World’s southern-most Shlichus

This week Rabbi Shmuly and Henna Kopel and their two children (ages two and one) made history, as they touched down in CHCH’s International Airport, to begin a six month outreach mission in the South Island’s Otago District, a Shlichus to the Southern most Jewish Community in the World.

The Kopels were greeted at the Airport by a delegation of Jubilant Rabbinical students, members of the local community and the Rebbe’s Shliach to the Country, Rabbi Mendel Goldstein.

The joy was quite evident as a spontaneous Chasidic dance erupted to the song of “Shluchei Adoneinu”, naturally causing some raised eyebrows at the busy Kiwi Airport.

The Kopels are poised to open a temporary outreach center in the historic City of Dunedin (South of Canterbury) for the duration of their six month stay. The Kopel’s prime goal is to respond to the overwhelming demand for Jewish education and programming in the area.

“Henna and Shmuly’s generous visit is the answer to many people’s prayers,” says Mrs. Sara Goldstein – Co-Director of Chabad of New Zealand, “The impact of such a Shlichus is unquantifiable… it’s not a matter of persuading people here… it’s about quenching the tremendous thirst for Yiddishkeit that openly exists here… Chabad needs only to be made accessible.”

The patriarch of the Dunedin Jewish Community Mr. Ted Friedlander, was noticeably excited and remarked that “it’s been over seventy years since a Rabbi has last stayed here for any significant time.”

Support for this Shlichus came from Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Rabbi Aharel Serabryanski, Rabbi Tzvi Telsner and many of the Australian Jewish Community.