Latest RARA News

We are celebrating Purim in the Dandenongs this Friday!

Please join us if you are in the area.

Thank you to the 580 donors and 12 matching gift donors for raising the much needed funds to help people in rural and regional areas. To date, $239,342 has been raised.

A tremendous effort!

If you haven't had a chance yet, our campaign is still open and accepting contributions.

Wherever you go, RARA will go as well.

Living in rural and regional Australia comes with its challenges. And for someone Jewish, staying connected is not easy.

That's where Chabad of RARA and RARA Foundation comes in to the picture.

Thanks to the generosity of kind donors like you, RARA has been able to visit these people and provide a connection.

Please open your hearts, donate today and support those living further away.

https://www.charidy.com/rara

Jewish life in regional areas has been growing exponentially.

Please join us this Sunday in raising $250,000 to support people living in rural and regional areas.

charidy.com/RARA

Shua and Mendle are doing the rounds, ensuring no Jew is left behind, no matter where.

Here's some great news to start the week off with:

Mazal Tov!

We are so thankful to Hashem to announce the arrival of our beautiful baby boy! He was born yesterday, Shabbat afternoon, here in Melbourne.

Chaya Mushka, Levik and Chaim are so excited to welcome their new sibling, and everyone is doing really well!

Thank you to all those that excitedly looked forward to this occasion together with us.

May we share many happy occasions together.

Rabbi Menachem and Shevi Aron

Shout out to Mick, the legendary owner of the IGA in Broken Hill. What did he do? He's arranged for yummy Glicks Challah to be available out his outback store. If you're in far west NSW and looking to make a Shabbat, go no further!

Mick, who has Italian heritage, has been in Broken Hill for ages, and recalls a Jewish shopkeeper named Harold Griff, who ran a furniture store. One time, someone let lose on Mick with some unsavoury name calling, and Harold was sure to stick up for Mick and protect his dignity. Harold said to Mick, "You've got to keep going, despite the racism that may come your way".

Harold would say, "Without the Italians, the Jews, and the Greeks, no one in Broken Hill would have any luxuries in life."

Thank you to Nat, a doctor currently practicing in Broken Hill, for facilitating this fantastic development!

Purim is coming up, and we will be celebrating in Geelong!

Happening on Friday, 14th May for 5pm to 7pm - if you are in the area, please come and join us for a fun afternoon!

Purim Sameach

Avi and Elimelech are in Launceston for the next week, doing a collab with Chabad of Tasmania.

They spent the past two weeks visiting different parts of the north coast.

If you are around and would love a reJEWvenating visit, they would love to pop in and say hello!

L'chaim!

Shua and Mendle caught up today with Roger in Orange NSW. And he shouted us some beers! What a champ!

Our volunteers are hosting a Shabbat meal in Orange NSW this week. Let us know if you are nearby!

Fernand survived the Nazi invasion during WWII by hiding in a barn with his family for close to five years. Taken in by a gentile family that risked their own lives several times, he was the recipient of a kindness that spared his life.

This week, our volunteers Shua and Mendel managed to catch up with Fernand and hear his story first-hand, which left a great impression on them.

What a delight it was for them to spend time with someone that has been through so much, yet still has a smile on his face. 

And here it actually is! Today we received copies of the 2025 RARA Calendar from the printer, and they have come out looking very, very nice!

They are also on their way to homes around the country, and will be delivered in the next few days.

With Shabbat and festival times for more than 10 cities around Australia, plus a wealth of photos and other information, there's something for everyone in this publication.

Thanks so much for everyone's patience with this. The good news is, the calendar will take you all the way to the end of February 2026, so you'll get plenty of use out of it.