The Great Adopts an Orang-Utan
Miriam the orphaned orang-utan and some of her friends in the Borneo jungle have new step-parents, thanks to the generosity of Sydney’s Great Synagogue members.
Present in spirit – and photograph – Miriam was the star of The Great’s Tu b’Shvat celebrations in February.
Miriam
Guests joined in a fruit fest catered by Chazan David Hilton and raised money not only for Miriam and her friends but also for the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to plant trees in Israel.
The JNF’s Benjy Maor spoke about the vital necessity of planting trees in a rapidly warming environment.
Lou Grossfeldt (Primate Superviser) and Mandy McLellan (Primate Keeper) from Taronga Zoo explained how the Zoo helps Borneo’s Orang-utan Survival program and Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence spoke about Tu B’Shvat and importance of trees in ecosystem.
A minute’s silence was observed for those lost in bushfires in Victoria and a prayer was said to mark the horrendous loss of life, destruction of communities and forest ecosystems in Victoria.
