New rabbi to join The Great`s team New style for Journal

The Great Synagogue Sydney JOURNAL
‫ | כתבـשל ק״ק בית ישראל ֽסידני‬BUILDING A BETTER WORLD THE JEWISH WAY
Volume 65 | Number 3 | iyar, 5770 | May, 2010
New rabbi to join The Great’s team
He’s climbed Mt Blanc, run the London
Marathon and even run in our City to
Surf. With his sense of humour and easygoing way, let’s just say Rabbi Alan Garber
is truly a good sport!
The Great Synagogue Board is delighted
to announce that Rabbi Garber, his wife
Tanya and their four children will be here
in time to settle in before the chaggim.
Rabbi Garber will take up the position
of “second minister”. His roles will
include working with younger members
of the congregation and bringing more of
this age group into The Great as well as
participating in all services and pastoral
care work.
Born to a traditional Jewish family in
North West London, Rabbi Garber grew
up with parents who actively participate
in their shule community and in caring,
voluntary work. He has been a teacher for
primary school and at a college for young
adults with learning difficulties
He is presently the University Jewish
Chaplain in Leeds serving 1200 Jewish
university students in the Yorkshire region.
He has also been minister and cantor
at a number of synagogues throughout
Britain. He received his semicha (rabbinic
ordination) from Dayan Osher Westheim
in Manchester after studying at Yeshivat
Netzach Yisrael in Gateshead, England
and Yeshivat Darche Noam in Jerusalem.
He has a BA (Hons) in Geography from
the University of Leeds and has recently
completed two courses in counselling
skills.
His wife Tanya was born in South Africa
but raised in Sydney; and worked in clinical
and commercial healthcare. She earned
the nickname as the flying radiographer
travelling to rural and country placements
New style for Journal
To take advantage of the new technology and our elegant new
website – as well as saving many trees and considerable sums of
money – we are producing this Journal principally as a web-based
document.
For those who do not have access to email or the web, we are
printing it in house and posting it in the usual way.
The Great Synagogue’s new and evolving website has won
praise from congregants and everyone who has seen it.
It contains material from our original website but includes much
more, all of it presented in an easier-to-read fashion.
including Darwin, Narrabri, Alice Springs
and Griffith
She enjoys painting, ceramics and
patchwork quilting and has been white
water rafting in the Zambezi River and
also on an elephant-back safari! She was
carry-over-champ on Wheel of Fortune
continued on page 6
In parallel to the development of the website is an elegant new
e-bulletin which is emailed each week to congregants and those
who “opt in”.
The new website is a “work in progress” and new features and
stories are being added daily.
Soon TGS members will have their own special section of
the web so, for instance, addresses, phone numbers and email
addresses can be updated.
The website and journal was designed by Naomi Solomon
with technical design by Peter Solomon and his staff at eXplorer
Technology.
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
1
An Update From The President
Services, programs and events
Membership
I have been so impressed with the
energy and commitment of members
of the Board. They in concert with
administrative staff members and a
number of enthusiastic congregants,
have been responsible for organising
and introducing new and interesting
ideas into services, programs and events.
All of which have been so well received
by those who attended and participated
in them.
This edition of the Journal gives you the
flavour of what’s been going on in this
respect, both late last year and in the
early months of this year. I look forward
to an even greater involvement from
members.
For example, there are two opportunities
this month for you to demonstrate your
involvement.
If you are not already attending the
fascinating and extremely relevant adult
education series on Life Matters devised
and conducted by Rabbi Lawrence, there
is still time to do so. Also help us make our
Shavuot Dinner an enjoyable and relaxing
family affair, by joining us.
Currently, family packages and packages
for young couples are being designed to
attract new members.
Communication through
technology
I do hope that most of you have been
able to view our new website and that
you are receiving the weekly e-bulletin in
its new form. These provide me with the
means of communicating with you.
Our next venture into technology will
be the introduction of a new data base
which is presently being explored.
Restoration
Work has commenced on replacing
those original 1878 floor tiles in the
sanctuary, broken because of movement
of the flooring over all those years.
This project, starting with strengthening
of the floor, will cause some inconvenience,
which we and the contractors will
endeavour to reduce to a minimum.
Security
Exploratory work under the footpaths
at both entrances to the shule has been
completed. Work should soon commence
in Elizabeth Street on the installation of
the security bollards.
Staffing – Ministerial
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.
Our search for a second Rabbi, conducted
both last year and this, has resulted, as you We look forward to seeing more of you
have read, in the appointment of Rabbi at the Great.
Alan Garber, whose background and skills MAZALTOV
should be a good fit at the Great.
In the last week of April at a luncheon
Hopefully within the next three months at Legacy House, Wesley Browne
you will be able to welcome and meet the was presented with a certificate,
Garber family. Our expanded Ministerial by the President of Sydney Legacy,
team will be even better placed to acknowledging his 50 years of service to
serve you our over 850 members and the organisation.
also to work at attracting new, younger
Wesley joined Legacy on the 28
members.
April 1960 and has made a significant
contribution, having served on over 30
Pre Bar/Bat Mitzvah students
We have substantial bookings into committees including as President 1982
2011/2012. If you know of any families - 83 as well as holding other various
planning well ahead, please direct them executive positions. He is the only Jewish
WW2 ex -serviceman to hold the position
our way.
An interesting and stimulating program of President.
Wesley is still very active on various
has been designed for them, incorporating
mother and daughter, father and son committees and keeps in contact with all
components as well as shabbatonim and his widows and junior legatees.
family dinners.
Michael Gold
2
Two Torahs
presented to
The Great
Morris Forbes was “a man of principle
and of tradition, supported by a real
knowledge of Jewish law, as well as
secular law, and ever hungry for greater
knowledge”, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence
said.
Col Goldstein was a visionary,
enterprising,
hard working, generous
People in Hyde Park had an
and in a very real sense, “a builder of
unusual treat on a Thursday
synagogues and a builder of Israel”.
evening in March as two new
“Col Goldstein and Morrie Forbes
Sifrei Torah were danced through
were people of principle and people
the Park to The Great with
of discernment – proud Jews, proud
klezmer music accompaniment
Australians, proud members of the
and under a chuppah made by
community.
the congregants.
“They lived the lives they believed, were
One scroll was presented in memory true to their principles and promoted
of Morris Forbes OAM from his estate, them,” Rabbi Lawrence said.
“In sponsoring Sifrei Torah they continue
and the other by Gloria Goldstein and
the Goldstein family in memory of Col
Goldstein.
As Mr Forbes had no relatives in Sydney,
his friends from the Australian Jewish
Historical Society of which he was patron
attended in his honour.
Many members of the Goldstein family,
from Sydney and Israel, attended in
Col’s honour as well as old friends from
The Great, the North Shore Synagogue,
his workplace and the many charitable
organisations which he supported.
to highlight the values they cherished and
will live beyond their lives.
“And in commissioning for themselves
Sifrei Torah, they give us an opportunity
to perform the mitzvah of ‘writing a Sefer
Torah’,” he said.
The Goldstein family sponsored a
number of letters in Col’s Torah in honour
of his family and friends and many letters,
words and parshiot were sponsored in
the Forbes Torah.
Rabbi’s auctioning of the last letters in
the Forbes Torah was entertaining, and
all the congregation joined in the dancing
and celebration afterward, to the voices
of The Great Synagogue choir.
A Kiddush, sponsored by Gloria
Goldstein, rounded off the evening.
Chuppah project wins praise
When The Great Synagogue’s two new Sifrei Torah
were danced into the shule, they were under a
specially made chuppah decorated by members of
the congregation.The idea was Suzanne Cohen’s
and with the help of designer
(and receptionist) Ilana Wahnon, they created
cotton squares with penciled designs of Jewish
images.
Anyone interested in painting, sewing, beading or
patchworking was encouraged to decorate one of the squares
and more than 20 people took up the challenge, aged from five
to grandmother-hood!
When all the squares arrived, Ilana sewed them together,
backed them with a beautiful blue fabric which was also used
to cover the poles to which the chuppah was attached.
The crowd who attended the function was most impressed by
the chuppah and especially that it was a community project.
Pictured are Suzanne and Ilana deciding on the placement of
the squares and, above, the chuppah in use as the Torah scrolls
were brought through Hyde Park.
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
3
AHS Centaur honoured on Anzac Shabbat
Warrant Officer Norman Lesnie and
Major Dr I H (Dick) Sender were two of
the 268 sailors and others who died when
the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was
torpedoed by the Japanese on 14 May
1943.
Despite her clear identification as a
hospital ship, the single torpedo struck
her port side admidships, triggering a
secondary explosion and opening a large
hole in her hull.
Mortally wounded, the ship sank in
less than three minutes, with only 64
survivors.
Last year both the Federal and
Queensland governments committed
funds to finding the remains of the
Centaur and it was finally located on 20
December 2009 some 30 nautical miles
due east of the southern tip of Moreton
Island.
Thanks to Jan Thomas, the secretary
of the Centaur Association, the
National Service of Thanskgiving and
Remembrance for the AHS Centaur, held
on 2 March at St John’s Cathedral in
Brisbane, included prayers from leaders
of different faiths including an “Act of
Commitment” by Ari Heber representing
the Jewish community.
Warrant Officer Lesnie, who was single
and 28 years old, was the son of Harry and
Ruby Lesnie, brother of, among others,
Joyce Feller and brother in law of Shirley
Lesnie. He was uncle to many including
David Lesnie and Barbara Freedman of
The Great Synagogue.
Major Dr Dick Sender also has Great
Synagogue relatives including his niece,
Sandra Berman.
“Thanks to Rabbi Lawrence’s cooperation, the two Jews who died on
the Centaur were honoured during our
annual Anzac Day Shabbat,” David Lesnie
said.
The Shabbat this year was marked on 24
April, with NAJEX and FAJEX participants
as well as David Lesnie himself and David
Berman, husband to Sandra, representing
the two Jews who died tragically in the
Centaur.
Episodes And Eccentrics
Rabbi Raymond Apple writes about his new book
I came to London about the same time as a mature
student who had received a scholarship to become
a rabbi in the post-Holocaust German community.
I recall him announcing, “I am three weeks from
Germany out” (fortunately his English soon became
more idiomatic). These days I feel like saying, “I
am five years from Sydney out”, since it is five
years since I retired, and our lives changed so
dramatically.
My new book, entitled Episodes and Eccentrics, is not really
about Marian and myself, though we rate a mention here and
there. For a book about us – more precisely, mostly about me –
you will need to peruse my book of memoirs which has just been
published jointly by Mandelbaum Publishing and the Australian
Jewish Historical Society. I hope you enjoy both books.
These days I am fulfilling a dream and spending much of my
time writing, though I have learnt that writing is easier than
publishing. The Talmudic sages said, “More than the calf wishes
to drink, the cow wishes to give milk”; my own experience is,
“More than the publishers wish to take on, the author wishes
to write”. Actually it is not quite true that publishers are hard
to find, but they tend to want subsidies. I probably should have
accepted the suggestion that a committee to publish my works
should have been set up before I retired… but it’s not too late,
and I will willingly accept expressions of interest.
To sit and write books requires a functioning mind, a capacity
with words, a computer… and a good seat. That last word you can
4
interpret as you will. The same requirements apply to my other
constant literary occupation, producing the weekly Oz Torah,
now in its sixteenth volume and reaching hundreds of homes all
over the world. Fortunately Oz Torah has the ongoing benefit of
the dedication and energy of my son Bensi as well as our friend
Alistair Bor. You can talk to any of us in order to subscribe.
But back to my new book. It tells stories about the Shule which
in many cases nobody but me would know. Other stories might
one day make up a sequel. I have had to be relatively discreet and
to leave out certain episodes altogether because they might come
too close to revealing confidences and causing embarrassment.
Nonetheless the material I did decide to publish has a charm all
of its own, apart from showing the Great as a living community,
not just a stately cathedral. Once upon a time people complained
that the Great Synagogue was cold and patrician; if ever that was
true, the episodes and eccentrics in this book were all part of
bringing warmth and fellowship to the Shule.
I enjoyed doing the writing and am grateful to
those who made publication possible, in particular
my expert editor and dear friend, Susan Bures;
the talented young illustrator, Lauren May Black;
the ever supportive printers; and the generous
benefactor who made it all possible.
Thank you for buying the book – and my other books too.
Enjoy, and continue to find life, happiness, warmth and energy
at the Great
Gourmet Flavours and Jewish Memories
The Great held two most innovative functions in
February, based on the idea of talking about food
and customs from the Jewish Diaspora.
Organised by the education committee under David Rosenwax
and in particular by Suzanne Cohen and Anna Marks, the two
evenings utilised congregants from widespread backgrounds to
talk about their memories of food and customs in their original
homes.
Our chazzan, David Hilton, who is also a noted chef, then
demonstrated how the various dishes are made and the
audience all had a taste of the exotic flavours.
Ginette Matalon, who was born in Egypt, and Monica Brik from
Venezuela told the 80-strong audience about their memories of
food and customs for Shabbat and festivals and something of their
differing experiences before migrating to Australia. Interviewed
by The Great’s Administrator Susan Bures, Ginette recalled one
of her earliest memories as visiting the schochet with a number
of live chickens then taking the carcasses home to pluck and use
every portion of the bird in different dishes. Monica recalled
her earliest food memories as fruit; tropical Venezuela has fruit
available all year round and eaten three times a day. Both women
talked about the way the Jewish communities in each place
adapting the food of
the surrounding culture
to Jewish traditions.
The following week
it was time to travel to
India and Hungary.
Rachel Goldberg told us about the cooking of Jewish Calcutta
and the impact of the founding of the State of Israel at the time
of the Indian independence movement; for one thing, most of
the rabbis and the shochtim left India for Israel, so kosher meat
became almost impossible to find.
Anna Marks talked about growing up in Communist Hungary
and the deprivation of those times when having two eggs was
a luxury! She recalled the stories so familiar to many migrants
of taking her schnitzel and pickles sandwich to her Australian
primary school and dreaming of a Vegemite sandwich instead.
Her mother obliged, but lovingly spread the bread with a good
half inch of Vegemite, so the experiment wasn’t repeated.
When Life Begins
Fer�lity & cloning Issues with Illness
Screening, disclosure, conden�ality & risk The Gift of Life
Organ dona�on in Halacha Transitions
At The Great Synagogue, Sydney Monday May 3, 10, 24 & 31 ($10 per session) 6.30pm supper / 7.00pm shiur The value of life and the ul�mate passage 02 92672477 | www.greatsynagogue.org.au | [email protected]
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
5
Thumbs up for
media and for
change
As Spiderman and Superman
both worked in newspapers
and both had Jewish parents
(creators), it’s no wonder that
the Jewish community thinks
that journalists are superheroes,
fighting for justice and truth.
But in the words of Australian Jewish
News editor Zeddy Lawrence, the media
can make mistakes.
“It’s not that the media
necessarily let us down, but that
your expectations of the media
might be too high.”
Zeddy was arguing for the negative at
the first of the Great Debates Series II on
the media.
In an entertaining and informative
evening, the 80-strong audience were
given an insight into the world of the
media from high profile Jewish journalists
including Zeddy, Dr Rachel Kohn from the
ABC, Henry Benjamin, founder and editor
of J-Wire and Vic Alhadeff, former AJN
editor and now CEO of the NSW Jewish
Board of Deputies.
With Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence as the
gavel-wielding host, the four argued
the proposition that “The media lets
us down”.
In the end, the negative won by
acclamation, but it was a close fought
debate.
For the guests, Rabbi Lawrence
produced a fascinating pamphlet on
Jewish sources concerned with honest
reporting, quoting from T’nach and
Talmud and other sources a surprising list
New rabbi to join The Great’s team
continued from page 1
and won a car and holiday to Cairns!
Still working as a radiographer , she also
helps her husband in the pastoral care
side of his work with students, teaching
6
start thinking about being “a light to the
nations” we must make sure that we
live according to Jewish principles and
thereby show a good example.
“The Jewish people were chosen by God
as a pilot project. If we get it right, it will
bring others to the Torah,” Arianne said.
Arguing for the negative were
mathematician Jeff Cohen and Judy
Levitan although they said they were
really arguing for both inreach and
outreach as equally important.
of admonitions and advice from rabbis
throughout the centuries on and around
the issue, finishing with a dictum of Rabbi
Yisrael Salanter: “It is quite easy to write
but far more difficult to erase.”
The argument put to the audience at
the second of the Great Debates Season
II – that Jews should reach out to the nonJewish world – was won by the negative.
Should Jews mix with the non-Jewish
world and work together to repair God’s
universe rather than solely living Torahinspired lives and radiate ethical morality
to the world?
Rabbi Lawrence opened the evening
with reference to Richard Dawkins a
“crusader for atheism who is arguing for
a godless universe”.
As Jews we believe we were chosen to
sell the idea of monotheism to the world,
he said.
The argument for the positive – for
inreach being more important than
outreach – was put by Rabbi Ritchie Moss
and Arianne Schneider.
Their basic thesis was that before we
And so to the final debate, and if it was
up to the humorists who finished off the
series, Jewish feasts and fasts are unlikely
to change any time soon.
The three who argued that feasts and
fasts should be updated – Geoff Sirmai,
David Rosen and Rodney Marks – lost the
debate and those promoting the status
quo – Dave Bloustein, Liz Hovey and Paul
Baram – won the audience’s acclaim.
However some interesting suggestions
surfaced for new festivals – Yom
HaMaccabi (a sausage sizzle and icecream after watching the footie on
Saturday afternoon) or changing the Fast
of Gedalia to Tzom Somme and holding it
somewhere near Ancac Day!
and hosting up to 30 students for Shabbat
meals whilst juggling domestic duties and
taking care of the children: Reuven (6),
Sara (4) and Miri (3) and now their newborn son.
Rabbi Garber is excited to work with
The Great Synagogue, bringing with him,
his experience and background in AngloJewish tradition. He is looking forward to
making a strong connection with members
of the community and in strengthening
and inspiring Jewish identity.
“If we provide positive role
models of Jewish society to
the world, we promote social
harmony and sanctify God’s
name in public.”
Bat Mitzvah Centenary success
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
in December.
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 synagogue 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.”
Pictured above LEFT is Marise Brass
with the photograph of her at her
Bar Mitzvah
Law Service draws many
A parade of bewigged judges in scarlet
and purple robes led by NSW Chief Justice
J J Spigelman AC formed a procession
into The Great Synagogue on Friday night
5 February for the annual service to mark
the opening of the law term.
More than 150 judges, QCs, SCs,
barristers, solicitors and legal academics
as well as members of the congregation,
heard Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence give an
inspired address on the source of the
authority to rule.
Quoting thinkers like Hobbes, Locke
and Rousseau on the principles of
governance, Rabbi Lawrence compared
these ideas with those of the Jewish
tradition.
He spoke of the Jewish belief in the
centrality of law to society
In the end, he said, “the administration
of justice is a partnership with God
precisely because we bring the best
of our human qualities into a divine
enterprise”.
The Law Service was followed by the
Shabbat service and a dinner attended
by 100 guests from within and outside
the Jewish community.
Special guest speaker at the dinner
was Zeddy Lawrence, national editor
of the Australian Jewish News and the
brother of Rabbi Lawrence.
In a thoughtful but funny address, Mr
Lawrence spoke of the role of press in
society, and the role of Jewish press in
particular.
He articulated examples of the way
the press can sometimes right wrongs
or ensure certain important issues are
aired.
But he also spoke lovingly of his
brother and family and shared with the
enchanted audience the Case of the
Missing Cookies.
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
7
Mazal Tot Shabbat
Some gurgling, some crying and others overwhelmed by the
sights and sounds of The Great Synagogue – some ten babies
under one year old were blessed by Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence
during a special Mazal Tot Shabbat in February.
The blessing of babies and their parents by Rabbi Lawrence
took place on the bimah under an outstretched tallit with proud
grandparents and some great-grandparents taking great nachas
from the event.
A project of The Great Synagogue’s Services committee, Mazal
Tot Shabbat included a baby-oriented sermon and each tiny
tot was given a bib incscribed “I’m a GREAT baby” with a logo
designed by Ilana Wahnon based on The Great’s exterior with
the towers replaced by baby bottles. Pictured left is Nicholas
Henley wearing his “Great bib” .
President Michael Gold said even our most conservative
congregants responded warmly to the event.
Purim 2010
There was fun for young and old at The
Great’s Purim celebrations on Sunday
morning 28 February.
The Megillah was read by Chazan Hilton
in Wizard mode, while Rabbi (Mr Darcy)
Lawrence looked on. Greggars were
whirled and boos and hisses uttered at the
name of Haman and as always everyone
had a thoroughly good time.
Then it was downstairs for hamentashen
until the entertainment started. For the
little people there was Captain Bandana
(aka Sharon Saul) and Splash the Mermaid
(aka Amanda Mayhew) as well as a
magician, Adrian Dean.
For the grownups (who wanted to
behave like children!) there was a very
funny Purim Spiel called Megillah Mia
which told the Purim story to the tunes
of ABBA.
8
In the news
Jumping Joe
To celebrate his 85th birthday, Joe
Symon didn’t just have a party and a
cake.
He jumped out of an airplane and
parachuted to the ground!
With his son John and grandson
Adam, Joe said he had the time of his
life.
Honour for
former judge
Former Supreme Court Justice the
Honourable David Levine RFD QC was
honoured with an AO in the Australia
Day list.
Appointed a judge of the Supreme
Court in 1992, he retired in 2005
but during his time at the bench he
presided over many fascinating cases,
particularly in the area of defamation
law.
A keen supporter of the arts, he was
for some time president of the Arts
Law Centre and also chairman of the
Friends of the State Library of NSW.
His personal library is extensive and
his knowledge of books and book-lore
remarkable.
Deputies
honour
At its February meeting, the NSW
Jewish Board of Deputies honoured
Joyce Falk who, at the age of 88, has
completed more than 50 years of
service as a deputy.
She was given a framed certificate of
service to mark the occasion.
Joyce is the widow of Gerald Falk,
a former Board president and one of
the founders of the Jewish Communal
Appeal.
Her family was there to support
her as her fellow deputies praised
her devotion to service and the
community.
80th birthday
gift to shule
When
Esther
Morrish turned 80
in February, she
made a very special
donation to The
Great Synagogue’s
collection.
It is a card given
to her father Simon Isaacs calling him
to the Torah for Maftir to celebrate
Esther’s birth.
“It was an invitation he kept and
cherished all his lifetime and which he
passed on to me,” she said.
Esther’s father had a distinguished
legal career and was appointed a
Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court
of NSW. He was also a member of
The Great Synagogue’s Board of
Management.
Esther’s mother Maria was a longterm member of the “Ladies’ Guild”
and served as its president.
One of Rabbi Porush’s “confirmation
class” of 1943, Esther remembers
being one of the founding members,
with her two brothers, of GSY.
Match win
Australia has beaten Great Britain at long distance target match rifle for the
first time.
Adrian Abbott was one of the eight-strong Australian team; note his high score.
The competition is held every three to four years and this time was in
Queensland.
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
9
Barbados and its Jewish history
By Russell Stern
Off a back-street behind Swan
Street in Bridgetown, the capital
of the southern Caribbean island
of Barbados, is Synagogue Lane.
half of the men’s section. The eight
brass chandeliers are modelled on the
originals, now in the Winterthur Museum
in Delaware.
Barbados was settled by the British in
Leading off the lane one first sees the 1627 and remained part of the British
museum that has been erected by the Empire until it gained independence in
Government of Barbados setting out 1960.
the history of the Jews of Barbados and
then, along a driveway from the lane The first Jew is believed to
with graves on each side, the synagogue. have settled in Barbados in
The museum is almost surrounded by 1628. More came escaping the
three burial grounds. The matzevas Portuguese inquisition in Brazil
(tombstones), lying flat, date to the 1660s. and their takeover of Recife from
Unfortunately many of them are broken. the Dutch.
A driveway separates two of the plots
and abutting the driveway is a low
building, which appears to have been the
mikvah or the minister’s residence. Some
archaeological remnants and artefacts
are now in the museum.
The synagogue is two storeyed. The
entrance to the women’s gallery is via a
twin-staircase at the rear of the building.
The bimah is in the centre of the rear
In 1654 a synagogue was founded,
named Nidhe Israel (The Scattered of
Israel). The Torah Scrolls were provided
by the Parnassim of Amsterdam. The
connection between the Portuguese
Synagogue of Amsterdam and the
community in Bridgetown was strong.
The first Haham, Eliahu Lopez, came to
Bridgetown from Amsterdam in 1679.
By 1700 there were 250 Jews in
Bridgetown; at the time the population of
Bridgetown was 3,000. In 1750 there were
800 Jews in a Bridgetown population of
10,000.
A hurricane in 1831 destroyed the
synagogue, but it was rebuilt within two
years. However, the Jewish population
of Barbados began to decline, perhaps
influenced by the ending of slavery in
1833. Many, in fact, settled in Australia.
In 1850 there were only 71 Jews and the
Jewish population continued to decline,
until by 1928 there was only one remaining
Jew. The nadir of the community came on
April 27, 1928 when Edmund Isaac Baeza,
An honourable
journey
involvement in tertiary education both as
an honorary fellow at the University of
Sydney and the UNSW.
In his speech of acceptance, read by
the ACU’s pro-vice chancellor, Rabbi
Apple said he was very conscious “of the
unique nature of a Catholic University’s
generous decision to give a rabbi a title
as distinctive as the one I shall gratefully
wear with such pleasure”.
“I see this honour as a signal
acknowledgement of the efforts in this
field which my co-workers and I regard
as among the highlights of our lives,”
he said.
On Shavuot, Rabbi Apple’s OzTorah will
hit its 800 th birthday!
From a gleam in his and his son Bensi’s
eye, Oz Torah is now sent around Australia
and around the world, and elements
from it are used almost weekly in the
Australian Jewish News.
For other reasons this is also promising to
be a good year for the Apple family – Bensi,
Ruth and the children are making aliya,
Rabbi and Marian mark their 50th wedding
anniversary this year and Rabbi will turn 75
at the same time. Shmuel and Ateret are
celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary
and Rabbi and Marian have grandchildren
ranging in age from 23 to 2 months!
A special honour was conferred on Rabbi
Apple in April by the Australian Catholic
University who awarded him Doctor of the
University honoris causa “in recognition
of the outstanding contribution of Rabbi
10
Apple to Christian Jewish understanding,
interfaith co-operation and community
engagement.
This prestigious honour adds to a long
list of similar honours – an AO, an RFD and
LLD honoris causa (UNSW)as well as his
academic achievements of Ba LLB(Melb)
and M Litt (UNE). He was also awarded
the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977
and the Centenary of Federation medal
in 2003.
His citation from the Australian Catholic
University includes praise for his work
in the Jewish community including
the Jewish Historical Society and his
Rabbi Apple at his farewell with sir nicholas and governor gordon samuel
Barbados and its Jewish history continued...
the last surviving member of the original
Jewish community, sold the synagogue
to a Bridgetown solicitor for use as a law
library.
Baeza sent the proceeds of the sale,
£600 pound sterling, along with the
synagogue’s religious objects, to the Bevis
Marks Spanish-Portuguese Congregation
in London. The 1930s saw a renaissance
of Jewish life in Barbados. From 1931
there arrived 40 new families, some
from Europe. In 1931, after returning
from a business trip to Colombia and
Venezuela, where he bought and sold
goods, the trader Moses Altman decided
to relocate his wife and five children from
Lublin, Poland to Bridgetown, Barbados.
It presented an opportunity for him
to acquire a valuable British passport
but it was also a welcoming place for
Jews. By 1946, about 40 members of
his family and friends had settled on the
island. They were the fortunate ones.
The affluent members of the family who
felt at home in Warsaw, saw no reason
to leave, and perished in the Shoah.
The Altmans soon discovered that the
welcoming spirit was due in part to the
fact that a significant number of the
island’s non-Jews, both white and black,
with names like Mendoza and Da Costa,
felt a strong affinity for their Sephardic
ancestors who in the 19th century had
converted to Christianity and assimilated.
Some still preserved a tallit or siddur
that had been passed down to them.
One remarkable name in Barbados’s
Jewish history is that of a nonJew, Bridgetown attorney, Eustace
Maxwell Shilstone, who held a lifelong
fascination
with
the
synagogue.
Shilstone established his law office across
from Nidhe Israel on Synagogue Lane.
He would frequently drop in to read in a
casual way one or two of the inscriptions
on the tombstones bordering upon the
flagged pathway leading to the synagogue.
On one of these visits Shilstone decided
to record the epitaphs carved into the
imported marble tombstones for their
antiquarian interest. He began copying
the English, Spanish and Portuguese
inscriptions, and later, after receiving
some elementary instruction in Hebrew,
found on most of the memorial tablets,
he copied the Hebrew as well. His
greatest obstacle was cutting through the
undergrowth which covered the stones.
Working in his spare time, it took the
busy attorney, bibliophile and founder of
the Historical Society of Barbados many
years to reproduce the 374 epitaphs that
appear in his 1956 book Monumental
Inscriptions in the Jewish Synagogue at
Bridgetown Barbados, published by the
Jewish Historical Society of England.
With the revival of Jewish life in
Barbados in the 1930s, the new
Ashkenazi settlers worshiped in
a back room of Moses Altman’s
home until the community bought
a property and converted it into a
house of prayer.
However,
when
the
Barbadian
government announced its plans to
demolish the former synagogue and clear
part of the graveyard to erect a new
Supreme Court building, Henry Altman,
son of Moses Altman, became very
agitated at the news, especially because
his father lay buried in that cemetery.
Stirred into action, the Altman family, by
then prosperous, initiated an international
letter-writing campaign aimed at
pressuring the Barbadian Government
to spare the synagogue and cemetery.
Prime Minister Tom Adams agreed to the
restoration and rededication of Nidhe
Israel, and the Barbados Government
funded this project. Nidhe Israel was
rededicated as a synagogue in 1987.
In 2005, the Jewish community
of Barbados initiated another
ambitious project – the
construction of a museum in the
abandoned school building on
Synagogue Lane at the edge of
the cemetery. It was opened in
2007 and was commemorated by
a set of stamps.
The floor of the museum is designed
to appear as an extension of the
cemetery: recessed into the floor are
glass display cases in the size and shape
of the gravestones, filled with sand and
embedded with excavated artefacts. The
Sephardic founders, many of them formerly
secret Jews, had covered the floors of
their synagogue with sand supposedly to
muffle the sounds of the prayers and thus
avoid attracting the attention of Inquisition
informers. A screening room features
oral histories, and a modern interactive
display highlights the 350-year history
of the Barbados Jewish community.
An interesting sidelight to Barbados and its
Jewish history is a fountain, set in a square
called the Montefiore Gardens, almost
immediately behind the synagogue. The
fountain was erected to the memory of
John Castello Montefiore who died of
cholera in 1854, by his son John. John
Castello Montefiore was the son of
Eliezer Montefiore, and brother of Joseph
Barrow Montefiore (founding president
of Sydney’s York Street Synagogue). He
converted to Christianity in 1820.
For the record, there was a second
synagogue in Barbados at Speightstown,
north of Bridgetown, but it was destroyed
in September 1729, when as The New York
Gazette related: “A dispute had erupted
at a Jewish wedding, sparked by an affair
involving the theft of money from the
groom’s father’s home. Tension mounted
between the Jewish community and the
white populace; a mob chased the Jews
out of town and sacked the synagogue.”
That story features on one of the panels
in the Museum.
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
11
The Jews of
Panama
By Dennis Bluth
Tracing family who lived in the Canal
Zone in 1960s and 70s and having
acquired an interest in the textile art and
technique of the indigenous Kuna Indians
of the San Blas Islands in the Atlantic,
took Diana and myself recently to visit the
Republic of Panama.
The Republic of Panama has approx 3.2
million people and Panama City has 1.4. The
country was first discovered by westerners
when Christopher Columbus arrived there
in 1492 (there is some academic discussion
about whether Snr Columbus was Jewish);
this began the Spanish colonisation of
Central and South America.
Panama became the main colony to
send the gold from Peru and Chile and
other countries back to the home country,
Spain.
Whether there have been Jews in
Panama since the early days is a moot
point. Perhaps Maranos went there at
the time of the Inquisition but the current
Jewish population of approximately
15,000 is as a result of migration over 70
years ago from the Sephardi communities
of Iraq, Egypt, Morocco and other African
and Arab countries.
We dined at the Jewish Community
Centre which has three Kosher restaurants
– meat, milk and Chinese – sporting and
meeting facilities and function rooms,
as nearly all weddings take place there,
usually with a minimum of 400 guests.
We met the catering manager, Allen,
because when we asked for a translation
of the Spanish menu he was the only
person who could help; he was from the
US and had recently moved to Panama
from Miami with his second wife.
He filled us in with a lot of background
about the community, especially how
tight knit they were with children working
in the family business rather than going to
university and overseas.
The community was less religious
and focused some generations ago and
was mainly built up by Rabbi Levy who
dominated the community and had them
look inwards for strength. Consequently
95% of the children attend the three
Jewish schools, there is little marrying
out and families include a minimum of
four children. Allen’s wife has seven adult
children and a number of grandchildren
all living in the city and often in the same
apartment block.
The main congregation is Sephardi
although there is a small Ashkenazi
community and an even smaller
Conservative group.
The leading Sephardi shule was
Great Synagogue Women’s Auxiliary News
The Annual General Meeting of the
Women’s Auxiliary will be held on
Wednesday, June 12, at 10.30am at The
Great Synagogue. Our guest speaker
is Louise Rosenberg, who will give us
glimpses into her life and perhaps tell us
what the secret is to being so perky and
involved at the age of 90+. A delicious
morning tea awaits you too.
Please bring your membership form
and money along as well if you haven’t
already sent it in. Your money helps us
pay for the Kiddushim you all enjoy after
the service, plus the refurbishment of
the “sukkot” kitchen that we use not
only during Sukkot, but whenever our
other main kitchen is unavailable. Male
members are also welcome to join our
Auxiliary, and as with women, will be
greeted with open arms if they come to
help us on Sabbath mornings to prepare
12
the Kiddush. Donations to help us
defray the expenses of non-sponsored
kiddushim are very gladly accepted
by us.
Everyone is welcome at our ABM so
we look forward to seeing you there.
Our first outing for the year was to
the special tour of our Sydney town hall.
The guide we had was so interesting,
telling us all the workings of the
building, speaking about our two Jewish
Lord Mayors, and taking us to the
exhibition that was on there at the time,
with all the Judaica it contained. We
certainly appreciated learning what
goes on behind the beautiful exterior.
The second outing was to the Archibald
Prize Exhibition at our lovely Art Gallery
of NSW. Our guide was great, explaining
the intricacies of the paintings and what
the artist wanted to convey. Your eyes
undergoing major renovations but I was
afforded an inspection when I paid a visit
by a very proud shamas who pointed out
the fine features of the shule. With me
at the time were a young couple touring
from Israel on their honeymoon and they
remarked how similar the stone external
features and courtyard were to the
stone in Jerusalem and they were right. The
community is very willing to put up money
for synagogue and community needs.
We went to Purim at the second
Sephardi shule in the Patiala area of
Panama City, a very Jewish area. The shule
seats 700 men and 500 women and was
completely full for Purim . The meggillah
was read in a Sephardi style and every
third man had his own meggilla and was
following the reading. This shule was also
very impressive in marble and stone. The
community is close to Israel and we were
advised that regularly a number of rabbis
and Israeli delegations come out to visit
and observe this small but very vibrant
community.
are certainly opened to what the judges
want, even if you prefer something
else.
Thank you to all the Kiddushim helpers,
our baking girls, our Auxiliary members,
those who hold positions and those
who don’t. Thanks also to the people
who decorate the Sukkah each year and
to the office staff who help us behind
the scenes.
We meet in the Synagogue every
second Wednesday of the month (Yom
Tov permitting) at 10.30am and would
love to see you attend.
Please watch The Jewish News - What’s
on page for dates of our forthcoming
Shiurim. I am not aware of any dates
at this time but we hope one will be
organised soon.
Jacqueline Alexander
Jewish Alphabet
Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence
A is for Apple – We dip it in honey
O’s for the Omer – we count forty nine
B for Brit Milah – Essential, not funny
P is for Pesach – and four cups of wine.
C is for candles – we light Friday nights
Q is Qabbala – a mystic tradition
D is for doughnuts – delicious delights
R is for Rabbi – of rare erudition
E is for Egypt – we served there as slaves
S is for Synagogue – Do come back for more!
F for Four Species – together we wave
T is for Torah – the Scroll of the Law
G’s for Gan Eden – where our story starts
U is ubiquitous – a God in all places
H for Havdalla – when Shabbes departs
V is Viduiy – we confess our disgraces
I is for Israel – The land which is ours
W’s for Weddings – A bride and a groom
J is for Joseph who dreamed of the stars
The Cross is a symbol not found in this room!
K is for Kashrut and food that’s OK
Y is Yom Kippur – our most solemn fast
L is Lechayim – To Life we all say
And Z – dreams of Zion. We got there at last!
M is for Mitzvah – Good deeds we must do.
One day when you’ve learned your whole
alphabet through,I hope that my letters have
meaning for you.
N is for Noah – who floated a zoo.
Illustrations by Lauren Black
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
13
Wrath, Pride and Prejudice
Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence
One of the Hagaddah’s more controversial
passages falls after the meal, just between the
Benching and the Hallel. The cup of Elijah is
poured, the door is opened and everyone stands.
We read the following passage (three verses from
the book of Psalms, and one from Lamentations).
“Pour out Your wrath on the nations who do not know you
and on the kingdoms that have not called on Your Name.
For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his dwelling.
Pour out Your indignation upon them and let Your fierce
anger overtake them.
Pursue them in wrath and destroy them
under the heavens of the world.”
The door is then closed and we sit for the joyous singing of
Hallel.
In their original context, the verses anticipated God’s
retribution on Babylon after the destruction of the first Temple
in Jerusalem. Lamentations is read on Tisha B’Av. The combined
verses first appeared in the Seder service after the First Crusade
in 1096. Its introduction was a response to the massacres of
European Jewish communities in Worms and Mainz (amongst
others) by the crusading knights on their way to “liberate” the
holy places in Jerusalem and then the subsequent blood libels,
which fell around the Pesach/Easter period.
Pesach represented God’s liberation of his people
from the Egyptians. Pharaoh had asked “who is
this God of yours” and was then shown His power;
also that He would honour His promise to protect
His people. Additionally, Egypt as a whole was
then punished for their oppression of Israel and
for allowing their leadership to continue to deny
them freedom even though by the seventh of
the plagues, they had all seen and Pharaoh had
acknowledged, the might of God.
So, as the crusader massacres began with the persecution of
Jews in the name of religion, combined with the taunting that the
God of Israel had abandoned His people, the Jews celebrating
their medieval sedarim stood and opened their doors with pride
in their identity and with hope that the redemptive God would
end their oppression and restore our people leshana haba to
Jerusalem.
In Worms itself, where 800 were slaughtered, there is a 1521
manuscript with an additional companion passage.
“Pour out Your love on the nations who have known You,
and on the kingdoms that call upon Your name.
For they have shown loving-kindness to the seed of Jacob,
And they defended Your people Israel from those who would
devour them alive.
May they live to see the sukkah of peace spread over Your
chosen ones,
And to participate in the joy of Your nations.”
The association with the Cup of Elijah is twofold.
It is Elijah, according to tradition, who will herald the
Messianic Era, with true accountability and divine justice
spread throughout the world. It will be in that era, where the
nations will have had the chance to see God’s truth and those
who reject His ways will be cast out. Just as many families have
a symbolic case packed and by their front door ready for the
trip to Jerusalem on Seder night (though I’ve not met anyone
who has had airline tickets booked on the offchance!), we open
the door to Elijah to welcome him in. If he sees our fidelity and
our passion, maybe he will call for an end of our exile.
The second link is more personal to Elijah, but also touches
on the theme of prejudice, that discomforts readers of Shfoch
Chamatcha.
Much of Elijah’s prophetic life was spent with him at odds with
the idol endorsing and evil king Ahab. Ahab reigned for 22 years.
“He did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who came
before him.” It was a life of confrontation and chastisement.
(Above left) Jews, identifiable by their hats, are being killed by Crusaders. (Far Right) Peter Paul Rubens: Elijah and the Angel
14
Each berated the other as a troubler of Israel.
In his most decisive test, Elijah confounded the prophets of
Baal upon Mount Carmel, demonstrating that their god was
silent to their prayers whereas the God of Israel responded to
his. Ahab recognised Hashem hu ha-elokim, The Lord is God.
At that moment of Tshuva, we are told that Elijah girded his
loins and ran before the king. He treated him with deference
and respect for his majesty. For a couple of verses, entreaties
to pour out divine wrath are supplanted with the love for the
returning penitent. If Elijah’s earlier berating of Ahab had been
harsh it was not through personal enmity but through a passion
for truth.
Similarly, as we complete our sedarim, we recall the persecution
of our people bechol dor ve-dor, through the generations. We
stand proud of God’s protection. We open the door to show we
are not afraid or ashamed to further our faith and to continue
our celebrations. We hope to welcome Elijah and the dawn of
a new age, where all peoples of our world will know God, see
His sukkah of peace and participate together in the joy of His
nations.
The splendour of Shavuot
Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks
Which comes first: the land or the law? The country
or the constitution?
The answer is obvious. First comes the land, and only
afterward come the laws. First come the people who inhabit a
certain territory. Little by little they organise themselves, first
into bands, then into tribes or clans, then into towns or regions,
and lastly into nations.
Slowly they evolve structures of governance. There are
leaders, chieftains, rulers of one kind or another. There are
codes or customs by which the various groups regulate their
own affairs.
Then by a process of centralisation, a legislature comes into
being which makes the laws, and a judiciary that enforces them.
So it has been for every nation in history.
Except one: the people of Israel. That is what is radical,
unprecedented and unparalleled about Shavuot. The children
of Israel, by receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, became unique
in world history.
At the time, they had no land. They had not yet crossed the
Jordan. They were still in the desert, in no-man’s-land. They
were between the Egypt they had left and the promised land
they had not yet entered, and yet they had received their
laws, the commandments that bound them as a people, their
constitution as a nation under the sovereignty of God.
In this case, and this case only, the laws preceded the land.
The constitution came before the country. The people of Israel
were a nation before they had a home.
This may sound like a minor matter, but it was not. It led, in the
fullness of time, to the single greatest miracle of Jewish history:
the fact that Jews survived as a nation for two thousand years
despite the fact that they were scattered across the globe.
They had nothing that normally binds a nation together. They
did not live in geographical proximity. They did not share the
same culture or speak the same language. Rashi lived in Christian
France, Maimonides in Islamic Egypt. Askenazim spoke Yiddish,
Sephardim Ladino and its various subdialects.
They did not share a fate. While Jews in Northern Europe
were being massacred during the Crusades, Spanish Jewry was
enjoying its golden age. Only one thing held them together. As
Rav Saadia Gaon put it in the tenth century: “Our nation is only
a nation because of its Torah.”
How was this possible? Because Israel received its laws before
its land. The result was that even when Jews lost their land,
they still had their laws.
Though they lost their country, they still had their covenant.
Because they were defined (as the United States later defined
itself) as “one nation under God”, they remained one nation
everywhere because God is everywhere.
The ability of Jews to survive tragedies that would have spelled
the end of any other nation was born on Shavuot, when our
ancestors received the Torah – the laws of Jewish life ­– directly
from God. More than Jews kept the Torah, the Torah kept the
Jewish people. It still does – for only as the people of Torah will
the Jewish people survive.
Lord Sacks is Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
15
Obituaries
Rebbetzin Jana Gottshall
The Australian Jewish community
is in mourning with the passing in
April of its matriarch, Rebbetzin Jana
Gottshall aged 89 years.
She was foundation vice-president
of the Australian Holocaust Survivors
Association, and honorary rebbetzin of
the National Council of Jewish Women
of Australia and of B’nai B’rith. Rebbetzin Gottshall was the wife of the late Rabbi Dr Benjamin
Gottshall, who served as spiritual leader in several congregations
since they arrived in Australia as Holocaust survivors from
Czechoslovakia in 1949.
Forcibly kept in Auschwitz concentration camp she was
tattooed on her forearm with the number A 25604. Her faith
and belief in God always remained strong even in the darkest
days of her incarceration in Auschwitz, where she saved and
swapped several pieces of her meagre bread ration for a prayer
book that had somehow been smuggled into the infamous camp.
She always said she did this to give her strength from perishing.
Having previously trained as a high school teacher in the
Czechoslovakian cities of Bratislava and Topolcany, immediately
after World War II she was responsible for linking the remnants
Bequests
Making a Will allows you to divide your
estate as you choose between family,
friends and the organisations you love and
support.
It also allows you to become an active
part of the future development and success
of the community in which you live.
Making a Will requires careful thought
and action. We ask that you consider how
you can include a meaningful gift to your
community and then act to achieve this by
making a bequest to our Synagogue.
Those who are members of The Great
Synagogue, the mother congregation
of Australian Jewry, will appreciate the
importance of tradition and have ensured
the continued survival and growth of The
Great through two centuries of Australian
nationhood. But all committed members of
the community have helped maintain the
unbroken chain of Jewish life that started
almost 6,000 years ago at Mount Sinai.
The Great Synagogue provides an
important link between the many
generations of Australian Jewry and is a
symbol of all the achievements of our very
special community.
16
of European Jewish families who survived the Holocaust as
the Prague-based presenter of the popular “Missing Persons”
program on Czech radio.
Rebbetzin Gottshall worked alongside her husband in
congregations in Newcastle (NSW), Wellington (New Zealand)
and Brisbane (Queensland), before moving with him and their
children, Eva & Alex, to Maroubra Synagogue (Sydney) in 1967.
Since Rabbi Gottshall’s death in 1978, she continued to
be active in community and charitable organisations, and
was a respected and wise counsellor especially to younger
generations. She also provided comfort and compassion
visiting sick members of the community both at home and in
hospital, just as she had done when she and her husband were
ministering to their congregations.
From her earliest days in Newcastle until a few months
before she became terminally ill with cancer, she was invited
to address different organisations about her experiences during
the Holocaust. While it was very upsetting as the sole survivor
of her family for her to recall the horrors she had witnessed and
endured, she believed that relating what occurred may help
prevent genocide ever happening again.
Rebbetzin Gottshall leaves behind her two children, Eva and
Alex, son-in-law John Wittenberg, four grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren. Written by Alex Gottshall
A bequest to your synagogue is a gift
that will guarantee that the traditions and
practices of Jewish life will remain vibrant
for generations to come at The Great.
By including the Synagogue in your Will
you can help future generations of Jews
cherish The Great in a way that will be
remembered forever.
“Nobody is ever impoverished through
the giving of charity”
– Maimonides
Your Will lets you decide how your
estate, no matter how large or small, is
distributed after your death. Without a
Will your assets will be divided according
to an arbitrary statutory formula which
may not accord with your wishes.
Your estate includes property and
money, as well as shares, bonds, jewellery
and works of art. Through your Will you can
decide what happens to those things and
you determine how they can be used to
benefit your loved ones, your community
and your congregation.
Should you wish for more
information, contact Susan Bures
on 9267 2477
Bereavements
The Great Synagogue congregation
records the passing of the following
and shares the sadness of their
families :
Emily Korn
Errol Davis
Robert Walker
Joe Albert
Esther Lehmann
Arno Neumann
Edythe Judes
Suzie Bohrer
Henry Bell
John Border
Denise Frumar
Jack Green
Jana Gottschall
Obituaries
Denise Ann Frumar
The Bible
tells the
story of
Nadav and
Avihu, the
two sons
of Aaron,
the Cohen
Gadol. It
recounts
that they
entered
the Holy of Holies to make an
offering of strange fire and that
God took their lives. We know
little else. The commentaries
suggest a plethora of
explanations – why did God
choose to do as He did? What
had they done? What had Aaron
done? How could this be?
The later commentaries look at the list
of suggested possibilities and conclude
quite tellingly, sometimes we simply do
not know. Sometimes we cannot begin
to fathom why it is that God takes a life.
Why it is that a life so bright, so full of
hope and promise … Why it is that lives
so beloved and so loving are so suddenly
or so terribly extinguished?
Why such suffering? Why an involved
and active family? Why Denise? Why
Geoffrey, Michael & Lisa? Why?
We see the pain. We see the grief. And
we simply do not know.
Whatever it was that Nadav and Avihu
had offered in their strange fire – we
can’t put our finger on. Denise had
offered nothing but loyalty and love and
unswerving faith.
God tells Aaron, the Cohen, Bekrovai
Ekadesh. “I am sanctified by those who
are close to me.” Bekrovai Ekadesh.
“Know,” says God, “that sometimes I
take the life – not of some sinner – but of
someone who is close and who is dear. I
am sanctified by those who are close.”
The text continues Vayidom Aharon.
Aaron, the Cohen was silent. Stricken
with grief. Beyond comfort. Unable to
remonstrate.
There are some things we do not
understand. Sometimes God takes for
Himself, jewels, treasures that we want
with us here. We may bless the Judge of
Truth. We may stand in stunned silence.
We may even cry out. But we never, fully,
understand.
Denise was born in 1948 to Jack and
Marie Zines. She grew up in Hurstville and
the family attended the Bankstown shule.
The family, with Denise’s little brother
Rod, used to love going to the footy with
dad. Everyone supported St George. But
Denise was a Roosters fan. She’d stand
in the middle of a St George crowd and
scream for the Roosters – start a whole
argument and then just walk away.
Over the summer they would holiday at
Foster and go fishing with Dad.
As they grew, Denise became keen on
GSY and as soon as Rod got his license, he
used to drive her down. They were always
very close and throughout her life, they’d
speak every day.
When they moved to the Eastern
suburbs, Denise retained her
Hurstville friends. Indeed many
of them have remained her close
companions throughout. “When
Denise makes a friend, she
keeps a friend,” Rod said.
Denise and Geoff first met through
work. He was in law and she was working
in finance. They had some transactions in
common. However, they were properly
introduced through Vivienne Platus (now
Green). Geoff remembers that they had
coffee together, and the relationship
blossomed from that.
Geoff describes Denise as a very
interesting, unique woman. She was
different from every other girl I’d met.
He says, “She respected my pedantry!”
Denise was a light to all her friends and
to me, Geoff said. She beamed when we
were together – and that nurtured our
relationship. That beaming continued in
her through to her final days.
Geoff enumerates Denise’s many
qualities – her honesty, her frankness,
her sincerity, her love, her consideration.
Denise was a very special, thoughtful,
kind person. No-one had an unkind
word about her. She only saw goodness
in others. She made friends quickly and
developed deep friendships.
Denise was already battling illness
from before their marriage. Through
medical guidance and strength of will
she overcame the difficulties and the
pain until the last six years. She was
determined to win. She masked her pain
and focused on giving her days meaning.
And at the forefront of that meaning
was raising a family and nurturing the
strongest familial bonds with a love which
was constant and reciprocated.
Her children Michael and Lisa gave her
sustenance and substance and when
Michael moved to yeshiva in Israel they
would speak at least once a week.
Lisa said her mother was the stronger
of her parents. “She was the backbone.
She always made sure that Dad, Michael
and I were looked after. “I’m grateful for
everything – that she took us to school
and picked us up – took us to soccer,
ballet, tennis and swimming. She’d take
me to band classes and listened to all my
performances and speeches. “
There aren’t many people like
Denise – but it is the Denise
Frumars who help us to put our
lives and our trials in perspective.
From the radiance of her smile to
the sincere warmth of her heart,
to the loving care in her voice
and the embrace of her spirit we
shall all miss Denise.
A year ago, she had a celebration of life
party to say thank you to her friends –
because she celebrated life and cherished
the people who shared it with her and
made her days special. I don’t think that
I would be wrong in saying that whatever
we may have given her – we have been
more enriched by Denise many times
over.
For whatever reason, God has drawn
her close; called her to Him and left us
wanting.
Written by Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
17
Obituaries
Jacob (Jack) Neville Green
On the Shabbat after Jack
Green’s funeral, the parasha
from the Torah dealt with the
story of the scapegoat. As you
recall, two identical goats were
brought before Aaron and lots
were drawn. One lot destined
its goat to be led to a death
in the wilderness carrying the
metaphorical burden of Israel’s
transgressions. It is the goat of Azazel. The other
was brought before the Temple’s holy altar and
sacrificed there Kodesh LeHashem, as an offering
holy to God.
There is an underlying message. Fate may take us on many
different journeys. Sometimes the path we follow is charted by
circumstances over which we seem to have too little control.
But ultimately we live for Tshuva and Shuva. Ultimately, and
whichever way, our destiny is to return; to return to God.
As Jack Green’s body returns to Sydney and his soul to its
maker, we reflect on his life. Jack was a man who grew up in
a family steeped in commitment to the Jewish community.
While here, he is remembered for serving it with energy and
with passion. Both here and in Israel, his family continue to
give their time as lay leaders of their synagogues and significant
community organisations. As Warren observed, “it must run
deep in our blood”.
Jacob Neville Green was born on 28 October 1922, the eldest
son of Simon and Anne Green. Simon’s father, Eliyahu came to
Australia from Plonsk in the 1880s and the Greens were the
same family as David Ben Gurion. Eliyahu was regarded as a
Talmid Chacham. Simon Green has the unique distinction as
having served both the Central and The Great Synagogue as
President. He was also president of the Jewish cemetery trust
and the Montefiore Home.
Jack was the eldest of three sons, a very close knit family who
took part in many Great Synagogue activities as they grew.
Their mother died when she was only 46 in 1948 and the
three boys were a great support to each other. Before Jack
joined the army they set up our first business venture, a radio
repair business. Jack’s earliest hobby was dismantling all the
household electrical appliances to his parents’ dismay – but
usually he could put them together again.
During the war he served in North Australia, making the rank
of corporal. In 1949 he went to America and met Rhoda. They
met and married within six weeks.
He went to work with Simon at the family business, Green’s in
Liverpool Street, where he was in charge of the manufacturing
workroom.
Stephen describes his father as shy and introverted, quite
serious and thoughtful. He did have a strong and rather dry
18
sense of humour. He liked technology and innovation. At one
stage he projected movies onto the wall and roof of the property
opposite – which was probably the Lesnie’s. He was one of the
first people to have a digital calculator. He was into photography
and audio systems. He had quadrophonic speakers. The house
would be filled with the sounds of Souza and marching bands.
Jack was Treasurer of the Montefiore Home in Hunters Hill,
his father was president and his brother was on the board. The
family was there almost every Sunday and for all the fetes.
There is now an Anne Green room there.
The family grew in an environment where there was a strong
sense of Yiddishkeit and Jewish participation in the community
but Jack was part of the business world. He moved with business
people. They had a pub in the Western suburbs and then Jack
got into the importing of magnetic tapes – the beginning of the
business which continues today. He imported video tapes. He
also had the import licence for Colt fire-arms.
Rabbi Apple recalls with admiration Jack’s valiant efforts
to keep the Australian Jewish Press viable by maintaining
ownership of the newspaper despite it being the opposite of a
money-making enterprise.
For the last 30 years, Jack lived another life, removed from
Australia, but keen to know what was going on with his sons
and with the businesses
Though he had been a little distant as a father, he was an
enthusiastic grandfather and enjoyed all time spent with Eli and
Roni, Avigayil, Yonatan and Tamar.
Over the last 30 years Jack’s companion has been Yvonne. She
describes him as reliable and meticulous. He was a keen reader.
He abhorred small talk. Together, they loved travel. She says
that “he was unafraid of taking the blame or receiving flak if he
believed the cause was just”.
His first love, she writes, was his sons and
grandchildren. Not watching them growing up was
Jack’s only regret. Yet they did all speak regularly,
particularly over Skype.
He cherished photos of them and loved to record their
achievements. Avigayil is on the board of her synagogue. Yonatan
and Tamar are currently serving in the Israeli army. While the world
is much changed from the days of Eliyahu Green, his descendants
in Australia and Israel continue the family’s commitment to the
building and strengthening of our communities.
Our parasha this week teaches charity and the love of our
fellow, the protection and improvement of our society. These
were important and guiding values for Jack. He instilled them in
his children and our communities are richer and better for it.
Despite his failing health, Jack retained his sense of humour,
quipping that he was like an ageing banker. They don’t disappear.
They just lose interest. He faced his decline with courage and
welcomed the family who came to visit.
Written by Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence
Obituaries
Dr Errol B Davis, OAM, B.E.
If it weren’t for
the vision of
Errol B Davis,
Macquarie
University would
not now be
boasting one
of the largest
sculpture parks
in the Southern
Hemisphere. The
idea came to him
as a brainwave
while walking
through the
university one
fine morning in May 1991. In his mind’s eye he saw the
spacious grounds adorned by a collection of prominent
sculpture. With the enthusiastic support of the then vicechancellor, Prof Di Yerbury, and the keen co-operation of
sculptors, the idea became a reality.
Errol studied engineering at Sydney University,
and after graduating, he worked in England. His
interest in streamlining led him back to sculpture,
and during the early ‘50s, when living in London, he
attended classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic.
He took part in an exhibition titled Artists From the
Commonwealth and won acclaim for his work.
On returning to Australia in 1955, with wife and son, Errol
turned his former hobby, model making, into a business. He
established a professional service for architects and landscape
planners, and soon found himself in great demand. The business grew
rapidly, and a team of young people had to be trained.
In the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, Errol became involved with model
making in the planning of Sydney and Canberra. He produced
working models for the Sydney Opera House, and for Main Roads
bridges and motorways. His work extended to Government buses and
trains, and even to South African Railways.
During these years, Errol found time to produce sculptures,
in his distinctive style, which evolved from his engineering
background and his experience in model making. His materials were
initially acrylic and polystyrene sheeting, but soon progressed to
bronze and stainless steel. The advent of the laser cutting machine,
The Macquarie University Sculpture Park was
together with TIG and MIG welding, led him to pioneer a new technique
officially opened with 25 sculptures in 1992,
th
and form of sculpture. This derived from his use of contours in
coinciding with the university’s 25 anniversary
professional map-making, and Errol discovered its analogies in nature
celebrations. Errol was appointed its curator, which
-like feathers, ferns, palm-leaves or branches. It even has a relationship
task he embraced with all his energy.
in form to classical music.
One of his works, four metres high, was awarded a prize in
Over the years, the scope of works extended in number
the Hakone annual sculpture competition in Japan, where it
and location of artists. By now, the university exhibits
now stands. Another, smaller work, was purchased by a museum in
nearly 100 works, from all parts of Australia, and some
Hokkaido, Japan. Two works in bronze are held at the Dante Museum,
even from overseas.
in Ravenna, Italy, for one of which Errol was awarded a gold medal. His
As one of the earliest members of the Sculptors Society, sculptures also won prizes in regional art competitions.
Errol put in years of effort on its committee. Also, he was always
a willing teacher of his craft, eager to help the younger generations in He believed in a commitment to community work, in
their aspirations to creativity. In 2002, Errol was awarded the OAM putting back into the community something in kind, as
“for service to the arts, particularly through the establishment of a mark of appreciation for his success in life. Examples
the Sculpture Park at Macquarie University’” In 2004, the University of this are his commitment to reading for the sightconferred on him an honorary doctorate. It was the culmination of a life impaired, his membership on the Board of Trustees of
full of creativity, backed by organisational skills and utter dedication.
the Macquarie Park Cemetery, and his willingness to
From early childhood, Errol Davis showed great aptitude with
his hands. He built miniature models of ships, aeroplanes, trains
etc., and made sculptures of fish and birds out of toothbrush handles.
Throughout life, Errol’s interest in good design grew, and his
attentions were especially drawn to the growing trend towards
streamlining, which led him into aircraft modelling. In his teens, during
World War II, he joined the Volunteer Air Observer Corps, where he
produced models of aircraft, for instruction in aircraft recognition to
the Services and the community.
provide lectures on his work to various social groups.
Errol put a lot of work into his home and garden,
which were also expressions of his artistic ability.
However, his devotion to his family took precedence
over all his other activities. He was always ready to
help his wife Trudy and his sons Alan and Ralph, both
by moral encouragement and in practical terms. His
biggest joy was to see them happy.
Written by David Hilton
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE JOURNAL
19
Our Congregational
Family
Births
Naomi and Joshua Bloom – son
Dalia and Ilan Bloom – son
Robyn and Gary Bloom – grandsons (2)
Denise and Ari Sher – grandson
Erna and Gerry Levy – great grandsons (2)
Lisa and Daniel Weinman – son
Denise and Geoff Frumar – grandson
Peter and Kerry Adamek – granddaughter
Brad and Beverley Garlick – grandson
Shura Pleban – great grandson
Stephanie and David Hilton – grandson
Nancye and Hal Goldstein – great grandson
David and Hyacinth Goot – daughter
Mike and Rochelle Goot – granddaughter
Etla Goot – great granddaughter
Monica and Henry Kleinman – grandson
Bensi and Ruth Apple – daughter
Rabbi Raymond and Marian Apple – granddaughter
Theo and Kylie Whitmont – daughter
Norton and Stevie Whitmont – granddaughter
Eric and Jenny Slobedman – granddaughter
Trudie Moddel – great granddaughter
Henry and Karoline Brodaty – granddaughter
Alex and Lara Kery – son
Karen and Jacque Kosmin – grandson
Joanne and James Silverton – daughter
Shirley and Robert Silverton – granddaughter
Weddings
Aryeh and Chemda Gluck
Benjy and Lauren Einfeld
Greg and Kathy Einfeld
Alex and Mark Bernberg
Lori leaves for USA
Curator
Lori
Burck has
returned
with her
family to
the USA this week.
Lori, who has been with
us for three years, has
endeared herself to staff and
congregants as she worked
to upgrade the collection
management and to mount a
variety of exhibitions.
She has also worked with
honorary librarian David
20
Lesnie to re-organise the
library collection and have
certain
precious
books
conserved.
With the help of some
volunteers, Lori has also
managed the accessioning of
many items which had not
been formally included in the
collection, and using Mosaic
software is in the process
of taking all our collection
management from paper based
to computerised records.
President Michael Gold has
praised Lori’s dedication, skill
and hard work.