Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick
Rabbi Mordechai and Sara Gutnick write:
Our tenure commenced in time for Rosh Hashana 1975 and continued to mid-1982. Back in those days the kehillah (community) consisted mostly of young families – many of whom were professionals servicing the Western Suburbs of Sydney. … We had a kindergarten, a thriving Sunday School for the children of the area and of course an active Synagogue with all the expected services and committees required to successfully run it. … It really was quite inspiring to see the enthusiasm of the members. For example, when we started a regular week-day minyan on Sunday, Monday and Thursday mornings we always had volunteers ensuring the required quorum of ten. There was even a neighbour across the street on Florence St who allowed us to tap on his bedroom window early in the morning if we were short of a minyan.
|
Strathfield was our first congregation. Till today we appreciate the good humour and tolerance that enabled us to gain experience in our role as Rabbi and Rebetzin. Personally we developed and learnt much at Strathfield that helped us in the years to follow in the congregations we later served.
We were saddened when we heard of the closing of the Shule. Already towards the end of our tenure the lure of the Eastern Suburbs began to take its toll – particularly as parents wanted to send their growing children to the Jewish Day Schools in the East.
It would be great if former members were to record some of the stories and anecdotes of those years or earlier or later years. They would add to the historical record of a warm and active community on the outskirts of the main Jewish population centres. A community that reflected the resilience of Jewish people and families to always maintain their Jewish identity.
We were saddened when we heard of the closing of the Shule. Already towards the end of our tenure the lure of the Eastern Suburbs began to take its toll – particularly as parents wanted to send their growing children to the Jewish Day Schools in the East.
It would be great if former members were to record some of the stories and anecdotes of those years or earlier or later years. They would add to the historical record of a warm and active community on the outskirts of the main Jewish population centres. A community that reflected the resilience of Jewish people and families to always maintain their Jewish identity.