Australia Student Shluchim Hold Kinus

Talmidim HaShluchim from all over Australia gathered for a Kinus in Melbourne to farbreng, hear words of advice and inspiration, and to strengthen their hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

Ever since the Rebbe sent Talmidei Shluchim to Sydney in 5746 (1986), the Shluchim from Melbourne and Sydney have convened on a yearly basis for the purpose of gaining inspiration and invigoration in their holy work.

The Kinus was participated by Shluchim from Chabad of Dover Heights, Chabad North Shore, South Head Synagogue, Yeshivah Centre Sydney, Yeshivah College Melbourne, Yeshivah Primary Melbourne, Yeshivah Gedolah Melbourne and Chabad Youth NSW.

The kinus began on Thursday night with a “Bruchim Haboim” Farbrengen and barbeque supper in the house of Rabbi Motti Ben-Shabat, who shared his incredible life story and farbrenged with the shluchim till the wee hours of the morning.

Friday’s program was held in Rabbi Motti Liberow’s “Hamerkaz Shelanu Centre.” After mezonos and coffee, the program began with a shiur Chassidus given by Rabbi Yaakov Winner, Mashpia Roshi in Yeshiva Gedolah. Following davening, the shluchim enjoyed a gourmet breakfast, which was followed by a short break.

Rabbi Yaakov Leider, Principal of Cheder Levi Yitzchok, delivered the first workshop entitled, “How to inspire,” and, drawing from an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience, had the shluchim engaged with his entertaining sense of humour. The second workshop, given by Mr. Soly Speigler, Head Shliach of RARA (rural and regional Australia), was full of avice and interesting anecdotes about the history of Merkoz Shlichus in Australia. Mr. Speigler particularly emphasized the importance of every single jew, and had many inspirational stories to share.

In front of the majestic looking Yeshiva Gedolah, the Shluchim gathered for a group picture to mark the event. It was an inspiration indeed to see 30 Shluchim together, charged with the mission of “Shluchei Adoneinu.”

The highlight of the weekend was Shabbos. Over thirty Talmidim Hashluchim farbrenging together with Nigunim and inspiring each other with tremendous Chayus, was truly a sight to behold. The seudah Friday night was held in the home of Mr. Michael Goldhirsch who told over his many “kiruvim” from the Rebbe and about the history of Chabad in Melbourne. Shabbos day the seudah was held in Mr. Eliezer Kornhauser’s home amidst incredible chayus and dancing. Rabbi Mottel Krasnianski farbrenged with the shluchim all the way till mincha and had everyone captivated with his incredible stories of shlichus and inspiring personality. After Mincha in Yeshiva Centre the community was invited to a Seudah Shlishis in honour of the Kinus Hashluchim, where representatives from each place spoke.

The Kinus climaxed with an elaborate banquet. Rabbi Zvi Telsner addressed the shluchim about the incredible Zechus it is to be a shliach, and the responsibilities that accompany it. The keynote address, delivered by Mr. Josh Goldhirsch, a successful businessman and lawyer who shared beautiful stories about his unique relationship with the Rebbe, and stressed the importance of learning Chassidus. The banquet then morphed into a farbrengen, thus culminating a weekend full of chayus and inspiration, which will no doubt, charge the shluchim to fulfill their shlichus with a renewed energy and vigor.

The Kinus was coordinated and organized by Yeshivah Gedolah Shluchim Menachem Mendel Wineberg and Shlomo Chaim Kesselman. Thank you to the Ben-Shabat, Goldhirsch and Kornhauser families, Rabbis Menachem Lipskier and Motti Liberow, for hosting the events and helping out. A special thanks also to the administration of Yeshiva Gedolah and Yeshiva College for sponsoring the kinus.