Passover 5719, Hashofar
HaShofar
The very first publication of Hashofar, April 1959, Nissan 5719, Vol.1-No.1.
Jewish Lives is pleased to launch a new series, where we highlight stories from the Jewish Community archive. With Passover coming up, we thought we would share excerpts from the very first publication of HaShofar which was launched at this time of year, April 1959, Nissan 5719.
HaShofar was an initiative of the Auckland Jewish Association. The publication was four years in the making, causing the president Leo Manning to opine, “He that believeth shall not make haste”. The new journal was welcomed as a vehicle to give the Auckland Jewish community a voice and it was to be sent to all Jewish homes in Auckland “without fear or favour”.
The editorial board included Editor Ernest Markham and Secretary Mrs P.L. Bookman. The Board members were Leo Manning, C.J. Stone and R.A.Sanders.
Leo Manning Q.S.O., J.P. was well known to the wider Auckland community as the Mayor of Onehunga for nine years. Among his many contributions to the Auckland Jewish Community was his pioneering work, over many years, to establish Kadimah School and Kindergarten. So devoted was he that he daily drove the five original pupils of Kadimah Kindergarten to the initial site in Parnell.
Mark Herbstein, Chair of the Bernard Goldwater Jewish Education Trust Board, with Head Teacher, Michelle Williams, at the opening of Kadimah Preschool in Remuera on 19th March, 2023.
On Sunday 19th March, 2023, Leo Manning was remembered with affection at the opening of the exceptionally beautiful and spacious Kadimah Pre-School in its new, Remuera location.
The 1959 Hashofar magazine included a Passover message from Rabbi Astor. Astor explained,
‘But that ancient story is inextricably bound up with the subsequent events of Jewish history, so that past, present and future become interwoven together…
This festival marks the liberation of Israel from Egyptian bondage by the “strong hand” and the “outstretched arm” of the Lord. It emphasises the identity of people and Torah and thus has the festival lived in the consciousness of the Jewish people over three thousand years of their history’.
Click on the image below to read Rabbi Astor’s full message.
The keen observer will notice on the same page spread under the heading ‘Marriages’, the announcement of the marriage of Inga Ponger and Ronald Woolf. This is timely given the launch this month of Inge Woolf’s new biography, Resilience.
Looking back on the past can provide guidance for the present and insight for the future, or simply remind us, that while technology continues to advance and knowledge expands exponentially, some things remain remarkably unchanged.
Chag Pesach Sameach!