Southern Sydney Synagogue

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-123354

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

Southern Sydney Synagogue

Mr MARK COURE (OatleyMinister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Seniors)

——Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the outstanding work of the Southern Sydney Synagogue, a local Jewish organisation that has been active in our community since 1943. The St George region is home to one of Australia's most thriving and diverse Jewish communities and the Southern Sydney Synagogue is continuing to share their community history. I want to particularly mention my dear friend and neighbour, Rabbi Tzuri Avila, who has recently stepped down in his role as Minister of the Synagogue after more than five years in the role. For the past 20 years during his life in Australia, Rabbi Avila has continued to promote the needs and values of our Jewish community. Prior to this role, Rabbi Avila was the Assistant Rabbi at the Chabad Synagogue in Double Bay before travelling to Los Angeles where he married his wife Fiona. In 2015, he became the fourth Minister of the Southern Sydney Synagogue and I am again deeply saddened to hear that he has now stepped down from this role. I wish Rabbi Avila and his wife Fiona all the best for their new journey together.