Shabbat Shemini Atzeret
Rabbi’s Drosh
Let me tell you a little bit about our Chatanim for Simchat Torah this year.
Alan Brown is our Chatan Torah and Mike Silverman (Senior!) is our Chatan Bereshit. Many of you have seen Alan and Mike on Zoom as they helped all of us through lockdown with the Zoom Friday Night Live events and additional Zooms for the Chagim over the past six months.
These wonderful men have given much more to the community as well, as regular shul attendees and both holding service positions in our community. Alan as a longstanding Gabbai and regular Haftorah contributor and Mike with his service on the Board and now working as AHC’s Accountant.
No online or in person Friday night is complete without Alan’s beautiful music and Mike’s hilarious jokes. A huge Yishar Koach to them both. May the music and laughter continue to keep us all strong for 5781.
Come support Mike and Alan and celebrate together!
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!
Rabbi Friedler
The Friedlers’ Highlights
Getting Ready for Hillel’s Bar Mitzvah
It has been an exciting week preparing for Hillel’s Bar Mitzvah. We are so proud of all the hard work Hillel has put in to preparing for this special day. We had been praying hard that we could all come together. You can imagine our relief when we heard the level 1 announcement! Thank you to those who have RSVPed. We are thrilled so many of you can join us to celebrate this Shabbat.
Auschwitz. Now.
We had the honour of presenting at the opening of ‘Auschwitz. Now.’ at AUT, an exhibition from the creators of Shadows of Shoah.
Deb was the MC for the evening and Rabbi closed the evening with Psalm 118. You can find out more about visiting the exhibition on the Holocaust and Antisemitism Foundation’s Website via the link below.
Six Years in New Zealand
This week we also celebrate six years in New Zealand. Thank you all for the most wonderful six years serving as your Rabbi and we look forward, please Gd, to many more. During our time here, our family has grown to include Deb, Achiya and all of you and we feel incredibly blessed to be on Shlichut here.
Working with the Team at NIG Nutritionals
Back to the new normal with Kosher Kiwi inspections including a visit to our client NIG Nutritionals.
Please note that due to the restrictions during the lockdowns I will be away a lot over the coming weeks as I catch up on inspections out of Auckland, but I will be available by phone.
Thank You Minyan Men!
This is the time of year with the most AHC minyanim and I want to take the opportunity to thank our core group of Minyan men who seem to be spending more time with me in Shul than with their own families this month! Thank you for enabling these minyanim to take place. What a privilege to be able to pray together when so many around the world cannot.
A Very Special Surprise
On Hillel’s actual Hebrew Birthday this week, he received a very special surprise all the way from the UK… A message for him from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks! Needless to say Hillel was thrilled to hear from one of his favourite Rabbis. You can hear the message, which includes some special learning about Hillel’s namesake Rabbi Hillel.
Naches from Juliet
It was exciting to see our very own Juliet Moses being recognised for her work in the community through the St Cuthbert’s College Making Their Mark Awards.
While there are many of us who would like to attend and support Juliet, unfortunately the Awards are only open to Old Girl Alumni of St Cuthbert’s College.