Cultural Mapping

Local history of the area

Strathfield Synagogue

The building’s history dates back to the early 1940s, during World War II (September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945). Several Jewish families migrated to Strathfield from the Eastern Suburbs at the period to get away from a feared Japanese invasion on the harbor or Kingsford Smith Airport (Gibson, 2014). Some continue to stay in Strathfield since they had business interests in Parramatta. ‘The Centre’ attracted a multitude people in the 1950s that it needed to expand. As a result, the historic building at 19 Florence Street was purchased. Phillip’s organizational framework encouraged communal solidarity and collaboration, emphasized learning, and formed the Strathfield Centre’s distinct tone and mood. H. P. Oser, an architect, crafted the New Synagogue Building. In June 1959, the foundation stone was placed, and the synagogue inaugurated in September of that year.

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple

The Sri Karphaga Vinayagar Shrine in Sydney is a Ganesh temple. Each month’s vinayakar/Ganesh chathurthi and sankadahara chathurthi were commemorated as a special occasion, peaking in the Vinayakar/Ganesh Chathurthi of Avani in August/September, which was the year’s grandest event. Due to this, Hindu New Year celebrations such as Navarathri, Skanthashashti, Thiruvembavai, Deepavali/Diwali, Shiv Rathri, Tamil and English New Year have also been observed with zeal. Numerous people are feeling the Karphaga Vinayakar’s Divine Grace, and there is a rush of dedication and cooperation from the general population. Volunteers attend to help with temple activities such as establishing a garden surrounding the temple and washing it, among other things. Every Friday, devotees and volunteers participate in Kootu Praarthanai with great zeal. The Hindu Sri Karphgaga Vinayakar Temple in Sydney is dedicated to Ganesha, the God of Creation and overcoming Obstacles. Individuals from the Indian community worship Ganesha before rituals, weddings, pilgrimages, trips to faraway areas, and visits to teachers and stores because Winship thinks Ganesha will assist them in approaching their deities. Ganesha’s fractured right side of the curled ivory tusk is one of his performing characters, symbolizing that there is no absolute ideal fate in the world. Sacrifices have to be made in order to preserve achievement, knowledge, or insight. On the premise of rebirth and god’s reward and retribution, it directs adherents’ statements and behavior.

Shirdi Sai Temple

Whether there is anything Shirdi Sai Baba is known for, it must be the freedom he gives his followers to worship in any way they want. This temple is a symbol of such freedom, a haven for all devotees seeking solace from the stresses of everyday life and materialism. “If you look at me, I will look at you,” Baba used to say. In truth, it is Baba who has chosen Sydney as the location for the temple, not the Sansthan. Baba wishes to give his devotees a location where they can joyfully shout his glories and open their hearts to him in order to witness his miracles.

Debates

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple

The council to rule on historical classification is one of the current disputes swirling around the temple, but the proposal has struck a roadblock in the guise of a proposal to classify the synagogue as a local heritage object (Narunsky, 2021). The council must decide if the structure or the memorials therein have historical and cultural significance and are therefore worth protecting.

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple

The current debate surrounding this temple is Development Application. Existing structures to be demolished, and build a Hindu Temple to serve as a centre of public devotion, relocating the amenities.

Shirdi Sai Temple

There may not be any debates about the location of the Shridi Sai Temple. 1. A Baba devotee, Kishen Bhaisaheb, selected a location from an Indian rental agency. 2. Guruji, another Baba devotee in India, had pledged to build 108 Baba temples all across the globe, and he did not mind if the site in Sydney was temporary, so he immediately informed Kishen Bhaisaheb to choose this location.

Similarities

All of the temples are utilised as cultural centres. In the case of Strathfield Synagogue, Judaism is the dominant culture. The majority of the events were focused on either education or fundraising. The yearly Purim celebration, the demo Seder, the Chanukah parade, and the Sukkah decorating were all fun for the kids. Adults had the yearly fete, monthly card parties, anniversaries, and house parties, as well as an infinite series of meetings that doubled as social gatherings. Both the Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple and the Shirdi Sai Temple are used for practicing Hinduism.

Differences

Strathfield Synagogue

The initial purpose for the structure within the community was to educate the younger generation about Judaism (Malone, 2021). There was a period when cheder lessons were also conducted on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after class. The Yolanda Kramer Kindergarten: which did serve the local area till the synagogue was acquired. Within, a memorial to Jewish war victims was established, as well as a commemoration wall recording the names of people murdered by the Nazis.

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple is a canteen that serves not only Garnish as well as other deities. Worshippers hold auspicious events for all blessings and barriers to be removed.

Shirdi Sai Temple

In commemoration of Ebenezer Vickery, an Australian industrialist, pastoralist, and philanthropist, the site has been utilized as an organic chapel. Brundah, a Victorian-style mansion, Leigh College Hall, a neo-Georgian Revival-style building that served as an educational facility for the Islam, and the E. Vickery Memorial Chapel, which was renovated into Shirdi Sai Temple, are all part of the property. Because Hindu structures are constructed within madrasas, it is a combination of Islam and India to a certain degree. Shirdi Sai Baba has followers in both Hinduism and Islam, but he lacks the sense of freedom that belonging and believing imply.

References

Gibson, E. (2014). Architectural Projects 1480– Strathfield Synagogue Heritage

Assessment http://jewsofnsw.info/heritagelists/StrathfieldHeritageAssesment.pdf 10 March 2014

Malone, U. (2021). Strathfield Synagogue faces sale due to dwindling congregation.

Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2 November 2021, from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-16/strathfield-synagogue-faces-sale-due-to-dwindling-congregation/5456326.

Narunsky, G. (2021). Strathfield Synagogue sold. Australianjewishnews.com. Retrieved

2 November 2021, from https://www.australianjewishnews.com/strathfield-synagogue-sold/.

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Maharashtra – History, Visiting Time, How to Reach.

Travelogyindia.com. (2021). Retrieved 2 November 2021, from https://www.travelogyindia.com/mumbai/shirdi-sai-baba-temple.html.