The Syna-blogue

  Torah Portion: Behar Synagogue: Elwood Shule (traditional, orthodox) Walking time from home: 30 minutes Reason for going: Guest speaker Kiddush: Small but plentiful There are some shules that I have already been to for the purposes of this blog, but circumstances have changed so it was worth a revisit. Elwood shule is one of those. Last time I visited, in February last year, a new rabbi had just begun with lots of fanfare, but due to a range of reasons, his stay at the shule was short. This time, not only is there another new rabbi who seems to be much more suited to this congregation, but there were was also an international guest speaker, so it made sense to return.  Every time I walk there the gates and doors at Elwood shule, I get a feeling of nostalgia. Afterall, this is where I had my Bar Mitzvah and where my family used to come on the festivals when I...

  Torah Portion: Emor Synagogue: Port Melbourne Chabad Walking time from home: One hour and 30 minutes Reason for going: Something new and different Kiddush: A sit-down lunch with cholent As I keep discovering, there are many shules around Melbourne, including in suburbs where you might not expect to find a shule. The industrial and beachside suburb of Port Melbourne is one of them, and the shule that is there today has a fascinating story of persistence, belief and innovation. Several years ago, an enterprising young Chabad couple were looking to move somewhere where they could make an impact – into a suburb that wasn’t traditionally associated with a thriving Jewish presence. They chose Port Melbourne and over a number of years began to build a community. But more than that, they also discovered the underbelly of Melbourne and found people who are doing it to...

  Torah Portion: Kedoshim Synagogue: Caulfield Shule, traditional orthodox Walking time from home: 10 mins Reason for going: Two speakers Kiddush: Large, plentiful Since I started this blog, I’ve been trying to go to a different shule every week and I only come back to one I’ve been to before if there is a compelling reason to do so. This week I was back at Caulfield Shule, and the compelling reason was that there were two speakers ahead of this coming week’s Israeli Independence Day. Caulfield shule, as I have said before, is one of the most traditional and prominent shules in all of Melbourne, and the largest orthodox congregation. Yet despite that, when I first arrived soon after starting time, there was almost an embarrassingly small crowd in such a large space. Just as well the speeches were going to take place towards the end of the service. Because it is a...

  Torah Portion: Acharei Synagogue: Hasifriya @ Blake Street Walking time from home: 40 minutes Reason for going: Something different Kiddush: Not quite as advertised After a lovely Pesach, it was nice to be back at shule for a regular Shabbat. And after taking some time to decide where to go, partly based on where I needed to be later, I ended up at Hasifriya. Literally the word means ‘library’ in Hebrew, which is fitting because it meets in the library at Blake Street shule, which of course is on Glenhuntly Road and not on the street it is named for. Hasifriya formed a few years ago essentially as the young adult congregation of Blake St, though most are in their late 20s to late 30s, with some even older so I didn’t feel too out of place. These days about a third of the people who go there regularly have some kind of familial connection to Blake St, but the re...