Good Shabbos?! No, GREAT Shabbos!!

I'm a few days late on this post, but it is very worth mentioning.

Last Friday night I went to the Coogee Synagogue for services. It's about half a block from my Jamie and Abby's apartment and about a 10 minute walk from mine. Abby and I went together and met some family friends of hers who were in town for a Bar Mitzvah (not at Coogee, but they were staying here anyway). Anyway, at the front gate I immediately meet the rabbi - I'll have to update you on his last name some other time, it has a lot of syllables and starts with a K - he was incredibly welcoming and invited me and Abby to Shabbos dinner.

The shul is very unassuming from the outside and small-ish on the inside. It's an orthodox shul, as most are in Australia. Apparently, the Jewish community here is composed of Chabad-esque orthodox, modern orthodox and secular Jews. I'm told that there is one reform shul in Sydney and it more resembles and American conservative synagogue.

All that aside, I was perfectly at home in this place. There was a balcony women's section but also a main-floor level section for women (I'm assuming for times when its not super crowded, like a average Shabbos evening). It's modern looking - white walls, etched glass for the railing upstairs, comfy seats.... and a very modest group for the service. There were probably 30 people inside and about a million children playing in the 'social hall.'

After services, Abby and I spent a few more minutes talking with the rabbi and rebetson and then went to her family friend's apartment for Shabbos dinner. It was a fantastic night, we talked a lot about things to do in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra while we're here. We made some great connections and I cannot wait to go back to the shul, hang out with the rabbi, meet his family and be part of the Coogee Beach Jewish community. We were told that there are usually a bunch of students around each semester... we'll see how it goes!

Laila tov!
Rachel