.15am: Torah Reading –
• 10.30am: children’s programme with Ruby Borer
• 10.45am: Maftir Reading –
• 11.00am: Haftorah Prophet of the Day –
• 11.10am: Memorial Prayer –
• 11:15am Sermon –
• 11.30am: Musaf followed by Kiddush/Brocha- All Welcome

Sunday Morning Tefillin Club: 1st Sunday of the month: 8.15am followed by breakfast. (next tefillin club Sunday 6th September)

SEEN AND SPOTTED – Chaya Chanin-Gestetner Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZIyIl6Na7RM4mcZhqC2f

Board Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month contact [email protected]

Refuah Shelaima:
Jonathan Moses - Shmuel ben Mordechai Rachamin and Aziza; Annie Jordan – Hannah Chatoon bat Aziza; Andrew Grosz - Mordechai Pinchas ben Avraham David; Paulette Blackman – Pessa bat Sarah; Koby Berkovic; Ivan Devai; Rabbi Yossi Rodel of Newcastle Yosef ben Shterna Rivkah HaCohen; Mike Rosmarin, Joe Berman, Saroya bat Moshe, Ron Butow

13/08/2026

06/08/2026

Coogee Synagogue Weekly Newsletter - www.coogeesynagogue.org
Think Again – I stand with Boy George

I am not a big fan of reggae clanging pounding pop music. I am more of a Carlebach fan. Music that for me, stirs the Jewish emotions, tugs at the Jewish soul and elevates your Jewish spirit. We sing this style of music each Friday night in shule. So you will excuse me that I was not intimately aware of a famous icon Pop Star called Boy George nor familiar with his music. I had heard of the name Boy George but it was by reputation only. I never knew his songs. If you ask me to name the South Sydney Rugby League team of the 1969 Grand Final, that, I can do. Boy George was a big name in that era; millions of people grew up listening to him. His music crossed continents, religions, races and generations. I think he wrote a song called Hey there Georgy Girl, I could be wrong, that is a song about a girl finding her inner self in a world of glittering fake consumerism. Maybe I am wrong, ask me something about football. Boy George called himself Boy George when he came out publicly as a Gay Person.

Today boy oh boy, have I heard of Boy Geroge. He is my new hero. Boy George that mega pop star and musician, this past week composed and released a song declaring his solidarity with Isreal and the Jewish people. He released a song which he called “Od Nirkod – We will Dance Again”. It is about the horrific October 7 massacre in Israel. The massacre that took place at the Nova Festival amongst dancers and the appalling and scandalous response of especially his fellow artists, musicians, singers, pop stars and actors for accusing the Jewish state of ‘genocide’ and ‘mouthing like sheep. He is appalled by their overt hypocrisy, and I think he simply could not stand Idly by – He declares in his opening words –

“You say genocide, I say war.
When you’re attacked, it’s what the army’s for
Does it get ugly? You bet it does.
When I know you wanna kill, every last one of us.

Boy George knew exactly what would happen when you support Isreal. You will be doxed, belittled, intimidated and threatened. He knew that the mobs would arrive, the abuse begin and denunciations pour in. Yet his human values, his compassionate morality, his abiding ethics, his towering values did not allow him to stay silent. So, he did what he does best, he sung, he performed, he shouted clear truths –

Every last one of us. Every last one of us.
You never mention October 7. Young girls r***d against trees.
Murdered brutally. For the crime of dancing. You condemn the Jews.
With selective memory. Musicians holding flags, mouthing like sheep.
Propaganda fuelled by the internet. It feels so weak

This is moral courage. It is especially profound because so many of his entertainment industry chose otherwise. His own Management Company refused to release the song, so he stood up and released it anyway. When other celebrities condemned Israel before the blood of the murdered had dried, when other artists repeated grotesque accusations without evidence, when they isolated Israel from international culture, he refused this path of cowardice. His song does not celebrate Palestinian suffering, war he says is not beautiful. His song actively states the obvious that Israels war in Gaza is not genocide – he criticizes his fellow artists that follow like sheep.

Musicians may denounce Isreal in the most inflammatory terms and be praised for their courage. But let a musician defend Isreal or declare solidarity with Jews and suddenly that is hate speech. This is what is happening to Boy George. Boy George is accused of hate speech of being a colonialist, a baby killer.
But Boy George refused to be intimidated. Boy George chose a Jewish tradition to end his song. It is the beautiful tradition of Dance and Joy. It is the tradition that we so often feel, tears of sadness laced with tears of joy. It is a tradition to refuse to give up. It is the tradition that light will overcome darkness and right will conquer wrong. It is the tradition that dancing is itself an act of victory, it is a tradition of spiritual endurance. “ kol sason v’kol simcha – the voice of happiness, the voice of joy”. So, Boy George sings

But trust me, we will dance again.
We will dance again.
We will dance again.
And there won’t be no war.
But if you’re ever confused, I stand with the Jews.
I don’t feel brave I just need to behave like a human.
But trust me, we will dance again.
We will dance again.
We will dance again.

The Jewish community owes Boy George a tremendous debt of gratitude. He sings and you sense his fear, that he does not feel brave he just feels like being a human being. At a moment when Jews feel frighteningly abandoned, Boy George has given us Jews something precious, the knowledge that we are not abandoned, we are not alone. Boy George stands up for us, so we must stand up for him. This should become a matter of Jewish principal. I’m going to shout out from this newsletter that Boy George is my new hero. Someone please tell him that he now can boast of 29 new fans. Someone please tell him that he now has 29 new dancers, 29 new singers who will sing with him. 29 new followers. 29 new listeners. 29 new devotees who will play his songs. Yes, I now know that “Hey there Georgy Girl” is not his song but a popular Seekers song, but it could have been his, it fits him and sounds like him. Someone please tell him that he now has 29 new soldiers that are in the trenches with him, stand by him and will follow him.

I stand with Boy George.

As Always L’chaim
See you in shule –
Praying for victory and peace in the Middle East.

Shabbat Shalom
THEY ARE ALL HOME

Elozer Gestetner
[email protected]

SHABBAT SERVICE TIMES:
Parshat Re’eh – 7/8 August
Candle Lighting time 5.01PM pm
Shabbat Mevarchim(Blessing of the New Moon) Elul (Zodiac Virgo)

Friday Night: Kabbalat Shabbat Service
• 5.45pm: L’chaim club
• 6:00pm: Kabbalat Shabbat – with Chazan Neach Koncepolski
• 6.00pm: Kitchen Klub

Shabbat Morning:
• 9.10am: shachrit -
• 10.15am: Torah Reading –
• 10.30am: children’s programme with Ruby Borer
• 10.45am: Maftir Reading –
• 11.00am: Haftorah Prophet of the Day –
• 11.10am: Memorial Prayer –
• 11:15am Sermon – Guest Speaker Rabbi Zev Kaplin-Topic “Growing Things in Israel”
• 11.30am: Musaf followed by Kiddush/Brocha- Special Shabbat Mevarchim Kiddush to welcome Mendel and his wife Sheva Lipsker All Welcome - https://events.humanitix.com/shabbat-mevorachim-welcome-mendel-and-sheva

Sunday Morning Tefillin Club: 1st Sunday of the month: 8.15am followed by breakfast. (next tefillin club Sunday 6th September)

SEEN AND SPOTTED – Chaya Chanin-Gestetner Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZIyIl6Na7RM4mcZhqC2f

Board Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month contact [email protected]

Refuah Shelaima:
Jonathan Moses - Shmuel ben Mordechai Rachamin and Aziza; Annie Jordan – Hannah Chatoon bat Aziza; Andrew Grosz - Mordechai Pinchas ben Avraham David; Paulette Blackman – Pessa bat Sarah; Koby Berkovic; Ivan Devai; Rabbi Yossi Rodel of Newcastle Yosef ben Shterna Rivkah HaCohen; Mike Rosmarin, Joe Berman, Saroya bat Moshe, Ron Butow

30/07/2026

Coogee Synagogue Weekly Newsletter - www.coogeesynagogue.org
Think Again – Match Maker Match Maker make me a match

Last night I attended a gig which was not for me. The night morphed into a Central Synagogue Speed dating event. It was supposed to be and advertised as a comedy evening with the very Jewish standup comic star Chani Lisbon. Chani is a best friend of my two daughters Chaya and Simi, they are inseparable and Chani although born and bred in Brooklyn Crown Heights has made her life near Simi in Sunny Florida these days. I was looking forward to a night of comic relief to calm the tension of the mind and was looking forward to some light-hearted clean jokes some of which I was hoping to plagiarise for one of my speeches. But it actually turned out to be an evening of Speed dating for the some 100 mostly young people who came. They heard about the evening on TikTok whatever that is and I heard about the evening from Simi in Florida. I am not sure if it was comic relief for the audience, but it turned out to be comic relief for me watching the audience squirm and fidget in their seats as the speed dating theme developed. The moderators were looking for volunteers as contestants but most seemed to prefer to watch from the sideline. Chani started her repertoire by introducing herself as a Chabad girl born and bred in Crown heights, the neighbourhood of the Lubavitcher Rebbe who she referred to the embodiment of the living mashiach (she had a routine on that as well). She proudly said that she was one of 11 children in her family, everyone thought that was a joke, but it is actually true, she is one of 11 children. Her family gives her much of her material for her stand-up comedy. I am one of four boys and the joke in our family is that my mother always wanted a girl ……which she has thankfully found in all her daughter in laws. My mother loves her daughter in laws more than her sons. We are all emotionally OK with that and not suffering any open rejection. Chani then got into the tzenius (modesty) thing which brought about wild laughter conjuring up tzenius of the separate men/women sidewalks of frum Crown Heights (that’s a joke). I loved the excitement that seemed to be building amongst the audience as she turned the night into a speed dating fest. I was beginning to feel left out because I am obviously taken and not on the market. There were plenty in the audience who were in the market, some got up on stage but no one was committing to each other. Chani was hard pressed to get them to swap phone numbers. At that point I thought I should raise my hand as a contestant because at least I knew my phone number off by heart. Instead, I whatsapped the details of a girl to one of the brave contestants who was willing to get up on the stage. Shalev actually got back to me before the night ended wanting to know more of my suggestion.

I met Miri through our parents they were the shadchan. A shadchan is a match maker. I remember how it went down. My father ringing me up whilst I was in yeshiva in Crown Heights, that is true, I was in Crown Heights at the time, and is not a joke, saying I want you to go out with this girl. The rest is history. Somehow the art of match making seemed to have worked in years gone by but now seems to be very unpopular with our contempory young people of today.

Our son Mendel and his new wife Sheva (Lipsker) have graced us with their presence this week and are here visiting us down under in Australia. As you all know they are of course now married and had a most gorgeous wedding at Cozumel Mexico. This visit is part of their honeymoon and Mendels wish to show off Coogee and its environs to his Sheva. It is afterall the home where Mendel grew up and I guess Sheva wants to know as much as she can about Mendel, in case the shadchanim (match makers) were all lying to her about Mendel. Sheva is very clever and I Think has all that figured out by now. Just wondering if you can you have a honeymoon in close proximity to your inlaws. I have a feeling that they will forever say that their visit to us parents does not count as a honeymoon. We are still arguing amongst the families who were the Shadchan for Sheva and Mendel. I always thought it was Rehov (street) Dizengoff in Tel Aviv. Others say it was a mutual friend. I am still trying to locate this mutual friend to thank them. Which is what you do to a shadchan. If it is indeed Rehov Dizengoff I will buy a Magnum ice cream on the street next time I am in Israel. In fact, if anyone happens to be on Rehov Dizengoff in the next 6 months please buy a Magnum and have me in mind.

Remember the iconic song it rings so true - Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a match, Find me a find, catch me a catch, matchmaker, Matchmaker Look through your book, And make me a perfect match:

These days it should really be easy. There is this APP amongst many called Tinder. All you have to do is scroll and swipe. Scroll and swipe. The problem is everyone is addicted to scrolling but no one is swiping. Of all the marriages that I have officiated over the past number of years I would say that the vast majority first met on a Tinder APP. They met by swiping they were lying down in bed and swiping. The trick is to be honest and truthful as you swipe. Say you are Jewish or not. Culture is important. Find someone you agree with politically and someone who is of similar background and philosophy and then actively pursue, go hunting. And then actually make contact and reach out. It is important to be bold and beautiful, and you are beautiful especially to some other beautiful person out there. You can’t be like our Central Synagogue contestants hesitant in swapping numbers. God says that there is a match out there for everyone all you have to do swipe and call.

Hodel, oh Hodel,
Have I made a match for you! He's handsome, he's young! Alright, he's 62. But he's a nice man, a good catch, true? True.

As always - L’chaim
See you in shule – Praying for a decisive victory to the war in Israel and peace for the entire Middle East.

Shabbat Shalom
THEY ARE ALL HOME

Elozer Gestetner
[email protected]

SHABBAT SERVICE TIMES:
Parshat Ekev - 31 July/1 August
Candle Lighting time 4.56pm

Friday Night: Kabbalat Shabbat Service
• 5.45pm: L’chaim club
• 6:00pm: Kabbalat Shabbat – with Chazan Neach Koncepolski
• 6.00pm: Kitchen Klub
• Young Family Shabbat Dinner - https://events.humanitix.com/term-3-young-families-shabbat-dinner

Shabbat Morning:
• 9.10am: shachrit -
• 10.15am: Torah Reading –
• 10.30am: children’s programme with Ruby Borer
• 10.45am: Maftir Reading –
• 11.00am: Haftorah Prophet of the Day –
• 11.10am: Memorial Prayer –
• 11:15am Sermon –
• 11.30am: Musaf followed by Kiddush/Brocha- All Welcome

Sunday Morning Tefillin Club: 1st Sunday of the month: 8.15am followed by breakfast. (next tefillin club Sunday August 2nd)

Sunday Morning: Ari's Upsherin @ the synagogue 10am – 12pm
https://events.humanitix.com/ari-s-upshernish/tickets

SEEN AND SPOTTED – Chaya Chanin-Gestetner Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZIyIl6Na7RM4mcZhqC2f

Board Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month contact [email protected]

Refuah Shelaima: Jonathan Moses - Shmuel ben Mordechai Rachamin and Aziza; Annie Jordan – Hannah Chatoon bat Aziza; Andrew Grosz - Mordechai Pinchas ben Avraham David; Paulette Blackman – Pessa bat Sarah; Koby Berkovic; Ivan Devai; Rabbi Yossi Rodel of Newcastle Yosef ben Shterna Rivkah HaCohen; Mike Rosmarin, Joe Berman, Saroya bat Moshe, Ron Butow

23/07/2026

Coogee Synagogue Weekly Newsletter - www.coogeesynagogue.org
Think Again – Don’t cry for me Argentina

There are always winners and losers. Such is it in the sporting world. It’s what happened this week when Argentina lost to Spain in the football world cup. Who would have thought that Argentina with the gift of Messi and the hand of God would lose. There always has to be winners and losers. But as we say in sporting parlance, “there is always next week”. And so it is with most things in the world there are always winners and losers. It is such in the world of economics, someone makes and someone loses. So it is in the political arena winners and losers. One Nation here in Australia seems to be on a winning surge. And so it is with every one of the great pillars of society. So is it, in the halls of power of finance judiciary and law there are winners and losers. It is the society of capitalism and consumerism, with winners and losers.

But it does not have to be like that. In the realms of the spiritual world, in the world of the soul, this law does not apply. In the world of the infinite both can be winners, and just because you lose or give away does not mean you lose. In the world of the infinite and the spirits both can be winners. Ill give you an example. Doing a mitzvah with someone else does not make you loose, sharing a smile a kind word you do not lose. Even giving charity you don’t lose. You may be giving away some hard-earned money, but the mitzvah of charity it stays and remains with you forever . No one can ever take away that good deed and mitzvah of charity. The reward of the mitzvah is the mitzvah itself. When doing something good, you don’t lose, the reward is in the doing good the good feeling of the mitzvah itself is the reward in its own right. You do not lose. All I can when doing a mitzvah you shed tears of joy.

Another big loser this week was undoubtedly the mayor of New York the infamous Zoran Mamdani. He has been on a war cry threatening for ever and a day that he will arrest the Prime Minister Bibi Nrtanyahu if ever he sets foot in his city. The Prime Minister is scheduled for a visit to NYC in the coming months and the rhetoric ramped up. Mamdani was all over the media especially on social media promising that he will arrest Bibi Netanyahu. It all fell flat when he this week he came out with the lame admission that his hands are tied, he can’t do it, He does not have the power to arrest the Prime Minister. His State Laws do not apparently have jurisdiction over arrests of foreign citizens. He meekly came out with a meek whimper and tearful cry. I suspect he knew all along but he geta the Gong for this weeks the greatest BIG Loser. Don’t cry for me Mamdani.

The Haftorah this week opens with Isaiah “Nachmu Nachmu Ami – comfort ye comfort ye, my people”. Why the double repetitive words of comfort ye comfort ye? Issaiah is making out and building his Jewish people as winners. We have just had the worst week in the Jewish calendar. It is the week of the Ninth of Av. We commemorate this day as a fast day, a collective day of tragedy and mourning for all those past tragic historical events that befell the Jewish people in generation to generation. Yet we front up next week not crying but saying as in sporting parlance “There is always next week. This is always a message of hope and belief. There is always next week. Nachmu this week and Nachmu next week . The Jewish people challenged one week will always be there and front up next week.

Well may they say don’t cry for me Argentina when we say week after week “Next week in Jerusalem”.

As always L’chaim
See you in shule –
Praying for a decisive soon victory to the war in Isreal and the entire Middle East.

Shabbat Shalom
THEY ARE ALL HOME

Elozer Gestetner
[email protected]

SHABBAT SERVICE TIMES:
Parshat V’Etchanan 24/25 July
Candle Lighting time 4.52pm
Shabbat Nachmu

Friday Night: Kabbalat Shabbat Service
• 5.45pm: L’chaim club
• 6:00pm: Kabbalat Shabbat – with Chazan Neach Koncepolski
• 6.00pm: Kitchen Klub with Devin & Ethan

Shabbat Morning:
• 9.10am: shachrit -
• 10.15am: Torah Reading –
• 10.30am: children’s programme with Ruby Borer
• 10.45am: Maftir Reading –
• 11.00am: Haftorah Prophet of the Day –
• 11.10am: Memorial Prayer –
• 11:15am Sermon –
• 11.30am: Musaf followed by Kiddush/Brocha- All Welcome

SEEN AND SPOTTED – Chaya Chanin-Gestetner Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZIyIl6Na7RM4mcZhqC2f

Sunday Morning Tefillin Club: 1st Sunday of the month: 8.15am followed by breakfast. (next tefillin club Sunday August 2nd)

Board Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month contact [email protected]

Refuah Shelaima: Jonathan Moses - Shmuel ben Mordechai Rachamin and Aziza; Annie Jordan – Hannah Chatoon bat Aziza; Andrew Grosz - Mordechai Pinchas ben Avraham David; Paulette Blackman – Pessa bat Sarah; Koby Berkovic; Ivan Devai; Rabbi Yossi Rodel of Newcastle Yosef ben Shterna Rivkah HaCohen; Mike Rosmarin, Joe Berman, Saroya bat Moshe, Ron Butow

Condolence: Members of Coogee Synagogue extend our condolences and wishes of Long life to the extended family of the late Faina Smagarinsky who passed away this week of Tisha B’Av. We wish memories of blessing to Elenor and Eddie Smagarinsky and to our dear friends Sarah and Jonathan Chisick

Condolence: Members of Coogee Synagogue extend our condolences and wishes of Long life to the extended family of the late Mischa Satzkin who passed away this week of Tisha B’Av. We wish memories of blessing to Dianna and Alex (Avraham) Altman

Condolence: Members of Coogee Synagogue extend our condolences and wishes of Long life to the extended family of the late Rita Schwartz who passed away this week of Tisha B’Av. We wish memories of blessing to our good friends Leah and Jarred Balkin

16/07/2026

Coogee Synagogue Weekly Newsletter - www.coogeesynagogue.org
Think Again – The Nine Days

Rabbi, what are these nine days of the Jewish Calander that I keep hearing about? We were supposed to meet for dinner at Pita Mix, you said something about not eating meat. I know Miri has been away for nine days whilst you have been holding the fort but I heard on Instagram that she is back. So let’s reschedule for a meat dinner at Litte Mix.

The nine days are the preceding nine days of the month of Av that we recall of the devastating tragedies that seemed to follow us to this day, the ninth day of Av. It was on this day, the Ninth of Av that both Jerusalem temples were destroyed. The first Jerusalem Temple built by King Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians on the Ninth Day of Av in 586 BCE. The second Temple built by the scribe Ezra was again destroyed on the ninth of Av in 70 CE by the Romans. Ever since, the ninth day of Av was destined to be ominous, an ill omen, a day of tragedy, a real bad luck day throughout our Jewish History.

On this day the Biblical story of the 10 spies occurred. The spies returned from their scouting mission of the ancient Biblical Land of Israel, they returned, with a defeatist attitude and heartbreaking view not to enter the Promised Land. The entire generation were punished to wander the desert for 40 years. Ever since we have become known as the Wandering Jews.

• 133CE – On this day, Masada was overrun as the last bastion of the Jewish Commonwealth heralding 2000 years of exile.
• 1290 – On this day King Edward 1 signed the decree of banishment for all Jews from England (National Archives of England). Jews were only given permission to return to England by the decree of Oliver Cromwell in 1656.
• 1492 – On this day the Jews of Spain were evicted and expelled by order of the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella under the decree of Spanish Inquisition.
• 1914 – On this Day (1st August 1914) the ninth of Av, Germany officially declared war on Russia heralding the advent of the Great War.
• 1942 – On this day the signing of the Final Solution took place with the subsequent deportation and roundups of Polish Jewry to Auschwitz and Treblinka.

It is for this reason that our sages enacted a collective day of mourning on the ninth of Av. It has become a day of fasting, a 24 hour fast similar to the fasting on the solemn day of Yom Kippur. On this day we gather to acknowledge and recall, the many dark hours and tragedies of our turbulent History.

On the other hand, Av is the month that is represented by the Zodiac Star sign of Leo. The Kabbalah outlines in detail the corresponding Zodiac star signs to all the Jewish calendar months. Av corresponds to the star sign of Leo. Leo is the Lion, which is a sign of power, the sign of the King. This is the month where Royalty are born, natural leaders emerge. Those born in Leo are famously bold charismatic, valiant confident and courageous and fiercely loyal. Those born in Leo are powerful, strong and love basking in the spotlight. They are the very sign of Victory. (they can also be stubborn and arrogant)

The question is that the victorious magnetic star sign of Leo is incongruous with the dark and ominous tragedies of the month of Av.

The Talmud indeed discusses this and answers that it is precisely in these darkest hours that G-d promises salvation. Precisely from the very depths do we climb towards redemption. Precisely because history was so devastating that the God of History promised hope and deliverance. It is the secret of the Jewish people. It is the secret of survival. It is the innate prophecy “that a star shall shoot forth from the scepter of Jacob. Leo will emerge, the king will emerge. The nine days will transform from days of darkness to days of light, from tragedy to joy, from tears of sadness to tears of Happiness.

Av is certainly a difficult month in our calendar. It is why the sages added the name Menachem to the month calling it “Menachem Av”. Menachem means comfort as ultimately, we do not lose hope and will be comforted this month.

We certainly can do with some comfort in our time of history. The Iran-US war rages. Isreal is on high alert. Our Diaspora battles with ever increasing antisemitism. I am seeking the “Menachem-comforter” in this month of Av.

Tisha B’Av (Ninth of Av) Service@ Coogee Synagogue:
Wednesday Evening 22nd July 6.00PM.
Reading of the Eicha (Lamentations by Jeremiah)

As always L’chaim
See you in shule –
Praying for a decisive soon victory to the war in Isreal and the entire Middle East.

Shabbat Shalom
THEY ARE ALL HOME

Elozer Gestetner
[email protected]

SHABBAT SERVICE TIMES:
Parshat Devarim 17/18 July
Candle Lighting time 4.47pm
Tisha B’Av: Wednesday 22nd July 6.00pm – Reading of Eicha
Fast begins5.09PM

Friday Night: Kabbalat Shabbat Service
• 5.45pm: L’chaim club
• 6:00pm: Kabbalat Shabbat – with Jake Meyer
• 6.00pm: Kitchen Klub with Devin & Ethan

Shabbat Morning:
• 9.10am: shachrit -
• 10.15am: Torah Reading –
• 10.30am: children’s programme with Ruby Borer
• 10.45am: Maftir Reading –
• 11.00am: Haftorah Prophet of the Day – Rev. Phil Silver
• 11.10am: Memorial Prayer –
• 11:15am Sermon –
• 11.30am: Musaf followed by Kiddush/Brocha- All Welcome

SEEN AND SPOTTED – Chaya Chanin-Gestetner Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZIyIl6Na7RM4mcZhqC2f

• Shabbat Afternoon Mincha Service. 4.00pm Bar Mitzvah of Alfie Blum

Sunday Morning Tefillin Club: 1st Sunday of the month: 8.15am followed by breakfast. (next tefillin club Sunday August 2nd)

Board Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month contact [email protected]

Refuah Shelaima: Jonathan Moses - Shmuel ben Mordechai Rachamin and Aliza; Annie Jordan; Andrew Grosz - Mordechai Pinchas ben Avraham David; Paulette Blackman – Pessa bat Sarah; Koby Berkovic; Ivan Devai; Rabbi Yossi Rodel of Newcastle Yosef ben Shterna Rivkah HaCohen; Esther Nothman; Mike Rosmarin, Joe Berman, Saroya bat Moshe, Ron Butow