Published: 24 November 2025
Last updated: 27 November 2025
When Emma Rosenfeld McGrath held her son’s barmitzvah in Newcastle in October 2024, it was a rare and special moment for the synagogue, which is almost 100 years old. Emma, a Jewish doctor who moved to Newcastle in 2006, invited her family, friends, and the whole local Jewish community to join the celebration.
“All my family came, and all my husband’s family came. The Jewish community here was amazing. They came and were so kind. They even brought my son gifts. They want to support the younger generation,” she says.
For the Mcgrath family, celebrating locally was especially meaningful. Originally from Sydney, they had long assumed that study for her son’s barmitzvah would need to be in Sydney or even online. However, her son learned to read Hebrew locally, with Rabbi Yossi Rodal, the rabbi and director of Hunter Chabad, a Jewish outreach organisation serving people living in Newcastle, and Hunter Region.
“I had always imagined that I would have had to do some online thing,” McGrath says. “It was awesome to do it locally. It’s been really great to have that.”
In recent years, Newcastle and the wider Hunter Valley region have seen solid growth. Newcastle’s population has increased by about 10% since 2016 and the Hunter Valley is forecast to grow by roughly 40% by 2046. Alongside this trend, Newcastle’s small Jewish community has also been steadily growing, with the 2021 census recording 254 Jewish residents, a 42 percent increase since 2016.
Comments2
David Benge4 December at 07:39 pm
I believe the growth at the Newcastle Shul can be attributed to a number of things – obviously the dedicated work of Rabbi Yossi and his executive, but also because of the close bonds with a supportive Christian remnant, especially Newcastle Israel Awareness Group headed up by Di Imison. Di was also instrumental in recently setting up the Newcastle Chapter of Never Again is Now. And, as a gentile woman, she has just been honoured with a position on the Board as a Friend-of-the-Shul general member.
Lee-Anne Corrigan30 November at 11:27 pm
I remember meeting David Gubbay in 2005 when I asked him if he would sit for a portrait painting. I visited the fledgling synagogue that barely could form a quorum, and then it was attacked by rock wielding hoodlums and some lovely Christians sent donations s to help with restoration of the beautiful stained glass windows.But, after that things began to grow at the Jewish heart of Newcastle. How lovely to read your article today. Thankyou🤗