ב"ה
Thursday, 27 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 7, 2024

Rabbi Argues to Hire Lubavitchers

Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet responds to Rabbi James Kennard who called for the vacated position in the Great Synagogue in Sydney not to be filled by a Chabad rabbi. Full Story

Aerial View of Kfar Chabad

Next Story »

Oholei Torah Enjoys Ski Trip

Subscribe
Notify of
18 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Balance
February 21, 2014 12:13 am

Rabbi Kennard does an amazing kiruv job and has influenced so many to come to Yidishkit . So regardless of the unreasonable over reaction to his article that has an element of truth in it for the Australian community at present.
Rabbi Kennard has arguably done more than anyone else I know for Melbourne Jewry! the Rebbe Z’L would be proud of him! Rabbi Kennards has given the most inspirational droshas at Chabbad shuls in Melbourne.

nadav
February 15, 2014 11:05 pm

Actually, as an Australian, I can tell you that Melbourne, Sydney and even Perth are populated by a range of rabbis from across the globe- not just chabadniks at all. A large Lakewood community, YU rabbis, South African Hamivtar graduates and more- there is great diversity in our rabbinate. However, there is also a great dominance in the number of shuls that have chabad rabbis, in distinction to the number of chabadnikim in Australia.

Mancunian
February 10, 2014 4:04 pm

As a Lubavitcher & a Mancunian, I can attest that Rabbi Kennard, during his many years as head of the 2 largest jewish primary schools in the city he litterally turned these schools around both religiously and educationally,since he left, jewish education in these 2 institutions just has not been the same. As one who knew him well gives me a different reflection & understanding in his article. He actually criticizes the MO community more than Chabad, in as such that the MO community are not producing Rabbonim of any type or quality, as evidenced by him writing that the… Read more »

Rabbi Kennard: Why not say it positively rather than negatively?
February 9, 2014 12:44 pm

Why not say ‘I would like to see more Modern Orthodox’ rather than saying ‘not more Chabad’?

A bochur:
February 6, 2014 11:29 pm

Awesome article! Mill hill is a lucky shul & they know (hence the kidush this week).

FLORIDA
February 6, 2014 10:38 pm

GOOOOOOOOOOOO DAD!!!!!!!

I read both articles
February 6, 2014 10:23 pm

Rabbi shochat your article is GEVALDIG!
תבא עליך ברכה – יאריך ימים על ממלכתו!

Moshe Goldberg
February 6, 2014 8:23 pm

The Great Synagogue is in the middle of the City of Sydney. There may be a few Shomer Shabbos who walk a long distance to attend on Shabbos and Yom Tov, the vast majority are Mechalel Shabbos. I am not sure what would motivated an activist MO Rabbi to seek the position, maybe as a stepping stone to a more suitable position. The largest attendances are secular events like the Law Shabbos with a sizeable group of goyim in attendence. I was there on a regular Shabbos with just on 35 men including the Rabbi and Chazzan. Maybe there are… Read more »

d greenfield
February 6, 2014 8:18 pm

No one goes to australia except those people who travel to the far ends of the earth – chabadniks. Rabbi Kennard, moving from the UK, was somewhat of an anomily. The article does put a good point across that people coming closer to Yiddishkeit could probably have the idea that Lubav is the only derech, as their only contact with frumme Yidden is with chavbad shluchim. However, there are those who somehow or other, either through trips to EY, or just by not being pushed in the direction of Lubav by their shluchim, don;t take the Lubav path, and good… Read more »

great synagouge
February 6, 2014 7:49 pm

i just would like to point out, that contrary to it’s prestigious sounding name, the great synagouge of syndey struggles to get a minyan together on a regular shabos…

mendoza
February 6, 2014 7:44 pm

dittos to post # 4
yr 100 % right …….every has a opinion ……………..
veh hamaven yoven……….

RABBI MENDEL KASTEL
February 6, 2014 7:35 pm

Rabbi Mendel Kastel a CHABAD RABBI kept that shule alive for 15+ years and since he has left it has deteriorated!

Pathetic
February 6, 2014 7:32 pm

First of all most of the majority of non chabad shuls in Sydney and Melbourne do infact have chabad rabbis and they are extremely successful ….
As well as that , it is of common knowledge here in Sydney that since Rabbi Mendel kastel left the Great synagogue it has left a gaping sad hole in that community and gone down most it’s programs stopped etc

interesting
February 6, 2014 7:29 pm

As someone originally from the UK, it must be said that it is amazing and beautiful to see so many chabadniks as rabbis of shuls there, but *some* certainly treat it as a career and jump from shul to shul. Not knocking any of the wonderful holy work they do, but has to be said.

To #1 "Wow"
February 6, 2014 4:28 pm

Anyone who comments on an article without reading a single word of said article should be FORBIDDEN from commenting on anything ever. PERIOD

Local Talent?
February 6, 2014 4:13 pm

In Australia,ONLY Chabad has a yeshiva gedola, and smicha programs (although the one in Melbourne unfortunately closed this year). Chabad Rabbis ARE the local talent!! Even Rabbi Kennard was sending his kids to the Chabad school in Melbourne!

To #1
February 6, 2014 4:04 pm

And where, pray tell, do you see anyone in either article doing such talking?

Wow
February 6, 2014 2:53 pm

Anybody that talks against a group of learned Jews that serve G- on a daily basis should be FORBIDDEN from carrying the title Rabbi. PERIOD

X