Joseph Frenkel

Apply for a Blog

Sep 5, 2021, 10:31 AM

Yom Kippur – A Handy Holiday

We find ourselves in an intense period within the Jewish calendar. Having passed Rosh Hashanah and it's symbolism, songs and shofar sounding; the spiritual climb to Yom Kippur seems steep and uncertain. How can we approach this monumentous annual...

Sep 3, 2020, 6:34 PM

Tishrei – An anatomical journey from head to toe

Whilst this past year has been focussed on diseases and drastic societal change, perhaps an alternative, anatomical approach to the Festive Month of Tishrei can give us fresh perspective. Looking at the Chaggim (Festivals) of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot,...

Dec 23, 2019, 8:05 AM

Hanukah – A Restful Holiday?

Whilst Hanukah is generally well known for its food, festivities and fiduciary favours, an often overlooked aspect is what the word of the Holiday actually means and how it relates to rest. The common consensus is Hanukah means either...

Jun 5, 2019, 6:00 PM

Maybe the world isn’t going to hell

Maybe the world isn’t going to hell. Maybe I’m in a good mood. Perhaps it’s a good month – Shavuot, my wedding anniversary, some time off work. I’m not sure what it is, but negativity doesn’t seem to affect me...

May 22, 2019, 10:28 AM

Shavuot – a fruity Festival

The Chag (Festival) of Shavuot is unique for a number of reasons, namely it’s abundance of names. In the Torah, Shavuot is also called Chag Ha-Katsir (The Festival of Gathering), Yom Habikkurim (Day of First Fruits) as well as...

Sep 5, 2018, 8:58 AM

Rosh Hashanah – The Beginning, Middle and End

It always struck me as curious that the Jewish New Year occurs in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar Tishrei. In the Northern Hemisphere, the High Holidays are celebrated in Autumn at the end of summer, when many...

Jun 4, 2018, 3:49 PM

Jewish problems might just be about Jewish self-awareness

There appears to be a certain predictability when it comes to reporting on Israeli and Jewish issues. Authors typically align their ideology based on whether Israel should make more or less concessions to achieve peace. Or whether being visibly...

May 4, 2018, 7:37 AM

C’mon, get happy!

Joy, happiness, contentment, fulfillment – they’re all something each of us look for and need, yet so many of us can’t seem to find! We’re even commanded to be happy throughout Tanach and to serve Hashem with joy. But...

Apr 23, 2018, 2:43 PM

Death is not a “why” or a “how” – it is a “what”

It's been a tough 6 months and here's why. Last Shmini Atzeret my younger brother Dov passed away peacefully in his sleep without warning or suffering from any obvious medical complaint. He had just turned 30 a few weeks earlier...

Apr 17, 2018, 4:34 PM

Yom Ha’atzmaut – definitely not a maybe

For me Yom Ha’atzmaut is a personal microcosm of Israel itself – full of pride, contradictions, arguments, passion, celebration and reflection. Over here in Australia it’s a series of concerts, school assemblies and community gatherings to mark the occasion....

Load more

About Me

Joseph (Yossi) Frenkel is a Podiatrist, academic, freelance writer and (very) amateur basketballer from Melbourne, Australia. His busy family and community life never ceases to be a source of inspiration, frustration and comedy!