John Goldwater Architect: Our Father

Speech by Rachel Schanzer
Greys Avenue Commemorative Service
19 February 2023

We as a family are immensely proud of our father’s creation. To honour him and his significant contribution to our community, I will share with you some of my memories and thoughts. 

 Growing up, I have vivid memories of this magnificent community centre being a large part of our lives and it was the hub for our thriving, buzzing community. 

Along with religious services, there were a wide variety of Jewish organisations and events visible in the centre throughout the week.

My memories are that Sundays were always filled with activity, beginning with the sons of the community attending early morning Tefillin classes in preparation for their Barmitzvah, while their good mothers were in the kitchen preparing breakfast to feed their learned son’. 

Next on the day’s agenda was Hebrew school, an opportunity to catch up with Jewish friends and volunteer teachers. We learned more about who we were as Jews, our history as a people and how to doven. Just like the Kadimah students, we loved racing madly around the building and playing games in the courtyard during break time. 

Cheder was followed by the youth group weekly meetings. Habonim went to the Maon in Parnell and Bnei Akiva had its designated room here on site. Both youth movements served up a large pinch of their respective ideologies but more importantly, many of us formed life long friendships and even more importantly taught us how to be active members and leaders both in the Jewish and wider communities. Our youth continue to thrive from these experiences. 

While some people attended Shabbat services regularly, for many, Sunday was their richly Jewish day at Greys Ave. 

This building in its design was not just a functional space. Dad’s consideration of light, form, spaces that connect to each other, and one's lived experience is felt throughout. 

I love the sweeping staircases and curved walls leading to the second floor and the one that leads mysteriously below to the kindergarten, mikvah and other spaces which captured my young imagination. 

The little shul is one of my treasured spaces, so intimate, inclusive and spiritually moving. High on a wall is a taonga that came with the community from  the Princes St Shule. It is the Ten Commandments engraved in marble, with its emanating light, a reminder of our ancestors who came before us. This and the large windows connecting you to the outside and the lofty high ceiling all contribute in creating a contemplative space.

The High Holy days in the big shul and it’s magnanimous space, commanded a great sense of occasion. Filled to the brim with the community, with its range of engagement in the service, much catching up with friends and family and regularly being shushed by the Rabbi of the day are still memorable for me. 

Dad’s consideration of other features to enhance user experience include the beautiful Ark, the mesmerising glass Star of David chandelier, the large doors to the main Shul, the hanging garden, the use of rich coloured timber juxtaposed with the honey coloured bricks are all part of a great textural mix.

The courtyard cleverly designed as a central place to connect and host of many varied events. I remember fundraising bake-offs where mum's wholemeal bread sold like hot cakes; shared meals in the Sukkah, BBQ’s, chuppahs, bar mitzvah celebrations and more. The olive tree a symbol of peace - another feature in this outdoor space; perfect to sit around for a chat in the shade. Also a real attraction for youth to climb and collect olives to be used as ammunition, a real attraction.

Along with many families, we also celebrated beautiful life events here with two generations of Bar and Bat-mitzvah, along with Weddings and Brit Milah.  Dad and Janet were married in the sanctuary of the little shul. Alex and I had our chuppah in the original big shul, followed by the most beautiful reception in the original Alexander Astor Hall, a great venue for many community occasions and celebrations, including many B’nei Akiva second seders and Habonim’s third seders. Shirley Markham’s leadlight window was an intriguingly beautiful feature high up in the left corner of the hall that bore witness to all the goings on over the years.

Those who knew our father were witness to his endless commitment to the smooth running of this building and his passion for the community. Attending to arising issues as they occurred, always happy to give his time and find a solution. He supported the changes to his original design, so Kadimah College could grow and have their needs met. While I was never in love with the necessary reconfigured space I did absolutely cherish the revealing of the beautiful arched windows over Myers Park, previously hidden by the men's corridor into the big shule - an example of looking for a silver lining in change. 

This magnificent space was designed for a growing community, which it was for a time. John Goldwater’s most significant contribution to architecture was this building. Despite this, he was selfless in his consideration of the congregation’s needs and fully supportive of a community move should the need arise.  This has helped me greatly in coming to terms with what we are now to leave behind. I am grateful for my memories of this place and the legacy he left for his grandchildren and wider family. While this is a magnificent building and space, it is just that. Let us be reminded it is the people who make the place. He Tangata, He tangata, He tangata.  The people, the people, the people. 

So people, you are charged with a great responsibility to make this move work. Be part of the avodah/work that needs doing, be part of creating a new space for our community to thrive and grow together.

See you on the other side.

Shalom Aleichem