Beth Shalom | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Progressive Judaism |
Leadership | Rabbi Dean Shapiro [1] |
Year consecrated | 1960 |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | 180 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023 |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Albert Goldwater |
Type | Synagogue |
Completed | 1960 |
Beth Shalom is a Progressive Jewish congregation in Auckland and the largest progressive congregation in the country. [2] [3] The congregation was started in 1952 and later a temple was constructed and consecrated in 1960. [3] [4] It is a member of the Union for Progressive Judaism. [5] The congregation has over 500 members, hosts a Hebrew school, and also has a burial society. [3]
The congregation was formed on 6 March 1952 at the home of the Pezaro family, a founding family of the synagogue. [3] The congregation was at this point known as the Liberal Jewish Congregation of Auckland. [3] The congregation held its first Shabbat service on 14 April and thereon regular services took place at the Auckland City branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society. [3] A decision was made to establish a more permanent home for the congregation. A plot of land consisting an old foundry was subsequently purchased on Manukau Road in Epsom in 1953. [3] The foundry was renovated and converted into use as small temple serving one hundred congregants. [3] Rabbi John Levi, then a student rabbi from Australia, served as the congregation's first rabbi. [3]
As the congregation outgrew the old foundry, the congregation commissioned a new temple building by local architect, Albert Goldwater. [3] Building work was completed in 1960 and the temple was consecrated in the same year. [3] A second building project was undertaken in 1989 to expand the synagogue. The old foundry building that had been serving as a Hebrew School and social hall was demolished and rebuilt with a new, improved design. The original sanctuary of the 1960 temple was converted into a social hall, with a new sanctuary, offices and classrooms built. [3]
In recent years, Beth Shalom has been in discussions to relocate to the large former campus of Saint Kentigern Girls' School in Remuera. [6] [7] Auckland Hebrew Congregation (AHC), with the assistance of the Woolf Fisher Trust, purchased the site in 2019. [8] Schools and Jewish organisations are also relocating to the site, creating a new Jewish centre in Auckland. [9]
Beth Shalom | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Progressive Judaism |
Leadership | Rabbi Dean Shapiro [1] |
Year consecrated | 1960 |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | 180 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023 |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Albert Goldwater |
Type | Synagogue |
Completed | 1960 |
Beth Shalom is a Progressive Jewish congregation in Auckland and the largest progressive congregation in the country. [2] [3] The congregation was started in 1952 and later a temple was constructed and consecrated in 1960. [3] [4] It is a member of the Union for Progressive Judaism. [5] The congregation has over 500 members, hosts a Hebrew school, and also has a burial society. [3]
The congregation was formed on 6 March 1952 at the home of the Pezaro family, a founding family of the synagogue. [3] The congregation was at this point known as the Liberal Jewish Congregation of Auckland. [3] The congregation held its first Shabbat service on 14 April and thereon regular services took place at the Auckland City branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society. [3] A decision was made to establish a more permanent home for the congregation. A plot of land consisting an old foundry was subsequently purchased on Manukau Road in Epsom in 1953. [3] The foundry was renovated and converted into use as small temple serving one hundred congregants. [3] Rabbi John Levi, then a student rabbi from Australia, served as the congregation's first rabbi. [3]
As the congregation outgrew the old foundry, the congregation commissioned a new temple building by local architect, Albert Goldwater. [3] Building work was completed in 1960 and the temple was consecrated in the same year. [3] A second building project was undertaken in 1989 to expand the synagogue. The old foundry building that had been serving as a Hebrew School and social hall was demolished and rebuilt with a new, improved design. The original sanctuary of the 1960 temple was converted into a social hall, with a new sanctuary, offices and classrooms built. [3]
In recent years, Beth Shalom has been in discussions to relocate to the large former campus of Saint Kentigern Girls' School in Remuera. [6] [7] Auckland Hebrew Congregation (AHC), with the assistance of the Woolf Fisher Trust, purchased the site in 2019. [8] Schools and Jewish organisations are also relocating to the site, creating a new Jewish centre in Auckland. [9]