Dunedin Synagogue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunedin Synagogue |
|
|---|---|
The first synagogue building from 1863, located on Moray Place.
|
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | North Dunedin, South Island |
| Country | New Zealand |
 Location in South Island
|
|
| Administration | Dunedin Jewish Congregation |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) |
|
| Architectural type | Synagogue architecture |
| Date established | 1862 (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
|
The Dunedin Synagogue is a special place of worship for the Jewish community in Dunedin, New Zealand. A place like this is called a synagogue, and the group of people who worship there is called a congregation.
This synagogue is famous for being the southernmost permanent synagogue in the entire world! Over the years, the Dunedin Jewish Congregation has had three different buildings. The name "Dunedin Synagogue" can mean any of these three buildings or the congregation itself.
Contents
History of the Synagogues
The Jewish community in Dunedin has a long history, and they have built three different synagogues over time as their needs changed.
The First Synagogue on Moray Place (1863)
Dunedin's first Jewish congregation started meeting in January 1862. At first, they gathered in a member's home, but with 43 members, they soon needed a bigger space.
They built their first synagogue on a street called Moray Place. It was designed by an architect named W. H. Sumner and opened in September 1863. This building served the community for almost 20 years. As more people joined, it became too small.
The congregation sold the building to the Freemasons, who used it as their meeting hall until 1992. Since then, it has been a private home and was even an art gallery for a while. This original building is the southernmost place a synagogue has ever been located.
The Second Synagogue on Moray Place (1881)
By 1875, the congregation was already planning for a much larger synagogue. The community had grown so much that their new building was planned to be one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere.
The new synagogue opened in 1881, almost directly across the street from the first one. It was designed by Louis Boldini and had a grand entrance with large columns. This impressive building could hold 600 people.
This building was the city's main synagogue until 1965. By then, the congregation was smaller, so they decided to move to a new, more modern building. The large 1881 synagogue was sold and later torn down to build a new facility for the Y.M.C.A. Today, a parking garage stands where this grand synagogue once was.
The Third Synagogue in Dunedin North (1965)
The community's third and current synagogue was built in 1965 in the Dunedin North area, near the University of Otago. This building is smaller and more modern than the ones that came before it.
It was designed by John Goldwater, a Jewish architect from New Zealand. The building is made of concrete blocks and has a simple, compact design. Just like the buildings before it, this synagogue holds the title of the world's southernmost permanent synagogue.
The Congregation Today
The Dunedin Jewish Congregation follows Progressive Judaism, a modern branch of the Jewish faith. They are part of a larger group called the Union for Progressive Judaism. The community holds services about once a month on Fridays and for most major Jewish holidays.
See also
In Spanish: Sinagoga Dunedin para niños
