A family connection
The new president of Sydney’s The Great Synagogue has told the AGM that his great-great-grandmother had been a founding member of the congregation in 1878.
Justice Stephen Rothman and David Lewis
David Lewis has been appointed president after Justice Stephen Rothman retired after six years at the helm.
He spoke about his great-great-grandmother Rebecca Selig and other family connections.
Rebecca Selig
David Lewis pointed out: “My family were members of both the York and Bridge Street communities from the early 1850s. Given our very early arrival in Australia, my Selig, Goldberg and Solomon family connections have delivered four previous Presidents of The Great all the way back to our first President, George Myers, in 1878.”
He added: “The Great Synagogue is not only firmly in my heart, it is in my blood. I am eternally grateful to my ancestors who had the foresight to build and maintain this Shul I love and only hope that Hashem gives me the guidance to serve the community well and to play some small part in ensuring that our next 142 years are as Great as the past.”
He thanked Justice Rothman for his “strong leadership” over the past six years and Rabbi Benjamin Elton for strong growth in the congregation, due in no small part to Rabbi Elton, and we can now build on this and involve you all in this next phase of our growth.
