ROSH HASHANAH - 5782 / 2021-2022 GGREATTHE GRE at SYVINENAGOGUE SYDNEY New Year’S Messages
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Th e ROSH HASHANAH - 5782 / 2021-2022 GGREATTHE GRE AT SYVINENAGOGUE SYDNEY New Year’s Messages 2 The Great Vine New Year Messages Acknowledgment of Country Our Synagogue stands on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and give thanks to the Elders and Traditional Custodians who have cared for this land for thousands of years. May we walk with care on this land which has provided a home for our Jewish community. We offer respect to the descendants of the first peoples whose presence and cultures are vital to the nation we share. THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE SYDNEY Contents New Year’s Messages Special Events Governor ....................................................................................2 Festivals ...................................................................................38 President ...................................................................................4 Board of Deputies ....................................................................40 Rabbi Elton ................................................................................6 Law Service..............................................................................41 Live@The Great .......................................................................42 Our Team Rabbi Phil ..................................................................................8 Recipe Collection ...............................................................44 General Manager .....................................................................10 Choir.........................................................................................11 Reflections Rabbi Emeritus ........................................................................12 Honoured Members ................................................................46 Eddie Jaku: The Happiest Man on Earth ................................47 Mazaltov In Memoriam ...........................................................................48 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs ..............................................................14 Three Britot and a Pidyon .......................................................16 Antiquities & Histories Weddings .................................................................................17 Curator’s Corner ......................................................................50 Walking Inside York Street Synagogue ...................................52 New Year’s Greetings ........................................................18 The Resilience of Alice .............................................................54 Discovering My Jewish Convict Ancestry ...............................56 Community Postcards of The Great Synagogue ........................................58 The Great Synagogue Foundation .........................................21 Sidney and Nita Sernack .........................................................60 Improving Our Building ..........................................................22 The Reluctant Immigrant ........................................................61 Kids’ Activities .........................................................................23 Great Kids ................................................................................24 Officials .................................................................................62 Great Women ...........................................................................26 Board Members ..................................................................63 New Members ..........................................................................28 Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program .................................................30 Education ................................................................................32 Conversion Class .....................................................................34 JConnect ..................................................................................36 Archibald Documentary ..........................................................37 The Great Vine 3 New Year’s Messages From The President David Lewis speaking at the Live@The Great Concert. The most Unusual DAVID LEWIS of Years What a year it has been – like no measure of a community. Thank you been amazing. In addition, Eli Green other in our 143-year history. to all of you for helping others. has acted as Assistant Treasurer During the last 18 months we have, and has provided Simon with Thank You! for the very first time in our history, incredible support. Whilst a role on There are so many people to thank. the TGS Executive is demanding, I been compelled to close The Great to Rabbi Elton and Hinda, who have been know that my friends will join me in services due to a pandemic the likes an inspiration with their tireless efforts. acknowledging the great sense of of which none of us have seen before. Rabbi Phil and Abra also have continued achievement we have all experienced. Significant changes to our lifestyle to innovate and build programs for The have been necessary and this has Our Board members have all Great, and we are all excited that Rabbi been painful for the congregation. fulfilled very significant roles as well, Phil has chosen to remain another with Darryl Green managing several As I write this at the end of July, we have two years as our Assistant Rabbi and important projects, Fay Frischer again been forced to close and we are Chazzan. I have thoroughly enjoyed spearheading communal outreach, unsure when we can resume services. working closely with both rabbis over Benjamin Hansen overseeing the long However, out of adversity comes the past twelve months and look overdue update of our HR functions strength and I am greatly heartened forward to many more. and Dan Abbott assisting with our by the way we have all supported each Rabbi Richter has continued to Heritage Floor Space application. other. We have pivoted to provide a provide us with his outstanding Then there is our office staff without wide variety of online lectures and leining throughout the year and I whom nothing would get done. Our gatherings during the toughest of would like to clearly acknowledge our General Manager Lynn Niselow has times and our rabbis and staff have deep appreciation. been outstanding together with Ilana done an absolutely amazing job. As Your Executive team of Max Moddel, Ezra Wexler and Justin Green, a community we have responded to Freedman, our Senior Vice-President, who also doubles as our Choirmaster, each other with great kindness and Lauren Ryder, Vice-President and have all gone above and beyond their support and that is clearly the true Simon Havas, Treasurer, have all remit and have shown great love for our 4 The Great Vine New Year’sNew Messages Year Messages David Lewis, speaking at the David Lewis with Daniel Krochmalik. David Lewis and Justice Stephen Rothman AM. Law Service. community. I know that this is not just a who will be the founding contributors. year we have worked on a number of job as you have all demonstrated that The Foundation will be responsible proposals to rectify that position and unmistakable dedication to excellence for raising funds to sustain and grow whilst Covid has delayed us, we hope and we all thank you most sincerely. The Great Synagogue over the next to make progress so that everyone Our Accounts Manager, Judith Indyk 143 years. can access not only the Women’s has experienced a most difficult year Gallery but all the way down to the as Covid has made her role far harder. Events Israel Green Auditorium. Thank you too Judith for all you do for Prior to the recent lockdown we the Shule. enjoyed a number of high quality Communal Growth cultural and community events at The Membership of the Shule continues Financial Security – Heritage Great, none more so than the Live@ to increase and this is the most pleasing Floor Space and The Foundation The Great Concerts. report I can make. It is important to note that these new members are, Last September I noted that the The Concert on Tuesday 2 June on the whole, not those who have left enhancement of the financial resources arranged by Vladimir Fanshil featuring other communities but rather families of The Great Synagogue would be one Simon Tedeschi and Andrew Haveron either returning to The Great or joining of my major considerations. Whilst was an incredible success with over 450 after having no previous long-term progress has been slow, we have moved in attendance. The lighting of the Shule membership. As a community what forward, and we confidently expect to coupled with an inspirational musical we want to see is more people joining achieve our objectives. performance made for a magical more Shules and that is the win/win We have lodged a detailed and night and there was a very strong position for all of us. complex application to the City positive reaction from members and of Sydney Council relating to the attendees. Finally, I look forward to serving our wonderful community and hope that Heritage Floor Space of The Great We had another concert planned for 10 I will have the opportunity to continue Synagogue and, whilst this is taking August with concert pianist Konstantin to improve the fantastic Shule that we longer than we had hoped, we remain Shamray and the world-famous all love so much. confident that we will achieve a strong conductor and cellist Umberto Clerici. result for The Great. Unfortunately, we had to postpone Caroline and I want to wish you and In July this year