The Brisbane Synagogue

  ברוכים הבאים

Welcome to the website of the Brisbane Synagogue and the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation.

 

The Brisbane Hebrew Congregation is the largest Jewish organisation in Queensland and its Synagogue is the oldest in Queensland.

The Brisbane Hebrew Congregation welcomes all and promotes active participation. Under the leadership of the Board and Rabbi Levi Jaffe, the we offer the many services essential to a Jewish way of life.

For the many people that attend the Shule each week, the Brisbane Synagogue has become like a second home. There is a warmth and atmosphere that is created during the services and activities, that can not be experienced elsewhere. This is in part due to the sense of belonging to a Jewish Community with a long, rich history of which we can all be proud. We are traditional and pragmatic following in the footsteps of our forefathers who created this Congregation 150 years ago. The beautiful Synagogue was built in 1896, 135 years ago this year and we endeavour to maintain both our own Heritage and the Heritage of our magnificent home.

The Brisbane Hebrew Congregation is, however, a modern and dynamic Orthodox Synagogue (by way of charter), which aims to achieve a sense of community within the wide range of its members and participants and we welcome you to join us.

On this site you will find information about the Brisbane Jewish community, activities, kosher products, services, visiting the synagogue and many other topics. 
For school group visits to the Brisbane Synagogue or other queries please use the Contact Us page.

Attending Services During These Unpredictable Times

The Shule is open for services, however, for security purposes, we ask you to follow the protocols as below.

Service days and times can be found under the Service Times tab on this website.

For those who prefer to join on-line, we are hoping to continue to host a Kabbalat Shabbat on Zoom prior to Shabbat at 2:00pm on Friday – more details of this in the Rabbi’s weekly newsletter.

New protocols for the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation include the need for members and friends to pre-register to attend a service via the booking form on this website. Please follow these guidelines:
• If you wish to attend the Shule service 

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER 

HERE FOR SHABBAT

OR

HERE FOR MONDAY OR THURSDAY.

IF YOU DO NOT REGISTER YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ENTRY INTO THE SHULE SERVICE THAT DAY

Your details of your attendance, name, mobile phone and email will be kept on a register, as currently required by the Queensland Government. These details will be kept for at least 56 days in case we need to contact you in future.

Should Covid 19 Require us to Take Precautions:

If restrictions are once again (G-d Forbid) put in place due to Covid the following will apply:
Should you not be signed in prior to attending a Service, you will NOT be admitted

If you are over 70yrs of age or have diabetes/cardiovascular or heart disease or are immuno-compromised, you are at a greater risk from Covid 19 and should not attend Shule.
The Sydney Beth Din has advised in their detailed Covid 19 ruling that staying at home out of health concerns is as much a mitzvah as going to Shule itself, perhaps more so.
You may be asked to sign a disclaimer saying that if you do wish to attend Shule and are at higher risk you understand those risks and are still prepared to come.
If you have recently returned from travelling abroad or are in isolation, exhibit cold like symptoms or a sore throat or temperature PLEASE DO NOT COME UNTIL CLEARED BY YOUR DOCTOR.

We strongly advise that you should wear a mask at all times when in Shule. Although we cannot insist on this it is strongly advisable for your own benefit and those of others in the Shule.

Please bring your own Kippa/Siddur/Chumash and Tallit and remove them from the Shule with you when you leave as we cannot provide them.

Please be good enough to sanitise your hands before you come and after you leave. Specific sanitisers will be available.

DO NOT move around the Shule during the service and sit only on the designated seat.
Please leave straight away, do not congregate and leave via the separate exit than the one you came in through – follow the arrows.

Much as we all enjoy a “good schmooze” please avoid congregating in the Shule and leave as soon as you can.There will be a separate entrance and exit to the Shule. Please pay attention to the directing signs at all times

The upstairs women’s area may be temporarily closed so please ladies, use the new downstairs women’s section.

Due to the fact that our usual minyanim have several men over 70, I urge in the strongest possible terms that younger congregants please make every effort, particularly at this difficult time, to attend to ensure we have a minyan so people saying Kaddish are able to undertake this mitzvah.

As Jewish people we have always seen the “cup half full” and know that our best days are ahead of us! We look forward to when we can return to normal services with each member of our Shule family participating in Jewish life at the Shule.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Brisbane Hebrew Congregation Board.

 

Please check our Facebook pages if you can, answering the security questions to obtain access, or emailing us to be included on our list for weekly updates, and special announcements.