Australian Dictionary of Biography

Francis Lyon Cohen (1862-1934), rabbi, was born on 14 November 1862 at Aldershot, Hampshire, England, eldest son of Woolf Henry Cohen, marine store dealer and later tobacco manufacturer, and his wife Harriett, née Phillips. Cohen was educated at Jews' College, London, from 1879 and attended lectures in arts at University College, London; in 1883 he passed the intermediate music examination of the University of London as a private student. He served as minister of Dublin Synagogue in 1885 and then of Borough (South London) Synagogue in 1886-1904. On 14 December 1886 at the Great Synagogue, London, he married Rose, daughter of Rev. Marcus Hast. An excellent musician, Cohen published a number of works on music including The Rise and Development of Synagogue Music (1887), and Traditional Hebrew Melodies (1896). In 1904 he was appointed chief minister of the Great Synagogue, Sydney. After obtaining his rabbinical diploma in London, he arrived in Sydney in 1905 with his family.

Rabbi Cohen was the first and, for most of his ministry, the only spiritual leader in Sydney with rabbinical qualifications. As head of the Beth Din (Jewish Religious Court) he made all the ecclesiastical decisions. Active in all facets of Jewish communal life, he was president of the New South Wales Board of Jewish Education, helped to found the New South Wales Jewish War Memorial, Darlinghurst, and to develop suburban synagogues. He also worked for such philanthropic institutions as the Chevra Kadisha, the Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Home for the aged and the local branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association, and was also involved in the Jewish Literary and Debating Society of Sydney. In 1928 he published the Jubilee History of the Great Synagogue, Sydney. His qualities as a public speaker won him the admiration of the general community. He was an active Freemason.

Cohen emphasized synagogue dignity and decorum, and, to suit the Christian environment, he tried to modify Jewish observances with some practices unacceptable to more orthodox Jews. His sermons were considered very effective and were published on the front page of the weekly Hebrew Standard of Australasia. However he appeared to prefer well-established Anglo-Jews and his aloof manner alienated many migrants; his criticism of Zionism hindered its growth in New South Wales. Cohen contributed more to raising the status of Jews in the community than he did to increasing Jewish commitment.

His patriotism and love of English culture and the British Empire were a passion. Reared in the military atmosphere of Aldershot, Cohen had served as the first Jewish chaplain of the British Army (1892-1904), was a founder of the Jewish Lads' Brigade and in 1893 originated the annual military Chanukkah service. In Sydney he joined the Australian National Defence League. Appointed chaplain of the Australian Military Forces in 1909, during World War I he was vice-president of the Universal Service League and campaigned for conscription. In 1929 he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration.

Cohen died of cancer in hospital at Potts Point on 26 April 1934 and was buried in Rookwood cemetery. His wife, who had been very active in communal and civic endeavours, died the same year. They were survived by a daughter, and by two sons who served overseas with the Australian Imperial Force. Cohen's portrait by Joseph Wolinski is held by the Great Synagogue.