End of an era for long-serving rabbi
AFTER spending more than 20 years in the pulpit at Cremorne Synagogue, the shul’s much-loved Rabbi Shmuel Cohen (pictured) and his wife Rivka will return to Israel next year.
AFTER spending more than 20 years in the pulpit at Cremorne Synagogue, the shul’s much-loved Rabbi Shmuel Cohen (pictured) and his wife Rivka will return to Israel next year.
The synagogue has begun a search for a new rabbi to lead the community after Pesach 2012.
Synagogue president Harold Marshbaum said the congregation was “very, very sorry” to see the Cohens go. “I guess when we appointed him we never thought that the appointment would go on for 20 years. It must be some sort of record for a rabbi in Sydney.”
Marshbaum said the Cohens had made an extraordinary contribution to the shul. “Their warmth and their friendship and their openness for all the community, and the way they open their home to people – all the things which they do are above and beyond the normal duties of a rabbi,” he said. “He’s totally dedicated to the shul and really gives everything he can.”
He said Rabbi Cohen would be a very hard act to follow.
“We’re seeking to grow the community, we’re seeking to attract new, younger members into the community,” he said. “We’re looking for someone with a family because this is a very family-oriented shul and the rabbi and his family form an important part of the congregation.
“If we get people with the same level of enthusiasm and dedication, then we can only go forward from here,” Marshabum said.
Rabbi Cohen said he was looking forward to returning to Israel and settling in Jerusalem.
“My children [and] grandchildren are living in Israel,” the rabbi said. “As much as I wanted to dedicate my life to the congregation, to the community in Sydney and to Cremorne, I need to dedicate also some for the family.”
He said he would miss the family-oriented environment of Cremorne Synagogue. “We are surrounded by love.”
“I will be sad and will be always looking for news from the kehillah,” Rabbi Cohen said.
“We are one family – everybody showed us friendship and love.”
GARETH NARUNSKY
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