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Don’t forget to check our website at www.hobartsynagogue.org
13
Caroline Heard moved to Hobart from Sydney after the death of her husband in 1993. One day, as
she was driving down Hobart’s Argyle Street, a friend pointed out the shul. From the street she saw
its symmetrical, grand stone façade sloping backwards like a modern pyramid from behind a dark
iron fence. She passed between the tall carved pillars that stand before its two front doors like
bodyguards. As Heard wandered inside, she walked past polished pews and little wooden benches
originally used by convict Jews (who in the shul’s early days were granted permission by the
governor to pray).
She climbed the winding wooden staircase to the women’s mezzanine, from where she looked down
on the tiny synagogue’s interior – its antique lights dangling above a carpeted bimah and a plaque
on the wall dedicated to the memory of Judah Solomon, who, it read, had “handsomely contributed
towards the building.”
Shortly after, Heard was on the board. “It’s like a family that I don’t have anywhere else,” she said.
“There’s a wonderful sense of belonging here. The people are so welcoming and they’re really
more like an extended family.” Heard has now been the shul’s president for more than five years.
Her fellow congregants describe her as a blessing to the community. She compiles a regular
newsletter, is active with several national Jewish organisations and has delicately smoothed out the
congregation’s differences. She has lobbied the local Coles supermarket to stock kosher food and
although she is a Progressive herself, she often helps with Orthodox simchas.
The synagogue has only 32 financial members, she lamented. It can’t afford a rabbi and they rarely
have the numbers for an Orthodox minyan. But in spite of this, the entire congregation has
overcome its differences and is now experiencing a mini-renaissance in Jewish life.
There are many fascinating stories that surround the Hobart synagogue and its congregation. It is
the home of one of Australia’s oldest, most beautiful and unique Torah scrolls, which was donated to
the congregation in the 1950s by an Indian aristocrat, Lady Rachel Ezra of Calcutta. The scroll is
thought to have originated from Syria and is housed in an ornamental silver casing, artfully designed
in the Sephardi tradition.
With so many chapters in its history one wonders what the future holds for the Hobart Hebrew
Congregation.
(Editor’s Comment: It has not been possible to reprint the entire article, which was first printed in the
“Outlook” section of the Australian Jewish News of Friday 1 July 2005)
NCJW Update
On Sunday 26 June an Afternoon Tea with Guest Speaker was held at the home of Debbie & Russell
Garrick, who are always so generous in offering their home as venue to so many of our NCJW events
… thank you, Debbie & Russell! Dr Avner Misrachi (a member of the Hobart Hebrew Congregation)
was our Guest Speaker. Avner is involved, at a very high level, in Tasmania’s Public Health system
and we sat enthralled as he told us a lot about “Influenza” … and bird ‘flu, pandemics, State and
Federal preparedness for such events, etc. etc. It was all so interesting that we have asked Avner to
come back at another time for a “To be continued” talk !
On Sunday 21 August, again at the Garricks, Russell Garrick was our guest speaker. His topic?
Chocolate! Russell is in charge of Quality Assurance at Cadburys and this man sure knows his
chocolate… (what a great job!) For those who came along, there were quite a few samples !!!
On Sunday 23 October a spokeswoman from COTA (Council of the Ageing) spoke on "Seniors" :
Quality use of Medicines" - an important topic for us all.
Scheduled for November ... Saturday 26 Nov - Afternoon Tea with Guest
Speaker: Robyn Lenn OAM, President of NCJW Australia
Visitors from interstate are always welcome to our gatherings and if you would like to talk on your
favourite subject, even better – please contact Caroline Heard by email at (shule@hobart.org) for
further details
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