There was a big colourful truck getting around Lakes Entrance last week – the Mitzvah Tank.
Rabbi Mendel Super and Rabbi Izzy Adelist, who featured on Outback Rabbis on ABC television last year, visited the town.
The truck has travelled across the Nullabor, to Darwin and basically the width and breadth of Australia.
They were in northern New South Wales after the bushfires providing support to victims of the fires. They provided food, water and in some cases financial assistance to victims, even providing a bulldozer to one woman to help clean up after the fire.
They are now visiting remote areas to reach out to Jewish people.
They know of some people in Lakes Entrance, but would like to contact and support others.
“Due to generational trauma many parents or grandparents have kept their Jewish ancestry to themselves,” the Rabbis explained.
“Children are more curious, or they may get to their 20s or 30s and want to learn more about their heritage.
“We met one woman recently who discovered she was a descendant of a Jewish convict who came to Australia in 1821.
“We want to reach out to people who haven’t practised their Judaism and let them learn to embrace it. No one should be left behind.”
Both Mendel and Izzy have studied, travelled and lived in many countries around the world.
They are both enjoying seeing some of their country, especially in the travelling synagogue – the Mitzvah Truck.
“We have all the resources in the truck to help people learn more about their Judaism,” they said.
IMAGE: Rabbi Mendel Super and Rabbi Izzy Adelist visited Lakes Entrance last week in the Mitzvah Truck. (PS)
