Think Again - In tribute of the great Reb Mendel (Max) New Z”L

Miri and I came down to Melbourne this week to attend the funeral of the great philanthropist, communal activist, and pillar of Jewish Life in Melbourne Australia the honourable, the late Mr. Mendel (Max) New Z”L. He was 97 years old and is survived by a beautiful rich extended sturdy family tree with many branches of growing and extended children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, five generations. His person, his philanthropy, his generosity and engaging smile and wit extended far beyond Melbourne to the multitude of Jewish organisations and in particular to the many Chabad Centres both in Israel and around the world. He was especially supportive and proud of all of his children’s Chabad Houses and Synagogues he was proud that they were Chabad Shluchim (emissaries) in Canada, and the US. Reb Mendels footprint is found everywhere on the Jewish Map.

Mendel New was the first cousin to my mother-in-law Mrs Esther Barber. It is worth sharing her story her escape from Poland. My mother-in-law arrived in Australia as a baby with her parents Mottel and Sima Neugeburt (later Australianised to New) in 1938 just prior the outbreak of the Second World War. Their story is legendary. One Friday night in Warsaw Poland, Mottel (Miris grandfather) arrives at the Shabbat table battered and bruised again having been beaten up yet again by the Polish thugs and gangs on the way home from Shule. He was newly married and before Kiddush he makes the bold announcement “I’m leaving Poland, I’m not getting beaten up every Friday night”. A chorus of protests rang out from around the table “Are you mad, we get beaten up now and in generations gone by and we will be beaten up yet again – it is our Jewish lot, it is, what it is”. Mottel was adamant I’m leaving this cursed Poland to Australia to meet up with my brother R’Yisroel New, father of Mendel New. Reb Mendels parents had emigrated to Australia in the 1920’s. And so it transpired Mottel Neugeburt (New) brought his wife Sima and two daughters Rebecca and Esther to Australia arriving in May of 1938. That was how my mother-in-law came as a 3 month old baby to Australia. Every one of her father and mother’s 21 siblings, parents spouses, Aunties and uncles were all murdered in the Holocaust, none of the family survived save Mottel and his small family. And that is how I guess my family is here to tell the story today. Zeida (grandpa) Mottel met up with his brother Yisrael New and came to live in the inner suburb of Carlton Melbourne. They became the pioneers of the fledgling Yeshiva community. Mrs Esther Barber is the last ke”h (until 120) of that glorious generation and era.

But to the story of Reb Mendel New and I thank his son Rabbi Ruvi New of Boca Raton Florida for sharing the following memories.

Born in 1928 in Melbourne to his parents, Reb Yisroel and Rivkah New, Gerrer Chassidim who had emigrated to Australia a few years prior, he grew up in a home of Yiras Shomayim (G-d fearing) and Chessed (charity) that later became a center for helping postwar immigrants settle in Melbourne.

With the arrival of the five Chabad (Anash) Shluchim families sent by the Frierdike (previous) Rebbe in 1948, with the encouragement of his father, he became an integral part of their efforts to build Educational and Communal life in Melbourne, serving on the executive committee of the Yeshiva Center for over forty years.

In 1952 he married Assia Kluwgant - daughter of Reb Isser and Chaya Kluwgant, who were one of the Shluchim families. The Lubavitcher Rebbe sent a blessing for the wedding stating this was the beginning of a glorious expansion down under in Australia.

As he began to build his family and textile business, with the arrival of Rabbi Yitzchok D Groner to Melbourne in 1958, sent by the Rebbe to take the helm of the Chabad institutions, his involvement in the Yeshiva Center intensified, as he proudly served as Rabbi Groner’s “right hand man.”

He also served on the board of the Montefiore home for the aged.

He was the epitome of a “mensch” - a man of great integrity.

Countless people turned to him for his sound counsel and kindness. He never turned anyone away. A steady stream of fundraisers would find their way to his home and business, and he treated them all with dignity and respect and supported them generously. Many people in need of short or long term loans knew that they could always turn to him.

He was an extraordinarily proud husband of his wife Assia and supported all of her community and charity work including her concert tours to raise funds for the Children of Chernobyl.

His home was legendary for its hospitality to both communal events and for hosting guests at Shabbat and Holiday meals. The New family Shabbat and Holiday table was legendary for its elegance, ambience, warmth, joy, delicious cuisine, and for the stories he’d share. He loved telling stories and regaled his family and guests with them.

He was very proud of his family, encouraging them to pursue their passion in life while inculcating them with a sense of duty to serve the greater community whether formally or informally.

His passing leaves a deep void and marks the end of an era for the Melbourne Jewish community where he was a deeply beloved and respected - iconic - member.

His life story spanning almost a century encapsulates and embodies the story of Jewish Melbourne and particularly the Chabad Yeshiva Center, an institution to which he dedicated much of his life.

He was predeceased by his wife Assia and son Chaim.

He is survived by his children:

Stera Gutnick, Melbourne

Rabbi Moishe New, Montreal

Rabbi Yossi New, Atlanta

Rabbi Ruvi New, Boca Raton

And by loving in-laws, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

I would like to take this opportunity together with Miri to wish his extended family Arichas Yamim (long life). May his memory be a source of blessing for ever. May his soul be bound in the bond of eternal life. I was touched by the heartening and inspiring stories expressed so eloquently by his sons and by Rabbi Chaim Zvi Groner son of Rabbi Yitzchak Groner at the funeral. I certainly feel that I have been touched by greatness that was the bright soul of Reb Mendel. It was a privilege, just to have known him, a greater privilege and blessing to have been brought into his family. His circle of influence keeps expanding to the next generation. My daughter and son in law Tirtza and Moishe are congregants of his son Rabbi Yossi and Dassi New in Atlanta Georgia. They have built a thriving and vibrant community in Atlanta and as many of you would know by now, I love taking my holidays in Atlanta. I have also got to know his grandson Meir and Sarah New of Atlanta Georgia, now best friends of my Tirtza and Moish, who of all the clan and many grandchildren seems to be the one following the footsteps of his grandfather striding down that familiar bright path set by his grandfather.

Reb Mendels passing is truly the end of an era. The last of the baby boomers. Those days were culturally lively full of colour hope belief and purpose. They were seeped in the world of Torah. They were the builders of true Yiddishkeit, transforming Jewish Europe to Australia. They don’t make them like that any more. A legend has passed we have all been elevated. Long Live Reb Mendel (Max) New.