Raymond Apple

Rabbi Raymond Apple was for many years Australia’s highest profile rabbi & its leading rabbinic spokesman.

After serving London congregations at Bayswater & Hampstead, he was senior rabbi of the Great Synagogue, Sydney (1972-2005), & guide & mentor to many other synagogues & organisations.

Born & educated in Melbourne, he pursued further studies in London. Aside from qual. in the arts, law, history, religion & educ., he is a LLD. hon. causa from the Uni. of NSW & Doctor of the Aust. Catholic Uni.. He is also an Hon. Fell. of Syd. Uni. & is holds the Disting. Alumni award of the Uni. of NE.

He was an Aust. Army Reserve chaplain for 15 years (at the rank of Major). From 1988-2006 he was the Senior Rabbi to the Aust. Def. Force, as well as holding the pos. (for 2 terms) as chair of the Rel. Advisory Comm. to the Services.

Among the pedagogic & academic pos's that Rabbi Apple has held are: Headmaster of the United Jewish Educ. Board (Mel.), VP & hon. dir. of the NSW Board of Jewish Educ., & lect. in Judaic & Talmudic studies at Sydney & NSW uni's. He is a Trustee & former Master of Mandelbaum House at Syd. Uni. & is chair of Mandelbaum Publishing.

For 30 years he was a dayan & registrar of the Sydney Beth Din. He has served as pres. of the Rabb. Council of NSW, as well as pres. for 2 4-year terms & life rabb. gov. of the Assoc. of Rabbis & Ministers of A/NZ.

He is patron, past pres. & former journal editor of the Aust. Jewish Historical Society.

For many years he was religious consultant to the Exec. Council of Aust. Jewry & the NSW Jew. Board of Dep's, as well as holding many other public offices.

Interfaith dialogue has been a lifetime interest. He is a patron of the Aust. Coun. of Chris. & Jews & was its joint pres. & chair. He is a life member & former chair of the NSW Council, & founded the Chris.-Jewish Luncheon Club.

In Freemasonry he is Past Deputy Grand Master, Past Junior Grand Warden & Past Grand Chap. of the United Grand Lodge of NSW/ACT & was a Grand Lodge lecturer for many years.

He has received several civic honours. He is an Officer of the Order of Aust. & holds the Reserve Force Decoration, the Aust. Def. Medal, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal & the Cent. of Fed. Medal.

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