Chaplains

Chaplain (Flight Lieutenant) Joseph 'Yossi' Friedman.

Chaplain (Flight Lieutenant) Joseph ‘Yossi’ Friedman.

Flight Lieutenant Chaplain Rabbi Y Friedman

Rabbi Yossi Friedman was born and raised in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and was involved in communal work at South Head Synagogue from a very young age. He completed his schooling at Sydney Boys’ High school in 2003 and graduated from the University of NSW in 2006 with a Commerce Degree. Following this, he undertook study at Rabbinical Colleges in Australia and Israel and obtained his Semicha (ordination) in 2008.

In that year Rabbi Yossi introduced the first communal Passover Seder to Bali, Indonesia for 100 Jews and made all the provisioning and logistical arrangements needed for this festive occasion. In 2009, following his marriage to Chana Raizel, he spent nine months in Israel furthering his studies before undertaking the appointment as Youth Rabbi of Sydney’s Central Synagogue, where they served for three years.

Rabbi Yossi was appointed Rabbi of Cremorne Synagogue in 2012, and arranged many social, educational and festive activities for its diverse membership. During this time, levels of engagement peaked and the community grew by over 25 percent. It was during this time in 2013, that Rabbi Yossi became a Chaplain to the Royal Australian Air Force, and he holds the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

Together with his wife and two children, in June 2015 Rabbi Yossi accepted the position of Chief Minister at The Kingsford Maroubra Hebrew Congregation and College Rabbi to Mount Sinai College.

Chaplain Rabbi J Kamins OAM

HB 169Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins OAM has served as Rabbi at Emanuel Synagogue since his ordination from HUC-JIR in 1989, serving as senior rabbi since 1999. In 1991, he began Australia’s first Conservative (Masorti) service, and is committed to the principles of egalitarianism, inclusion and diversity within the synagogue and the broader community. He sees text-based education as a means for understanding the wisdom of our ancestors and being better able to implement Torah values in contemporary times. He has been committed to social justice projects, particularly concerning refugees and homelessness, as well as issues of the environment (working with the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change) and animal rights (on the Council of Voiceless, an animal rights organization). He is involved in the Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews; is a chaplain in the Australian Army; and is a member of the board of the Shalom Institute. He is also a rabbinic consultant to Emanuel School, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

 

Chaplaincy

For information about the role of the Jewish chaplaincy, see Chaplaincy.