Symbol of Jewish continuity: the Torah finials from The Great Synagogue in Sydney

Journal article

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In Journal Issue

Australian Jewish Historical Society Journal, 23, 4 (2018)

Author Jana Vytrhlik AbstractThe Great Synagogue on Elizabeth Street in Sydney was built between 1875 and 1878 and is the oldest surviving synagogue in Sydney. About a century later, in 1982, it became the home of the first Jewish Museum in Australia, the A. M. Rosenblum Jewish Museum (AMRJM). Today, the museum collection of historical Judaica objects and documents provides a window into the past of people who actively established Jewish life and culture in early colonial Australia. One of the most intriguing objects in the collection of The Great Synagogue is a pair of exceptional silver Torah finials. This article summarises the research into the provenance of these finials. It contests previous assumptions and sheds new light on the finials' silversmith attribution. Consultation with international scholars has revealed, for the first time, the likely reading of the initials hidden in the monogram decorating each finial. Citing the earliest known records of Sydney's Jewish congregation, the article speculates about the possible journey of the finials and suggests the possible circumstances of their arrival in Sydney. This article summarises the research into the provenance of these finials. It contests previous assumptions and sheds new light on the finials' silversmith attribution. Consultation with international scholars has revealed, for the first time, the likely reading of the initials hidden in the monogram decorating each finial. Citing the earliest known records of Sydney's Jewish congregation, the article speculates about the possible journey of the finials and suggests the possible circumstances of their arrival in Sydney.
Year2018
Pages619-639