The fourth annual communal Avos Ubonim event, Achdus Through Torah 5776, took place on Motzai Shabbos Parshas Shoftim. The program has grown from year to year and this year reached new heights and greater numbers than ever before. With an expanded program in honour of Shnas Hakhel, this year’s communal learning took place in Melbourne, Sydney and Johannesburg.
In Melbourne, over 750 participants packed the Werdiger Family Hall to capacity. At Yeshiva in Sydney, a strong crowd of 150 fathers and boys participated. Over 350 fathers and sons joined together at Sunny Road Shul in Johannesburg.
The buzz of hundreds of voices learning; Chumash, Mishna, Gemara and Chassidus created the most harmonious melody of limud haTorah. Coming from different communities; Litvish, Lubavitch, Sefardim and Chassidishe, black yarmulkas, knitted kippot, hats and streimels adorned the room in a glorious display of Sheves Achim Gam Yachad, learning the Torah which unites us all. The atmosphere was electric.
After almost an hour of learning the boys were led in reciting Tehillim by Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler, Menahel of Yeshiva College, Rabbi Abba Levin of Yesodei Hatorah and Rabbi Aryeh Berlin of Shaarei Tefillah and member of the organising committee.
Rabbi Moshe Donenbaum (Heichal Hatorah) shared a message of chizzuk. He highlighted that the greatest and most lasting relationship is one forged through sharing Torah learning. He called on fathers to prepare the Gemora that they’re sons are learning to make the most of the time.
The evening was chaired by Rabbi Yonason Johnson, Rosh Hakollel of Kollel Menachem Lubavitch, who was also part of the organising committee.
The night concluded with a grand raffle and each boy received a souvenir backpack embossed with words Achdus Through Torah to remember the night and its message.
The boys and fathers who participated, felt uplifted and inspired and took great Chizzuk from being part of this communal event.
The event received widespread endorsement from our community Rabbonim as well as the Menahalim of the local boys’ schools. Their warm and encouraging words of Divrei Bracha were printed in a souvenir booklet.
This event came together through the vision and tireless effort of a group representing the diverse Kehillos within our greater community.
The objective of Achdus Through Torah is to strengthen unity be-tween different Kehillos and to bolster the cause of Torah learning. Many local businesses and community members shared their support through volunteering and sponsorships. The major sponsor Scott Winton dedicated the night in memory of Melbourne Shaliach Rabbi Yotzchok Dovid Groner z”l.
A big Yasher Koach goes to all those who helped to make the evening the great success that it was. We hope that the idea will continue to grow and spread around the world, to unite us all in a manner of Hakhel, Lemaan Yishmeu ulemaan Yilmedu. And through this we will be zoche to the ultimate Hakhel, Kahal Gadol Yashuvu Heina, with the imminent arrival of Moshiach Tzidkeinu.
Melbourne is 1 of the Best Lubavitch communities in the World
Thank u COL for keeping us informed with whats going on in Melbourne, its really great to know, this way I know whats going on in Melbourne & Lubavitch worldwide, especially Melbourne being that it is 1 of the “Biggest Lubavitch communities” outside the US