Torah in Memory of Thalia Hakin

The Shloshim – 30 days since the passing of Tahlia Hakin obm, who was killed in a car ramming attack in Melbourne, Australia, took place Wednesday at Chabad of Bentleigh. A large crowd of over 100 people attended the service.

Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner, Senior Rabbi at the Beth Rivkah College where Thalia attended school, spoke about Thalia’s special qualities of kindness and Ahavas Yisroel.

He quoted her poem that was published in the AJN a few days after her tragic death and said her message is loud and clear, to add light and positivity into the world by lighting Shabbat Candles, learning Torah and doing Mitzvot.

Rabbi Yossi Engel, Director of Chabad of Adelaide (the Hakin family’s Rabbi whilst they were living in Adelaide) spoke via Skype as he was not able to be there in person. He shared an inspirational message from the Lubavitcher Rebbe that when faced with tragedy and pain we can find comfort through continuing work of positivity and goodness and not to G-d forbid, despair.

Thalia’s father, Tony Hakin, thanked the community for their outpouring of kindness and all those who were involved in helping his family during this difficult time. A special thank you to Beit Rafael for all their assistance and Chessed and to the Chabad Bentleigh and McKinnon Rabbis Mendel and Yisroel Raskin and Rabbi Dovid Gutnick of East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation.

Rabbi Mendel Raskin, director of Chabad Bentleigh launched a new campaign in Thalia’s memory. A new Sefer Torah has been commissioned to be written in her memory initiated by the Hakin family in conjunction with Chabad Bentleigh and Chabad McKinnon. Every Jewish Person has a letter in the Torah and all who have been touched by Thalia’s tragic death, whether they attended her School, Shul or are part of the Melbourne Jewish Community or even from the worldwide Jewish Community, are invited to join in unity by inscribing a letter in Thalia’s Sefer Torah.

The aim of this campaign is for the Torah to be completed B’Ezras Hashem and Dedicated on her first Yahrtzeit Anniversary to the Hakin family’s Shul at the Chabad Bentleigh affiliate – Chabad McKinnon. Chabad McKinnon have just recently begun Shabbos Services every alternative week and as of yet do not have their own Sefer Torah and have to loan every fortnight a Sefer Torah from their parent Shul.

The writing of the Torah began at the Shloshim Service with Rabbi Eli Gutnick, the Sofer inscribing the first few lines of the new Sefer Torah. Thalia’s father Tony and sister Maggie both wrote in a letter as well as many family members and friends. The evening concluded with the L’Chaim and some refreshments.

You can become a partner in the Sefer Torah by donating a letter, a pasuk or more, through logging in to the website set up for the Thalia Hakin Memorial Sefer Torah at www.hakintorah.com.