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{{for|similarly named synagogues|Great Synagogue (disambiguation){{!}}Great Synagogue}}
{{for|similarly named synagogues|Great Synagogue (disambiguation){{!}}Great Synagogue}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
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| caption = The Great Synagogue [[facade]] and front entrance in Elizabeth Street
| caption = The Great Synagogue [[facade]] and front entrance in Elizabeth Street
| location = 187a [[Elizabeth Street, Sydney|Elizabeth Street]] and 164-166 [[Castlereagh Street]], [[Sydney central business district|Sydney CBD]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
| location = 187a [[Elizabeth Street, Sydney|Elizabeth Street]] and 164-166 [[Castlereagh Street]], [[Sydney central business district|Sydney CBD]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
| geo =
| geo =
| religious_affiliation = [[Orthodox Judaism]]
| religious_affiliation = [[Orthodox Judaism]]
| consecration_year = 4 March 1878
| consecration_year = 4 March 1878

| map_type = Australia Sydney central
| map_type = Australia Sydney central
| map_size = 250
| map_size = 250
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| map_caption = Location in [[Sydney central business district]]
| map_caption = Location in [[Sydney central business district]]
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|-33.87265|151.20947|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=title,inline|format=dms}}}}
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|-33.87265|151.20947|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=title,inline|format=dms}}}}
| status = [[Synagogue]]

| status = Active
| functional_status = Active
| leadership = Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Elton, (Chief Minister and Senior Rabbi);
| leadership = {{ubl|Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Elton<br/>{{small|(Chief Minister and Senior Rabbi)}}|Rabbi Menachem Feldman<br/>{{small|(Chazzan and Assistant Rabbi)}}}}

Rabbi Philip Kaplan (Associate Rabbi)
| website = {{URL|www.greatsynagogue.org.au}}
| website = {{URL|www.greatsynagogue.org.au}}
| architect = {{ubl|[[Thomas Rowe]]|{{nowrap|[[Walter Liberty Vernon]] {{small|(supervision)}}}}|Thomas Wran {{small|(stone carvings)}}}}

| architecture_type = {{nowrap|[[Synagogue architecture]]}}
| architect = {{bulleted list|[[Thomas Rowe]]|Partly supervised by [[Walter Liberty Vernon]]}}
| architecture_style = {{ubl|[[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] [[Eclecticism|eclectic]]|[[Romanesque Revival architecture|Romanesque Revival]]|[[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]]|[[Moorish Revival architecture|Moorish Revival]]}}
| architecture_type =
| architecture_style = {{bulleted list|[[Byzantine Revival architecture|Byzantine Revival]]|[[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]]|[[Architecture of Sydney#Classical|Victorian Free Gothic]]}}
| facade_direction = East
| facade_direction = East
| year_completed = {{start date and age|1878}}
| year_completed = {{start date and age|1878}}
| construction_cost = over {{Australian pound|23,000}}<ref name=apple/>{{rp|page=7}}
| construction_cost = over {{Australian pound|23,000}}<ref name=apple/>{{rp|page=7}}
| capacity = 1100
| capacity = 1000
| length = {{convert|140|ft|m|order=flip}}
| length = {{convert|140|ft|m|order=flip}}
| width = {{convert|64|ft|m|order=flip}}
| width = {{convert|64|ft|m|order=flip}}
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| spire_quantity =
| spire_quantity =
| spire_height =
| spire_height =
| materials = {{bulleted list|[[Sydney sandstone|Sandstone]] from the Pyrmont quarries;|Brick with cast-iron columns;|Timber floors;|Slate roofing}}
| materials = [[Sydney sandstone|Sandstone]]; brick; timber; slate
| footnotes = <ref name=nswshr-1710/><ref>{{cite AHD |1802|The Great Synagogue, 187A Elizabeth St, Sydney, NSW, Australia|date=21 March 1978|access-date=19 September 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd2-007.htm |title=The Great Synagogue |work=Sydney Architecture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827205206/http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd2-007.htm |archive-date=27 August 2008 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| footnotes = <ref name=nswshr-1710/><ref>{{cite AHD |1802|The Great Synagogue, 187A Elizabeth St, Sydney, NSW, Australia|date=21 March 1978|access-date=19 September 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd2-007.htm |title=The Great Synagogue |work=Sydney Architecture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827205206/http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd2-007.htm |archive-date=27 August 2008 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| designation1 = New South Wales State Heritage Register

| designation1_offname = The Great Synagogue
| designation1 = New South Wales State Heritage Register
| designation1_type = State heritage (built)
| designation1_offname = Great Synagogue; The Great Synagogue
| designation1_type = State heritage (built)
| designation1_criteria = [[New South Wales State Heritage Register#Criteria|a., b., c., d., e., f., g.]]
| designation1_criteria = [[New South Wales State Heritage Register#Criteria|a., b., c., d., e., f., g.]]
| designation1_date = 10 September 2004
| designation1_date = 10 September 2004
| delisted1_date =
| delisted1_date =
| designation1_partof =
| designation1_partof =
| designation1_number = 1710
| designation1_number = 1710
| designation1_free1name = Type
| designation1_free1name = Type
| designation1_free1value = Synagogue
| designation1_free1value = Synagogue
| designation1_free2name = Category
| designation1_free2name = Category
| designation1_free2value = Religion
| designation1_free2value = Religion
| designation1_free3name = Builders
| designation1_free3name = Builders
Line 62: Line 58:
}}
}}


The '''Great Synagogue''' is a large heritage-listed [[synagogue]] located at 187a [[Elizabeth Street, Sydney|Elizabeth Street]] in the [[Sydney central business district]], in the [[City of Sydney]] local government area of [[New South Wales]], Australia. Sited opposite [[Hyde Park, Sydney|Hyde Park]], the synagogue extends to [[Castlereagh Street, Sydney|Castlereagh Street]]. It was designed by [[Thomas Rowe]] and built from 1874 to 1878, with stonework by Aaron Loveridge. The synagogue was added to the [[New South Wales State Heritage Register]] on 10 September 2004.<ref name=nswshr-1710>{{cite NSW SHR|5051584|Great Synagogue|hr=01710|fn=H00/00591,S90/06045|accessdate=14 October 2018}}</ref> The building is also listed on the (now defunct) [[Register of the National Estate]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Heritage of Australia |publisher=Macmillan Company |year=1981 |page=2 }}</ref>
'''The''' '''Great Synagogue''' is an [[Orthodox Jewish philosophy|Orthodox Jewish]] congregation located in a large heritage-listed [[synagogue]] at 187a [[Elizabeth Street, Sydney|Elizabeth Street]] in the [[Sydney central business district]] in the [[City of Sydney]] in [[New South Wales]], Australia.

The congregation is the oldest in the Sydney Jewish community, and comprises around 550 families. There are services every day of the week with the exception of Sunday. The service is Orthodox and traditional, with a professional choir singing on Shabbat and Festival mornings and at some evening services.

The synagogue provides pastoral care, adult education, a conversion class, activities for children and families and is the location for important Jewish communal services and events. Its Chief Minister is traditionally regarded as a primary representative of Judaism to the wider community.

Situated opposite [[Hyde Park, Sydney|Hyde Park]], the synagogue building extends to [[Castlereagh Street, Sydney|Castlereagh Street]]. It was designed by [[Thomas Rowe]] and constructed between 1874 and 1878, with the stonework done by Aaron Loveridge and stone carving by Thomas Wran. The synagogue was added to the [[New South Wales State Heritage Register]] on 10 September 2004.<ref name="nswshr-1710">{{cite NSW SHR|5051584|Great Synagogue|hr=01710|fn=H00/00591,S90/06045|access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref> The building is also listed on the (now defunct) [[Register of the National Estate]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Heritage of Australia |publisher=Macmillan Company |year=1981 |page=2 }}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
The Great Synagogue was built to unite two Jewish congregations in Sydney which worshipped at the time in synagogues in [[York Street, Sydney|York Street]] and [[Macquarie Street, Sydney|Macquarie Street]]. The York Street Synagogue had been designed in the [[Egyptian Revival]] style<ref>{{cite journal |author-link=Diana Muir |author=Muir Appelbaum, Diana |title=Jewish Identity and Egyptian Revival Architecture |journal=Journal of Jewish Identities |year=2012 |volume=5 |number=2 |page=7 }}</ref> by [[James Hume (architect)|James Hume]] and built in 1844.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/history.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907140812/http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/history.html |archive-date=7 September 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The first moves were made in 1864 towards obtaining a suitable site for a new, larger synagogue. In 1871 a meeting was held at York Street to discuss buying land available in [[Elizabeth Street, Sydney|Elizabeth Street]]. It was suggested a meeting be held with the Macquarie Street Synagogue to unite in purchasing the land for a synagogue to serve the whole community. John Solomon, a builder, purchased the land at auction for {{Australian pound|2,000}} in 1871 and held it until the congregation could raise sufficient funds. The proposal was for a synagogue and educational facilities for the less wealthy members of the congregation. The money was to be raised by sale of land in Kent Street which had been granted for a Jewish school but never used. Further money was raised by the sale of the York and Macquarie Street properties. An appeal was also launched to fund the new building, accompanied by a photograph of the New London Synagogue (subsequently destroyed by bombing in 1941) which was intended to serve as the model for the Sydney building. [[Thomas Rowe]], a [[Cornwall|Cornish]] architect, was selected in 1872 by means of a limited competition, the other competitors being G. A. Mansfield and [[Benjamin Backhouse]]. Rowe also acted as the construction manager for the new building. The building of the synagogue was also partly supervised by the [[Princes Road Synagogue]], Liverpool and the [[New West End Synagogue]], London. The foundation stone was laid in January 1875 by [[Saul Samuel]], [[Postmaster-General of New South Wales|Postmaster General]], later to be the first Jewish minister of the Crown in the British Empire. A huge bazaar was held in December 1875 to raise extra funds.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>
The Great Synagogue was built to unite two Jewish congregations in Sydney which worshipped at the time in synagogues in [[York Street, Sydney|York Street]] and [[Macquarie Street, Sydney|Macquarie Street]]. The York Street Synagogue had been designed in the [[Egyptian Revival]] style<ref>{{cite journal |author-link=Diana Muir |author=Muir Appelbaum, Diana |title=Jewish Identity and Egyptian Revival Architecture |journal=Journal of Jewish Identities |year=2012 |volume=5 |number=2 |page=7 }}</ref> by [[James Hume (architect)|James Hume]] and built in 1844.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/history.html |title=Synagogue History - the Great Synagogue |access-date=25 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907140812/http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/history.html |archive-date=7 September 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The first moves were made in 1864 towards obtaining a suitable site for a newer, larger synagogue.
In 1871 a meeting was held at York Street to discuss buying land available in [[Elizabeth Street, Sydney|Elizabeth Street]]. It was suggested a meeting be held with the Macquarie Street Synagogue to unite in purchasing the land for a synagogue to serve the whole community. John Solomon, a builder, purchased the land at auction for {{Australian pound|2,000}} in 1871 and held it until the congregation could raise sufficient funds. The proposal was for a synagogue and educational facilities. The money was to be raised by sale of land in [[Kent Street, Sydney|Kent Street]] which had been granted for a Jewish school but never used. Further money was raised by the sale of the York and Macquarie Street properties. An appeal was also launched to fund the new building, accompanied by a photograph of the Central Synagogue in London (opening in 1870 and destroyed by bombing in 1941) which was intended to serve as the model for the Sydney building. [[Thomas Rowe]], a [[Cornwall|Cornish]] architect based in Sydney, was selected in 1872 by means of a limited competition, the other competitors being [[George Allen Mansfield]] and [[Benjamin Backhouse]]; Rowe also acted as the construction manager for the new building. The building of the synagogue was partly based on the [[Princes Road Synagogue]], Liverpool. The foundation stone was laid in January 1875 by [[Saul Samuel]], [[Postmaster-General of New South Wales|Postmaster General]], the first Jewish minister of the Crown in the British Empire. A bazaar was held by the women of the congregation in Martin Place in December 1875 to raise extra funds.<ref name="nswshr-1710" />


The principal contractor for stonework was Aaron Loveridge, founder of the modern firm of Loveridge & Hudson. The contract drawings by Rowe, and signed by Loveridge, are held by Sydney's [[Mitchell Library]]. Other notable firms connected with the work were William Coleman (carpentry and joinery), Fletcher Brothers (decorative cast iron), Lewis and Steel (decorative plaster), Cornelius and Co of Philadelphia (gas fixtures), Minton Hollins & Co (tiles), P. N. Russell & Co (cast iron columns), and Lyon & Cottier (stained and etched glass).<ref name=nswshr-1710/>
The principal contractor for stonework was Aaron Loveridge, founder of the modern firm of Loveridge & Hudson. The contract drawings by Rowe, and signed by Loveridge, are held by Sydney's [[Mitchell Library]]. Other notable firms connected with the work were William Coleman (carpentry and joinery), Fletcher Brothers (decorative cast iron), Lewis and Steel (decorative plaster), Cornelius and Co of Philadelphia (gas fixtures), Minton Hollins & Co (tiles), P. N. Russell & Co (cast iron columns), and Lyon & Cottier (stained and etched glass).<ref name=nswshr-1710/>


The synagogue was consecrated on 4 March 1878, but its decoration was not completed until 1883.<ref name=nswshr-1710-1710-1>Phillips, 1975.</ref><ref name=nswshr-1710-1710-2>Bersten, 1995.</ref> At the time of completion the synagogue was the most imposing building in Elizabeth Street and was one of the first large Victorian buildings erected in Sydney and reflected civic pride and prosperity. The Great Synagogue is the mother synagogue of Australian Jewry and still maintains a register of all births, marriages and deaths which have taken place since the first entry was made on 1 November 1826. It also houses a museum which attracts much interest as does the library. The synagogue is involved with festivals in Sydney including the Festival of Sydney and the 1986 "Music on the Move" program. In 1988 the Bicentennial Council of NSW recognised the importance of the building and recommended a significant grant for restoration work on the Elizabeth Street facade. Each year many tourists visit the synagogue which features prominently in guidebooks as well as special interest groups, especially schools.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>
The synagogue was consecrated on 4 March 1878, but its decoration was not completed until 1883.<ref name=nswshr-1710-1710-1>Phillips, 1975.</ref><ref name=nswshr-1710-1710-2>Bersten, 1995.</ref> At the time of completion the synagogue was one of the first large Victorian buildings erected in Sydney.

The Great Synagogue possesses records of births, marriages and deaths which have taken place since the first entry was made on 1 November 1826. It also houses the AM Rosenblum Jewish Museum<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Curators Corner - The Great Synagogue |url=https://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/curatorscorner |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=www.greatsynagogue.org.au}}</ref> and the Falk Library, where weekday services take place.

The effort to preserve the history of old Jewish Sydney started in the late 20th century, ultimately leading to the foundation of the AM Rosenblum Jewish Museum<ref name=":1" /> in The Great Synagogue in May 1982. With it, Rodney Rosenblum AM (1934–2015), the former President of the Synagogue over several terms, honoured the memory of his parents and today, the collection of early Synagogue records and ceremonial objects documents an uninterrupted story of old Jewish Sydney’s life.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vytrhlik |first=Jana |title=Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney: The story of a visual heritage |date=2024 |publisher=Longueville Media Sydney |year=2024 |edition=1st |location=Sydney, NSW, Australia |publication-date=2024 |pages=49 |language=English}}</ref>


In 1988 the Bicentennial Council of NSW recognised the importance of the building and recommended a significant grant for restoration work on the Elizabeth Street façade.
== Description ==
The Great Synagogue combines elements of [[Byzantine style]] and [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] characteristics.<ref>[http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au "Welcome to the Great Synagogue, Sydney"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218001009/http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/ |date=18 February 2008 }}, [http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/Visiting.html "Visiting The Great Synagogue, Sydney"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319023032/http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/Visiting.html |date=19 March 2008 }}, 19 February 2008.</ref> This grand building is often described as the "cathedral synagogue" of Australia.


== Architecture ==
The Great Synagogue consists of two main sections: the original synagogue (house of worship) with ladies' gallery, at the Elizabeth Street end, and a five-storey modern section at the Castlereagh Street end behind the [[facade]] of the original Beadle's residence. The original eclectic design in Victorian Free Gothic style was described at the time of consecration as Byzantine interspersed with Gothic elements. The Elizabeth Street frontage and towers are of Pyrmont stone, and the remainder of the early structure is brick with cast-iron columns and timber floors, and a slate roof. The Castlereagh Street facade is stone at ground floor level, with rendered [[brickwork]] above. The interior is elaborately decorated with moulded plaster, carved timber and stained glass, all embellished with abstract patterns to avoid representation of living forms. Surviving timber stairs at the Elizabeth Street end have strongly carved [[balustrade]]s. Walls are painted with gold leaf highlights, and the furniture is mostly of polished timber and brass. Some original colour schemes survive, notably on the ceiling of the Elizabeth Street [[porch]], while the midnight blue ceiling with gold leaf stars has been repainted to the original design several times. Timber floors are raked at both ground and gallery levels, and the centre section of the ground floor and Ark steps, like the porch, are ornately tiled in tessellated and [[mosaic]] work. The basement contains a hall which has steel portal frames supporting the columns and floor above, and also contains the A M Rosenblum Museum and Rabbi Falk Library. The modern section, constructed of reinforced concrete, contains offices, classrooms and meeting rooms, together with a lift and fire stairs, and has a top floor with an openable roof. The modern stained glass windows in the Castlereagh Street facade were designed by Louis Kahan of Melbourne. The building contains notable examples of venerable sacred scrolls and religious artefacts, including a menorah (nine-branched candelabrum) made by Rabbi L. A. Falk.<ref name=nswshr-1710-1710-1/><ref name=nswshr-1710/>
The Great Synagogue combines elements of [[Byzantine style]] and [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] characteristics.<ref>[http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au "Welcome to the Great Synagogue, Sydney"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218001009/http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/ |date=18 February 2008 }}, [http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/Visiting.html "Visiting The Great Synagogue, Sydney"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319023032/http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/Visiting.html |date=19 March 2008 }}, 19 February 2008.</ref> The building is often described as the "cathedral synagogue" of Australia.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}


The Great Synagogue consists of two main sections: the original synagogue (house of worship) with a ladies' gallery, at the Elizabeth Street end, and a five-storey modern section at the Castlereagh Street end behind the [[facade]] of the original Beadle's residence. The original eclectic design in Victorian Free Gothic style was described at the time of consecration as Byzantine interspersed with Gothic elements. The Elizabeth Street frontage and towers are of Pyrmont stone, and the remainder of the early structure is brick with cast-iron columns and timber floors, and a slate roof. The Castlereagh Street facade is stone at ground floor level, with rendered [[brickwork]] above.
The present synagogue has the traditional feature of an elevated ladies' gallery. When first erected, the [[Bema#Judaism|bimah]] was central, as is traditional. However, to increase seating capacity the bimah was moved forward to the western wall in 1906. Over the years, extensive additions and alterations have been made to the other facilities appurtenant to this building, including the construction of a [[succah]], excavation and construction of a large reception area below the synagogue itself, construction of the Rabbi Falk Memorial Library, installation of electricity in the chandeliers, and installation of a "[[shabbat]]" elevator. A useful overview of the synagogue's history is provided by the 2008 book edited by [[Raymond Apple (rabbi)|Rabbi Raymond Apple]].<ref name=apple>{{cite book |editor=Apple, Raymond |editor-link=Raymond Apple (rabbi) |title=The Great Synagogue: A History of Sydney's Big Shule |publisher=UNSW Press |year=2008 }}</ref>

The interior is decorated with moulded plaster, carved timber and stained glass, all embellished with abstract patterns to avoid representation of living forms. Surviving timber stairs at the Elizabeth Street end have strongly carved [[balustrade]]s. Walls are painted with gold leaf highlights, and the furniture is mostly of polished timber and brass. Some original colour schemes survive, notably on the ceiling of the Elizabeth Street [[porch]], while the midnight blue ceiling with gold leaf stars has been repainted to the original design several times. Timber floors are raked at both ground and gallery levels, and the centre section of the ground floor and Ark steps, like the porch, are tiled in tessellated and [[mosaic]] work. The basement contains a hall which has steel portal frames supporting the columns and floor above, and also contains the A M Rosenblum Museum and Rabbi Falk Library. The modern section, constructed of reinforced concrete, contains offices, classrooms & meeting rooms, together with a lift & fire stairs, and has a top floor with an openable roof. The modern stained glass windows in the Castlereagh Street facade were designed by Louis Kahan of Melbourne. The building contains examples of venerable sacred scrolls and religious artefacts, including a menorah (nine-branched candelabrum) made by Rabbi L. A. Falk.<ref name="nswshr-1710-1710-1" /><ref name="nswshr-1710" />

The present synagogue has the traditional feature of an elevated ladies' gallery. When first erected, the [[Bema#Judaism|bimah]] was central, as is traditional. However, to increase seating capacity the bimah was moved forward to the western wall in 1906. Over the years, extensive additions and alterations have been made to the other facilities appurtenant to this building, including the construction of a [[succah]], excavation and construction of a large reception area below the synagogue itself, construction of the Rabbi Falk Memorial Library, installation of electricity in the chandeliers, and installation of a shabbat elevator. A useful overview of the synagogue's history is provided by the 2008 book edited by [[Raymond Apple (rabbi)|Rabbi Raymond Apple]].<ref name="apple">{{cite book |editor=Apple, Raymond |editor-link=Raymond Apple (rabbi) |title=The Great Synagogue: A History of Sydney's Big Shule |publisher=UNSW Press |year=2008}}</ref>


=== Condition ===
=== Condition ===
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=== Modifications and dates ===
=== Modifications and dates ===
*1878 - Installation of cast iron gates made by the Fletcher Brothers foundry in Sydney.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1878-12-14 |title=Advertising |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/207791325?searchTerm=iron%20Fletcher%20Brothers |access-date=2024-12-08 |work=Protestant Standard}}</ref>
*1911{{spaced endash}}choir gallery moved from east to west end, western semi-circular apse made square, reading desk moved from centre to western end and rebuilt to incorporate pulpit, and extra seats installed in centre block. Architects Kent & Budden. Little intrusion, although some impact on original, highly traditional synagogue plan.
*1907 - Bimah moved from the centre to the west end of the synagogue and seats placed in the empty central area. Architects Kent & Budden.
*1911{{spaced endash}}choir gallery moved from east to west end, western semi-circular apse made square.
*1910s{{spaced endash}}gasoliers converted to electric light. Little intrusion.
*1910s{{spaced endash}}gasoliers converted to electric light. Little intrusion.
*1940s{{spaced endash}}eastern wheel window strengthened internally with reinforced concrete. Some intrusion internally.
*1940s{{spaced endash}}eastern wheel window strengthened internally with reinforced concrete. Some intrusion internally.
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*1981{{spaced endash}}western section rebuilt behind original facade as Education Centre. Architects Orwell Phillips and David Nathan. Some intrusion mostly in less significant areas, except for the replacement of original timber stairs with concrete fire stairs.
*1981{{spaced endash}}western section rebuilt behind original facade as Education Centre. Architects Orwell Phillips and David Nathan. Some intrusion mostly in less significant areas, except for the replacement of original timber stairs with concrete fire stairs.
*1987{{spaced endash}}stonework conserved and interiors decorated with stencilling, some based on early patterns found. Sprinkler system installed. Minimal intrusion.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>
*1987{{spaced endash}}stonework conserved and interiors decorated with stencilling, some based on early patterns found. Sprinkler system installed. Minimal intrusion.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>
*2021 – Glass security screens added at the entrance of the portico on Elizabeth Street.
*2023 – Restoration by Scobie Mcintosh of the heritage cast iron gates on Elizabeth Street.
*2023 – Removal of the central pews on the ground floor of the Synagogue in preparation for the Bimah repositioning.
*2024 – The Synagogue ground floor layout was restored to its original 1878 design.


=== Further information ===
=== Further information ===
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One of the State significant items used at the launch of the State Heritage Inventory.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>
One of the State significant items used at the launch of the State Heritage Inventory.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>


*June 2006: more than $310,000 approved to assist works to the interior - The project includes: restoration works to the interior of the building, reintroduction of natural ventilation, and conservation work to the suspended and wall-mounted gasoliers.<ref name=nswshr-1710-1710-3>https://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/2006/mr22jun06.html</ref><ref name=nswshr-1710/>
*June 2006: more than $310,000 approved to assist works to the interior - The project includes: restoration works to the interior of the building, reintroduction of natural ventilation, and conservation work to the suspended and wall-mounted gasoliers.<ref name=nswshr-1710-1710-3>{{Cite web |url=https://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/2006/mr22jun06.html |title=18 projects win funding under $10.5 million Heritage Programme - Media Release 22 June 2006 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=31 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061031203059/http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/2006/mr22jun06.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=nswshr-1710/>

== Heritage listing ==
{{peacock|date=November 2020}}
As at 12 August 2004, The Great Synagogue is of state and potentially national significance as the earliest surviving synagogue in NSW still in use, which has represented the centre of Jewish worship and culture in central Sydney since the 1870s. The Great Synagogue is associated with the Mother Congregation of Australian Jewry, together with many subsequent leading members and families of the Jewish faith. By its prominent situation and presence in Central Sydney, its magnificent architectural grandeur, its rich symbolism, and its important collection of Hebrew documents and other religious artefacts, the Great Synagogue also embodies and demonstrates the early development and importance of the Jewish faith and culture in New South Wales during the 19th Century.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>

The Great Synagogue is a major landmark of Sydney. It is the only high Victorian style Synagogue in Australia and represents one of the most elaborately decorated Victorian buildings in Sydney, internally and externally. The building also represents one of the finest works of the leading NSW architect, Thomas Rowe. It contains excellent examples of the best quality decorative work in moulded plaster, carved sandstone and timber, metalwork, tiling and stained glass that is remarkable for its richness, originality and the degree of craftsmanship by leading decorative firms of the High Victorian period from Australia, Great Britain and the United States. Apart from its architectural excellence, the Great Synagogue provides a rich townscape aspect to [[Hyde Park, Sydney|Hyde Park]] and is an iconic building of Elizabeth and Castlereagh Streets.<ref name=nswshr-1710-1710-4>Phillips, 2000.</ref><ref name=nswshr-1710/><ref>Heritage Office, 2004.</ref>

Great Synagogue was listed on the [[New South Wales State Heritage Register]] on 10 September 2004 having satisfied the following criteria.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>

'''The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.'''

The Great Synagogue is the earliest surviving synagogue in NSW still in use, and according to some, the earliest surviving synagogue building. A small building in [[Goulburn, New South Wales|Goulburn]], possibly used as a synagogue, was built some years earlier. The Great Synagogue has considerable ecclesiastical and historic importance as it represents the Mother Congregation of Australian Jewry, which saw the merger of two separate congregations to build the present synagogue, and represents the centre of Jewish worship and culture in central Sydney since the 1870s.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>

'''The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history.'''

The Great Synagogue is associated with the mother congregation of Australian Jewry, and many leading citizens and families of the Jewish faith. It is also associated with the prominent architect Thomas Rowe, who designed several other landmark buildings in Sydney of which perhaps the best known is [[Sydney Hospital]] in Macquarie Street.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>

'''The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.'''

The Great Synagogue is a major landmark of Sydney and represents one of the most elaborately decorated Victorian buildings in Sydney, internally and externally. It contains excellent examples of the best quality work in moulded plaster, carved stone, decorative tiling and stained glass. According to George Proudman, former master mason with the [[NSW Public Works|NSW Public Works Department]], the Synagogue has some of the finest stone carving in all of Sydney. The form and construction of the building exemplify the traditional 19th century pattern of Orthodox Anglo-Jewish worship.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>

The building represents one of the finest works of the leading NSW architect, Thomas Rowe, in association with the architect W. L. Vernon (then in private practice) reputed to have partly supervised Thomas Rowe in the design. The design is reputed to be inspired by the Princes Road Synagogue in Liverpool and the New West End Synagogue in London - a composite Renaissance style, mainly Byzantine but with Gothic overtones, particularly apparent for the main window.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>

'''The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.'''


== People ==
The Great Synagogue is socially significant because it continues to be the focus of Jewish communal worship and culture in central Sydney, as it has been since its construction.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>
Reverend Alexander Bernard Davis (1828-1913) was the Chief Minister of the York Street Synagogue beginning in 1862 and became the first Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue in 1878, a position he held until his retirement in 1903. He was assisted by the Second Minister of the congregation, Reverend Aaron Alexander Levi (1823-1883), who had previously led the York Street Synagogue in 1860–61,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bergman |first=G. F. J. |date=November 27, 1975 |title=The missing portraits |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263242002 |url-status=live |work=The Australian Jewish Times |pages=13}}</ref> following the resignation of Rev Morrice Robertson Cohen. On 28 February 1878, the Board of Management invited both Rev Alexander B. Davis and Rev Aaron Alexander Levi to continue their services at the newly built Great Synagogue.<ref name=":0" /> Rev Aaron Alexander Levi served at The Great Synagogue from its inception in 1878 until his untimely death in 1883.<ref name=":0">The Great Synagogue Minutes 1877–1905 (SERIES 03, Records of meetings, 1837–1963, MLMSS 3740/122-143, p. 11). Mitchell Library, State Library NSW.  </ref>


In 1905 Rabbi Francis Lyon Cohen was appointed Rabbi of The Great Synagogue and charged with establishing a Beth Din in Sydney, which still exists today. From 1909 he was assisted by Rev Marcus Einfeld as Cantor and from 1922 by Rev (later Rabbi) LA Falk as Second Rabbi. Rabbi Falk served until his death in 1957, leaving an important library.
'''The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.'''


Cohen died in office in 1934 and was succeeded briefly by Rabbi Ephraim Moses Levy from 1935 to 1938, who came from the [[Durban United Hebrew Congregation]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Apple |first=Raymond |author-link= |date=2008 |title=The Great Synagogue: A History of Sydney's Big Shule |url= |location= |publisher=University of New South Wales Press |page=95 |isbn=9780868409276}}</ref> Rabbi Dr. [[Israel Porush]] was appointed Rabbi in 1940. Porush was born in Jerusalem, and educated in there and in Germany. He was living in London when he met his wife [[Bertha Porush|Bertha Link]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Apple|first=Raymond|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/233031008|title=The Great Synagogue : a history of Sydney's big Shule|date=2008|publisher=University of New South Wales Press|others=Great Synagogue|isbn=978-0-86840-927-6|location=Sydney|oclc=233031008}}</ref> Porush became the most senior rabbi in Australia and retired in 1972.
The Great Synagogue has technical and research significance as a living museum of decorative embellishment in 19th century buildings, which contains examples of the work of many leading practitioners of the time. It also contains a number of religious scrolls, books and artefacts. The form and construction of the building exemplify the traditional 19th century pattern of Orthodox Anglo-Jewish worship.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>


From 1973 to 2005 Rabbi Raymond Apple led the congregation and made several changes to the synagogue, including introducing the priestly blessing on festivals, instituting a male choir and enabling the first individual bat mitzvah on a Shabbat morning.
'''The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.'''


The cantor from 1964 to 1989 was Rev Isidor Gluck, who guided the service towards a less English and more Eastern European style, while maintaining its cantorial and choral nature.
The Great Synagogue is remarkable for its richness and originality of decoration, coupled with the excellence of the craftsmanship. It is rare in NSW as the earliest surviving synagogue in NSW still in use, and according to some, the earliest surviving synagogue building.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>


Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence was rabbi from 2005 to 2014 and was very involved with interfaith work. In 2015 he was succeeded by the present Chief Minister, Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton. Rabbi Elton is also the Orthodox Rabbinic Consultant to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies.
'''The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.'''


Presidents of The Great Synagogue have included George Myers, George Judah Cohen, Israel Green OBE, Sidney Sinclair AM OBE Life President, David Newman, Rosalind Fischl OAM, Rodney Rosenblum AM, Stephen Rothman AM, and currently David Lewis.
By its prominent situation and presence in Central Sydney, its magnificent architectural grandeur, its rich symbolism, and its important collection of Hebrew documents and other religious artefacts, the Great Synagogue also embodies and demonstrates the early development and importance of the Jewish faith and culture in New South Wales during the 19th Century. The Great Synagoue has represented the centre of Jewish worship and culture in Sydney (and arguably the State) since its construction in the 1870s. Architecturally, the Great Synagogue represents one of the finest works of the leading NSW architect, Thomas Rowe, and the most elaborately decorated Victorian building in Sydney.<ref name=nswshr-1710/>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
The Great Synagogue in Sydney, bimah.JPG|[[Bema|Bimah]] of The Great Synagogue
File:The Great Synagogue in Sydney, bimah.JPG|[[Bema|Bimah]] of The Great Synagogue, 1907-2024
File:Bimah Wikipedia.jpg|Bimah and Ark 3D viusualisation by Zac Levi - 2024
Great Synagogue, Sydney Detail.jpg|Architectural detail. This inscription reads Beth Israel (House of Israel)
Great Synagogue, Sydney Window.jpg|Elizabeth Street wheeled window. Reinforced concrete spokes were added to the inside of this window during [[World War II]] for protection against blast damage.<ref name=apple/>{{page needed|date=June 2017}}
File:Great Synagogue, Sydney Detail.jpg|Architectural detail. This inscription reads Beth Israel (House of Israel)
File:Great Synagogue, Sydney Window.jpg|Elizabeth Street wheeled window. Reinforced concrete spokes were added to the inside of this window during [[World War II]] for protection against blast damage.<ref name="apple" />{{page needed|date=June 2017}}
GreatSynagogue1.JPG|Detail of entrance
File:GreatSynagogue1.JPG|Detail of entrance
File:Porch capital The Great Synagogue Elizabeth St. Sydney 1878. DSC o4687 jpg 15 July 2016 1142am.msg.jpg|Porch capital, Elizabeth Street by [[Thomas Wran]]
SLNSW 479605 102 Jewish Synagogue SH 707.jpg|The 1848 Synagogue in Sydney
File:SLNSW 479605 102 Jewish Synagogue SH 707.jpg|The 1844 York Street Synagogue in Sydney - very similar Egyptian style to [[Hobart Synagogue]] and [[Launceston Synagogue]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Judaism|Architecture}}}}
{{stack|{{Portal|Judaism|Architecture|New South Wales}}}}
* [[History of the Jews in Australia]]
* [[History of the Jews in Australia]]
* [[List of synagogues in Australia and New Zealand]]
* [[List of synagogues in Australia and New Zealand#Australia|List of synagogues in Australia]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 161: Line 158:


=== Attribution ===
=== Attribution ===
{{NSW-SHR-CC-contains|name=Great Synagogue|dno=5051584|id=1710|year=2018|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
{{NSW-SHR-CC-contains|name=Great Synagogue|dno=5051584|id=1710|year=2018|access-date=14 October 2018}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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* {{cite web |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/building/great_synagogue |title=Great Synagogue |access-date=9 October 2015 |author=Ellmoos, Laila |date=2008 |work=Dictionary of Sydney |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney Trust}} <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Creative Commons license|CC-By-SA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
* {{cite web |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/building/great_synagogue |title=Great Synagogue |access-date=9 October 2015 |author=Ellmoos, Laila |date=2008 |work=Dictionary of Sydney |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney Trust}} <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Creative Commons license|CC-By-SA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>


{{Synagogues in Australia}}
{{Jews and Judaism in Australia|state=autocollapse}}
{{Jews and Judaism in Australia|state=autocollapse}}
{{Sydney central business district historical attractions|state=collapsed}}
{{Sydney central business district historical attractions|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}


[[Category:Jewish Australian history]]
[[Category:Jewish Australian history]]
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[[Category:New South Wales State Heritage Register]]
[[Category:New South Wales State Heritage Register]]
[[Category:Thomas Rowe buildings]]
[[Category:Thomas Rowe buildings]]
[[Category:Walter Liberty Vernon buildings in Sydney]]
[[Category:Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register]]
[[Category:Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register]]
[[Category:Elizabeth Street, Sydney]]
[[Category:Elizabeth Street, Sydney]]
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[[Category:Byzantine Revival synagogues]]
[[Category:Byzantine Revival synagogues]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival synagogues]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival synagogues]]
[[Category:19th-century synagogues in Australia]]

Latest revision as of 10:30, 8 December 2024

The Great Synagogue
The Great Synagogue facade and front entrance in Elizabeth Street
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Elton
    (Chief Minister and Senior Rabbi)
  • Rabbi Menachem Feldman
    (Chazzan and Assistant Rabbi)
Year consecrated4 March 1878
StatusActive
Location
Location187a Elizabeth Street and 164-166 Castlereagh Street, Sydney CBD, New South Wales, Australia
Geographic coordinates33°52′22″S 151°12′34″E / 33.87265°S 151.20947°E / -33.87265; 151.20947
Architecture
Architect(s)
TypeSynagogue architecture
Style
Completed1878; 146 years ago (1878)
Construction costover £23,000[1]: 7 
Specifications
Direction of façadeEast
Capacity1000
Length43 metres (140 ft)
Width20 metres (64 ft)
MaterialsSandstone; brick; timber; slate
Official name: The Great Synagogue
TypeState heritage (built)
Criteriaa., b., c., d., e., f., g.
Designated10 September 2004
Reference no.1710
TypeSynagogue
CategoryReligion
BuildersAaron Loveridge (stonework)
Website
www.greatsynagogue.org.au
[2][3][4]

The Great Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish congregation located in a large heritage-listed synagogue at 187a Elizabeth Street in the Sydney central business district in the City of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.

The congregation is the oldest in the Sydney Jewish community, and comprises around 550 families. There are services every day of the week with the exception of Sunday. The service is Orthodox and traditional, with a professional choir singing on Shabbat and Festival mornings and at some evening services.

The synagogue provides pastoral care, adult education, a conversion class, activities for children and families and is the location for important Jewish communal services and events. Its Chief Minister is traditionally regarded as a primary representative of Judaism to the wider community.

Situated opposite Hyde Park, the synagogue building extends to Castlereagh Street. It was designed by Thomas Rowe and constructed between 1874 and 1878, with the stonework done by Aaron Loveridge and stone carving by Thomas Wran. The synagogue was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 September 2004.[2] The building is also listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate.[5]

History

[edit]

The Great Synagogue was built to unite two Jewish congregations in Sydney which worshipped at the time in synagogues in York Street and Macquarie Street. The York Street Synagogue had been designed in the Egyptian Revival style[6] by James Hume and built in 1844.[7] The first moves were made in 1864 towards obtaining a suitable site for a newer, larger synagogue.

In 1871 a meeting was held at York Street to discuss buying land available in Elizabeth Street. It was suggested a meeting be held with the Macquarie Street Synagogue to unite in purchasing the land for a synagogue to serve the whole community. John Solomon, a builder, purchased the land at auction for £2,000 in 1871 and held it until the congregation could raise sufficient funds. The proposal was for a synagogue and educational facilities. The money was to be raised by sale of land in Kent Street which had been granted for a Jewish school but never used. Further money was raised by the sale of the York and Macquarie Street properties. An appeal was also launched to fund the new building, accompanied by a photograph of the Central Synagogue in London (opening in 1870 and destroyed by bombing in 1941) which was intended to serve as the model for the Sydney building. Thomas Rowe, a Cornish architect based in Sydney, was selected in 1872 by means of a limited competition, the other competitors being George Allen Mansfield and Benjamin Backhouse; Rowe also acted as the construction manager for the new building. The building of the synagogue was partly based on the Princes Road Synagogue, Liverpool. The foundation stone was laid in January 1875 by Saul Samuel, Postmaster General, the first Jewish minister of the Crown in the British Empire. A bazaar was held by the women of the congregation in Martin Place in December 1875 to raise extra funds.[2]

The principal contractor for stonework was Aaron Loveridge, founder of the modern firm of Loveridge & Hudson. The contract drawings by Rowe, and signed by Loveridge, are held by Sydney's Mitchell Library. Other notable firms connected with the work were William Coleman (carpentry and joinery), Fletcher Brothers (decorative cast iron), Lewis and Steel (decorative plaster), Cornelius and Co of Philadelphia (gas fixtures), Minton Hollins & Co (tiles), P. N. Russell & Co (cast iron columns), and Lyon & Cottier (stained and etched glass).[2]

The synagogue was consecrated on 4 March 1878, but its decoration was not completed until 1883.[8][9] At the time of completion the synagogue was one of the first large Victorian buildings erected in Sydney.

The Great Synagogue possesses records of births, marriages and deaths which have taken place since the first entry was made on 1 November 1826. It also houses the AM Rosenblum Jewish Museum[10] and the Falk Library, where weekday services take place.

The effort to preserve the history of old Jewish Sydney started in the late 20th century, ultimately leading to the foundation of the AM Rosenblum Jewish Museum[10] in The Great Synagogue in May 1982. With it, Rodney Rosenblum AM (1934–2015), the former President of the Synagogue over several terms, honoured the memory of his parents and today, the collection of early Synagogue records and ceremonial objects documents an uninterrupted story of old Jewish Sydney’s life.[11]

In 1988 the Bicentennial Council of NSW recognised the importance of the building and recommended a significant grant for restoration work on the Elizabeth Street façade.

Architecture

[edit]

The Great Synagogue combines elements of Byzantine style and Gothic characteristics.[12] The building is often described as the "cathedral synagogue" of Australia.[citation needed]

The Great Synagogue consists of two main sections: the original synagogue (house of worship) with a ladies' gallery, at the Elizabeth Street end, and a five-storey modern section at the Castlereagh Street end behind the facade of the original Beadle's residence. The original eclectic design in Victorian Free Gothic style was described at the time of consecration as Byzantine interspersed with Gothic elements. The Elizabeth Street frontage and towers are of Pyrmont stone, and the remainder of the early structure is brick with cast-iron columns and timber floors, and a slate roof. The Castlereagh Street facade is stone at ground floor level, with rendered brickwork above.

The interior is decorated with moulded plaster, carved timber and stained glass, all embellished with abstract patterns to avoid representation of living forms. Surviving timber stairs at the Elizabeth Street end have strongly carved balustrades. Walls are painted with gold leaf highlights, and the furniture is mostly of polished timber and brass. Some original colour schemes survive, notably on the ceiling of the Elizabeth Street porch, while the midnight blue ceiling with gold leaf stars has been repainted to the original design several times. Timber floors are raked at both ground and gallery levels, and the centre section of the ground floor and Ark steps, like the porch, are tiled in tessellated and mosaic work. The basement contains a hall which has steel portal frames supporting the columns and floor above, and also contains the A M Rosenblum Museum and Rabbi Falk Library. The modern section, constructed of reinforced concrete, contains offices, classrooms & meeting rooms, together with a lift & fire stairs, and has a top floor with an openable roof. The modern stained glass windows in the Castlereagh Street facade were designed by Louis Kahan of Melbourne. The building contains examples of venerable sacred scrolls and religious artefacts, including a menorah (nine-branched candelabrum) made by Rabbi L. A. Falk.[8][2]

The present synagogue has the traditional feature of an elevated ladies' gallery. When first erected, the bimah was central, as is traditional. However, to increase seating capacity the bimah was moved forward to the western wall in 1906. Over the years, extensive additions and alterations have been made to the other facilities appurtenant to this building, including the construction of a succah, excavation and construction of a large reception area below the synagogue itself, construction of the Rabbi Falk Memorial Library, installation of electricity in the chandeliers, and installation of a shabbat elevator. A useful overview of the synagogue's history is provided by the 2008 book edited by Rabbi Raymond Apple.[1]

Condition

[edit]

As at 22 August 2001, the condition of the building is generally good, although the upper sections of stonework require maintenance (1997). There is unlikely to be much archaeological potential owing to the excavations for new sections of the building in the 1950s and 1980s.[2]

The Great Synagogue is generally intact both externally and internally in the older section fronting Elizabeth Street.[2]

Modifications and dates

[edit]
  • 1878 - Installation of cast iron gates made by the Fletcher Brothers foundry in Sydney.[13]
  • 1907 - Bimah moved from the centre to the west end of the synagogue and seats placed in the empty central area. Architects Kent & Budden.
  • 1911 – choir gallery moved from east to west end, western semi-circular apse made square.
  • 1910s – gasoliers converted to electric light. Little intrusion.
  • 1940s – eastern wheel window strengthened internally with reinforced concrete. Some intrusion internally.
  • 1957 – basement deepened and reconstructed as War Memorial Hall. Architect Orwell Phillips. Some intrusion, although the previous basement area appears to have been of little significance.
  • 1981 – western section rebuilt behind original facade as Education Centre. Architects Orwell Phillips and David Nathan. Some intrusion mostly in less significant areas, except for the replacement of original timber stairs with concrete fire stairs.
  • 1987 – stonework conserved and interiors decorated with stencilling, some based on early patterns found. Sprinkler system installed. Minimal intrusion.[2]
  • 2021 – Glass security screens added at the entrance of the portico on Elizabeth Street.
  • 2023 – Restoration by Scobie Mcintosh of the heritage cast iron gates on Elizabeth Street.
  • 2023 – Removal of the central pews on the ground floor of the Synagogue in preparation for the Bimah repositioning.
  • 2024 – The Synagogue ground floor layout was restored to its original 1878 design.

Further information

[edit]

One of the State significant items used at the launch of the State Heritage Inventory.[2]

  • June 2006: more than $310,000 approved to assist works to the interior - The project includes: restoration works to the interior of the building, reintroduction of natural ventilation, and conservation work to the suspended and wall-mounted gasoliers.[14][2]

People

[edit]

Reverend Alexander Bernard Davis (1828-1913) was the Chief Minister of the York Street Synagogue beginning in 1862 and became the first Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue in 1878, a position he held until his retirement in 1903. He was assisted by the Second Minister of the congregation, Reverend Aaron Alexander Levi (1823-1883), who had previously led the York Street Synagogue in 1860–61,[15] following the resignation of Rev Morrice Robertson Cohen. On 28 February 1878, the Board of Management invited both Rev Alexander B. Davis and Rev Aaron Alexander Levi to continue their services at the newly built Great Synagogue.[16] Rev Aaron Alexander Levi served at The Great Synagogue from its inception in 1878 until his untimely death in 1883.[16]

In 1905 Rabbi Francis Lyon Cohen was appointed Rabbi of The Great Synagogue and charged with establishing a Beth Din in Sydney, which still exists today. From 1909 he was assisted by Rev Marcus Einfeld as Cantor and from 1922 by Rev (later Rabbi) LA Falk as Second Rabbi. Rabbi Falk served until his death in 1957, leaving an important library.

Cohen died in office in 1934 and was succeeded briefly by Rabbi Ephraim Moses Levy from 1935 to 1938, who came from the Durban United Hebrew Congregation.[17] Rabbi Dr. Israel Porush was appointed Rabbi in 1940. Porush was born in Jerusalem, and educated in there and in Germany. He was living in London when he met his wife Bertha Link.[18] Porush became the most senior rabbi in Australia and retired in 1972.

From 1973 to 2005 Rabbi Raymond Apple led the congregation and made several changes to the synagogue, including introducing the priestly blessing on festivals, instituting a male choir and enabling the first individual bat mitzvah on a Shabbat morning.

The cantor from 1964 to 1989 was Rev Isidor Gluck, who guided the service towards a less English and more Eastern European style, while maintaining its cantorial and choral nature.

Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence was rabbi from 2005 to 2014 and was very involved with interfaith work. In 2015 he was succeeded by the present Chief Minister, Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton. Rabbi Elton is also the Orthodox Rabbinic Consultant to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies.

Presidents of The Great Synagogue have included George Myers, George Judah Cohen, Israel Green OBE, Sidney Sinclair AM OBE Life President, David Newman, Rosalind Fischl OAM, Rodney Rosenblum AM, Stephen Rothman AM, and currently David Lewis.

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Apple, Raymond, ed. (2008). The Great Synagogue: A History of Sydney's Big Shule. UNSW Press.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Great Synagogue". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01710. Retrieved 14 October 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
  3. ^ "The Great Synagogue, 187A Elizabeth St, Sydney, NSW, Australia (Place ID 1802)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. 21 March 1978. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  4. ^ "The Great Synagogue". Sydney Architecture. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008.
  5. ^ The Heritage of Australia. Macmillan Company. 1981. p. 2.
  6. ^ Muir Appelbaum, Diana (2012). "Jewish Identity and Egyptian Revival Architecture". Journal of Jewish Identities. 5 (2): 7.
  7. ^ "Synagogue History - the Great Synagogue". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  8. ^ a b Phillips, 1975.
  9. ^ Bersten, 1995.
  10. ^ a b "Curators Corner - The Great Synagogue". www.greatsynagogue.org.au. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  11. ^ Vytrhlik, Jana (2024). Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney: The story of a visual heritage (1st ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Longueville Media Sydney. p. 49.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  12. ^ "Welcome to the Great Synagogue, Sydney" Archived 18 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, "Visiting The Great Synagogue, Sydney" Archived 19 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, 19 February 2008.
  13. ^ "Advertising". Protestant Standard. 14 December 1878. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  14. ^ "18 projects win funding under $10.5 million Heritage Programme - Media Release 22 June 2006". Archived from the original on 31 October 2006. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  15. ^ Bergman, G. F. J. (27 November 1975). "The missing portraits". The Australian Jewish Times. p. 13.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ a b The Great Synagogue Minutes 1877–1905 (SERIES 03, Records of meetings, 1837–1963, MLMSS 3740/122-143, p. 11). Mitchell Library, State Library NSW.  
  17. ^ Apple, Raymond (2008). The Great Synagogue: A History of Sydney's Big Shule. University of New South Wales Press. p. 95. ISBN 9780868409276.
  18. ^ Apple, Raymond (2008). The Great Synagogue : a history of Sydney's big Shule. Great Synagogue. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-86840-927-6. OCLC 233031008.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Attraction Homepage (2007). "Great Synagogue".
  • Orwell & Peter Phillips Architects (2000). Conservation Management Plan The Great Synagogue Sydney.
  • Raymond Apple ; with members of the congregation (2008). The Great Synagogue : a history of Sydney's big Shule.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • The National Trust of Australia (NSW) (1975). Classification Card for the Great Synagogue.
  • Tourism NSW (2007). "Great Synagogue And Am Rosenblum Jewish Museum".

Attribution

[edit]

This Wikipedia article contains material from Great Synagogue, entry number 1710 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 14 October 2018.

[edit]
More information
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatSynagogueSydney