The Australian Jewish community joined Rabbi Yossi and Chani Engel in Adelaide last Sunday, August 29, for a Thanksgiving Dinner, expressing gratitude to G-d for His kindness to the Engel family and the local Chabad community. Over 130 people enjoyed this elaborate 3-course meat meal with fine wine and spirited drink.
A score of Chabad Rabbis and Jewish dignitaries from Australia’s Eastern States flew in to town that morning to enjoy the feast with the Adelaide Jewish community. Amazed, the Adelaide crowd said: “We’ve never seen so many black hats before!”
The dinner, music and dancing was in honor of their good friends Rabbi Yossi and Chani Engel of Chabad of South Australia. It was a genuine show of support from the community, to celebrate the Engels’ victory against enormous adversity. They gave thanks to G-d who saved them from 39 baseless charges of dishonesty being summarily dropped by SA Police.
The 3½ year nightmare came to a swift end during a short 3 minute hearing in a quiet, small courtroom in Adelaide, where attorney Ron Bellman was successful in having all charges dismissed, after police elected to lead no evidence against the Engels.
The courtroom may have been quiet and the 3-minute hearing passed quickly, but 3½ years of humiliation leveled at Rabbi and Chani Engel, and the pain and suffering they and their 6 young children endured in this period, was like time in slow-motion, as it dragged on for what seemed like an eternity.
Such rabbinic orators as Chabad NSW’s Rabbi Pinchus Feldman, Sydney Beth Din’s Rabbi Moshe Gutnick and Melbourne Chabad Dayan Rabbi Tzvi Telsner, addressed the gathering.
In vigorous speeches they recognized the Engels as accessible and friendly to all, and praised their remaining positive and committed to spreading Yiddishkeit, despite incredible obstacles in their way.
Rabbi Engel himself gave emotional heartfelt thanks to G-d. He told the crowd of miraculous events he experienced along the way, giving him confidence that G-d would see him through all troubles!
Rabbi Engel heaped compliments on his legal team. He thanked friends, rabbis and supporters, and especially his wife and family, who stood strong despite extraordinary pressures.
Engel family lawyer Ron Bellman received a standing ovation from friends and guests for his relentless efforts to see the Engels through four trying years. Rabbi Engel presented him with a silver Kiddush Cup and plate, and multi-volume Torah books.
Mr. Bellman praised the Engels for their grit, determination and faith in G-d – who always comes through!
The Adelaide crowd was thrilled to see prominent rabbis and lay leaders join them in this wonderful event to not only honor the Engels, but to also honor them as a community, who made great sacrifices to stand by the Engels during their time of distress and hardship.
Sydney Chazan Yehoshua Niasoff sung his heart out, competing with the noisy, joyous crowd, who were dancing to their heart’s content. Melbourne Chazan Rabbi Sholom-Ber Engel added to the entertainment, with his spirited singing.
This was a watershed event for the Adelaide Jewish community. In the words of attorney Ron Bellman: “Justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done. Today, justice was seen to be done!”
wonderful to see if i would he know i would have come kol tuv
So beautiful! We wish we could have come!!!
Can’t wait to see all the great things to come from Chabad of Adelaide!!
Dan, Nomi and Chaya!
Mazal Tov, Mazal Tov!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We’re so glad to finally be past this whole ordeal!!!!!!! Great to see your huge smiles, may Hashem see to it that they remain on your faces forever, till Moshiach comes now!!!!!!!!!
C. L.
That was Norman Rosenbaum, wasn’t it?
Just beautiful.
This is how we bring the hisgalus of Moshiach. Stay positive, keep the faith, and never,never,ever give up.
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were there in spirit and in SKYPE!!!!!!! A beautiful family and the greatest brochos from the Rebbe and the Aibishter!!!!!! Love, the whole entire U.S. family
All the boys in CH wish you a Huge MAZEL TOV !!!
Hatzlocha Rabbah “Bakol Mikol Kol”
Friend and classmate, CH, NY
S.R.
Great to see Reb Leibel New continued support for shluchim everywhere!
way to go
go mushkA 😛
and zoe!!
woo hoo!! 🙂
It’s there because Chabad of S.A. currently have no place of their own so they were renting the hall of a multi-cultural schoo. Iy”h they’ll have their own place soon!
GO MUSHKY AND ZOE!!!!!
we love you!!!
Whats with the South Korean flag?
YEAHH!
big ups to adelaide.
take that all you haters
🙂