Latest RARA News

This is why we do what we do.

No matter the distance, no one should feel alone for the Jewish holidays.

This message says it all:

“I will say this was my best Pesach in years, thanks to you and Chabad.

I usually celebrate alone, or sometimes with a friendly non-Jewish neighbour. There are no local Jewish people here that I know of, and getting around isn’t simple, especially at night. As someone who is visually impaired living in a remote area, I’ve learned to make peace with celebrating on my own, and I truly love my life here in the woods.

But this year was different.

The matzah. The grape juice. The pickles. The gefilte fish, everything. Usually I just have the vegetables I grow myself. But this year was truly special.

And the Passover guide, it was incredible. Such an illuminating addition to the Haggadah.

What a beautiful gift for the holiday. I appreciate everything.”

– Tspora Jensen, North Coast, Tasmania

A special evening of support is coming to the Northern Territory, providing a much needed service to the Darwin Jewish community.

Finding Light After Darkness is a space to come together, reflect, and strengthen one another in the wake of recent events affecting Jewish communities across Australia.

The evening will feature a powerful address by Sheina Gutnick, followed by a guided group conversation in a warm and supportive setting.

In addition, complimentary 40-minute private consultations with visiting Jewish mental health professionals will be available on 13–14 May.

This initiative is about connection, resilience, and ensuring that support is accessible to the Darwin community.

Shabbat Shalom from the Ballarat Shul!

We are joining the service here this week, followed by a lavish Kiddush.

Do you know where and what this building is? And do you know what will be taking place there this weekend?

Today our volunteers visited Archer Park and the Mitzvah House, an installation that has been in place since December to serve the tens of thousands of people that have come through to pay their respects at this hallowed place.

A place where the ultimate evil took place has now become a place for so many to learn about the lives of those that were taken, and a place where thousands of Mitzvos - acts of positivity and connection - have since taken place.

Thank you to the tireless volunteers that stand at the park every day, ready to greet visitors, and thank you to those that have paused to remember, and do a Mitzva in honour of those that were taken so soon.

Sometime help is closer than you think.

On Sunday night, our volunteers where parked up in Boonah, QLD about 90km out of Brisbane, in the RARA Mitzva Mobile, when Mendel touched the doorframe and got a very nasty electric shock. We knew right away that there was a serious electrical fault with the motorhome, so safety first - we unplugged the mains power and spent the rest of the night comfortable on batteries.

Come Monday morning, and Rabbi Menachem in Melbourne starts ringing around every RV shop in Ipswich, the nearest major town, in hope of someone that can squeeze us in to have a look at the issue.

No jokes, 40 phone calls later and every shop in town is booked out for weeks, doesn't touch the 240v system, or just doesn't have time.

So we try calling home sparkies, in hope of someone that can help. "Yeh nah mate last time I worked on a motorhome all the panels fell off and it caused me so much grief I'm never touching one again!"

So after no luck in Ipswich, or even the Gold Coast, it's already 9:30am and Rabbi Menachem figured he'll call the two electricians in Boonah, a town of just 2,500 people. Who knows, maybe they can help!

Liam from Boonah Electrical and Refrigeration answers the phone, hears what's going on, and says sure, I can swing over late morning and have a look.

Wow! We found someone. But it gets better. Liam calls back at 10:00 and says, the other job had no one home, so I'm heading right over.

Liam pulls up in his truck, pulls out the mutli and a bunch of other tools, and gets to work. He finds three issues, and a doorframe sending enough electricity to charge an EV, and with a bit of sparky magic, he grounds everything properly, fixes up some shoddy wiring, and presto - we are good to go - all for a very reasonable price!

What a hero Liam is!

Just goes to show - you can look far, but sometimes help is just 5 minutes down the road.

And thankfully, the volunteers are happily back on the road with the electrical systems working just as they are meant to.

On the 15th day of the month of Nissan, the children of Israel left Egypt, where they had served as slaves for generations. Despite his original stubborn refusal, after 10 debilitating plagues, Pharaoh relented and allowed Israel to leave Egypt for a three-day spiritual retreat in the desert.

Three days later, when the Israelites failed to return, Pharaoh realized that they were gone for good, safely on their way to independence and freedom in the Promised Land. He bridled his best warhorse and called his nation to join him in pursuit of his erstwhile slaves.

After a short chase, the Egyptian army caught up with the Israelites at the banks of the red sea. The Israelites were trapped; there was nowhere to go but into the sea.

Then G‑d commanded Moses to raise his staff and the sea split, allowing the Israelites to comfortably cross on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to follow the Israelites across, the sea came crashing down on them. Chariots, riders and horses all perished in the churning sea.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Moses led the Israelites in singing the Song of the Sea. Miriam led the women in an additional song of thanks, accompanied by tambourines and drums.

This miracle took place in the wee hours of the morning of the Seventh of Passover.

Wishing you a Chag Sameach!

Image: The Jews by the Parting of the Sea. (Art by Yoram Ranaan)

Today we recognise our team of 26 volunteers that were on the ground last week ensuring the Passover Seders around Australia went on without a hitch.

Thank you so much to our volunteers!!

Some pre-Pesach photos from our various communal Seders that were hosted all around Australia. Thank you the 250 guests that attended and recalled our Exodus from Egypt some 2,000 years ago.

We celebrated in Darwin, Katoomba, Margaret River, Toowoomba, Forster and Geelong.

And a huge thank you to our 30 volunteers that made this all possible, as well as our supporters and donors.

Chag Sameach!

We're looking for someone travelling from Bondi, the Central Coast or Newcastle towarda Wellington or Dubbo, on Sunday or Monday, 5 or 6 April, to do a favour that will be very meaningful to an individual in unfortunate circumstances.

If you can assist please get in touch.

I would like to wish you and your family a Chag Sameach - may the festival of Passover bring much meaning and inspiration to our lives.

I hope you will be able to celebrate wherever you are, around Australia.

May our efforts invested into Pesach bear many fruits, may the Matzah have a good crunch, and may the four cups of wine bring true redemption.

Thank you to all those that have made Pesach possible for people around rural and regional Australia.

When you attend a Seder tonight, take a moment to think how we can take the message of Pesach - of breaking out of our limitations - with us throughout the entire year.

I look forward to catching up after Pesach.

Rabbi Menachem Aron