About Us
The Central Synagogue is a vibrant place throughout the week, with people studying, and participating in a myriad of activities, which make up the rich tapestry of our congregation. The continuity and education of our vibrant congregation, is also being achieved by inviting notable guests to speak on a variety of thought provoking topics and a host of contemporary social events.
Throughout the year, our Central community is joined by Jews from all over the world, wanting to see our beautiful sanctuary and share in our unique experience. As on the tree of life, our growth and love spreads as we pass on the nurturing, love and understanding of Jewish life to our children and the youth of our shul – the life and soul of every community.
History
In November of 1913 on the corner of Dowling and Napier Streets in Paddington, the first Central Synagogue was born with 150 members. In 1921 the Synagogue was moved to Bondi and the foundation stone was laid at the corner of Grosvenor and Grafton Streets.
A new site was purchased and in 1960 the shul was transferred to its present location in Bon Accord Ave, Bondi Junction. On 25th September 1994 an electrical fault caused a devastating fire which completely gutted the Shul and reduced the building and its contents, including irreplaceable memorabilia and many sefer torahs, to ashes.
It was not long before the plans and ideas for the new Shul had been born. The dreams of many devoted men and women came to fruition when the new Synagogue was completed and in May 1998 the official dedication took place. Today our beautiful building stands here as a symbol of true Jewish spirit, perseverance and determination.
How awesome is this place! There is none other than the abode of G-d and this is the gate of the heavens.
Genesis 28:17
Our architecture
And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.
Exodus 25:8
As one of the most beautiful synagogues in the world, the design of The Central Synagogue is visual poetry.
The structure is a strong and powerful body which holds the heart and soul of our congregation. Created as a light-filled sanctuary, an oculus in the ceiling floods the Bimah below with natural light that tracks the sun as it moves in the heavens above.
The design features subtle but significant links to Israel. The building is orientated to position the Ark in a direct line with Jerusalem and Jerusalem stone adorns the Ark and its surrounds. Therefore all who participate in our services can stand with their feet symbolically in the hills of Jerusalem.
49 veils of glass form the four magnificent windows in the shul. They were designed by renowned glass artist Janet Laurence, each window representing a World of the Kabbalah, its colours depicting the symbolic colours of the sephirot.
The number 49 is symbolic of the highest level of spirituality possible. As there were seven days of creation the number seven represents perfection. Seven multiplied by seven is regarded as the ultimate perfection, as expressed as the number of days between Pesach, commemorating our physical freedom as a people and the Festival of Shavuot, representing our spiritual redemption in the receiving of the Torah.