(Sydney, Australia) Dec 6, 2005 -- Rabbi Raymond Apple was born and educated in Melbourne, Australia and spent time studying in London as well. Rabbi Apple has degrees in arts, law, religion and education. He has a Doctorate of Laws honoris causa from NSW University and is an Honorary Fellow of Sydney University.

After heading two London congregations at Bayswater and Hampstead, he was senior rabbi of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, from 1972 to 2005, and he is the guide and mentor of many other synagogues and organizations.

He was an army reserve chaplain for fifteen years and since 1988 has been senior rabbi to the Australian Defense Force. He has had two terms of office as chairman of the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services.

He teaches at Sydney and NSW Universities and is Master of Mandelbaum House at Sydney University. He has lectured at universities and seminaries in several countries.

For thirty years he was judge/registrar of the Sydney Beth Din, the rabbinical court. He is life rabbinic governor of the Organization of Rabbis of Australia and New Zealand, of which he had two terms as president. He is patron and past president of the Australian Jewish Historical Society, and holds office in many public bodies.

He has had a lifetime of involvement in inter-religious dialogue and is joint president of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews and a life member (and former chairman) of the NSW Council.

In Freemasonry he is Past Junior Grand Warden and Past Grand Chaplain of the United Grand Lodge of NSW and the ACT.

He writes the weekly Torah publication, Oz Torah, which has a world-wide email circulation. He is the author of many articles and academic papers and several books and has frequently appeared on radio and television.

He is an Officer of the Order of Australia and holds the Reserve Force Decoration, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal and the Centenary of Federation Medal.

He and his wife Marian have four adult children and a number of grandchildren.