Melchior was born to Danish parents in Beuthen, Germany (now
Bytom, Poland), where his father,
Marcus Melchior, was rabbi. In 1943, during the Nazi
occupation of Denmark, Marcus Melchior was instrumental in saving
Danish Jews, and became chief rabbi of Denmark in 1947. From October 1943 to mid-1945, Melchior and his family lived as refugees in
Sweden. Subsequently, at the age of 21, he received a Ph.D. from
Copenhagen University. After a period as a teacher in
Copenhagen, Melchior had his rabbinical education in
London. In 1963, he became rabbi at the
synagogue in
Copenhagen. When his father died in 1969, he succeeded him as chief rabbi. He translated the
Torah, the
siddur (Jewish prayer book), and other books into Danish, as well as writing several books, including his autobiography. He was a prolific speaker and writer in the Danish community and media. Melchior retired from the rabbinate in 1996. His successor was
Bent Lexner. Melchior continued his humanitarian and charitable work in Denmark and abroad in retirement. ==Personal life==