A Brighter Shabbat
Melbourne’s Temple Beth Israel (TBI) will be lending their communal support to that which so many of their members and friends have been doing as individuals and as families in supporting those affected by the bushfires.
More than 100 Victorian businesses, sporting organisations and other groups have united in an unprecedented drive to support bushfire-affected communities, while individuals have also been encouraged also.
Businesses and organisations including the AFL and all clubs, BHP, NAB, Crown, Australian Super, the Herald & Weekly Times and Tennis Australia have organised events and stays of at least two nights in bushfire-affected areas.
TBI will be relocating its main services on 8th and 9th May from their spiritual home on Alma Rd in St Kilda, to the Bright Community Centre, 1 Railway Ave, Bright, VIC.
Five years ago, TBI launched its successful POP-UP SHABBAT series as a way of taking Shabbat services to dynamic and alternative spaces and locations across Victoria. The aim being to engage those on a weekend break or anyone looking for a casual and prayerful experience outside our city centres.
In what has been coined “A Brighter Shabbat”, TBI’s Rabbis and Cantor will lead Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday Night) and Shacharit Shabbat (Saturday Morning) Services and host a Havdalah Celebration and evening concert with members and friends, free to come to any part or all of the program.
They strongly believe this is the perfect vehicle to show support for bushfire-affected communities and encourage your participation.
In announcing this initiative, Gersh Lazarow, Senior Rabbi of TBI noted – “Our goals are simply, to celebrate Shabbat and support the bushfire-affected community. We may not have a traditional Shabbat dinner event, as we look to fill as many local pubs, cafés and restaurants as we can.”
“While some people will join us for the weekend and others might only take a day trip,” said Rabbi Lazarow, “we look forward to investing in our neighbours and committing to their future.” He concluded by noting that while the Jewish community has not always kept Shabbat, Shabbat has certainly kept the Jewish community together and TBI hopes to share this sense of community with fellow Victorians.
For More Information about “A Brighter Shabbat” —- www.tbi.org.au
To Book Accommodation & Plan You Trip — www.visitbright.com.au/
