Nehardea Magazine

Journal of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
No.13, Summer 2001

IN MEMORIAM

AHARON MOSHE AHARON SALIH KHAZZOOM

The late Aharon Aharon was born in Calcutta, India, in 1915 to a family who hailed from Iraq and Iran. Early in his youth he embarked on public activities and became one of the organizers of the Calcutta Jewish Association. In 1949, he was elected President of the Zionist Committee and a year later managed the emigration of 50 youngsters to Israel. He accompanied them to Bombay, where the Jewish Agency flew them to Israel on September 1950. He then moved to Sydney, Australia, with his late wife Simha, his son Moshe and daughter Muzli. Their son, Israel, was born in Sidney.
Aharon, a Civil engineer by profession, introduced new building methods and techniques unknown in Australia. Despite his enormous workload, he organized the Sephardic Community and together with the brothers Hayou and Maurice Ratzabi, founded the "Hebrew Association" which later changed its name to the "Sephardic Association in South Wales". Aharon served as President of the association in the years 1951-1957 and 1961-1964. Together with his brother Reuben, he pressed community members and government officials to permit the immigration of Sephardic Jews to Australia from Eastern countries like India, Burma, Iraq, Egypt, Singapore and China. In 1962, Aharon's dream came true when the first Sephardic Synagogue and culture halls in Australia were built. He joined the Association for the Jewish Community Committee and the Zionist Committee. He presided over the "Kashruth" Committee, the Synagogues Union in New South Wales and later the center for the Jewish youth. He represented Australia at the WOJAC Committee in Washington, the Federation of Sephardic Jews and the Committee for the Liberation of Syrian Jewry. Aharon was also one of the founders of the Federation of Australian Sephardic Jews. In 1977, when a Sephardic synagogue was built in Melbourne, Victoria and I had the honor to be present, together with the Israeli Consul, Dr. Zvi Gabbai, at its decimal celebration. On top of his many duties, he found time to write a book about the history of the Sephardic Jews in Australia and New Zealand.
I met Aharon in 1958 at Flora Gabbai's house, where the Sephardic Community Committee congregated. He encouraged me to be active and become involved with Community affairs.
Aharon Aharon was a "giant" of a Sephardic Jew who left a huge vacuum behind, which will be difficult to fill. We used to consult each other and exchange views. I learnt a lot from him in this process.

He passed away on 24.7.2000.
May God bless his soul.

Alfred Shaul Gabbai
President of Sephardic Federation of
Australian Jewry

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IN MEMORIAM
AHARON MOSHE AHARON SALIH KHAZZOOM
The late Aharon Aharon was born in Calcutta, India, in 1915 to a family who hailed from Iraq and Iran. Early in his youth he embarked on public activities and became one of the organizers of the Calcutta Jewish Association. In 1949, he was elected President of the Zionist Committee and a year later managed the emigration of 50 youngsters to Israel. He accompanied them to Bombay, where the Jewish Agency flew them to Israel on September 1950. He then moved to Sydney, Australia, with his late wife Simha, his son Moshe and daughter Muzli. Their son, Israel, was born in Sidney. Aharon, a Civil engineer by profession, introduced new building methods and techniques unknown in Australia. Despite his enormous workload, he organized the Sephardic Community and together with the brothers Hayou and Maurice Ratzabi, founded the "Hebrew Association" which later changed its name to the "Sephardic Association in South Wales". Aharon served as President of the association in the years 1951-1957 and 1961-1964. Together with his brother Reuben, he pressed community members and government officials to permit the immigration of Sephardic Jews to Australia from Eastern countries like India, Burma, Iraq, Egypt, Singapore and China. In 1962, Aharon's dream came true when the first Sephardic Synagogue and culture halls in Australia were built. He joined the Association for the Jewish Community Committee and the Zionist Committee. He presided over the "Kashruth" Committee, the Synagogues Union in New South Wales and later the center for the Jewish youth. He represented Australia at the WOJAC Committee in Washington, the Federation of Sephardic Jews and the Committee for the Liberation of Syrian Jewry. Aharon was also one of the founders of the Federation of Australian Sephardic Jews. In 1977, when a Sephardic synagogue was built in Melbourne, Victoria and I had the honor to be present, together with the Israeli Consul, Dr. Zvi Gabbai, at its decimal celebration. On top of his many duties, he found time to write a book about the history of the Sephardic Jews in Australia and New Zealand. I met Aharon in 1958 at Flora Gabbai's house, where the Sephardic Community Committee congregated. He encouraged me to be active and become involved with Community affairs. Aharon Aharon was a "giant" of a Sephardic Jew who left a huge vacuum behind, which will be difficult to fill. We used to consult each other and exchange views. I learnt a lot from him in this process. He passed away on 24.7.2000. May God bless his soul. Alfred Shaul Gabbai President of Sephardic Federation of Australian Jewry
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