Rabbi’s Lennox Head visit is full of heart
Not ready to retire when he was 70 and about to be made redundant by his employer, Henri decided to purchase farmland near the town, began studying agriculture, and planted 6000 macadamia trees.
Rabbi Menachem Aron and his family made a special stop on May 28 on their road trip up the northern NSW coast, on behalf of Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia (RARA).
Arriving in Lennox Head, they spent some quality time chatting to 93-year-old Henri Bader, and his wife Lorraine, and left feeling truly inspired.
Not ready to retire when he was 70 and about to be made redundant by his employer, Henri decided to purchase farmland near the town, began studying agriculture, and planted 6000 macadamia trees.
Over time, his macadamia nut farm became very successful, reaped huge harvests, and drew interest from television shows, magazines and regional newspapers.
And the farm – and the Baders – are still going strong today.
Henri shared details of his upbringing in a close-knit Jewish community called Springs, on the outskirts of Johannesburg, where he used to go to cheder daily.
Rabbi Aron said these days, Henri puts on a special pair of tefillin every morning, that his late father used before him.
Every Friday night, Lorraine lights the Shabbat candles, and Henri recites the Kabbalat Shabbat prayers, as he has done, weekly, for more than 80 years.
“He has been through tough times and through better times, but Henri still has a twinkle in his eye, as he leans back and speaks about having the right perspective and values in life,” Rabbi Aron observed.
“It is never too late to start something new, and give it another chance.”
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