Rabbi Bent Melchior, recently elected Chief Rabbi of Denmark, succeeding to the post vacated by the death of his father. Rabbi Marcus Melchior, is scheduled to arrive on his first visit to this country on March 12th, it was announced here by the United Synagogue of America. Sponsored by the World Council of Synagogues, of which he is a leading member, Chief Rabbi Melchior’s visit will take him on a cross country tour of the major Jewish communities with a view to acquainting himself with all the facets of Jewish life in this country. During his stay in New York, the 41-year-old rabbi will be honored at a luncheon reception by the World Council of Synagogues on Wednesday, March 18, at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Born in 1929 in Copenhagen, Rabbi Melchior is the third generation of his family to occupy the office of Chief Rabbi. In 1947-49 he worked for the Haganah in Europe and upon the proclamation of the Jewish state he volunteered for military service in Israel’s Defense Forces during the War of Liberation. Since 1950 he occupied many high positions in the Zionist movement, including those of Secretary of the Zionist Federation and editor of a Zionist publication. He was also head of the U.J.A. and president of Mizrachi of Denmark.
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