Raymond Apple (rabbi)
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Raymond Apple was the Senior Rabbi
of the Great Synagogue of Sydney
between 1972 and 2005. In this role, he was one of Australia's highest profile rabbis and the leading spokesman for Judaism
in Australia.
he received his semichah at Jews' College (now the London School of Jewish Studies) in London
. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne
, a Masters of Literature from the University of New England
, and a teaching and rabbinic diploma from the London School of Jewish Studies. He is a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the University of New South Wales
, a Doctor of the University of the Australian Catholic University
, an Honorary Fellow of the University of Sydney
and holds the Distinguished Alumni award of the University of New England.
and Hampstead
between 1960 and 1972 before returning to Australia to take up the role of senior rabbi at the Great Synagogue, Sydney.
In Sydney he also served as a dayan and registrar for the Sydney Beth Din
.
Interfaith dialogue has been a lifetime interest of Apple and one which he pursued in Sydney
. He is a patron and a former joint president and chairman of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews. He is also a life member and former chairman of the NSW Council, founded the Christian-Jewish Luncheon Club in Sydney, and has been a leader in dialogue with Islam
.
Apple is an Officer of the Order of Australia
for his services to the community, as well as holding the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal and the Centenary of Federation Medal.
Reserve chaplain
for 15 years and from 1988-2006 senior rabbi to the Australian Defence Force
. He also served for two terms as chairman of the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services, the first Jewish representative to hold this office. He was awarded the Reserve Force Decoration and the Australian Defence Medal. He was also a chaplain to the NSW Police.
Apple is prominent in Freemasonry
, being a Past Deputy Grand Master, Past Junior Grand Warden and Past Grand Chaplain of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
.
He has also published numerous articles on Jews, Jewish history, the Jews in Australia, and various Jewish and interfaith themes. He is the author of "OzTorah", a weekly e-mail service and website presenting insights into the Torah reading, an Ask the Rabbi forum, and articles on Freemasonry, interfaith issues, British Jewish history, and the Australian Jewish community and its history. The OzTorah archives are available on his website at http://www.oztorah.com
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
of the Great Synagogue of Sydney
Great Synagogue (Sydney)
The Great Synagogue is a large synagogue in Sydney, Australia. It is located in Elizabeth Street opposite Hyde Park and extends back to Castlereagh Street.-Description and history:...
between 1972 and 2005. In this role, he was one of Australia's highest profile rabbis and the leading spokesman for Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
in Australia.
Education and early career
Born and educated in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
he received his semichah at Jews' College (now the London School of Jewish Studies) 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...
. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, a Masters of Literature from the University of New England
University of New England, Australia
The University of New England is an Australian public university with approximately 18,000 higher education students. Its original and main campus is located in the city of Armidale in northern New South Wales....
, and a teaching and rabbinic diploma from the London School of Jewish Studies. He is a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, a Doctor of the University of the Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University is a national public university. It has six campuses and offers programs in five faculties throughout Australia.-History:...
, an Honorary Fellow of the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and holds the Distinguished Alumni award of the University of New England.
Religious leadership
Apple served London congregations at BayswaterBayswater
Bayswater is an area of west London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the west . It is a built-up district located 3 miles west-north-west of Charing Cross, bordering the north of Hyde Park over Kensington Gardens and having a population density of...
and Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
between 1960 and 1972 before returning to Australia to take up the role of senior rabbi at the Great Synagogue, Sydney.
In Sydney he also served as a dayan and registrar for the Sydney Beth Din
Beth din
A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
.
Interfaith dialogue has been a lifetime interest of Apple and one which he pursued in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He is a patron and a former joint president and chairman of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews. He is also a life member and former chairman of the NSW Council, founded the Christian-Jewish Luncheon Club in Sydney, and has been a leader in dialogue with Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Apple is an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for his services to the community, as well as holding the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal and the Centenary of Federation Medal.
Other roles
Apple was an Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
Reserve chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
for 15 years and from 1988-2006 senior rabbi to the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
. He also served for two terms as chairman of the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services, the first Jewish representative to hold this office. He was awarded the Reserve Force Decoration and the Australian Defence Medal. He was also a chaplain to the NSW Police.
Apple is prominent in Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, being a Past Deputy Grand Master, Past Junior Grand Warden and Past Grand Chaplain of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is the main governing body of Freemasonry within the Australian state of New South Wales that also wholly encloses the Australian Capital Territory containing the national capital city, Canberra...
.
Writings
Apple has written a number of books, including :He has also published numerous articles on Jews, Jewish history, the Jews in Australia, and various Jewish and interfaith themes. He is the author of "OzTorah", a weekly e-mail service and website presenting insights into the Torah reading, an Ask the Rabbi forum, and articles on Freemasonry, interfaith issues, British Jewish history, and the Australian Jewish community and its history. The OzTorah archives are available on his website at http://www.oztorah.com