Shtiebel

Shtiebel An intimate and approachable community free of the dogma and doctrine of traditional institutions.

Mazel Tov to Sophie and Aras on their wedding! Wishing you a lifetime of love, laughter, and adventure as you build a be...
30/01/2025

Mazel Tov to Sophie and Aras on their wedding! Wishing you a lifetime of love, laughter, and adventure as you build a beautiful life together. May your home always be filled with warmth, joy, and the deep connection that brought you to this moment.

Embarking on a b' mitzvah journey with Shtiebel is a transformative experience that honours your family's unique traditi...
22/01/2025

Embarking on a b' mitzvah journey with Shtiebel is a transformative experience that honours your family's unique traditions and values. Our bespoke program offers:

Personalised Tutoring: Benefit from one-on-one sessions with our experienced educators, Rabbi Gersh Lazarow and Tammy Cohen, RJE, who tailor the learning journey to your child's individual needs.

Flexible Celebrations: Choose between traditional Shabbat services or alternative ceremonies that reflect your family's practices, ensuring a meaningful rite of passage.

Community Engagement: Participate in quarterly Friday night sessions, followed by services and a shared Shabbat meal, fostering connections within our vibrant community.

Flexible Celebrations: You can choose between traditional Shabbat services or alternative ceremonies that reflect your family's practices, ensuring a meaningful rite of passage.

Learn more about how we can help you make and find meaning - https://www.shtiebel.org.au/bmitzvah/

We’re celebrating a wonderful start to the year at The Shtiebel with two incredible B’Mitzvah ceremonies this past weeke...
19/01/2025

We’re celebrating a wonderful start to the year at The Shtiebel with two incredible B’Mitzvah ceremonies this past weekend!

Mazel Tov to Maya and Ella, and their families, who marked this special milestone with bespoke ceremonies and meaningful celebrations on Saturday and Sunday.

In challenging times, the beauty and resilience of our tradition shine even brighter. Now more than ever, our young people need to find their place within the richness of Jewish life, embracing their heritage with pride and purpose. Maya and Ella’s journey reminds us all of the power of tradition to ground us, inspire us, and guide us forward.

Wishing them both a lifetime of joy, growth, and connection. ✨

📣 The Shtiebel Announces Exciting Global Partnership! 🌏📖We’re proud to share that The Shtiebel has partnered with the Am...
15/01/2025

📣 The Shtiebel Announces Exciting Global Partnership! 🌏📖

We’re proud to share that The Shtiebel has partnered with the American Jewish University (AJU) to bring the internationally acclaimed Miller Introduction to Judaism Program to Australia!

With two pathways to choose from, our Jewish Journey's Program is designed to fit diverse schedules and learning preferences:ced Jewish Journey Adult Education Program.

✨ Flexible Learning Options
With two pathways to choose from, our Jewish Journey's Program designed to fit diverse schedules and learning preferences:

Shared Learning Program: Join a 20-week group course exploring Jewish holidays, ethics, theology, and lifecycle events in a supportive, community-oriented environment.

Private Program: Flexible, one-on-one sessions tailored to your unique journey.
Guided by this globally respected curriculum, our programs are thoughtfully adapted to our warm, inclusive, and uniquely Australian setting.

🌟 Whether you’re reconnecting with heritage, exploring Judaism, or preparing for conversion, The Shtiebel is your home for meaningful Jewish learning and connection.

Let’s make 2025 a year of learning and growth—together!

Update on Recent Incident at The ShtiebelWe are writing to reassure you that The Shtiebel remains a safe and secure spac...
08/01/2025

Update on Recent Incident at The Shtiebel

We are writing to reassure you that The Shtiebel remains a safe and secure space for all.

As many of you may have seen in the media, early Tuesday morning, there was a break-in at our premises on Booran Road by an individual who has since been apprehended by the police. This same individual is also alleged to have caused significant damage at the Caulfield Racecourse and set multiple fires that same morning.

The intruder briefly entered our building, causing minor damage to a door. However, our security system immediately triggered a response that caused the individual to flee quickly. The intruder was inside for less than two minutes and left without taking or harming anything. Police have confirmed that this act was not religiously motivated.

We are grateful for the swift response of Victoria Police and are fully supporting their ongoing investigation. We have already reinforced security measures at the entry point to ensure this situation is not repeated.

Appreciating the damage caused elsewhere, we count ourselves very fortunate and are incredibly pleased that our security systems and procedures worked exactly as intended. This incident highlights the effectiveness of these measures in deterring threats and safeguarding our community, ensuring that The Shtiebel remains a safe and welcoming space for everyone.

Our office reopens on Monday, 13th of January, and we look forward to welcoming you to our first Shabbat Celebration of the year on Friday, 17th of January.

If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

✨ What a night to remember! ✨Last night, The Shtiebel family gathered for our annual Lights & Latkes celebration, and it...
28/12/2024

✨ What a night to remember! ✨

Last night, The Shtiebel family gathered for our annual Lights & Latkes celebration, and it was nothing short of magical. 🕎 The glow of menorahs, the delicious aroma of latkes, and the warmth of community filled the space as we celebrated the final night of Chanukah together.

It was the perfect way to wrap up a phenomenal programmatic year. From meaningful Jewish learning to memorable celebrations, 2024 has been a year of connection, growth, and light.

To everyone who has been part of The Shtiebel journey this year: thank you for bringing your unique spark to our community. Here’s to an even brighter 2025 filled with learning, joy, and togetherness!

26/12/2024

✨ Lights and Latkes at The Shtiebel ✨

Join us tomorrow evening, Friday, 27th December, for our annual Lights and Latkes celebration at The Shtiebel, 34 Booran Rd, Caulfield East.

🕔 5:00 PM – Chanukah activities, crafts, and games for all ages. Plus, create your dream latke at our one-of-a-kind Latke Bar!

🕯 5:45 PM – Community candle lighting (bring your own chanukiot).

🎶 6:00 PM – Our final Kabbalat Shabbat of the year, followed by a sweet ending with plenty of doughnuts!

This is a FREE event, and everyone is welcome, but registration helps us plan enough food and materials for all.

💻 Register here: https://www.shtiebel.org.au/lightsandlatkes/

Bring your family, your friends, and your holiday spirit for an unforgettable evening of light, laughter, and delicious latkes!

Chag Chanukah Sameach! 🕎

✨ A Season of Miracles and Light ✨This year, the first night of Chanukah coincides with Christmas Day, a rare and beauti...
24/12/2024

✨ A Season of Miracles and Light ✨

This year, the first night of Chanukah coincides with Christmas Day, a rare and beautiful moment that reminds us of the light and hope we all strive to bring into the world.

As we gather to light the Chanukah candles on December 25, we also recognise and celebrate those in our community who will be spending the day with family and friends celebrating Christmas. Now, more than ever, we need this festive season to be a time of miracles—a time to pray for peace, unity, and joy here in Australia and especially in Israel.

💙 Looking for ways to celebrate?

📜 Download blessings for candle lighting: www.shtiebel.org.au/chanukahcandlelighting/
🎉 Don’t miss our annual Lights & Latkes celebration! Register now: www.shtiebel.org.au/lightsandlatkes/

Together, let’s make this season shine brighter than ever.

Chag Urim Sameach

✨ Weaving Together Tradition and Connection ✨At Shtiebel, we believe a B’Mitzvah is more than a ceremony—it’s a moment t...
22/12/2024

✨ Weaving Together Tradition and Connection ✨

At Shtiebel, we believe a B’Mitzvah is more than a ceremony—it’s a moment to honor tradition and weave new threads into the fabric of your family’s story.

This beautiful tallit tells a story of connection: siblings who added colorful tzitzit as a way of grounding themselves in the chain of tradition while creating something uniquely theirs. And we can’t wait to see future siblings and cousins add their own threads as they step into their B’Mitzvah moments.

Every family brings their own colors, their own values, and their own dreams to the journey—and at Shtiebel, we are honored to celebrate them all.

💬 Join us in creating a B’Mitzvah experience that’s deeply personal, profoundly meaningful, and a celebration of your family’s unique story.

As we stand at the crossroads of darkness and light this Chanukah, we are painfully reminded that the struggles of ancie...
21/12/2024

As we stand at the crossroads of darkness and light this Chanukah, we are painfully reminded that the struggles of ancient days persist in our modern era. The hateful rhetoric of the “Jews Hate Freedom” rally on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House seeks to extinguish the flames of freedom, dignity, and coexistence that have illuminated our shared human journey for millennia.

Chanukah is the festival of light, born out of the resilience of a people who refused to bow to oppression and tyranny. It recalls the story of the Maccabees, a small band of individuals who stood up against overwhelming forces of hatred and persecution to restore religious freedom and human dignity. Chanukah’s flames remind us of the triumph of light over darkness, justice over cruelty, and love over hate.

The very essence of this holiday stands in direct opposition to the message of those who gathered in hatred on our Parliament’s steps. Their slogans and salutes are not merely offensive; they are a direct threat to the principles of democracy and the freedoms they claim to champion. Freedom is not the domain of those who seek to oppress others. Freedom is the birthright of all humanity, and it is a flame that requires our constant vigilance to protect.

The story of Chanukah teaches us three key lessons, which serve as a call to action in moments like this:

1: The Power of Light in Darkness: One small flame can dispel an entire room of darkness. Each of us has the capacity to shine a light of truth, hope, and justice in the face of hatred. Speak out. Share stories. Refuse to allow bigotry to fester in silence. Let us be the flames that ignite a broader fire of resistance to racism and antisemitism.

2: The Courage to Act: The Maccabees did not wait for someone else to save them. They acted with courage and conviction, even when the odds were against them. We must summon the same bravery, confronting hate not only with words but also with deeds. Whether it is joining an interfaith coalition, supporting initiatives that combat extremism, or simply standing in solidarity with the targeted, we must act.

3: The Miracle of Endurance: Chanukah celebrates not just the victory, but the miracle of endurance—the oil that burned far longer than anyone thought possible. Our communities, too, have endured against countless forces of hatred throughout history. We are still here, committed to the values of justice, kindness, and peace. This endurance is itself a testament to the power of our values over those who seek to destroy them.

As we light our chanukiyot this week, let each flame be a reminder that we have a sacred duty to confront hate wherever it appears. Let it inspire us to build bridges between communities, to educate the ignorant, and to ensure that no ideology of hate takes root in our society.

To those who gathered in hatred this week: we refuse to let your darkness define us. To all those who stand with us against this bigotry: let us bring more light to the world. Let us honor the legacy of Chanukah by ensuring that freedom—true freedom—burns bright for all.

I invite you to join us this Friday evening for our annual Lights & Latkes celebration, where we will come together as a community to rekindle the light of Chanukah with music, prayer, and joy.

Register at: https://www.shtiebel.org.au/lightsandlatkes/

This year, we extend a special invitation to bring your non-Jewish family and friends—their love, support, and care are needed now more than ever. Together, we will shine brighter, embracing the power of connection and shared humanity in the face of hatred.

May we all be inspired this Chanukah to kindle light, courage, and hope, and may we do so together, ensuring that hate has no home here.

Rabbi Gersh Lazarow
The Shtiebel

🌅 Unwind and Welcome Shabbat with Us 🌅With the warmth of the day still around us, join us at The Shtiebel for a gentle, ...
20/12/2024

🌅 Unwind and Welcome Shabbat with Us 🌅

With the warmth of the day still around us, join us at The Shtiebel for a gentle, refreshing close to the week. Let’s step into a soothing space where we can cool down, rest, and greet Shabbat together.

🍹 Chill & Connect @ 5:30 PM
Escape the lingering heat, enjoy a cool drink, and let the stress of the week float away in good company and conversation.

🙏 Kabbalat Shabbat @ 6:00 PM
Open yourself to the calming melody of Shabbat prayers, feel the comfort of community, and embrace the peaceful spirit this sacred evening brings.

As the sun gently sets, let’s release the burdens of the past week and celebrate the restful promise of Shabbat. ✨

🌅 Un-Wined and Welcome Shabbat with Us 🌅Join us tonight at The Shtiebel for an evening of connection, relaxation, and re...
13/12/2024

🌅 Un-Wined and Welcome Shabbat with Us 🌅

Join us tonight at The Shtiebel for an evening of connection, relaxation, and renewal!

🍷 Un-Wined @ 5:30 PM
Let the stress of the week melt away as we gather with community over a glass of wine and good conversation.

🙏 Kabbalat Shabbat @ 6:00 PM
Welcome the peace and beauty of Shabbat with joyful prayer, soulful melodies, and meaningful moments together.

Let’s leave the week that was behind and embrace the Shabbat that will be. ✨

Naming the Hatred: Scared, Angry, and HopefulThis past week has been profoundly challenging for Australian Jewry. Last F...
11/12/2024

Naming the Hatred: Scared, Angry, and Hopeful

This past week has been profoundly challenging for Australian Jewry. Last Friday’s firebombing of the Adass Yisrael Synagogue shook us to our core. This wasn’t just an attack on a building—it was an attack on all of us. It forced us to confront fears we had hoped were behind us and to ask difficult questions about our future. Will our children grow up with the same sense of comfort and confidence in their Jewish identity that we have cherished? Can we remain safe and secure while staying true to our traditions?

These are heavy questions, and they demand a response. We must summon the strength to be three things at once: scared, angry, and hopeful.

We should be scared—because this is frightening. The firebombing wasn’t a distant act of hate; it was here, in our own community. The fear we feel is real, and it is valid.

We should be angry—because this is unacceptable. Five days after the attack, my dear friend Issy captured what so many of us are feeling: “From now on, I won’t be using the word anti-Semitism. Let’s call it what it is. It’s anti-Jew and anti-Jewish. And it is, of course, racism.” Issy’s words are a call to name this hatred for what it is. This is not abstract or historical—it is personal, immediate, and a direct assault on our dignity. We have every right to be angry.

But most importantly, we must remain hopeful—because there is so much worth fighting for.

Last Friday morning, as the weight of these events pressed down on us, we wrestled with how to ensure Shabbat—and the two b’nei mitzvah celebrations planned for the weekend—could proceed with both safety and joy. Despite the fear and anger, we succeeded in creating an atmosphere of celebration and connection.

What struck me most about that day was its duality. The morning was consumed with questions about security and safety, but the afternoon was filled with moments that reaffirmed our resilience. We met with a bride excited to honour her Jewish family and build a home dedicated to raising Jewish children. We worked with a family eager to deepen their connection to Judaism. And just before Shabbat, we sat with a father and son who, moved by the shifting realities of the world, chose to root their upcoming bar mitzvah in a deeper connection to tradition.

Over the weekend, we celebrated the b’nei mitzvah of Josh and Louis—mazel tov to them and their families. Their joy and commitment brought light to a dark week. These moments remind us that Judaism is not just about survival; it’s about meaning, purpose, and an enduring belief in a brighter future.

So where does that leave us? Scared, angry, but hopeful. To be all three at once is not a contradiction—it’s the essence of resilience.

To those who are not anti-Jew: this is your moment to make that known. Speak out. Call anti-Jewish racism what it is. Stand up for your Jewish friends, neighbours, and colleagues. This is not the time for silence or equivocation. If you claim to be an ally, show up in ways that are loud, visible, and unwavering.

To my Jewish siblings: It’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay to feel angry. But never let fear or anger extinguish hope. Last Friday reminded us that even in the darkest moments, we can create light. We can build spaces of joy, love, and connection that affirm our commitment to Judaism and its future.

At The Shtiebel, our mission is to meet people where they are and guide them on their Jewish journeys. This week, that mission feels more urgent than ever. Together, we are building a future that not only survives but thrives—a future that is unshakable in its purpose, filled with belonging, and defiantly hopeful.

Issy, thank you for your courage and clarity. You’ve challenged us to name the hatred and act against it with all our strength. And to all of us: Let us face this moment scared, angry, but above all, hopeful. Because hope is what has sustained our people for generations, and it will sustain us now.



Photo credit: Zak’s Jerusalem Gifts, www.zaksjerusalemgifts.com.

Tonight at Shtiebel: Responding to Hate with Pride and ResilienceThe abhorrent attack on the Adass Yisrael synagogue has...
06/12/2024

Tonight at Shtiebel: Responding to Hate with Pride and Resilience

The abhorrent attack on the Adass Yisrael synagogue has shaken us to our core. This is not just an attack on a sacred place of worship—it is an attack on the very values of peace, tolerance, and respect that we all cherish.

Now is not the time to retreat or hide. It is the time to stand together in love and pride, demonstrating that hate has no place in our community or in this country.

Join us at Shtiebel tonight as we welcome Shabbat with resilience and unity. Together, we will reaffirm our commitment to light over darkness and strength over fear.

✨ Un-winded begins at 5:30pm
✨ Kabbalat Shabbat follows at 6:00pm

Let us show the world that the power of community and faith will always rise above hatred.

Important Update: No Friday Evening Gathering This Week!This week, we’re switching things up at Shtiebel! Instead of our...
28/11/2024

Important Update: No Friday Evening Gathering This Week!

This week, we’re switching things up at Shtiebel! Instead of our usual Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat, we’ll be gathering Saturday morning for something truly special:

🌟 Shabbat Shir, Shiur & Shnack 🌟
🕥 10:30 AM

Join us for this exciting new initiative, filled with:
✨ Meaningful reflection through song and prayer
📖 Engaging learning with a dynamic shiur
🥯 Delicious snacks and shared joy

This is a wonderful opportunity to deepen connections and celebrate Shabbat together in a unique way. We can’t wait to see you there!

One of four amazing celebrations at Shtiebel this weekend. We love what we do and the people we do is with (Frankies Fla...
24/11/2024

One of four amazing celebrations at Shtiebel this weekend. We love what we do and the people we do is with (Frankies Flamin' Pizzas is just a bonus)!

Today at the Shtiebel, we celebrate Amanda as she embraces a deeply meaningful moment in her Jewish journey: changing he...
24/11/2024

Today at the Shtiebel, we celebrate Amanda as she embraces a deeply meaningful moment in her Jewish journey: changing her Hebrew name. Just as Havdalah guides us from Shabbat into the week with light, sweetness, and reflection, this ceremony marks Amanda’s transition from her past to a present full of growth and a future rich with purpose.

Her new name honours where she’s been and where she’s going, echoing the journeys of our ancestors who transformed their lives through new names and new beginnings.

Mazel tov, Amanda! May this moment inspire you, root you, and propel you forward.

Address

34 Booran Road
Melbourne, VIC
3145

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Shtiebel posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Shtiebel:

Videos

Share

Category