Congregation comes back to life
The resilient congregation at Parramatta and District Synagogue is bouncing back strongly after two years of obstacles thrown its way by the pandemic.
IT’S proving to be the little shule that can.
The resilient congregation at Parramatta and District Synagogue is bouncing back strongly after two years of obstacles thrown its way by the pandemic, by hosting the first of several bat and bar mitzvahs earlier this month.
In the year before COVID arrived in Australia, the shule – which services Jewish residents between the Blue Mountains, Castle Hill, and Ashfield – had its most successful year in a decade, celebrating five bar mitzvahs and two bat mitzvahs.
Then, as the shule’s president and chairman Jacob Lipson recalls, “COVID tried its best to stop us, and all communities, celebrating Shabbats, High Holy Days, and other festivals and community activities, but our members responded by participating in pre-Shabbat services via Zoom.
“Once we were allowed to return to our synagogue for prayer, our members responded again, and service attendances quickly returned to pre-pandemic levels.”
On Saturday, March 12, spirits at Parramatta shule rose further, when the congregation banded together to celebrate a special Shabbat service, and the bat mitzvah of Navah Lipson.
“That was very special for everyone, and our congregation will be celebrating a bar mitzvah in just a fortnight, and more later this year,” Lipson said.
“These attendances following the emergence from COVID restrictions, and the distances our members travel, is a testament to the efforts of our board, our Rabbi Roni and Rebbetzin Michal Cohavi, and the needs, and resilience of, the community.
“It emphasises the need for ensuring the synagogue remains as an active community facility into the future, as the only remaining one in this region of Sydney.
“We offer a friendly, safe and secure place for worship, and a wonderful kiddush afterwards, and we welcome all visitors.”
For more information, visit parramattasynagogue.com.au. People who would like to visit the shule, or attend a service, should first email parrasynagogue@gmail.com
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