Australia
Emanuel Synagogue is the birthplace of the Masorti movement in Australia.
Originally established as a Reform synagogue in 1938 (then called Temple Emanuel) Emanuel Synagogue is now a very large, explicitly pluralist congregation affiliated to Masorti Olami as well as the Progressive and Renewal movements.
Masorti, Progressive and Renewal services are all provided. Members attend the service of their choice and join together as one community for the purposes of meals, education programs and other joint activities including the governance of the congregation.
The Masorti minyan originally came together in the early 1990s as a small group of laypeople meeting for a regular Monday morning service under the guidance of Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins. After some debate, it was agreed to adopt a Masorti form of service, using the siddur Sim Shalom. Thus the first Masorti service in Australia came into being.
Over time, under Rabbi Kamins' leadership, this small beginning developed into a full range of services including Shabbat, Festivals and Monday and Thursday mornings. High Holy Day services of masorti@emanuel can attract between 600 and 700 participants. Rabbi Kamins chose to change his rabbinical affiliation to the Rabbinical Assembly and in time became the Senior Rabbi of the congregation.
masorti@emanuel has gradually become a more clearly articulated stream within the Emanuel Synagogue and is a growing part of its membership. As part of this growth, there was a change of name from Temple Emanuel to Emanuel Synagogue, from a Progressive to an explicitly pluralist congregation.
In 1999, Kehilat Nitzan, Melbourne's first Conservative (Masorti) Congregation was established, with foundation president Prof John Rosenberg. The congregation appointed its first rabbi, Rabbi Ehud Bandel in 2006. Currently services are held in B'nai B'rith House, East St Kilda.The refurbishment and partial reconstruction of a building in Caulfield to serve as the first Conservative Synagogue building in Australia is advanced, completion being anticipated during 2010. In 2007 the congregation had approximately 150 families, with 500 attending High Holiday services. Kehilat Nitzan is affiliated with Masorti Olami, the World Council of Conservative Congregations.
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