Historic day as Bankstown relics find new home

The last remaining shule in Sydney’s west – Parramatta Synagogue – was appropriately full to capacity on March 15 to mark a truly special occasion with a look to both preserving the legacy of the past and building a bright future.

The audience of well over 100 people was treated to dedication ceremonies celebrating three special items that were rescued and then lovingly restored from Bankstown Synagogue, which was destroyed by a deliberately-lit fire by an arsonist on March 5, 1991.

An original Bankstown Synagogue pew, a 1913 foundation stone, and tablets displaying the 10 Commandments were all unveiled at the special event in their new permanent home – Parramatta Synagogue.

The event was also an opportunity to officially open Parramatta Shule’s new Daat Library and Learning Centre, which is part of its recently established Greater Western Sydney Jewish Cultural Centre (GWSJCC), via the unveiling of another plaque.

Finally, there was time for a celebratory feast, prepared by volunteers Sue Morris, Leah Shelton, and Jill Abkiewicz.

After emcee and GWSJCC director Vincent Uno welcomed all, Parramatta Synagogue president Michael Morris noted how Parramatta Synagogue had benefitted from part of the proceeds from the sale of the land that Bankstown Synagogue was on. The funds were used to fund the installation of concertina doors, which were dedicated at the time to the memory of Bankstown Synagogue.

He said, with the trio of restored remnants from that shule becoming a part of Parramatta Synagogue’s fabric, that “Bankstown Shule will never now be forgotten”.

“As we are now the only western Sydney shule left, it is incumbent upon us to ensure the memory of those that had been here [in the region] is preserved,” Morris said.

“We are also thankful to the Trustees from Strathfield Synagogue [which closed in August 2013], whose funds allowed us to carry out considerable renovations, so we would be ready to serve the Jewish community of our region for the foreseeable future.”

Morris explained how, “around three years ago, we were advised that a pew had been sighted in a second-hand furniture store in North Queensland, and it was identifiable as coming from the Bankstown Synagogue, because it still has the name plates of the seat owners – the Broit family and the Schader family.

“Brenton Owst-Atkinson used his own truck to transport it all the way to Sydney. Since its discovery, and until last October, the pew had a home in the garage of Leonard [Len] and Leah Shelton – Len being Parramatta Synagogue’s president when Bankstown Synagogue was destroyed.

“He spent two and a half years restoring the pew, which has new name plates, and repairs made in a careful way that recognises the damage, while restoring as much as possible to the woodwork.

“The Magen David feature on one end of the pew was badly charred in the fire, and while that remains visible, it is a very sympathetic restoration.

“The pew will now take pride of place behind our bimah, and will be where our Torah is dressed by the children of our community.”

Morris added, to further ensure a strong future, Parramatta Synagogue established the GWSJCC and the Daat Library and Learning Centre – “entities that will be responsible for providing education programs and events, promoting cultural awareness, and building community relations.

“Your support, through tax-deductible donations, is much appreciated,” he added.

The shule’s Rabbi Roni Cohavi, member David Faulkner, Dennis Broit and Max Lewis – both long associated with Bankstown Synagogue – as well as Max’s grandson Joshua, participated in the unveiling ceremonies, while the keynote speaker was Freya Leach from Never Again Is Now.

Broit said, “This is the first time I’ve seen the pew since it was in Bankstown Synagogue, and the restoration by Len and his son looks amazing.

“The pew is more than 100 years old, as Bankstown Synagogue was rebuilt in 1926, and again in a new location in 1960 in the shape of a Magen David, making it probably one of the most unique synagogues in Australia.

“I’m very grateful that Parramatta Synagogue has chosen to honour the legacy of Bankstown shule.”

Max Lewis, whose grandfather’s name, Bernard, is on the restored Bankstown shule foundation plaque, said, “I don’t consider the foundation stone as just a nice piece with names on it. To me, it’s a symbol of a unique history of Jewish people who travelled and made their home in this country, and made contributions in my lifetime to Jewish life through Bankstown shule.

“I wanted to pursue the foundation stone’s restoration, and I’d like to thank Rabbi Cohavi and Michael [Morris] who gave me the incentive to do so.”

Leach described the official opening of the GWSJCC as “not just a gift to the Jewish community, but a gift to Western Sydney and to Australia”.

Rabbi Cohavi described the GWSJCC as being “committed to being a bridge between us and other communities, of learning, and of sharing our heritage with others”.

He also said, “It’s a great honour for us to be able to carry forward all those historical items saved from Bankstown Synagogue – the pew, the foundation stone, and for me personally, especially the 10 Commandments tablets, of which several letters had been missing.

“I’d told Michael [Morris] I’d remake the missing letters at the right time, and it was just the week before, when we’d read the Torah portion about the broken tablets [at Mount Sinai] and its shattered pieces that were collected.”

To donate to the Greater Western Sydney Jewish Cultural Centre, visit trybooking.com/au/donate/futurejewishwesterns.