Just dropped in to say hello!
Governor-General Quentin Bryce “popped in” to Sydney’s Yeshiva Center today for a tour of Our Big Kitchen and to pick up a Menorah for Government House.
Over 300 Yeshiva supporters and local dignitaries packed the Flood Street Synagogue to hear welcome speeches from Rabbi Pinchus Feldman, Aboriginal councillor Dominic Wy Kynak, Rabbi Feldman’s granddaughter Raisel Feldman, a pupil at the Yeshiva College and Rebbitzin Pnina Feldman who presented the Governor-General with the Menorah. Rabbi Feldman gave Ms Bryce a copy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s book “Towards a Meaningful Life”. Rebbitzin Feldman reminisced about the first time she had seen the Queen and how she had not been disappointed in the magnificence of the occasion and outlined the communal efforts made by the Governor-General…the first woman to hold this position. “You are our role model” she told the G-G. Presenting the Menorah to Ms Bryce, Rebbitzin Feldman explained the history and functions of the Menorah, pointing out that the original Menorah had been made from one piece of solid gold symbolising the unity of Mankind.
The Governor-General, who had been given a tour of the Centre’s Our Big Kitchen where director Rabbi David Slavin showed her the secrets of Challah-making, responded by thanking the Yeshiva Centre for the Menorah and saying that she would show it to the hundreds of visitors who would visit Government House in the years to come. She complimented the Yeshiva Centre for its contribution to the community singling out Our Big Kitchen for the “rewarding things” it does for the community. She thanked the Centre for inviting her to see this “rich and valuable contribution” and revealing her observations as to how “the enthusiasm of the young people shines through”. She said :” Thank you for what you do for the community and for sharing it with me today.”
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Photos: Henry Benjamin, Ingrid Shakenovsky
