Tasmania is home to Australia’s oldest surviving synagogue, but there hasn’t been a full-time rabbi in it for years, and Jewish life here can come with its challenges.
Every Saturday on the Shabbat, 82-year-old David Clark walks 45 minutes from his home in Sandy Bay to the synagogue in Hobart’s town centre.
“I think the progressive [Jews] have got a good interpretation” of it, he says. “I walk 45 minutes here and back on my day of rest, no matter the weather, to come here and pray.” According to the book Edge of the Diaspora by Judith Reynolds, the Tasmanian Jewish population was only 152 in 1837, and of those 152 people, only eight were free settlers.
The populations are even smaller in the NT and ACT, and by capita, South Australia is marginally smaller.Jeff Schneider is the President of the Hobart Hebrew Congregation, which currently has 82 members and sees most of them turn up to services regularly.“There’s various factors involved; I think one of them is COVID, and people in the big cities on the mainland are looking to escape that and come to Hobart with beautiful scenery and a slower pace of life - their priorities have changed.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tasmania makes its case to Albanese that $715 million Hobart AFL stadium is a winning ideaThe Tasmanian government reveals its business case it hopes will convince the federal government to shell out $240 million to help pay for a brand new stadium in Hobart, which will in part be modelled on a yet-to-be-finished project in New Zealand.
Read more »
Jacinda Ardern's 'arrogant pr***' comment raises $NZ100,000 in charity auctionNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was caught on microphone swearing about rival politician David Seymour, has joined forces with him, auctioning a signed transcript of the comment for charity.
Read more »
The day golf became a blood sport for this CEODavid Bergmark of Protecht Group loves the game for its social dimensions, but an encounter with a ricocheting golf ball proved bloody.
Read more »
Two men freed after multiple vehicle crash in Sydney's westALERT: A multi-vehicle crash is impacting northbound traffic on Widemere Road at WetherillPark. Emergency crews are right now working to free multiple people who have become trapped in the accident involving a truck and cars. 9News MORE:
Read more »
Jacinda Ardern's 'arrogant prick' transcript sells for $100,000A savage transcript of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern insulting ACT Party Leader David Seymour has sold for $100,100, with the proceeds going towards the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Read more »