3 Lubavitchers Will Receive the Australia Day Award

By COLlive staff

On 26 January 2020, the Governor-General and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, General David Hurley announced 1099 awards in the 2020 Australia Day Honours List.

Included on that list are 3 Lubavitchers who are being recognized for their outstanding service and contributions to Australia.

“While some well-known people receive awards, many more are known only to those they help and serve day-in-day-out. All recipients are worthy of recognition and celebration,” the awards website says.

Lubavitchers who have received the award:

Rabbi Zalman Kastel, “For significant service to interfaith and intercultural understanding and acceptance.”

Together for Humanity Foundation (formerly the Goodness and Kindness Project)

National Director, current.
Co-Founder, 2002.
Contributor, Doing Diversity, Intercultural Understanding in Primary and Secondary Schools Project, Deakin University, 2015
Kesser Torah College
Vice-President, current.

Rabbi Kastel told J-Wire: “This came as a surprise. I wasn’t expecting it but I am very touched. It is a validation of an approach to a pressing communal challenge as to how we deal with tensions. I have been working on this since 2001. It evidences that what have I been doing has hit the mark.”

Timmy Rubin, “For service to the Jewish community of Melbourne.”

Provides regular Chaplaincy services to inmates at Port Phillip Prison, ongoing.
Supporter of a range of Jewish community organisations in Melbourne, ongoing.

Timmy Rubin commented to J wire: “I feel a bit embarrassed because the award should have gone to my mother. The late Marion Lippmann who was the head social worker at Jewish Care many years ago… She did more in a day then most people do in a year, including myself. She helped many, many people in the Jewish community. My father, Hans Friend, was also a very kind soul who had never had a negative thought about anyone.

Adira Yael Werdiger, “For service to the Jewish community of Victoria.”

Jewish Care (formerly Montefiore Homes for the Aged and Jewish Community Services)
Volunteer, since 1990.
Involved with the fundraising for, and refurbishment of, the on-site beauty salon, 2006.
Volunteer organiser and driver of residents to monthly afternoon gatherings, ongoing.
Melbourne Jewish Charity Fund
Organiser, kosher communal freezer supporting families in crisis, since approx 2001.
Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Colleges
President/Vice-President, Parents Association, 1994-2011; Member, current;
Manager, School Uniform Shop, 1996-2007.
Shifra Inc – Science with Halachic Infertility Authority
Chief Coordinator, Mashgichot teams (trained volunteers that supervise various fertility procedures), 2013-2018.
Involved with fundraising activities, ongoing.
Member, American Women’s Auxiliary, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, 12 years.

Adira Werdiger told J-Wire: “I am really, really humbled … Australia is a beautiful country, I feel very lucky. I don’t know if I am as deserving as others, but I am very excited about receiving it.”

Adira was born in America but is an Australian citizen and feels very lucky.