Site Navigation
Rabbi Raymond Apple AO rfd
Rabbi Raymond Apple has been a prominent figure in Australian public life for four decades. Involved in the teaching at several universities, in Jewish religious leadership, in the Australian Defence Force and in crucial roles in interfaith work, Rabbi Apple is an exemplar of outstanding community engagement in many areas of Australian life.
After graduating in Arts and Laws from the University of Melbourne he became a Master of Letters at the University of New England. His theological studies at the London School of Jewish Studies brought him diplomas as a minister and teacher as well as rabbinic ordination. He dovetailed ministerial and educational work throughout his career. In Melbourne he was headmaster of the United Jewish Education Board; in London he was religious director of the Association for Jewish Youth, headed the Jewish Marriage Education Council and held ministerial office at the Bayswater and Hampstead Synagogues
Returning to Australia in 1972 he entered wholeheartedly into the life of the Australian community and became a widely respected spokesman on national moral and social issues. As senior rabbi of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, he was Australia’s highest-profile rabbi for over 32 years. He was senior rabbi to the Australian Defence Force for close on 20 years after serving as an army reserve chaplain, for which work he was awarded the Reserve Force Decoration. He was chairman of the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services for some years and held office in other public bodies.
In the Jewish community he was honorary vice-president of the New South Wales Board of Jewish Education and for a time its director of education; judge/registrar of the Jewish ecclesiastical court; president for several terms of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia, of which body he is now life rabbinic governor; president of the Australian Jewish Historical Society and now its patron as well as writing extensively on Australian Jewish history.
He never lost interest in tertiary education and for over 30 years taught Jewish Studies at Sydney University and lectured in Jewish law at the University of New South Wales for 16 years; both universities subsequently honoured him – Sydney as an honorary Fellow and the University of New South Wales as a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa). At Sydney University he is also trustee and joint honorary master of the Jewish college, Mandelbaum House. His indefatigable energy has also been seen in his constant activity as a speaker and author.
An involvement of supreme interest to Rabbi Apple has been the promotion of understanding between faith communities. Not only was he a founder of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews and chairman of its New South Wales and national Councils, he is as widely known as an ecclesiastical diplomat.
As religious leader, teacher, author, champion of interfaith co-operation and of social justice for all Australians, Rabbi Apple was appointed in 2004 an Officer of the Order of Australia after having been previously made a Member of the Order in 1979. He was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Centenary of Federation medal in 2003. These honours acknowledge his signal contribution to Australian society.
Chancellor, I request that you bestow on Rabbi Raymond Apple, AO, RFD, BA, LLB (Melb), M Litt (UNE), LLD (honoris causa) (UNSW), with the highest honour of the Australian Catholic University, Doctor of the University (honoris causa) in recognition of the outstanding contribution of Rabbi Apple to Christian-Jewish understanding, interfaith co-operation and community engagement.
After graduating in Arts and Laws from the University of Melbourne he became a Master of Letters at the University of New England. His theological studies at the London School of Jewish Studies brought him diplomas as a minister and teacher as well as rabbinic ordination. He dovetailed ministerial and educational work throughout his career. In Melbourne he was headmaster of the United Jewish Education Board; in London he was religious director of the Association for Jewish Youth, headed the Jewish Marriage Education Council and held ministerial office at the Bayswater and Hampstead Synagogues
Returning to Australia in 1972 he entered wholeheartedly into the life of the Australian community and became a widely respected spokesman on national moral and social issues. As senior rabbi of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, he was Australia’s highest-profile rabbi for over 32 years. He was senior rabbi to the Australian Defence Force for close on 20 years after serving as an army reserve chaplain, for which work he was awarded the Reserve Force Decoration. He was chairman of the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services for some years and held office in other public bodies.
In the Jewish community he was honorary vice-president of the New South Wales Board of Jewish Education and for a time its director of education; judge/registrar of the Jewish ecclesiastical court; president for several terms of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia, of which body he is now life rabbinic governor; president of the Australian Jewish Historical Society and now its patron as well as writing extensively on Australian Jewish history.
He never lost interest in tertiary education and for over 30 years taught Jewish Studies at Sydney University and lectured in Jewish law at the University of New South Wales for 16 years; both universities subsequently honoured him – Sydney as an honorary Fellow and the University of New South Wales as a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa). At Sydney University he is also trustee and joint honorary master of the Jewish college, Mandelbaum House. His indefatigable energy has also been seen in his constant activity as a speaker and author.
An involvement of supreme interest to Rabbi Apple has been the promotion of understanding between faith communities. Not only was he a founder of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews and chairman of its New South Wales and national Councils, he is as widely known as an ecclesiastical diplomat.
As religious leader, teacher, author, champion of interfaith co-operation and of social justice for all Australians, Rabbi Apple was appointed in 2004 an Officer of the Order of Australia after having been previously made a Member of the Order in 1979. He was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Centenary of Federation medal in 2003. These honours acknowledge his signal contribution to Australian society.
Chancellor, I request that you bestow on Rabbi Raymond Apple, AO, RFD, BA, LLB (Melb), M Litt (UNE), LLD (honoris causa) (UNSW), with the highest honour of the Australian Catholic University, Doctor of the University (honoris causa) in recognition of the outstanding contribution of Rabbi Apple to Christian-Jewish understanding, interfaith co-operation and community engagement.
