Chabad aid for Geelong revival

GEELONG: The vibrancy and vitality of the Geelong Jewish community is being restored by the cooperation of concerned Geelong Jews and some Melbourne families under the umbrella of the Chabad 'Outreach" program. 

The renewed began more than 12 months ago when Avraham and Judy Chavoly went on vacation near Geelong and wanted to make contact with some Jewish families.

Utilising the telephone directory some Jewish names were found and contacted. Since then the moves have been rapid.

Several visits were made by Zippi and Kasriel Oliver, the first of which, before Pesach 1986. resulted in a discussion meeting attended by 24 members of the Geelong community.

Jewish families have been found in Camperdown, Ocean Grove. Queenscliffe and on some large farm properties, all within reach of Geelong.

Meetings have been held in the homes of the Brunswick and Frim families and the Frim's Gallery dress shop now houses the Geelong Jewish Community Library which Zippi and Kasriel Oliver helped establish.

Before Rosh Hashanah last year, Kasriel Oliver gave a lecture to 30 members of the community and in January Rabbi Yosse Gordon and Joseph Slater from Melbourne visited several families in their homes and also held a discussion evening.

Joseph Slater also helped organise a Purim get-together to help the community take part in the mitzvah of hearing the Megillah read.

This included putting an advertisement in the local Geelong newspaper which uncovered some new families who previously had not been known.

The Olivers, Rabbi Biggs from the Yeshivah Mr and Mrs David Reuben, Mr and Mrs Slater and Joseph Slater all went from Melbourne to share the Purim experience with the Geelong community.

A Purim party was held for 12 children. with games, stories, songs and Mishlaoch Manot.

The highlight of all this activity is that after years of neglect by the Melbourne community and lack of financial capacity by few families who live in Geelong. cheder classes are going to be held regularly once again in the city.

Fortnightly classes have begun under the guidance of Michael Lever, and once again young children will have access to Jewish education in Geelong.

Regular study classes will be held for adults and. more importantly. the Geelong community now have a pool of resource people In Melbourne to turn to for advice and information.

Families have been corning from Geelong for the past few months to spend a traditional Shabbat with Orthodox families in Melbourne and now, once again, since the sale of the Geelong shule, the Jews of Geelong have found a focus for their Jewish life.

They now use the beautiful 125 year-old Ballarat Synagogue for their Yom Tov davening.

As part of the Melbourne Chabad "Outreach" program the Megillah was also read in Mildura, Sale and Tasmania.