Latest RARA News

What do all these places have in common?

Melbourne, VIC

Seymour, VIC

Wangaratta, VIC

Yarrawonga, VIC

Rutherglen, VIC

Wadonga, VIC

Devenish, VIC

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Albury, NSW

Howlong, NSW

Gundagai, NSW

Newcastle, NSW

Medowie, NSW

Cessnock, NSW

Stockton, NSW

Raymond Terrace, NSW

Fern Bay, NSW

Nelson Bay, NSW

Paterson, NSW

Maitland, NSW

Singleton, NSW

Thornton, NSW

Tea Gardens, NSW

Hawks Nest, NSW

Elisabeth Beach, NSW

Forster, NSW

Old Bar, NSW

Stuarts Point, NSW

South West Rocks, NSW

Arakoon, NSW

Nabiac, NSW

Port Macquarie, NSW

Kings Creek, NSW

Armidale, NSW

Inverell, NSW

Glen Innes, NSW

Moree, NSW

Narrabri, NSW

Bingara, NSW

Grafton, NSW

South Grafton, NSW

Mullaway, NSW

Maclean, NSW

Coffs Harbour, NSW

Urunga, NSW

Bellingen, NSW

Gleniffer/Promised Land, NSW

Dorrigo, NSW

Woolgoolga, NSW

Toormina, NSW

Korora, NSW

Ballina, NSW

Main Arm, NSW

Lismore, NSW

Casino, NSW

Wilsons Creek, NSW

Pottsville, NSW

Mullumbimbi, NSW

Sydney, NSW

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Surfers Paradise, QLD

Gold Coast, QLD

Have you figured it out yet?

They are all the places that Rabbis Yisroel Bernstein and Yosef Eagle visited over the past five weeks! That's a lot of driving!

They dedicated their time to visiting those that needed a Jewish connection, and did not let any distance get in the way. In total, they travelled over 8,000 kilometers, and forged friendships and connections that will last a lifetime.

Well done Rabbis! Thank you for your dedication.

Have you been to this spot?

Hint: It's number #1 in the world for something!

Did you know? RARA has been on the road since 1977!

Pictured here is the very first trip, using a rented motorhome that had Jewish messages stuck on using colourful sticky tape.

On that very first trip, 4 rabbis travelled over 6,000 kilometres and met tens of Jewish families. It was then that it was realized how vital it is to provide support for those living further away.

Trivia: Do you know which state this photo was taken in?

This past weekend was historic! Over 60 Jewish people from all over Australia gathered at the Broken Hill Synagogue, in outback NSW for a special get-together.

Coordinated by Mr Maurie Hasen and Professor Leon Mann, himself born in Broken Hill, a special Shabbaton weekend took place at the historic Synagogue, which was once the gathering point of a thriving Jewish community in the early 1900's.

Rabbis Mendel Shmotkin and Mendel Lipskier, who had just returned from a trip in Western Australia, joined the crowds in Broken Hill and participated in the proceedings.

They shared stories of their travels, and how they had found Jewish people in places almost as remote as Broken Hill over the past two months.

Over Shabbat, a service was held in the Synagogue and the space was put to use just like it had been back in the old days. It was incredible to pray in the same space, and from the same books as people had done over 100 years ago.

A highlight of the weekend was many people laying Tefillin on Sunday, including Gary, who was doing it for the very first time at age 77! After Gary had his "Bar Mitzvah", all the attendees broke out in spontaneous singing and dancing, celebrating this special occasion in a special spot.

The weekend concluded with a special dedication ceremony in front of the Synagogue, where two benches were unveiled and dedicated to the memory of some of the former leaders of the Broken Hill Jewish community.

It was a truly historic event, and a special privilege to take part in. Thank you to Maurie and Leon and all those involved in putting together this very special event.

A special thanks to Mrs Margaret Price, a Broken Hill local, who has managed the Synagogue and museum for many years, and was a big part of making this event happen.

If you're in Broken Hill, be sure to visit this special Shul!

Seek and you shall find!

Our volunteers Rabbi Yosef and Rabbi Yisroel spent yesterday running around Inverell, a small town north of Armidale in search of Tam. They wanted to meet up and say hello, but were having trouble finding where exactly Tam was.

After speaking to some locals, and a bit of driving around, everything came together. What followed was a two-hour discussion with Tam about all things Jewish, and about what its like being Jewish in a regional area.

Here's what Tam had to say about the meeting:

"I am so blessed to have just met Yosef & Yisroel here in my small neck of the bush - Inverell NSW! This was the nicest surprise and I could not be more thankful . Hashem surely does have a plan for me and has aided in my road to rekindle my Jewish roots. You have both made such an impact with just a visit and I want to Thank You for our lovely afternoon! I hope to see you again soon!"

On Friday, Rabbi Menachem Aron visited the historic East Melbourne Synagogue, which was built almost 150 years ago, in 1877.

The Synagogue features a magnificent exterior and interior, with lots of intricate details. The best part of it all, is that the Shul is in use regularly, with weekly Friday night and Shabbat day services. The Shul is alive and well, and you can stop by any weekend for a fabulous service led by Rabbi Dovid Gutnick, the residents rabbi.

Rabbi Menachem spoke to three groups of students from St Joseph's College in Ferntree Gully about Judaism, and the significance of the Synagogue in the Jewish religion.

It was a pleasure and honour to be at this special site.

The Shul also has a personal connection to Rabbi Menachem. Back in the 1950's, his grandparents, Alex and Lily Milecki were living in Preston. They would walk to the East Melbourne Synagogue on Yom Kippur to be able to attend services.

Have a look at the video tour of the Synagogue in the next post.