The congregation played an important role in accommodating Melbourne's large population of Jewish Holocaust survivors[1][2][3] following World War II.

In 1938 the congregation moved to 40 Mitford Street where a part-time Talmud Torah was established in addition to regular prayer services.

[8] Elwood Shule flourished during and especially following World War II,[4] as a large number of Jewish Holocaust survivors settled in the area.

[11] Federal member for Melbourne Ports Michael Danby, an Elwood resident, marked the occasion by paying tribute to the congregation in a speech before Australian Parliament on 16 October 2008, saying,"It is very fortuitous, when viewed in retrospect, that this congregation was formed by central and east European migrants prior to the Second World War.

These were the very people who were able to look after the refugees and the displaced persons who came off the ships after the Second World War and who, subsequently, filled the pews at this very special Shule.