The Yeshiva Centre

The Yeshiva Centre is the headquarters of Chabad in New South Wales

YESHIVA CENTRE NEWS

Menorah on Permanent Exhibition in NSW Parliament House

Sydney’s Yeshiva Centre gifted a Menorah to the NSW State Parliament in 2009…yesterday it was put on permanent display.

Don Harwin, the President of the Legislative Council and the Shelley Hancock, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, officially inaugurated the display in the historic Parkes Room in Parliament House. The silver Menorah has been housed temporarily since since it was gifted by the Yeshiva, the Chabad NSW headquarters, in the Speaker’s Office. It is kindled eachyear at a major Chanukah ceremony for all MPs at the Parliament’s Function Hall.

Special Guests at the unveiling included a representative of the Premier, the Victor Dominello, Minister for Citizenship and Communities as well as the Leader of the Opposition John Robertson and Mr Yair Miller, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

Legislative Council President  Don Harwin noted the historic importance of the Parkes Room and the significance of all the artifacts in it saying that it is fitting for the Menorah to take pride of place amongst the valued treasures of our State.

He then introduced Rabbi Pinchus Feldman who bestowed a blessing upon all gathered.

Victor Dominello extended apologies from the Premier who was scheduled to attend but had to cancel at the last minute due to an urgent Government matter. Mr Dominello thanked Rabbi Feldman for the warm words of blessing and the inspiration that he can personally translate into his communal endeavors.

The Leader of the Opposition, John Robertson, said that thousands of people visit Parliament every year including many schoolchildren will have the opportunity to see this display and be inspired by the universal message of the Menorah, that of light and holiness banishing darkness and negativity.

The Speaker of the House, Shelley Hancock, noted that the Menorah was the second gift of the Jewish Community to NSW Parliament, the first being the Parliament’s Mace, donated by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in 1974. This highlights the warm relationship that the Jewish community has with the wider Australian community, underscoring the tolerance and harmonious diversity which makes our State and our Country such a wonderful place tin which to live.

The text on the Menorah

Chaim Dovid gets the Yeshiva Bouncing

Popular Israeli vocalist Chaim Dovid was the star attraction at the Sydney Yeshiva Centre Lag BaOmer celebrations.

An audience of more than 350 packed the shule at which the South African born singer/guitarist performed.

Chaim Dovid brought the audience to its feet as the catchy music set the scene for spontaneous dancing.

During the evening, a special award was made to Eli Toledano, the owner of local Kosher restaurant Savion. Chabad Young Adult Director, Rabbi Eli Feldman told J-Wire: “Every Friday night we hold a special Shabbat dinner for members of the community aged between 18 and 35. We usually have arund 30-40 people and Savion always donates and delivers to us the unsold food at the end of the week. It has proved to be a wonderful way of bringing young people together and in many we do help make shidduchs.”

Rabbi Feldman,together with his father Rabbi Pinchus Feldman and  Young Adult Chabad manager Rabbi Danny Yaffe made the award presentation during the show.

May-01 Sydney: Lag BaOmer concert

Young Chabad present Carlebach star Chaim Dovid.

Posthumous awards for Polish mother and son

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria will present a Righteous Amongst the Nations Award to a Bunbury brother and sister whose father and grandmother  saved the life of one of their father’s schoolmates.

A still to be named representative of the Fedreal Government will present the awards in the names of  Leonarda Paszkudska and her son August (both deceased).

The Reward will be received on their behalf by August’s son George and daughter Leonarda, both of whom now live in Bunbury, Western Australia.

When August realised that his schoolmate, a young Jewish woman named Renata Stam, was to be deported to the camps he convinced Nazi officials that she was required for housekeeping duties.  Mrs Paszkudska and August then hid Renata in their home in Lebov, Poland from 1942 to 1944.

Renata lived in the Paszkudska’s home, registered as their housekeeper under a different name. Leonarda treated her as a family member without receiving anything in exchange. August used to inform Renata’s father, who had stayed in the ghetto, about her situation until Mr Stam was sent to the concentration camps.  This story had a fairy-tale ending when August and Renata married following the liberation of Poland in late 1944.

In 2004 the Righteous Amongst the Nations committee decided to posthumously award Leonarda and August.  Following August’s death, Renata had migrated to Western Australia in 1989 and died here in 2006.

The award will be presented during the Yom HaShoah commemoration next month.

Travelling Matzah Bakery

The Traveling Matzah Bakery has toured Sydney extensively teaching the community the skills of matzah-making. 

The Bakery has given over 50 shows and reached 1500 children, adults and senior citizens =.

The scheme was initiated by Chabad Youth NSW

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