Rebecca Moses

Rebecca Moses – Jewish Cemetery

• Born Mary Connolly circa 1808

• Died aged 46 years old in 1854

• Life Events-

  • Arrived in Van Dieman’s Land upon the Lord Sidmouth in 1821

  • First woman to convert to Judaism in Australia, changing name to "Rebecca"

  • Wife of Jacob Moses; a Jewish convict

    • Married twice; one traditional in 1826 at the age of 16, one Jewish in 1831

      • This was the first recorded Jewish marriage in Australia

      • The rabbi who performed the marriage ceremony converted her to Judaism, presuming enough commitment to Jewish beliefs and practices to warrant the conversion.

  • Settled in Yass in 1844

  • Had 2 daughters, Hannah and Sarah, both of whom drowned crossing a flooded river.

  • All three women were the first to be buried in the Goulburn Jewish Cemetery.