South African Émigrés Build a Home in Australia

An intensive building campaign launched five years ago by the Central Shule Chabad in Melbourne, Australia, has achieved close to 90 percent of its goal towards establishing a community center that will benefit not only its congregants, but the entire local Jewish community as well.

The Chabad-Lubavitch run synagogue is now reaching out beyond its membership for assistance to complete the project.

In September 2009, the State of Victoria approved construction of the two-story synagogue center in Melbourne, which, according to plans, will have a seating capacity of 800 as well as amenities including a hall for lifecycle events, kitchen, library, boardroom, classrooms and offices. Furniture is being purchased from Kibbutz Lavi in Israel.

“We’re building one of the largest Jewish centers in Australia,” stated Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac Riesenberg, Central Shule’s spiritual leader. “There was nothing of that calibre here before.”

A large influx of South African Jews into Melbourne in the 1990s led to the establishment in 1998 of Central Shule, which caters mainly to that demographic. Some had emigrated directly from their native country, while others, including synagogue president Ian Harris, relocated to Melbourne from Doncaster, Australia.

The Chabad community of Melbourne is the largest in Australia and one of the world’s most dynamic, according to the Vienna-born Riesenberg, who grew up in Sydney and moved to Melbourne in 1980 at the invitation of the late Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner. The latter, a revered educator, was considered by many as one of the greatest Australian Jewish leaders of the 20th century.

Since its founding 13 years ago, Central Shule has hosted, on average, 15 to 20 Bar-Mitzvah celebrations per year, Riesenberg noted.

Until 2001, when the current edifice was purchased, the congregation rented halls in order to function. However, the facility no longer meets the needs of the growing community.

About 350 families now belong to Central Shule; approximately 400 people attend Friday night services, and 700 join in for the holidays.

Central Shule “really has attracted a lot of the South African community,” said building and finance chair Earle Sacher, who moved to Australia 23 years ago. The South Africans “immigrated in droves and wanted to be with each other.”

For Future Generations

South African Jewry has its own unique customs, including a strong musical tradition with many tunes originating from South Africa and Lithuania, Riesenberg explained. Owing to that heritage, Central Shule Chabad boasts a 15-man choir and a choir master.

“It’s a very pleasant service, especially on Yom Kippur,” said Riesenberg.

“I think that once there is a proper building, we’ll get more Australians on board,” he added. “Also, there are many South Africans who still don’t go [to synagogue],” and an attractive centre could encourage them to attend.

“Almost everyone in the synagogue has contributed to the building campaign,” said Sacher. “Over 15 families have given $100,000 or more. About 60 families have become Foundation members,” having donated at least $25,000.

“Weather permitting, it should be ready before next Rosh Hashanah,” continued Sacher. “We’re going all out to have it done. We’ll be searching for support from the wider Australian community.”

Notwithstanding the fundraising challenge, Sacher remains upbeat.

“In South Africa, everything was already there – synagogues, schools, old-age homes. For us, it’s a unique thing to be building. And the younger generation thinks it’s good to do something for ourselves, and they’re doing it with a lot of pride,” he explained. “They’re starting to realize it’s going to be theirs for a lot longer than it’s going to be ours. They have a whole life cycle ahead of them – bar mitzvahs, weddings. We see this as a project for generations to come and they appreciate it.”

His own son, David Sacher, belongs to a committee aiming to fundraise through social media, including email blasts, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

“As my generation transitions from single life, where responsibilities are little or non-existent, to a life with a family, our responsibility of bringing our children up with a Jewish identity increases,” stated committee member Ryan Berman, 30. “The age group I represent is 20-35, but ultimately I’m representing all future generations.”