President: Jack Aghion
Yitzhak Rabin Unit was instituted in 1997.
The original purpose was to provide an opportunity for Jewish singles, especially recently widowed and divorced people, to establish a new network of friends.
Over the years, the group’s membership has
swollen and receded (now 30 members) as numerous romances and marriages
developed (no doubt achieving the initial aim of the group). Yitzhak Rabin
offers a great variety of regular cultural and social activities, including
year round barbecues, Chanukah in July, musical and fundraising soirees, and
visits to cinemas, galleries and museums. The unit also produces its own Report
Journal, ‘The Tribune’, which is distributed via the internet. The Tribune is
one way to engage other units to participate and contribute to the group’s social
and community efforts.
This unit has successfully helped Russian Refugees settle
in, with the mediation scheme being embraced by the general community. The
Refugee Association is Yitzhak Rabin’s primary focus, with members also being
encouraged to take up a Teaching English as a Second Language qualification to
assist with refugee assimilation into the community. Importantly, the unit
coordinated with Rotary and The Ambulance Service to distribute a life saving
fridge magnet to community members, which provides an enclosed book of
medications to aid the ambulance attendants to respond promptly to their call
out (i.e. life saving measures can be started immediately rather than losing
time establishing possible causes for the emergency). Supporting Magen David
Adom, J.N.F., The B’nai B’rith Arts Festival and Pesach Appeals to name a
few, Yitzhak Rabin’s Biannual Bridge Tournament at The Temple is integral in
raising funds and awareness for their various projects. The unit’s ‘potent’
Debating Team has also contributed to increased awareness of their projects.
The unit is
keen to make a concerted effort to further links and reach into the community to engage potential members, both couples and singles.