The UPJ Biennial Organising Committee decided last month to postpone the face-to-face conference planned for October 2021; the Biennial has now been re-scheduled for Thursday 17 November to Sunday 20 November 2022 at the Novotel Brighton Beach in Sydney. We are thrilled to share the news that Rabbi Sharon Brous has confirmed she will travel to Australia with her family and be our featured presenter at that time. 

The Board of Temple Sinai wishes a very warm welcome to Rabbi Dr Esther Jilovsky, who will begin her new role as Temple Sinai's rabbi in early November this year (Covid-willing!). Rabbi Jilovsky was born in Melbourne, but spent some of her primary school years at Wadestown school in Wellington, and later became a member of Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne. Rabbi Jilovsky wrote: "I am truly excited that I have been given the opportunity to lead Temple Sinai into a new era of creativity, engagement and growth."

With great sadness, the UPJ mourns the passing of Rabbi Richard G Hirsch z"l. We are grateful to Dr John S Levi AC, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne, who wrote the following memorial tribute:  We met first in Washington in 1968. I had read and heard of the Reform Movement's Social Action Center and, after seven year's experience as a rabbi in Australia, I needed to catch up with my colleagues in America and see where we were lacking.

The Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors (ARC) of Australia, New Zealand and Asia will present two Elul Reflections each week in the UPJ's Weekly News & Drash, beginning the week of 9 August to encourage meaningful preparation for the High Holy Days. Note: the reflections will not be emailed to subscribers as in the past. The two weekly reflections will also be posted on the Elul Reflections page. In addition, an Elul series "Inspiring Stories, Exceptional Times" and an Elul Book Club are being offered; read more about them on the Elul Reflections page (CLICK HERE).