Menorah on Permanent Exhibition in NSW Parliament House
Sydney’s Yeshiva Centre gifted a Menorah to the NSW State Parliament in 2009…yesterday it was put on permanent display.
Yair Miller, Don Harwin, Shelley Hancock, Victor Dominello, Rabbi Pinchus Feldman and John Robertson
Don Harwin, the President of the Legislative Council and the Shelley Hancock, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, officially inaugurated the display in the historic Parkes Room in Parliament House. The silver Menorah has been housed temporarily since since it was gifted by the Yeshiva, the Chabad NSW headquarters, in the Speaker’s Office. It is kindled eachyear at a major Chanukah ceremony for all MPs at the Parliament’s Function Hall.
Special Guests at the unveiling included a representative of the Premier, the Victor Dominello, Minister for Citizenship and Communities as well as the Leader of the Opposition John Robertson and Mr Yair Miller, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
Legislative Council President Don Harwin noted the historic importance of the Parkes Room and the significance of all the artifacts in it saying that it is fitting for the Menorah to take pride of place amongst the valued treasures of our State.
He then introduced Rabbi Pinchus Feldman who bestowed a blessing upon all gathered.
Victor Dominello extended apologies from the Premier who was scheduled to attend but had to cancel at the last minute due to an urgent Government matter. Mr Dominello thanked Rabbi Feldman for the warm words of blessing and the inspiration that he can personally translate into his communal endeavors.
The Leader of the Opposition, John Robertson, said that thousands of people visit Parliament every year including many schoolchildren will have the opportunity to see this display and be inspired by the universal message of the Menorah, that of light and holiness banishing darkness and negativity.
The Speaker of the House, Shelley Hancock, noted that the Menorah was the second gift of the Jewish Community to NSW Parliament, the first being the Parliament’s Mace, donated by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in 1974. This highlights the warm relationship that the Jewish community has with the wider Australian community, underscoring the tolerance and harmonious diversity which makes our State and our Country such a wonderful place tin which to live.
The text on the Menorah
Dec 2009 – Kislev 5770″
