Think Again - Falling off the end of the world

Last Saturday night, Miri, I and Kovi went to Vivid Sydney. Shabbat finishes early at 5.30pm. We had an afternoon shlof (sleep) and still a whole Saturday nightto kill, so off to Vivid we went. I have been to Vivid before and have enjoyed the spectacle of lights, sound and people watching. This time the whole experience was a flop, in my opinion anyway. There was no energy, the exhibits were underwhelming except for the food outlets on the back of these huge pickup trucks, they seemed exciting, with bright light and sound, but obviously none of the food is Kosher. The main attraction at Vivid was the Drone show at Darling Harbor, so off we went bright eyes and excited to view the spectacle of drones that fly like angels through the stratosphere. The sky lit up, the music boomed, a spectacle of zipping flowers and colour appeared in the night sky. Our eyes lit up in anticipation and wonder. Then bang, everything stood still in slow motion. The drones seemed to stop in time, hanging. The angels (drones) stopped flying and slowly one by one they plummeted falling into the harbour below. One by one they plunged into the cold water falling out of the sky. Technology was failing or was this part of the show, didn’t seem like it, the music was not ostensibly in time. Was something wrong, yes something was wrong and yes the show was stopped. That was the end of the night. Next morning we heard that there was a jam (radio) and malfunction something went wrong a computer program failure of sorts. Kovi tells me, he’s looking at the bigger picture, he’s worried for Australia. How will the Australian Defense Force protect us. Is not drone war fare part of modern warfare. The Ukraine, Hezbolah, Iran and Hamas seem to be experts in zipping around attack drones with payloads of fire power. Certainly, Isreal has the technology. But woe, what about the ADF. The drone failure got us talking about the ADF capabilities. Is everything we are hearing about the unpreparedness of the ADF true. Are our armed forces ready or really taking National Security seriously. Judging from Vivid, I am fearful. China has a whole Temu warehouse full, of capable drones. Woe to Australia. Kovi was saying, surely, we could get some of our mates from Lakemba to manage the drones. There are guys surely from Greenacre that would be experts in managing a drone show. The boys from Punchbowl could put on a masterclass, admittedly they would not fly angels, maybe flying devils. Next year, Vivid is going to reach out to the boys and hire the “Brothers” whose pledge of success is forged in loyalty and blood. Please everyone, take it easy this is my attempt at humour. I’m only joking.

Talking about falling out of the sky. I feel like I am going to fallout at the end of the world. My 29 readers will know that our Mendel (Lipman), the “doctor” is getting married. We planned for a wedding in Israel but there were too many drones in Israel, so we moved the wedding to Mexico. Mexico has a Kosher destination wedding on the Isle of Cozumel. The Westin Hotel is Kosher. There is a Chabad House headed by Rabbi Dudi Kaplin who is Rivki Koncepolski’s brother. He has Dairy and Meat restaurants, all Kosher. Plus, we have a minyan every day. Could not think of anything better for a wedding destination. www.chabadcozumel.com . Then I opened the map and became concerned. Cozumel is not in Mexico, it is in fact, an island off Mexico in the middle of the Gulf, in the Caribbean Sea. Yes, this is the sea with all the pirates, sharks and dragons. I could help but think that we were travelling to the end of the world. In fact, I thought that we were going to the end of the earth and simply like the drones we would just fall off at the end of the world. Miri is assuring me everything will be all right and we won’t fall off the end of the world. I am getting anxiety. We should have stayed in Israel with the drones.

Talking about falling off the end of the world, Andrew and Fiona Silvers are going on a cruise to Iceland. Andrew is semi-retired and makes Saturday morning a regular feature of his life. Saying that, if you have been thinking of attending shule on a Shabbat morning, even if you are not so sure about Hashem but you certainly can be sure of prayer and taking time out to think, meditate and community. Anyway, Andrew and Fiona are cruising to Iceland. Now they must surely fall off the end of the world. Iceland is barren desolate still in the Ice Age with mammoth and saber tooth tigers roaming. But never fear. Andrew can go to shule there is a Chabad centre in Iceland. The rabbi is Rabbi Avraham and Mushky Felman. They call themselves Beit Tovah Chabad and they are in the capital of Reykjavik and can be found here; www.jewishiceland.com .

I take this forum to apologies to my friend and congregant David Graham. Last week in this newsletter I wrote about our guest speakers on Shavuot night. I personally thanked each one, but I simply forgot to mention the best speaker of the night, David Graham. David is an expert Demographer and has a sharp and expert eye on the Jewish people in terms of numbers and data both here in Sydney and in fact every major Jewish community. Seemingly David fell off the end of the earth and I apologies.

If you are feeling like that you are falling off the end of the world come to shule, we’ll share a lchaim. I will be away (in Mexico) on the Sabbat of 20th and 27th of June. This is a clarion call, please don’t fall off the end of the earth. Please everyone make an effort to attend Sabbat services during these weeks. We need Levites, perhaps people to lead some of the services, we need souls just to participate to keep the atmosphere of Coogee aflame and bright. After all, I look out onto the horizon at Coogee Beach and sometimes think we are at the end of the earth.

As always L’chaim

Praying for a victory in the Middle East and for real peace in Israel

See you in shule