Latest RARA News

The Chabad of RARA annual giving day campaign will take place this coming Tuesday and Wednesday, 6-7 February.

When you hear the words Chabad of RARA, what is your favourite thing that comes to mind?

Mazal Tov to our most recent Bat Mitzva graduates, Ava, Zoe and Aleesha who completed the online My Jewish Soul course. Hailing from Port Pirie, South Australia and the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, the girls were brought together through Jewish study and online learning, as they prepared for their milestone 12th birthdays.

Given over ten weeks, the girls participated in interactive activities, and learnt about Shabbat, Kosher, and all the basics of living a Jewish life. Each session is dedicated to a different topic, with ample time given for discussion and questions at the end.

The course has now been delivered four times by our dedicated teacher, Sheina Sufrin, who teaches over Zoom and is based in Melbourne. The small-size classes ensure that everyone is able to participate and learn at their own pace.

The graduating girls met up together in Melbourne in mid-December last year, and were treated to a day out of fun and bonding together, culminating in a grand party and get together for family at friends at Mama Falafel, a local cafe in Elsternwick.

The girls have gained valuable tools and insights into living a Jewish life, and we wish them much success going ahead!

Shortly, a similar course for Bar Mitzvah boys will be launching, and another round of Bat Mitvah for girls will also be taking place online. 

At a visit to Seaworks in Williamstown VIC today, we came across an interesting (and timely) exhibit.

Amongst the many maritime and ship displays, there is a list of passengers that were aboard the 11 ships that made up the First Fleet, which began arriving in late January of 1788.

Giving the list a closer look, one can see that Esther Abrahams, as well as her daughter Rosanna are listed as convicts aboard the Lady Penrhyn.

Historians have understood that approximately 15 or so Jewish people were amongst the people that arrived on the Fiest Fleet. Esther and her daughter were the first Jewish women to arrive in Australia.

Esther's life has been well documented, and a pavillion named to her memory stands today in Sydney at the Bicentennial Park.

Today, Jewish people number an estimated 150,000 around the country. From those small beginings over 200 years ago, we are now found in the cities, the regional places, and everything in between.

And here at RARA, we are connecting with those living further away, one story at a time.

Mark spends his time between Manyana NSW and Port Huon in Tasmania.

This weekend a number of circumstances led him to spending Shabbat at the Yeahivah Shul, with the Melbourne Jewish Community. It's been a while since Mark has been able to attend a Shul that is full, complete with a grand Kiddush afterwards.

If you're out of town, definitely consider coming in to town for Shabbos. It's one of those things that once you do, you'll be saying "why didn't I do that earlier?". And we'll be happy to help you find a place to stay.

As Mark said, "I'll be coming back again for another Shabbos soon!"

Some more photos from the recent RARA visit to Uluru in December. 

Each little patch of Australia has got a completely different landscape to the next!

Can you identify which Australian country town this is, and how many Jewish people do you think live there?

Today Rabbi Menachem Aron bumped into Rabbi Dov Oliver on the streets of East St Kilda in Melbourne. Dov now lives with his family in the United States and is invested in providing the Jewish needs of young adults there.

Dov was very influential in laying much of the groundwork that has brought RARA to where it is today. In the early 2000's, he travelled all over the country with his family, visiting Jewish people in far off places around Australia.

This was back in the days of printed maps, no facebook, and some very spotty phone reception!

The two rabbis compared experiences from their respective travels, including trips up to Darwin to visit the Jewish community there.

Do you remember Dov and his wife Shevy from back in the day?

Check out this selection we've got available. The previous post tells you all you need to know about these great titles. Have a look!

The grave site of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, the Rebbe on the left, and that of Rabbi Yosef Y Schneerson on the right, in Queens, New York. Photo taken in November 2023.

Saying the Shema with Phillipe in Mildura aboard the RARA Mitzva Mobile Library in Mildura earlier last month.

It is customary to cover one's eyes when saying the first verse of the Shema. That's because there are so many distractions, so much going on around us. Sometimes we need to shut it out for just a moment, and connect with Hashem. That's the pure connection of the Neshama (soul) with G-d.

This is the beauty of having a mobile Library. Wherever we go, we have a Synagogue with us!

We always enjoy keeping in touch with our good friend Eric and his sister Faye, near Coffs Harbour.

Eric is very proud of his Jewish heritage, and even has his own pair of Tefillin that he picked up on a visit to Israel.

If you're headed to Bellingen, be sure to stop at the big fruit shed and servo on the left just before you come in to town. Best service for miles around!

Our rabbis recently returned from a trip that took them many places, including Alice Springs. That's a lot of driving on long country roads!

Well, somewhere along the way, the drivers side mirror of the RARA Mitzva Mobile Library failed. It had been good for many years but enough was enough. Faced with a broken mirror and no mechanic for hundreds of kilometres, the rabbis opted to brace the mirror in place with the help of some duct tape. But that wasn't enough. Even half a roll of duct tape still wasn't holding it properly. So it was time to improvise. The mirror needed some structural engineering to get it back home. Where would that come from? The rabbis looked around, and found a... a salad server!

With everything as secure as possible, they made the trek back home, with parts on order as soon as possible.

Today, back in Melbourne the parts arrived and in no time and the drivers mirror is now squeaky clean and fully functional.

(And now it will be a lot easier to serve the salad at the next Shabbat meal!)

What have you done to improvise in a tough situation?

While recently spending time on the road, we had the privilege to visit the Brisbane Synagogue, at 98 Margaret Street, right in the center of the CBD.

Rabbi Levi Jaffe has been serving as the Rabbi of the congregation for more than 2 decades, and we are very thankful to him for opening the magnificent Shul special for us so we could experience its beauty.

The best part is that the Synagogue is still in regular use, being open every Friday night and Shabbat day for services. And in such a room, the services sound incredible! You really feel like a part of the prayers when you are inside.

If you are in the area, be sure to pop by for a visit. The Synagogue predates all the other buildings on its block, having been completed 138 years ago, in 1886.

Here's a calendar from 2006 that listed "recent" groups of RARA rabbis.

The years mentioned are the Jewish year. If you add 240 to the year, you get the last 3 digits of the Gregorian year. Ie 5763 + 240 = 6003 which corresponds to 2003.

It's 18 years since this calendar was published, and thank G-d we are still at it, connecting with regional Jews around the country.

Do you remember any of these great rabbis?

-Our annual print calendar is in production, and will shortly be in the mail, ready for use around Australia.

-The RARA annual giving day will be taking place in just a few weeks time, on 6-7 February 2024. With the help of the generous community (many of which follow this page - thank you!!), we'll be raising a massive $280,000 for regional Jewish life!

How's that for starting off 2024 on the right foot?

That's right, Chabad of RARA wishes Ruth Phillips a very happy 100th birthday.

Born in Berlin in 1923, Ruth came to Australia at age 16. For the past 40-odd years, she has been living at a very aptly named place - at a house on "Promised Land Road" in Gleniffer, a locality not far from Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast of NSW.

Ruth is very close to her family that lives in Melbourne, and often catches up with them.

Whenever we are in town, it is always a pleasure to head over to Ruth's place and have a no-nonsense talk with her. It takes a bit of a windy dirt road through the forest to get there, but it is well worth it! Ruth is incredibly proud of her Judaism, and every Friday evening is sure to light the candles and welcome the Shabbat.

Happy Birthday and Mazal Tov to Ruth and all her family!

Pictured here at a recent birthday celebration, in conversation with Rabbi Menachem Aron.

It is with great shock and sadness that we announce the passing of Gary (Aharon) Frankel, of blessed memory.

Gary was known to many in Melbourne, Sydney, and most recently, along the North Coast of NSW. Gary brought people together with his great cooking and calm demeanor for many Shabbat meals, Pesach Seders, and other Jewish celebrations. Gary was active in the Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay and Brisbane Jewish communities, as well as the Maroubra Synagogue in Sydney.

Just over three weeks ago, together with RARA, Gary hosted the annual Port Macquarie Chanuka get together at his place, and was honoured with the lighting of the full Menorah on the eight night.

Gary passed away on Motzei Shabbat, 26 Tevet 5784 - Saturday night, 6 January 2024.

Gary's funeral will take place today, Tuesday, 9 January 2024 at the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Military Road, Matraville NSW 2036 at 2:30pm at section J54.

May Gary's memory be a blessing.

A sleepy Aussie animal that likes to hang out in eucalyptus trees.

He must have gotten a great veiw of the RARA Mitzva Mobile Library.

Shabbat Shalom!