After 33 years of service to the Eastern European Jewish community in Bondi Beach, Chabad Bondi announced that it is putting the synagogue up for auction. Once the centre of many Jewish ceremonies and rites of passage, the building on O’Brien Street became too small for the growing community.
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman said that due to the increase in their numbers, Chabad Bondi had to find an alternative space to ensure that the spiritual needs of their members are fulfilled, especially during the religious holidays.
Whilst they didn’t want to move out of O’Brien Street, the lack of space eventually became an important issue that required action.
“This decision was made with a heavy heart,” the rabbi said. “We all have tremendous connections and good memories in the shul on many different levels. We have celebrated 33 years of circumcisions, weddings bar and bas mitzvos, kiddushim for our loved ones and many more countless occasions.”
Also known as the Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe (FREE), Chabad Bondi’s roots are from the former Soviet Union.
In 2019, Chabad Bondi received a generous offer from philanthropic developers to turn a part of their planned development on 105 Wellington Street into the new synagogue, after years of back and forth at the Land & Environment Court over a rejected development application with Waverley Council.
The group also received donated funds to build the synagogue’s foundation but they still need to come up with $3.5 million to complete the building. Chabad Bondi hopes to use the money from the auction for this project.
“The decision was made to be able to complete the fit-out of the new synagogue on wellington street which will replace the current premises with new memories and countless happy occasions for us and our children for generations to come,” the rabbi said.
The auction will take place at 6:00 p.m. on 9 March 2021 at the Cooley Auctions on Cross Street, Double Bay