Address delivered by Mrs Sharon Milch at Kehillat Kadimah on Saturday 2nd March 2024 on the occasion of a Special Kiddush in honour of Strathfield Synagogue
Thank you so much for your warm invitation to celebrate our community which we referred to as Strathfield Shule or The Centre. “We had such a wonderful community - a warm loving community. We had everything there for such a long time.”
Our community began in the 1940s. Unusually, a few Jewish families moved from the Eastern Suburbs to Strathfield to distance themselves from a possible Japanese attack on the Harbour or the airport whilst others preferred to live closer to businesses in Parramatta etc. Amongst those families were the Pearlmans, Robinsons, Greenbergs and the Isaacs.
The Pearlmans had a business near Strathfield station and they lived above the shop. Their rooms were used for Sunday School classes held by the NSW Board of Jewish Education. When the High Holydays arrived, parents would gather to pray. A Sukkah was even erected in the backyard.
After WWII some survivors fled to Australia settling in the outer western and south western suburbs. They could not afford to live elsewhere, everyone had a mortgage.
The Centre was a magnet for them and the Pearlman’s little upstairs rooms became too small. Larger accommodation lead to the purchase of an old mansion at 19 Florence St, Strathfield, which was set on a large corner block.
The 50’s were the formative years of the community. A committee was elected under the remarkable, charismatic president Phillip Goran. Phillip was a raconteur with a wicked sense of humour [oops can I say that here?]. He had the drive and leadership skills necessary to develop a framework which fostered unity and drove the committee towards developing the shule. Moreover, Phillip’s father, Rev. Leon Goran, became our first minister and now the goal included community prayer and education.
Inside the old mansion our first Synagogue was developed by expanding rooms on the top floor into one large space and building an Aron Kodesh. A Torah was borrowed from the Great Synagogue. My father Joe Toister, who was an electrician, rewired the room to provide light. Regular services began.
I find joy in describing this time which began when my family moved to Strathfield. I was 10 and my parents joined an active, vibrant, hard working committee which buzzed with energy and drive. I look at an old photo of the committee and realise that every member was in his or her early 40s - all raising young families whilst trying to earn a living. I am awed at the thought that this group so desired their children to be Jewishly educated and so wanted a place to pray together that every spare moment was given to our shule. Something was always happening in the Centre. Sunday school classes and synagogue services, lectures and more. Habonim and Betar both met on Sundays in a few of the downstairs rooms.
I moved to Perth in 1955 and when I returned 3 years later, a brand-new purpose designed shule was under construction. Imagine all the functions held in private homes to raise enough money for building a shule, plus finding a sympathetic bank manager for the all-important loan.
At last on 27th of September 1959 the foundation stones were laid. The shule was consecrated by Rabbi Porush and opened by Leo Myer, whilst Max Freilich laid the foundation stone.
There were no pews installed. Instead there were mountains of stackable chairs. Depending on the occasion the shule was mostly traditional with men sitting on one side and women on the other. The bima and Aron Kodesh could be curtained off for Barmitzvah parties, Synagogue Youth dances, 21st birthday parties, Wizo functions, UIA, JNF etc., so the chairs had to be moved. My group of teen-age friends lost count of the number of times we stacked chairs and reconfigured them.
In the1960s a Ladies Auxiliary was created by Mena Goran and her hard-working committee took responsibility for the new kosher kitchen. Every function held in our shule was catered by the Ladies Auxiliary. I quote from the synagogue’s journal, The Centre, “to this group of hard-pressed women we owe our very existence”.
In July, 1963 I married my husband Leon in our shule with the wedding solemnised by Rev. Michael Mandel.
In 1964 Dr Eppel was president and Rev. Mandel was our minister. Both jobs involved so many duties, but you all know this. While checking a write-up in The Centre, I had to laugh at a few lines where the President said in his report that after every meeting it takes him two weeks to recover because the committee works so assiduously that each item on the agenda is discussed and dissected at least fifteen times before a decision is made.
By the mid 60’s the rooms of the old mansion were not safe for holding classes. Discussions began about building a new classroom block. The Claims Conference made an endowment to the centre for the express purpose of building a memorial to the victims of the Shoah. Together with donations from Mr A. Isman the Beth Zion Talmud Torah foundation stone was set in February 1966.
The synagogue had been designed with a wide aisle separating the seating for men, on the left, from the seating for women, on the right. But this design did not satisfy the standards of orthodox Rabbis. In order to attract Rabbi Z. Tapoohi our little shule in the west had to erect a formal mechitza. For brides, this made walking down the aisle like a crab walk.
Two Rabbis conducted services in the 70’s. They were Rabbi Mordechai Gutnik, inducted on August 31st 1975 and Rabbi Moshe Gutnik, who was inducted on 28th November 1982 and served until 1987.
During many of these years Aaron Shaw was President. Aaron was another wonderful character who had been the right-hand man of every rabbi since way back in the 60’s. Aaron had a thick Polish accent and handled every aliyah with aplomb. His style was to announce loudly the name of each man to come to the bima. I was never sure whether he was speaking Yiddish or Hebrew when he also announced the donation each man gave for his aliyah, but it was greeted with a chuckle and wide smiles. It was pure heartfelt love for Judaism and for his fellow congregants’ that inspired his theatre.
Mary Shaw, his wife, became President of the Ladies Auxiliary. Mary was a superb cook and her members catered for many functions as well as undertaking new work such as joining the Montefiore Home blue group.
It is important to note that Strathfield members were known for their generosity to all charities often donating way beyond the average for UIA, WIZO, JNF, Montefiore etc.
With the grant received from the Claims Conference earlier and donations, The Yolanda Kramer Kindergarten was opened in November 1974. It served the local community continuously until the building was sold. Many grandchildren of the founding fathers passed through the kindergarten on their way to prominent positions in the wider community, here and in Israel.
Rabbi Aryeh Leib Solomon served from 1987 until 1995. A sefer Torah was presented to the shule to celebrate his induction. However, the late 80’and early 90s were a sad period of community decline. Congregants were moving to the Eastern and Northern suburbs where there were Jewish Schools. Rabbi Solomon wrote in The Centre magazine: “I am very concerned about the Shabbat minyanim. I believe no one wants to see the demise of the Synagogue, G’d forbid. Please gentlemen come to at least one service over shabbat?”
In 1995 Rabbi Solomon tendered his resignation with immediate effect. The board of Management accepted it with regret saying “Rabbi Solomon and his wife served with loyalty and devotion.”
Rabbi Tov Lev was employed from 1996 till 2010. For the final few years there were no minyanim, nor were there Sunday School or after-school classes. The kindergarten continued to flourish but there were no Jewish children in the classes. Instead the neighbourhood children attended. The things that kept the president busy during that era were the paying of bills with money earned by the kindergarten and any matters relating to the kindergarten.
I have been unable to mention the names of all our presidents, for five minutes pass quickly. All gave their time and effort with honour and commitment. Our last President deserves a special mention as does his secretary Murray Selig. Eddy Neumann has served our board for well over twenty years. He had the unpleasant duty of closing the doors of the shule and terminating the employment and tenancy of the rabbi who had had no congregation for three years.
The final service in our shule was held two years later. The shule was opened specially for the Barmitzvah of Ethan Moses, who was the grandson of a past president, Dr Jack Moses. Dr Moses presented a sefer Torah to commemorate the barmitzvah. Ethan’s mother had been a bat-mitzvah in the same shule.
Rabbi Chaim Ingram officiated and gave a moving address to Ethan. He said “We are what we are today because of all our yesterdays”. These words must surely resonate for all those who were ever associated with Strathfield shule.
When the property went on sale, the agent’s listing consisted of the synagogue itself, the Isman Hall, the Yolanda Kramer Kindergarten and the minister’s residence. It sold for over five and a half million dollars in 2013. Legal wrangling continued until late 2023. Now at last our shule is no more and its funds have been distributed to other synagogues. The board of Strathfield and District Hebrew Congregation hopes to be able give each of these synagogues some physical mementoes to display to honour all the hard work and love that existed in our Centre.
Our community began in the 1940s. Unusually, a few Jewish families moved from the Eastern Suburbs to Strathfield to distance themselves from a possible Japanese attack on the Harbour or the airport whilst others preferred to live closer to businesses in Parramatta etc. Amongst those families were the Pearlmans, Robinsons, Greenbergs and the Isaacs.
The Pearlmans had a business near Strathfield station and they lived above the shop. Their rooms were used for Sunday School classes held by the NSW Board of Jewish Education. When the High Holydays arrived, parents would gather to pray. A Sukkah was even erected in the backyard.
After WWII some survivors fled to Australia settling in the outer western and south western suburbs. They could not afford to live elsewhere, everyone had a mortgage.
The Centre was a magnet for them and the Pearlman’s little upstairs rooms became too small. Larger accommodation lead to the purchase of an old mansion at 19 Florence St, Strathfield, which was set on a large corner block.
The 50’s were the formative years of the community. A committee was elected under the remarkable, charismatic president Phillip Goran. Phillip was a raconteur with a wicked sense of humour [oops can I say that here?]. He had the drive and leadership skills necessary to develop a framework which fostered unity and drove the committee towards developing the shule. Moreover, Phillip’s father, Rev. Leon Goran, became our first minister and now the goal included community prayer and education.
Inside the old mansion our first Synagogue was developed by expanding rooms on the top floor into one large space and building an Aron Kodesh. A Torah was borrowed from the Great Synagogue. My father Joe Toister, who was an electrician, rewired the room to provide light. Regular services began.
I find joy in describing this time which began when my family moved to Strathfield. I was 10 and my parents joined an active, vibrant, hard working committee which buzzed with energy and drive. I look at an old photo of the committee and realise that every member was in his or her early 40s - all raising young families whilst trying to earn a living. I am awed at the thought that this group so desired their children to be Jewishly educated and so wanted a place to pray together that every spare moment was given to our shule. Something was always happening in the Centre. Sunday school classes and synagogue services, lectures and more. Habonim and Betar both met on Sundays in a few of the downstairs rooms.
I moved to Perth in 1955 and when I returned 3 years later, a brand-new purpose designed shule was under construction. Imagine all the functions held in private homes to raise enough money for building a shule, plus finding a sympathetic bank manager for the all-important loan.
At last on 27th of September 1959 the foundation stones were laid. The shule was consecrated by Rabbi Porush and opened by Leo Myer, whilst Max Freilich laid the foundation stone.
There were no pews installed. Instead there were mountains of stackable chairs. Depending on the occasion the shule was mostly traditional with men sitting on one side and women on the other. The bima and Aron Kodesh could be curtained off for Barmitzvah parties, Synagogue Youth dances, 21st birthday parties, Wizo functions, UIA, JNF etc., so the chairs had to be moved. My group of teen-age friends lost count of the number of times we stacked chairs and reconfigured them.
In the1960s a Ladies Auxiliary was created by Mena Goran and her hard-working committee took responsibility for the new kosher kitchen. Every function held in our shule was catered by the Ladies Auxiliary. I quote from the synagogue’s journal, The Centre, “to this group of hard-pressed women we owe our very existence”.
In July, 1963 I married my husband Leon in our shule with the wedding solemnised by Rev. Michael Mandel.
In 1964 Dr Eppel was president and Rev. Mandel was our minister. Both jobs involved so many duties, but you all know this. While checking a write-up in The Centre, I had to laugh at a few lines where the President said in his report that after every meeting it takes him two weeks to recover because the committee works so assiduously that each item on the agenda is discussed and dissected at least fifteen times before a decision is made.
By the mid 60’s the rooms of the old mansion were not safe for holding classes. Discussions began about building a new classroom block. The Claims Conference made an endowment to the centre for the express purpose of building a memorial to the victims of the Shoah. Together with donations from Mr A. Isman the Beth Zion Talmud Torah foundation stone was set in February 1966.
The synagogue had been designed with a wide aisle separating the seating for men, on the left, from the seating for women, on the right. But this design did not satisfy the standards of orthodox Rabbis. In order to attract Rabbi Z. Tapoohi our little shule in the west had to erect a formal mechitza. For brides, this made walking down the aisle like a crab walk.
Two Rabbis conducted services in the 70’s. They were Rabbi Mordechai Gutnik, inducted on August 31st 1975 and Rabbi Moshe Gutnik, who was inducted on 28th November 1982 and served until 1987.
During many of these years Aaron Shaw was President. Aaron was another wonderful character who had been the right-hand man of every rabbi since way back in the 60’s. Aaron had a thick Polish accent and handled every aliyah with aplomb. His style was to announce loudly the name of each man to come to the bima. I was never sure whether he was speaking Yiddish or Hebrew when he also announced the donation each man gave for his aliyah, but it was greeted with a chuckle and wide smiles. It was pure heartfelt love for Judaism and for his fellow congregants’ that inspired his theatre.
Mary Shaw, his wife, became President of the Ladies Auxiliary. Mary was a superb cook and her members catered for many functions as well as undertaking new work such as joining the Montefiore Home blue group.
It is important to note that Strathfield members were known for their generosity to all charities often donating way beyond the average for UIA, WIZO, JNF, Montefiore etc.
With the grant received from the Claims Conference earlier and donations, The Yolanda Kramer Kindergarten was opened in November 1974. It served the local community continuously until the building was sold. Many grandchildren of the founding fathers passed through the kindergarten on their way to prominent positions in the wider community, here and in Israel.
Rabbi Aryeh Leib Solomon served from 1987 until 1995. A sefer Torah was presented to the shule to celebrate his induction. However, the late 80’and early 90s were a sad period of community decline. Congregants were moving to the Eastern and Northern suburbs where there were Jewish Schools. Rabbi Solomon wrote in The Centre magazine: “I am very concerned about the Shabbat minyanim. I believe no one wants to see the demise of the Synagogue, G’d forbid. Please gentlemen come to at least one service over shabbat?”
In 1995 Rabbi Solomon tendered his resignation with immediate effect. The board of Management accepted it with regret saying “Rabbi Solomon and his wife served with loyalty and devotion.”
Rabbi Tov Lev was employed from 1996 till 2010. For the final few years there were no minyanim, nor were there Sunday School or after-school classes. The kindergarten continued to flourish but there were no Jewish children in the classes. Instead the neighbourhood children attended. The things that kept the president busy during that era were the paying of bills with money earned by the kindergarten and any matters relating to the kindergarten.
I have been unable to mention the names of all our presidents, for five minutes pass quickly. All gave their time and effort with honour and commitment. Our last President deserves a special mention as does his secretary Murray Selig. Eddy Neumann has served our board for well over twenty years. He had the unpleasant duty of closing the doors of the shule and terminating the employment and tenancy of the rabbi who had had no congregation for three years.
The final service in our shule was held two years later. The shule was opened specially for the Barmitzvah of Ethan Moses, who was the grandson of a past president, Dr Jack Moses. Dr Moses presented a sefer Torah to commemorate the barmitzvah. Ethan’s mother had been a bat-mitzvah in the same shule.
Rabbi Chaim Ingram officiated and gave a moving address to Ethan. He said “We are what we are today because of all our yesterdays”. These words must surely resonate for all those who were ever associated with Strathfield shule.
When the property went on sale, the agent’s listing consisted of the synagogue itself, the Isman Hall, the Yolanda Kramer Kindergarten and the minister’s residence. It sold for over five and a half million dollars in 2013. Legal wrangling continued until late 2023. Now at last our shule is no more and its funds have been distributed to other synagogues. The board of Strathfield and District Hebrew Congregation hopes to be able give each of these synagogues some physical mementoes to display to honour all the hard work and love that existed in our Centre.
Editor’s Comment: This website thanks Kehillat Kadima for hosting a kiddush in honour of Strathfield Synagogue. Its tomorrows are now supported by Strathfield’s yesterdays. It is hoped that Kadimah will display some of Strathfield’s memorabilia as an enduring expression of gratitude for the support it received.
JBOD Calls for Expressions of Interest
The above 'Call for Expressions of Interest' is accompanied by a condensed excerpt from the synagogue's Articles of Association, otherwise known as its constitution. The excerpt lays out SDHC's aims. Since applicants to share in the distribution of funds are required to demonstrate that they have similar aims and objectives, they are advised to consult the excerpt in framing their application. Click here to view the excerpt.
This website commends SDHC and JBOD on their very timely initiative.
This website commends SDHC and JBOD on their very timely initiative.
Rabbi’s Multiple Unfair Dismissal Claims Draw Fire
By-line: Adam Zuchetti, 24th July 2018
Quoted from the website of ‘My Business’: https://www.mybusiness.com.au/human-resources/4687-rabbi-s-multiple-unfair-dismissal-claims-draw-fire
A religious organisation has been forced to defend three separate unfair dismissal claims by the same former rabbi, prompting the Fair Work Commission to clarify its application procedures amid claims of bias against employers.
Strathfield & District Hebrew Congregation terminated the employment of Rabbi Samuel Tov-Lev on 1 July 2011, with the rabbi lodging an unfair dismissal claim three days later. However, the application was withdrawn two weeks later, prior to any conciliation taking place.
Then in November 2013, Rabbi Tov-Lev lodged a second claim with the Fair Work Commission (FWC), despite being outside of the 21-day time frame from when the dismissal takes effect in which applications must be lodged.
The synagogue lodged a formal objection to the application on those grounds, which was upheld, resulting in the rabbi’s claim being dismissed.
Despite having the right to appeal judgements by the FWC, no appeal was lodged. Yet in May this year, Rabbi Tov-Lev made a third unfair dismissal claim against the congregation.
Again, Strathfield & District Hebrew Congregation objected to the application on the grounds of it being outside of the commission’s time restrictions, as well as the fact that a previous determination on the matter had already been made.
And once again, the FWC sided with the congregation.
“Rabbi Tov-Lev made a previous application in relation to the same matter and it was dealt with to finality by the commission on 24 March. In these circumstances, it is not possible to see that any further application has any prospects of success,” the commissioner said.
_______________________
“There is no capacity under the Fair Work Act, having dismissed an application, for it to be rerun at some later time short of the commission setting aside the original order which dismissed the application. If it was possible that an unsuccessful application for relief from unfair dismissal could be rerun on the whim of a losing party for whatever reason it considered, there would be no stability or finality in the decision-making of the commission.”
At the centre of the claim were allegations that the congregation’s board was “illegal” and therefore they did not have the authority to terminate his employment.
Fair Work Commission Says Case ‘Unusual’
Responding to My Business’ request for comment, a spokesperson for the FWC said the case involving Rabbi Samuel Tov-Lev and Strathfield & District Hebrew Congregation was “quite unusual”.
Ultimately, the commission is governed to act under the conditions prescribed by the Fair Work Act – which, it appears, do side with workers in terms of the number of applications able to be made.
“The Fair Work Act does not limit the number of applications an individual can make to the Fair Work Commission, even if they have lodged previously. When an application is received, it is checked and processed. The commission does not have discretion under the act to determine whether it should accept an application or not,” the spokesperson said.
“[However,] the legislation doesn’t permit multiple applications being made at the same time in relation to the same conduct, such as lodging both an unfair dismissal application and a general protections application in relation to one dismissal.”
Strathfield & District Hebrew Congregation terminated the employment of Rabbi Samuel Tov-Lev on 1 July 2011, with the rabbi lodging an unfair dismissal claim three days later. However, the application was withdrawn two weeks later, prior to any conciliation taking place.
Then in November 2013, Rabbi Tov-Lev lodged a second claim with the Fair Work Commission (FWC), despite being outside of the 21-day time frame from when the dismissal takes effect in which applications must be lodged.
The synagogue lodged a formal objection to the application on those grounds, which was upheld, resulting in the rabbi’s claim being dismissed.
Despite having the right to appeal judgements by the FWC, no appeal was lodged. Yet in May this year, Rabbi Tov-Lev made a third unfair dismissal claim against the congregation.
Again, Strathfield & District Hebrew Congregation objected to the application on the grounds of it being outside of the commission’s time restrictions, as well as the fact that a previous determination on the matter had already been made.
And once again, the FWC sided with the congregation.
“Rabbi Tov-Lev made a previous application in relation to the same matter and it was dealt with to finality by the commission on 24 March. In these circumstances, it is not possible to see that any further application has any prospects of success,” the commissioner said.
_______________________
“There is no capacity under the Fair Work Act, having dismissed an application, for it to be rerun at some later time short of the commission setting aside the original order which dismissed the application. If it was possible that an unsuccessful application for relief from unfair dismissal could be rerun on the whim of a losing party for whatever reason it considered, there would be no stability or finality in the decision-making of the commission.”
At the centre of the claim were allegations that the congregation’s board was “illegal” and therefore they did not have the authority to terminate his employment.
Fair Work Commission Says Case ‘Unusual’
Responding to My Business’ request for comment, a spokesperson for the FWC said the case involving Rabbi Samuel Tov-Lev and Strathfield & District Hebrew Congregation was “quite unusual”.
Ultimately, the commission is governed to act under the conditions prescribed by the Fair Work Act – which, it appears, do side with workers in terms of the number of applications able to be made.
“The Fair Work Act does not limit the number of applications an individual can make to the Fair Work Commission, even if they have lodged previously. When an application is received, it is checked and processed. The commission does not have discretion under the act to determine whether it should accept an application or not,” the spokesperson said.
“[However,] the legislation doesn’t permit multiple applications being made at the same time in relation to the same conduct, such as lodging both an unfair dismissal application and a general protections application in relation to one dismissal.”
Editorial
Dateline: 15th January, 2018
You probably wouldn’t be reading this editorial if you didn’t feel strongly about Strathfield Synagogue. You might also be one of the 33 different people who visited this site in the week preceding the shule’s last annual general meeting, viewing 78 pages between them. If you missed that meeting, this is your opportunity to receive an update on the state of the community’s affairs.
It is now almost three years since the property of the Strathfield and District Hebrew Congregation was sold. The reported sale price of $5.6 million constitutes the capital built up by the combined efforts of the community’s membership over a period of some seventy years.
Many of those members are no longer alive and many others, though still living in Sydney, have allowed their formal association with the congregation to lapse. Nevertheless, the congregation continues to exist as a legal entity and its assets continue to be the responsibility of the Board of Management. This responsibility obliges the Board to dispose of the assets in accordance with the community’s original aims, as defined in its constitution, otherwise known as the Articles of Association.
However, the Board has avoided determining objective criteria for disposition of the assets. This has been due to an ongoing attempt to recoup expenses arising out of earlier litigation. The ultimate success or failure of that legal action does not obviate the need to reach a consensus on allocation of the assets. A proposal for establishing the required criteria may be read on this website, by clicking here.
In view of the situation outlined above, one would expect the Board of Management to seek assistance from those former members of the community who see themselves as the spiritual heirs of the founding fathers and as allies in its struggle to extricate itself from the situation in which it is now enmeshed. It might do so by inviting former members to renew their membership, by notifying them of its Annual General Meeting and by circulating AGM minutes to all members.
We therefore call on all former members to renew their membership by writing to the Secretary of the Strathfield and District Hebrew Congregation at P.O. Box 466, Strathfield, 2135 or to the Registered Office at 1/255 Castlereagh St, Sydney. After your membership application has been approved by the Board of Management, you will be entitled to receive an invitation to the next AGM. At a subsequent AGM you will also have an opportunity to vote your conscience on the crucial issues outlined above.
Whether you agree or disagree with our standpoint, the information contained in this editorial can be confirmed in a conversation with any of the members of the Board, and it must surely be cause for concern. The present state of gridlock cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely.
Responses and/or Letters to the Editor are always welcome and should be forwarded to: [email protected] .
Dateline: 15th January, 2018
You probably wouldn’t be reading this editorial if you didn’t feel strongly about Strathfield Synagogue. You might also be one of the 33 different people who visited this site in the week preceding the shule’s last annual general meeting, viewing 78 pages between them. If you missed that meeting, this is your opportunity to receive an update on the state of the community’s affairs.
It is now almost three years since the property of the Strathfield and District Hebrew Congregation was sold. The reported sale price of $5.6 million constitutes the capital built up by the combined efforts of the community’s membership over a period of some seventy years.
Many of those members are no longer alive and many others, though still living in Sydney, have allowed their formal association with the congregation to lapse. Nevertheless, the congregation continues to exist as a legal entity and its assets continue to be the responsibility of the Board of Management. This responsibility obliges the Board to dispose of the assets in accordance with the community’s original aims, as defined in its constitution, otherwise known as the Articles of Association.
However, the Board has avoided determining objective criteria for disposition of the assets. This has been due to an ongoing attempt to recoup expenses arising out of earlier litigation. The ultimate success or failure of that legal action does not obviate the need to reach a consensus on allocation of the assets. A proposal for establishing the required criteria may be read on this website, by clicking here.
In view of the situation outlined above, one would expect the Board of Management to seek assistance from those former members of the community who see themselves as the spiritual heirs of the founding fathers and as allies in its struggle to extricate itself from the situation in which it is now enmeshed. It might do so by inviting former members to renew their membership, by notifying them of its Annual General Meeting and by circulating AGM minutes to all members.
We therefore call on all former members to renew their membership by writing to the Secretary of the Strathfield and District Hebrew Congregation at P.O. Box 466, Strathfield, 2135 or to the Registered Office at 1/255 Castlereagh St, Sydney. After your membership application has been approved by the Board of Management, you will be entitled to receive an invitation to the next AGM. At a subsequent AGM you will also have an opportunity to vote your conscience on the crucial issues outlined above.
Whether you agree or disagree with our standpoint, the information contained in this editorial can be confirmed in a conversation with any of the members of the Board, and it must surely be cause for concern. The present state of gridlock cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely.
Responses and/or Letters to the Editor are always welcome and should be forwarded to: [email protected] .
News
Dateline: 22nd April, 2016
Additional archival materials originating in the Minister’s office were recently turned over to the president. These materials have now been arranged, grouped and catalogued. In due course they will be transferred to the Archives of the State Library of NSW to be preserved there in perpetuity. A highlight of these records is the president’s annual reports to the AGM for the years 1951-55. Click here to read them now.
Dateline: 22nd April, 2016
Additional archival materials originating in the Minister’s office were recently turned over to the president. These materials have now been arranged, grouped and catalogued. In due course they will be transferred to the Archives of the State Library of NSW to be preserved there in perpetuity. A highlight of these records is the president’s annual reports to the AGM for the years 1951-55. Click here to read them now.
Editorial: Preserving the Community’s Heritage
Dateline: 1st August, 2015
What verb would we use if someone had removed a record of official decisions from the office of a public organisation and taken it into his or her private possession? Would ‘purloin’ apply? Or maybe ‘misappropriate’ would be more apt. And if two people were complicit in the deed, would that be ‘collusion’ or merely ‘factional politics’? Certainly, we would not condone it.
Fortunately, these questions are hypothetical because a substantial number of the synagogue’s files have already been deposited in the Archives of the State Library of NSW. But when the State Library makes those records accessible to the public, it will quickly become apparent that there is still no documentation relating to the community’s earliest years. It is to be hoped that such records will yet come to light.
This website therefore calls on all members and former members to co-operate in preserving the community’s heritage. Anyone who may be holding papers that have administrative, legal or historical significance would be obeying a moral imperative by turning them over to the president of the community. The information they contain is the intellectual property of the community at large, and must be accessible to all its members. Ultimately, the papers themselves should take their place amongst the other minute books, files, documents and photos already held by the Archives.
Fortunately, these questions are hypothetical because a substantial number of the synagogue’s files have already been deposited in the Archives of the State Library of NSW. But when the State Library makes those records accessible to the public, it will quickly become apparent that there is still no documentation relating to the community’s earliest years. It is to be hoped that such records will yet come to light.
This website therefore calls on all members and former members to co-operate in preserving the community’s heritage. Anyone who may be holding papers that have administrative, legal or historical significance would be obeying a moral imperative by turning them over to the president of the community. The information they contain is the intellectual property of the community at large, and must be accessible to all its members. Ultimately, the papers themselves should take their place amongst the other minute books, files, documents and photos already held by the Archives.
Synagogue’s Documents Preserved for Posterity
Dateline: 12th July, 2015
Although the synagogue has been sold, its story has not been lost. The records of the community have now been deposited in the Archives of the State Library of N.S.W. and will be retained there as testimony to the community’s aspirations and activities. Members of the public will ultimately be able to access these records for purposes of research.
Dateline: 12th July, 2015
Although the synagogue has been sold, its story has not been lost. The records of the community have now been deposited in the Archives of the State Library of N.S.W. and will be retained there as testimony to the community’s aspirations and activities. Members of the public will ultimately be able to access these records for purposes of research.
J-wire, 18th February, 2015 $5.6 million available for community organisations
Australian Jewish News, 12th February, 2015, Strathfield Synagogue sold
Australian Jewish News, 26th October, 2014, A Sad Farewell to Strathfield Shul, Opinion Piece by Josie Lacey [Click on the jpg to enlarge it.]
Sydney Jewish Report, March 2014, Preserving the Ethos of a Community, page 7.
Australian Jewish News, 27th December, 2013, JBOD Backs Shul Sale