The City of Brisbane lit up literally on Sunday night as 1,000 people flocked to Reddacliff Place for the Chanukah in the City celebrations. The Con-Klezmer Orchestra, Uncle Velvel, Delicious felafel, steaks, latkes and doughnuts, community exhibits, and amusement rides were some of the excitement for which the Jewish and wider Brisbane community came together.
Over 15 government representatives from Federal, State and Local Council level, including Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs, Hon John Mickel, Speaker of the House and Lord Mayor of Brisbane Campbell Newma, were in attendance.
Master of Ceremonies Jason Steinberg, President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies opened the formal proceedings by thanking Chabad Brisbane for organising the event, and welcomed the Sinai College school choir who gave an outstanding performance.
Chanoch Sufrin, adult education director of Chabad Brisbane delivered a Chanukah message followed by the reading of special message from the Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Minister Palaszczuk MP spoke beautifully about the contribution of the Jewish community to Australia in general and to the State of Queensland in particular. The Minister also announced that she was delighted the Queensland Government could participate by supporting the event with a grant, and that she looks forward to continue supporting Chanukah in the City for many years to come.
The highlight of the night was when Rabbi Levi Jaffe, director of Chabad Brisbane and Rabbi of the Brisbane Synagogue with the Lord Mayor Campbell Newman were raised in the cherry picker to the light the 6 metre tall giant Menorah. Following the singing of some Chanukah songs the crowd was treated to a spectacular fireworks display which capped-off the evening.
Many locals commented at what an amazing event it was and how proud they felt to celebrate Chanukah in the City of Brisbane with such excitement.
Special thanks to the Queensland Government and the Brisbane City Council for their sponsorship. Special thanks to Brisbane Marketing for their tireless work and all the dedicated volunteers who enthusiastically came together in real community spirit and made this year’s Chanukah in the City a most successful and enjoyable event.
uncle levi mendel toby shterni jaffe
from melbourne
we are so proud of you,
Love your Liverpool cousins.
go toiba jaffe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rabbi Levi Jaffe and I work very closely together on many peulos, and particularly on this major peuloh. This is the largest annual Jewish event in Brisbane (possibly Queensland) and may it continue to light up this Golus until we see the lights of the Geulah Shleima Bekorov.
Thank you to all your kind comments.
The article was submitted without highlighting either shliach, Rabbi Jaffe is celebrating his Bar Mitzvah year with Chabad Brisbane and deserves the proper recognition for his ongoing mesirus nefesh.
(I will ask Collive to adjust accordingly).
WELL SAID!!!
CD
Thank you all for for your kind comments. We work as a team with the Rebbe’s koichos.
Zol men zoche zein ontzinden dem neiros beis hamikdosh hashlishi miyad mamosh!
Levi Jaffe
Yes it does matter. People should get the recognition they deserve. Both deserve but the Jaffes are the ones who see this enormous event through! It’s like praising the jam in a doughnut and not the actual dough.
The Jaffes are incredibly awesome shluchim, and so are the sufrins
Moshiach now!!
Rabbi Levi Jaffe is a pure mesiras nefesh yid. Mamosh botel tzum inyan.
An old friend from CT.
hi mendel jaffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
does it really matter
from melbourne people 🙂
We watched you with pride! Your smile was as bright and warm as the chanukah lights!Keep up your holy work!
Both Rabbi Jaffe and Rabbi Sufrin worked on the event! Both are amazing shluchim and deserve the Kol Hakavod
cool looking menorah
chanoch great job well done proud of you
Rabbi jaffe does amazing work for the Brisbane community!
Levi and Devoiry keep up your amaizing work!!!!
CD
we’re proud of you. you’re old manchester friends
Beautiful, Bro !!!!!!
chazak ve’ematz!!
What a beautiful event you put together.
And with such Geon Yaakov and great presentation throughout!
May you go mechayil el chayil in your peulos and shlichus which you fulfill with true mesiras nefesh.
Levi Shemtov – DC
(Chairman, Australian Bicentenary Chanukah Celebrations Committee) 😉
its go chanoch sufrin!!!!!!!!!!!!
his the man
gr8 job!
hope to have you next kinus
-AY
Keep up the great work!!