History made in Parliament
THE first Torah to be inaugurated in Australia's Federal Parliament had its final letters inscribed in a landmark event last week.
THE first Torah to be inaugurated in Australia’s Federal Parliament had its final letters inscribed in a landmark event last week.
Five Jewish serving members of Parliament – Josh Frydenberg, Mark Dreyfus, Michael Danby, Julian Leeser and Mike Freelander – looked on as the last word of the Torah, “Yisrael – the Jewish people”, was inscribed.
“It was an honour to witness the completion of the Torah and it was great to do it with my parliamentary colleagues,” Frydenberg told The AJN.
In his address at the ceremony, Energy Minister Frydenberg stressed the importance of adhering to the timeless values espoused in the Torah.
“Ever since handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai, [The Torah] has been the basis of our religious and moral obligations as well as our civil laws,” he commented, adding that the record number of Jewish parliamentarians currently serving in Canberra is a testament to Australia’s welcoming embrace of the Jewish community.
The sentiment was echoed by Danby, the Member for Melbourne Ports, who noted that “all those present were witness to a proud declaration of what a great country Australia is with a first Torah scroll completion in Parliament House”.
After the scribe Rabbi Eli Gutnick completed the final letters of the Torah, Chabad ACT’s Rabbi Shmueli Feldman, who organised the event, Rabbi Motti Feldman of Dover Heights Shule and Levi Berger sung the Shehecheyanu blessing accompanied by Menachem Feldman’s band.
The newly completed Torah – dedicated to Australia’s enduring friendship to the Jewish people – was raised by Michael Kiel from Jerusalem before the Etz Chaim song was performed and the Torah was moved to its new home at the Chabad ACT’s synagogue.
Following years of using Torahs loaned to the congregation, this is the first scroll Chabad ACT has owned in its own right.
Following the ceremony, Rabbi Feldman told The AJN, “Hundreds have commented directly and via social media how emotional this event of Jewish pride has made them feel. I have had some feedback as well from Jews that have had little affiliation for years and now wish to strengthen their Jewish identity as a result of seeing it. This in itself has made all the efforts worthwhile.”
The purchase of the Torah by Chabad ACT’s Canberra Synagogue was made possible by principal sponsors Dr Alena Rada and Jacob Reich and partners from around Australia who purchased letters in a crowdfunding campaign.
SOPHIE DEUTSCH
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