Melbourne Holds Summer Retreat

From Kollel Menachem of Melbourne:

For many, summer is a time to head away from the busy lives in the city, from the grind of everyday life, and head for the hills. A time to slip away, almost forgotten. But in Melbourne, Australia there is proof that summer vacation doesn’t include a vacation from Learning Torah.

Summer brings with it many challenges, but also many opportunities. Kollel Menachem, the centre for Adult Education in Melbourne, Australia, once again has shown how to make the most of those opportunities. Hosting their annual Summer Learning Program, hundreds of locals and interstate people flock to hear words of insight and inspiration. Over a week of seminars for men and women, and with over 60 shiurim taking place, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone. There is even a daily seminar for the Hebrew speakers.

Each year the finest international speakers come to our community adding to our talented team of local lecturers. Over the years, the likes of Rabbi Levi Wineberg (Johannesburg, South Africa), Rabbi Ari Shishler (Johannesburg, South Africa), Rabbi Nissan Mangel (N.Y., U.S.A.), Rabbi Hershel Greenberg (Buffalo, USA), Rabbi Yossi Chazan (Manchester, U.K.), Dr. Arnie Gotfryd (Toronto, Canada) and Professor Avrohom Hasofer (Sydney, Australia) have enthralled and captivated our audiences.

This year the scholar in residence was Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe, Director of the Institute of American and Talmudic Law (N.Y.). A highly-acclaimed speaker who has addressed audiences across the world, Rabbi Yaffe was joined by our local team of dynamic presenters comprising of local Chabad Rabbis as well as the Rabbis of Kollel Menachem.

Rabbi Yaffe addressed issues regarding personal challenges, economics, genetic engineering, prayer and much more. He was welcomed into the community with open hands and eager ears, and left people walking away from every lecture with a deeper knowledge of the issue and a desire to learn more. Such was the thirst for more, that an impromptu question and answer session was arranged last minute, with 50 or so people leaving there homes at night to attend.

The challenge of today is to create a program bigger and better than every year before, and the team this year certainly pulled that off. With new lecture rooms, better refreshments, and a very professional touch, this program is certainly a world glass event. Attracting between 150 and 230 people every day, the success is growing. One participant having completed 4 university degrees commented, “I have never had such a high level of tuition as I have had here!”

To top it all off, a family fun lunch was held to help digest the program. The weather just held its deal, not dampening the mood of the kids as they enjoyed the jumping castle provided. With good food and a good atmosphere, everyone was sure to walk away happy.

“Melbourne and the Kollel Menachem can be proud to showcase such an event, and to prove that Summer is a time where one can dedicate more of his/her time to studying Torah!” said organizers.