Torah Portion:	Toldot
Synagogue:	Brighton Hebrew Congregation (traditional orthodox)
Walking time from home:	70 minutes
Reason for going:	A talk and a lunch
Kiddush:	Lovely, small kiddush - beautiful lunch

My quest to visit shules further afield continues. I have been to Brighton Hebrew Congregation (Brighton shule) numerous times for dinners or other events, but had never been for a Shabbat morning service. I was therefore looking for an occasion to visit and this week I found one. 

Brighton shule is one of the old, traditional post-Holocaust shules that are dotted all over Melbourne. The current premises dating back to 1967 – like many of the era – is more than a shule, with a large community hall, a decent sized kitchen, classrooms and other facility rooms, a playground and a large area for a Sukkah. The sanctuary was never designed for a large crowd and even at capacity probably only holds about 300 people, but unlike some of the other traditional, old shules, it has always managed to get a Minyan and a crowd. The current president often refers to it as ‘the little shule that could’. With a dynamic young rabbi, they constantly have events, activities and services for their immediate surrounding community and for the broader community.

This week was one such event. In fact, there were two events. At the service there were around 30 men and almost as many women, which apparently is about average. Some of course only arrived towards the end of the service, but that is typical in most shules. The service was very traditional, though there is one quirk that I suspect is unique to this shule – the president is also the Chazan (cantor) and has been for many years. As such, he not only leads the prayers, but then also makes the announcements, which is not something I have ever seen elsewhere. But apart from added prayers and psalms for Israel, the hostages and the soldiers, it was a very traditional service.

The portion of the week is partly about inheritance and choices, and the rabbi spoke about some of the choices he and his family have recently made to continue to show their Jewish pride during this time of crisis, and urged all of us to do the same. Later at the kiddush, an Israeli visitor, who has been in the country for a few months but usually works at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, spoke about the impact of the current crisis on universities in Israel. Dorm rooms are being used for families who survived the initial onslaught in areas near Gaza, whilst some of the scientists are using their skills and their labs to identify some of the most badly mutilated bodies. It was horrific to hear, but points to the current reality on the ground in Israel.

To counter the stories of death and destruction, what I really came for was the lunch, or more specifically, the discussion at the lunch. When the rabbi of the shule first started some five years ago, as voracious readers, he and his wife brought with them a few initiatives, including a book club. Over the years they have met at different times, but most recently they have started to meet every four to six weeks on Shabbat after the service, and for those that come, they put on a lunch as well. I came partly because I wanted to come to Brighton anyway, but also because I had read the book being discussed this time, so it was a win-win. In fact, it was an even greater win because the lunch was unexpectedly decadent, with multiple cheeses, multiple types of salmon, a Puerto Rican delicacy and other lovely foods. The discussion was enticing too, and though there were several opinions (unsurprising amongst a group of Jews) about the book, its style and its content, overall even those who didn’t like it so much, were glad they had read it.

Across the country, some shules this week participated in Climate Shabbat, and I actually went to a dinner on Friday related to that. In the morning however I wanted to do something entirely different, and despite the walk, Brighton was the perfect place to come for a discussion and a lunch.