Chabad Visits Australian Outback

Chabad of RARA (Rural and Regional Australia) recently celebrated its Bar Mitzvah year. Since its inauguration in June 2000 (Tammuz 5760), one million kilometres have been travelled by over 70 groups of different Bochurim. RARA has contacts in over 250 different cities and towns and has helped to create and assist in 12 regional Jewish communities throughout Australia.

This Australian winter and spring, RARA has six groups of Bochurim travelling the length and breadth of Australia.

Mendy Simpson of New York and Nochum Labkowski of Israel had the mission of visiting 50 towns throughout Northern Victoria, New South Wales and Southern Queensland. The pair had the zechus of finding 30 new Jewish contacts and over 85 visits in total. Several Karkaftas were found and visits were had that included putting up mezuzahs, laying teffilin and giving out plenty of Shabbos candles to women and girls.Mendy and Nochum also hosted Shabbatons in Coffs Harbour and Toowoomba, with over 25 participants at each event.

Dovi Zaetz and Peretz Chein of New York, travelled through Western Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. The pair visited over 45 different towns and found over 25 new Jewish contacts. As with Mendy and Nochum, they performed many Barmitzvahs and had many inspiring visits.

We have recently welcomed Zalmy Groner of North Carolina and Yossi Schapiro of Sydney, who have commenced their journey as this year’s third group. They will be travelling through Eastern Victoria and Southern New South Wales. They will hold shabbatons in Wollongong and the Blue Mountains and will be conducting services in Newcastle, NSW over Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur. This will be the 12th year that Chabad of RARA has conducted Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur services in the region.

Mendy Gurevitch of Laguna Beach, California and AY Posner of Boston, Massachusetts are travelling to Northern Queensland, a trek of four days. They will be organising a number of Shabbatons in Townsville and Cairns and conducting Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur services in Cairns, where they are expecting over 100 people to attend. This will also be the 12th year that Chabad of RARA has conducted Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur services in the region.

Six weeks ago, Chabad of RARA set up its Facebook page and to everyone’s surprise, hundreds of people have viewed its contents and more importantly it has helped RARA to find over 10 new contacts.

Chabad of RARA wishes to thank those individuals that over the last 13 years, have given their time to help visit the Yidden of Rural and Regional Australia.