Visit to Prince of Wales Hospital "Sukkah"



Walt Secord MLC, NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson, Rabbi Kastel & Ron Hoenig

The Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney’s Jewish House have achieved an Australian first by providing a Sukkah on the hospital campus for the Jewish festival of Sukkot.

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson, Walt Secord MLC, Coogee MP Bruce Notley-Smith and I visited the sukkah today.  We were all impressed and extended our congratulations and thanks to Rabbi Mendel Kastel, CEO Jewish House and Dr Patrick Bolton, the Director of Clinical and Medical Services at Prince of Wales Hospital on their initiative.

A “Sukkah” is a temporary hut that is erected by Jewish families celebrating the week long festival of Sukkot and symbolizes the shelters used by the Israelites during their time in the wilderness after they were freed from slavery in Egypt.

Sydney's Jewish House works closely with the Prince of Wales Hospital, the Royal Women’s Hospital and Sydney Children’s hospital to provide support for patients particularly those of the Jewish faith.

Rabbi Kastel came up with the idea of building a sukkah for Jewish patients and hospital staff who would be in, or working at, the hospital over the Sukkot festival and Dr Bolton made it happen. Both parties are to be congratulated.

The Sukkah is being enjoyed by not only the Jewish families but everyone who visits the hospital. 

It has created a lot of interest.