Una breve guía a los judíos de Sídney (en Inglés)

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And we’re off, to anywhere and everywhere, as we say ‘Shalom’ every week to different global travel destination. World cities, provincial towns, and even the most unassuming of suburbs are infused with Jewish history and culture, some of which is waiting to be discovered.

For the pious follower, the curious traveler, or the intrepid adventurer, we’ll unearth the best of what to do and where to go. Be it an emerging subculture, a historical landmark, or simply a triumph of art in any form, Jewish experiences are found around the world; and likely as well in your backyard.

It may be in the destination, the journey, or the company, but there is much to uncover and celebrate near and far, so hurry up and get going.


Shalom, Sydney

When she was of 19 years of age, Anna Rich was sent to concentrations camps in Plaszow and Auschwitz, before triumphantly being saved by German businessman Oskar Schindler. In 1950 she moved to Australia, where her entrepreneurial spirit and sense of style became so noteworthy among locals, she was compelled to open a women’s boutique.

Rich was a part of a major influx of Jews during World War II and the Holocaust, as Australia became, albeit initially with some hesitation, a haven for those seeking safety from Nazi oppression. In 1938, the Australian government granted 15,000 visas for ‘victims of oppression,’ nearly half of which were obtained prior to the outbreak of war.

What’s more though, Rich is perhaps representative of Jewish culture and life throughout the 20th century in this part of the world. Having lost her family while herself surviving the horrors of the Holocaust, Rich carried with her harsh memories and a determined will. She thrived in Australia, where anti-Semitism was rare and opportunity abounded, and she grew to be an influential fashion designer in the country’s history.


Dressing Sydney: The Jewish Fashion Story exhibit at Sydney Jewish Museum

Her story, like many others, is explored by the Sydney Jewish Museum in their latest innovative exhibit, Dressing Sydney: The Jewish Fashion Story. An institute that promotes and analyzes both the history of Jews and Jewish life in Australia, as well as the Holocaust, the museum opened in November of 1992, and is housed in a place with its own historical significance. It is located at Maccabean Hall, a 1923 memorial commemorating New South Wales Jewish men and women who served in World War One.

The initial tiny beginnings of Jewish life in Australia began in 1788, when anywhere from eight to 16 convicts aboard the First Fleet from England were the first Jewish settlers. Though perhaps not the most auspicious pioneers of the Judaic faith and culture, they not only made up the first Jewish presence, but the first European settlers of any background, joining some 1,500 other prisoners.

As waves of settlers continued to Australia, more Jews arrived and soon thereafter small communities sprang up in the two biggest cities, Sydney and Melboure. In the former, Jews worshipped together in houses and shops in the early 19th century, until the first synagogue was built in 1844.

As the colony evolved, and its relationship to the mother country of England became more independent, Europeans, including Jews, continued to settle, though most notably various waves in the 20th century. Jews from around the world, including the former Soviet Union, South Africa, and Israel have made their way to Australia to avoid persecution and take advantage of new opportunities. While the country has a Jewish population of roughly 120,000, its largest city of Sydney to this day boasts around 45,000 Jews.


Sydney’s Great Synagogue

Any tour of Jewish life in Sydney, however brief, must include a visit to the Great Synagogue in Sydney. Built in 1878, the massive edifice is one of the most impressive religious structures in the country, with Victoria stained glass windows, arches, and towers. The building as well has a library and a museum, and is a testament to both the opportunity afforded in Australian for Jews and the powerful faith they carried with them.

Another noteworthy synagogue is one located on the North Shore, just outside of Sydney. Known as the’ Garden Synagogue’ as it sits amid lush greens and tall trees, it is a modern orthodox community that holds regular religious services, festivals, and educations programs.

The relatively seamless integration into everyday life for Jews throughout Australian history has allowed Jews to engage in various spheres of culture and business. With a higher rate of intermarriage and lower synagogue attendance, Jews in Sydney tend to be more secular as compared to the more orthodox Jews of Melbourne.


Sydney’s Jewish Museum

Thus, there is no shortage of Jewish cultural events in and around the east coast city. The website Jewish Sydney offers an extensive list of the wide range of goings-on taking place for tourists and residents alike. For example, there is the Sydney Jewish Writers’ Festival, an event every two years celebrating literary culture from writers both local and global. Meanwhile, the Sydney Jewish Choral Society has been performing for Australian audiences since 1986

Additionally, The JCA is a Jewish online community that connects with people in order to share ideas, culture, and offer support. Its vision is to ensure Jewish continuity, doing so by fundraising, planning and facilitating Jewish activities and ideas.

Jewish Sydney is bustling and healthy, as the Australian city remains a multicultural and open-minded metropolis, where art, culture, and faith can be explored and celebrated.

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