'Katanga', was a country that broke away from the Congo some 40 years ago. It was at a similar point in history that members of shules in Melbourne decided to set up their own minyan - consequently, it was unofficially known as Katanga. For more information on the province of Katanga click here.
Caulfield Beis Hamidrash, as it is officially known, began as a small minyan in someone's house - it is now home to some 350 members. A truly diverse collection of religious people from many backgrounds, Katanga has developed a reputation for a warm and homely atmosphere.
The shule houses two primary minyanim; the 'main shule' and the 'youth/young marrieds' minyan.
Periodically throughout the year, Katanga is host to numerous communal and youth activities including our; annual Lag B'omer function, annual father-son soccer match, simchas torah dinner and various other events on the calendar.
About Katanga
Katanga formerly (1972-97) SHABA historical region in southeastern Congo (Kinshasa), bordering Lake Tanganyika to the east, Zambia to the south, and Angola to the west. It is coextensive with modern Katanga province. The name Shaba, the region's name during the Zairean period, comes from the Swahili word for copper, and the region's mines yield most of Congo's copper, cobalt, uranium, zinc, cadmium, silver, germanium, coal, gold, iron, manganese, and tin. The local people were utilizing those minerals before the arrival of Europeans in the 19th century. Economic development since 1900 has brought about a complex of mining and industrial towns and transportation and communications networks, which makes the region the most highly industrialized in Congo outside of Kinshasa, the national capital. Agriculture (cotton, tobacco, corn [maize], and vegetables), livestock herding, and poultry raising are also significant. The major towns of the region include Lubumbashi, Likasi, and Kolwezi. Upemba and Kundelungu national parks are in Katanga.
Katanga was under Belgian colonial administration from 1885 and was the scene of much strife following independence. In 1960, led by a local politician, Moise Tshombe , and supported by foreign mining interests, Katanga seceded from the newly independent Congo and entered into a period of political confusion and bloodshed involving Congolese, Belgian, and United Nations forces. After the fighting ended in 1963, the region gradually became reintegrated into the republic, and some rebel leaders took refuge in Angola. In 1977 they unsuccessfully invaded Zaire (as Congo was then called) from Angola, and unrest continued into the late 20th century.
The real Katanga's home page is at: http://www.katanga.org/
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