www.chabadhouse.org.au | Blogs | COVID-19 UPDATES

Evening Services and Insights

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 1:41:00 PM

Dear Members and Friends,

Although sadly the Shule is currently closed due to the COVID-19, we can and must still pray together!

This evening (Thursday, 19 March 2020) we will pray Mincha and Maariv, the afternoon and evening services together online. Rabbi Schapiro will share words of inspiration, strength and guidance between Mincha and Maariv.

While it is not an actual Minyan, the power of praying together at the same time (albeit remotely) will certainly be accepted on high, and enables us to unite as one, despite the circumstances.

We will give Tzedakah and study in place of Kaddish.

Schedule:
7:00 pm Mincha (afternoon service)
7:15 pm Words of Inspiration by Rabbi Schapiro
7:30 pm Maariv (evening service)

Live Streams:
Facebook.com/ChabadNS
Zoom. Link will be posted on ChabadHouse.org.au/Live

In addition, we will be streaming the Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service, until after Lecha Dodi, prior to the onset of Shabbat.

Pre-Shabbat Schedule:
Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:15 pm
followed by a Sermon by Rabbi Schapiro
The service will conclude by 6:45 pm to allow women time to light Shabbat candles.

May we merit to pray, sing and dance together in Shule, very very soon.

3 Step to Personal Freedom

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 9:36:00 PM

Watch Below!

3 Step to Personal Freedom: What does it mean to be free? How can I experience personal liberation?

Including a special inspiring message at these trying time.

We will continue to be offering classes/Shiurim and inspiring messages via video, during the current COVID-19 crisis.

Please follow links below.

See https://www.facebook.com/ChabadNS/ for live classes.

Statement from Rabbinical Council of Australia and New Zealand

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 8:33:00 PM

Statement from the Executive Committee

17 March 2020

Pursuant to the definitive statement of the Sydney Beth Din dated 17 March and with a heavy heart the Rabbinical Council of Australia and New Zealand urges all Synagogues to close their doors for all social and religious gatherings, including prayer services, as soon as practicable.

All shiurim and talks which can be facilitated online should proceed. We encourage an increase in the number of shiurim and Torah study online.

We recognize that many families have Smachot planned during the coming weeks. However, Jewish Law states unequivocally that life threatening situations and even suspected life threatening situations override all other considerations and given the rapid rate at which COVID-19 is spreading throughout the community regular gatherings at Shule presents an unacceptable risk.

We hope and pray that G-d will protect us but it is imperative that first we do all that we can to protect ourselves.

RCANZ Executive Committee
President: Rabbi Yaakov Glasman (VIC)
Vice President: Rabbi Nochum Shapiro (NSW)
Immediate Past President: Rabbi Moshe Gutnick (NSW)
Secretary: Rabbi Netaniel Friedler (NZ)
Treaurer: Rabbi Nir Gurevitch (QLD)
Executive Member: Rabbi Noam Sendor (VIC)

COVID-19 UPDATE 3 - SHULE SERVICES CEASE

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 6:45:00 PM

Printable Version

Dear Members and Friends,

The wellbeing of our community is our highest priority. We continue to monitor the Coronavirus situation closely and review our protocols based on the advice of the Federal Government and NSW Health as well as leading Rabbinic authorities.

As we communicated in our initial COVID-19 Updates (6 March, and 13 March 2020), we as a community value the opportunities to meet and be together for Shabbat, at services and celebrations.

Shul Services
It is with much sadness that we need to update the community that under the guidelines just released from the Sydney Beth Din, all Shule service will cease until further notice.

Please see the statement from Sydney Beth Din below.

The Shul will be open until 7:30 pm tonight and tomorrow between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm to collect your Tallit and Tefillin.

If you would like to borrow a Siddur or a Chumash, this can be done at Reception. A $50 deposit is required.

Shabbat Mevarchim luncheon and Torah and Tea will not take place this week. All bookings will be refunded.

Classes/Shiurim
We will continue to be offering classes/Shiurim and inspiring messages via video. Full schedule will be sent out in the coming days. Visit ChabadHouse.org.au/Live to access the classes.

The first class will take place tonight (Tuesday, 17 March) at 8:15 pm. Tonight's ‘Tuesdays with Rabbi’ class, titled “3 steps to personal freedom” will be available via the link above. Rabbi Schapiro will also be sharing an inspiring message at these trying times.

Hebrew School
All Hebrew School, Bar and Bat Mitzvah classes will take place in an online classroom setting. If your child attends any of these lessons, you will receive an email with more details.

Mikvah
The men's Mikvah will be closed until future notice.

The women's Mikvah will remain open for the time being. Extra precautions have been put into place. Please see here for more details ChabadHouse.org.au/MikvahCOVID.

Help and Assistance
Our wonderful Chesed Committee volunteers as well as our Rabbinic team, are assisting people in need at this time.

If you, or someone you know is in need of assistance, please contact Rabbi Mendy Schapiro mendy@ChabadHouse.org.au or 0414 560 770.

If you are able to assist and volunteer please contact Rabbi Mendy as soon as possible.

For further information about the COVID-19 from the Department of Health, please visit health.gov.au.

If you are in need of anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me at rabbi@chabadhouse.org.au or 0425 214 522.

We pray for all those who have been afflicted by this sickness. May Hashem contain this epidemic, heal the sick and guide the medical professionals to find a vaccine.

With prayers for the coming of Moshiach, speedily.

Rabbi Nochum Schapiro

COVID-19 UPDATE 2

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 4:23:00 PM

Dear Members and Friends,

The wellbeing of our community is our highest priority. We continue to monitor the Coronavirus situation closely and review our protocols based on the advice of the Federal Government and NSW Health.

As we communicated in our initial COVID-19 Update (6 March 2020), we as a community value the opportunities to meet and be together for Shabbat, at services and celebrations. However, due to the continuously changing situation in regards to COVID-19, we want to do this responsibly and are seeking your help.

Please DO NOT enter the Chabad North Shore Campus if any of the following apply to you.

If you have ANY of these symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
If you have travelled to (including transit through) mainland China, Iran, Republic of Korea or Italy in the last 14 days.
If you have travelled to (NOT including transit through) Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore or Thailand in the last 14 days.
If you had contact with someone diagnosed with or suspected of having coronavirus in the last 14 days.

When you do enter the premises:

Remember coughing and sneezing etiquette - use a tissue and discard it immediately, and cough into your elbow.
Wash your hands regularly. We have put extra hand-sanitizer throughout the premises to assist you.
Please keep in mind that some people may not want to shake hands or embrace when greeting, and therefore it should not be taken personally.
Precautionary measures will be taken during Kiddushim as well.

We will continue to monitor advice from the Federal Government and NSW Health and keep you updated. We appreciate your support and encourage you to stay well.

We pray for all those who have been afflicted by this sickness. May Hashem contain this epidemic, heal the sick and guide the medical professionals to find a vaccine. Special prayers will continue to be recited in Shul.

For further information about the COVID-19 from the Department of Health, please visit health.gov.au.

COVID-19 UPDATE 1

Fri, 6 Mar 2020 3:22:00 PM

As a community we value opportunities to meet and be together for Shabbat, at services and celebrations. In relation to the COVID-19 (previously referred to as Coronavirus), we want to do this responsibly and are seeking your help.

If you are unwell please don't come to the Shul until you are fully recovered. Obviously you should be working with your GP if you are concerned about your health and follow their advice. There is also a National Helpline on 1800 020 080.

Remember coughing and sneezing etiquette - use a tissue and discard it immediately, and cough into your elbow.
We have put extra hand-sanitizer throughout the premises to assist you in keeping your hands clean.
Please keep in mind that some people may not want to shake hands or embrace when greeting, and therefore it should not be taken personally.

We will continue to monitor advice from NSW Health and keep you updated. We appreciate your support and encourage you to stay well.

For further information about the COVID-19 from NSW Health click here.

Statement by Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters

Mon, 2 Mar 2020 1:31:00 AM

STATEMENT ON COVID-19 BY RABBI YEHUDA KRINSKY
CHABAD-LUBAVITCH WORLD HEADQUARTERS

During these trying days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries serving in 108 countries and thousands of communities around the world are doing their utmost to provide calm and support while following protocol to protect their own safety and the safety of their communities.

Chabad emissaries are adapting as per local guidelines, and are working to the best of their abilities to help those in need, especially the most vulnerable. With the forthcoming Passover holiday, they will attempt—within these curtailed circumstances—to ensure that people will not go without matzah, and without a Passover Seder.

An event like this reminds us of the fragility of our existence. The disruption of our frenzied routines by a force that is beyond our control, compels us to pause, to take time to focus on existential matters of life, meaning and purpose. Now is the time to review the quality of our relationships with family—especially parents and grandparents—friends and neighbors.

This outbreak challenges us to consider the health of our spiritual life and to deepen our faith. In keeping with our Jewish teachings, we know that there are no random events. Our trust that G-d choreographs each moment with deliberate intention prompts us to reflect on this crisis and take away lessons that make us wiser, and our world better.

Specifically, the virus reminds us that none of us is an island; that each one of us affects others and is affected by others—across oceans and continents. And if—as this virus underscores—something as small as a microbe is all it takes to trigger a global crisis, every deliberate act of goodness that we practice can create a positive universal transformation.

Let us then move past our instinctual reaction of fear and worry, and summon the courage to respond responsibly, with generosity and kindness to our fellow human beings. Perhaps you know of an elderly individual or a neighbor in need. Call to check up on them; find a way to bring them food, cheer, or other necessary provisions.

The need is great and all of us are affected. How well we come together in support of a mutual vision of hope and healing will determine the outcome of this crisis, and make all the difference to humanity and to our world.

______________

Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters
770 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11213
www.lubavitch.com
718.774.4000