Melbourne Kollel Raises $104,000

By COLlive reporter

Kollel Menachem Lubavitch, Melbourne Australia, hosted the Rebbe’s mazkir Rabbi Leibel Groner in a special tribute to the Rebbe and fundraiser for the Kollel.

In front of more than 460 guests, Rabbi Groner shared personal stories and memories of the over 40 years he merited to be near the Rebbe.

Rabbi Groner spoke of the Rebbe’s strong desire for people to give tzeddokah and relayed examples of times that the Rebbe personally gave tzeddokah to help families in a need and did so quietly, without anyone knowing.

Rabbi Groner emphasised that there is not a minute in the day that the Rebbe isn’t with us. He noted that as Yud Shvat was approaching, and the Rebbe is ascending higher, we must strengthen our connection to the Rebbe by fulfilling the Rebbe’s wishes.

A very strong desire of the Rebbe is for the Kollel to succeed and grow so now is an auspicious time for yiddin to give tzeddokah to the Kollel to fulfil the Rebbe’s wishes and make a vessel for his blessings.

His nephew, Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner recalled the efforts of his late father, Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner OBM, in fulling the Rebbe’s directives to set up the Kollel 38 years ago.

“Dedicating himself body and soul, and with the encouragement of brochos of the Rebbe, this watershed in the history of Australian Jewry was accomplished. The resulting expansion of Torah and Yiddishkeit in Australia at large and in Melbourne particularly is incalculable.”

Noting the Rebbe’s very strong encouragement for the Kollel in Melbourne to be established, a few months after Gimmel Tammuz the late Rabbi Y. D. Groner decided to name the Kollel after the Rebbe.

“Hundreds of our graduates serve as Rabbis, Shluchim and educators around the world,” Rabbi Yonason Johnson, Rosh Hakollel noted. “They are continuing the Shlichus of Kollel Menachem, to reach the Jewish community locally and abroad. In addition to the Yungerleit immersing themselves in the study of Torah, the Kollel reaches out to hundreds and thousands each year and imbues the community with a spirit of pure Torah and Chassidus.”

Over the last 38 years, Kollel Menachem alumni have taken up key shlichus positions all around the world. In the commemorative journal past and current Kollel Yungerleit wrote of the important grounding and preparation that the Kollel provided for their future Shlichus and Rabbonus.

In a letter to participants, Rabbi Yosi Chazan, Rabbi of South Broughton Congregation in Manchester wrote:

“I recall writing to the Rebbe in the middle of Sheva Brochos, asking for his brocho and hoskomo to join the kollel and we received positive answer within the hour – indicative of the incredible importance the Rebbe attribute to the Kollel, as the crown jewels amidst the manifold, magnificent institutions that comprise the Yeshivah Centre…. the countless lives that were enriched; the palpable energy and devotion of shluchim; the yearning and craving, thirst and hunger etched upon the faces of participants …can never be forgotten even across the span of decades…

“Most of all, the privilege of having personally experienced the intense fatherly love, sensitivity and wisdom of a true chossid, role model and mentor –Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner Z.T.L. –continues to be an infinite source of inspiration, which will IYH galvanise the Kollel from strength to strength.”

The evening included an audio recording of the Rebbe speaking about the establishment of the Kollel in Melbourne Australia and a video of the many programs offered by the Kollel demonstrating the positive impact that the Kollel has had on the community.

The appeal on the night raised $104,000 to help support Torah Learning in the community. The Kollel is aiming to raise at least $180,000 and is asking for the public to donate at fundraise.giveeasy.org/partners.

As the Rebbe explains “…the one who participates in supporting the yeshivah or Kollel, for even though he is overseas, he still has a portion in it, as it is known that one is able to sell a portion of his Torah study before he learns it, and the buyer can have a portion in it.”