History of Temple Shalom

In October 1976, as a result of numerous

         requests from those desirous of practising

              Progressive Judaism on the Gold Coast, a handful

          of enthusiastic people gathered together at

        the home of Mr & Mrs Len Spray

        and thus began the humble beginnings of

      TEMPLE SHALOM GOLD COAST

      The original Board of Management comprised of:

                                                                  PRESIDENT : Mr Leonard Spray

                                                            VICE PRESIDENT : Mr Ivan Ignace

                                                                     SECRETARY : Mrs Adele Knowles

                                                                     TREASURER : Mrs June Ignace

                                                  MINUTES SECRETARY : Mrs Stella Spray

                                                       PUBLIC RELATIONS : Mr Kurt Ashley

                                                  NEWSLETTER EDITOR : Mr Kurt Ashley

BOARD MEMBERS :

Messrs : Len Markson, Joe Gold, A Adler, Louis Cohen
Mesdames : Anne Green, Martha Hilton

 

It was resolved that Friday night services be held fortnightly  and the first such service

was held at the home of  Mr & Mrs Louis Cohen of Chevron Island.

It was conducted by Mr Len Spray and ably assisted by Mr Ivan Ignace.

There were  30 persons present at this service - a promising beginning.

 

At the time the Congregation had no Sefer Torah and Messrs

      Len Spray and Joe Gold were delegated to see about obtaining one.

 

With the funds raised we were able to obtain a Torah Scroll which had been saved from the Nazis in

Czechoslovakia and looked after by the Memorial Services Committee in London

(Westminster Synagogue) this was air freighted to us on permanent loan.

 

Initialy services were held at the home of Mr & Mrs Len Spray. Some time later the

Committee took up a generous offer by Mrs Sylvia Lacey who offered the

house she owned at 3382 Gold Coast Highway, next door to where she lived,

for use as a Temple.

The time came when it was considered desirable to own our own premises.

Mrs Lacey offered us an option of purchase but for various reasons this was not taken up.

 

Messrs Len  Spray, Louis Cohen and George Aarons were  appointed to approach the

Uniting Church Brisbane, for the purchase of a piece of land on the Isle of Capri. This

was successfully negotiated and purchased..

 

The land was dedicated by Rabbi L Helman from Sante Fe, USA and we were pleased

that Rev. Garth Filmer of the Uniting Church, was able to attend.

After a tremendous amount of work and fund raising, a history  making event took place

on Sunday 23 May 1982, with the

opening and consecration TEMPLE SHALOM on the Isle of Capri.

 

Obviously the Temple had been fortunate in having a dedicated Board of Management,

and an untiring Secretary, Esther Brandon, and a very active Ladies Guild.

The Temple was registered as a Religious Body with the Queensland Government and

is affiliated with The Union for Progressive Judaism.

Mr Len Spray, who has been a tower of strength through the years,  was registered

as a Marriage Celebrant and Hon Life President.

It is the combined efforts of all these people, plus the generous

donations of members of the congregation and many visitors

that has resulted in the building of this Temple.

 

This was followed in 1992 by the building of a beautiful new Sanctuary.

The TEMPLE now comprises the SYNAGOGUE, CHEDER ROOM,

 FUNCTION HALL, KITCHEN & OFFICES and provides members

with all the facilities that one would require.

 

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