SYDNEY, Australia – The Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth arrived in Australia on his last official visit before stepping down after two decades in his post.

Lord Jonathan Sacks, who travelled with his wife, Lady Elaine, was the guest of honor at a gala dinner attended by more than 300 people at Government House in Perth Sunday to mark the 120th anniversary of the Perth Hebrew Congregation.

Sacks will fly to Sydney this week where he will attend The Great Synagogue and Central Synagogue as well as a special dinner attended by New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir.

He will then head to Melbourne as a guest of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, which is this year celebrating its 155th anniversary. He is scheduled to lead the procession of a double Torah dedication starting at Parliament House in Melbourne and ending at the synagogue.

In an interview with the Australian Jewish News last week, Sacks praised Australian Jewry, saying: “Australian Jewry is blessed with wonderful rabbis and exceptional lay leaders, and it’s just connecting and reconnecting with people that’s the most important thing.”