What is Tikkun Olam?

bpjc.web — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:20:31 +0000

What is Tikkun Olam?

Tikkun Olam (literally, “world repair”) has come to connote social action and the pursuit of social justice. Tikkun Olam is a key element of the Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ) mission statement. The UPJ and its members, including Brisbane Progressive Jewish Congregation, support a range of projects in Australia and around the world. This page has been developed to provide a portal for our members and supporters to access some of these projects and other organisations who contribute to Tikkun Olam. As we become aware of projects, new links will be added. If you know of a new program, or would like us to add a link to an existing project, please contact us.

Torah Commentaries

bpjc.web — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:45:04 +0000

Click on the link to access the Torah commentaries provided by the Union for Progressive Judaism.

Support for you

bpjc.web — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:34:13 +0000

Cantor David Bentley

Our Minister, Cantor David Bentley, is available to provide pastoral care to BPJC members. David’s comprehensive training as a Spiritual Leader included courses in:

Pastoral counselling
Hospital chaplaincy/sick visiting

Cantor Bentley’s support to Brisbane Progressive Jewish Congregation includes Shabbat services, educational classes, life-cycle ceremonies and associated spiritual counselling as appropriate. He can be contacted through BPJC or on 0466 323 432.

Click here for further information on Cantor Bentley.

BPJC Outreach

bpjc.web — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:58:19 +0000

The BPJC Board is always looking for ways to support Jews living outside of South East Queensland. We provide a range of information through our website and Facebook page and welcome any feedback or suggestions for improvements.

Our members regularly travel within the state and would love to drop in for a chat while in your location. Please contact us if you would like to register for this program.

Regrettably, the Awcast option for the broadcast of services is not currently available. Awcast recently started charging a substantial monthly fee and the Board will need to consider if offering Awcast will be possible in future. If you have used the Awcast service regularly, please let us know as it would help our discussions if we knew how much demand there is.

If you live in or near Toowoomba, we are pleased to advise that under the auspices of BPJC, a Toowoomba Progressive Jewish kehillah has been established. The group had its first service on Shabbat 29 October 2011 and is planning continued activities. Please contact the BPJC Secretary for further information.

Our Shabbat services use Mishkan T’filah. Please contact us if you would like to purchase a copy to follow the service.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Shammash

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:26:42 +0000

The job:	Bring the service together
Why it is important:	Because there is a lot of coordination required to conduct a smooth service.
Time commitment:	about 3 hours (45 minutes to set up, 2 hours for the service, and 15 minutes to pack up)
Number of people required:	at least 1 but better to have more for set up and pack up
Skills needed:	Open the shul / hall. Set out benches, tables and chairs. Lay out siddurim, papers and tzedakah box / kipot. Greet / welcome arrivals. Assist the leader, as required. Return / pack away at conclusion of Service and Kiddush (except for Cheder furniture). Collect tzedakah from box and give to Treasurer.
Training (if needed) will take place:	on the job
What’s in it for you?	It’s a Mitzvah Feel connected to the BPJC community Get to know our congregants and visitors
Contact:	President

Organise Library Collection

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:26:10 +0000

The job:	Catalogue our collection so that members can easily borrow resources
Why it is important:	because we have some interesting resources to share
Time commitment:	on-going
Number of people required:	1 This is a good project/job for an adult.
Skills needed:	Clerical skills to establish and maintain a database of resources
Training (if needed) will take place:	on the job
What’s in it for you?	it’s a mitzvah you’ll get to know the BPJC library collection
Contact:	President

Lay Leader

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:25:37 +0000

The job:	Assist in the Leading of a Shabbat service
Why it is important:	Because Shabbat services are one of the most important activities we do at BPJC
Time commitment:	2 hours for the service (plus preparation)
Number of people required:	1 (but a lot easier with at least two)
Skills needed:	Prepare for service, identify correct Parashat and Haftarah, develop a drasha (or arrange another person to develop a drasha), arrange any pre-service volunteers necessary (e.g. Torah translation, Haftarah reading etc). Identify any special prayers e.g. prayer for Rosh Chodesh, prayer for the sick etc. Lead service (with assistant or chazzan, as required). Read from Torah (or arrange for another person to do this). Present drasha (or have volunteer present it). Lead or nominate a person to lead the Kiddush.
Training (if needed) will take place:	Tutoring and mentors are available
What’s in it for you?	it’s a Mitzvah feel connected to the BPJC community improve your understanding of the rituals
Contact:	Rituals Committee

Kiddush Set-up and Breakdown

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:25:08 +0000

The job:	set up and take down a simple kiddush
Why it is important:	for blessings after Shabbat services and for fellowship
Time commitment:	twice per month. one hour each time.
Number of people required:	2 This is definitely a good job for a family with children ages 6 and up.
Skills needed:	none
Training (if needed) will take place:	on the job – Saturday mornings with a mentor
What’s in it for you?	it’s a mitzvah meet new people Eat delicious food spend time with family feel connected to the BPJC community
Contact:	Secretary

Kabbalat Shabbat Supplies Shlepper

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:24:25 +0000

The job:	Transport supplies from Coorparoo to Fig Tree Pocket and back
Why it is important:	so siddurim, kiddush supplies and paper goods are available
Time commitment:	less than 1 hour, up to five times per year
Number of people required:	1
Skills needed:	physical strength access to a car ability to collect supplies from Coorparoo at the previous Shabbat service, deliver them to Fig Tree Pocket up to one hour prior to the service, and return them to Coorparoo for the next Shabbat service.
Training (if needed) will take place:	Via written instructions
What’s in it for you?	it’s a mitzvah yummy food, assuming you stay for dinner you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community
Contact:	Secretary

Kabbalat Shabbat Helper

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:23:54 +0000

The job:	Help to set up and pack up Kabbalat Shabbat services
Why it is important:	We can’t conduct a service without chairs and kiddush
Time commitment:	About 1 hour before and 1 hour after the service
Number of people required:	2 (with more people, it will take less time) This is a good project/job for a family with children in high school
Skills needed:	physical strength/stamina ability to follow directions
Training (if needed) will take place:	On the job
What’s in it for you?	it’s a mitzvah family time you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community play an important part in the celebration shmooze time if you bring family, friends to help
Contact:	Secretary

Historian

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:23:24 +0000

The job:	Document and organise our congregational history
Why it is important:	To ensure we have an enduring record of our people and our achievements
Time commitment:	Ongoing.
Number of people required:	1 or 2
Skills needed:	Ability to organise electronic files, including documents and photos
Training (if needed) will take place:	On the job
What’s in it for yo	Be closely connected to the BPJC community Play an important role in our history
Contact:	President

Functions Set up and Breakdown

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:22:41 +0000

The job:	Help to set up and pack up (breakdown) rented facilities for functions
Why it is important:	so the right atmosphere can be created in a temporary space
Time commitment:	about 1 hour immediately prior to and 1 hour immediately after the function
Number of people required:	at least 3 This is a good project/job for a family with older children
Skills needed:	physical strength/stamina ability to follow directions
Training (if needed) will take place:	On the job
What’s in it for you?	it’s a mitzvah family time you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community a little exercise
Contact:	Social Director

Festivals Coordinator

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:21:56 +0000

The job:	plan and oversee all the tasks related to a single Festival (e.g.. Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Purim Megilla reading, Pesach, or Shavuot)
Why it is important:	to make sure things run smoothly
Time commitment:	Depends on the festival / event
Number of people required:	1-2 (job can be shared) This is a good project/job for adults.
Skills needed:	knowledge of the festival and its rituals ability to think creatively about ways to observe the festival people and organisational skills
Training (if needed) will take place:	on the job mentor present
What’s in it for you?	you’ll meet new people yummy food it’s a mitzvah you’ll learn a new skill you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community
Contact:	Social Director

Gabbai

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:21:14 +0000

The job:	Support service leaders
Why it is important:	to ensure our customs are observed and that people participating in the service understand what is expected of them.
Time commitment:	15 minutes prior to the service plus 2 hours for the service (Shabbat service)
Number of people required:	1
Skills needed:	Obtain agreement of service leader and approach volunteers for service honours – special prayers, aliyot, Haftarah, hakafa (open Ark / parade Torah), hagba’a (raise Torah), gelilah (roll and dress Torah). Call up aliyot (preferably in Hebrew)Assist Leader / Torah reader during Torah service as required (e.g. holding etz chayyim (scroll handle), following in Chumash etc).
Training (if needed) will take place:	on the job
What’s in it for you?	It’s a Mitzvah Feel connected to the BPJC community Improve your understanding of our rituals and customs
Contact:	Rituals Committee

Read for Torah Services

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:20:37 +0000

The job:	Read Torah for Shabbat and holiday services
Why it is important:	because participation on the Bimah gives qualified congregants an opportunity to learn and practice and enhance their synagogue skills and play an active role in the ritual life of the congregation
Time commitment:	Initial preparation can take a few hours. Opportunities are available up to twice per month.
Number of people required:	1 at a time
Skills needed:	Hebrew language trope (of your choice from recognised tropes) chanting
Training (if needed) will take place:	Tutors are available
What’s in it for you?	you’ll meet new people you’ll learn a new skill you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community you’ll feel connected to the ritual and spiritual life of the congregation you’ll practice and enhance your synagogue skills
Contact:	Service Coordinator

Cheder Assistant

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:20:01 +0000

The job:	support classroom activities as needed, help families feel connected
Why it is important:	to enrich the Cheder learning experience
Time commitment:	up to 2 hours twice per month
Number of people required:	1-2 This is a good project/job for adults.
Skills needed:	communication
Training (if needed) will take place:	on the job (you will need a Blue Card)
What’s in it for you?	you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community you’ll enrich your child/ren’s Cheder experience you’ll meet new people fun events (if you plan them) family time
Contact:	Cheder Director

Chevra Kadisha

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:19:29 +0000

The job:	Say prayers, recite psalms, prepare the body for burial (bathe and dress it according to ritual practice)
Why it is important:	Jewish burial rituals require it.
Time commitment:	about 1.5 hours, upon notification of a death
Number of people required:	4-6 each time This is a good job for adults.
Skills needed:	physical strength/stamina
Training (if needed) will take place:	Through the Chevra Kadisha (www.bck.net.au)
What’s in it for you?	it’s a mitzvah feel connected to the past and present
Contact:	Secretary

ZFA Israel Programs

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:46:11 +0000

ZFA Israel Programs is the information centre for Australian Israel Program participants. We’re based in Melbourne, and are available to participants from across Australia.

We are proud to partner the long-term scholarship fund MASA Israel Journey, AZYC, AUJS Israel Programs, Taglit-Birthright Israel and Chabad on Campus to send over 600 participants to Israel each year.

Brendan Bensky
Israel Programs Coordinator

Shani Gershon
MASA Representative

Our Place in this World

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:20:05 +0000

The first version of ‘21 Questions and Answers about Progressive Judaism’ was printed in 1969 and edited before being reissued in the 1990s. The Jewish community in our region has grown and so has our list of topics! Perhaps it is a reflection of the fact that our own congregational union has developed and that it now has affiliates beyond the shores of Australia and New Zealand. Israel is even more central to Jewish life than it was a generation ago. Our community is more open to religious questions. Paradoxically, the world Jewish community has seen a parallel growth in the influence of the ultra-Orthodox and Jewish secularism. Both liberal Judaism and mainstream orthodoxy have changed and there are new, and possibly more profound, points at issue.

This pamphlet is not an introduction to Jewish practice. The prologue is a very brief version of a collaborative theological essay published in Manna, the journal of the Sternberg Centre for (Reform) Judaism in Great Britain in Spring 1990. Many of the questions come from a pamphlet listing 30 questions published in Hebrew and Russian by our World Union for Progressive Judaism in Jerusalem in 1991 and the text has been recently extensively rewritten.

JOHN S LEVI, Rabbi

5762/2002

Melbourne

Download a complete copy of this seminal reference

Australian Reform Zionist Association (ARZA)

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:25:25 +0000

We would like to put you in touch with articles and news items that we believe to be relevant to you as a religious Zionist. If you wish to give us feedback on these articles and/or tell us what other information you would like to receive from, and about, ARZA please email arza@upj.org.au.

For all the latest ARZA news visit the website