Kehilat Nitzan is the first Masorti (Conservative) congregation in Melbourne, Australia, formed in March 1999. We provide traditional egalitarian services in which both women and men can participate equally. We offer a warm and friendly environment in which you can celebrate our Jewish way of life. Kehilat Nitzan is more than just a synagogue - it is a community.
We offer Shabbat and chagim (festival) services as well as shiurim (study sessions). Services are held every Shabbat evening and morning at Kadima, 7 Selwyn Street, Elsternwick (Map) Everyone is welcome to join in our services and activities.
Kehilat Nitzan is associated with Masorti Australasia. We are affiliated with Masorti Olami, the World Council of Conservative Congregations. You can read about us in an Australian Jewish News story (PDF) about Masorti Judaism in Australia.
Be sure to read our news updates and check out our upcoming events! See our brochure to learn more about us.
Read the latest Kehilat Nitzan News Sheet to find out more about upcoming events and news plus other communal events of interest. Get in-depth news and see photos of our congregational activities in the Kehilat Nitzan Newsletter for .
Our Musical Instrument Friday Night Service has resumed! Join us at 6:30 pm for an uplifting spiritual experience.
Everyone from post-bar/bat mitzvah to 18 years old is invited for dinner and games of all sorts at Kadima on May 18 at 7:30 pm after the Shabbat evening service. Contact noam.kehilat.nitzan@gmail.com or Beck on 0433 955 560 for more information
Join us for the first-ever Kehilat Nitzan Trivia Night on Saturday, May 19, at 7:30 pm. Invite friends to make up a table, or join an existing table. Fee is $20, which includes supper and the company of know-alls. Fabulous prizes! Bookings essential. Phone Bev Rosenberg at 9525 9771 or send email.
The Nitzanim troupe will be performing for the residents at Amity (BUPA), 349 North Road, Caulfield, on Sunday, May 20, at 2 pm. If you'd like to join our troupe, please contact Evelyn at 9576 2255 for details.
The subject for the shiur is in-depth studies of the beginning of the book of Exodus. Join us every Wednesday at 8 pm.
Note: Because Pam is out of town, please let Rabbi Stein know if you can host the shiur in your home on May 23.
We're offering events for all different ages in celebration of the Shavuot holiday.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot
After Shavuot services at 6:15 pm on Saturday, May 26, join us for cheesecake and some inspirational talks at 8:30 pm for the traditional evening of learning, Tikkun Leil Shavuot. The sessions are as follows:
Godspeak: The Evolution of Divine Communication in Jewish Sources, Paul Forgasz – On Shavuot we celebrate the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, the first great public act of divine communication. Throughout the Bible, God is represented as communicating His will via the medium of prophecy. Yet, the Rabbis tell us, when the Temple was destroyed, prophecy ceased. What then? In this session, we will examine how the concept of divine communication evolved in various Jewish sources.
The Six Remembrances - History, Ritual, and Sacred Memory, Sam Lipski – The 10 Commandments and the 13 Principles of Faith are widely recognised as basic features of Judaism 101. But the Six Remembrances? Can you name them? Why these six? We will consider the text and meaning of this lesser known core element in the Jewish liturgical tradition as a way of understanding the tension between History and Sacred Memory, and why it matters to us.
The Book of Ruth and Its Sounds of Silence, Zvi Civins – The Book of Ruth is a beautiful and moving text that gives us a glimpse of ancient Israel in the season of Shavuot and presents the Biblical heroine, Ruth, and her lovingkindness shown to Naomi. However, the text is important not only for what is said, but for what isn't. We will examine these silences, consider what might be hiding in them, and consider the relevance of these silences to contemporary Jewish issues.
Special Shavuot Children's Service
On Sunday morning, May 27, we will hold a special service for children aged 2-11. Hear the 10 Commandments (around 11 am) followed by special children's activities and Bikkurim (procession with the first fruits), plus ice cream!
Shavuot Milchic Madness With Noam
On Saturday night, May 26, from 6 - 10 pm, Noam will be having Shavuot Midnight Milchic Madness! There will be ice cream, education, games and some form of milchic midnight feast! What better way is there to discover the best chag ever? Contact Beck at noam.kehilat.nitzan@gmail.com for more information.
The Glen Eira Council has finally granted permission to commence our building program. As we have mentioned in the past, a large amount of work had to take place within the Hawthorn Road site to remove soil and prove that there was no contamination on the site. A builder has been selected and we are hopeful of work commencing soon. A presentation was given at last year's AGM about the new building. (Depending on your Internet connection, the PowerPoint presentation might require extra time to download.)