New burial ground for Sydney
A new Jewish burial ground in the Sutherland area of Sydney will be consecrated later this month.
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies together with Woronora Memorial Park, administered by the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trusts (SMCT) in NSW has released details of the grounds at Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland.
Woronora Cemetery
The about to be consecrated area will provide for the needs of the growing Bankstown, Hurstville and Wollongong-based Jewish communities. The cemetery grounds will be consecrated by Rabbi Chaim Ingram representing the Sydney Beth Din at 2.30 pm on Sunday 15thof May 2016, following biblical traditions involving Rabbi Ingram walking the perimeter of the newly-allocated Jewish section as part of the formal ceremony. The burial area will allow for up to 2 burials per grave as per the guidelines issued by the Sydney Beth Din.
Graham Boyd, CEO of the SMCT said that “After consecration, the new burial area will be formally gazetted for Jewish burial with special layout in accordance with the needs of the Jewish faith and community. The new graves will be ready for release before the end of the third quarter of 2016. The cemetery is grateful to Mr David Knoll of the Jewish Board of Deputies, who has been instrumental in making the needs of Jewish community known to Woronora Memorial Park and the provision of an additional 120 consecrated graves. The area to be consecrated is located in one of the most pristine areas of Woronora Memorial Park.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Jeremy Spinak commented: “We are pleased to endorse this announcement and commend the efforts of Woronora Memorial Park and David Knoll in making this happen. We also thank the Sydney Beth Din and Sydney Chevra Kadisha for their co-operation and support, and Rabbi Chaim Ingram for conducting the consecration. This will be a great asset to the Jewish community of the area.”
The grounds will accommodate 126 graves initially. There will be no prayer house facilities available.
While I am happy that the existing Jewish Section of Woronora Cemetery is to be enlarged, the article from your journalist has not been properly researched in regard to whom the cemetery would be applicable. There is no longer a Jewish community in Bankstown; the Synagogue was firebombed in 1991 when the Shul was already experiencing a decline in numbers and as a result it no longer exists as a synagogue. Southern Sydney Synagogue is the hub of Jewish life in the St George and Sutherland Shire area, and it’s omission in your report is insulting to our very vibrant and happy community. Wollongong, the South Coast and Southern Highlands are also growing in numbers. It is sad that these beautiful areas south of the CBD seem to be forgotten in the popular Jewish press.
Sue Samuels
Alfords Point