Highlights from the 2018 UPJ Biennial
The UPJ Biennial, held in Melbourne, Australia on 15-18 November, hosted more than 220 attendees from around the UPJ region (which covers Australia, New Zealand, and Asia), with additional representatives from the UK, Israel, and the USA. The program, themed “Making Progress” and furthering the work begun at our previous Biennial with Dr. Ron Wolfson, featured Rabbi Dr. Lawrence A Hoffman as the scholar-in-residence. Rabbi Larry led inspiring plenary sessions titled “How We Pray is Who We Are: The Message of the Prayer Book“ and “Returning Home: Mission Driven but Sh’ma Inspired“, and workshops allowed participants to focus on specific interests and how they related to his presentations. Panel discussions on “Israel as our Spiritual Homeland” and “Jewish Demography: Pathways, Bridges and Stumbling Blocks” with experts in their fields were also featured. WUPJ President Danny Freelander generously shared his knowledge and music throughout the conference. The learning was extraordinary and was complemented by fun and festive social events, including an opening cocktail party and an aviation-themed Saturday night gala. A “taster” for the Shir Chadash Music Conference, to be held on 12-14 July 2019 in Geelong, was offered by our talented Music Network, led by Cantor Michel Laloum and Judy Campbell, with special guest song leader Marshall Voit. The Friday night Shabbat service and dinner were graciously hosted by Temple Beth Israel, and the weekend was capped off with participation in Mitzvah Day activities on Sunday afternoon. We hope our UPJ community will save the date for our next Biennial to be held on 5-8 November 2020 in Sydney – we’d love to see you there!
Please see the wonderful gallery of photos from the Biennial below.
Photo credit: Joe Lewit
Benjamin Meijer Verbrugge and Rachel Lung Agustini (United Indonesian Jewish Community) 
From left: Pam Spiegel, Maureen Barton, Rabbi Allison Conyer and Ruth Trytell (Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue) 
From left: UPJ President Roger Mendelson, WUPJ President Rabbi Danny Freelander and Sue Mendelson 
Temple Beth Israel Vice-President Judi Cohen and Peter Cohen 
Andrew and Penny Jakobovits (Temple Beth Israel) 
UPJ President Roger Mendelson and Biennial Chair Dr Robert Sward 
John Rosenbloom (Hobart Hebrew Congregation) 
Louise Ward and Michael Shnukal (Temple Shalom Gold Coast) 
Shelley and Rabbi David Kunin (Jewish Community of Japan) 
Janet Henrie and Larry Lockshin (Beit Shalom Synagogue, Adelaide) 
From left: Maxine Silbert, Jordan Werner-Hall and Mili Haber (Netzer) 
Joanne Loewy Irons (left) and Rabbi Kim Ettlinger (Temple Beth Israel) 
Immediate past chair Kelvin Ratnam with three lovely North Shore Temple Emanuel ladies: President Gwen Harrison, Program and Admin Manager Pauline Lazarus and Temple Administrator Lynne Michel 
UPJ Treasurer Sally Castle (centre) with Sue and David Esterman (Temple Sinai, Wellington) 
Rabbi Adi Cohen (Temple David) 
From left: Regina Bron (Leo Baeck Centre for Progressive Judaism), Sue Morgan (Temple Beth Israel) and Debbie Swiatek (Beth Shalom, Auckland) 
From left Alex Lehrer (President, Emanuel Synagogue), UPJ Vice-President Brian Samuel, and Robert Hershan, immediate past president of Temple Beth Israel 
Rabbi Danny Freelander 
Rabbi Larry Hoffman 
Rabbi Larry Hoffman in action!