Kosher Shop for Canberra
Canberra’s first Kosher Shop has opened to serve the local Jewish community and many visitors to the nation’s capital.
Federal Labor MP for Melbourne Ports Michael Danby, one of three Jewish Members of the Australian Parliament, officially cut the ribbon and opened the shop – located in Chabad’s ACT’s headquarters.
Rabbi Shmueli Feldman, Moty Feiglin, Michael Danby and Chaya Mushka Feldman cut the ribbon
Danby said: “Today is an exciting day not just for Canberra but the entire Jewish community of Australia. This shop is a wonderful addition to the critical infrastructure and services that Chabad ACT already provide to the Jewish and wider community.
On a personal level, my wife Amira Malka and I feel relieved that we will no longer need to schlep food with us from Melbourne when coming up to Canberra. The range provided in this shop is more than we could have wished for and carries some of our favourite foods”.
Canberra Kosher, operating under the auspices of Chabad ACT, has been informally providing Canberra’s kosher community with basic necessities including chicken and meat. The range has expanded to include a full range of kosher and Judaica products including meals in a designated shop.
As Canberra’s only licensed kosher caterer, the shop also regularly provides meals throughout the ACT making keeping kosher possible for locals and visitors..
The ribbon cutting ceremony was preceded by a dinner attended by Chabad ACT board members and some key supporters. Amongst them was Mottel Feiglin and his wife Esther from Melbourne.
Feiglin spoke of how proud he was to contribute to the important work of Chabad in Canberra and thanked the community members for their continued support for a thriving Jewish community hub.
Theo Menachemson, Honorary Secretary and Harry Chaim Oppermann, both Directors of Chabad ACT spoke of the achievements and growth of the community under the caring leadership of Rabbi Shmueli and Rebbetzin Chasia Feldman and praised them for their efforts.
Chabad in the ACT was established in 2008 by Rabbi Aharon Serebryanski and seed funded through the generosity of Eliezer Kornhauser, both of Melbourne.
“In addition to a synagogue, mikvah, preschool, adult and children educational programs, chaplaincy and support services and charity division including food and clothes banks, having a kosher shop completes the basic requirements necessary for a strong and vibrant Jewish community” said Oppermann.
Rabbi Shmueli Feldman, Chairman of Chabad ACT, blessed those present and said that “this is natural progression for our beautiful community. Food for the body is as equally important as the food for the spirit that Chabad aims to provide.”
“We need to accommodate for the needs of the growing numbers of Jewish families moving to our community in increasingly making Canberra more of a viable, fully equipped and attractive destination for Jewish families who will prefer a peaceful and affordable Canberra option over more expensive Sydney or Melbourne” said Feldman.
He added: “My four-yr-old daughter Chaya Mushka is especially excited as she can now pick things she wants in a shop without asking if they are Kosher.”
