Harry Gluck had been serving our Congregation on an informal basis for quite some time, so it seemed only natural to transform this into a formal arrangement in 1989. Apart from his friendly disposition and pleasant singing, some of the reasons why Harry Gluck is so suited to our Congregation derive from his background.
Born in Paris of a Romanian father and Hungarian mother, he was raised in Ireland and in Australia. Harry is the second son of Rev. Isadore and Mrs Rachel Gluck. Rev. Gluck, who served as the Chief Cantor at the Great Synagogue in Sydney for over 25 years, retired just prior to Harry officially taking on his position at our Congregation. Harry has always been very closely aligned to Shule life. Not only his father, but both his brothers, the celebrated Cantor Johnny Gluck and Nathan Gluck took this calling. Harry and another brother Joe, have also been extensively involved in conducting services throughout Australasia and have served on the boards of synagogues and Jewish organisations all their adult life.
Harry Gluck was a senior Jewish studies teacher at Mount Scopus College and taught Bar Mitzvah at Bialik College. He studied at Jews College in London, Machon Gold in Israel and LaTrobe University here in Melbourne. He began his teaching career at Moriah College in Sydney but moved to Melbourne in the early 1970s to marry Sue. He has also spent time in Adelaide as Headmaster of Massada College, where he lived next door to Rabbi Heilbrunn and shared an Eruv joining their two homes.
Sue, Harry’s charming wife, is also no stranger to communal life, with her father as the Gabai at Kew Shule. Sue taught for many years at Beth Rivkah Ladies college, until the arrival of their children Eli and Tali.
Sue and Harry made aliyah to Israel in 2011.