Movement in Sydney – The First Bikur Choilim and New Chabad Centre

Thirteen years ago, as young newlyweds, my husband and I excitedly boarded our flights to Sydney from New York to be shluchim in a Chabad house in Dover Heights. We invested ourselves into the youth, young adults and families of the community and B”H made many strong relationships and merited to help so many on their journey of Yiddishkite. During this time however we noticed a large hole in Sydney’s Jewish community and that was that there wasn’t any ‘bikur choilim’ or real hospital support set up. 

Simultaneously during these years, my mother in law became unwell and after suffering with her illness she sadly passed away. Fast forward a few years and my mother unfortunately became unwell too with that same horrible illness and very recently tragically passed away. 

It is said that suffering becomes meaningful when we use the experience to deepen our capacity to become more whole, loving and empathetic to others in their pain and suffering. 

Whilst seeing what bikur choilim provided in London, and wanting to reach more Jews beyond those already opting into a shule or Chabad house, was born our idea for beginning Abrahams Tent. 

 Abrahams Tent’s mission is to support patients and families through illness and hospitalisation with a variety of services. We will provide accommodation, meals, chaplaincy, advocacy, rides and additional local Shabbos meals and community programming at our new Chabad House The Soul Centre in Randwick, Sydney. 

We called it Abrahams Tent, as just like Avrahams tent was an oasis for tired, hungry travellers in the hot, vast desert so too we hope to be a place of hope and comfort in the most vulnerable time. Avraham stood for chessed – kindness and that’s our foundation here at Abrahams Tent. Our last name is also Abrahams and our first names Avraham and Sarah so it felt like a perfect name for this chesed organisation. Please G-d we can provide comfort and insight as Avraham and Sarah did so long ago. 

Please partner with us and share a merit in the healing of Abrahams Tent and the work of the Soul Centre.

This is all dedicated to Mrs. Faige Abrahams and Mrs. Rechil Levy who both were known for their hospitality and community work. May their neshamas have an Aliya. 

Here’s a link to donate: https://thesoulcentre.org.au/donate

 Or perhaps consider joining our monthly chai club:

https://buy.stripe.com/3csbKq8pzeWldsQfYY

 and merit in the healing of Abrahams Tent and the Soul Centre.