Bent Melchior
Encyclopedia
Bent Melchior is a former chief rabbi
of Denmark
.
Bent Melchior was born on 24 June 1929. His father Marcus Melchior
was instrumental in the saving of the Danish Jews in 1943 and became chief rabbi of Denmark in 1947. From 1943 to 1945 Bent Melchior was a refugee in Sweden
. At the age of 18 Bent Melchior volunteered as a soldier in the Israeli War of Independence of 1948.
After a period as a teacher in Copenhagen
Melchior had his rabbinical education in London
, and in 1963 he became rabbi at the synagogue
in Copenhagen. When his father died in 1969, he succeeded him as chief rabbi for the Jewish community in Denmark. He has translated the Pentateuch, the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) and other books into Danish as well as writing several books including his biography. He is a prolific speaker and writer in the Danish community and media. Bent Melchior is married to Lilian; they have four sons, including Michael Melchior
.
Bent Melchior retired from the Rabbinate in 1996. His successor is Bent Lexner. Since retiring Bent Melchior has continued his humanitarian and charitable work in Denmark and abroad.
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Bent Melchior was born on 24 June 1929. His father Marcus Melchior
Marcus Melchior
Marcus Melchior was acting chief rabbi of Denmark in 1943 at the time of the rescue of the Danish Jews.Marcus Melchior came from a prominent Jewish family in Denmark...
was instrumental in the saving of the Danish Jews in 1943 and became chief rabbi of Denmark in 1947. From 1943 to 1945 Bent Melchior was a refugee in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. At the age of 18 Bent Melchior volunteered as a soldier in the Israeli War of Independence of 1948.
After a period as a teacher in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
Melchior had his rabbinical education in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and in 1963 he became rabbi at the synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Copenhagen. When his father died in 1969, he succeeded him as chief rabbi for the Jewish community in Denmark. He has translated the Pentateuch, the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) and other books into Danish as well as writing several books including his biography. He is a prolific speaker and writer in the Danish community and media. Bent Melchior is married to Lilian; they have four sons, including Michael Melchior
Michael Melchior
A renowned Jewish leader, thinker and activist, Rabbi Michael Melchior is a leading advocate for social justice in Israel, quality education for all, Jewish-Arab reconciliation and co-existence, protection of the environment, Israel-Diaspora relations and the strengthening of Civic Society as a...
.
Bent Melchior retired from the Rabbinate in 1996. His successor is Bent Lexner. Since retiring Bent Melchior has continued his humanitarian and charitable work in Denmark and abroad.