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Temple David
Temple David
Religion
Affiliation	Progressive Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Kim Ettlinger
Status	Active
Location
Location	Mount Lawley, Perth, Western Australia
Country	Australia
	Shown within Perth
Geographic coordinates	31°55′45″S 115°52′20″E / 31.9293°S 115.8723°E
Architecture
Architect(s)	Harold Boas
Date established	1952; 72 years ago
Website
	templedavid.org.au

Temple David is a Progressive Jewish congregation and synagogue located in Mount Lawley, an inner northern suburb of Perth. It is the sole progressive congregation in the state of Western Australia.^[1] The congregation was established in 1952.^[2]^[3]

History

A key proponent for a Jewish congregation under the auspices of Reform Judaism, was Dr Ronald Taft, from the Psychology faculty at the University of Western Australia. Taft had been a member of Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne and took up his faculty position in 1951. In May 1952, a formation known as the "Liberal Jewish Group" was established and began conducting Reform services. Rabbi Herman Sanger, a key figure in the history of Temple Beth Israel, led a service in the same year, addressing 300 in attendance. Taft also became foundation president of the congregation.^[4]^[5]^[3]Jewish refugees and Holocaust survivors from Europe were among the founding members of the congregation.^[6]

In 1959,^[7] Rabbi George W. Rubens became the congregation's first permanent rabbi and the congregation was renamed Temple David.^[3] Rubens, born in the Free City of Danzig had previously served congregations in Melbourne and Hobart.^[7] His great-grandfather had been a founder of the Great Synagogue, Danzig's fist Reform synagogue.^[7]

A specially recorded service at the synagogue in November 1987, was broadcast in early 1988 for the ABC TV Sunday Worship slot.^[8]

Buildings

The congregation established a permanent home in 1954, by purchasing a family home on Clifton Crescent in Mount Lawley, that was converted to use as a synagogue. The synagogue was officially opened on 27 October 1954.^[9] The synagogue was dedicated in 1963, following an 18-month building and renovation process, with the construction of separate building housing a sanctuary and religion school. As part of the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled in commemoration of the Jewish dead from both World Wars.^[10] The new Ark acted as a focal point, surrounded by stained glass windows with menorah designs.^[10] Three classrooms and a function hall were also constructed.^[10] The works were completed at a cost of £28, 000.^[10] A caretaker's residence was constructed in 1973. The architect responsible for the designs was Harold Boas, a founding member of the congregation.^[11]^[12]

Leadership

The congregation was served by Israeli-born rabbi, Adi Cohen from 2014 to 2021.^[13] In 2022, Cohen was succeeded by the congregation's current rabbi, the South African-born Kim Ettlinger. Rabbi Ettlinger studied at rabbinical school in the United States and served Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne from 2010 to 2021.^[14]