Melbourne Hebrew Congregation
Encyclopedia
The Melbourne Hebrew Congregation (Hebrew: ק"ק שארית ישראל), or Toorak Shule, is the oldest Jewish congregation in Melbourne, Australia
. Formed in 1841, the congregation was originally located on Bourke Street before moving to Toorak Road, South Yarra in 1930.
. After a number of disputes, however, Rev Rintel left the congregation in 1857 and formed the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation
. He was replaced by Rev EM Myers, who was followed by Rev WI Marks and Rev AF Ornstein.
The 1850s saw the arrival of some 300 Jewish families from London
and the Province of Posen
, Prussia
to Melbourne, prompting the construction of a new larger synagogue on the Bourke Street site. Benefactor David Benjamin laid the foundation stone of the 650-seat building in March, 1855. The synagogue was re-consecrated in 1877, at which time Rabbi Dr Dattner Jacobson was appointed rabbi. In 1883 he was succeeded by Rabbi Dr. Joseph Abrahams, who went on to serve the congregation for some forty years. Notable members during this period included Sir Benjamin Benjamin
, the Hon Edward Cohen
, and Ephraim Zox
. In 1891 the congregation celebrated the marriage of John and Hannah Victoria Monash
.
In 1923 Rabbi Abrahams was succeeded by Rabbi Israel Brodie
, who later became chief rabbi of the British Commonwealth. In 1930 the congregation moved to Toorak Road, South Yarra, where the current 1300-seat synagogue building stands. In October 1932 the congregation celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of Zelman Cowan, who later became Governor-General of Australia
. In April 1937 Rabbi Brodie returned to England, and in August 1938 Rabbi Dr Harry Freedman succeeded him. Following World War II
the synagogue had a full membership for the first time in its history. In December 1947 Rabbi Hugo Stransky was appointed rabbi. In February the following year the congregation conducted the funeral service of Sir Isaac Isaacs
, the first Australian-born Governor-General. Rabbi Dr Izaak Rapaport was appointed rabbi in September, 1952.
The congregation today enjoys a large and diverse membership.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Formed in 1841, the congregation was originally located on Bourke Street before moving to Toorak Road, South Yarra in 1930.
History
The first Jews in Melbourne arrived around the time of the city's founding in 1835. Jewish High Holiday services were first held in 1839, and in 1841 the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation was formed. The congregation's first synagogue building, located at 472 Bourke Street, was erected in 1847, with a seating capacity of 100. Reverend Moses Rintel arrived to serve as the congregation's rabbiRabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. After a number of disputes, however, Rev Rintel left the congregation in 1857 and formed the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation
East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation
The East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation , also known as East Melbourne Shule, East Melbourne Synagogue, Melbourne City Synagogue or City of Melbourne Synagogue is a historically significant Jewish congregation in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
. He was replaced by Rev EM Myers, who was followed by Rev WI Marks and Rev AF Ornstein.
The 1850s saw the arrival of some 300 Jewish families from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the Province of Posen
Province of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
to Melbourne, prompting the construction of a new larger synagogue on the Bourke Street site. Benefactor David Benjamin laid the foundation stone of the 650-seat building in March, 1855. The synagogue was re-consecrated in 1877, at which time Rabbi Dr Dattner Jacobson was appointed rabbi. In 1883 he was succeeded by Rabbi Dr. Joseph Abrahams, who went on to serve the congregation for some forty years. Notable members during this period included Sir Benjamin Benjamin
Benjamin Benjamin
Sir Benjamin Benjamin JP was an Australian businessman and politician.-Early life and education:Benjamin was born in London on 2 September 1834 to Moses Benjamin and Catherine Benjamin, née Moses. His family left for Australia in 1843 on a boat named London...
, the Hon Edward Cohen
Edward Cohen
Edward Cohen was an Australian merchant and a Victoria State politician. He served as Mayor of Melbourne from 1862 to 1863.-Early life:...
, and Ephraim Zox
Ephraim Zox
Ephraim Laman Zox was an Australian financier and politician.Zox was born in Liverpool, England, son of Eliazer Laman Zox , proprietor of a large cap-making business. He arrived in Melbourne in December 1852 and worked as an assistant to his cousin Lewis Myer Myers in a softgoods firm...
. In 1891 the congregation celebrated the marriage of John and Hannah Victoria Monash
John Monash
General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD was a civil engineer who became the Australian military commander in the First World War. He commanded the 13th Infantry Brigade before the War and then became commander of the 4th Brigade in Egypt shortly after the outbreak of the War with whom he took part...
.
In 1923 Rabbi Abrahams was succeeded by Rabbi Israel Brodie
Israel Brodie
Sir Israel Brodie KBE was the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth 1948–1965.He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. He served as a Rabbi of Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in Australia from 1923-1937, was evacuated from Dunkirk, and finished the War as Senior Jewish Chaplain...
, who later became chief rabbi of the British Commonwealth. In 1930 the congregation moved to Toorak Road, South Yarra, where the current 1300-seat synagogue building stands. In October 1932 the congregation celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of Zelman Cowan, who later became Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
. In April 1937 Rabbi Brodie returned to England, and in August 1938 Rabbi Dr Harry Freedman succeeded him. Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the synagogue had a full membership for the first time in its history. In December 1947 Rabbi Hugo Stransky was appointed rabbi. In February the following year the congregation conducted the funeral service of Sir Isaac Isaacs
Isaac Isaacs
Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs GCB GCMG KC was an Australian judge and politician, was the third Chief Justice of Australia, ninth Governor-General of Australia and the first born in Australia to occupy that post. He is the only person ever to have held both positions of Chief Justice of Australia and...
, the first Australian-born Governor-General. Rabbi Dr Izaak Rapaport was appointed rabbi in September, 1952.
The congregation today enjoys a large and diverse membership.
See also
- List of synagogues in Australia and New Zealand
- Oldest synagogues in the worldOldest synagogues in the worldThe designation oldest synagogue in the world requires careful definition. Many very old synagogues have been discovered in archaeological digs. Some synagogues have been destroyed and rebuilt several times on the same site, so, while the site or congregation may be ancient, the building may be...
Sources
- The Enduring Remnant: The First 150 Years of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, 1841–1991, By Joseph Aron, Judy Arndt, Melbourne University Press, 1992 ISBN 0-522-84479-0, 978-0-522-84479-5