Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney (Preview)

Dr Jana Vytrhlik MPHA is a Jewish art and architecture historian and Judaica specialist. Rabbi Dr Benjamin J. Elton is the Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue in Sydney. The Great Synagogue Sydney Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney The story of a visual heritage It is popularly believed that Judaism is a religion that rejects visual arts and prohibits the creation of sculpted designs. Not surprisingly, nineteenth-century Australia is not best known for its Jewish art. Yet, as revealed in the Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney, an important visual heritage survives and is marked by fine Judaica objects, artworks, and unique synagogue architecture. In 2024, when the Sydney Jewish community commemorates two milestones, it is timely to explore its history through the visual heritage. In 1844, 180 years ago, the emerging Sydney Jewish congregation consecrated the first synagogue designed and built in Australia. Three decades later, in 1874, architect Thomas Rowe won the design competition with his bold vision for the new Great Synagogue, one of the most admired Victorian buildings in Australia. These significant events prepared the way for the future development of a distinct Australian Jewish visual identity. For the first time, the book Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney brings to light the lesser known stories of long lost synagogues and the hidden past of art, artefacts, and architecture. Richly illustrated, this book reveals the presence of a Jewish cultural heritage and important synagogue architecture in Sydney. Included are Jewish ritual objects, or Judaica, such as silver Torah ornaments, testimonials, gold embroidery textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and rarely published nineteenth-century portraits and archival Jewish community records. Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney is a lavishly illustrated, full colour, hard-cover book, 26.5x23.5 cm, with over 300 pages of photographs, essays, research findings and Jewish art history and architecture studies. Available from May 2024 please call 9360 7999 or email [email protected] New book Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney: The story of a visual heritage presents the lesser known stories and visual legacy of the 19th century Sydney Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney The story of a visual heritage Jana Vytrhlik with a foreword by Rabbi Benjamin J. Elton Contents ix Foreword by Rabbi Dr Benjamin J. Elton xi The Author’s Journey from Prague to Sydney xv The Jewish Landscape xvii Glossary Introduction 1 Jews and visual culture 4 Visual dimensions of the Torah and its ornaments 8 Old Jewish Sydney: a sketch 10 Jewish artists amongst the offenders 12 Australian Jewish history notes 17 Origins of the Sydney rimmonim 19 York Street Synagogue 23 Macquarie Street Synagogue 36 The Great Synagogue Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney 48 Setting the scene 51 Synagogue architecture 81 Jewish art 137 Traditional piety 189 Synagogue ritual objects 217 Those who inspired 273 List of Illustrations, art collections, and museums 281 Bibliography 284 Jewish Sydney 286 Index Fig. 5 Design for a Synagogue, school and Beadle’s residence in Elizabeth Street running through to Castlereagh Street, 1874, Thomas Rowe (1829–1899). Ink, watercolour on paper (detail). Signed ‘T. Rowe, Architect’. 29.5 x 42 cm. Winning entry of The Great Synagogue design competition. State Library of New South Wales. Series 07: PXD 62/vol. 1. page 34. The Author’s Journey from Prague to Sydney xiii Old Jewish Sydney: a sketch It is well known that the history of Jews in Australia started unceremoniously. A dozen or so convicts with Jewish-sounding names were amongst the first several hundred transportees that arrived in the new British penal colony from Portsmouth, England, in January 1788. They were not shipped to the other side of the world because they were Jews but because they committed crimes, which, like most of their compatriots, were non-violent petty offences. Neither were Jews confined in a ghetto. The colony at its foundation was established as a military penal settlement, and the movement of most inhabitants was restricted. In a similar way, the Church of England was the only official religion for the first few decades of the colony, and members of other faiths, including Roman Catholics and Jews, were expected to attend Protestant services. Fig. 15 Portrait of Moses Joseph (1808–1889) and his wife Rosetta, née Nathan (1811–1891). Rare gold frame miniatures with hand-coloured photographs, probably London, c. 1880. 4.5 x 4 cm. Private Collection, London. pp. 223–235. 8 Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney Fig. 16 Above left: Sophie Steffanoni and a friend arriving at tea party at Jones’ house, Dapto, NSW. Photography, 1898. State Library of New South Wales. 05218. Fig. 17 Above right: An Israelite Indeed by Henry Louis Bertrand (1841–1924) ca 1880s. Pen and watercolour on paper, from John Cecil Read’s scrapbook p. 194b. 15.5 x 12.5 cm. Gift of Mary Read, 2022. A sketch of a rugged Jewish man with a stereotypically large nose, hat and a long beard. Signed HLB, n.d. Part of a series of portraits, semi-caricatures drawn during Bertrand’s time served in the Darlinghurst Gaol (1866–1894), and given to John Cecil Read, the governor of the gaol from 1861 to 1889 for his scrapbook. Image © National Art School Collection, Archive. Fig. 18 Right: Portrait of Henry Louis Bertrand (1841– 1924), ca 1865. Carte de visit by Milligan Brothers, active 1863–67 in Sydney. 10 x 6.5 cm. State Library of New South Wales, P2/468. Fig. 22 Pair of Torah finials, the Sydney rimmonim, 1773, by Johannes Schouten (1739– 1791), Amsterdam, sterling silver, silver-gilt, 42 x 13 cm. Hallmark and maker’s marks. Transfer by succession from the York Street Synagogue, ca 1878. Collection of The Great Synagogue Sydney, M1983.13.1 a,b.page 195, Fig. 135. 16 Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney Fig. 33 Macquarie Street Synagogue Prayer Book for Passover service. Dedication page, October 1866. Ink on paper, 18 x 11.5 x 4.5 cm. Part of a 3-volume set for German and Polish Jews, in Hebrew and English. Two inscriptions by different hands, 1866 and 1895, document the respect and family continuation across generations. (Transcript: Macquarie Street Synagogue/Presented to P. S. Solomon Esq/ by the Macquarie Street Congre/gation as a tribute of Respect/for the many services tendered/by him. /L. W. [Lewis Wolfe] Levy [1815–1885] President/Sydney October 1866//Left to his beloved son Jaffa Solomon by his loving father the Hon Phillip Samuel Solomon Esq [1830–1895] who died on Saturday 23 March 1895 at Munday [NSW]. Sydney Jewish Museum, M2019.066.001. Fig. 146. 30 Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney 47 Synagogue architecture Building a dedicated place of worship has always been a matter of priority and pride for the Jewish community. But it was not always possible to achieve. Many congregations, be they in London, Prague, or Berlin, began their history in a rented space that was adapted into a makeshift synagogue before building their first dedicated synagogue. It was no different in 1800s Sydney, and we are fortunate that visual records of the earliest places of worship survived. They document the effort to represent, through a specific visual expression, the emerging Jewish identity, starting from the challenging early days, through to the vision of the new and stronger community. Introduced here are the provisional and inconspicuous prayer rooms in Bridge Street, the colony’s first purposedesigned Egyptian style architecture in York Street, and the highlight of Victorian Jewish architecture achievement, The Great Synagogue. 52 Bridge Street Synagogue, 1837 56 York Street Synagogue, 1844 64 Foundation of The Great Synagogue, 1875 68 Building The Great Synagogue, 1870s 77 Model of The Great Synagogue, 1998 51 Jewish art A book about Jewish visual heritage must, at one point, ask the question: What is Jewish art? Earlier, Jews and visual culture introduced the topic, and this section explores it further. Jewish art historians around the world had largely moved on from debating the Second Commandment and its perceived limitations. In Australia, slowly, it is also being recognised that the biblical mandate ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of any thing...’ (Exodus 20:4) was, in fact, a two-verse command, ruling ‘Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them...’ (Exodus 20:5). This means that Jews were permitted to create, as well as admire, works of art, but prohibited to create and idolise three-dimensional objects. Nevertheless, this section highlights how the increasing liberation of Jews in the late nineteenth century coincided in Sydney with a rise of Jewish figurative sculpture. Two works of art from the rich collection of Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, provide a starting point. Also included are rarely seen Jewish portraits painted or sculpted for Sydney patrons who used the portraiture to show off their social and economic standing. Richly illuminated addresses, on the other hand, reflected the popular taste for historicism in Victorian Sydney, and are represented by several examples. By the 1870s, it was a well established norm in the Australian business or society circles to award illuminated addresses as a well deserved token of appreciation, respect, and esteem. The Jewish middle class grew in confidence and social presence, and the community would engage the best artisans to produce elaborate formal presentations. 81 83 Biblical Moses 87 Portraits of Elizabeth and John Solomon, by Richard Noble, 1862 94 Portraits of Sarah and Barnett Levey, by Augustus Earle, 1825 98 Portraits of Frances and Saul Samuel, by several artists, 1840–1884 105 Portrait of Sydney Moss, now attributed to John Longstaff, 1895 112 The Great Synagogue in art 116 Illuminated address to George Myers, 1879 120 Illuminated address to Aaron Blashki, 1899 124 Illuminated address to Louis Phillips, 1896 129 Two Australian Jewish artists, 1890s 82 Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney Traditional piety Traditional Jewish piety is, unexpectedly to many, a rich field of visual art experience. It has a long and eventful history, whose essence lies in religious observance and devotion. Judaism is a monotheistic religion which regards piety as the supreme virtue of a human being. At the heart of Jewish piety are daily prayers; weekly rituals, such as celebrating the Sabbath; and observance of annual festivals, such as Hanukkah or Sukkot. The Jewish way of life is guided by The Commandments, mitzvot, written in the Torah, and the artefacts illustrated in this section provide the path to their fulfilment. They have often a dual purpose: a symbolic one, a reminder of God’s presence in a place of worship; and a practical one, such as candelabrum, etrog fruit protection, or an alms box. Whether undertaken on a personal level, wrapping oneself in an ornate prayer shawl, or as a communal expression of loyalty to a monarch through an elaborate ceremonial casket, the sense of both divine piety and moral responsibility remains constant within the Jewish life. 137 139 Silver Sabbath lamp 144 Festival of lights 148 George Judah Cohen’s devotion 154 Hebrew Pentateuch 160 ‘I have placed God before me’ 166 Celebrating the Sabbath 167 Sukkot festival 172 Prayers and ceremonies 175 Redemption of the firstborn 177 Charity as a religious obligation 179 Loyalty to the monarch 181 Jewish prayer shawl 184 Jewish ‘house of life’ 138 Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney Synagogue ritual objects This section focuses on the visual aspect of a synagogue interior, including the Ark and furniture fittings, ritual silver objects, and ceremonial textiles. Also called Judaica, these objects hold significant religious, historical, and cultural importance in Jewish tradition. In contrast to the ruling of Exodus 20:4-5, explored earlier, their central purpose is to fulfil hiddur mitzvah, a commandment to beautify the Torah scroll and highlight its sanctity. The style, design, and material of ritual objects vary widely across different Jewish communities and historical periods. Treasures selected here are all pertinent to the worship services in Sydney’s oldest synagogues. Their age, provenance, and arthistorical significance span from the eighteenth-century Dutch silver, over early colonial woodcarving, to the early Victorian London embroidery and a rare synagogue stainedglass window. 190 The Ark 194 Silver rimmonim 201 Torah crown 203 Objects for commemoration 211 Synagogue textiles 189 Those who inspired During the relatively short, over two-centuries-old history of the Jewish community in Sydney, several individuals have inspired others to create a remarkable visual legacy of Jewish history and culture. The early Jewish life in the colony may have seemed detached and lacking sufficient resources but several extant artefacts document a different story. Whether related to the first synagogue’s unique architectural style, or inspiring the purchase of the most significant silverware, the Sydney rimmonim, these objects continue to offer both valuable insights and memorable visual experience. Amongst those who inspired are diverse figures such as the Chief Rabbi of British Jews in London, or a young, convicted woman, and the prominent Jewish philanthropist or the loved Hebrew teacher in Sydney. They may not all stand out for their dedication to traditional Jewish values and charitable works, but they all believed in a prosperous Jewish future in Australia. Most remarkably, it was the vision and involvement of the emancipist Moses Joseph, the first president of the York Street Synagogue, who was instrumental in purchasing the Sydney rimmonim for the emerging congregation in 1842. Over 180 years later, they still represent a visual interface between the past and the future of the Sydney Jewish community. 217 219 Nathan Marcus Adler, 1803–1890 223 Moses Joseph, 1808–1889 236 Aaron Alexander Levi, 1823–1883 246 Alexander Barnard Davis, 1828–1913 254 Esther Abrahams, 1767–1846 260 Maurice Alexander, 1820–1874 264 George Judah Cohen, 1842–1937 218 Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney Our historical journey through the treasures of Jewish Sydney surveyed old Judaica objects, Jewish art, and synagogue architecture from the 1830s to the late nineteenth century. This visual legacy is now presented to researchers and lovers of art to explore further the little-studied field of Jewish history in Australia. Fig. 190 Havdalah spice tower, unknown silversmith, Vienna, silver filigree, marked ca 1870, 17 x 6 cm (base diam.). A spice tower, besamim, is filled with fragrant spices for a parting ceremony, Havdalah, on Sabbath evening, a tradition observed across the Jewish diaspora. Sydney Jewish Museum, M2007.076.002. 272 Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney 

Dr Jana Vytrhlik MPHA is a Jewish art and architecture historian and Judaica specialist. Rabbi Dr Benjamin J. Elton is the Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue in Sydney. The Great Synagogue Sydney Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney The story of a visual heritage It is popularly believed that Judaism is a religion that rejects visual arts and prohibits the creation of sculpted designs. Not surprisingly, nineteenth-century Australia is not best known for its Jewish art. Yet, as revealed in the Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney, an important visual heritage survives and is marked by fine Judaica objects, artworks, and unique synagogue architecture. In 2024, when the Sydney Jewish community commemorates two milestones, it is timely to explore its history through the visual heritage. In 1844, 180 years ago, the emerging Sydney Jewish congregation consecrated the first synagogue designed and built in Australia. Three decades later, in 1874, architect Thomas Rowe won the design competition with his bold vision for the new Great Synagogue, one of the most admired Victorian buildings in Australia. These significant events prepared the way for the future development of a distinct Australian Jewish visual identity. For the first time, the book Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney brings to light the lesser known stories of long lost synagogues and the hidden past of art, artefacts, and architecture. Richly illustrated, this book reveals the presence of a Jewish cultural heritage and important synagogue architecture in Sydney. Included are Jewish ritual objects, or Judaica, such as silver Torah ornaments, testimonials, gold embroidery textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and rarely published nineteenth-century portraits and archival Jewish community records. Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney is a lavishly illustrated, full colour, hard-cover book, 26.5x23.5 cm, with over 300 pages of photographs, essays, research findings and Jewish art history and architecture studies. Available from May 2024 please call 9360 7999 or email [email protected] New book Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney: The story of a visual heritage presents the lesser known stories and visual legacy of the 19th century Sydney