Moriah and Great mentioned in parliament
TWO of the Sydney Jewish community’s oldest institutions were given special mention in the New South Wales parliament last month.
TWO of the Sydney Jewish community’s oldest institutions were given special mention in the New South Wales parliament last month.
Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton moved a Private Members Statement on March 7 highlighting Moriah College’s 75th anniversary.
Calling Moriah “one of the premium Jewish schools in Australia”, Upton said, “Moriah College has thrived and produced more than 7000 graduates who have gone on to bolster their community and contribute to my electorate of Vaucluse and beyond.”
She added, “The students often feature amongst those across the State who achieve academic excellence in the Higher School Certificate” and Moriah “has proved to be a strong institution for children of the Jewish faith and community”.
Upton said she had had great pleasure in attending many events at the College over the years and that she enjoyed a close relationship with the school.
She also paid tribute to principal John Hamey, president Giora Friede, patron Sir Frank Lowy, Moriah Foundation president Judy Lowy and chairman Brian Schwartz.
In a Notice of Motion that same day commending the Great Synagogue on its 140th anniversary, Upton, who attended a service marking the milestone on March 3, recognised the shul has “been central to Jewish culture and worship in Sydney, and is home to a thriving modern congregation”.
She told The AJN this week it was important to mark these “significant anniversaries” because “it not only shows the strong contribution and history of the Jewish community in New South Wales but it also shows their broader commitment across our broader community”.
“The Jewish community that’s represented in a large part of my local community [is] the exemplar community. They reach out beyond their own community and create a fellowship across the state,” she said.
Moriah College principal John Hamey thanked Upton for her remarks.
“The College gratefully acknowledges Ms Gabrielle Upton MP for her private members statement congratulating Moriah on its 75th anniversary. Ms Upton has been a strong advocate and supporter of Moriah College, maintaining a close relationship with us through her attendance at many College events, and as a strong advocate for the Sydney Jewish community more generally,” he said.
Great Synagogue Rabbi Benjamin Elton and president Stephen Rothman said, “Gabrielle Upton has always been very supportive of The Great Synagogue and the wider Jewish community, and we look forward to continuing our warm friendship with her”.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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