Traveling Through the Outback

Chabad of RARA (Rural and Regional Australia) recently held seven Purim parties and two shabbatons in various parts of outback Australia.

Over 350 people attended the functions held in Geelong, Toowoomba, Cairns, Townsville, Mildura, Wollongong and Newcastle. Many new contacts were found and the whole purim experience was a major success, with many sedorim for Pesach currently being organised in different parts of RARA territories.

CAIRNS/TOWNSVILLE:

Yossi Schapiro and Sholom Ber Shteifel of the Melbourne Smichah Program started their first RARA experience by making the long trek up to Cairns. Friday night a lively and inspiring shabbaton was held with over 30 people attending, including 5 new contacts from the community. Motzei Shabbos RARA together with the recently founded Cairns Jewish community hosted an exciting and memorable Purim party for over 50 people.

Sunday morning, Yossi and Sholom Ber made the four hour journey to Townsville. The purim party Sunday afternoon, started with the first ever torah reading in the city’s history! Over 50 people attended the function held at the local university, with many new university students attending who had the chance to network with each other. After the party concluded, the bochurim made home visits to people that were unable to attend the function.

Later that evening, the Townsville community enjoyed a lively farbrengen with the guest Rabbis held until the wee hours of the morning, with many new resolutions taken by members of the community

TOOWOOMBA:

Sholom Ber Lazarus and Pinny Huebener had the exciting task of making one of the first ever Purim parties in Toowoomba, Queensland! Over 50 people attended the purim function held at the local community hall. Sholom Ber spoke on the many customs of Purim and ran a costume contest, whilst Pinny read the megillah with an entertaining slide show on the story of purim shown during the reading of the megillah. New contacts were found and the message was spread that RARA will be back for a pesach seder, with many people expressing interest in attending.

WOOLONGONG/ NEWCASTLE:

Avi Feldman and Moshe Kramer of the Melbourne Smichah Programme had the First ever shabbaton and minyan for Parshas zochor in the city of Woolongong, located an hour out of Sydney. 20 people attended the shabbaton and 17 people came along to the minyan, with a barmitzvah held for two of the attendees in their thirties. Motzei Shabbos the exhilarating purim party was held with over 30 people attending.

Sunday morning our young Rabbis, Avi and Moshe made the two hour drive to Newcastle. Newcastle is nearly two hours out of Sydney and has one of Australia’s oldest shules. Over 30 people attended that purim party with the resolution made that Rara will be back for the Pesach seder in a month’s time.

Mildura:

The first ever Purim Party was held in Mildura, a seven hour drive out of Melbourne. Thanks to Reb Pinchas Cylich, over 20 people attended the inaugural purim party. A big step was made to create a permanent jewish community with many attendees expressing interest in participating with this great cause.

Currently Chabad of Rara is working on their Pesach plans, where together with the Yeshiva Gedolah Shluchim of Passover Australia 10 sedorim will be held over the Rural and Regional areas of Australia. Many hundreds of participants are expected.