Sydney Women Gather as One

On Wednesday, August 17, the Jewish women in Sydney gathered together in the spirit of achdus to hear a guest speaker who began a visit in Australia for the women’s convention in Melbourne the previous Shabbos.

Three organizations came together as one, Women in Unity, Women of Valour and Nshei Chabad, all in the spirit of Achdus.

Over 120 women gathered in Yeshiva Ulam Rochel to give each other chizuk, and raise money for a mikvah in Veranasi India.

The evening was chaired by Shternie Althaus, who introduced the speaker, Sarah Esther Crispe, editor and founder of TheJewishWoman.org.

Althaus spoke of her personal connection with Crispe, as her father Rabbi Sholom Goldstein made Sara Esther’s shidduch many years before with Rabbi Asher Crispe.

“It was always the women who came share and be together in a spirit of Achdus, despite differences throughout the ages,” Althaus said, noting that the such gatherings bring bracha to a community and ultimately Moshiach.

It was also the yahrtzeit of the founder of Yeshiva, Mr Avraham Rabinowitch. Most pulpit rabbis in Sydney and many around the world were trained in Yeshiva Gedola Sydney, which was founded by Rabbi Pinchos Feldman as part of the yeshiva umbrella.

Crispe spoke about facing our difficult times and that the word nisayon has also the word nes.

The topic was transforming darkness to light. Sometimes it is hard to see, but often we get a glimpse of the nes. She gave many stories and insights from our historyand current events, how our people overcame difficult times and how today we can share together and take strengh from each other, just by being there for one another. By using the four techniques of eagle, snake, ship etc brought down by the Midrash, we could help ourselves face challenges or difficulties with better tools.

The evening was closed by Rebbetzin Penina Feldman who spoke so eloquently about her personal life lessons and also alluded to the assarah harugei malchus, how Hashem plans things before creation and there is no reason to explain the occurences, sometimes,we just have to accept.

She spoke very movingly about life’s challenges and how we can face some challenges, but that there are not always answers to difficult events. We all came out inspired and armed with new ideas to put into practice in challenging moments.

The ladies enjoyed delicious refreshments and enjoyed each others company. The evening closed with a raffle of a beautiful watch and facial from Qed cosmetics. Organizers thanked Rabbi Shmuli Feldman for arranging the logistics of the evening.