CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand [CHI] — Not a place that you'd expect to see hundreds of Jews coming to Shul, the first in the world to usher in the Jewish New Year. Rabbi Goldstein, along with student Rabbi, Berri Spitetzki, make their rounds visiting hospitals to blow shofar, hosting meals for more than a hundred community members and tourists, with a Shul packed with record number of congregants for Rosh Hashana. The high holidays continued with Yom Kippur. “For me Yom Kippur was just a day for trips with my friends. But for the first time I feel Jewish. To celebrate a real Yom Kippur, thanks to Chabad,” were the words that Dana, a daughter of an influential Israeli politician from Ramat Aviv, had to express herself.
Tishrei in New Zealand
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand [CHI] — Not a place that you’d expect to see hundreds of Jews coming to Shul, the first in the world to usher in the Jewish New Year. Rabbi Goldstein, along with student Rabbi, Berri Spitetzki, make their rounds visiting hospitals to blow shofar, hosting meals for more than a hundred community members and tourists, with a Shul packed with record number of congregants for Rosh Hashana. The high holidays continued with Yom Kippur. “For me Yom Kippur was just a day for trips with my friends. But for the first time I feel Jewish. To celebrate a real Yom Kippur, thanks to Chabad,” were the words that Dana, a daughter of an influential Israeli politician from Ramat Aviv, had to express herself.
The spirits were lifted when, for the holiday of Sukkos, a beautiful kosher Sukkah was erected and a Lulav and Esrog flown in directly from Israel with permission from the Government, even though customs law do not generally allow it. Berri even took a flight down to Dunedin, to sponsor a Shabbaton for the small but growing Jewish community. “We never had a Lulav and Esrog here before in a sukkah!” said the Shul President. Back in Christchurch, many children joined together for a grand Sukkah party, followed by a smashing Simchas Torah celebration, when the entire congregation marched outside onto Durham Avenue, the main street in town, to dance with the Torah! No one would imagine all this could all be possible. But it is!
Thanks to Chabad of Christchurch, New Zealand, guided by Rabbi Mendel Goldstein, with the help of Berri Spitetzki, in charge of outreach activities, and for all the financial support from the communities of Sydney and Melbourne. A special thanks to Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky for all his hard work and efforts in supporting Chabad’s activities in New Zealand.
SURPRIZE
WOW!!I DID’NT KNOW IN A PLACE WITH SUCH A NAME WOULD HAVE JEWS. OF COURSE IF THERE IS A JEW THERE IS A CHABAD HOUSE.
Chabad in Yorba Linda
great job berri!
people are so funny
I find it hilarious that people say simcha monica or s. diego, but have no problem writing out the name of this town!!!
Scott
Kol Hakavod!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep up the amazing work!
Australian Chosid
BTW
its suprising that the Bochur who wrote this article dose not know that we call that city CHE-CHE.
Sydney Bochur
Go Berri!
All the support from Sydney Bochrim
Hatzlocha Rabah with the Shlichus
Shmuly
Kol Hakavod Rabbi Goldstein
Goldstein family
Great job Mendy, Sarale and the kids. we miss you here.
723 mont. goldsteins
way to go cousints!maby one day we will visit the other side of the world to finally see the amazing job your doin
bob
berry u are awesome
Formerly Merkos Shliach to NZ
Yasher Koach for all of your hard efforts… Even if the reporting is not exactly accurate, considering that I had Daled Minim and a Sukkah in Dunedin Tishrei 2001!