Our new volunteers, Shalom and Zalman, have arrived, and are spending the next few days acclimatising here in Melbourne and learning the ropes of RARA.
Yesterday, they were fortunate enough to bump into Mr Mendel New, a well known figure in the Melbourne community, who, although elderly, is very young at heart and has a great spirit.
Here, he is telling Shalom to make sure he is always b'Simcha - joyous, when he is out on the road. Shalom is going to be sure to take this to heart!
Yesterday we bid farewell one group of volunteers and today, we welcomed another group!
It's not too often these days that these two RARA cars see each other, as they're thankfully almost always on the road, but they did get to meet today before the next trip begins.
Chabad of RARA is very excited to invite you to our upcoming Torah Celebration.
We will be welcoming a refurbished Torah scroll that will be used all over rural and regional Australia.
Dedicated by Dan ben David and Chaya Ettel bat Binyamin A"H, in memory of our 70 family members that perished in the Holocaust.
This Torah scroll will enable people living further away to be able to experience an authentic prayer service, complete with a Torah reading. For so many that live further away, this will be their only opportunity to experience a real Torah in use.
Please join us:
Sunday 8 September 2024 - 5 Elul 5784
12:00pm in Caulfield North VIC 3161
RSVP essential - Please visit chabadofrara.org/torah for RSVP and dedication opportunities. It is a great merit to take part in a Torah scroll dedication, and at the above link are opportunities to dedicate a letter, verse, or more, in honour or in memory of a loved one.
This event will be a part of our Jewish Discovery Weekend, where people from around Australia spend 3 days in Melbourne, experiencing the Jewish community firsthand. The Torah celebration is open to the wider community.
Our new volunteers, Shalom and Zalman, have arrived, and are spending the next few days acclimatising here in Melbourne and learning the ropes of RARA.
Yesterday, they were fortunate enough to bump into Mr Mendel New, a well known figure in the Melbourne community, who, although elderly, is very young at heart and has a great spirit.
Here, he is telling Shalom to make sure he is always b'Simcha - joyous, when he is out on the road. Shalom is going to be sure to take this to heart!
Thank you Yitzi and Ari for visiting! They head back to the States today.
These two young rabbis travelled over 4,000 kilometres over the past 5 weeks, visiting Jewish families all over VIC and NSW.
A fantastic effort that has yielded many great connections.
Thank you guys, and much success ahead!
WE GOT STUCK!
Yesterday was a lovely Thursday afternoon. Just the right time to visit our good friend Ron, on his farm near Denmark, WA.
It was raining lightly as we made our way up the dirt road to the farmhouse. Ron eagerly welcomed up inside, and we warmed up with a great discussion about Jewish life in regional areas. Ron spends his time between Perth and Denmark, getting a bit of the best of both worlds.
The afternoon stretched on into the evening. Before we knew it, it was time to go.
We hopped back into the RARA Mitzva Mobile Library. But, the rain had only gotten worse during our visit, and what was a firm driveway on the way in had now turned into a muddy swamp on the way out. It didn't take long until our back wheels starting sinking faster than an Aussie break dancers scorecard at the Paris Olympics.
Knowing that once you are stuck, there's no point trying to get out, Ron used his connections, and after many calls back and forth, a tow truck turned up.
Winches were winched, the van gave a big heave, and we were free! Out of the mud, and on our way! Phew!
Thank you so much to the two blokes that headed into the forest in the cold and wet to save us - this is reminiscent of adage in the Talmud - "one who is tied up, cannot release themselves." They need someone to help them. By ourselves, we knew that we ain't going anywhere, last night.
Well, we were truly stuck, and needed some help, and thankfully - it came!
The lesson: Don't be scared to call for help. Spinning your wheels will just sink you further in the mud! Let someone else give you a hand.
Shabbat Shalom!
Let's see what the algor!thm does with this one...
Mendel and Avraham are heading off to Denmark and Albany, along the beautiful coast of Western Australia.
If you're looking for a Jewish book, a Jewish meeting, or some great Jewish food, here we come!
Alan keeps pretty busy and he's got a lot going on. He lives on a farm in rural Western Australia.
When Mendel called him, offering to visit, he said it's going to be hard to squeeze one in. But that wasn't the end of it. Mendel and Avraham were heading down to Manjimup, and Alan's place was not too far out of the way.
So our volunteers made a quick stop, and said hello to Alan. The quick stop turned into a 30 minute conversation about all things farms and all things Jewish.
"I'm so glad you guys stopped by," said Alan, as Mendel and Avraham climbed back into their motorhome to head out. "You're visit came at just the right time."
Alan is pictured here laying the Tefillin, after having just recited the Shema, the age-old Jewish prayer.
Did you know? Since January, we've hosted Shabbat meals in more than 32 different cities around Australia.
Coming up, we'll be hosting a large Shabbat meal in Katoomba NSW tonight, and also in Margaret River, WA.
In September, we'll be hosting a Shabbat in Darwin NT, as well as Toowoomba QLD, and Warrnambool VIC.
The Shabbat meals are a great way to meet other local Jewish people, enjoy some great traditional food, and sing songs that will remind you of your grandparents.
Let us know if you'd like us to host a Shabbat meal for your area in the future.
Anyone near Margaret River in WA this weekend?
We're hosting a Shabbat meal tomorrow night (Friday) and would love to have you join!
When you head up to Darwin next, there is a brand new exhibit that you must see.
The Darwin Holocaust Memorial and Education Centre has just opened and is located within the Darwin Military Museum (DMM), in East Point, Darwin.
As part of a commitment from the Federal Government made in 2022, it is one of many Holocaust Memorials that have opened around Australia. Last year, a memorial opened in Brisbane as well.
The opening of the memorial is a big step for the Northern Territory, and will enable thousands of people to be better educated on this important topic.
A huge thank you to all those that have been involved in this very special project, which could not come at a more appropriate time.
Does your family have a connection to the Holocaust?
How exciting! As our volunteers Avraham and Mendel were picking up some Kosher supplies in Perth, they did an impromptu Mitzva Mobile Library tour for local school group - PHC EmPower at the Perth Hebrew Congregation.
The children were so excited to see all the interesting Jewish things on board, and walked away knowing that you can do a Mitzva anywhere - at home, at school, or even on the road in the outback!
We've been a little quiet on Insta, but keeping very busy on the road! Thank you to Haya in Fremantle WA for hosting our volunteers Mendel and Avraham for Shabbat last week.
They had a very uplifting time, singing, eating, and getting into some great discussions with the small crowd that came over.
What a great meeting Ari and Yitzi had with Leanne and family in Colo Vale, NSW.
It had been a few years since RARA had last stopped by, and this visit could not have come at a better time!
There were great discussions with the family that lasted throughout the afternoon, and Ari helped place a new Mezuzah on one of the family home's doors.
It's so special when not just one generation engages in their Judaism, but the next one as well!
So touching!
Our volunteers, Mendel and Avremel, stopped off at the Coles in Hilton WA, a suburb of Perth, to stock up on some groceries.
On return to their Mitzva Mobile Library vehicle, they found this special note on the windscreen.
What a nice thing to do!
A lot of people think it is very hard to keep Kosher in regional Australia.
But have you seen our comprehensive Kosher food guide?
There are so many Kosher products that you can find all over the country.
Head over to chabadofrara.org/kosher and check it out.
You're guaranteed to find some products that you didn't know were so yummy and so kosher!
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Shavua Tov! Wishing everyone a great week.
We had a beautiful Shabbat with old and new friends at Haya's place in Fremantle.
Pictured here is Mendel making the Havdala service, and welcoming in a new week.
It's sad to see the end of such a memorable 25 hours of Shabbat, but we are looking forward to a whole week ahead of great connections.
Have you filled up one of these?
Or can we send you one in the mail?
Your small change can make a big change for the world.
Here's one from the archives!
Way back in 1977, 3 young university students had some spare time over the summer holidays. So, they rented a motorhome, added some lettering and pictures using some coloured tapes, and went to explore regional Australia, to see if they could connect with anyone Jewish.
On that trip, they met up with over 100 Jewish families across three states. People were so happy to connect, and have a chat with Sauly, Hershel and Yossi.
Indeed, this inaugural trip is what laid the groundwork for Sauly and Beverly Spigler to found Chabad of RARA, many years later - and now our volunteers drive around all year long, connecting with regional Jews.
Can you tell where this photo was taken? If you have been there, you will quickly be able to identify the location!
