RARA in the Media

Link to original article: https://www.netimes.com.au/2026/04/16/when-the-rara-rabbis-come-to-town/

A colourful van has been turning heads across the New England this week, but its purpose goes far beyond novelty. Inside is a travelling kitchen, a small library, and two young rabbis on a mission to connect a community that is often invisible.

The visit is part of the work of Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia, an outreach initiative that supports Jewish people living in regional and remote areas where there is no synagogue or resident rabbi. Coordinated nationally by Rabbi Menachem Aron, the program brings bochurim – young, unmarried men studying at yeshiva (rabbinical school) – or newly graduat… Read More »

Link to original article: https://www.theillawarraflame.com.au/mp-thanks-jewish-community-of-wollongong-in-speech-to-parliament/

The Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes, gave a speech to Federal Parliament, expressing her sorrow and condolences ahead of January 22's National Day of Mourning.

In the days after the Bondi terrorism attack, in our parks, on our beaches and inside council chambers, people across the Illawarra came together to honour the 15 innocent lives taken. Again today, Australians will gather to express sorrow and solidarity with the Jewish community. 

The Prime Minister has declared Thursday, January 22, a national day of mourning. Flags will be flown at half-mast and everyone is urged to undertake … Read More »

Link to source: https://www.theillawarraflame.com.au/wollongong-chanukah-event-cancelled-as-city-of-peace-expresses-grief/

Australian and Israeli flags outside Wollongong City Council offices on Tuesday morning. Photo: Illawarra Flame

A day after the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown reaffirmed that Wollongong is a city of peace and councillors observed a minute’s silence at Monday night’s council meeting.

“We stand with all in our community to express our grief at the heartbreaking loss of life and in outrage that terrorists have targeted a gathering of the Jewish community to celebrate Chanukah, a festival of light,” the Lord Mayor said.

Fifteen people were killed, and… Read More »

Link to original article: https://collive.com/chabad-rara-travels-miles-so-no-jew-left-behind/

Jewish people across Australia were able to celebrate Pesach this year, thanks to the efforts of a large team of volunteers that travelled far and wide to ensure that no Jew is without a Seder, or Matza, for Pesach.

Jewish people across Australia were able to celebrate Pesach this year, thanks to the efforts of a large team of volunteers that travelled far and wide to ensure that no Jew is without a Seder, or Matza, for Pesach.

Headed by Rabbi Menachem Aron at Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia (RARA), a multi-faceted approach was taken, with people being engaged in a variety of different ways.

RARA oversaw Public Pesach Seders being c… Read More »

Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia, or RARA for short, is celebrating 25 years of outreach and connection to the country community with a gala dinner on Tuesday, December 10.

From humble beginnings in 2000, when two young rabbis drove around Australia, to today’s ongoing road trips around the clock to every state and territory in Australia, RARA has become a household word across rural, regional and even metropolitan Australia.

It promises to be a special night of inspiration, memories and looking towards the future.

Shloime Zionce, a well-known personality in the Jewish world who writes for Ami magazine; has visited over 50 countries exploring Jewish life; and runs a YouTube channel with over 60,000 followers is … Read More »

Chabad of RARA travels all over Australia in its brightly coloured motor home, visiting Jewish people living in regional areas.

On Sunday September 8, Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia (RARA) welcomed a new Torah scroll.

Chabad of RARA travels all over Australia in its brightly coloured motor home, visiting Jewish people living in regional areas.

On Sunday September 8, Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia (RARA) welcomed a new Torah scroll.

Chabad of RARA travels all over Australia in its brightly coloured motor home, visiting Jewish people living in regional areas.

A Jewish community member in Seymour, Victoria, Dan Elisha, wanted to do something in memory of his family members that had p… Read More »

Every single Friday, 100-year-old Ruth Phillips lights candles around her home while her phone rings with friends, family and rabbis wishing her a happy Shabbat.

Despite living by herself in the small northern NSW town of Gleniffer, the centenarian has found through constant communication, she is not alone.

However, every year she braves the cold and travels 1,300 kilometres from her home in Gleniffer to Melbourne to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, with her family.

"It's nice, I enjoy it. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't come down here, because it's so cold," Ms Phillips said.

Ms Philips is one of around 10,000 practising Jewish people who live in regional Australia, according … Read More »

For Jewish people living in places in Australia far from a community, celebrating Jewish holidays can be challenging. The sheer distance, coupled with low numbers, makes doing anything as a group very difficult. Australia is a massive country - roughly the same size as the United States, but with a fraction of the population, and home to approximately 150,000 Jewish people, of which most live in the bigger cities like Melbourne and Sydney.

That’s where Chabad of RARA - Rural and Regional Australia - comes in. Founded in 2000 by Saul and Beverly Spigler in Melbourne Australia, the organisation has spent close to a quarter of a century seeking to bring connection to Jewish people in far off places.

Led by Rabbi Menachem and… Read More »

Link to original article: https://www.jta.org/2023/09/13/global/how-roving-rabbis-help-the-few-jews-of-rural-australia-celebrate-rosh-hashanah

Rabbi Mendel Junik prays while overlooking the rugged outback of the Pilbara region in western Australia. (Courtesy of Rabbi Menachem Aron)

MELBOURNE (JTA) — Ruth Hannah has lived in the Australian coastal town of Mallacoota for more than 30 years. The 72-year-old daughter of Holocaust survivors knows of only one other Jewish person in her town, which has a population of 1,183 people.

Known for its beautiful beaches and wildlife, Mallacoota is located near the middle of a 650-mile coastal route from Melbourne to Sydney. Along that route, there is not a single city with… Read More »

Link to original article: https://collive.com/20000-km-to-reach-every-jew-in-regional-australia/

Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia, famously known as “RARA,” has had a record-setting past two months, led by Rabbi Menachem and Shevi Aron. During this time, 8 Bochurim have travelled thousands of kilometers around the country, in search of Jewish people in far-flung places.

Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia, famously known as “RARA” has had a record-setting past two months. During this time, 8 Bochurim have travelled thousands of kilometers around the country, in search of Jewish people in far-flung places.

Founded in 2000 by Sauly and Beverly Spigler of Melbourne Australia, … Read More »

Link to original article: https://vinnews.com/2022/06/24/miles-and-miles-of-shlichus-rabbi-yossi-and-malki-rodal-newcastle-australia/

Shlichus in Australia is unique. Apart from Sydney, Melbourne, and a few other big cities, the rest of the population is spread out over wide areas of wilderness. That’s why RARA – Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia was started. You are essentially the shliach for hundreds of cities over thousands of miles. Much of the shlichus is done virtually, but the highlight of our work would be the month-long road trips, where we visit one or two Jewish families in each area. These are done every few months, so each area is visited once or twice a year. It’s a very… Read More »

Link to original article: https://www.australianjewishnews.com/rabbis-lennox-head-visit-is-full-of-heart/

Not ready to retire when he was 70 and about to be made redundant by his employer, Henri decided to purchase farmland near the town, began studying agriculture, and planted 6000 macadamia trees.

Lennox Head resident Henri Bader (left), 93, with Rabbi Menachem Aron on May 28.

Rabbi Menachem Aron and his family made a special stop on May 28 on their road trip up the northern NSW coast, on behalf of Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia (RARA).

Arriving in Lennox Head, they spent some quality time chatting to 93-year-old Henri Bader, and his wife Lorraine, and left feeling truly inspired.

Not r… Read More »

Link to original article: https://www.australianjewishnews.com/campaign-boosts-regional-outreach/

The campaign has so far raised $260,000 for its outreach work for isolated Jewish families and individuals across Australia, and remains open for additional donations.

A Purim celebration in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, run by Chabad of RARA earlier this month.

Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia (RARA) has expressed thanks to the almost 700 people that donated to its 2023 annual giving campaign earlier this month.

The campaign has so far raised $260,000 for its outreach work for isolated Jewish families and individuals across Australia, and remains open for additional donations.

Rabbis Menac… Read More »