Toda Raba Mr President!

There wasn’t a single mishugahna protestor who could diminish the warmth, comfort, and strength our community felt this week during President Isaac Herzog’s visit.

His words drowned out their chants, his presence deafened their violence, and the love from so many who joined him, eclipsed their hatred. While they shouted calls for intifada, less than a kilometre away, President Herzog delivered a message of peace, hope, and humanity.

President Herzog did more than visit Australia. He embraced his bereaved family. He reminded us that we are not alone, that we are bound together as one indivisible people. His visit reaffirmed an unbreakable bond rooted deep in our souls. The bond between the Jewish people everywhere.

This week we read Parsha Mishpatim, a portion filled with laws about justice, responsibility, and human dignity. At first glance it can seem technical, with many rules and obligations. But at its core is a powerful moral vision: a society is measured by how deeply it responds to the suffering of others.

Among the most repeated commands in the parsha is the obligation not to oppress the stranger, “for you know the soul of the stranger.” Judaism demands empathy as a standard. Not as a luxury or a symbol, but as a binding moral duty.

Perhaps that is the deepest lesson of Mishpatim: justice is not measured by who shouts the loudest, but by who shows up to protect, to comfort, and to uphold human dignity. And this week, dignity spoke louder than any protest ever could.

While our politicians grapple with protestors, policing and party leaders, President Herzog demonstrated that true Leadership is rooted not in power, but in empathy. And in doing so, he strengthened not just our voices, but our spirits.

Mr President, from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. You did not simply visit, you left a mark on our hearts. You did not just stand with us, you lifted us. You gave a hurting community something no protest could ever take away.

In the concluding words of the President’s address on Monday evening “Chizku v’imtzu” may we go forward strengthened, united, and unafraid.

This Shabbos we welcome Ambassador Dr Reda Mansour, a leading voice of Israel’s Druze community. Please join us for his insightful address during the kiddush on Shabbes day, with thanks to Technion Australia.

See you in Shule. Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Levi and Chanie Wolff.