Sunday the 22nd of Elul was a very busy day at the Chabad on Carlisle – Jewish Russian Centre in Balaclava, Australia.
The program titled “Bridging the Gap” aimed to bring together the older and younger generations with volunteers from the young adult and children age groups, more than 65 seniors came together for a beautiful lunch and pre – Rosh Hashana celebration.
The seniors are all Holocaust survivors from the former Soviet Union, who have been members of the Chabad house since their immigration to Australia.
The call for volunteers met a great response, with many young adults coming to help cook up a storm, and serve the hot lunch to the attendees. This was followed by a musical concert performed entirely by children showing their talent on the piano and violin, to the delight of the seniors.
The Chabad on Carlisle Russian Sunday school also impressed the seniors with a poem recital in flawless Russian which they have been practising for months, followed by a dance routine by some of the girls.
Rabbi Elozor Gorelik delivered a Rosh Hashana message in Russian and blew the Shofar, Rabbis Yisroel Sufrin and Sholem Gorelik sang songs in Yiddish, and the men were happy to roll up their sleeves and lay the Tefilin.
All the seniors were very pleased with the event and expressed great appreciation to the Chabad house and all the volunteers for arranging it.
Simultaneously, a Shofar factory took place at the Chabad house as well, with over 30 children having a ‘blast’ learning all about Shofars, and sawing and drilling away at ram horns to make their own Shofars.
This is a great activity for any Chabad house and schools to adopt. The kids learn so much from having to plan, practice, and implement, as well as the mitzvahs that go along with it! This should be a curriculum opportunity from the Shluchims office, this borders Montessori/Reggio style learning
Yaasher koach so nice to read:)
Great! Everyone looks very happy. Yasher koach