St Kilda shelves its top hats and tails
A PIECE of St Kilda Hebrew Congregation tradition was consigned to the history books last week, after members voted to dump a longstanding rule requiring the president and vice-president to wear a top hat and tails in synagogue.
A PIECE of St Kilda Hebrew Congregation tradition was consigned to the history books last week, after members voted to dump a longstanding rule requiring the president and vice-president to wear a top hat and tails in synagogue.
The change, which stipulates that the formal wear be replaced by a lounge suit and tie after Shabbat Bereshit, was voted in at the shul’s annual general meeting.
While the current president, Philip Levy, and rabbi, Philip Heilbrunn, did not support the amendment, those in favour collected many proxy votes from members, which pushed the change through.
The tradition stems from the congregation’s origins among the Anglo-German-Jewish community. Male shulgoers, particularly those in Britain, wore formal dress. However, it is rare to find Brits in top hats today, with the tradition phased out in Ashkenazi shuls more than a decade ago.
Even Sydney’s Great Synagogue, which was built in the British tradition, has abolished top hats in recent times.
But Levy told The AJN he thought the tradition was worth keeping because, as the only Australian synagogue still doing it, it made St Kilda unique.
“We were the last bastion,” he said. “Me and a lot of the congregation are very unhappy we are going to lose a uniqueness and tradition that quite a few of us believe is inherent in our history.”
The move was led by some of the synagogue’s past governors, who claimed the 139-year-old tradition intimidated younger members.
But Levy said there was a halachic precedent for the archaic rule.
“On Shabbat and yom tov, one should wear a better state of dress than one does normally,” he said, adding that for men who wear a business suit each day, a top hat and tails at synagogue is appropriate.
The change is just one of many about to be heralded at St Kilda Hebrew Congregation, with Rabbi Heilbrunn preparing for retirement.
“He is unique in himself, but we will get someone who is very, very good,” Levy said.
NAOMI LEVIN
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