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In an Australian Outback Mining Town, a Lone Jew Receives His Final Honors

Wednesday, 26 October, 2022 - 9:00 am

 

Link to original article: https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/5680177/jewish/In-an-Australian-Outback-Mining-Town-a-Lone-Jew-Receives-His-Final-Honors.htm

 

 

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Dr. Avron Moffson is laid to rest by members of Perth, Australia’s Jewish community, who traveled 14 hours for another Jew. From left, placing earth over the fresh grave: Dennis Davidoff, Marc Roth, David Ninio and Rabbi Shalom White.

The dusty plains near Kalgoorlie, a forgotten mining town deep in the Australian interior, belie the rich Jewish history of Western Australia’s Goldfields region, once home to two synagogues during the peak of the gold-rush era in the early 20th century. While Kalgoorlie—some 370 miles from Perth, the nearest metropolitan area—may be remote, the handful of Jews there are not forsaken.

Just six people identified as Jewish in the most recent census, and Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia (RARA) has kept in touch with them for decades, visiting to provide them with pastoral guidance and a Jewish connection, as recently as August.

When longtime Kalgoorlie physician Dr. Avron Moffson, 85, passed away on Oct. 10—the first day of Sukkot—the staff at a local funeral home was at a loss. How could they help him have a traditional Jewish burial? They posted on a local Facebook group asking if anyone knew what to do for a deceased Jew.

In Melbourne, 1,700 miles away, Avi Kassman, who used to live in Kalgoorlie, received a message from his sister-in-law, a Kalgoorlie resident, sharing the post.

Kassman knew Moffson from his Kalgoorlie days and was eager to help. “I met him about 10 years ago at his clinic with my son,” Kassman, who converted to Judaism, told Chabad.org. “I was not Jewish yet, but on my way to becoming Jewish. He noticed our yarmulkes, and we got talking. He was a proud Jew.”

The not-yet converted Kassman later helped the doctor wrap tefillin and gave him a menorah for Chanukah, but soon moved to Perth to facilitate his conversion.

 

 

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Rabbi Shalom White, center, leads the funeral service

Moffson stayed in touch with Chabad of RARA and received periodic visits from their Roving Rabbis. Rabbi Shalom White, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Western Australia in Perth sent him packages regularly.

Kassman called White to inform him of Moffson’s passing. At the same time, a Jewish businessman who visits Kalgoorlie had seen the post and notified the Perth Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society). Mike Gomer, president of the Chevra Kadisha, also called White, and they liaised with the Kalgoorlie funeral home and made plans to travel to the outback. “Initially, the plan was that I would go myself, and conduct the taharah and the funeral,” explains White. However, being that preparing the deceased for burial is really a two-man job, Gomer decided he would accompany the rabbi on the long journey.


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While Kalgoorlie—some 370 miles from Perth, the nearest metropolitan area—may be remote, the handful of Jews there are not forsaken.

Volunteers Set Out on a 14-Hour Journey 

Joined by a small group of volunteers, White and Gomer headed out for the 14-hour round-trip journey on Thursday, Oct. 13. “We left Perth at 6 a.m. and returned at midnight,” says White. White brought along a pop-up sukkah, so the group could fulfill the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah even while on the road.

“It’s amazing that a group of Perth Jews gave an entire day just for a lone Jew who needed help,” says White. “I had always known about him and communicated with him, but the rest of the group had just heard of him for the first time after his passing .”

Kassman is similarly moved. “He was committed to living in remote areas and helping people,” Kassman says of Moffson. “He was well-loved by the community and helped many families with his services. He never forgot who he was as a Jew.” That community, in turn, made sure that this Jewish man was buried according to his sacred traditions.

 

 

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The small Jewish section in Kalgoorlie’s cemetery is marked by a sign reading “Hebrew.” From left: Perth Chevra Kadisha President Mike Gomer; Rabbi Shalom White, director of Chabad of Western Australia; and Perth community member David Ninio.

Indeed, the outpouring of messages on Chabad of RARA’s Facebook page from local Kalgoorlie residents shows how beloved their doctor was, and how he made sure everyone knew he was a Jew.

“A fitting tribute to a dedicated doctor who gave much care to his patients. We will remember him,” wrote Donna Hendry.

“Bye mate. RIP. I’ll miss talking about cricket with you,” wrote another, one of dozens of such messages.

It had been a decade since the next most recent Jewish burial and at least a half a century since a rabbi had conducted a funeral there.

But by Divine design, Avraham ben Lazer Moffson was buried in Kalgoorlie’s Jewish section (marked by a small sign reading “Hebrew”), at rest in the deep red earth of the Goldfields.

 


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The rabbi built a makeshift sukkah so they could fulfill the mitzvah of sitting in the sukkah during their long journey.

 



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The Jewish section of the Kalgoorlie cemetery.

 

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Rabbis from Chabad of RARA regularly visit the cemetery when they travel through the remote area. Last year, this youg rabbi paid his respects at the Jewish gravesites in Kalgoorlie. 

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