Temple Beth Israel (TBI) is a Progressive

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

congregation and

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

, located in St Kilda, an inner seaside suburb of

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, Australia. The organisation is a member of the

Union for Progressive Judaism The Union for Progressive Judaism is an affiliate of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and supports 27 progressive congregations in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. The movement serves about a fifth of the region's affiliated community. The U ...

, an

umbrella organisation An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions who work together formally to coordinate activities and/or pool resources. In business, political, and other environments, it provides resources and iden ...

for Progressive Judaism in

Asia and the Pacific Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

History

In 1930, Ada Phillips founded the synagogue, the first Progressive community in Australia. Phillips had been inspired by services she attended in 1928 at the

Liberal Jewish Synagogue The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (), abbreviated as LJS, is a Liberal Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in St John's Wood, in the City of Westminster, London, England, in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1911, the congregation is the oldes ...

in London. Phillips was impressed by its values, liturgy and felt compelled to found a progressive congregation in Australia.The spirit of St Kilda
St Kilda Hebrew Congregation. Retrieved on 4 December 2023 The

World Union for Progressive Judaism The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) is the international umbrella organization for the various branches of Reform Judaism, Reform, Liberal and Progressive Judaism, as well as the separate Reconstructionist Judaism. The WUPJ is based i ...

subsidised the congregation in its early years. Rabbi Jerome Mark, a Reform Rabbi from the United States, served as the congregation's first rabbi, serving a term of three years. Services were held on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Wickliffe House on St Kilda promenade. The new congregation was not welcomed by Rabbi Danglow of the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation, 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 Philosophy ...

synagogue. Danglow decried the arrival of progressive Judaism in Melbourne: "a mutation of Judaism, specially compounded and flavoured to tickle the palates of religiously languid Jews." In 1936, the congregation was at the point of collapse as the congregation numbered fewer than 100. A Berlin rabbi, Rabbi Herman Sanger was appointed in the same year and transformed the fortunes of the congregation. Land was purchased on Alma Road, and

Isaac Isaacs Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs, (6 August 1855 – 11 February 1948) was an Australian lawyer, politician, and judge who served as the ninth Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1931 to 1936. He had previously served on the High Court of Au ...

laid the cornerstone on 11 July 1937. Three Torah scrolls were sent to the congregation from Berlin's Jewish community. The new synagogue building was consecrated in 1938, drawing in many of the local Jewish emigrants from Germany and Australia, some of whom had belonged to Reform congregations in their native countries. Sanger's passionate support for

Zionism Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...

in contrast to Rabbi Danglow's lukewarm stance, also drew new members, with 500 members by 1941. By the time of the end of the war in 1945, 1600 people were attending the congregation's High Holiday services. Rabbi John Levi, the congregation's first Australian-born rabbi served the congregation from 1960.Rabbi John Levi: A true icon of Australian Jewry
''The Jerusalem Post''. 25 March 2021 He served as senior rabbi from 1974 to 1997, and has since been Rabbi Emeritus of the congregation.

Current

The Progressive, Zionist youth group, Netzer makes use of the grounds of TBI for their weekly activities. During the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

TBI moved their prayers online for the High Holy Days, when Melbourne was in the middle of a strict stage 4 lockdown.

Notable members

Zelman Cowen Sir Zelman Cowen, (7 October 1919 – 8 December 2011) was an Australian legal scholar and university administrator who served as the 19th Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1977 to 1982. Cowen was born in Melbourne, and attended ...

, 19th Governor-General of AustraliaSir Zelman Cowen, Australia’s Jewish former governor-general, dies
''Jewish Telegraphic Agency''. 9 December 2011

References

{{Synagogues in Australia Synagogues in Melbourne Synagogues completed in 1938 Jews and Judaism in Australia St Kilda, Victoria Buildings and structures in the City of Port Phillip Reform Judaism in Australia Union for Progressive Judaism 20th-century synagogues in Australia 1930 establishments in Australia Jewish organizations established in 1930

History

Current

Notable members

See also

References