Rabbis Mani Holzman and Menachem Amar recently spent 5 weeks visiting families in the Illawarra region in NSW. Here is one of there many visits:
Ivan and Carol, originally from South Africa, have lived in Wollongong for many years.
Coming from very traditional families, they are familiar with all the Yomim Tovim and the Jewish calendar.
Ivan and Carol had been quite a while since the last time that Ivan and Carol had the RARA rabbis over for a visit, so they were very eager for another one!
Ivan had a special surprise to show the Chabad rabbis when they came to visit. He pulled out a photo album from a drawer, and flipped through it, opening to a number of photographs that had been taken in New York, many years ago.
Ivan and Carol had been to visit the Rebbe, and had even received a dollar to give to charity as well. Ivan recalls that the Rebbe had given him and his wife a blessing for Parnassah (livelihood) at the time.
After spending a good part of the afternoon in discussion, it was soon time to part ways. But there would be one more Mitzva for the day - although Ivan and Carol had a Mezuzah on their front door, they also wanted one for the bedroom. So up it went, with Ivan proudly giving the new Mezuzah a kiss.
May Ivan be granted a speedy recovery - Yitzchak Nasan ben Hetti - Amen!
