Central Synagogue (Sydney) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Synagogue |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Modern Orthodox Judaism |
| Leadership | Rabbi Levi Wolff |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Bondi Junction Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
 Location in Sydney
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Synagogue |
| Completed |
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| Capacity | 2,000 |
The Central Synagogue is a large Jewish place of worship, called a synagogue, in Bondi Junction, Sydney, Australia. It is the biggest synagogue in the Southern Hemisphere. It also has the largest Jewish community in Australia and New Zealand.
You can find the synagogue on Bon Accord Avenue, stretching back to Kenilworth Street. The building you see today was built in 1960. Before that, the synagogue was in other places like Paddington and Bondi. In 1994, a big fire caused by an electrical problem sadly burned it down. The synagogue was rebuilt and opened again in 1998. Hineni is a special youth group for Jewish teens that is part of the Central Synagogue.
Exploring the Synagogue Building
The main part of the synagogue is a large, open space with two levels. It has a special opening in the ceiling, called an oculus. This lets in lots of natural light.
Right in the middle of the first floor, under the oculus, are the bimah and the aron kodesh. These are important parts of a synagogue. They are placed so they face directly towards Jerusalem. The aron kodesh is decorated with special stones from Jerusalem. These stones are also used in other parts of the synagogue.
There are four big windows in the synagogue. They were designed by an Australian artist named Janet Laurence. Each window has forty-nine layers of glass. These windows represent four different spiritual worlds in Kabbalah, which is a part of Jewish mysticism. The number forty-nine is important in Judaism, showing a high level of spirituality. The colours in the windows also have special meanings related to Jewish teachings.
The synagogue complex is very large and has many other rooms and halls, including:
- The Julius & Erna Platus Hall: This is the grand entrance to the synagogue, with glass doors and a glass roof.
- The Lowy Beit Midrash: This room is used for studying and has its own aron kodesh.
- The Triguboff Family Foyer: A welcoming area for visitors.
- The John Saunders Hall: This is the biggest hall. It has a high ceiling, its own entrance area, and a dance floor.
History of Central Synagogue
The Central Synagogue started as the Surry Hills congregation in 1912. Its goal was to bring Eastern European Jewish traditions to Sydney. It also aimed to help people stay connected to their Jewish faith.
Later, in 1918, another group called the Bondi-Waverley congregation was formed. In March 1921, these two groups joined together. They became the Eastern Suburbs Central Synagogue in Bondi Junction.
One main reason for creating the Central Synagogue was to have more space for people to worship in the Eastern Suburbs. It also aimed to offer a less "English" style of worship compared to the Great Synagogue. The first stone of the synagogue was laid by Dr J. H. Hertz, who was the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire at the time.
See also
In Spanish: Sinagoga Central de Sídney para niños
