New Zealand Welcomes Record Number of New Shluchim

CANTERBURY, New Zealand [CHI] — This week Chabad of New Zealand has welcomed it’s largest group of Shluchim ever! Seven young Yeshivah graduates, who will be spending the year in the Country’s South Island, where they will be running the Chabad House in the regional Capital of CHCH. They will be under the directorship of Hatomim Berri Spitetzki who was recently appointed to oversee the development of Chabad’s activities in the region.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

While the Chabad House is prominently located in CHCH’s City Center not far from the local Shul, most of it’s visitors are in fact Israeli Backpacker. ”Some 20,000 former Israeli soldiers travel through the South Island each year“ Says Mrs. Sara Goldstein, co-director of Chabad Of New Zealand. (a number that has grown expediently in recent time) many of whom call the Chabad House their ”Home – away from Home“! ”on a regular Shabbos we can expect well over a hundred guests“ says Berri. Throughout the week the Chabad House serves as a warm meeting place for these young men and women, to catch up with friends, to call home, put on Tefilin, Minyonim, and Torah classes. For Yomim Tovim the Young Rabbis disperse throughout the Country conducting services and coordinating communal celebrations.

There is Something unique about this group of young Rabbis, most of them are certified Shochtim (Ritual slaughterers) as well as certified Sofrim (Torah Scribes), skills which will very much come to use in this remote land. ”Making living kosher affordable, is imperative“ says Rabbi Goldstein – Co-Director of Chabad of New Zealand, ”and this IY”H will be the next step in making it happen”. It would be the first time in the Country’s history to have this many Shochtim and Sofrim at once.

Support for Chabad of New Zealand comes almost entirely from oversees. Recent support has come from: Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky Vice Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, The Rohr Family Foundation, R’ Mottel Feiglin, R’ Avremi Raskin, R’ Eliezer Kornhauser, R’ Chaim Moss and Family, R’ Dovid Deetz and Family, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Feldman and Family, Rabbi Levi Wolf, as well as many others over the past year, predominantly from members of Anash from Melbourne Australia.

If you know anyone who can benefit from Chabad in New Zealand you are urged to contact the main office: +64-3-365-7412 – +64-3-365-5142 – 64-3-930-4515 – +64-2102258989 – +64212065088 – From the USA Tollfree (VOIP): 1-877-CHABAD-9 – 718-554-3972 Email: RabbiGoldstein@ChabadOfNewZealand.com – www.ChabadOfNewZealand.com