Visitors Guide
This page has been designed for Jewish tourists and those who are visiting Perth and wish to avail themselves of Jewish community facilities. Also, a little information about how to get around and what to see.
1) Minyanim and Eruv
The Perth Jewish community currently has three functioning Orthodox Shules, and also operates Shabbat Services at the old age home. On any given morning there are at least three minyanim to choose from (6.15 to 6.30 AM start), and on Sunday morning there are options to daven at 7.00 AM and 8.00 AM. In the afternoon there are Mincha/Maariv services at Zman, and a late Maariv at 9.00 AM. Shabbat morning tefillah commences at the various shules at 9.00 AM, 9.30 AM or 10.00 AM. As yet there is no hashcama minyan, but we are working on it! For the Shule contacts please visit the websites:
Dianella Shule (also known as the Beit Midrash of WA)
To arrange Shabbat hospitality please email the shules using the contact links on their respective websites. To see a map of the Eruv click here.
2) Food
There is a kosher bakery/butcher and grocery shop in Perth. The Kosher Providore is adjacent to the Perth Hebrew Congregation.
The Coles supermarket in Flinders square has a kosher section and sells both fresh and frozen kosher meat.
One of the lessor known travel tips for kosher consumers is to pick up kosher meals from the Kosher Food Services run by the Maurice Zeffert aged home. These are ready prepared single portion frozen meals that are wholesome, economical, and there is a wide variety of options available. For more information email kmow@perthjewishaged.org.au or visit the Maurice Zeffert Home website
There are two major kosher catering specialists. Whilst generally focussed on preparing functions, both companies deliver to hotels and also have shabbat orders available for pick up. This only works when booked in advance, and bear in mind that the crockery and freight added to meals that are delivered to hotels makes this an expensive option. However arranging to collect from the caterer is an effective and easy way to move around. The Kosher Caterers are:
Aviv Catering – Phone 9276 6030
Yofi’s Catering – Phone 9375 3822
If you are in Australia for an extended period it is worth buying a Kosher Food Directory (available through Kosher Australia) as you do need to know what to look for. Some more local Western Australian information is available from the local Kosher agency KAWA. General Kashrut information is accessible from Kosher Australia, and the NSW Kashrut Authority also has an online products directory that can assist to identify many kosher products on the shelves of Perth supermarkets.
There are a number of Baskin and Robbins stores that stock kosher ice creams and cones. In particular the Subiaco branch has well marked lists of kosher items.
3) Mikveh
The community operates one Mikveh which is onsite at the Perth Hebrew Congregation. A roster of attendees applies. Please contact the Shule for more information.
4) Accommodation
It is difficult to find hotel or motel accommodation within the Eruv area or close to the Jewish community centres. Hotels in the Central City are a good hour’s walk from the Jewish area and therefore difficult for Shomrei Shabbat travellers.
There is a place called the Limited Edition Hotel (Previously Dianella Hotel) 164 Alexander Dr, Dianella WA 6059, Phone (08) 9276 0777. One visitor described this as pub accomodation, and not a pleasant option for a Shomrei Shabbat visitor, however this is second hand information.
5) Sites of Interest
There is a Jewish war memorial at Kings Park which is quite unique. Occasional heritage tours regarding Jewish life in former districts such as Fremantle or Northbridge are hosted by community groups. Aside from this, there are few signifant tourist attractions of a specifically Jewish nature.
In general, Perth tourism is centered around our coastline, from Mandurah and Rockham in the South, to Scarbourough and Hillary’s Boat Harbour in the north. A trip to Fremantle is a must, as is a visit to the central city, inclusive of Kings Park. Sport at Subiaco Oval or the WACA, arts in the City or at Burswood, and landmark drives to Midland and the Swan valley provide a range of tourist locations. Regionally, the wildflower season often attracts visitors, and camping/fishing holidays are popular with the locals.
6) Events
For community events, pick up a copy of the Maccabean newspaper from the Kosher Providore or search the Jewish Weekly Review online. Most events are advertised, and there is not a week that goes by where there isn’t some form of communal activity, presentation, or festive occasion.
We hope you enjoy your visit to Perth. To connect to the Jewish community, visit a Shule and you will be assured of a warm welcome.
What’s new at Baskin Robbins Subiaco – Baskin Robbins Subiaco have recently updated the majority of their ice cream flavour display labels / signs. In the past they have had a little yellow K symbol stuck on the flavour labels to signify which ice cream flavours are Kosher. Instead of the yellow K symbol they have replaced the majority of our labels with the ‘U’ symbol to signify the ice cream flavours which are kosher, although there are few older labels which still display the yellow K symbol. And for some more exciting news Baskin Robbins Subiaco have now sourced Kosher certified cake decorating ingredients and can make Kosher Ice Cream Cakes – “we are really excited to be the only Baskin Robbins Store in WA that can offer this”. “We can make up any ice cream cake currently featured on the Baskin Robbins Website – http://www.baskinrobbins.com.au, the only ingredient we can not find at the moment is Kosher chocolate fudge, so any cake that features fudge (normally used for piping around the bottom and top of the cake) will be substituted for our kosher certified icing instead. So the biggest decision that you will need to make is choosing your ice cream flavour/s for your cake (amount of flavours depends on the cake size you choose). Please note that we don’t have Kosher cakes ready to buy from our cake display freezer, as they do need to be specially made, and we just require 3 working days notice. Orders can be placed over the phone (08) 9381 3100 (our friendly staff will help you) or you can come in and order it at our store – we are open 7 days a week (11am to 11pm everyday). Remember to specifiy / advise our staff that you require the cake to be made up using Kosher decorating ingredients”
“Hope to see you all soon. Oh and if anyone can help with giving me any ideas where I can find kosher certified chocolate fudge ( the fudge we are seeking can not be runny in texture, needs to be firm in texture like vegemite), if anyone can help please email us direct at: baskinrobbinssubiaco@iinet.net.au ”
Kind regards and many thanks
November 27th, 2009 at 11:50 amFrom the Proud Owners – Baskin Robbins Subiaco
Baskin Robbins Subiaco
Shop 4 / 531 Hay Street Subiaco
(next to Hungry Jacks & KFC)
Ph 08 9381 3100
Open 7 days
Mon to Thurs 11am to 11pm
Friday 11am to Midnight
Sat 10am to Midnight
Sun 10am to 11pm
http://baskinrobbinssubiaco.blogspot.com/
http://www.baskinrobbins.com.au
Kosher ice cream cakes?
That’s fantastic
November 29th, 2009 at 10:38 amHi Perth,
January 23rd, 2010 at 4:25 amI will be travelling to Perth after Pessach. I will be bringing my inlaws who speek hebrew, and very limited english. I want to know if there are any tours in hebrew available. Thankyou.
Hi Nathasha
I am not aware of any Hebrew tours, thats not to say there arn’t any. Maybe contact Chabad WA or Dianella Shule, both of whom have a number of Israeli members who would be better connected.
regards
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:02 pmGedalia
Hi,
I was carefully considering converting to judism, where do I begin?
I am lost for a staring point.
Kind Regards
Laura E.
June 11th, 2010 at 6:22 pmHi Laura
Thanks for your message.
The best thing to do would be to contact Rabbi Dovid Freilich at the Perth Hebrew Congregation.
It would also be worthwhile obtaining some books. Visit Gold’s bookshop on http://www.golds.com.au/ under the basic Judaism category in the books section. Some of the better books are To be a Jew (Donin) Gateway to Judaism (Becher) and How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household (Greenberg).
Conversion is a very challenging and big task to contemplate.
best wishes
June 13th, 2010 at 7:57 pmGedalia
Are there any progressive shuls in Perth?
August 15th, 2010 at 4:00 pmHi Guys,
If anyone is looking for share accommodation, rental properties or Jewish flatmates in Perth or other Australian cities you should try out http://www.jewishliving.com.au – it’s free to advertise and it helps you to find all Jewish infrastructure that suits your lifestyle.
Good luck!
Michael
March 6th, 2011 at 2:49 pmHow much does matza cost in perth and can it be brought into the country on normal flights?
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:43 amHi Gavin
Matza can be bought from four specialty kosher shops and from a range of supermarkets. The cost last year was about $4 to $6 per box, very little difference between Perth prices and Sydney/Melb prices, but we do pay 50 cents to $1 more due to freight. It can be brought into the country from offshore. Best to have it sealed.
kasher vsameach
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