51 years of service to the Brighton Shule congregation
Chazan Chaim Lavi has marked the end of a remarkable span of service and dedication to Brighton Shule.
Chaim Lavi
He took up his post as Cantor in November 1970. The young Israeli had sung at StKilda shule beforehand but found his home at Brighton shule and moved with his wife, Mary into the area.
He took on the role with great devotion and the Lavis became a Brighton institution.
Chaim taught scores of Barmitzvah boys over the years and has been the Baal Koreh over this outstanding half-century of commitment.
‘Chaim Lavi has become a foundation of our shule,’ said Brighton president, David Wittenberg. ‘He has mentored barmitzvah boys, chazannim, gabbais and shule presidents. In fact, the shule has run to his steady and unwavering commitment to timekeeping; always the first to arrive at shule and making sure services and events were run by the clock.’
And Chaim greeted members and visitors alike with warmth, setting the tone for Brighton’s well-known friendly and inclusive atmosphere.
The Lavi’s three daughters, Ronit, Yael and Tali grew up at Brighton shule but as adults now with their own families have moved, one to Israel and the other two to Caulfield. And so it is that family has called on Chaim and Mary to be within easy walking distance to their Melbourne families and they have made the difficult decision to shift their home.
Wittenberg said, ‘As Rabbi Tsykin said at our farewell seuda this week, Chaim was a person who took a genuine interest in everyone he met. He made everyone feel welcome and special. We wish the Lavis well for the future and look forward to seeing each other often.’
