Latest RARA News

In the lead up to the High Holidays, we'll be sending a group of volunteers to the Northern Territory.

In early September they'll be flying over to Uluru, and then heading to Alice Springs, where they will be visiting local Jewish residents and workers. Then, they'll head up to Darwin and spend 10 days visiting up there.

Do you know anyone in the NT that would appreciate a visit? Please feel free to pass on our details!

A very warm and exciting welcome to Mendel Sirota from New York and Zalman Cunin for California!

Next week, they'll be heading up to the mid-north coast of New South Wales to visit families up there.

And they'll be bringing a Shofar with them - Rosh Hashana is right around the corner.

Three lucky kids just won three great Lego sets!

As part of our weekly RARA Kids online Jewish learning program, there's some great prizes for our little achievers.

They'll be going out in the mail today.

Did you know? Etrogs can grow even in Australia! This one was sent as a gift to Rabbi Menachem, and was grown near Coffs Harbour NSW. Turns out it's not just bananas up there!

It smells heavenly! Quite unique, somewhat similar to a lemon, but much more fragrant.

Sukkot, the holiday when we take the palm branch, myrtle, willow and citron (Etrog) and give them a shake, this year begins in just under 2 months. As in previous years, we'll have the Lulav and Etrog available for purchase - stay tuned for details.

In just four weeks, we'll be getting together in Melbourne for 3 days of connection and a chance to experience a taste of the local Jewish community here.

This is a perfect opportunity to reconnect and strengthen your Jewish identity. Come on down and be treated to a weekend of inspiration!

This is our annual Jewish Discovery Weekend, and you don't want to miss it - the next one will be in 2027!

Yaakov was in Rockhampton when he bumped into Darryl. Darryl has had lots of questions he was looking to find answers for, and after making himself comfortable inside the Rabbi's motorhome, got down to business.

And just as much, Yaakov was able to learn a bit more about some local Rocky secrets.

We're always down for a good chin wag!

It's been a very busy past couple of weeks around regional Australia.

Here's an inside view into one of our trips that was recently completed.

Rabbi Mendel and Chana Benjaminson joined us for five weeks, undertaking a trip that started in Melbourne and made its way though Gippsland, the South Coast of New South Wales, Canberra, and the Blue Mountains. Mendel joined us last year for a trip to Western Australia, and after returning to the states last July, he met his wife Chana and was married. The incredible interactions and sites of Australia was something the young couple was eager to return to, and so the Benjaminsons opted to use their American summer break to visit people in isolated circumstances around the coast.

During the trip, they hosted Shabbat meals in four different locations, starting off in Paynesville in beautiful Gippsland. From there, they spent the week visiting along the coast, making it to Jindabyne along the way, and running their second Shabbat in Batemans Bay. The next Shabbat was hosted in Canberra, in conjunction with Chabad ACT, and saw 25 locals get together for a meaningful and delicious Friday night meal.

Mendel and Chana’s final Shabbos on the road took place two weeks ago, in Katoomba. Hosted at the Echo Point Discovery motel, the weekend saw over 100 people come together for the meals, and Shabbat services. The weekend was a real boost for Jewish people living in the Blue Mountains, and it enabled locals and Sydney-siders alike the opportunity to catch up with each other and make new connections. On the Thursday before, Chana ran a Challa baking activity, giving local residents the opportunity to get hands on with their baking skills.

Robert, a long time visitor to Katoomba expressed his appreciation for the special weekend, and said “We’ve had an ad hoc Jewish group in the Blue Mountains and in particular Katoomba for about 25 years but it has never been able to be maintained. RARA has become the glue which has directly contributed to its growth.”