Einfeld, Sydney

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EINFELD, SYDNEY

EINFELD, SYDNEY (1909–1995), Australian politician and communal leader. Born in Sydney, the son of a minister at Sydney's Great Synagogue, Syd Einfeld became one of the leading Jewish politicians and communal leaders in modern Australia. He served as a Labour member in Australia's federal House of Representatives in 1961–63 and as a member of the New South Wales parliament in 1965–81. From 1975 to 1983 he was deputy leader of the state's branch of the Australian Labour Party, and was subsequently a popular minister for consumer affairs when Labour held office. Einfeld was probably the most important communal leader from New South Wales of his time, and served as president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the community's national body, in 1952–54, 1956–58, 1960–62, and 1964–66. Einfeld was also president of the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, the main immigrants' aid body, and is regarded as very influential in liberalizing Australian policy towards Jewish refugees.

bibliography:

W.D. Rubinstein, Australia ii, index.

[William D. Rubinstein (2nd ed.)]

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