What Melbourne Did on a Day Off

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Pinchos Cylich

While many businesses closed their doors over the December 25 – January 1 period, Kollel Menachem Lubavitch hosted its annual Summer Learning Program – Yarchei Kallah.

This annual Torah learning event, the largest in the southern hemisphere, is the highlight of the year for many of the local and interstate guests. As one glowing participant put it best “we work all year so we can learn this week”.

The headliner of this year’s program was Rabbi Ari Shishler, director of Chabad of Strathavon, South Africa. A crowd favorite in Melbourne, Rabbi Shishler offered many fascinating and entertaining insights to the large assembly.

Rabbi Shishler also led a daily women’s series on making the Geulah Personal. Many attendees of this morning series enjoyed learning from the text with Rabbi Shishler’s insightful commentary.

The daily highlight was Rabbi Shishler’s feature lecture to a packed hall of men and women at noon daily. With topics spanning “bridging the generation gap” to “what would Moshe Rabbenu say about open borders,” the many interpersonal and current topics had the large crowd enthralled and entertained.

Joining him was a spectacular cast of local talent offering Shiurim on many varied topics. Dr. Miriam Grossbaum led a daily shiur on an advanced text-based study of Sichos for women. Rabbi Yossi Gordon led a 3 day series on the story of Daniel.

Many fascinating Shiurim were offered by Kollel Menachem’s own Rabbi Michoel Stern, Rabbi Yisroel New, Rabbi Doobie Lisker and Rabbi Aryeh Knapp, while Rabbi Tomer Ben Harsh hosted daily study in Hebrew. Rosh Hakollel Rabbi Yonason Johnson gave an advanced text-based shiur on Geulah and Moshiach.

Other Shiurim were presented by many esteemed local Rabbonim including Rabbi Danny Mervis, Rabbi Mendel Krasnjanski, Rabbi Yossi Gordon, Rabbi Rafael Harkham, Rabbi Leor Broh, Rabbi Dr. Shimon Cowen and Rabbi Yoel Doron.

Each day prior to the main lecture participants enjoyed a buffet of artfully prepared refreshments. Organizers thanked the sponsors for their generous support, especially platinum sponsors Charidy and Verdure Financial Planning.

For more on the program and to see the full line up of speakers and to find links to recordings of all shiurim, visit www.jewishlearning.com.au