The mosaic displayed in the Sydney Jewish Museum has a fascinating history, one closely linked to the architect of our building: The Maccabean Hall.
Designed by Gordon Keesing (1888–1972), the mosaic was created for the 1923 Grosvenor Street Synagogue. Keesing, a prominent architect for early Jewish community buildings, also designed the Maccabean Hall, which opened on our Darlinghurst site the same year.
Born into a Jewish family in Auckland, New Zealand, Keesing began his architectural career in Sydney in 1907. During World War I, he volunteered for the Australian Imperial Forces in 1915 and served on the Western Front.
Keesing was known for his artistic talent, sketching the classical architecture of Europe during his service and giving lectures on town planning and travel. After the war, he became the Principal Australian Architect for the War Graves Unit. In 1919, he worked in London on designs for Australian war monuments and later contributed to the Australian Memorial Scheme for Gallipoli. The obelisk design he created became a powerful symbol of remembrance.
After the war, Keesing’s life was marked by personal loss—the death of his father in 1919—and the deep psychological impact of his service. He returned to Sydney in late 1919, where he quickly re-established himself as a successful civic and suburban architect. He was also active in philanthropic work and the Jewish community.
One of Keesing’s most notable works is our Maccabean Hall (also known as the NSW Jewish War Memorial). His involvement in Jewish architecture extended to the original Central Synagogue, which opened in 1923 in Grosvenor Street, Bondi Junction. The design featured a seven-branched gold menorah in a medallion, surrounded by a green grapevine foliage. It sat proudly on the bimah, the platform in a synagogue from which the Torah is read and sermons are given.
The Synagogue was demolished in 1970 to make way for the new major thoroughfare, Syd Einfeld Drive. The mosaic, presumed lost, surprisingly resurfaced years later in a suburban home in Oatley, some 30 kilometres from its original home.
This exquisite mosaic, designed by Keesing, is a key piece of our cultural heritage and a lasting tribute to his architectural legacy. Its striking design has been adapted into a memorable challah cover, accompanied by a brief history of its significance. This challah cover is available in our online shop, here.
References
https://www.australianjewishnews.com/a-mosaic-menorah-mystery/
https://najex.org.au/hero/gordon-samuel-keesing-1888-1972/
