Australians Inspired by Visiting Shliach and Shlucha

By COLlive reporter

Senior South African Shliach Rabbi Yossy Goldman, now Life Rabbi Emeritus of Johannesburg’s iconic Sydenham Shul, has just returned from a Speaking Tour of Australia in honor of 30 years since Gimmel Tammuz.

Together with his wife, the dynamic Rebbetzin Rochel Goldman, they inspired communities in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.

The respected pulpit rabbi, a seasoned public speaker, attracted large crowds at all his appearances, while Rochel was inspirational and uplifting for the women in her own right.

Over 300 people from a broad spectrum of the community joined the Sydney Gimmel Tammuz event on Monday, which was a remarkably beautiful unity event co-sponsored by nine Chabad Houses across Sydney.

Advertised as a “Farbrengen,” Rabbi Goldman didn’t give one address but several, each interspersed with nigunim, featuring live music by Mizzi and Ezri Israel. The event was held in the large hall of Kesser Torah College and chaired by Rabbi Motty Feldman of the adjoining Dover Heights Shule.

Rabbi Feldman said, “Rabbi Yossy Goldman has the knack of being able to connect personally with a wide cross-section of people. He made the Rebbe’s life and legacy relevant to all, each on their level.”The main event was followed by a more intimate Farbrengen for Anash.

On the following night, Tuesday, Gimmel Tammuz, he delivered the Keynote Address in Melbourne in the St. Kilda Town Hall. A capacity crowd of 500 men and women attended as he shared the Rebbe’s unique philosophy of Outreach and Ahavas Yisroel.

When he told a moving story towards the end of his 45-minute talk, you could literally hear a pin drop in the hall. Chassidishe music was played beautifully by Nissi Leinkram. Following the formal program, a Farbrengen was held where Rabbi Goldman shared stories of the Rebbe and Chassidim until the wee hours.

The Melbourne event was arranged by the Young Yeshiva Shule headed by Rabbi Shmuel Lesches and organized by Reb Motty Rabin. According to Rabbi Lesches, “Rabbi Goldman is more than just a gifted orator; he wove many different points into one masterfully cohesive tapestry of the Rebbe’s vision of Ahavas Yisroel for every single one of us. Although speaking before a crowd of 500, it was as if Rabbi Goldman was speaking to every single person individually, in his signature optimistic and inspiring manner.”

On Monday, 9 Tammuz, a very interesting program marking Gimmel Tammuz was held in the Glen Eira Town Hall entitled “Resilience, Strength, Continuity.” This was co-sponsored by no less than 20 Chabad Houses and Shules throughout Melbourne, and this, too, was a rare display of Achdus, which was a true Kiddush Hashem. It was not directed to Anash but rather to the wider community, and a capacity crowd of over 300 men and women was in attendance.

Speakers included Melbourne’s Chabad on Campus Director, Rabbi Bochi Broh, and Baila Brackman of Chabad at the University of Chicago, who shared their experiences in combating Antisemitism on campus and how they were able to turn it around and give the students a powerful injection of Jewish pride.

Joshua Moshe, a Melbourne business owner who experienced the most horrific antisemitic attacks on his shop, shared his personal story. He was compelled to relocate to a Jewish neighborhood for his safety and the continuity of his business. Live music was provided by Sadya Liberow and Shmuly Rosenbaum. Then Rabbi Goldman delivered the Keynote Address on “We Can do it Better: The Rebbe’s Unique Approach to  Combating Antisemitism.”

Rabbi Mendy Groner of Chabad of Glen Aire commented, “Rabbi Yossy Goldman’s keynote address raised the event to a whole new level. Known for his oratory skills, he truly engaged the audience with his humor, polished delivery, and poignant messages that resonated with the traditionalas well as secular audience.”

According to Rabbi Yosef Gutnick of the Chabad House of Caulfield, “This was one of the best Chabad events for the wider community in many years!”

On Wednesday, Rebbetzin Rochel spoke to N’shei Chabad of Melbourne at Rebbetzin Reeva Cohen‘s home. There was standing room only for her riveting, farbrengen-type talk.

Then, for Shabbos Parshas Balak, it was off to Perth, Western Australia, where the Goldmans were Scholars in Residence at the Dianella Shule. Rabbi Goldman delivered interesting and inspiring Droshason Friday night and Shabbos morning, a talk at the Communal Shabbos Luncheon, and also spoke at Shalosh Seudos. Rebbetzin Rochel addressed the women at a Melave Malka in a private home. On Sunday night, the rabbi delivered a talk at the Carmel School Hall for 150 people on Antisemitism. His final appearance was for the senior students at Carmel School on Monday morning.

Rabbi Marcus Solomon, Rav of the Dianella Shule and a Judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, was most appreciative that the Goldmans had traveled to Perth, which is not as big or as frequently visited as Melbourne and Sydney.

“The Perth Jewish community was privileged to host Rabbi and Rebbetzin Goldman on their recent Australian tour. It was a zechus for us and allowed many people to reconnect with Shule and Yiddishkeit. Many who had memories of their inspiring presence in Johannesburg flocked to see and hear them again, together with new devotees. The community enjoyed a Shabbos and weekend of uplifting messages, chizuk, and for many, nostalgia and renewed connection.”

Reb Natan and Hinda Katzel, who were recently appointed Program Directors at the Shule, were the main organizers of the highly successful Perth visit.

In all three communities, the Goldmans met up with many South African expatriates who now make their homes in Australia. A good number were, in fact, previously members of the Sydenham Shul. So, it was also a nostalgia trip with lots of hugs and selfies.

After the highly successful tour, it was then time to head back home, across the Indian Ocean, to Johannesburg, until the next opportunity to visit other communities. Since becoming Life Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Goldman can now travel freely and has appeared as a popular Guest Speaker in over 40 communities.