Michael Danby (Melbourne Ports, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to praise the elevation of the new young rabbi of the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation, one of only five since it was established, Rabbi Yaakov Glasman. Rabbi Glasman is a first. His elevation is quite monumental in the history of the Australian Jewish community, in the sense that he is the first fully ordained rabbi who is the grandsonof four survivors of the Holocaust. His assumption of this position is of great moment to the community and, obviously, to his four grandparents that such a wonderful, enthusiastic and capable young man has taken over such a position.

The service was attended by his predecessor, the very great cantor and Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn. An amazing male choir performed under the direction of the extraordinary Mr Bartak, the choir conductor, who is the only man I know who still uses a tuning fork to achieve pitch before a choir commences singing.

I want to congratulate all of the people involved, including the president, Mr Levy, and the very extensive congregation of that very famous and beautiful synagogue in my electorate, and to congratulate Rabbi Glasman on his wonderful elevation to a position that I am sure he will fulfil with great distinction.