The Adealaide Hebrew Congregation is a Modern Orthodox synagogue and congregation in Adelaide, in South Australia. The congregation was first established in 1848, and the synagogue was completed in 1850. A larger synagogue building was constructed in 1870 in the CBD. In 1990, the congregation relocated to a new purpose-built synagogue in Glenside, where it shared a campus with the Jewish Day School, Massada College.[1][2] The school closed in 2011 and the synagogue has recently returned to a new location on Grote Street in the CBD.[3][1]
| Adelaide Hebrew Congregation | |
|---|---|
 Adelaide Hebrew Congregation on Grote Street, during renovations, 2024 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Modern Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite | Nusach Ashkenaz |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Grote Street, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Wright, Edward Woods and Edward Hamilton (second building) Christopher Arthur Smith (second synagogue remodelling) |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | Egyptian Revival (first synagogue) Italian Renaissance (second synagogue) Art Deco (second synagogue remodelling) |
| Completed | 1850 (first synagogue) 1870 (second synagogue) 1990 (Glenside) |
| Website | |
| adelaidehebrew | |
History
editEmanuel Solomon and John Lazar were among the founders of the congregation.[4][5] The congregation's first building, completed in 1850, was built in the Egyptian Revival style.[6] Judah Moss Solomon, Mayor of Adelaide, was the congregation's first president.[7] Subsequent presidents included Adelaide mayor, Lewis Cohen.[8] As the congregation expanded, a larger building, built in the Italian Renaissance style, was built adjacent to the original synagogue in 1870.[9] Abraham Tobias Boas arrived the same year and served as the congregation's first rabbi.[9] The synagogue was remodelled by architect Christopher Arthur Smith in 1938, and given an Art Deco cement facade.[9]
In 1988, the congregation's president, Arnold Erlanger announced plans for the congregation to relocate from Rundle Street in the CBD: "...the present synagogue can no longer meet the needs of our dynamic and expanding community. The building is old and in desperate need of repair. Erlanger also said that a new site should include Massada College.[10][11] The congregation purchased 1.2 hectares of land adjacent to the Glenside Hospital from the Government of South Australia for $1.1 million and with an estimated cost of $3.2 million for the project.[11] The new synagogue was designed to accommodate 400 worshippers, more than the 275 of the Rundle Street location.[11] An increasing Jewish population driven by Jewish emigration from South Africa and the Soviet Union were also factors in the decision.[11] In 1990, the synagogue was daubed with anti-semitic graffiti following the arrest of Ivan Polyukhovich in Adelaide.[12] The new campus, encompassing the AHC and Massada College was officially opened by Bill Hayden, governor-general of Australia on 22 July 1990. The campus which came to a total cost of $5 million was named the Nathan and Miriam Solomon Centre after the parents of the main benefactor, Myer Solomon.[13] An office was also opened on site to handle work for United Israel Appeal, Women's International Zionist Organization and State Zionist Council and Habonim Dror.[14][15]
In 2023, it was announced that the Congregation had purchased a new home on Grote Street, in Adelaide's CBD.[1] This came after failed efforts to colocate with the city's Progressive Jewish synagogue, Beit Shalom.[1] The decision to leave Glenside was made as that building was designed to meet the needs of a larger congregation at the time.[1] The property the congregation purchased was built in 1915 as a Seventh-day Adventist Mission Hall and subsequently housed the Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Employees' Union of Australia and then a performing arts venue.[16]
Gallery
edit-
Adelaide Hebrew Congregation off Rundle Street, north side in Synagogue Place, 1871 -
Adelaide Hebrew Congregation, Synagogue Place, 1938, shortly before remodelling -
Adelaide Hebrew Congregation, Synagogue Place, 1940 -
Adelaide Hebrew Congregation from 1870 to 1990, Synagogue Place, off Rundle Street, 2024 -
Adelaide Hebrew Congregation from 1870 to 1990, Synagogue Place, off Rundle Street, 2024
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Synagogue returning to CBD The Australian Jewish News. 19 July 2023
- ^ Adelaide Hebrew Congregation Adelaide Hebrew Congregation. Retrieved on 16 December 2024
- ^ South Australia’s only Jewish school to close The Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 4 July 2011
- ^ THE LATE MR. JOHN LAZAR. West Coast Times, Issue 3184, 11 June 1879. Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Richards, Eric (1976). "Solomon, Emanuel (1800–1873)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- ^ Humbert, Jean-Marcel and Price, Clifford, eds., Imhotep Today: Egyptianizing Architecture, UCL Prewss, 2003, pp. 167 ff.
- ^ History Archived 10 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Adelaide Hebrew Congregation. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ "Death of Sir Lewis Cohen". The Advertiser. 26 June 1933. p. 15. Retrieved 30 August 2012 – via Trove.
- ^ a b c Synagogues fronting Rundle Street, Adelaide city, set in stone the remarkable influence of tiny Jewish community Adelaide AZ. Retrieved on 17 December 2024
- ^ New location for synagogue in Adelaide? The Australian Jewish Times. 25 March 1988
- ^ a b c d Adelaide Shule to relocate The Australian Jewish News. 3 June 1988
- ^ Adelaide hit wit graffiti The Australian Jewish Times. 9 March 1990
- ^ Hayden to open Adelaide synagogue The Australian Jewish News. 22 June 1990
- ^ Adelaide opening The Australian Jewish News. 20 July 1990
- ^ New Adelaide shule complex opened by Governor-General The Australian Jewish News. 27 July 1990
- ^ Union Hall: a new performing arts venue with a rich history INDAILY. 17 December 2018