Against the Odds: The AIF Hebrew Chaplaincy of World War Two

Journal article

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In Journal Issue

Australian Jewish Historical Society Journal, 23, 3 (2017)

Author(s) Rodney Gouttman AbstractThe appointment during World War One of an Australian Hebrew Chaplain to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) smoothed the path for a similar representation in the Australian military forces of World War Two. Original difficulties that confronted this choice were threefold. First, since the appointment of a chaplain for the extremely small AIF Chaplaincy was based on the demographic pull of each religious denomination in the Australian National Census of 1911, the miniscule Jewish community did not really rate representation. It was only when Christian chaplains refused, or were reluctant, to minister to Jewish soldiers, that a Hebrew chaplain was sought. Second, there was a dearth of suitable candidates. Third, synagogues were extremely loath to release their ministers for military service abroad. The latter two problems were resolved in 1915 when Perth Hebrew Congregation grudgingly released its minister, the Reverend (later Rabbi) David Isaac Freedman, to fill the AIF's first-ever post of Hebrew Chaplain. Thus when Australia's prime minister Robert Menzies declared his country at war with Nazi Germany, on 3 September 1939, there was no question as to whether a Jewish minister would receive a position in the soon to be formed 2nd AIF Chaplaincy. The only conundrum was who that person would be.
Year2017
Pages508-532