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Last Motzoei Shabbos (Parshas Shoftim) was the fourth annual Communal Avos Ubonim event, Achdus Through Torah 5776. The program has grown from year to year and this year reached new heights and greater numbers than ever before, running in Melbourne, Sydney and Johannesburg.

In Melbourne, over 750 participants packed the Werdiger Family Hall to capacity. At Yeshiva in Sydney, a strong crowd of 150 fathers and boys participated. 200 boys with their fathers joined together at Sunny Road Shul in Johannesburg.

The buzz of hundreds of voices learning; Chumash, Mishna, Gemara and Chassidus created the most harmonious melody of limud haTorah. Coming from different communities; Litvish, Lubavitch, Sefardim and Chassidishe, black yarmulkas, knitted kippot, hats and streimels adorned the room in a glorious display of Sheves Achim Gam Yachad, learning the Torah which unites us all. The atmosphere was electric.

After almost an hour of learning the boys were led in reciting Tehillim by Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler, Menahel of Yeshiva College, Rabbi Abba Levin of Yesodei Hatorah and Rabbi Aryeh Berlin of Shaarei Tefillah.

Rabbi Moshe Donenbaum shared a message of chizzuk. He highlighted that the greatest and most lasting relationship is one forged through sharing Torah learning.
He called on fathers to prepare the Gemora that they’re sons are learning to make the most of the time.

The night concluded with a grand raffle and each boy received a souvenur backpack embossed with words Achdus Through Torah to remember the night and its message.

The boys and fathers who participated, felt uplifted and inspired and took great Chizzuk from being part of this communal event.

The event received widespread endorsement from our community Rabbonim as well as the Menahalim of the local boys’ schools. Their warm and encouraging words of Divrei Bracha were printed in a souvenir booklet.

This event came together through the vision and tireless effort of a group representing the diverse Kehillos within our greater community.

The objective of Achdus Through Torah is to strengthen unity be-tween different Kehillos and to bolster the cause of Torah learning. Many local businesses and community members shared their support through volunteering and sponsorships. The major sponsor Scott Winton dedicated the night in memory of Melbourne Shaliach Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner z”l.

A big Yasher Koach goes to all those who helped to make the evening the great success that it was.

May this zechus bring Hashem’s blessings to the entire Jewish community of Australia and to all Jews throughout the world for a Kesivah Vachasimah Tovah, Leshonah Tovah U’mesukah.

Photo gallery by Danny Weiss