Second Gelilah (Simchas Torah day)

Dressing the Torah that has just been used to restart out annual cycle is a special privelege.

Opening bid: R1800

Auction closes: Wed. 3 October at 9:00 am

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

Second Hagbah (Simchas Torah day)

No sooner have we finished reading the Torah, when we begin the cycle afresh. After reading the account of the World's creation, we lift that Torah in a show of our love for Torah. This Hagbah is a special honour.

Opening bid: R2700

Auction closes: Wed. 3 October at 9:00 am

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

First Gelilah (Simchas Torah day)

"One who dresses the Torah has the honour of all who preceded him." Here is an opportunity to be the person who dresses the Torah that we will have just used to complete the entire year's Torah-reading cycle.

Opening bid: R1800

Auction closes: Wed. 3 October at 9:00 am

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

First Hagbah (Simchas Torah day)

The highlight of Simchas Torah is completing the cycle of reading the whole Torah. With this honour, you will get to lift the Torah that is used to complete the cycle. Symbolically, this is like lifting the whole year's Torah readings.

Please be aware that the Torah is very heavy!

Opening bid: R3600

Auction closes: Wed. 3 October at 9:00 am

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

Holding the 1st Torah at Hakafos (Simchas Torah day)

This honour allows you to lead the procession of dancing with the Torahs- the main feature of the Simchas Torah celebration. Our Sages teach that whomever shows honour to the Torah earns honour from people.

Opening bid: R1800

Auction closes: Wed. 3 October at 9:00 am

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

Opening the Ark for Hakafos (Simchas Torah day)

Opening the Ark represents opening the gates of Heaven. It is especially appropriate for a man whose wife is expecting, as opening the Ark brings a blessing for a safe and easy delivery.

Opening price: R1800

Auction closes: Wed. 3 October at 9:00 am

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

Leading Atoh Horeisa (Simchas Torah day)

The Simchas Torah celebrations open with a series of verses on the greatness of Torah and the Jewish nation.

It is a special honour to lead the community in saying the verses before the Hakafos.

Opening price: R770

Auction closes: Wed. 3 October at 9:00 am

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

Bid to Open the Ark for Neilah

When we open the ark, Hashem symbolically opens the gates of heaven to our prayers.

Neilah is the climax of the Yom Kippur experience and opening the ark at that time implies that the gates are open for any requests one may have.

Opening price: R3600

Auction closes: Thursday 21 September at 23:59 pm

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

Bid for Maftir Yonah

This is the Maftir that we read on Yom Kippur afternoon.

Jewish tradition has it that the one who buys this honour is blessed with prosperity in the coming year. (You may delegate someone to represent you to actually read the Haftorah).

Opening price: R5400

Auction closes: Thursday 21 September at 23:59 pm

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

Bid to hold the 1st Torah on Kol Nidrei night

This is considered a very great Mitzvah and represents upholding the Torah at the opening ceremony of the holiest day of the year.

Opening price: R1800

Auction closes: Thursday 21 September at 23:59 pm

To bid: Post a "comment" with your name and bid and then come back periodically to check if anyone has bid against you.

First 3D perspectives of the new Shul (the "skeleton")

Front view, showing the shul (raised ceiling), side study rooms and future function hall below (the "attachments" on either side of the raised ceiling are an error, the 2 sets of stairs are also in question, as is the general shape of the building).

Linden rd. street-side view.

This is the building from behind, showing the terraced gardens (left), the office area (back left), courtyard and bathrooms (back right).

Here you can see the children's play area (outdoor and indoor in that smaller double-storey area).

The view from NY

Here are a few shots from the Grand Banquet of the Shluchim convention. There were 4000 delegates present!

We had a ball!

With some guys from Dallas, Texas. (We "farbrenged" with them 'till 3:00 am on Friday night).

With the legendary Shliach, Rabbi Shmuel Lew of London.

What a powerful weekend!

It's near impossible to describe the amazing energy that we experienced over the last few daysl, here in Crown Heights.

Between a powerful Shabbos, enlightening conference and outstanding gala dinner, we're flying. Chabad of Strathavon was well represented, with a great show of enthusiasm and energy at both the Friday night farbrengen and gala banquet. We're on the map now!

More on this story on Shabbos at shul!

Shul delegation hits NY (it will never be the same)

They told us it would be winter, but with average temperatures of 17 degrees, we're not complaining.

As of today, we have the full compliment of our shul contingent. First stop will be the Ohel where we will PG represent and daven for the whole community. Everyone's looking forward to what promises to be a spiritually uplifting experience.

Then, on to "tour" the Crown Heights neighbourhood and the famous Jewish Children's museum. Tonight we're having a South African farbrengen. Lots to look forward to!

New York, New York

It seems that the trend has really caught on. This year, again, we'll PG have a delegation representing the community at the Annual Shluchim's Conference in NY.

We can proudly say that our shul will be the best-represented Chabad SA community at the conference. Gary Abraham, Robin Bayhack (going for the 2nd time), Jarod Kolman, Larry Levin and Solly Zaslansky will be this year's team, with a guest appearance by Joel Nehaus (not from shul).

It's very exciting to have the opportunity to visit 770 and the Rebbe's Ohel and to mix with the thousands of Chabad representatives who will be there from around the globe. This year's conference expects to host over 3000 Shluchim.

Please use this opportunity to send a letter to the Rebbe, which one of us will gladly take for you.

Great Simchas Torah all round

Sh'koach to veryone who helped make this Simchas Torah so special!

I think it's fair to call it the best we've ever had. The vibe and simcha were amazing and that's considering we went through far less alcohol than ever before.

BH, the auctions went off beyond all expectation. Thank you to all who participated. To date, we have raised R1,5 million for the building project. Our goal is to hit R2 mil by December. Any participation- whether personal or referral- will be greatly appreciated.

As the year winds down, we're trying to tie up an architect and get plans on track to start building early 2007 PG.