Award winners bound for Israel

Thanks to an award from Caulfield Hebrew Congregation (CHC), two lucky congregants, Shmuel Loebenstein and Lauren Mandel, will be jetting off to Israel to further their professional development.

The pair are joint recipients of the Adler-Kaspi Scholarship, instituted in memory of former members of the shul Andrew Adler and Shlomo Kaspi, by their families, to support young adults in pursuing their studies in Israel.

The awards will provide the means for law student Loebenstein to partake in the Mishpatim program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Mandel to participate in the Beit Issie Shapiro’s 6th International Conference on Disabilities.

CHC’s Rabbi Ralph Genende congratulated Loebenstein and Mandel for their commitment to the community and wished them luck on their respective journeys.

“This scholarship reflects the commitment of the congregation to deepening our connection with Israel and enhancing the development of young Jews in Melbourne, and I look forward to touching base with them on their return and to seeing how their experience could contribute to the congregation and the wider Jewish community.”

Speaking on behalf of the Adler and Kaspi families, Julie Adler said, “We are delighted to honour the memories of our loved ones, who had a strong connection to both Israel and Caulfield shul, through this scholarship.”

Zoe Kron