Parliament Unveils Its Menorah

The Presiding Officers of NSW Parliament hosted a Morning Tea on Thursday to mark the unveiling of a permanent display for Parliament’s Menorah (Candelabra).

The Hon. Don Harwin MLC, President of the Legislative Council and the Hon. Shelley Hancock MP, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, officially inaugurated the Display, which is suitably installed in the historic Parkes Room in Parliament House.

The pure Silver Menorah was gifted to Parliament in 2009 by The Yeshiva Centre – Chabad NSW Headquarters and has been housed temporarily since then in the Speaker’s Office. It is kindled once a year at a major Chanukah ceremony for all MPs at the Parliament’s Function Hall.

Special Guests at Sunday’s unveiling included a representative of the Premier, the Hon Victor Dominello, Minister for Citizenship and Communities as well as the Leader of the Opposition Mr John Robertson MP and Mr Yair Miller, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

Legislative Council President The Hon Don Harwin MLC commenced the formal proceedings by noting the historic importance of the Parkes Room and the significance of all the artifacts in it, noting that it is very fitting for the Menorah to take pride of place amongst the valued treasures of our State. He then introduced Rabbi Pinchus Feldman OAM who bestowed a blessing upon all gathered (Full text below).

The Hon Victor Dominello MP then addressed the gathering and extended apologies from the Premier who was scheduled to attend but had to cancel at the last minute due to an urgent Government matter. Mr Dominello thanked Rabbi Feldman for the warm words of blessing and the inspiration that he can personally translate into his communal endeavors.

The Leader of the Opposition Mr John Robertson MP spoke about how proud he is that the thousands of people who visit Parliament every year including many schoolchildren will have the opportunity to see this display and be inspired by the universal message of the Menorah, that of light and holiness banishing darkness and negativity.

The formal proceedings were concluded with an address by the Speaker, the Hon Shelley Hancock MP who noted that the Menorah is the second gift of the Jewish Community to NSW Parliament, the first being the Parliament’s Mace which was donated by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in 1974. This highlights the warm relationship that the Jewish community has with the wider Australian community, and something that underscores the tolerance and harmonious diversity which makes our State and our Country such a wonderful place to live in.