Events Blog

Our RCWC special Sivan event, hosted by Sylvia Goldhirsch, was a highlight for the RCWC and for all the guests who attended. With the mother-in-law daughter-in-law relationship explored through the Book of Ruth, and a tribute to Rebbetzin Devorah Groner by her three daughter in laws followed by a delectable harvest supper, the icing on the cake was certainly the circles of discussion on relationships, topping an outstanding evening open to all Jewish women of Melbourne.  

Chana Bromberg led the popular circle or workshop entitled ‘Plan B; when the original one doesn’t pan out’, while Timmy Rubin facilitated the topic ‘Gleaning from Life’s Experiences; with a positive slant’ in her inimitable upbeat and empathetic manner. Together with Nicole Kornhauser’s soft and nurturing approach to her topic ‘Leaping into the Unknown – balancing intuition and logic’  the women left the evening uplifted and armed with practical tips and guidance as they journey through life.  

For more about the evening read Hanna Baum’s article. 

RCWC invites all Jewish women from all walks of life to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Sivan together.  As this event is part of our ‘Significant Day’ Project let us know if your birthday is in Sivan and we’ll say a l’chaim for your special day. Click here for help in finding out when your Jewish birthday is. 

There will be lots of surprises as the program unfolds.  The delicious themed supper will be based on the Book of Ruth and that alone will surprise and nurture you. Treat yourself, and your friends are welcome too, to enjoy Rosh Chodesh, a day of reward and recognition for women.  RSVP would be most helpful for catering purposes as well as contact tracing.  We’re pretty punctual at the RCWC and therefore doors open at 7:30 for signing in.

No sooner had she put away her Pesach dishes, Rebbetzin Rivkah Groner gave thought and consideration to the Iyar RCWC event for BCOD.  After all, with our newly energised freedom and the mitzvah of counting the Omer every day in Iyar, what will the message be for the BCOD ladies and all of us to take note.  Although this is an Affiliate event for all ladies associated with Ohel Devorah, the dynamic and growing Chabad House on Meadow St, in line with our new Birthday Project anyone who has an Iyar birthday will be royally welcomed.  Simply register your birthday on our contact us page to receive your personal invitation.  Rivkah herself celebrates an Iyar birthday and she will be sharing her story at this event.  BCOD is combining this event with a Shloshim for Tamar Rosenthal a’h, with guest speaker Dr. Sara Rosenfeld.  Tamar  contributed greatly to the RCWC and many other organisations and her tragic loss is greatly felt.  Tamar taught us much with her focus, her resilience and her sense of giving and the best way to honour her life is to emulate her ways.

After the launch in Shvat a Birthday Committee comprising of Frances Gradman, Sara Gutnick, Stera Gutnick, and Ettie Spiegelman planned and organised the Significant Day inaugural event on Rosh Chodesh Nissan,  a lovely social event on Sunday morning, a  Pre-Pesach brunch at Nogga on March 14.  A beautiful multi-course brunch topped with a delicious cheesecake dessert was served to the 20 or so ladies who expressed an interest in the RCWC and/or whose birthdays took place in Nissan. Sara introduced the RCWC to the newcomers while Ettie spoke about the Jewish Calendar and our special relationship with it.  We celebrated the Nissan birthdays of  Dvora Lowin on the 7th, Frances Gradman on the 9th, Miriam Grossbaum and Denise Lebowitz on the 12th and Elina Kerbel on the 29th day of Nissan. Miriam spoke on behalf of all the birthday girls, saying in part: ’I usually do not celebrate my birthday as it’s 2 days before Pesach. I thus really appreciate this opportunity to celebrate my birthday. Nissan is the month of redemption. We are still in exile yet whenever we break through a barrier it is a redemptive experience. So too the opportunity to pay attention and celebrate my Nissan birthday with all of you today feels very special.’

We are very proud to invite you to celebrate your Jewish Birthday and indeed The Uniqueness of You at the RCWC.  If you would like to to find out when your Jewish Birthday is click here.

Our next event will take place on Rosh Chodesh Sivan and a creative and unique program event is being planned for all women to attend.  If your birthday is in Sivan, however, please, contact us with details  as we’d like to do something special for you at our event.

The first Mitzvah given to the Jewish people before they even left Egypt was to sanctify the new moon and keep a calendar. From this we learn the great importance of sanctifying time and giving it the importance and honour it deserves.  As we approach Pesach we take the time to appreciate Rosh Chodesh Nissan, when this Mitzvah was given.  Every Rosh Chodesh is special, especially for women, as it became an occasion for reward and recognition for all that we do.  However, Rosh chodesh Nissan is extra special for us as this is when it all started.  Way back when …. when the Jewish women were encouraging and supporting the nation and bringing about the redemption through their faith, trust and actions.

At the RCWC we have launched a new project called ‘A Significant Day’ highlighting your Jewish birthday which is a significant day in the Jewish calendar, and isa cause for celebration, not just by the one who was born on that day, but by their family, friends and community too.  Our first event for this project is appropriately on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, Sunday March 14, at a restaurant to be announced for an 11am brunch. Places are limited, and we are prioritising our volunteers, Nissan birthdays and Birthday registrants. Click on New Moon News to read more.

Rosh Chodesh Shvat will be celebrated in ‘gardening’ style by the RCWC and hosted by BCOD.  Why gardening? In one week in the middle of Shvat we have ‘Tu B’Shvat’ New Year for Trees preceded by the 11th of Shvat, a day that we are reminded that the world is a garden and our mitzvot beautify this garden. All women and girls are welcome to attend by zoom or in person with current rules in place.  Register your interest or RSVP via our contact page. We look forward to celebrate and garden together!

For details, please contact RCWC.

The ladies of Ohel Devorah welcomed the month of Kislev with a beautiful Zoom event, their first program after re-subscribing for this year.

The anticipation for the Kislev Rosh Chodesh Women’s circle event started before the actual event!

The Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle and Beis Chabad Ohel Devorah prepared beautiful gift packs for all the women to enjoy!

Many women came by to pick up their pack which included an aromatic candle, mint chocolates and a list of all the special dates coming in the month ahead!

The event on Tuesday night began with a Dvar Torah. Rebbetzin Rivkah Groner spoke about Yehudit whose bravery was a key in the small Jewish army winning over the Greek-Syrian army.

Mrs Lifshy Ajzensmidt inspired the audience with our life’s story and overcoming challenges. She began with her living in New York, then moving to Hong Kong and finally to Australia!

It was lovely to see all the ladies on zoom! Hopefully the next RCWC will be able to meet in person!

Following up the Eshet Chayil Project we launched last year to honour our mothers and grandmothers who have passed on, we hosted our second event prior to Yom Kippur to commemorate the second Yartzeit on Yom Kippur, of Rebbetzin Chaya Zelda Kramer. We warmly thank all those who contributed to the wonderful evening – Goldie Freedman, Debbie Wolf, Sylvia Cher and Karin Zafir, who honoured their mothers with their tributes; Mussia Kaminetsky and Miriam Althaus, who delivered poignant Divrei Torah, and Sara, Liba Leah and Raizel Gutnick for their musical entertainment. 

We are happy to announce another exciting event being planned for the women of the Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle. We will be hosting a Zoom Eshet Chayil evening, ‘Our Mothers, Our Matriarchs’, featuring four women in our community who will be sharing the moving and inspiring lives of their mothers, uplifting the mothers of today.

Two of our Dvar Torah Writers, Miriam Althaus and Mussie Kaminetzky will inspire our prayers when they speak on ‘The Power of a Mother’s Prayer’. A lovely musical interlude will rejuvenate our souls to tune into our mother’s prayers. We would love for you to join us, contact us here for a personal invitation and the Zoom details. See you there!