Sefer Torah For Rabbinical College In Melbourne Australia
Melbourne, Australia — Over five hundred community members recently celebrated the completion of a new Sefer Torah donated to the Rabbinical College of Australia & New Zealand (Yeshivah Gedolah) in memory of the late Mr John Slater by his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Slater, together with their son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Batia Slater.
More pictures in the Extended Article! (Photos by Roei Chemny)
This was the first time that a Safer Torah has been written for Yeshivah Gedolah. Joe is one of the college’s alumni.
During the preceding week Rabbi Eli Gutnick, also a former student and now a practicing Sofer, was available for pre-Siyum letter writing at the Slater family home.
The completion of the Sefer Torah took place at the home of Rabbi and Mrs Binyomin Cohen where Joe Slater wrote the last letters as family members looked on.
After a week of rain, the weather cleared to provide a sunny day and beautiful atmosphere for the celebrations to be held. Men, women and children holding colourful helium balloons then paraded to the Rabbinical College along Alexandra Street, East St Kilda to the accompaniment of chassidic music provided by Shimon Walles. Members of the Slater family followed the Chuppa in a convertible Rolls Royce.
At the college, Tehillim was recited after which hakofos and lively dancing took place during the Hachnosas Sefer Torah ceremony.
Guests then attended an elegantly catered seuda at Kimberley Gardens during which the college’s Executive Director, Rabbi Avrohom Procel and Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Binyomin Cohen addressed the crowd. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner spoke on behalf of his father, Rabbi Yitzchok Groner, after which Joe Slater gave a dvar Torah.
John (Menachem Yaakov ben Yosef) Slater was born in Kunmadaras, Hungary in 1926. John’s parents Dr and Mrs Tibor Scheiner sent his brother Ferenc (Frank) to Australia in 1939. However, John and his parents were not able to follow and they remained in Hungary until the end of World War 2.
John served in a forced labour battalion until he escaped during a Soviet advance on Budapest. After the war he studied medicine at Budapest University but left to join his brother in Melbourne in 1947. He worked for Malcolm Moore Ltd where he became a skilled and innovative tool maker and later started his own engineering firm in the city. His experience with the developing field of modern plastics led him to start Automold Plastics which he owned and managed until his retirement in 2001,
John Slater’s reputation in business and the Jewish community was one of absolute integrity, kindness, and generosity. He had enormous joy from his family, particularly from his granddaughters Sarah and Leah who were born in the last years of his life. Another grandchild was born after his death and now bears his name.
John had been a longstanding supporter of the Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand for over thirty years and his family is proud to continue its support with the donation of a Sefer Torah in his memory.
The Sefer Torah now has Yeshivah Gedolah as its home – a vibrant institution whose staff and students are totally dedicated to the study, practice and furtherance of its teachings.
ShmuliT
Mazel Tov.
Great event.
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