Posted: 20 August 2019
The Hobart Synagogue is pleased to share the High Holy Days service schedule for 2019.
Everyone wishing to attend is welcome.
As it’s the first year using the new Mishkan T’Shuvah prayer book, the length of services are approximate only and may vary.
Geoff Garber from Melbourne’s King David School will be rejoining us this year to help ensure a sacred, solemn, and moving occasion.
Please visit Chabad of Tasmania for information.
Posted: 15 August 2019
For two years now, those that have been coming to the Progressive High Holy Day services in Hobart have been promised a new machzor (High Holy Day prayer book) for the following year. Some may have thought it was some kind of lay-leader hoax or practical joke seeing as the promise didn’t seem to come to fruition. However, it has finally happened!
The new Machzorim are easy to follow and full of thoughtful material appropriate to each part of the service. They match the Mishkan T’Fillah prayer book in that they have transliterated Hebrew and lots of alternative readings on every second page. This has made planning our services a little more complicated than usual but hopefully the services will have a lot more to offer.
The Rabbis who edited the new Machzorim have shared an introduction of the new prayer books.
–Kathy, Progressive Services Coordinator
Posted: 10 August 2019
This a survey for the Australian Jewish community. See information and link below.
Plus61j, in conjunction with Shalom NSW and assisted by the Australian Centre of Jewish Civilization at Monash University, want to further explore the attitudes and values of the Australian Jewish Community.
The purpose of JewishViews19
The purpose is to allow the community to reflect on our collective values, to gain insights into the issues that are of common concern to us all and to compare our Jewish community values to those of the broader Australian community. This project seeks to follow on from the highly successful Gen17 survey.
The process involves filling in an online survey that will take approximately 10 minutes. The survey link can be found here:
https://bit.ly/2xko9bP
Posted: 10 July 2019
The Shavuot soup initiative is ran by Mitzvah Day Australia with the aim of making soup all over Australia for those in need during the winter months. We participated by making soup for Loui’s Van, which delivers food to different communities in the Hobart area.
On Sunday 26 May, an enthusiastic team gathered at Sean and Sarah’s house to cook up big pots of soups. The kitchen quickly became warm and steamy with soup boiling away and much chat and noise from the cooks swapping stories and recipes as they chopped. It was a great way to do something together as a congregation but more importantly to give to others from our fortunate position of relative affluence and abundance.
Thank you Sean and Sarah for hosting and all those who came to chop and chat and stir, and others who brought soup. The soup was delivered the next day to the delighted kitchen manager at Loui’s van, who thanked us all warmly.
–Louise
Posted: 17 June 2019
ABC Radio Hobart visited the synagogue and interviewed our acting president and long time member David Clark.
Each twelve minute segment has many fascinating historic details about our synagogue.
Posted: 16 June 2019
The new Dan Murphy’s in New Town has Kosher Sacramental wine!
Dan Murphy’s (191 New Town Rd, New Town) is located across from the Kmart shopping centre on the corner of New Town and Risdon Road.
You may want to ring to confirm the Sacramental wine is in stock before making a trip, 1300 72 33 88.
Posted: 10 May 2019
Congregation members Lisa Eckstein and Jeff Schneider recently conducted an interview with Joel Rheinberger of ABC Radio Hobart.
Topics discussed include the 175th anniversary of the synagogue, and what it is like being in a smaller Jewish community.
You may listen to the broadcast here.
Posted: 09 May 2019
This year we had an excellent turnout for our Communal Seder held in the hall behind Scots Church. 52 people, including a family group of 12 from Melbourne attended. It was great to having such a large crowd present, particularly 11 children that made this a family oriented event.
Everyone contributed to a wonderful assortment of food for dinner. Nobody went home hungry! Many thanks to those who helped with preparation and cleaning up.
Jordana led the Seder in a relaxed engaging manner inviting participation throughout. The young children from Melbourne added to the night by singing a Yiddish song. Over dinner it was lovely to see spirited discussions and conversations.
The success of the evening bodes well for our future as a growing congregation and community.
‘Next Year Jerusalem’
–Louise
On behalf of the congregation, many thanks to our event coordinator Louise for organising Pesach, and for this write-up!
Posted: 06 May 2019
On ANZAC Day 2019, the congregation continued the tradition of honoring ANZAC Day. Stephen Graetzer led a short service for a small group of members representing three generations of Jewish Hobartians.
After the service, we walked to the Centopath where a beautiful wreath with a Magan David was laid as part of the ceremony.
Here’s an article from 1934 about this same service, in The Mercury.
Posted: 04 May 2019
The Hobart Synagogue was consecrated on 4 July 1845. On the weekend of 4 July 2020, we will be celebrating the synagogue’s 175th anniversary.
We are in the early stages of planning the event and details will shared in the next few months.
In addition to congregation members (current and past), we also welcome descendants of the many families that were vital to our congregation’s survival to play a special part in this celebration.
If you would like more information or to be added to a list for further updates, please complete our contact form.