Australian Shliach Makes Difficult Medical Announcement, Calls To Community Come To Shul To Hear The Shofar

To our dear community,

I want to share some personal news with you, and whilst it is difficult news, it’s important to Malki and I that we include you, our community, in this next season of our lives.

Two weeks ago, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with oral cancer. We are blessed to have caught it early and the doctors are confident that I will make a full recovery. However, the treatment entails a complicated and invasive surgery and I am looking at a recovery of 2-6 months.

We know this is a shock and you may have many questions. We hope to be as forthcoming as we can at every stage. This surgery involving the part of the tongue is scheduled for Monday Sept 1st and there will be a minimum of two weeks hospital stay for recovery.

While recovery times can be unpredictable, and this timeline takes us close to the High Holidays (Sept 22-24), Malki and I have already put plans in place to ensure that the Festivals and community calendar will be as uninterrupted as possible over the next several months. It is our greatest honour and privilege to serve our community and while this is a bump in the road, we know we have the full support of the community to navigate through it.

As I have doubtless shared with many of you amidst personal challenges, by design, we cannot explain why people suffer; we are too human to understand.

There is an axiom quoted by the Chassidic masters “If I knew Him, I would be Him.” If G‑d’s ways were so easily understood that I could reconcile them in my mind, I would be Him.

In simple terms, we cannot understand the ways of G‑d. Our finite minds cannot encompass the totality of life’s intricacies and complications as G‑d sees them. It is simply beyond our capacity to fathom how each event in our lives is a step toward the fulfillment of the Divine plan.

I know that this is from G-d and I know that I will be even stronger coming out the other side. Now is my chance to practice what I preach. Literally.

Thank G-d we have you, our amazing Jewish community, and a wonderfully supportive family. Already the support has been nothing short of awe inspiring. I thank you in advance for the prayers and assistance that I know will happen. (My Hebrew name is Yosef hacohen ben Shterna Rivka)

Looking ahead to Rosh Hashana, we have enlisted the services of a wonderful couple from Melbourne, Rabbi Josh and Abigail Wonder, who will be leading the services, shofar and meals while I’ll be blessed to sit amongst you all in the crowd when I’m feeling up to it.

And so, my ask is this. Please come join me and hear the shofar this Rosh Hashana, September 23 and 24. Whether at services or at shofar in the Park, knowing that you have come to do this tremendous mitzva will bring me immeasurable pleasure, peace of mind, and healing. Times and dates will be published soon.

Wishing everyone a Shana Tova U’metuka, a good and sweet New Year, and may we all be happy and healthy.

Humbly,
Rabbi Yossi