OPENING NEW SYNAGOGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 12

OPENING NEW SYNAGOGUE.

CEREMONY AT WELLINGTON.

CONSECRATION TO-MORROW.

[By TELEGRAPH.—OWN ■CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON, Friday.

The new synagogue on the Terrace is now . practically out of'the builder's hands. The consecration and opening ceremony will take place on Sunday afternoon. In this ceremony Rabbi'"Van Staveren and the Rev. C. Pitkowsky will have the assistance of Rabbi S. A. Goldstein, of Auckland, ' and of Rabbi A. Astor, of Dunedin.

Mr. P. Myers will- declare the synagogue open, and the Chief Justice, 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, the foundation stone of which was laid last February, is, a handsome, plain rather than ornate, structure of. brick and reinforced concrete. It stands ,bacjc from the street alignment! Tho frontago 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 wside the main entrance, which is flanked by Corinthian columns, lead, stairways to the ladies', gallery, which runs round tho interior of the building. Two double doors give entrance to the main body of the synagogue,' the almemar, or platform, being placed at the end opposite from the doors.. Tiled . floors, plastered walls, panelled dadoes and a finely-modelled ceiling all give the interior a pleading effect. The synagogue will seat about 500. This was thought to be large enough to serve the necdp of the Hebrew congregation in the immediate neighbourhood. The build-, ing cost well over £10,055, all of which money has been forthcoming from the local congregation.