A Sydney synagogue whose administrators were prevented from sacking its rabbi because doing so would be inconsistent with orthodox Jewish law will close on Friday, the administrators have said.
The potential closure of the South Head synagogue, described by a former president as a “tragedy not just for South Head but for all Australian jewry,” follows bitter recent disputes between the synagogue’s board and its chief rabbi of 32 years, Benzion Milecki.
Administrator Anthony Elkerton wrote to congregants this week to say the synagogue needed third party funding to continue and, with that funding unforthcoming, the “the Synagogue will cease to operate from midday on Friday, 30 June”.
Mr Elkerton, along with Ron Dean-Wilcocks, was appointed an administrator of the synagogue in April. A day later, they attempted to sack Rabbi Milecki.
Read the full article by Jacob Saulwick at The Sydney Morning Herald.