The Great, The ABC, Marcus and the Choir
Sydney’s Great Synagogue’s President has had to deal with congregants’ complaints about the synagogue and its choir being featured on ABC-TV’s Four Corners showing Marcus Einfeld participating in choir practice. In an e-mail distributed to members, Ros Fischl states that Four Corners had been refused permission to film in the synagogue during the Law Service and that disgraced former Federal Court judge Marcus Einfeld had personally invited the TV crew to come to the synagogue about ten days later to film a choir rehearsal. Einfeld has a son who is a member of the choir.
Fischl wrote: “We subsequently learned that Four Corners had already filmed in the syngagogue the week before the Law Service by prior arrangement with Einfeld”. The synagogue’s Board of Management determines who has the right to film within the building.
Commenting on Fischl’s letter, a member of the syngagogue told J-Wire: “She should have let the sleeping Einfeld lie.”
A spokesperson for the Great told J-Wire: “We did write to the ABC complaining about the unauthorised filming and they have responded and as far as we are concerned, the affair is now over.”
Speaking for Ros Fischl, the spokesperson added: “Out of concern for the Einfeld family, we really would like to see this matter put to rest.”
J-Wire understands that the Great’s choirmaster had been involved in granting ABC-TV permission to film and has apologised for his actions.
Einfeld is currently serving a three-year prison sentence, with a minimum of two years, for perjury and perverting the course of justice after swearing false statements as to who was driving his car caught in a camera speed trap.
In her e-mail Fischl admitted to congregants that the filming policy had been breached and that the Board had taken steps to ensure it would not happen again.
