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Temple David (Perth, Western Australia)

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Coordinates: 31°55′45″S 115°52′20″E / 31.9293°S 115.8723°E / -31.9293; 115.8723
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Temple David
Religion
AffiliationProgressive Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
LeadershipRabbi Kim Ettlinger
StatusActive
Location
LocationMount Lawley, Perth, Western Australia
CountryAustralia
Temple David (Perth, Western Australia) is located in Perth
Temple David (Perth, Western Australia)
Shown within Perth
Geographic coordinates31°55′45″S 115°52′20″E / 31.9293°S 115.8723°E / -31.9293; 115.8723
Architecture
Architect(s)Harold Boas
Date established1952; 73 years ago (1952)
Website
templedavid.org.au

Temple David is a Progressive Jewish congregation and synagogue located in Mount Lawley, an inner northern suburb of Perth. It is the sole progressive congregation in the state of Western Australia.[1] The congregation was established in 1952.[2][3]

History

A key proponent for a Jewish congregation under the auspices of Reform Judaism, was Dr Ronald Taft, from the Psychology faculty at the University of Western Australia. Taft had been a member of Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne and took up his faculty position in 1951. In May 1952, a formation known as the "Liberal Jewish Group" was established and began conducting Reform services. Rabbi Herman Sanger, a key figure in the history of Temple Beth Israel, led a service in the same year, addressing 300 in attendance. Taft also became foundation president of the congregation.[4][5][3]Jewish refugees and Holocaust survivors from Europe were among the founding members of the congregation.[6]

In 1959,[7] Rabbi George W. Rubens became the congregation's first permanent rabbi and the congregation was renamed Temple David.[3] Rubens, born in the Free City of Danzig had previously served congregations in Melbourne and Hobart.[7] His great-grandfather had been a founder of the Great Synagogue, Danzig's fist Reform synagogue.[7]

In 1966, the congregation extended its service offering, with Saturday Shabbat services offered each week rather than fortnightly.[8]

In 1974, a row unfolded between Temple David rabbi Uri Themal and his Orthodox counterpart, rabbi Coleman of Perth Hebrew Congregation. The two previously ran end-of-term seminars together at Mount Lawley Senior High School. During rabbi Themal's absence, rabbi Coleman made the decision to split the children into two separate groups, Orthodox and Reform for religious instruction. Rabbi Themal attended the Royal Commission on Human Relationships where he supported the end of the criminalisation of homosexuality. He accused rabbi Coleman as using this as justification to split the religious education of the children into two groups.[9]

In 1976, it was reported that Cantor Marshall Stone had introduced several changes to the service music with more "prayer settings specifically composed by Jewish composers for the Cantor-Choir-Organ ensemble". This was a move away from the "arrangements" for the "Reform temple of music originally written for Orthodox and/or Conservative synagogues in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries."[10]

In 1979, the Perth Hebrew Congregation rabbi emeritus, Louis Rubin-Zachs made history when he addressed Temple David in a Thanksgiving service for the Egypt–Israel peace treaty. He told the congregation that in addressing them he was honouring the late Brigadier Philip Masel, a member of both PHC and Temple David.[11] In 1980, both PHC and Temple David coordinated Jewish courses at Mt Lawley College of Advanced education as part of its community programs. The program covered eight areas of Jewish study, including Bible study, Hebrew classes, Jewish representation in dramatic literature as well as classes pertaining to politics, economics and archaeology of Israel and the Middle East.[12]

In 1980, the synagogue introduced a new teaching method to learn Hebrew, using the ulpan approach from Israel.[13]

A specially recorded service at the synagogue in November 1987, was broadcast in early 1988 for the ABC TV Sunday Worship slot.[14]

In 1989, Rabbi Dovid Freilich, long-time leader of Perth Hebrew Congregation reported to have "excellent relations" with Temple David, expanding: "There seems no positive purpose in Orthodox Jews shunning the Temple."[15]

In 1992, Carmel School, Perth's only Jewish day school made changes to its enrollment policies, enabling more children affiliated with Reform Judaism and Temple David to attend.[16] It would, for the first time, begin to accept children that are not Jewish according to Orthodox Jewish halacha definitions.[17]

Buildings

The congregation established a permanent home in 1954, by purchasing a family home on Clifton Crescent in Mount Lawley, that was converted to use as a synagogue. The synagogue was officially opened on 27 October 1954.[18] The synagogue was dedicated in 1963, following an 18-month building and renovation process, with the construction of separate building housing a sanctuary and religion school. As part of the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled in commemoration of the Jewish dead from both World Wars.[19] The new Ark acted as a focal point, surrounded by stained glass windows with menorah designs.[19] Three classrooms and a function hall were also constructed.[19] The works were completed at a cost of £28, 000.[19] A caretaker's residence was constructed in 1973. The architect responsible for the designs was Harold Boas, a founding member of the congregation.[20][21]

Leadership

In 1973, rabbi Uri Themal (1940-), a Berlin-born Holocaust survivor was appointed to lead the congregation. He stayed in the role for nearly four years before taking on a new role in the Federal Government, involving the development of Australia's multiculturalism policy.[22]

In 1979, a German-born, Israeli-raised rabbi, John Gabriel Spiro (1937-1997) was appointed rabbi of congregation, succeeding Cantor Abraham Jacobi.[23] Spiro was a former professional opera singer, had performed at Carnegie Hall and studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He had also fought in both the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War.[24]

In 1984, Rabbi Ian Morris (1956-), an Australian Hebrew Union College graduate was appointed to lead the congregation.[25] Morris was succeeded by Rabbi Charles David Wallach, from Johannesburg, serving from 1988 to 1995.[26][27]

The congregation was served by Israeli-born rabbi, Adi Cohen from 2014 to 2021.[28] In 2022, Cohen was succeeded by the congregation's current rabbi, the South African-born Kim Ettlinger. Rabbi Ettlinger studied at rabbinical school in the United States and served Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne from 2010 to 2021.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ Constituent Members JCCWA. Retrieved on 15 November 2024
  2. ^ Personalities and events, Temple David congregation, ten years 1952-1962 National Library of Australia. Retrieved on 14 November 2024
  3. ^ a b c About templedavid.org.au. Retrieved on 14 November 2024
  4. ^ We 'profile' Ron Taft Profile. June-July 2015
  5. ^ Celebrating Temple David’s 70th anniversary The Maccabean. 29 July 2022
  6. ^ The horror of the Holocaust The West Australian. 3 May 2011
  7. ^ a b c New rabbi in Perth The Australian Jewish News. 13 March 1959
  8. ^ Temple change The Australian Jewish News
  9. ^ Perth Jewry faces open disharmony The Australian Jewish Times. 29 August 1974
  10. ^ Music at Temple The Australian Jewish News. 6 August 1976
  11. ^ Perth minister makes history The Australian Jewish News. 24 May 1979
  12. ^ Resources combined for Perth program The Australian Jewish Times. 17 April 1980
  13. ^ Temple Hebrew The Australian Jewish News. 18 April 1989
  14. ^ Temple on television The Australian Jewish News. 27 November 1987
  15. ^ Rift between Perth 'old timers' and newcomers 'misunderstanding' The Australian Jewish News. 28 July 1989
  16. ^ Kleerekoper, Victor (26 February 1993) Can we be one community? The Australian Jewish News. Retrieved on 3 January 2025
  17. ^ Alhadeff, Vic (9 October 1992) Perth's Carmel School changes 34-year-old enrolment policy The Australian Jewish News. Retrieved on 2 January 2025
  18. ^ Dedication address on the occasion of the Opening of the Temple David Centre, Perth, on October 27, 1954 The Westralian Judean. 1 November 1954
  19. ^ a b c d Temple opened The Australian Jewish News. 1 November 1963
  20. ^ Temple David Synagogue Heritage Council (Government of Western Australia)
  21. ^ Harold Boas Museum of Perth. Retrieved on 15 November 2024
  22. ^ Arrivals: From Brisbane to Tivon: Uri and Geraldine Themal The Jerusalem Post. 12 February 2009
  23. ^ New rabbi for Perth temple The Australian Jewish News. 12 July 1979
  24. ^ New rabbi in Perth The Australian Jewish News. 16 November 1979
  25. ^ Perth Temple's rabbi
  26. ^ Rabbi Charles David Wallach, Z’l Sussex Jewish News. October/November 2019
  27. ^ Perth Temple's English rabbi The Australian Jewish News. 24 June 1988
  28. ^ New rabbi not pulling rank The Perth Voice. 14 November 2014
  29. ^ Perth homecoming for Rabbi Ettlinger The Australian Jewish News. 1 December 2022

Further reading

  • Mossenson, David (1990). Hebrew, Israelite, Jew: The History of the Jews of Western Australia. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 9780855643140.
  • Berman, Judith E. (2001). Holocaust remembrance in Australian Jewish communities, 1945-2000. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 9781876268596.
  • Rutland, Suzanne D. (23 January 2006). The Jews in Australia. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139447164.
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