As wildfires rip through Hawaii, Chabad offers relief

As of Thursday, wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have claimed 36 lives and left thousands homeless, as emergency workers searched through the night on Wednesday for survivors in the charred ruins of burned-out buildings. Most of the structures in the town of Lahaina, with an estimated population of 13,000, have been decimated by flames. Read more

Chabad of RARA travels 20,000km to provide connection to every Jew in regional Australia

Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia, famously known as “RARA”, has had a record-setting past two months. During this time, eight bochurim have travelled thousands of kilometres around Australia in search of Jewish people in far-flung places. Read more

How Jews in Ukraine will celebrate Passover

They will be in shelters, private homes, refugee camps, synagogues and military bases. But come what may, when night falls on Passover eve on April 15, the Jews of Ukraine will pause to eat matzah and bitter herbs, drink four cups of wine, recall the miracles of the Exodus and look forward to better times…writes Menachem Posner. Read more

Chabad’s massive growth rooted in several key ingredients, yet ‘defies logic’…writes Deborah Fineblum/JNS.org

How do you go about feeding a crowd of 5,600 hungry rabbis and other guests, many of whom have just traveled across the globe? If you ask Greenwald Caterers, they’ll tell you to start with 2.5 tons of meat, 10 pallets of drinks and 40 cases of tomatoes. And don’t forget the 5,600 cups of coffee.  Read more

Chabad’s hollow statements on child sexual abuse…writes Manny Waks

The report of a new public statement by seven (seemingly random) Chabad rabbis calling for the immediate reporting to state authorities of reasonable suspicions of abuse is welcome news, especially their unequivocal announcement that prior rabbinic advice is unnecessary. Read more

On reflection – Manny Waks post the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse yeshiva and yeshivah hearings

Nearly four years ago, when I publicly disclosed the sexual abuse I endured as a child at Melbourne’s Yeshivah Centre, I did not envisage that today so many around the world would know exactly what had happened to myself and so many other children at that institution. Read more

Martin Place Chanukah cancelled

For the first time in almost thirty years, a Menorah lighting ceremony in Sydney’s Martin Place planned for tonight will not take place. Read more

Menorah in Melbourne

The Victorian Premiere  Daniel Andrews and other Members of Victoria’s Parliament will join Rabbi Chaim Herzog and Chabad of Melbourne CBD in celebrating Chanukah, the Festival of Lights at Queen’s Hall in Parliament House of Victoria. Read more

New Day Centre for Canberra children

The first Jewish Long Day Care Centre and preschool in Canberra has opened its doors. Read more

Chanukah in the Bush

As Jewish communities in major cites across Australia celebrate  the Chanukah festival this week, one group is heading into country Australia to support Jewish people living in isolated areas without a synagogue or connection to their culture. Read more

Yeshiva lights the real thing

Last week, Sydney Yeshiva along with the NSWJBD ran a dummy run of lighting the Menorah at the NSW State Parliament. Last night, they lit the real thing on the second night of Chanukah…the giant menorah in the city’s Martin Place. Read more

Mt Scopus principal takes a different class

Chabad Women’s Convention

Women from all over Australia met up at Chabad of North Shore in Sydney this past weekend, for the 17th Annual Nshei uBnos Chabad Convention. Read more

Miracle on the North Shore

Within one week of exchanging contracts on a $5.9 million dollar property zoned for educational purposes, Chabad learned that the land had been rezoned for residential usage effectively almost doubling its value. Read more

Charges against Adelaide Rabbi and Rebbetzin dropped

Thirty nine charges of dishonestly dealing with documents laid against a rabbi and his wife  were dismissed in Adelaide Magistrates Court today after police failed to tender evidence. Read more

Chabad unites in Rebbe’s memory

Tzemach Tzedek, a breakaway division of Chabad will unite with the Yeshiva Centre, the  headquarters of Chabad NSW in honour of the Rebbe’s 16th yahrzeit. Read more