Just a little diddy I made up about our new PM:     

                                

My Name is Julia, by Shoshanna Silcove

I am woman, hear me strong,

even though my nose is long,

it doesn't mean that I will lie to you.

My hair and politics are red,

and I climbed as Kevin bled,

as I promised, to the summit, with a grand view!

Shabbos in Zhmerynka, by Iosef Levy and Shmuli Silcove

In every place on Merkos Shlichus, one of the best things to do, is to make a get-together of all the local Jews. This we did, in Zhmerynka, Ukraine. It was last Friday, where we stood for hours in a tiny kitchen in the local Shule cooking food, with the meager kosher ingredients available in this part of the world. We were told to cook for, “Fertzig menschen” (“Forty people”), and thus we pealed 10lbs of potatoes (and did much more).

The Invisible Curtain, by Shoshanna Silcove

“I just can’t understand it!’ my father said as he shook his handsome round face back and forth in bewilderment. He was in his mid 50′s and his luxurious full head of hair had been transformed from jet lack to distinguished salt and pepper. “We sent you to Temple Emanuel Hebrew school every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday for years. ” He pointed his finger in the air to punctuate, ‘and you grew up to become religious!’ Dad sneered and shook his head in incredulity. ‘We tried to raise you right. I just don’t understand how this happened,’ he muttered as if defeated.

A Hug From G-d, by anonymous

Dvir Aminolav was the first Israeli soldier killed in the 2008 Gaza War. His mother Dalya missed Dvir, terribly. One night before she went to bed, she said in a loud voice: "G-d, give me a sign, give me a hug
from Dvir so that I will know that his death had some meaning."


That week her daughter asked her to accompany her to a musical performance at The International Crafts Festival in Jerusalem. Dalya, feeling quite depressed, did not want to go to the concert, but she didn't want to disappoint her daughter either, and agreed to go halfheartedly. The concert was a bit delayed. A two-year-old boy began wandering through the stands. He walked up to Dalya's seat and touched her on the shoulder. A preschool teacher, Dalya turned around, saw the boy and smiled warmly.

Suppression of Jewish Women – a Matter of Perspective,by Shoshanna Silcove

Does traditional Judaism prevent women from being free human beings? Do the laws and customs suppress women, thus rendering them as inferior in status to men, thereby making them unable to enhance their Jewish identity, spirituality, and connection to Hashem? Is traditional halachic theology dogmatic and sexist?

The answer to all these questions is that it depends on one’s perspective. While traditional Judaism seemingly discriminates against women by excluding them from the Rabbinate, from making aliyahs, dancing with the sefer Torah, and from serving as judges in Batei Din, men are no more spiritually powerful than women by virtue of engaging in these public activities.

Remembering the Rubashkins in Happier Times, by Shoshanna Silcove

I like to remember our old friends Sholom Mordecai and Leah Rubashkin in happier times past. My husband Chaim and I both knew them as singles before we met each other. We were each independently welcomed as Shabbos guests in their home on President Street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. On a date  I mentioned to Chaim that I was planning on eating the Friday night meal there. Without letting me know beforehand, he surprised me and showed up at the Shabbos table too. I felt awkward as I gazed across the table at the young man I knew would become my husband. I cornered Leah in the kitchen and told her that the Australian guy at her table was the man I was going to marry, only maybe he didn't know it yet! Leah discreetly jumped for joy and said she was so excited that two of her guests may get engaged. She told me that if we did then she was going to make our vort (engagement party). A few weeks later we did indeed get engaged and the Rubashkins made us a a beautiful vort, sparing no expense, extending the warmest hospitality as if we were their own mishpacha (family). I treasure the memories and the photos.

Had Grand Opening of the first Jewish Radio Station in Melbourne Today

         I just got back from the grand opening of LionFM 96.1 Radio at Spiritgrow on Balaclava Road. We had a packed house. We all did a ten second countdown launching the first Jewish radio station in Melbourne, Australia, and the excitement in the room was palpable. 


 My show, the Melbourne Jewish Women's Show, will be a showcase for dynamic Jewish women doing interesting things highlighting their contributions to the community. Hopefully, this will have the effect of dispelling some negative stereotypes of Jewish women, and presenting some of the color of the local Jewish culture to the community at large. Along with that I plan to spread a bit of the light of Torah, and to  entertain and inspire my listeners.


The Melbourne Jewish Women's Show airs for the first time tomorrow at noon for one hour and then every two weeks.  It will air every second and fourth Monday of the month thereafter, except for Shabbos and Yom Tov. Looking forward to your feedback.