Ark Centre is a

modern Orthodox Modern may refer to: History *Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Philosoph ...

synagogue A synagogue, ', 'house of assembly', or ', "house of prayer"; Yiddish: ''shul'', Ladino: or ' (from synagogue); or ', "community". sometimes referred to as shul, and interchangeably used with the word temple, is a Jewish house of worshi ...

and Community Centre located in the

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

suburb of

Hawthorn East Hawthorn East is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Boroondara local government area. Hawthorn East recorded a population of 14,834 at the 2021 census. The s ...

. It was founded by a number of people who were previously members of Kew Hebrew Congregation.

Overview

Ark Centre opened in 2008 operating from a hall in

Bialik College Bialik College is an independent comprehensive co-educational early learning, primary and secondary Jewish day school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn East, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1942 in Carlton North, Victoria, ...

, under the leadership of Yoram Symons and later Rabbi Yaron Gottlieb who had the role as the synagogue's Magid. Under the stewardship of Symons and then Rabbi Shneur Reti-Waks, they operated out of a hired home in Lovell St, East Hawthorn, before moving into their permanent residence in Cato Street in 2014. Since moving into the Cato Street premises the suite of offerings provided has grown. Beyond the ‘traditional’ services of life-cycle events, events associated with religious festivals and holidays and synagogue services, Ark Centre has invested in providing more to the community. The physical premises were designed to be multi-purpose to facilitate usage in a number of ways: celebration of life cycle events, synagogue services, youth programs, yoga and wellbeing activities, conferences, adult and youth programs and much more. Within the premises is a commercial kitchen where

kosher (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, yi, כּשר), fro ...

catering is available. There are also other services provided by the centre. Under the stewardship of Reti-Waks, the Ark also courted controversy when there were a number of

marriages Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

where there were rumours that they did not conform to

halachic ''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandm ...

standards. The matter was resolved between the Rabbincal Council of Victoria and Reti-Waks, and the marriages were all accepted. Reti-Waks on behalf of the Ark has signed letters in support of marriage equality, and against the Australian government's treatment of refugees. In 2019 Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann and Rebbetzin Mushka Kantor Kaltmann assumed the role of Rabbi and Rebbetzin of Ark Centre.

Conversions

The Ark Centre was one of a number of

conversion Conversion or convert may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * "Conversion" (''Doctor Who'' audio), an episode of the audio drama ''Cyberman'' * "Conversion" (''Stargate Atlantis''), an episode of the television series * "The Conversion" ...

programs in Victoria, existing as an alternative to the existing

Melbourne Beth Din The Melbourne Beth Din (MBD) is an Orthodox / Chassidic Jewish court in the city of Melbourne, Australia. Located in Caulfield North, Victoria, it rules mostly on divorces and conversions although it does rule on other matters as well. History ...

program. The program was run under the auspices of Rabbi

Yisrael Rosen Yisrael Rosen ( he, ישראל רוזן; 1941- November 1, 2017) was an Orthodox Israeli rabbi. He founded the office for conversion to Judaism in the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and he was a judge there. He was also director of the Zomet Institute ...

, but these conversions were not officially accepted by the

Chief Rabbinate of Israel The Chief Rabbinate of Israel ( he, הָרַבָּנוּת הָרָאשִׁית לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, ''Ha-Rabbanut Ha-Rashit Li-Yisra'el'') is recognized by law as the supreme Rabbinic Judaism, rabbinic authority for Judaism in Israel. The ...

and did not appear on their list of recognised conversion courts. In trying to deal with this situation, Reti-Waks joined the

Rabbinical Council of Victoria The Rabbinical Council of Victoria is a body representing the state's Orthodox rabbis. It was established in 1967. Its primary goals are to provide professional development to its member rabbis, to enhance community participation among members of th ...

, and later the Ark agreed to suspend any conversions for 12 months while the Beth Din determined their legitimacy. Ultimately the conversions were rejected by the Beth Din, even though they did not provide any proof of illegitimacy on the part of the Ark.

Spiritual leadership

*Yoram Symons, 2008-2009, 2010-2012 *Rabbi Yaron Gottlieb, 2008-2009 *Rabbi Steven Link, 2009-2010 *Rabbi Shneur Reti-Waks, 2009-2019 *Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, 2018–present

References

External links

* {{Jews and Judaism in Australia, state=autocollapse Synagogues in Melbourne Modern Orthodox synagogues Buildings and structures in the City of Boroondara 2008 establishments in Australia Orthodox synagogues in Australia

Overview

Conversions

Spiritual leadership

See also

References

External links