Latest RARA News

Freshly made Challah... not in Caulfield and not in Bondi - but in Alice Springs!

We're gearing up for a warm and inviting Shabbat meal tomorrow. With the nearest Kosher bakery a couple thousand kilometres away, we've been joined by the local Jewish community for a grand Challah bake.

Results coming hot out of the oven very soon...

We're headed to Alice Springs for a weekend Shabbaton and a much needed catch up with the local community.

Did you know that some Jewish residents in the Red Center have been there for more than 40 years?

— traveling to Alice Springs, Northern Territory from Melbourne Airport.

Here's a quick throwback to this great photo from a few weeks ago with a group of our volunteers that dedicated many, many hours and hundreds, and often thousands, of kilometres to Jewish outreach all over Australia.

Thank you to Ari, Mendy, Chanaya, Shmuli, and Pini for your dedicated service.

You guys punch way higher than you're weight!

Mendel and Shneor have been embracing new connections all over North Queensland. 

Last week, they spent an emotional few hours with Dean in Mackay, discussing everything under the sun, and ending with a promise to keep in touch.

Then, over the weekend, they had an incredible Shabbat in Airlie Beach, hosted by Natalie and family. 

This week, Mendel and Shneor head further north to Bowen, Ayr, and the outskirts of Townsville.

And if you're up early, listen to ABC Breakfast tomorrow around 7am - you'll hear them then!

Chabad of RARA extends a huge thank you to our most recent volunteers, Benny and Rivka Winterfeld. 

Benny, from Montreal, and Rivka, from France, married 4 months ago, and moved to New York. For their summer break, they joined us here in Australia, and spent five weeks on the road, visiting people in isolated circumstances all over New South Wale's South Coast.

The young couple spent countless hours giving a listening ear to people facing many challenges, loneliness, and isolation. They also hosted no less than five Shabbat meals, for which both of them spent a full day in the kitchen, cooking up an absolute storm of a delicious meal, all while on the road and in someone else's kitchen!

It has been so heartwarming to hear from families that the Winterfeld's met during their travels.

Yoke from Wollongong shared: "We had a wonderful Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Benny and Rivka. The company was delightful and the food so delicious!"

Kathrine, who lives near Nowra, joined Benny and Rivka for a weeknight dinner. She shared: "I am so happy to finally meet Benny and Rivka. They went above and beyond and now that I know the rural community is doing it tough, it's not just me, it's all of us, it definitely has given me reassurance that there are people I can reach out too when it gets too tough. Thank you for introducing us to each other."

Benny and Rivka are spending their final Shabbat in Australia with family in Sydney, and will head back to the States next week. We wish them much success, and we thank them for bringing so much life and energy around rural and regional NSW.

Shneor and Mendel have been making some incredible connections around central Queensland.

Catching up with David last week was a memorable experience - there's always so much to be gained during these regional meetings.

The two young rabbis are in Rockhampton today, which was once home to a very small number of Jews, some of which are even buried in the local cemetery!

However our volunteers always prefer to visit with people that aren't six feet under so if you're around today they are keen to catch up.