Events and Programs

Shabbat Shalom.

On behalf of myself, my wife The Revd Assoc. Prof. Robyn Whitaker, the Wardens and Parish
Council of St. John’s, Toorak, I extend my sincere gratitude to Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson,
Rabbetzin Rivki Nathanson, President Quentin Miller, Vice-President Emi Slade, the Board
of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and all of you, the good people of this wonderful
community, for the gracious invitation to attend your Shabbat service this evening.

I know I speak on behalf of my congregation when I say that it is profoundly moving to be with you,
to pray alongside you, and to be so welcomed into this magnificent synagogue. I
understand that this week has been a very difficult one for you and many of you are in
mourning. Please accept my sincerest condolences and the assurance of my prayers.

I must confess this is the second time I have been here, the first time being when I was a
teenager and - this is aging - was some 40 years ago, where, again at the gracious invitation
of your then Rabbi, my class at neighbouring Melbourne Grammar School were invited to
come and see this glorious place of prayer and worship and learn of its historic significance
in the life of our city and the Jewish community in Australia. I have never forgotten that. That
is the power of invitation and hospitality.

Your welcome this evening to our church is all the more powerful – and timely - when too
many in our world and our community seek to hate rather than love, divide rather than
unite, disturb or denigrate rather than comfort and raise up. In October of last year, I spoke
with your Rabbi and extended to him and your community my concern and that of the St.
John’s community regarding the anti-Semitism in Melbourne. I expressed to him our disgust
at such behaviour, our unequivocal and unwavering support, and to assure him that you
have a friend in us on Toorak Hill. On behalf of the Council and congregation at St. John’s,
tonight I repeat that assurance, and pray, with you, for peace, tolerance and joy to be the
hallmarks of our shared Melbourne society.

Lastly, I hope there is opportunity for St. John’s and I to return your graciousness and
welcome at St. John’s, where, like this end on Toorak Road, it is also impossible to find a car
park.

Peace and blessings to you.