Overview

Rabbi David (Dovid) Freilich OAM is one of the most influential and longest‑serving rabbinical leaders in Australian Jewish history, best known for his three decades of leadership in Perth and his major contributions to Jewish education, interfaith dialogue, and community development in Western Australia.

He served as Chief Rabbi of the Perth Hebrew Congregation (PHC) from 1988 to 2018, guiding one of the world’s most geographically isolated Jewish communities through a period of growth and consolidation.

Early Career and Background

Ordained as an Orthodox rabbi in Australia and was among the first locally-born congregational rabbis in Sydney. He served as Rabbi of Maroubra Synagogue, commonly known as Kingsford Maroubra Hebrew Congregation from 1973 –1988.

During this time he over saw the establishment of Mount Sinai College in Maroubra which has become a significant primary Jewish educational institution.

During this period, Rabbi Freilich built a reputation as a strong communal leader and educator—skills that would later define his impact in Western Australia.

Move to Perth and Leadership (1988–2018)

In 1988 following a successful period at Maroubra Shule, Rabbi Freilich relocated to Perth to become the Chief Rabbi of Western Australia and Rabbi of the Perth Hebrew Congregation (PHC). He would go on to serve in this role for 28 years, making him one of the longest-serving Orthodox rabbis in Australia.

Perth’s Jewish community is famously isolated geographically and relies on strong leadership and clear vision to maintain a strong Jewish identity. This makes the development of independent communal infrastructure a critical role in keeping this remote but vibrant community cohesive and connected. Rabbi Freilich was at the forefront of these initiatives.

Key Achievements and Contributions

As Perth developed and benefited from South African migration so to the need to develop infrastructure for the community. Rabbi Freilich was deeply involved in Jewish education, serving as the Spiritual Dean of Perth Hebrew School and advocating for structured Jewish learning across generations. He was a strong force behind the  establishment of early childhood infrastructure pioneering efforts to establish the Ruth Landau Harp Early Learning Centre and ultimately serving as the patron of the centre.

Rabbi Freilich served as the head of the Kashrut Authority of Western Australia using his leadership skills to ensure the maintenance of kosher standards in a remote location and support for Jewish observance across households and institutions.

Interfaith

Interfaith Leadership and Public Engagement have always been at the forefront of Rabbi Freilich’s career. He was a very visible Jewish leader and maintained a large public presence mainly through participation in communal interfaith activities with various government and civic institutions.

While maintaining his rabbinical duties for PHC he served on various community and interfaith boards and was a prolific contributor to public policy discussions involving morales and ethics.

Rabbi Freilich was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to interfaith relations and Jewish education.

Advocacy and Ethical Leadership

Rabbi Freilich has always maintained strong ethical positions on community issues and in the wake of the revelations of child abuse within religious institutions his public statements exposing the issues caused significant unrest within the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia especially as he was serving as the President.

It followed severe criticism by rabbinical colleagues over his issuing of a public statement on their behalf condemning the discouraging of child sexual abuse victims from coming forward and condemning any rabbis who covered up such abuse. He resigned after being accused of not consulting with other rabbis before issuing the statement. This stance led to his resignation as President of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia in 2012.

Despite criticism this episode is a clear demonstration of moral leadership and commitment to accountability.

Retirement and Legacy

The announcement of Rabbi Freilich’s retirement in 2017 after 43 years in the rabbinate officially concluded his journey as Chief Rabbi of PHC around 2018. Upon retirement, he reflected on his service as one of Strengthening (“koach”) and stabilising the Perth Jewish community

Legacy and Impact

After stepping down as head of PHC, Rabbi Freilich has remained active with regular participation in interfaith organisations and committees in WA and continued engagement with community initiatives.

Rabbi David Freilich’s legacy in Perth can be summarised as a community builder who strengthened core institutions in an isolated Jewish community and ensured continuity across generations. He expanded access to Jewish learning from early childhood through adulthood and played a major role in integrating the Jewish community into broader WA society.