$1 million gift for the Great

The Great Synagogue has taken a major step towards securing its future thanks to a $1 million gift in honour of late lifelong congregant Lionel Green.

The donation by Stephen and Sharon Green in remembrance of their late uncle was the first to the newly established Great Synagogue Foundation, which was established to ensure the financial viability and continuity of the synagogue and community.

It was recognised with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in late January, while Lionel Green will be confirmed as a founding guardian of the foundation at its launch on February 16.

Stephen Green said his late uncle, who was “a kind and gentle man, modest and eager to help others”, in his later years told him to “do some good”.

“The Great Synagogue and the opportunity the foundation presents is a clear choice,” he said.

“Sharon and I are pleased that the foundation could help fulfil Lionel’s guidance and benefit the synagogue. It is our privilege to be able to facilitate this gift allowing the Great to continue to flourish.”

Foundation chair Garry Browne said the foundation will ensure the synagogue “is not only preserved, but it is enhanced and we are able to continue to be the centre of the Jewish community”.

“And you can only do that if you make it contemporary and as relevant as we can, not only for today but for tomorrow, while obviously preserving its great heritage,” he said.

Paying tribute to the Greens for their “wonderful gift in Lionel’s memory and affirming the love he had for the Great Synagogue”, he said it was a great example of their family seeing the importance of their investment in the community’s future.

“Others have contributed, making significant investments, and we encourage more members to participate in investing in the future,” he said.

Rabbi Benjamin Elton said the foundation “will ensure the ongoing financial security of the Great Synagogue so that our wonderful community can thrive, for generations to come”.

The launch of the foundation will coincide with the first concert in the Live at the Great series for 2022, produced by Live at Yours.

Following Kol Nidrei in its original form sung by the Great Synagogue Choir and Rabbi Phil Kaplan, cellist/conductor Umberto Clerici and pianist Konstantin Shamray will present a program of Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and Rachmaninov’s cello sonata.

The shule will be flooded in mood lighting for the concert, hosted by conductor and pianist Vladimir Fanshil. Tickets are $35.

Concert tickets: liveatyours.com.au