The Great Synagogue

The oldest in Australia, the Great Synagogue houses an important museum. The synagogue is a heritage protected building set in the heart of the city.

 

THE GREAT NEWS AND EVENTS

Fabulous February at the Great Synagogue

There is a lot on at Sydney’s Great Synagogue….

The Great Synagogue is buzzing in February with a range of activities beginning with Tu b’Sh’vat and culminating in Purim.

As Tu b’Sh’vat is on a Shabbat this year, we’ll mark it with a “fruity” Kiddush; so join us for the service and some good fellowship afterward.

On Friday February 5 is our annual Law Service and dinner, to mark the beginning of the Law Term. It’s a spectacular event with judges and barristers robed and be-wigged, in the presence of the NSW Chief Justice The Hon J J Spigelman AC.

If you have never attending one of these services before, mark it in your calendar, not only for the spectacle but for the annual address by Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence which is always thoughtful and powerful.

If you would like to join us afterward for the dinner, we have a treat this year with our guest speaker Zeddy Lawrence, the new editor of the Australian Jewish News. Cost is $90; ring 9267 2477 to book.

On Wednesday nights, February 17 and 24, we have literally a treat in store: The Great is taking a gourmet journey around the Jewish worlds, sampling foods and learning about Jewish culture and food customs through the personal stories of some members – from Egypt, Venezuela, India and Hungary.

We know this will be a popular event so book early on 9267 2477 or admin@greatsynagogue.org.au. Cost: $10 per night

For the youngest members of our Great Synagogue family, we’re organising a very special baby blessing Shabbat on 20 February.

Bring your under-one-year old to our Mazal Tot Shabbat and share your nachas with the rest of the congregation. There is of course no charge, but please ring Suzanne on 9019 0314

And we end our Fabulous February with Purim. On Saturday night 27 February Mincha will be at 7pm followed by a seuda shlishit then the Megilla reading around 8.30pm with Hamentaschen and light refreshments to end the evening.

On Sunday morning 28 February the Megillah reading is at 8.15 am then the fabulous kids Purim party begins. There will be entertainment for the 2-7-year-olds and the 8-11-year olds and we hope everyone will come in their fanciest fancy-dress. And while the youngsters are being entertained, the grown ups plan to entertain themselves with a very funny Purim Spiel called Megilla Mia!

More Hamentaschen and light refreshments will follow with the whole Purim entertainment ending around 12 noon.

A surprise Bat Mitzvah…from 1910

Ninety-year-old Bruce Symonds visited Sydney’s Great Synagogue’s to celebrate 100 years of Bat Mizvahs because both his daughters celebrated theirs at the Shule…and learned his mother had been one of the original six girls Batmitzvahed in 1910.

“It came as a complete surprise to me”, he told J-Wire. Out of curiosity, the retired doctor checked out the exhibition at the ceremony and discovered Lorna Trenn, his late mother, on the list of the original girls. He said: “Although she lived to 97, I do not recall her ever telling me about the Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Both my daughters were Bat Mitzvahed at the Great….and my father, my son and of course myself were Bar Mitzvahed there, too.”

Susan Bures sent this report of the Shule’s Bat Mitzvah Centenary

From a Bat Mitzvah celebrated in 1932 to one celebrated in 2009, women of all ages attended The Great Synagogue’s Centenary Bat Mitzvah celebration last Sunday.

More than 150 women, many with their families, attended the ceremony followed by the opening of the Centenary Bat mitzvah exhibition in The Great’s museum and an afternoon tea.

“While The Great synagogue and avant garde are not expressions we freely associate”, Rabbi Lawrence said, he detailed in his speech to the congregation the many ways in which The Great has been ahead of its time.

“In this building we saw the first Confirmation of Jewish women, the first Bat Mitzvahs of Jewish women as groups and the first individual Bat Mitzvahs in an orthodox synagogue in Australia.”

“I believe it was here and in this building that women first celebrated Bat Mitzvahs on a Shabbat and first spoke during the service; here that they were first able to hold and process with the Torah scroll, first admitted to the Boards.

“It is here that we celebrated the first woman to become President of an Orthodox congregation in Australia.”

Rabbi Lawrence said the centenary of Bat Mitzvah celebrations is another reason for The Great Synagogue to be proud of its contribution to a more fulfilling position for women within orthodoxy.

“And we continue to do so through our Women’s Shabbat, our association with the women’s tefilla group and our promotion of pre-nuptial agreements,” Rabbi Lawrence said.

The Great is a leader and can continue to play a dynamic role in making Jewish orthodoxy accessible and relevant to the fullest extent that Halacha permits.

“Today confirms and celebrates a century of commitment to innovation and change.”

A concept of congregant Marcelle Marks, the Bat Mitzvah Centenary exhibition was designed by curator Lori Burck and shows the names of all the women who marked their “Confirmation, Presentation” or Bat Mitzvah at the Great.

There are pictures of groups of Bat Mitzvah girls when that was the fashion and some of the individual B’not Mitzvah of today. Dresses worn by some of the B’not Mitzvah are on display and even a pair of plaits, cut from the head of Marcelle Marks to signify her “coming of age” at her Batmitzvah.

There are veils worn by the girls when the “Confirmation” ceremony had echoes of the Christian custom, and symbols of both Shavuot and Chanukah when the group Bat Mitzvah ceremonies were held in the past.

At the afternoon tea, the oldest Bat Mitzvah “girl” cut the cake and presentations were made by President Michael Gold OAM.

He paid tribute to the organisers and “the strength of spirit and enthusiasm our members have for the congregation”.

As one congregant said about the function: “What an innovative idea – The Great is always at the forefront of good ideas.”

Sweeping changes at Sydney’s Great

The new board of management at Sydney’s Great Synagogue contains six new faces.

Normally the synagogue Board has experienced a turnover of only one or two new members each year. However on this occasionfor various reasons many of the previous Board did not stand again.

Michael Gold OAM is the new president with Peter Solomon and George Bensen the vice-presidents.

New Board members are Dr Felix Barda, Rosalind Fisher, Max Freedman, Edward Goldsmith, Ivan Myers and Dr David Rosenwax AM.

In the transition period Peter Solomon will continue to act as treasurer as well as senior vice-president.

At the meeting speakers paying tribute to Rosalind Fischl who stepped down after 16 years on the Board, the last four as President. In making a special presentation to her, incoming president Mr Gold praised Mrs Fischl “for providing an exemplary role model, for her total commitment to all aspects of the operation of the shule and for her ability to create an atmosphere of warmth both at Board meetings and in the shule”.

Two other presentations were made on the night to long serving Board members.

Norton Whitmont OAM, who is a life member of the Board but who has taken extended leave of absence, has served on the Board for 30 years including a term as president. He was presented with an original pencil and wash sketch of The Great by artist Pamela Sackville.

Dr Harry Lewis AM, after having served for some 19 years including a term as president, was presented with an illuminated address with calligraphy by Janice Einfeld and a  border of Australian wildflowers painted by Elaine Diamond,

Other retiring Board members were presented with specially inscribed siddurim.

Following Great Synagogue tradition, the new Board will be installed during the service on first day Rosh Hashanah.

Rabbi Lawrence’s address at the Order of Australia service

Order of Australia Service

6 September 2009

Address by Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence

At the heart of Jewish teaching is a reverence for modesty.  It is epitomised by Moses described as “anav mikol ha-adam” – more modest than any man.

In enjoining humility, the Talmud cautions, “honour flees from him who chases it and honour pursues those who flee it.”

In this vein, the story is told of a man who approached his Rabbi and asked, “I learned that if you flee from honour, it pursues you…  So tell me rabbi, how is it that I have kept running from honour all my life and it has never once caught up?  What am I doing wrong?”  Answered his teacher, “My son, I think the problem might be that as fast as you go, you keep looking over your shoulder to see if honour is running after you!”

Honour has value when it is freely given; accorded by others in recognition of genuine accomplishment.  And it is this freely accorded honour that we celebrate today.

The great sage, Ben Zoma taught, “Who is truly honoured?”  To which he answers, “One who gives honour to his fellow.”

The Order of Australia is a celebration of the best in humanity; conferring honour and recognition; highlighting, encouraging and endorsing the good deeds and worthy enterprises that edify us and our society.

Ben Zoma’s dictum begins “Who is wise? One who learns from every person.  Who is strong?  One who can subdue his passions.  Who is rich?  One who is content with his lot.”  The commentators ask, if you have wisdom, self-mastery and a wealthy contentment, what, then, is the value added component of honour?

With reference to the Hebrew expression of Ben Zoma, “hamechabed et habriyyot”, they answer that it is not merely the honouring of one’s fellow, that accrues honour; rather, and correctly translated, it is the honouring of creation.

The honouring of creation.  And implicitly the Creator.

When we give honour to our fellow and deal decently with our environment; when we concern ourselves with the sanctity of life and holy image of God imprinted upon us all – then we give real honour.  Then we merit real honour.  And that honour comes from above.

When our gift of honour joins us with the Almighty as a partner in the elevation of creation; then it is His honour which seeks us out and His recognition which is our reward.

There is a beautiful teaching by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, a deeply spiritual man and the first Chief Rabbi of the British Mandate.

Rabbi Kook echoes the truly universal implication of Ben Zoma’s words, the honouring of creation in its widest sense.

Rabbi Kook writes, “The highest position in the love of people must be taken by the love of humanity, and it must extend to all mankind, despite all differences of opinion, religion and faith, despite all distinctions of race and climate…

“We must know that the kernel of life, light and holiness never departed from the divine image bestowed on humanity in general, and is found on every people and time…  This holy, spiritual kernel will elevate everything.

“From this inner point or seed of vitality, we wish for the total elevation which will uplift the world, the light of justice and of righteousness. The perfection of all that is created; foremost, mankind and all his faculties. (Rabbi AI Kook, Mussar Avicha)

Though today’s service with its diverse faith readings and pageant might at first blush seem removed from the normal and Judaic business of a synagogue; how fitting it is to join in the home of these teachings of Ben Zoma and Rabbi Kook to celebrate those who honour humanity, honour creation, honour creativity and honour our Creator!

To honour those of all traditions who have shared in edifying God’s world.

We welcome the Order of Australia Association to The Great Synagogue Sydney.  It is our privilege to host distinguished exemplars of philanthropy, community, education, of enterprise; of excellence in every field of endeavour.

The virtues and values cherished by the Order are indeed those which God wills us to emulate so that His Presence is manifest in our society.  As you join with us today in this holy Sanctuary, we appreciate all the better how His Presence is felt in our community.  From here, through New South Wales we are inspired by your example.

May we continue the service of God with humility; pursue justice and peace for the welfare of humanity.  May we do this for His sake and for the sake of Creation.  May He bless us all with health and the wisdom to discern the right path in life.

And may those upon whom honour has alighted, the ACs, AOs, AMs and OAMs continue to run, setting the pace that we are all moved to follow.

Multi-national service for Order of Australia recipients

The Great Synagogue played host to the Order of Australia Association Multi-faith observance at which a Buddhist nun, various Christian representatives and a Wiradjuri elder participated with rabbonim.

An annual event held in different places of worship, the service drew holders (religious and secular) of Australian honours from the Jewish and general communities, resplendent in their medals.

New president Michael Gold with Sister Jude Doyle of the Order of Australia Association                     Pic: Nadine Saacks

Organised by Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence and Sr St Jude Doyle of the Order of Australia Association, the observance reflected readings on peace, harmony charity and good deeds drawn from the various faith traditions and read by their representatives.

Great Synagogue Chazan Rev David Hilton and The Great Synagogue choir with the NSW University Regimental Army Band provided the music.

A specifically Jewish touch was provided not only with music but a parade of Torah scrolls around the synagogue and certain prayers from the Shabbat and other services.

Rabbi Lawrence spoke of the Jewish sources which deal with the subject of honour and honours. Ben Zoma said that it is not merely the honouring of one’s fellow that accrues honour: rather it is the honouring of creation.

Rabbi Kook wrote: “The highest position in the love of people must be taken by the love of humanity and it must extend to all mankind, despite all differences of opinion, religion and faith, despite all distinctions of race and climate …”

Rabbi Lawrence said that although this service “with its diverse faith readings and pageant might at first blush seem removed from the normal and Judaic business of a synagogue, how fitting it is to join in the home of these teachings of Ben Zoma and Rabbi Kook to celebrate those who honour humanity, honour creation, honour creativity and honour our Creator”.

Guests were welcomed by The Great’s incoming president Michael Gold OAM.  The procession into the synagogue, to a stirring brass band rendition of the famous march from Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, was led by The Great’s outgoing president Rosalind Fischl and the Order of Australia Association (NSW) president Bill Galvin OAM.

To read Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence’s address….click here

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