Hobart history online
June 8, 2018 by J-Wire Newsdesk
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The Hobart Hebrew Congregation has unveiled a digital library that chronicles the remarkable history of the Jewish community in Hobart.
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The library can be accessed at http://www.hobartsynagogue.org/library. It features over 300 records, starting with an 1839 newspaper article detailing a Yom Kippur service.
Several items tell the story of the venerable Hobart Synagogue. Opened in 1845, it’s the oldest in Australia (and the Southern Hemisphere), and is still hosting regular services today.
The website hosting the digital library is meticulously organised, with researchers easily able to track down resources relating to a wide array of subjects.
The material provides fascinating insights into some of the colourful personalities who have helped Tasmania’s resilient Jewish community maintain an active Jewish presence on the island despite their small numbers. There is also an active blog that highlights particularly interesting themes.
Library creator Jeff Schneider is the Treasurer of the congregation. He explains the motivation behind the project: “When reading about our congregation’s history in the book A Few From Afar, I developed an immense respect for the dedicated members who have overcome adversity to keep the congregation active for nearly 175 years.”
“After discovering several fascinating newspaper articles through the National Library of Australia’s Trove archive, I thought it would be useful to provide a central location for those wanting to research our long and storied history.”
