Born in Melbourne late last century, Rabbi Andrew Saffer went to Mount Scopus and studied Arts/Law at Monash University, anticipating a career in law at a Big Six firm. And a 7-series BMW.

His first trip to Jerusalem changed all that. What was meant to be a four-week tour became a seven-year love affair. Inspired by the insights into character development and positive psychology he found in the Old City, Andrew traded the Menzies Building for the Kotel.

While studying at Aish HaTorah, Andrew worked part-time as a graphic designer and portrait photographer. He met and photographed various Israeli prime ministers, Dame Margaret Thatcher and Fran Drescher (from The Nanny. ‘She really does talk like that!’)

After six years in Jerusalem, Andrew became a rabbi, specialising in relationship counselling. He met his wife, Rachelle (also from Melbourne) in Jerusalem the very next day. They married, moved back to Melbourne, and now share five very cute children.

Andrew now directs the Australian branch of Aish, spending his days connecting young Jews with their Judaism, the Jewish community and each other.

He spends his spare time singing, listening to classic funk and soul, and playing with his kids.

He longs for the day when every person in the world knows why they were created. And that BMW.

Rabbi Jon Neumann grew up in Melbourne, went to school and university for a bit before deciding that working in Consulting and IT were more fun. 

After maxing out his corporate life, Jon moved to Israel, and spent 7 years learning at Aish HaTorah Jerusalem and working to expand Aish’s international outreach efforts.

In 2006, Jon moved back to Melbourne to join Aish Australia and help teach and share the wisdom of Torah with the local community.

Jon is married to Rivka and they have four amazing children who specialise in coming up with new schemes to ensure their parents don’t have too much free time on their hands.

Rachelle Saffer went to Beth Rivkah Ladies College and Lauriston Girls School, planning to study psychology. After Year 12, she also went on a Jerusalem Fellowship program to Israel. And stayed…

While at Neve Yerushalayim Seminary — where she studied in the Moreshet teacher training program and the Maalot University program — she met Andrew. They were married soon after, and have five children: Yaakov, Shira, Sara, Yehuda and Akiva.

Rachelle is currently completing a Bachelor of Education and teaches at her alma mater Beth Rivkah.

She divides her spare time (hah!) between preparing exquisite salads and explaining her husband’s Dad jokes to people who don’t catch his obscure cultural references.