New Mitzvah Tank to bring Jewish life to regional Australia
An intimate Lag B’Omer gathering at Chabad Brisbane marked the formal opening of the newly renovated Queensland Mitzvah Tank and Mobile Library, a joint initiative of Chabad Brisbane and Chabad of RARA.
The specially fitted motorhome will travel across rural and regional Queensland and Northern New South Wales for several months each year, bringing Jewish support, learning and connection to communities often far from established Jewish centres.
Dovi and Rabbi Jaffe welcome people aboard the new Mitzvah Tank (photo supplied)
The mobile centre will offer Jewish people living outside major cities the opportunity to connect with Judaism, meet visiting rabbis, borrow or purchase Jewish books, and take part in Jewish learning and mitzvot.
Rabbi Levi Jaffe, director of Chabad Brisbane and rabbi of the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation, said the project was designed to bring Jewish life and encouragement directly to isolated communities.
“We want every Jew, no matter where they live, to know they are not forgotten and remain part of the wider Jewish community,” Rabbi Jaffe said.
“The idea of the Mitzvah Tank is to bring light, goodness and connection into places where Jewish people may otherwise feel isolated. Every mitzvah adds light to the world.”
Introducing the Mitzvah Tank l-r: Dovi, Rabbi Levi, Dvorah Jaffe, Debbie Phillips, Debbie & Simon Rawson and Yakov Sharrock (photo supplied)
The project also builds on the wider work of Chabad of RARA, which has spent years supporting Jews living in remote and regional parts of Australia through travelling rabbis, holiday programs and outreach visits.
The motorhome was generously donated by Yakov Sharrock in loving memory of his late mother, Shirley Haltowsky OBM, Sheindel bas Eliezer z”l.
The newly designed library and study area has been dedicated in loving memory of the late Eleise and Julian Tamir OBM, Sarah bas Avraham and Yechiel ben Zindel z”l.
Community members gathered at the Brisbane launch to celebrate the project’s completion and hear about plans for upcoming regional journeys throughout Queensland and northern NSW.
