Jewish Museum of Australia
Encyclopedia
The Jewish Museum of Australia is a community museum, which aims to explore and share the Jewish experience in Australia and benefit Australia's diverse society. It is committed to being a respected and innovative cultural centre, recognised nationally for its excellence in exhibitions, education programs and collection management.
The museum has presented over forty wide-ranging exhibitions, several of which traveled nationally. The museum has attracted significant communal support and won several prestigious industry awards.
It was located in the synagogue
of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation
until 1995. In 1992, the Jewish Museum purchased a building in Alma Road, St Kilda
opposite one of Melbourne's most beautiful synagogues, the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation, and close to Temple Beth Israel. The museum was officially opened at the new site by the then Governor-General
, Bill Hayden
, on 20 August 1995 as the Jewish Museum of Australia, Gandel Centre of Judaica.
The museum has presented over forty wide-ranging exhibitions, several of which traveled nationally. The museum has attracted significant communal support and won several prestigious industry awards.
History
The Jewish Museum of Australia was established in 1982 by Rabbi Ronald Lubofski to enable his collection of Judaica to be displayed to the public.It was located in the synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation
Melbourne Hebrew Congregation
The Melbourne Hebrew Congregation , or Toorak Shule, is the oldest Jewish congregation in Melbourne, Australia. Formed in 1841, the congregation was originally located on Bourke Street before moving to Toorak Road, South Yarra in 1930.-History:The first Jews in Melbourne arrived around the time of...
until 1995. In 1992, the Jewish Museum purchased a building in Alma Road, St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
opposite one of Melbourne's most beautiful synagogues, the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation, and close to Temple Beth Israel. The museum was officially opened at the new site by the then Governor-General
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, Bill Hayden
Bill Hayden
William George "Bill" Hayden AC was the 21st Governor-General of Australia. Prior to this, he represented the Australian Labor Party in parliament; he was a minister in the government of Gough Whitlam, and later became Leader of the Opposition, narrowly losing the 1980 federal election to the...
, on 20 August 1995 as the Jewish Museum of Australia, Gandel Centre of Judaica.