Early Life

Rabbi Shalom Coleman was born in Liverpool, England on 5 December 1918, shortly following the WWI armistice.

He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish setting.  Following his school graduation he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by a Bachelor of Letters in Hebrew, Semitic Languages, and Egyptology.

His personal encounters interface with history itself, and connect to great leaders, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother.  Rabbi Coleman shared personal audiences with many of the great leaders who have shaped our era.

A student activist at a young age, Rabbi Coleman supported the evolution of Zionism.   His dedication to the Zionist movement entailed first hand encounters with some of the great Zionist pioneers such as David Ben Gurion, Menachem Begin, Zeev Jabotinsky, Sir Israel Brodie, Chaim Weizmann, Edmund de Rothschild, Moshe Dayan, and Rabbi General Shlomo Goren.

During WWII he served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a wireless operator/air gunner.  He flew missions over France and Western Europe and also served as recruiting officer in England for the Jewish Brigade Group.  He was awarded the 1939–1945 Star Medal and War Medal for his service.

Early Rabbinic Career

Following the war, Shalom Coleman returned to university as a tutor, librarian, and reviewer, and pursued Rabbinic study at Jews’ College London.  As a young married couple, Shalom and his wife Bess were seeking time abroad.  In 1947 a call came from Rabbi Dr Louis Rabinowitz, Chief Rabbi of South Africa, and the Colemans departed for Potchefstroom, South Africa.  Shortly afterwards they relocated and Rabbi Coleman served the Jewish community of Bloemfontein from 1949-1060.  He was a prolific contributor to the educational and academic development of the Jewish community during his tenure.

Relocation to Australia

Rabbi Coleman was appointed Rabbi of the South Head Synagogue, Sydney in 1961 where he served for four years.  During this period he held key roles including a Member of the Sydney Beth Din, Vice-President of the NSW Board of Jewish Education, and Director of the David J. Benjamin Institute of Jewish Studies.  He established a Hebrew teachers’ seminary, and lectured at the University of Sydney.

Perth Hebrew Congregation

Rabbi Coleman commenced as the Rabbi of the Perth Hebrew Congregation in February 1966.  From the outset he led a major transformation of Jewish life in Western Australia.  Key accomplishments of his Rabbinate included introducing key community infrastructure for kosher food, mikveh, a Hebrew Academy and expanded Jewish education.  He created the vision and oversight for the relocation of the PHC to its current location in Menora.

Rabbi Shalom Coleman’s civic contribution also extended far beyond the Rabbinate.  His leadership included tenures as President and District Governor of Rotary, and vice President of the Save the Children Fund.   He was a District Secretary of Probus Centre, South Pacific.  Added to this list is a Grand Master to the Freemasons, a Member of the Murdoch University Senate, a Justice of the Peace, Patron to the Family Association of Australia, Chairman of the Perth Dental Hospital Board, and member of the Karrakatta and Pinarroo Valley Cemetery Boards.  In 2024 Rabbi Coleman was awarded of a certificate in the Roll Of Honour of the Royal Australian Justices Association of Western Australia.

Rabbi Coleman wrote a number of books and publications, most notable his autobiography “Life Is A Corridor”.  He was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) and AM (Member of the Order of Australia), and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the University of Western Australia (2000).

Later Life & Continuing Influence

Until his retirement in 1985, Rabbi Coleman’s service to the Perth Jewish Community laid the foundation for the religious renaissance and sustained growth of Australia’s third largest Jewish community.  After 20 years of service he then enjoyed the merit of retiring into a flourishing community and continued to witness the success of his efforts for just shy of a further four decades.

During this time he served as honorary Rabbi and Life Governor at the Maurice Zeffert Home.  Until his last weeks he taught a weekly Talmud shiur, and remained actively engaged in community life, study, and public speaking into his 100s.  Rabbi Coleman took his indefatigable energy into his very senior years and was recognised as Australia’s most senior Rabbi.

Legacy

Rabbi Coleman is best described in this paraphrased quote by his contemporary, Rabbi Raymond Apple Z”L, Emeritus Rabbi of the Great Synagogue, Sydney.  “Small in stature, Rabbi Coleman is a giant in energy, enterprise and enthusiasm, and became one of Australia’s best known Rabbinic figures. Largely thanks to him, Judaism became strong in Perth, with the evolution of new synagogues, a Jewish school, kosher certification, and enduring educational activity.  No longer is it a struggle to be Jewish in Western Australia.”