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Temple David (Perth, Western Australia)
Temple David is a Progressive Jewish congregation and synagogue located in Mount Lawley, an inner northern suburb of Perth. It is the sole progressive congregation in the state of Western Australia.[1] The congregation was established in 1952.[2][3] HistoryA key proponent for a Jewish congregation under the auspices of Reform Judaism, was Dr Ronald Taft, from the Psychology faculty at the University of Western Australia. Taft had been a member of Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne and took up his faculty position in 1951. In May 1952, a formation known as the "Liberal Jewish Group" was established and began conducting Reform services. Rabbi Herman Sanger, a key figure in the history of Temple Beth Israel, led a service in the same year, addressing 300 in attendance. Taft also became foundation president of the congregation.[4][5][3]Jewish refugees and Holocaust survivors from Europe were among the founding members of the congregation.[6] In 1959,[7] Rabbi George W. Rubens became the congregation's first permanent rabbi and the congregation was renamed Temple David.[3] Rubens, born in the Free City of Danzig had previously served congregations in Melbourne and Hobart.[7] His great-grandfather had been a founder of the Great Synagogue, Danzig's fist Reform synagogue.[7] In 1966, the congregation extended its service offering, with Saturday Shabbat services offered each week rather than fortnightly.[8] In 1976, it was reported that Cantor Marshall Stone had introduced several changes to the service music with more "prayer settings specifically composed by Jewish composers for the Cantor-Choir-Organ ensemble". This was a move away from the "arrangements" for the "Reform temple of music originally written for Orthodox and/or Conservative synagogues in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries."[9] In 1980, the synagogue introduced a new teaching method to learn Hebrew, using the ulpan approach from Israel.[10] A specially recorded service at the synagogue in November 1987, was broadcast in early 1988 for the ABC TV Sunday Worship slot.[11] BuildingsThe congregation established a permanent home in 1954, by purchasing a family home on Clifton Crescent in Mount Lawley, that was converted to use as a synagogue. The synagogue was officially opened on 27 October 1954.[12] The synagogue was dedicated in 1963, following an 18-month building and renovation process, with the construction of separate building housing a sanctuary and religion school. As part of the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled in commemoration of the Jewish dead from both World Wars.[13] The new Ark acted as a focal point, surrounded by stained glass windows with menorah designs.[13] Three classrooms and a function hall were also constructed.[13] The works were completed at a cost of £28, 000.[13] A caretaker's residence was constructed in 1973. The architect responsible for the designs was Harold Boas, a founding member of the congregation.[14][15] LeadershipIn 1979, a German-born, Israeli-raised rabbi, John Spiro was appointed rabbi of congregation, succeeding Cantor Abraham Jacobi.[16] In 1984, Rabbi Ian Morris, an Australian Hebrew Union College graduate was appointed to lead the congregation.[17] Morris was succeeded by Rabbi Charles David Wallach, from Johannesburg, serving from 1988 to 1995.[18][19] The congregation was served by Israeli-born rabbi, Adi Cohen from 2014 to 2021.[20] In 2022, Cohen was succeeded by the congregation's current rabbi, the South African-born Kim Ettlinger. Rabbi Ettlinger studied at rabbinical school in the United States and served Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne from 2010 to 2021.[21] See also
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