thethe australianaustralian shofarshofar A Quarterly Newsletter from The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry (Australia) Inc | December 2008 | Volume 2 | Issue 2 A Tribute to Australian Jewry Part two Jewish citizens of Australia have proven all proud – whether we are physical to be key leaders relative to our nation’s descendants of Abraham or not. The economy. Many founded businesses former Governors General, Sir Isaac and fi nancial institutions that paved the Isaacs(5) and his later biographer, Sir way to developing a strong economy.(2) Zelman Cowan(6) shine like beacons That economy remains relatively strong in our political and social history. They despite the fi nancial crisis presently are rightly included in that honourable sweeping the globe. group of citizens who faithfully led and served to “Advance Australia Fair”.(7) It was (and is) not only in the area of fi nance that Australian Jewish citizens have taken such a prominent part. They, As we continue to honour Israel in her like their counterpart forebears had done 60th birthday year, The Friends of Israel in England(3), have greatly impacted join her worldwide throng of supporters the political arena as well. They had a in wishing the Jewish nation and Jewish foundational role in helping to establish friends in Australia and beyond, a Happy and sustain stable Federal and State Hanukkah as well! governments.(4) It is appropriate therefore In this edition, we advance our theme that we give honourable mention to of paying tribute to Australian Jewry. our Australian Jewish friends for their We gladly acknowledge the signifi cant signifi cant contribution in making the gifts and sacrifi cial contributions the diverse peoples of this vast continent Australian Jewish communities have into a strong democracy. made as citizens and compatriots of this “Great South Land”. We do well to observe the Although Jews have always been a biblical reason why this is minority of the population – less than one per cent – they have nonetheless so. God told Moses in an Sir Isaac Isaacs played a signifi cant role in the upbuilding unconditional covenant Isaac Alfred Isaacs (1855-1948) was our of Australia. Their contribution to our promise: “ … in you (the nation’s fi rst Jewish Governor General. national heritage has greatly enhanced Jewish people, and ultimately Isaacs was the eldest of six children the building of Australia in the arts, the “Seed” – the Messiah sciences, industry and commerce, the who were born to the tailor Alfred armed forces, religion and on the land. Redeemer – ) shall all families Isaacs and his wife Rebecca (nee Marianne Dacy from the University of of the earth be blessed” (Gen. Abrahams). His mother had a powerful Sydney has correctly stated: “Jews 12:3; Gal.3:16). mind, wide-ranging intellectual interests participate in every facet of civic, and the capacity to understand and economic and social life” and “many of Two stellar examples from our discuss complex matters. She was an Australia’s prominent doctors, lawyers, Australian political annals clearly ambitious and dominating woman who musicians and mathematicians are illustrate the point. These two Jewish exercised strong infl uence over her son Jewish”.(1) gentlemen and their legacies make us Isaac even during his married life. the australian shofar would like to wish our Jewish friends Happy Hanukkah! the australian shofar After a short teaching career, Isaacs a member of the Privy Council in constitutional matters and gave legal secured an appointment as a clerk November 1921. He was appointed advice to the governments of Ghana in the Crown Law Department in as Governor General and took the and Hong Kong. Among his many Melbourne. There he gained extensive oaths of offi ce on 22nd January 1931. other works, he published a biography experience in practical legal matters, He was both the fi rst Jew and the fi rst of Sir Isaac Isaacs. and soon began studying law at the native-born Australian to be appointed In 1970, Zelman Cowan was appointed University of Melbourne in 1876. He as Governor General. He died in his graduated in Law with First Class sleep on 11th February 1948. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Honours in 1880. Federal seat of Isaacs preserves Queensland in Brisbane. By this time his memory and his considerable his intellectual skills, prestige and In 1888, Isaacs married 18 year old contribution to Australia’s political, personal prowess were universally Deborah (Daisy) Jacobs. The Isaacs social and community life. acknowledged throughout academia. were blessed with two daughters - one In particular, he was regarded as one born in 1890, the other in 1892. of the leading constitutional lawyers Throughout his life, Isaac Isaacs was in the English-speaking world. His a student of languages. He learned diplomatic skills became clearly evident Russian, French, German, Italian during his tenure at the University and Greek as well as a smattering of of Queensland. Cowan handled the Chinese. He read widely in the realms violent protests against the Vietnam of religion, science and literature and War with consummate interpersonal wrote on biblical and religious subjects. skills and consultative arbitration with Although he didn’t observe religious all parties involved. practices, he was acutely aware of his Jewish identity and heritage. When Sir John Kerr resigned his post as Governor General in 1977, Prime Isaacs was elected to parliament Minister Malcolm Fraser (whose in 1892. He served as the Attorney grandfather was Jewish)(8) offered General of the Liberal party for fi ve Cowen the post. Zelman Cowen years (1894 to 1899). In 1901, he became Acting Premier of Victoria. He was appointed to the High Court of Australia in 1906 and became Sir Zelman Cowan Zelman Cowen was born in Melbourne in 1919 and was educated at the University of Melbourne. He served in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. From 1947 to 1950 he was a fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, in England and was also a consultant on legal matters to the British Military Government in Germany. In 1951, Zelman Cowen returned to Australia and became Dean of the Law Faculty at the University of Melbourne. He held this post until his appointment as Vice Chancellor of the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales, in 1966. From that time, he was frequently a Visiting Professor at American universities. He also advised the British Colonial Offi ce on The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry Inc is a worldwide Christian ministry communicating the australian shofar was a perfect choice because of Among these Jewish believers are For some years he fared extremely well, his distinguished Australian and Holocaust survivors who have come but following a robbery at his store in international reputation and fl awless to faith in Jesus their Messiah. Often 1824, his fortunes took a downturn and professional qualifi cations. The their families disowned and even held he was incarcerated for failing to pay his fact that he was Jewish gave his funerals for them because of their debts. After his release, he opened an appointment a multicultural aspect in belief in Jesus. Truly, these sons of inn at Emu Ford where he prospered. keeping with contemporary Australian Abraham are a “remnant according to While operating the inn, Jacob once sentiment. He served for fi ve years as the election of grace”, as the apostle again took his faith seriously. When Governor General and restored the Paul puts it in Romans 11:5. two English Quakers sought lodgings, dignity and respect of the offi ce after Josephson informed the missionaries the tumultuous “Kerr years”. Jacob Josephson that as preachers of the Gospel, they Jacob Josephson (1778-1845) became could stay “free of all charges”.(10) a Messianic believer around 1808 Jewish Believers in Australia Jacob gave generously to the building through the ministry of the London We would be remiss in not paying of a memorial to Governor Macquarie, Society for Promoting Christianity tribute to the small but signifi cant Scots Church, Bible Society of New among Jews. Jacob was brought to group of Australian Jews who have South Wales, the Benevolent Society, the Lord by another Jewish believer, accepted Jesus as their Messiah.(9) the Public Free Grammar School and Joseph Samuel Frey (formerly Levi). We personally know Jewish believers even the Roman Catholic chapel. Within months, Jacob was working throughout Australia. It is our personal Signifi cantly, as one of the trustees of the amongst the underprivileged Jews joy to visit with them in Brisbane, the new Wesley chapel, in 1821 Josephson in London’s East End, but only three Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, earnestly requested fi nancial aid from Jewish people made the decision to Adelaide and Perth as well as the the government “that the common put faith in Jesus the Messiah. provincial centres. Helpful literature is cause of our Lord Jesus Christ may provided to assist these believers in As a result of insuffi cient fi nances, increasingly prosper.”(11) Jacob and his wife Emma fell on hard their spiritual growth as we pray with Shortly before he died in 1845, times. In 1817, they paid their rent them and seek to encourage them Jacob gave the generous sum of with a forged pound note. When the each time we visit in their area. ten pounds fi ve shillings to the York authorities investigated their lodgings, Street synagogue’s building fund. This they found twenty more false notes benevolence may be refl ected in Rabbi plus a suspicious collection of glass, Raymond Apple’s recent affi rmation lace, ribbons and silver – including that “Christians contributed to erecting the communion plate from the the York Street Synagogue”.(12) Stanstead Park parish church.