Famous Australian Jews

The Jewish people of Australia have done great work in many important areas of life, such as law, medicine, the arts, business and government.

Australia is one of the few countries outside Israel to have had a Jewish commander-in-chief of the army, Sir John Monash.

Two Australian-born governors-general since 1930 have been Jewish – Sir Isaac Isaacs and Sir Zelman Cowen.

In the State of New South Wales two governors, Gordon Samuels, and the Chief Justice, Jim Spigelman, are Jewish. Jim Spigelman has worked for many years to protect the human rights of people everywhere.

Individual Jewish people in New South Wales have made great contributions to the community. They include leaders such as George Judah Cohen, Sydney D Einfeld, Professor Julius Stone and Professor Peter Baume.

Some Famous Jewish Australians

 
Myer Rosenblum

“A gentleman, a sportsman, and a scholar:  Myer Rosenblum, Rugby Union player, lawyer, 1907-2002.”  This is what the Sydney Morning Herald wrote when Myer Rosenblum passed away in 2002.

Towards the end of his life Myer Rosenblum came to be revered as the grand old man of Australian rugby. (He was, after all, the oldest surviving Wallaby.)

But there was so much more to Rosenblum than rugby.  He represented Australia at hammer-throwing, played the bassoon in the Sydney Conservatorium orchestra, founded and ran a well-known Sydney legal practice and gave the Prime Minister, John Howard, his first job.

Rosenblum was the son of a Jewish couple who bribed their way out of what is now Belarus (there were restrictions then on Jewish emigration from Russia) and went to South Africa, where he was born.  The family moved to Sydney in about 1914, and a few years after that Rosenblum enrolled at Fort Street High, a rugby school.

He was one of those gifted types who excel at nearly everything they try, but rugby was where he shone first.   A tallish (185cm), speedy and crafty breakaway, he was chosen at 21 years of age to play in the Waratah team which toured New Zealand in 1928.  Four of their matches are now recognized as Tests.

He also represented his country in the hammer-throw at the 1938 Empire Games and was a champion hurdler and tennis player.  Mr Rosenblum’s involvement with Sydney University, St. George, the NSW Rugby Union and ARU will never be forgotten by Rugby people.

Mr Rosenblum helped found and was an honorary adviser to the Jewish Building Society, Moriah College, Australian Jewish Welfare Society, Hakoah Tennis Club and Royal Arts Society.

Joseph Samuel

Joseph Samuel arrived in Sydney in 1801. He was an English Jew who had been sentenced to seven years transportation for breaking into a house and stealing.

By the time he arrived in Sydney, he was nearly 21. After being released from prison, he became friendly with a policeman called Ikey Simmons. Ikey or ‘Hikey Bull’ as he was called, was also Jewish. He had been a convict before being freed and becoming a policeman.

Ikey Simmons was a cruel man who was the head of a gang of thieves. Joseph Samuel became a member of this gang. This gang robbed the home of a wealthy woman and murdered a policeman who had been sent to protect her home.

The gang was soon caught. At the trial, Joseph Samuel confessed to stealing the goods, but denied being part of the murder.  Simmons the leader of the gang was released due to lack of evidence. Joseph Samuel was sentenced to death by hanging.

On Monday 26 September 1803, Joseph Samuel and another criminal were driven in a cart to Brickfield Hill, which was at the bottom of George Street on the road from Sydney to Parramatta. Hundreds of people came to watch. He made a startling confession in which he said that it was Constable Simmons who stole the money and murdered the policeman.  He was not believed.

After praying, the cart on which they were standing drove off, but instead of being hanged, the rope around Samuel’s neck snapped!  The executioner tried again. This time, the rope slipped and his legs touched the ground. With the crowd in an uproar, the executioner tried for the third time. Again the rope snapped!

This time, an officer galloped off to tell the governor what had happened. Governor King commuted (cancelled) the death sentence and Joseph Samuel was sentenced instead to life imprisonment.  The Governor and others believed that it was a sign from God that Samuel should not be hanged.