Great Synagogue (Sydney)
Encyclopedia
The Great Synagogue is a large synagogue in Sydney, Australia. It is located in Elizabeth Street
opposite Hyde Park
and extends back to Castlereagh Street
.
(who was not Jewish), and consecrated in 1878. It combines elements of Byzantine style and Gothic
characteristics.
This grand building is often described as the "cathedral synagogue" of Australia.
The Sydney Jewish community, which dated to the earliest days of the colony, met in rented spaces before building its first synagogue, designed by James Hume in 1844.
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 recent book edited by Rabbi Raymond Apple
The building is listed on the Register of the National Estate
.
Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Elizabeth Street is a street in Sydney, Australia.-Description and history:Elizabeth Street runs south from Hunter Street, past Hyde Park and David Jones, Central station and through the inner city suburbs of Surry Hills, Redfern, Waterloo and Zetland...
opposite Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Sydney
Hyde Park is a large park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Hyde Park is on the eastern side of the Sydney central business district. It is the southernmost of a chain of parkland that extends north to the shore of Port Jackson . It is approximately rectangular in shape, being squared at the...
and extends back to Castlereagh Street
Castlereagh Street, Sydney
Castlereagh Street is a major north-south street in the centre of the Central Business District of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia .-Description:...
.
Description and history
The Great Synagogue was designed by architect Thomas RoweThomas Rowe
Thomas Rowe , wasone of Australia's leading architects of the Victorian era.-Biography:Thomas Rowe was born in Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom, the eldest son of Richard Rowe and Ursula Mumford, and attended Barnes Academy. At 15 he became a draftsman in his father's building business before the...
(who was not Jewish), and consecrated in 1878. It combines elements of Byzantine style and Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
characteristics.
This grand building is often described as the "cathedral synagogue" of Australia.
The Sydney Jewish community, which dated to the earliest days of the colony, met in rented spaces before building its first synagogue, designed by James Hume in 1844.
The present synagogue has the traditional feature of an elevated ladies' gallery. When first erected, the bimah
Bimah
A bimah A bimah A bimah (among Ashkenazim, derived from Hebrew בּמה , almemar (from Arabic al-minbar) or tebah (among Sephardim) is the elevated area or platform in a Jewish synagogue which is intended to serve the place where the person reading aloud from the Torah stands during the Torah reading...
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
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
" elevator.
A useful overview of the synagogue's history is provided by the recent book edited by Rabbi Raymond Apple
Raymond Apple (rabbi)
Rabbi Raymond Apple was the Senior Rabbi of the Great Synagogue of Sydney between 1972 and 2005. In this role, he was one of Australia's highest profile rabbis and the leading spokesman for Judaism in Australia....
The building is listed on the Register of the National Estate
Register of the National Estate
The Register of the National Estate is a listing of natural and cultural heritage places in Australia. The listing was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission. The register is now maintained by the Australian Heritage Council...
.