Jubilee Edition No.50
NOV. 2006 – DEC. 2006

NEWSLETTER INDEX

Jubilee Edition Greetings 

Ron Weiser – Immediate Past President, ZFA 

Chanukah Sameach. 

Wow - what a wonderful milestone, reaching the 50th Edition of Finger on the Pulse. 

Some years ago it was my privilege to sit with some wonderful people - Frank Stein, David Hersh, Rochelle Shushan (then Kotek) and Andy Michelson - and to see the enthusiasm they had to invest of themselves in producing a publication that would reach out to and unite Australian Olim. 

It was an idea that I jumped at with alacrity at the time in my capacity as then President of the Zionist Federation of Australia and Finger on the Pulse was born. 

And we embarked on an adventure - and what a journey it was. 

We were united in tragedy during the Maccabia Bridge collapse and its aftermath. Finger on the Pulse was produced right through the trials and travails of the Intifada and we also  joined together on three separate occasions, at Binyanei Ha'uma and twice at Ammunition Hill to celebrate all that was good both in Israel and Australian Jewry's connection with Israel - via you, our Olim. 

It is with some degree of pride that we can look back on the past decade of activity together - activity which I sincerely hope has strengthened both those of us in Australia and those Australians who have made such a contribution to the future of the Jewish People by living in Israel. 

B'Hazlacha,

Ron Weiser

PHILIP CHESTER, PRESIDENT
and
LORRAINE ABRAHAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA 

It is with great pleasure that we extend warm greetings on behalf of the Executive and staff of the Zionist Federation of Australia to you, our Australian Olim, in this 50^th edition of Finger on the Pulse, the ZFA’s Olim Newsletter. 

This year has been a critical juncture in Israel’s history, filled with great challenges and heightened threats in particular Israel’s war with Hezbollah in the north. While the people of Israel have been dealing with these existential threats, we too in the Australian community have continued to demonstrate our solidarity with Israel so that her people and indeed the entire world hear clearly that we share her pain and loss and that our support is wholehearted, especially in her time of need. We continue to pray for the safe release of the three kidnapped soldiers – Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. 

The ZFA’s Israel Office continues to function under the directorship of Frank Stein and we appreciate and applaud his efforts. We further commend the Finger on the Pulse newsletter editor Rochelle Shushan as well as Finger on the Pulse contributors for their work and support.

In Australia, you have all been at the forefront of our minds and we hope and pray that the coming year brings peace and prosperity in the State of Israel, of the realisation of dreams and for good health to take advantage of it all.

Frank Stein, Director – ZFA Israel 

Mazal Tov! 

We've made it to middle age – the big 50th edition of our humble little magazine. 

When Ron Weiser first commenced his presidency of the ZFA, one of his first moves was to look for a means of maintaining contact with Aussies (and Kiwis) in Israel. This resulted in the birth of “The Finger on the Pulse",  first monthly and then every two months. Ron's vision became a reality. 

Throughout, many of you have given your comments, written articles, helped when it was needed and ensured the continuation of “The Finger". I guess this is only right, since the magazine is here for you. To all of you who have assisted in whatever form – a sincere thanks. 

Over the 50 editions, we have printed 15,000 magazines. That amounts to 500,000 pages, 15,000 envelopes and postage and does not include the web edition, which has reached many more people! Not a small amount of work, both artistically, technically and physically. 

Hence… my sincere thanks to the two people who work endlessly, each edition, to ensure the magazine is ready both in print and on the web; our Editor since the first edition – Rochelle Shushan (also hearty Mazal Tov to Rosh and Yoni on the birth of Shenhav!) and; a great friend who is always available and willing to help – David Hersh, who prepares the web edition. There would be no "Finger on the Pulse" without Rosh and David. Sincerest thanks to you both. 

Here's to the 100th edition! 

David Hersh – Webmaster 

50 Editions and still going strong. It has been a real pleasure working on the magazine with Rosh and Frank. I do my small part in translating the newsletter to a web-readable format. I have  a little fun on the way adding humorous (to me, anyhow) headings to pages and creating interesting pictures for the wonderful recipes that Rosh presents us each edition. But the real work is done by Rosh. 

Rochelle Shushan, who puts together a new edition for us every couple of months, brings us interesting articles and information that's relevant to our lives in Israel, whether we have been here a year or more than 50 years. And of course Rosh, and her great husband Yoni, are due a BIG MAZAL TOV on the birth of their second child, Shenhav a sister to Timna.  

Then there is Frank, a good friend and a tireless worker for the ZFA. His foresight in bringing about the Newsletter and his input into each edition before they reach you is immeasurable.  

Both Rosh and Frank should take much pride in this the 50^th edition of the PULSE and may there be many more. We do enjoy your feedback so keep it coming. 

Never wanting to miss and opportunity for my personal plug – I really enjoy seeing Aussies in my store. So, come in and say “G'Day” and receive a free gift with every purchase over 150 Shekels. We are the Judaica Gallery, above the Midrachov in Jerusalem, on the corner of Ben Yehuda and King George Streets;
‘The Personal Touch’  
It's hard to miss our window, I look forward to seeing you in the store. 

Rochelle Shushan - Editor 

Sitting at my computer, composing my message for our jubilee edition, I reminisce as to how  The Finger on the Pulse began.  

As an Australian Jew (or Jewish Australian, depending on how you view the
issue), I was always involved in the Jewish community. Subsequently, upon making Aliyah, I immediately started looking for a way I could make a difference and get involved. When Frank approached me with his offer of editing the ZFA’s new initiative – its newsletter for Australians and New Zealanders in Israel – I knew that it would be both a challenge and fulfilling. 

Since making Aliyah, I have been working in the field of Aliyah.  My background isn’t journalism or editing and until my first child was born I spoke more Hebrew than English in Israel. Once she was born, my English graduated to her level (she’s not yet two!). I realized, however, that it wasn’t the point. The point was to produce a newsletter that would interest people who came from a cohesive overseas Jewish community and were now dispersed all over Israel. It’s actually fascinating how Australian Jews can be found in almost every corner of this country and that they usually don’t marry other Australians, but…that’s a subject for another edition! 

Over 50 editions, Frank and I have often consoled each other over the fact that we haven’t received feedback and/or contributions to the newsletter.  And then…at a chance meeting or arriving in our email, or postal, box someone lets us know that something made them laugh or sit up and take notice or that it’s just nice to “keep in touch with what’s going on from time to time”. If we’re lucky, someone will contribute an article, or a new segment or let us know of an engagement/marriage/birth they want to share. It is those moments that encourage us, recharge our batteries and keep us going. Those are the moments we know Ron Weiser had it right and that it’s ‘kinda nice’ to keep ‘your finger on the pulse’. 

This is my opportunity to say thank you to all the people who have accompanied me on my journey throughout 50 editions.

First and foremost, thank you to Ron Weiser, Frank Stein and David Hersh.

To Ron Weiser for his vision, warmth and for being a “mensch” .

To Frank Stein who works tirelessly, puts up with my nudging, always has an open door, is ready to listen to any comment, idea and suggestion and who gave me this opportunity 50 editions ago.

Last in the trio, and certainly not least, to David Hersh, who puts each edition on the web with care, humour, patience and creativity. With each new edition, I eagerly await David’s page titles and recipe pictures (Gastronomic Revelation) as I know they will succeed in putting a smile on my face. Each new edition brings me an encouraging email response from him with his feedback. It’s a wonderful way to lay an edition to rest…or put it to bed, as they say in ‘editorial talk’.

Next, thank you to all those who have appeared in the I Come From the Land Downunder segment, to Dvora Waysman for constantly being in touch, for always being willing and for her wonderful works of creativity, to Roby Shmerling for his initiatives, contributions and for taking an interest when we have been late in sending out an edition and to David Wiseman who took us all down memory lane with What I Miss (About Australia). Thank you to Neil Gillman, past UJIA counselor and current Aliyah Shaliach in Washington for The Oleh’s Corner and to all our ZFA and SZC employees for sharing a part of themselves with us.