A Sad Situation

I have refrained from mentioning this extremely uncomfortable subject for a number of weeks but now believe that it is time that we extracted our heads from the sand and recognised this sad situation. What I am talking about is the current fiasco in Adelaide where Rabbi Yossi Engel has refused to leave his pulpit despite his contract not being renewed. To add to this is the accusation that he received money from the government under false pretenses for a school which didn't exist. And to make matters worse the Sydney and Melbourne Batei Din seem powerless to resolve this and the London Beth Din, who have been called in as a last resort, appear not to want to become embroiled in this bun fight.

There is another aspect of this situation which is also worrying. Rabbi Engel and the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation have taken this case to the secular courts. The courts have ruled on two occasions that this is a civil matter to do with his contract and not one that can or should be decided by Jewish law.

What we have been seeing in the Jewish and secular press appears to put Rabbi Engel in a bad light. I am more than happy to present his side of the story as I do not believe that he has had a fair go in the press - this could be because, so far, he has refused to give his side.

But whatever his side may be the facts are that this dispute, and the revelations about his school, have caused much hurt and damage to the Adelaide Jewish community. This is an extremely small community which is not growing as the youth tend to leave for Sydney or Melbourne when they reach university age. This community needs all the support from larger Jewish communities as we can give them.

Despite the fact that the courts have ruled that this is purely a contractual dispute, I strongly believe that the Sydney and Melbourne Batei Din should be working overtime to ensure that there is a resolution to this matter which is acceptable to both parties. Even if it was proven that Yossi Engel was unfairly dismissed there has been too much damage done for him to stay on as Rabbi. The Adelaide community needs a new Rabbi so that they can begin the healing process and get back on a stable footing.
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Photos of YG Siyum Sefer Torah

Joe Salter and Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Binyomin Cohen

CrownHeights.info has photos by everyone's favourite photographer Roei Chemny of the Siyum Sefer Torah at Yeshivah Gedolah last month. The Sefer Torah was donated by Mrs Elizabeth Slater and Joe & Batia Slater in memory of Mr John Slater.

As the article accompanying the photos says "John Slater’s reputation in business and the Jewish community was one of absolute integrity, kindness, and generosity." It is a great tribute to Mr Slater and fitting that this Sefer Torah be donated to Yeshivah Gedolah where it will be used regularly.
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Tisha B'Av at the Kotel

There are some interesting photo essays of people "commemorating" Tisha B'Av at the Kotel on Arutz Sheva and COL. Arutz 7 claims that there were over 100,000 people at the Kotel on Monday night and Tuesday. With all these people remembering and mourning the loss of the Beis Hamikdosh isn't it about time that this day was wiped off the calendar??!! We want Moshiach now!
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YG Shluchim in Fiji

Sholom Cunin, Berel Lerman and Fiji resident Peter Bott
at the island’s first Tanya printing

Shluchim from Yeshivah Gedolah again went on Merkos Shlichus to Fiji. The report on Chabad.org talks about how they printed the Tanya there.

A pair of Chabad-Lubavitch rabbinical students printed what is suspected to be the first Hebrew book to ever be published in the republic of Fiji.

The two students came to the island nation to reach out to its tiny Jewish community as part of Chabad's summer peace corps-like program.

While there, they commissioned a printing of the Tanya, the foundational chassidic treatise penned by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe. The printing represents the 5241st time the Tanya, the second-most printed book in the world has been published.

While most of the Jews there were surprised by the students' visit, says Berel Lerman, they "were always ushered in to their home or office with a smile."

Following the printing, the pair gathered together some of the local Jews and studied from the Fiji edition of Tanya.

"Community members were excited when they heard about the printing of the first Hebrew book on the Island," reported Sholom Cunin.

The Beis Hamikdosh

How the Third Beis Mamikdosh will look in situ
(click on the photo for a larger view)

I just came across this interesting site which is appropriate during the "Three Weeks". The Temple Institute promotes the understanding of the Beis HaMikdosh and has some really interesting photos of the various keilim used in the Temple as well as some interesting articles.
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New Shluchim

From Shmais:

SHMAIS.com has learned that Rabbi and Mrs. Kivi Greenbaum of Crown Heights will IYH be moving on Shlichus to Ewing, NJ where they will establish on a new Chabad House the College of New Jersey campus.

The new Shluchim were appointed by Rabbi Dovid Dubov of Chabad of Mercer County.

HATZLOCHA RABBA!

The new Shluchim can be reached via e-mail @ unclekiv@hotmail.com

Also from Shmais about a month ago:

SHMAIS.com has learned that this coming summer, Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Grossbaum of Crown Heights will IYH be moving to Folsom, CA to establish a new Chabad house serving the Jewish Community.

The Grossbaums were appointed by Rabbi Mendy Cohen of Chabad of Sacramento and Rabbi Shlomo Cunin head Shliach in California.

HATZLOCHA RABBA!

The new Shluchim can be reached via e-mail @ yyg770@gmail.com

We also wish lots of Hatzlocho to both Aussies on their shlichus.

Shul Etiquette

Painting by Zalman Kleinman

I wrote previously about the pamphlet "You Shall Revere My Sanctuary" which discusses the concept of acting appropriately in Shul. The Yeshivah Centre website has permission to reproduce the pamphlet which can be found here.
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Introducing JPhone

I'm getting one of these!!
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"It's an Adventure"

Yisrael Kugel & Shmuli Raitman

Thanks for "noo" for finding this article on Shturem which originally comes from The Leader-Post newspaper. Shmuli Raitman - from Melbourne - and Yisrael Kugel are going on Merkos Shlichus to Saskatchewan which is a province in the middle of Canada (I also had to look it up in Google).

I appreciate any news of Aussies from our community and especially if they are doing good things like these bochrim.
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LeKovod Yud Beis - Yud Gimmel Tammuz

I was astounded to see these wonderful photos of the Previous Rebbe on CrownHeights.info which, seemingly, have only just seen the light of day. I have heard so much about the Frierdiker Rebbe and how his personality was quite different from our Rebbe. To me these pictures show that to a certain extent.

Go here for more of the same.
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Rabbi Groner's Surprise Appearance

Speaking at the Dinner - another great photo by Roey Chemny

Everyone was very pleasantly surprised to see Rabbi Groner at the 50th Anniversary Dinner of Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah. The Jewish News has a nice report here and some photos can be seen here.

Rabbi Groner looked great and we wish Horav Yitzchok Dovid ben Menucha Rochel a Refuah Shleima.
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Another Aussie Making a Difference

This is not new news, in fact it is 13 years old, but an Australian woman in Crown Heights is making a big difference to many people's lives. Devorah Benjamin has established an organisation called Keren Simchas Choson Ve'Kallah which assists young couples getting married. I understand that she doesn't just help organise the chuppah and reception but ensures that the couple have the necessities to start their married life together.

I believe that this nine minute video was made earlier this year for a fundraising function. If you have any spare cash I would suggest making a donation to this worthy cause via their website here.

Update: I am told that she is not Australian but her husband is - close enough for me!
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Aussie Bochrim Appointed Shluchim

Four Australian bochrim learning in Chovevai Torah in Crown Heights have been appointed shluchim to various Yeshivos for next year. They have been selected as part of a group of 13 in total .

Yehuda Chanaya (Didi) Waks is going to Yeshivas Chabad Lubavitch Argentina. The following boys are going to Mesivta Chabad Tucson, Arizona - Peretz Gutnik, Yosef Yitzchok Herbst and Michoel Kiselevitch.

Mazal tov to the bochrim and haztlocho rabbo in your shlichus!

See CrownHeights.info for the complete list.
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Historic Photos

Chaim Tzvi Groner - far right

Chaim Tzvi Groner - second from left

These photos appeared in COL of a visit to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein by Rabbi Arye Leib Kaplan of Montreal with some bochrim. The visit took place in 5738 (1978) just before Pesach and one of the bochrim pictured is Chaim Tzvi Groner.