Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.
We are gathering at 11.30am behind the Verdict Cafe for prayer, briefing and singing.
Our theme song is
OH DAUGHTERS OF ZION
We will have song sheets available.
At 12 noon we will raise the flags and walk to opposite the Plaza, where we will sing, pray, and declare we are with the Nation of ISRAEL.
Come and stand with us.
Hi Folks
Are you shocked by the killing of innocent civilians? Are you feeling conflicted as to who is “in the right” in the Israeli-Gaza conflict? Why as a Christian should you care about a dispute on the other side of the world? Are you puzzling over what a Christian response should be? If any of these questions resonate with you, then this event is for you.
Hope Presbyterian in Amyes Rd Hornby, has invited us to join a discussion panel at their evening service, this Sunday at 7pm.
The topic is: What should be the Christian attitude toward Israel and Gaza?
They have already had two sermons over the last two weeks on the history of Israel for background, and the sermons can be found here (click the image):
You’re invited to take part in this fascinating discussion. The Q&A session is going to be informative and rewarding. Even more so, if you have thought about it already so bring some questions with you.
See you there!
Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, holds deep significance for Israelis. It is observed on the fourth of Iyar, the day preceding Israel’s Independence Day. This day commemorates those who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel and all military personnel who were killed while in active duty in Israel’s armed forces.
Unlike the American Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron has a distinct character and mood. For 24 hours, from sunset to sunset, all places of public entertainment are closed, including theaters, cinemas, nightclubs, and pubs.
The most poignant feature of the day is the sound of a siren heard throughout the country twice: once at 8 p.m. to mark the beginning of Memorial Day, and again at 11 a.m. before the public recitation of prayers in the military cemeteries. During these moments, the entire nation observes a two-minute “standstill” of all traffic and daily activities.
Radio and television stations broadcast programs that honor fallen soldiers, often featuring Israeli songs that convey the somber mood of the day.
Yom Hazikaron serves as a powerful reminder of the price of Israel’s independence and the ongoing challenges it faces. It fosters a sense of unity and collective responsibility as Israelis come together to honor the memory of those who gave their lives in service to their country.
By the time of Yom Hazikaron in 2024, the commemoration honored over 24,000 fallen individuals.
Limmud is a cross-communal ‘festival of learning’ which last year attracted over 25000 participants to its events, held across five continents, in almost forty countries. It started in the UK 30 years ago where the annual five-day event now attracts 2,500 people from across the religious spectrum and boasts 350 presenters offering some 900 sessions.
Limmud aims to enable each participant to go one step further on their own Jewish journey. One of the key principles behind what has now become an international cross-communal movement is that we all have something to contribute and can learn from each other. Presenters are treated as part of the community, they are volunteers like those who organise the events and all are rewarded by the opportunity to learn from each other. Becoming Limmud NZ makes us part of an exciting worldwide movement.
Limmud has core principles that we feel reflect our community. The catchphrase behind Limmud is “Every Jew should be a student and everyone can be a teacher”. This seems very much to capture what our organizing committee believes, and we are eager for more local presenters to put themselves forward and to encourage people to volunteer. Even an hour will make a huge difference to the success of the first Limmud conference on 18/19 August. Expanding Jewish horizons, empowering individuals to contribute to their community and enabling connections to be made between individuals and across communities are the values behind Limmud International and behind Limmud NZ. We also love the emphasis on ensuring all participants feel equally respected and comfortable at Limmud, no matter which shul they go to, or don’t go to. All Limmud events will be strictly kosher to enable participants to eat and enjoy together.
Limmud, of course, means learning and it is about learning but not in a formalized way. The great thing about the format is it is “pick and mix”. Each session runs for an hour, and there are five different streams to choose from.You just pick what you want to go to – discussion of an ethical dilemma with local and international experts, an intimate text study, a film discussion, or sessions relating to parenting issues. If you need a break for a session, grab a coffee and schmooze. The only thing we can’t do for you is arrange for you to be at two sessions at once – although some sessions are repeated.
Keep these dates free, more information to come.
We are also raising funds for Moran (who will speak with us tonight). If you’d like to donate, please go to https://donorbox.org/donate-to-moran-stella-yanai
On the morning of October 7, Kibbutz Be’eri was struck by a devastating tragedy. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists invaded the community, unleashing a wave of unimaginable horror. Ninety-three members of the community had been brutally murdered. This horrific event claimed the lives of women, children, toddlers, and even an infant, amounting to 10% of the farming community’s residents.
Fire and gunfire destroyed thirty percent of the homes, leaving behind tales of survival marked by horror, abandonment, helplessness, and enduring pain. After capturing the kibbutz, the terrorists went from house to house, shooting or capturing residents while setting buildings on fire. They were accompanied by a camera team and a journalist who documented the attack. Many residents tried to hide in shelter rooms, but the attackers blew up the doors and killed everyone inside.
Nine members were taken into the Gaza Strip, five of whom have since died in captivity. 120 people are still held hostage, their fate uncertain.
The kibbutz is currently a closed military zone, off-limits to the general public. Created on February 7th, exactly five months after October 7th, this series has a significant historical value. In an era rife with disinformation, fake news and AI manipulated imagery, these documentary photos serve as a silent testament to that horrific attack.
Attendance by registration only, please click here to register.
Opening event: Saturday, June 22nd, 6-8pm with keynote speaker Juliet Moses
Exhibition Dates: Sunday June 23rd – Friday July 5th, 10am-3pm, excluding Friday, June 28th (public holiday)
Venue: Auckland Hebrew Congregation, 514 Remuera Road, Remuera
Phone: 09-373 2908
L’DOR V’DOR SPEAKER SERIES
Wednesday 26 June, 12PM
Histories of Hate: the Radical Right in Aotearoa New Zealand explores intolerance and extremism in Aotearoa New Zealand, from the precursors of the radical right during British settlement in the late nineteenth century to today’s conspiracists and keyboard warriors. The volume reveals the complexities of Aotearoa’s radical right traditions. It discusses how, through time, various groups have been animated by a diverse mix of ideas, idealogues, organisations, social clubs, and political parties.
Speaker Bio: Marinus La Rooij
Marinus La Rooij is an independent researcher with degrees in History and Religious Studies from Otago and Victoria Universities. Raised in Dunedin amidst a large Dutch-Catholic immigrant family, his post-graduate research focused on the rise of conspiracy theories and antisemitism in New Zealand during the 1930s. For over thirty years, he has continued his research with a focus on exploring the process of radicalisation, including the influence of false information and manifestations of extremist thinking in New Zealand and Australia. Marinus has published in scholarly journals overseas and recently was a co-editor of Histories of Hate: The Radical Right in Aotearoa New Zealand (Otago University Press, 2023). Professionally, Marinus has worked as a public servant and consultant on transport and infrastructure matters. He has also worked for a decade as an official and researcher in the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process.
This event is both in-person at 80 Webb St, Te Aro, Wellington, and online via Zoom.
A Zoom link will be circulated to online registrants the week before the event.
CLICK HERE to register to attend in-person
CLICK HERE to register online attendance
To view the recording of our last L’dor V’dor session ‘Jewish Mystery Inside the History – Superheroes and the Holocaust’ with speaker Kris Clancy, HCNZ’s Education Director please CLICK HERE
You’re invited to our next members’ meeting and we are privileged to have two guest speakers.
Juliet Moses
Juliet is a partner at TGT Legal, a leading boutique trust and private client law firm based in Auckland, New Zealand. She specialises in trusts, personal asset planning and superannuation and is a regular presenter of seminars and author of articles on issues arising in those areas. Juliet is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the chair of the New Zealand branch’s education committee. She is also a member of the International Academy of Trust and Estate Law.
Juliet is honorary solicitor to the Auckland Chevra Kadisha and Benevolent Society and the Aorangi Club.
Outside of her legal roles, Juliet is the spokesperson for the New Zealand Jewish Council, the representative body of New Zealand’s Jewish community, and a trustee of the Astor Foundation. The Foundation’s goal is to achieve a peaceful and harmonious New Zealand society, including by addressing extremism and ethnic and religious hate, and by promoting the human dignity of all faiths, cultures and ethnicities.
In her spare time, Juliet is the mother of two teenage sons.
DATE AND TIME: 7.30pm, July 30, 2024.
VENUE: The Halswell Centre, 341 Halswell Rd, Christchurch.
ADMISSION: Please bring a plate of finger food. No pork or seafood products, thanks.