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A Quarterly Newsletter from The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry () Inc | September 2008 | Volume 2 | Issue 1

A Tribute to Australian Jewry Part one

The reason is simple: have arrived in 1792 and who had offi ciated contributed greatly to Australia’s rich at Jewish funerals from 1817 to 1825. and colourful history.(2) Although they Construction began on Australia’s have always been a minority of the oldest in in 1843 population – less than one per cent and the fi rst service took place two – Jews have nonetheless played a years later.(4) In 1844, ’s signifi cant role in the upbuilding of fi rst purpose-built synagogue was Australia. Whether through the arts, constructed in York Street and in sciences, industry and commerce, 1878, Sydney’s Great Synagogue was the armed forces, religion or on the consecrated. Its imposing structure land, Australia’s Jewish sons have remains a historic feature of the As Israel celebrates her 60th contributed greatly to our heritage. cityscape and was restored for the anniversary of modern statehood, it’s Although they were few in number, bicentennial in 1988. fi tting for all Australians to pause and the Jews helped to transform a From Jewish Convict to pay tribute to the physical sons of colony into a country! Abraham who have travelled to these “First Lady” southern shores and made the land Convicts & early settlers Esther Down Under their home. Abrahams(5) At least sixteen Jewish convicts (1771-1846) In this fi rst part of our three part arrived with the 738 was tried in series, we will present the initial arrival transportees on 26th January 1788. London’s Old of the Jewish people from the First By 1830, nearly 400 Jewish convicts Bailey on 30th Fleet in 1788 until the Federation of had been (3) and they August 1786 our country on 1st January 1901. continued to arrive on almost every for stealing lace until transportation to the value of ceased in the mid-19th century. The First Fleet to 50 shillings. Federation (1788-1901) The fi rst free Jewish settlers started to The fi fteen year old was found guilty You may be surprised to learn that arrive in 1821 and within just twenty and imprisoned in Newgate Gaol other than Israel, Australia is the only years, 1082 Jews had chosen to where she gave birth to an illegitimate country in which Jews played an settle in Australia. daughter, Roseanna, on 18th March integral part from the very fi rst day. 1787. Both mother and daughter In 1831, Rabbi Aaron Levy sailed from were transported to Australia with the Whether they arrived as convicts England to settle a divorce between First Fleet(6) later that year. (from 1788), free settlers (from 1821), a convict and his wife (who had immigrants (from the 1830s), refugee remained behind in the Old Country). During the long and treacherous survivors of the Holocaust (after The rabbi established a temporary voyage, Esther – with babe in arms World War II), or whether they were synagogue for the young Jewish – became the mistress of Lieutenant born here, today’s Australian Jewish community above a shop in George George Johnston. Esther eventually population of approximately 120,000(1) Street. The prayers were recited by gave birth to Lieutenant Johnston’s is owed a debt of gratitude by their 21 Australia’s only acknowledged Levite, seven children. During their early million fellow compatriots. Joseph Marcus, a convict who had years in Australia, their home was the australian shofar would like to wish our Jewish friends ‘Happy Birthday’ for Israel’s 60th! the australian shofar

likely a humble wattle and daub Incredible Identities (founded in 1855) and the St Kilda cottage built by convicts. Throughout our nation’s history, Hebrew Congregation (founded in 1871) were later established to meet On 26th January 1808, Lieutenant Jews have been involved in all increasing demand. Johnston led the (7) facets of Australian life. Records during which the Governor of New provide evidence of pugilists The Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850s South Wales, Captain like Samuel Lyons and Moses attracted more Jewish immigrants; (8) (9) (of fame) was Moses , publicans, politicians , they usually worked not as fossickers, arrested and deposed. With the new policemen such as Australia’s but as storekeepers, hawkers and Lieutenant Governor Johnston in fi rst constable PC John Harris (a businessmen on the goldfi elds. (10) charge, his long-term consort Esther reformed convict) as well as Many prominent Australian families, (11) Abrahams became the colony’s “First philanthropists. such as that of Sidney Myer (which Lady”! On 12th November 1814, Here are just a few incredible is no longer Jewish), can trace their Johnston and Esther fi nally married. identities: ancestry to these early years. As an entitlement of his rank, • Consider the Jewish With the expansion of regional Lieutenant Governor Johnston Edward David, whose brother centres due to agricultural and mining received huge land grants and he founded a newspaper that still booms, were built in named a Sydney suburb after his operates today: (note country areas. But after prolonged birthplace of Annandale in Scotland. the name change!) was a powerful droughts and the depletion of rich fi gure in Tasmanian politics and the ore bodies, the population of country When Johnston died in 1823, his founder of the Hobart Mercury.(12) towns declined and synagogues were son Robert disputed the inheritance • Samuel Lyons is remembered as closed. The only rural synagogues that of his property, Annandale, which “the man they couldn’t hang” – continue to function in country areas culminated in a sensational trial. because the rope broke three times! today are located in Newcastle (New Robert was to inherit Annandale after Astonishingly, the rope was tested South Wales) and Ballarat (Victoria). his mother’s death, but in March with weights after the vain attempts We may pause here to ask the 1829, Robert proceeded to have to execute him and was found to be Esther declared insane. Esther put legitimate question: did any anti- more than adequate! His uncanny Semitism exist in Australia’s history? up a strong fi ght, producing many escape from death three times was witnesses to prove that she was in therefore acknowledged by some as Social historian Professor William D fact lucid, but Robert won the case divine intervention. Samuel’s death Williamstein responds: “Such popular and consequently his father’s estate. sentence was commuted to life prejudice as existed against Jews Esther lived with her other son, imprisonment, but this sentence was in Australian society never took any offi cial or legal form, and was generally David, for another fi fteen years before later changed as well, which adds to confi ned to small groups of extremists passing away. She was buried beside the phenomenon of Samuel’s place (15) (13) and unrepresentative fringe groups.” her husband in the family vault on the in Australian folklore. Annandale property. Her grandson • Another larger than life character, The Australia-Israel Link later described her as “always a who is universally acknowledged Now we arrive at one of the proudest stirring industrious woman”. as the inspiration for the character historical moments for Australians who of Fagin in Charles Dickens’ novel Although various geographical love Israel and the Jewish people. Oliver Twist(14), is Isaac “Ikey” features (such as George’s River) Solomon, who went from convict to keep her husband’s name in public free man to convict again in Hobart. memory, until six years ago there were few memorials testifying to Esther’s The Victorian Gold Rush life. But today, if you visit Bicentennial Jewish settlement in Victoria took off in Park in Annandale, fronting Sydney 1839 with the arrival of the immigrant Harbour near the ANZAC Bridge you ship, Hope. Asher Hymen Hart will fi nd the Pavilion established a Jewish community in which was dedicated in her honour in 1841 which later became known as the 2002. A portrait of Esther also hangs Melbourne Hebrew Congregation. The in the . East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation

The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry Inc is a worldwide Christian ministry communicating the australian shofar

sacrifi ce had not been in vain: Israel is Our voluntary representative, Maxwell Aaron Hall, has not merely hanging on – she is strong. an ancestral link with Australia’s rabbinical past: Max’s great grandfather, She has used her brains for medical Rabbi Aaron Alexander Levi, served the Sydney Jewish community from and scientifi c discoveries which she 1851 to 1883. has then shared with the world. She has used her sweat to reclaim the If you also have an Australian Jewish heritage, please write to us with the deserts with fresh produce which details. We thank you in anticipation! she exports worldwide. She is a tiny nation surrounded by a sea of hostile In 1917, our Light Horse (mounted The Stuff of enemies who constantly attempt to infantry) regiments played a crucial destroy her – yet she survives and role in helping to liberate Israel from Australian Legend even thrives in her Promised Land. Australians have good reason to the Ottoman Turks. Just 800 Light Because God’s hand is on her, Israel celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday and to Horsemen charged Beersheva, the is a modern day miracle. city of biblical patriarchs, liberating it pay tribute to her people. Jews in the Diaspora – including here from Turkish rule and opening the As Marianne Dacy from the University in Australia – have shared the joy of way to returning Jerusalem to the of Sydney’s rightly contends: their Israeli brothers and sisters this Jewish people. “Jews participate in every facet year. Many Jewish organisations have After the historic victory, General of civic, economic and social life” held special birthday dinners and Edmund Allenby dismounted and led and “many of Australia’s prominent celebratory events. Hundreds of Israeli his horse into Jerusalem, in deference doctors, lawyers, musicians and speakers, singers and entertainers to the knowledge that his Saviour and mathematicians are Jewish.”(16) have travelled thousands of kilometres Israel’s Messiah will return to God’s Moreover, Jews have played to feature as guests of honour at Holy City in triumph, riding on a white foundational roles in establishing special events worldwide. and sustaining our Federal and State charger (Rev 19:11-16). Christians who love and support governments.(17) On 2nd November of that same year, Israel and the Jewish people – based Alfred James Balfour wrote to Lord To study the lives of our earliest on their love for God and His Word Rothschild on behalf of His Majesty’s Jewish settlers is to study memorable – have celebrated as well. We’re government, declaring that there should characters: gripping adventurers in witnessing the prophecies of the Bible be a “national home for the Jewish courage, intrigue, vision and hard come to life on a worldwide scale, people” – this became known as the work. Many such lives and their as Israel’s enemies relentlessly throw history-making Balfour Declaration. legacies have become the stuff of their bodies and weapons and words Australian legend. at her – yet because God is in control, The First World War prepared the Israel continues to survive. Land for the Jewish people! We pay tribute to the contribution that our Jewish friends have made in helping As we consider the role that the The Second World War prepared to transform a colony into a country! Jewish people have played in the the Jewish people for the Land! history of our own beloved nation, please join with us in praying for the A Birthday Blessing Jewish people and by celebrating Jews all over the world have Israel’s 60th birthday. Let’s also celebrated this year – with energy, continue to glorify God both for His passion and renewed determination. faithfulness to Israel, as well as for His In May, the streets of Jerusalem, Tel provision for all mankind (both Jews Aviv and Israel’s other cities fl ooded and gentiles) through His Son, our with Jews – men, women and Messiah, Yeshua. children, soldiers, students, workers. They praised God that after sixty Opening Our Hearts years, they still possess not only their and Homes lives, but also their ancestral home. One of the ways in which we can The loss of their loved ones through demonstrate our love, support and war and terror is made more bearable through the knowledge that their appreciation for the Jewish people is g biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah while fostering solidarity with Jewish people. the australian shofar

through hosting Israeli backpackers Hosting Israeli backpackers creates these remarkable young people in who travel to Australia each year in long-lasting ties of friendship and your home, please contact our offi ce. search of relaxation and adventure. opens innumerable opportunities to With love in Yeshua’s Name, lovingly present the Gospel. To learn how you can share your support and Deane and Margaret Woods love for the Jewish people by hosting

Endnotes the fi rst European colony in New South Wales. It was a convict settlement which the beginning of (1) Estimates vary from the offi cial Census fi gures transportation to Australia. The fl eet was led by of 102,912 in 1996 to 120,000. The variants are explained by whether one is simply referring Captain (later Admiral) to those Jews who are in Australia on the night (7) The Rum Rebellion, also known as the Rum of the Census, or taking into account those Puncheon Rebellion, was the only successful who were overseas at that particular time. See armed takeover of government in Australia’s the Christian Research Association article on recorded history. The Governor of New South Deane and Margaret Woods welcome Israeli this matter: www.cra.org/pages/00000228. Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New backpackers to their home with a sign in ogi. Similar fi gures are cited in http://wikipedia. South Wales Corps (nicknamed “The Rum Core” Hebrew. Loosely translated, it refl ects a typical org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Australia because they were in control of distributing Australian greeting: “Welcome, mates!” (2) For a brief history of Australian Jewry, refer to: spirits), under the command of Major George Suzanne D Rutland, The Jews in Australia, Johnson, on 26th January 1808 – exactly twenty Cambridge University Press, 2005, passim.; years to the day since the founding of the fi rst also by the same author, Edge of the Diaspora: European settlement. The colony was later ruled Two Centuries of Jewish Settlement in Australia, by the military with the senior military offi cer Second Revised edition, Brandl & Schlessinger Pty stationed in Sydney acting as the Lieutenant- Ltd, Reprinted in 2001, passim; John S Levi & GFJ Governor until the arrival from Britain of Major- Bergman, Australian Genesis: Jewish Convicts and General in 1810 Settlers 1788-1860, Melbourne University Press, (8) Australian Genesis, pp. 79, 143-44 2002, passim; Louise Rosenberg, Of Folktales and Jewish Folk in Australian History, Printworthy (9) Jews and Australian Politics, passim 2004, pp. 7-34; Helen Bersten, Jewish Sydney: (10) Ibid, pp. 40-51 The First Hundred Years 1788-1888, Paper Tiger (11) Rutland, op. cit., 31, 103-05, 267, 354-56, Printing, Reprint 2000, pp 4-43; Geoffrey Brahm Levy and Philip Mendes, Editors, Jews and 380-81 Australian Politics, Sussex Academic Press, 2004, (12) John S Levi and GFJ Bergman, Australian esp. pp. 11-46; Paul R. Bartrop, Australia and Genesis: Jewish Convicts and Settlers 1788- The Holocaust 1933-1945, Australian Scholarly 1860, pp. 242-259 Publishing, 1994, passim; Rabbi Raymond Apple, (13) Ibid., pp. 62-68 The Jewish Way: Jews and in Australia, Copyright: The Great Synagogue, Sydney, 2002, (14) Ibid., pp. 217-241 pp. 5-70, esp. pp. 11-32 (15) WD Rubinstein, The Jews in Australia: A Thematic (3) Helen Bersten, Jewish Sydney: The First Hundred History. Volume Two 1945 to the Present Years 1788-1888, p.5. There can be no certainty (Melbourne, William Heinemann, 1991), p. 379 of all their numbers and names, because not all (16) Cited from an article Brief History of Australian The dining table is set for the admitted to being Jewish Jewry, 17 September, 2007, p. 2. Http://judaica. (Sabbath) meal in the Woods’ home. What a (4) In the 2001 Census, only 163 Tasmanians library.usyd.edu.au/histories/History blessing it is to share Shabbat with the Jews! identifi ed themselves as Jewish and the Hobart (17) For a complete list of Australian Jewish politicians, Hebrew Congregation numbered no more than 70 refer to Hilary Rubinstein’s useful roster of Jewish (5) The writer is indebted to public domain material parliamentarians in Australia from 1849 to the for much of the biographical data cited here. See present, and Levy’s and Mendes’ compendium, http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Convicts_on_the_ First in their Jews and Australian Politics, pp. 245-253. Fleet. The source is hereby acknowledged Geoffrey Brahm Levy and Philip Mendes, Editors, (6) The First Fleet refers to the 11 ships which sailed Jews and Australian Politics, Sussex Academic from Great Britain on 13th May 1787 to establish Press, 2004. Rubenstein’s impressive list totals 90

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