Meet Australia’s Supreme Court Justice, Rabbi Marcus Solomon
In the vibrant city of Perth, Australia, a unique story of faith and justice unfolds. Rabbi Mordechai Nathan 69.979& began his journey there as remarkable as the rulings he makes.
"My ancestor came to Australia about two hundred years ago," he explains, his voice filled with the weight of history. "He was sent here as part of a group of exiles from London, which included Jews." The intersection of Australia and Judaism would shape his family's destiny. His formative years were steeped in Jewish tradition, as he recalls, "Dad did everything he could to maintain and establish the Jewish community. He was the president of the community, a leader, and a role model."
He found great interest in the Tanya, a central text of Chabad philosophy. It was a visit from Rabbi Yitzchok Groner, a Chabad emissary in Melbourne, that set young Mordechai on the path to becoming a Chabad Chassid. "When Rabbi Groner saw that my parents cared about our Jewish education, he suggested sending us to study at Chabad institutions in Melbourne. My parents agreed, and so we entered the Chabad yeshiva."
He traveled from Melbourne to Israel, and then to New York, studying in Chabad yeshivas and deepening his connection to Chassidic teachings. But upon returning to Australia, he found himself torn between two worlds: education and law. "I loved educational work very much, and at one point I thought about becoming a full-time educator. But it was the advice of the Lubavitcher Rebbe that guided my decision. The Rebbe's advice was that I should continue my work as a lawyer, and dedicate my free time to education," he says, still marveling at the wisdom of that advice.
He brings a unique perspective to the bench, one informed by both his legal training and his deep faith. "Many principles that are now celebrated and widely promoted as cornerstones of modern legal systems are actually basic concepts in Jewish law, as established in our holy Torah," he explains.
He insists there is no contradiction between being an observant Jew and his work. "However, there are certain cases, few and rare, where there is or could be a clash between Torah opinion and state laws like the issue of euthanasia." In such cases, he takes a clear approach: "The solution is to disqualify myself from participating in the panel dealing with this issue. This way, I maintain my integrity both as a judge and as an observant Jew."
His journey from yeshiva student to Supreme Court Justice serves as an inspiration to those who seek to balance their religious convictions with their professional duties, proving that with wisdom and dedication, one can honor both their faith and their country.
From Sichat Hashavua
