ARK Centre is an Orthodox Community Centre with a Shule in the middle. We offer a range of services and programs in strict adherence with halachah (Jewish law).
ARK Centre is an Orthodox Community Centre with a Shule in the middle. We offer a range of services and programs in strict adherence with halachah (Jewish law).
The ARK Centre Shule is on a single level. Men and women sit separately but sit facing each other with a plant-filled Mechitzah, and the Bimah, between them.
ARK Centre is an Orthodox Shule, and as such, women are not called to the Torah.
We ask women to read the Prayers for the State Of Israel, The Israeli Defence Forces, The Congregation and Prayer for the State in English during each service.
In certain circumstances, ARK Centre holds women’s only minyanim.
Women are invited to say Kaddish for a loved one during the service.
We hold a weekly Friday night Shabbat service which starts with a Kiddush prior to the service, as well as a weekly Shabbat morning service. Shacharit services are held on Rosh Chodesh as well as on Thursday mornings each month. See our weekly newsletter for times and dates. Click here to sign up for the newsletter (scroll down till you see ‘Sign up to our Newsletter’).
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann and Rebbetzin Mushka Kantor Kaltman lead the community. To read more about each of them, and to see who comprises the Management Team, click here
Rabbi Gabi is a member of the RCV.
To view the full list of Board please click here
ARK Centre welcomes all families and individuals wishing to belong to an Orthodox Shule. Come along to our Shabbat services and see what we are all about. Membership is required prior to High Holydays and is renewable before each Rosh Hashanah.
Men and women are invited to say Kaddish. If they are unable, or would prefer, the Rabbi will say Kaddish on their behalf. For those who are not members but wish to fulfil this mitzvah we encourage sponsorship of the Kiddush.
At ARK Centre a call up, wedding and Bar / Bat Mitzvah entail more than ‘just’ the day of the event. To benefit from all that is on offer for the simcha, and indeed throughout the year, membership is part of our fee structure.
The Rabbi will be pleased to officiate a wedding off-site. In fact, the Rabbi regularly travels to a variety of locations to perform weddings. Bar and Bat Mitzvot generally take place at ARK Centre.
For more information please contact ARK Centre office via office@arkcentre.com.au.
Due to the time imperative, we have emergency protocols in place for when a loved one passes away. We recommend contacting the office on 03 8658 4044 as the first port of call. An after-hours message advises the best emergency contact number. For more information on funerals please click here
ARK Centre has a formal Orthodox Conversion program whereby candidates are educated in both the theoretical and practical elements of leading an Orthodox life. Rabbi Gabi and Rebbetzin Mushka teach conversion candidates. ARK Centre does not conduct conversions but rather acts as educator and facilitator. The ARK Centre offers a “user-friendly” participative approach to conversion.
ARK Centre’s candidates are referred to the Melbourne Beth Din. Several candidates have recently successfully completed Orthodox conversion under their auspices.
Each participant has a different set of circumstances and is at a different stage of immersion in the Orthodox community when they come to us. The minimum is 18 months to learn and live the full Yearly Cycle. Generally, candidates take around two years to complete the process.
The nature of an Orthodox conversion means it requires a high level of commitment and a significant change to day-to-day living. Those who are committed complete the program successfully.
The ARK Centre B’Nei Mitzvah Program is recommended for boys and girls in Year 6. It runs on a Tuesday afternoon from 4pm to 5:30pm. The B’Nei Mitzvah Program offers a range of activities that help young people to explore their identity – as young Orthodox Jews and as citizens of a rapidly changing world. For more information click here
Some schools teach parshiot as part of their offering. ARK Centre has a Bar Mitzvah teacher who can teach the relevant Parsha at a reasonable fee. Once you have met with Rabbi Gabi and confirmed details for your son’s Bar Mitzvah the office can put you in touch with the teacher should you wish to take up this option.
The format of the Bat Mitzvah ceremony is open to discussion with the family to determine what is going to be most suitable and meaningful to the Bat Mitzvah girl.
For information on our approach to all lifecycle events – Bris / Baby Naming, Bar / Bat Mitzvah, Call up / Wedding & Funeral / Consecration please click here
Individual membership is $500 per person, with a household membership of $1500 for family members living in the same household. Membership enables ARK Centre to continue to thrive and offer a multitude of services, events and educational offerings. Meals, events, educational offerings and other services are always offered at a discounted rate for members. To become, or renew membership, please click here
ARK Centre is a community centre where inclusiveness is high on the priority list. As such, there are no allocated or set seats for any of our services.
Head to our home page and toward the bottom there is an option to sign up for our newsletter. Click here to go there now
Ark Catering offers strictly Kosher food. Catering with KA certification is available on request.
For all enquiries, please email office@arkcentre.com.au or call 8658 4044 with your request.
There are a number of menu options depending on your requirements. Email office@arkcentre.com.au to find out more.
Ark Centre can be hired as 1, 2, or 3 rooms, depending on your requirement. To learn more about seating capacities, configures or to make an enquiry click here
ARK Centre spaces can be hired on a one-off or permanent basis, depending on availability.
Depending on the time of the year, weekday off-street parking may be available. Off-Street parking is available on Sundays.
All food at ARK is required to be strictly kosher. Please speak to centre manager re outside caterers.
Anyone can request to hire space at ARK Centre. Email office@arkcentre.com.au for more information
ARK Centre’s Pastoral Care initiative is headed by Rabbi Gabi who also manages appropriately trained volunteers. Despite our efforts to be inclusive, there are always some in our community who feel isolated, often due to illness. Please contact Rabbi on rabbigabi@arkcentre.com.au if you know someone who would benefit from a call, a visit or a meal.
Please email office@arkcentre.com.au to find out how you can get involved in the program.
ARK Centre acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which our organisation is located and where we conduct our activities. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. ARK Centre is committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.