Rabbi Raymond Apple

Jerusalem, Israel

(Sydney, Australia) Mar 18, 2014

For many years, Rabbi Raymond Apple was the leading Australian rabbi and an Australian national figure.

Born and educated in Melbourne, Australia he went to Britain as a student and gained a minister's diploma, teacher's diploma and rabbinic ordination at Jews College (the London School of Jewish Studies). He also has qualifications in arts, law, history, religion and education, and holds honorary doctorates from two Australian universities and awards from two others.

After serving as religious director of the Association of Jewish Youth in Britain, he ministered to London synagogues at Bayswater and Hampstead, and was also chairman of the Jewish Marriage Council, president of the Union of Anglo-Jewish Preachers, and a member of the Chief Rabbi's Cabinet.

From 1972 to 2005, he was senior rabbi of the Great Synagogue in Sydney. He was also senior rabbi to the Australian Defense Force, a member of the Sydney rabbinical court, a university teacher, Master of Mandelbaum House at Sydney University, mentor of many synagogues and organizations, and active in inter-community work.

He is patron and past chairman of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews, and Past Deputy Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. He is patron and past president of the Australian Jewish Historical Society, and life rabbinic governor and past president of the Australian and New Zealand orthodox rabbinate.

He is an Officer of the Order of Australia and holds other awards including the God Medal of the International Council of Christians and Jews.

His weekly OzTorah is in its 22nd year. it has a world-wide email circulation and is syndicated in several countries; he has published a book of OzTorah selections called "Let's Ask the Rabbi". Other books include memoirs entitled "To Be Continued". His papers on history and the Bible are regularly published in academic journals. He has written two books of Masonic scholarship.

He now lives in Israel and is engaged in research, writing and teaching.

He and his wife, Marian, have four children s well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.