Portrait of the Hon Sydney D Einfeld AO
Object numberM2015/026
TitlePortrait of the Hon Sydney D Einfeld AO
Creator Judy Cassab
DescriptionPortrait of the Hon Sydney D Einfeld AO, oil on canvas, by Judy Cassab AO CBE, 1977.
Sydney (Syd) David Einfeld AO (1909-1995) was an Australian politician and Jewish community leader, credited with changing Australia’s immigration policy to provide a refuge for Holocaust survivors. He is known as the ‘Architect of Australian Jewry, a term coined in recognition of his role in fighting for refugees which resulted in the migration to Australia of more refugees per capita than any other country in the world after Israel. This achievement was recognised by Jewish organisations and communities around the world at the time.
He was born in Sydney in 1909, three weeks after his parents’ arrival from England, hence his name ‘Sydney’. In 1948 he was elected to the Board of the Australian Jewish Welfare Society and in 1952 elected as president, a position which he held for 25 years. He was also president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry between 1953-54, 1957-58, and 1961-62.
Einfeld also played a role in political life. He was elected to the Australian House of Representative as the Labor member for Phillip in 1961. In 1965 he was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat of Bondi; in 1966 he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition. He was NSW Minister for Consumer Affairs in the Wran government from 1976 to 1984, when he retired from politics. Neville Wran said of him that he contributed more to the introduction of consumer protection laws in Australia than any other person.
In January 1982, Syd Einfeld was awarded the honour of Officer of the Order of Australia. The major bypass road in Bondi Junction is named after him. His quiet humility has been captured by Judy Cassab in the painting commissioned by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in honour of Sydney Einfeld’s leadership of and work for Australian Jewry. The painting is a good likeness of the sitter and reflects her oft-quoted artist statement:
“I encourage them [sitters] to talk about themselves because it's vitally important I get a good rapport and learn what's inside them, to paint the inner person as well as getting a good likeness. Sometimes sittings become like a psychiatrist's session, because people are surprisingly willing to open up to someone who genuinely wants to listen to them for several hours.”
Sydney (Syd) David Einfeld AO (1909-1995) was an Australian politician and Jewish community leader, credited with changing Australia’s immigration policy to provide a refuge for Holocaust survivors. He is known as the ‘Architect of Australian Jewry, a term coined in recognition of his role in fighting for refugees which resulted in the migration to Australia of more refugees per capita than any other country in the world after Israel. This achievement was recognised by Jewish organisations and communities around the world at the time.
He was born in Sydney in 1909, three weeks after his parents’ arrival from England, hence his name ‘Sydney’. In 1948 he was elected to the Board of the Australian Jewish Welfare Society and in 1952 elected as president, a position which he held for 25 years. He was also president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry between 1953-54, 1957-58, and 1961-62.
Einfeld also played a role in political life. He was elected to the Australian House of Representative as the Labor member for Phillip in 1961. In 1965 he was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat of Bondi; in 1966 he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition. He was NSW Minister for Consumer Affairs in the Wran government from 1976 to 1984, when he retired from politics. Neville Wran said of him that he contributed more to the introduction of consumer protection laws in Australia than any other person.
In January 1982, Syd Einfeld was awarded the honour of Officer of the Order of Australia. The major bypass road in Bondi Junction is named after him. His quiet humility has been captured by Judy Cassab in the painting commissioned by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in honour of Sydney Einfeld’s leadership of and work for Australian Jewry. The painting is a good likeness of the sitter and reflects her oft-quoted artist statement:
“I encourage them [sitters] to talk about themselves because it's vitally important I get a good rapport and learn what's inside them, to paint the inner person as well as getting a good likeness. Sometimes sittings become like a psychiatrist's session, because people are surprisingly willing to open up to someone who genuinely wants to listen to them for several hours.”
Production date 1977 - 1977
Object namepaintings
Dimensions
- height: 1170.00 mm
width: 1000.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Marcus Einfeld