ECAJ joins mourning of Rabbi Julius Berman
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has joined global leaders in mourning the death of Rabbi Julius “Juli” Berman, the longtime helmsman of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), who passed away this week in New York at age 90.
Rabbi Julius Berman
Berman, who served as Immediate Past President and Honorary Life President of the Claims Conference, is being remembered as a “leader’s leader” whose decades of service reshaped Holocaust restitution and survivor care.
Robert Goot, ECAJ Deputy President and a longtime colleague on the Claims Conference Leadership Council, paid tribute to Berman’s unique blend of legal acumen and religious devotion.
“Juli was truly exceptional,” Goot said, citing Berman’s “deep Jewish learning, great wisdom, and abundant common sense.” He noted that Berman’s “finely calibrated moral compass” steered the organisation through decades of critical negotiations, ensuring expanded aid for survivors and a robust future for Shoah education.
Berman’s influence extended far beyond the boardroom. Known for his “legendary” devotion to Klal Yisrael (the Jewish people), he held top posts across the Orthodox Union and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations.
Colleagues recalled that even in high-stakes environments, Berman remained a teacher at heart; his closing D’var Torah(Torah insights) at Claims Conference meetings were highly anticipated for their relevance and wisdom.
Berman, who died on December 30, is survived by his wife, Dorothy, three children, and a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“His impact was of utmost significance,” Goot added, noting the profound respect Berman commanded from both world leaders and the global survivor community. “He has justifiably earned a place in the pantheon of the influential Jewish giants of our time.”
