Davis, Alexander Barnard

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DAVIS, ALEXANDER BARNARD

DAVIS, ALEXANDER BARNARD (1828–1913), Australian rabbi. Born in England, Davis served as headmaster of Westminster Jews' Free School, London, and minister of Kingston Congregation, Jamaica. From 1862 to 1904 he officiated as chief minister of the Great Synagogue in Sydney, and succeeded in reconciling opposing groups among the community. He founded the Sabbath School and the Sydney Jewish Education Board. Davis wrote several booklets on Jewish observance, the first of their kind to be published in Australia.

bibliography:

jc (Sept. 16, 1898, Jan. 30 and Feb. 6, 1914). add. bibliography: I. Porush, The House of Israel (1977), index; H.L. Rubinstein, Australia, i, index; Australian Dictionary of Biography, 4, 34.

[Israel Porush]