Welcome Chabad Sunshine Coast
Known for its relaxed beach culture, the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia is experiencing a boom both economically, and in its tourism draw. And now it has its own Chabad community.
Rabbi Mendel and Esty Khutoretsky with Yisrolik and Yaakov-Yosef
The stunning Australian shoreline and adventurous hinterland, coupled with its proximity to Brisbane, is attracting young families, holidaymakers, and backpackers by the hundreds.
The local Jewish community is also on the rise. For the past few decades, the Sunshine Coast and its surrounding areas have welcomed many Chabad of RARA representatives a few times a year. Students from Yeshivah Gedolah in Melbourne would visit yearly to organise and run a public Pesach Seder. Rabbi Jaffe of Chabad Brisbane has also been involved, teaching JLI (Jewish Learning Institute) courses and through various other activities.
Over time, it became clear that the Jews of Sunshine Coast require a permanent Chabad presence in the area. Facilitated by Saul Spigler, president of Chabad of RARA, Rabbi Levi Jaffe of Chabad of Brisbane and Rabbi Yossi Rodal, director of Chabad of RARA, Rabbi Mendel and Esty Khutoretsky and their two young sons, Yisrolik and Yaakov Yosef, arrived in recently to take on this exciting project.
Sunshine Coast Chabad will take initiative and provide for the community’s needs; from Kosher food to life cycle events, the celebration of Jewish holidays, Educational programs for children and adults, and whatever else may arise in a growing, thriving community. For the Jewish holiday-goers, backpackers, businessmen, and other visitors to the region, the new Sunshine Coast Chabad will serve as a kosher haven, providing kosher meals and a seat at an unforgettable shabbos table.
The community is known for its eager and active participation in everything Jewish. Through friendship and Torah guidance, the Khutoretskys will work together with the Jews of the coast to further develop the accepting and proud community.
As a branch of Chabad of RARA and under the auspices of Chabad of Brisbane, the young family will also service a six-hour stretch of coastline, from the Sunshine Coast to Gladstone up North, and three hours inland as well, with the rural city of Toowoomba being a major centre.
The Khutoretskys join a growing team of RARA shluchim and will build on their success. With the Rubins in Far North Qld and the Khutoretskys based in the Sunshine Coast, the entire coastline of sunny Queensland, north of Brisbane, will now be a haven for Judaism.
They will be based in Mooloolaba.
If you would like to contribute towards the activities of Chabad of the Sunshine Coast go to chabadofrara.org/donate. Please leave a note “sunshine coast”
In these troubled times I feel I should register my support for members of the Jewish Community. Someone has to speak out in favour of the Israeli people, hostages and the IDF who are risking their lives everyday to bring this dispute to fruition.
My hope for peace..
I am a Christian, but have many debates with anti Jewish people on Social Media.
They often refer to (supposedly) Jewish publications and the blame for the worlds problem laid at Jewish feet.
I am very familiar with Moses and the prophets, but am in the dark when it comes to any other recent writings or specific sects.
Do you have any resources that I could refer to so I can get a better picture of the claims these people make?
Many Thanks
Jim