For the first time in over seventy years the Dunedin Jewish community, in the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, has a leader.
Rabbi Shmuel Kopel together with his wife and children moved to Dunedin from New York. During the late 19th century Dunedin was bustling with Jewish people. There are still many land marks in Dunedin from its Jewish history.
During the twentieth century only a small number of Jews remained in Dunedin, they surprisingly managed to maintain their synagogue without an official leader. An elder of the congregation says “As far as I can recall the last Rabbi was here in 1939.”
Within the last 20 years Dunedin’s Jewish community enjoyed growth from travellers as well as university students and lecturers. The Chabad movement felt the need to help the Dunedin Jewish community.
In their short stay in Dunedin people are well aware of the Rabbi’s presence, locals often stop to ask the Rabbi, what are you?
“Dunedin is a multicultural city,” says Rabbi Kopel. “There needs to be an outlet for the Jewish heritage as well”.
Rabbi Kopel has made numerous guest appearances including at the Olveston House and the polytechnic nursing school.
great to see keep it up from your freinds in the hood
Confirmed: they went for a short stay and may decide to continue. If you would like to help them you could email them [email protected]. They have been there for three months and plan to be there for the Yomin Noraim.
Have you decided to stay?
I thought it was going to be just for a half a year!?
May you have hatzlocho!!!
Dunedin is very lucky!!
He is Only there TEMPORARALY – for SIX MONTHS.
BUT, May he me so Matzliach, that he should decide to move there and open a PERMANENT Chabad House!
Might want to make mention that Dunedin is in NEW ZEALAND.