A loss for Queensland and Jewish communities across Australia.
Queensland and Australian Jewry has lost a great leader with the passing of Laurie Rosenblum, OAM aged 95 this week in Sydney and was laid to rest at the Mt Gravatt Cemetery in Brisbane on Thursday 27.
Laurie Rosenblum OAM
Laurie served the Jewish community for more than half a century as President, Life Member and Life Governor of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD). He was the pioneer of many of our current institutions, including the State’s first Jewish day school Sinai College, a leader among many more, including Temple Shalom in Brisbane.
A war veteran, he had a strong character and stood up for Jewish rights, Indigenous rights and promoted dialogue with other faiths.
He was the first person from outside Sydney or Melbourne to be made an Honorary Life Member of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry in recognition of his incredible contribution.
Vice President of the QJBD, Jason Steinberg said Laurie’s passing was a sad day for Australian Jewry.
Jason Steinberg and Laurie Rosenblum
He added: “Laurie‘s contribution to Queensland and Australian Jewry places him side-by-side with our nations best communal leaders. He combatted antisemitism like no other, fought vigorously against racial discrimination and did everything he could to ensure Jews across Australia had a loud and thoughtful voice.
He worked tirelessly with political leaders from all parties to ensure they understood the Jewish perspective and developed enduring relationships with many.
He will be fondly remembered for mentoring other Jewish leaders in Queensland and elsewhere – always reminding his colleagues of the bigger picture to create communal harmony, over self-interest, and protecting Jewish rights was his number one priority.
Laurie was a kind, thoughtful, quick-witted, articulate and collegiate gentleman who has left an enduring legacy for Queensland and Australia.”
Laurie is survived by his children Greg and Yvette, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jeremy Jones told J-Wire: “I was saddened to learn of the passing this week of Laurie a great Queenslander who filled his 95 years with volunteering, adventure, creativity and much more. I knew him since (my) childhood and worked with him for many years, as colleagues, on the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. He was a wealth of knowledge and someone who could talk with authority and from experience about fighting racism and racists, changing the attitudes of global religious movements towards Jews and Judaism and the best ways of maximising the opportunities of members of minorities to contribute to and benefit from multicultural Australia.
He was the first person to be honoured as an Honorary Life Member of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry who had not previously served as its President and also the first person from outside New South Wales or Victoria to receive this honour (I am glad I was involved in this honour being conferred). To echo Jason Steinberg put it, he was a mentor, colleague and friend.
