Shule renovation ready by Rosh
EXCITEMENT is building in the Yeshiva School community as the finishing touches are applied to a new synagogue in the adjacent Harry Triguboff Centre at Flood Street in Bondi, which opened just in time for Rosh Hashanah.
EXCITEMENT is building in the Yeshiva School community as the finishing touches are applied to a new synagogue in the adjacent Harry Triguboff Centre at Flood Street in Bondi, which opened just in time for Rosh Hashanah.
A total renovation and refit worth more than $1 million has transformed the shule into a light-filled, spacious and air-conditioned modern space, which will have seating for 160 worshippers across three bays.
Porcelain Terrazo square tiles, a beautiful arc resembling Jerusalem stone, large loft style windows and an arched ceiling and foyer completes the picture.
Yeshiva and Our Big Kitchen (OBK) CEO Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin said the timing of the rejuvenated shule’s re-opening for Jewish New Year is “heaven sent”, and he thanked Triguboff for his generosity in funding it all.
“This is really Harry’s gift to the Jewish community. He has overseen the construction and made it happen,” Rabbi Slavin said. “This will be a Rosh Hashanah to remember.
“It is a total redo – we stripped the old shule to its bones and started from scratch – and I couldn’t be happier with the design.
“It has a bright and welcoming feel, and we hope it will be a hive of activity and community participation.
“This new facility, located next to a large new function room, the [Yeshiva] school and Our Big Kitchen, will be an integral part for our organisation in delivering outcomes for the community – a one-stop shop for prayer, learning, charity and communal involvement.”
Rabbi Slavin added that members of the Nefesh community are especially welcome to attend services at the new shule in coming months, as construction work continues on Nefesh’s building upgrade and new community centre in Bondi Beach.
“We’ve invited Nefesh members to join us for Rosh Hashanah and beyond, because we believe congregations should be there for each other.”
The new synagogue is yet to be named.
Meanwhile at OBK, volunteers from all walks of life – from school children to senior citizens and corporate groups – have participated in baking and packing sessions almost every day since early August to produce Rosh Hashanah cookie packs for distribution to local charities, hospitals, aged care centres, homeless and women’s shelters, and people in need. As of last week, the total number of cookies baked reached an incredible 22,000.
SHANE DESIATNIK
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