HANDSOME SYNAGOGUE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 774, 21 September 1929, Page 8

HANDSOME SYNAGOGUE

FINE WELLINGTON STRUCTURE TO BE OPENED CEREMONY ON SUNDAY (Prom Our Resident Reporter) . WELLINGTON, Friday. The consecration and opening ceremony of the new Synagogue on the Terrace will take place on Sunday afternoon. The Rabbi Van Staveren and the Rev. C. Pltkowsky will have the assistance of Rabbi S. A Goldstein, of Auckland, and of Rabbi A. Astor, of Dunedin in this ceremony. Mr. P. Myers will declare the synagogue open, and the Chief Justice, the Hon. M. Myers, will unveil a tablet in the vestibule, commemorating the foundation of the synagogue and recording the names of ministers and honorary officers. The building is a handsome, plain structure of brick and reinforced concrete. The frontage presents a dignified and pleasing appearance, any tendency toward severity being relieved by the artistic arrangement of the columns, cornices and enrichments in white cement. From the vestibule inside the main entrance, which is flanked by Corinthian columns, lead stairways to the women’s gallery, which runs round the interior of the building. Two double doors give entrance to the main body of the synagogue, the almemar, or platform, being at the end opposite from the doors. Tiled floors, plastered walls, panelled dadoes and a finely-modelled ceiling all give the interior a pleasing effect. The synagogue will seat about 500. This was thought to be large enough to serve the needs of the Hebrew congregation in the immediate neighbourhood. The building has cost more than £IO,OOO, all of which money has come from the congregation. \