VoiCes Remembering the past, inspiring the future.
Spring 2023 The magazine of Melbourne Holocaust Museum
MHM BOARD Co-Presidents
Sue Hampel OAM Michael Debinski OAM Vice-President Simon Szwarc Treasurer Richard Michaels Secretary Mary Slade Board Directors Abram Goldberg OAM Helen Mahemoff OAM Prof. George Braitberg AM Melanie Raleigh Natalie Siegel Dr Natalie Bassat Karen Katz
MHM FOUNDATION Chairperson Trustees
MHM STAFF
Helen Mahemoff OAM Allen Brostek Jeffrey Mahemoff AO Joey Borensztajn AM Nina Bassat AM Phil Lewis
Cover: Tram permit card permitting travel in carriages designated for Jews, issued to Zelda Goldszwarc, Warsaw, July 1942. MHM Collection, donated by Halina Cukierman.
The Melbourne Holocaust Museum (MHM) exists to amplify the voices of Holocaust survivors as a catalyst for greater understanding and acceptance of difference, to inspire a better future.
From the
Presidents
In this issue
03. From the Presidents 04. Editor’s note Jayne Josem Navrutti Gupta 05. Farewell Pauline ORGANISATION SUPPORT 06. Creating a museum with meaning Head of Operations Gary Pianko Administration & Facilities 10. Working with Thylacine Operations and Facilities Coordinator Georgina Alexander 12. Not just a Hollywood name Projects Officer Daniel Feldman Receptionist Luke Martin 14. Preserving memory through artefacts Receptionist Manda Rozen-Flannery Receptionist Tegan Anderson 16. Lodz boys reunite after 80 years Finance 18. Transcendent reunions: Finance & Cyber Security Manager Roy John Graduate Accountant Minoli Fernando The Czestochowa Synagogue model People & Culture 20. Anniversary of the Eichmann trial People & Culture Manager Anna Berhang Survivor Welfare Officer Rae Silverstein 22. Creating relevancy at the Holocaust Museum Audio-Visual 24. Building our future with the generosity Manager of Audio Visual & Digital Storytelling Robbie Simons Digital Production Specialist (consultant) Sean Meltzer of our supporters Visitor Experiences 25. Gifts in Will Senior Visitor Experience Officer Charlotte Hooper Visitor Experience Assistant Eva Zeleznikow 26. Uncovering rare documents ENGAGEMENT & PHILANTHROPY 28. Miriam Lederman Head of Engagement & Philanthropy Aviva Weinberg Communications & Marketing Specialist Meg Hibbert A Child Survivor of the Holocaust Fundraising Coordinator Margot Holt Events Coordinator Maya Feder 30. Meet Karel Fracapane PROGRAMMING & EXHIBITON 32. Sala’s Story Head of Programming & Exhibiton Dr Breann Fallon 34. To honour and remember Education Manager of 5-12 Education, Tracey Collie 36. They don’t want to remember, Curriculum & Programs Manager of Adult Education & Academic Simon Holloway we don’t want to forget Pedagogy Specialist Lisa Phillips Education Officer Fanny Hoffman 37. In Memory of Gary Gray Education Officer Melanie Attar Education Officer Soo Isaacs 42. Yiddish OFFICE OF THE CEO Chief Executive Officer Executive Assistant
Education Administrator
Sue Hampel OAM & Michael Debinski OAM MHM Co-Presidents
Sarah Virgo-Bennett
Collections & Curatorial Melbourne Holocaust Museum Manager of Collections & Research Anna Hirsh Senior Curator Sandy Saxon PO Box 1018, Elsternwick VIC 3185 Librarian & Information Manager Julia Reichstein T: (03) 9528 1985 Creative Director for Multimedia (consultant) Arek Dybel Collections Assistant Alice McInnes mhm.org.au Curatorial Assistant Fiona Kelmann VOICES Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in Voices are those of the authors and do not necessarily Editor Lina Leibovich reflect those of the magazine editor or editorial committee. While this magazine welcomes ideas, Yiddish Editor Alex Dafner articles, photos, poetry and letters, it reserves the right to accept or reject material. There is no Graphic Design Jacqui Klass automatic acceptance of submissions.
The expansion of this Holocaust centre should go on a more professional basis... I believe it’s just the beginning. We [should] establish a highly professional organisation with people who have the skills to understand how to run a Holocaust centre in the future, that there be an educational [...] centre and some younger people to take it over within the next 10 to 20 years. They have to run it for a different generation, for Melbourne people... and they will do it in the best interests of the community and Holocaust memory. These prophetic words from Bono Weiner z”l were inspiring in the 1990s. This is the legacy we at MHM have inherited.
There is a buzz of excitement in the air. With our Hidden
Pauline remains on the board and in celebration of Pauline’s
and core exhibition completed, we are set to open to the
extraordinary contribution to MHM, she was made a Life
public shortly.
Governor. We welcome Michael Debinski OAM as copresident, and three new additions to our board: Natalie
In June, Sue attended the IHRA plenary in Dubrovnik, where
Bassat and Karen Katz as new directors as well as co-opted
Professor Yehuda Bauer was farewelled. World leaders
director Natalie Siegel – all will bring knowledge, expertise
sent messages of gratitude and admiration, underlining the
and energy to the board.
impact of Professor Bauer’s work. It has been an extraordinary journey from a small grassroots Mazal Tov to Board Director Elly Brooks OAM for receiving a
volunteer run organisation to the professional institute
well-deserved Medal of the Order of Australia in the King’s
we present today. This is a result of our dedicated board
Birthday Awards. Elly is stepping down from her role on the
directors; CEO Jayne Josem and her team; the fundraising
board and we are so grateful for her tireless work at MHM.
efforts of Helen Mahemoff OAM with support of the MHM Foundation and government and communal assistance.
We say thank you to Pauline Rockman OAM as she steps
This has enabled us to achieve what our founder Bono
down from the co-president role. She has been an integral
outlined in his vision. Now more than ever our relevance is
part of the MHM for close to 30 years. Thanks to her
critical, as is your continued support.
leadership, the museum is positioned for exciting growth.
Chag Sameach, Sue and Mike
3
Feature
Lina Leibovich
Editor’s note This edition of Voices focuses on survivor artefacts, showcasing Andy Factor OAM and Paul Grinwald’s remarkable stories of survival, and the artefacts that will be displayed in the MHM’s new permanent exhibition spaces. We feature interviews with our passionate team who worked tirelessly to bring the new museum concepts to life. We are excited to share a feature on Holocaust survivor Chaim Sztajer’s model of the Treblinka extermination camp - a key artefact within the new core exhibition Everybody Had a Name. We also bring you a highlight from our Yom HaShoah evening where student and poet Ezra Faigenbaum delivered a moving poem that deeply touched the audience. We would like to thank Pauline Rockman OAM for
We express our extreme gratitude to Pauline Rockman OAM as she steps down from the co-President role, a significant part of her almost 30 years volunteering at MHM. In early 1994 Pauline joined the museum as a volunteer in the testimonies department. In 2006 Pauline became co-president alongside Shmuel Rosenkranz. She then went on to become president in 2007 until 2015, when Sue Hampel OAM joined her as co-president.
Congratulations Pauline Pauline’s passion was driven by her mission to keep alive the memory of the Holocaust and amplify the voices of survivors. MHM Co-President Sue Hampel OAM
The first woman to serve on the MHM Board, Pauline’s contributions to the community were publicly acknowledged in 2010 when she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). She continued her service by representing Australia at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and she was an influential advocate for March of the Living Australia, building awareness and public support for this important initiative. Pauline has ensured that the legacy bequeathed by those survivors – who, decades ago, created the memorial that we now know as the MHM – will continue to be passed on to future generations and the. Commenting on her vision for the museum in 2014, Pauline said: “I see the JHC [MHM] as a significant player within the wider…landscape…the lessons of the Holocaust are so timely – lessons about the dangers of unchecked hatred,
her invaluable contribution to the MHM for the last
the power of personal responsibility and the consequences
30 years. Her vision and leadership has helped to
of indifference. But… we, the second, third and fourth
bring the museum to a world-class standard.
generation[s] are the links that preserve the past, but also join the past to the present and the future.”
We hope you enjoy this edition of Voices and we look forward to opening our doors to welcome you back very soon.
4
Right: Sue Hampel OAM, Jayne Josem and Pauline Rockman OAM. Photographed by Jon Moss.
With much gratitude we are thrilled to acknowledge Pauline’s tireless work with the honour of becoming the fourth Life Governor of the MHM. In true trailblazing spirit, she will also be the first woman to hold this important distinction. 5
by Meg Hibbert Communications & Marketing Specialist
Creating a
museum with
meaning Not many will be aware of the intricacies involved in bringing a
MHM staff have been working tirelessly on creating not one, but two, new exhibition spaces: our core exhibition Everybody Had a Name and our youthfocused exhibition Hidden: Seven Children Saved.
Jayne Josem Role: MHM CEO & Lead Curator Exhibition: Everybody Had a Name
Role: Senior Curator How does the new core exhibition differ
Exhibition: Everybody Had a Name
from the previous? The new exhibition continues to be chronological – starting
What sets this exhibition apart from other
with life before and ending in Australia. The main difference
Holocaust museums?
is that we have expanded pre- and post-war life as powerful
Walking through Everybody Had a Name will be an
bookends to this difficult story. This provides visitors with
immersive experience for the visitor as they journey through
a greater understanding of who the Jewish people were
the different themes of the exhibition. Running parallel to the
before the Holocaust – exploring both their similarities to the
main narrative – a history of the Holocaust – are personal
wider community as well as their distinctiveness.
stories of our Melbourne survivors told through their objects and testimonies. Through a multimedia overlay, visitors
museum exhibition to life. From conceptualisation phases, artefact procurement, and importantly, working closely with survivors
We decided to start and end with the image of one survivor:
can follow ‘in the footsteps’ of individual survivors as they
and their families to create an authentic experience, it truly is a
Tuvia Lipson z”l. Every week he would ask students
traverse the exhibition, and gain insights into their personal
momentous undertaking.
“what does six million mean to you?” As part of his answer
experiences at each stage of the war. The exhibition also
he would say “everybody had a name, nobody had a grave”.
celebrates the tenacity and achievements of survivors who
Everybody Had a Name is an exploration of the Jewish experience
He taught the students to go from abstract numbers and
ultimately made Melbourne their home.
of the Holocaust, commencing with pre-war Jewish life, and
think about the impact on one person. This exhibition starts
concluding with how survivors rebuilt their lives in Melbourne.
with an image of 12 year old Tuvia from before the war,
The exhibition facilitates reflection. Visitors are asked to
and ends with a video of him taken not long before he
consider questions about the nature of prejudice, what
Hidden: Seven Children Saved is an innovative exhibition
passed away. As he looks out across the bay, the viewer
it means to be a bystander, and how understanding the
designed to provide children aged 10 – 14 years old with a safe
is invited to consider the events from one person’s
events of the past can inform our actions today and
and meaningful interaction with the Holocaust, by following the
perspective: a survivor who lost his family but rebuilt a
into the future.
experiences of one of seven child survivors who were in hiding
life far away in Melbourne. Like many Holocaust exhibitions, Everybody Had a Name
during the war.
6
Sandy Saxon
Our ending provokes thoughts about the difficulty of
is also a memorial to those who were murdered. However,
With MHM staff dedicating themselves to these thought-
re-establishing lives in the wake of the Holocaust, a
its uniqueness lies in its specificity, presenting the
provoking, museum spaces over the past four years, they were
challenge that is enduring. It celebrates the successes
experiences of the Melbourne survivor community closely
thrilled to share their insights into the development process.
while acknowledging the trauma.
connected to our museum. 7
Arek Dybel Role: Creative Director of Multimedia
Lisa Phillips
Exhibition: Everybody Had a Name
Role: Curator and Education Specialist Exhibition: Hidden: Seven Children Saved
Fiona Kelmann
How has technology been used throughout the exhibition
Role: Assistant Curator
to enhance the user experience?
Jennifer Levitt-Maxwell
What impact do you hope this exhibition
Exhibition: Everybody Had a Name
My general approach to the use of technology in museum
Role: Lead Curator and Creative Director
will have on students?
contexts is that technology should be invisible. The story
Exhibition: Hidden: Seven Children Saved
With this interactive exhibition, we hope students will come
Can you please share an element of the exhibition that you
and the relation to the object should always be the main
connected with while working on the project?
focus. Within this exhibition, technology has been used
Why was it important to create interactive personal
Honestly, I connected with the entire exhibition. I know
as a tool to elevate engagement with the stories.
experiences within the exhibition?
With such a difficult topic to communicate to younger
When we designed Hidden, and we were thinking about
audiences, we used our Learning Framework – developed
Our Czestochowa room explores the work of artist Perec
transformative learning experiences, we started by placing
and conceived by the MHM and finalised in partnership
Willenberg and his unique synagogue ceiling polychromy,
the learner at the centre. Understanding that we all learn
with the University of Melbourne – to explore the concept
One significant new installation that really speaks to me
which tells us of the rich culture of Jewish life in Europe
differently, we looked at how we can apply lots of different
of choices, and how we can all make an impact in
is the “Desperate Letters” multimedia station. It features
before the Holocaust. Having only fragmented traces of
learning styles within the exhibit, whether it’s audio, visual,
people’s lives.
original, handwritten (some typed) correspondence, of
survivors’ memories and limited visual materials from the
interactive or otherwise.
three separate families that manage to leave Europe, by
period, the team was able to recreate an imagination of
“the skin of their teeth”, prior to World War Two.
the ceiling as an artwork. Digital media technology allowed
One of the major things that we looked at when developing
lessons of the Holocaust, with key character strengths and
us to reveal the ceiling’s deep symbolic meaning and
a transformative learning experience, is linking back to
ultimately, it engages our students and visitors to take action
The letters, of a highly personal nature, between emigres,
build a connection to the narrative which would not be
people’s prior knowledge. For example, in the “pre-war”
in their own lives.
and their relatives trapped in Europe, tragically impart the
possible otherwise.
section of the exhibit, there is a photo of Holocaust survivor
that everyone will feel the same, no matter what level of knowledge they have.
powerlessness of European Jews against incremental
away looking at the light in the Holocaust.
The MHM Learning Framework brings together the
Sonia Kempler on her first day of school, standing next to
Within the museum, we explore those people who
persecutory policies of the Nazis. They beckon us to
A well-developed narrative and artistry focusing on survivor
her brother, Heini. We exhibited that photo, knowing that
made choices and helped those seven children – seven
question the passivity of the world, and its callous,
stories and related artefacts will always overshadow any
most students, and visitors, can relate to that relationship
survivors – to survive the Holocaust. We aim for students
xenophobic refugee policies. These themes reverberate
technology. The benchmark of a good quality experience is
with a sibling or, the experience of their first day of school.
to come away with the knowledge that the choices they
in our own world today. The sudden cessation of
when technology remains unnoticed and compliments the
Using these narratives in the exhibition, allows our visitors
make can have a positive impact on other people’s lives.
correspondence is haunting. A final explanatory paragraph
sole power of the MHM Collection, which is embedded into
to make strong personal connections from the beginning,
Empowering students with this message will provide them
in the museum voice details the fate of those who
a good narrative context, and ultimately, stays forever in the
which then encourages empathy to build and supports
with the agency to know they can do good things in
remained behind.
visitor’s memory.
positive action.
the world.
8
9
by Lina Leibovich The sensitivities surrounding the content required meticulous attention to detail, from the macro to the micro level. Careful consideration was given to architectural forms, colour palettes, display of sensitive collection objects both in form and meaning. Senior Creative Designer, Lucy Bannyan
Thylacine project team. Top: Lis Cherry, Lucy Bannyan, Shaun Kirby. Bottom: Laila Christie, Josie Parkes, Melinda Rolfe.
Working with
Thylacine
The MHM curatorial team engaged with interpretive design specialists Thylacine to develop the new core exhibition Everybody Had a Name.
Thylacine chose to elevate certain
hiding place for escapees, glimpses
items (e.g. paper and textiles) housed
storylines as three-dimensional
to freedom for the imprisoned and the
in an almost continuous horizontal
installations, “offering moments
way atrocities were hidden from view
ledge along the perimeter walls where
of atmospheric interest, beauty or
by the perpetrators.
visitors can dig deep into the content in an intimate way.
constraint”. Some examples include: Lucy explains “The main concept Gallery 2: Rights Removed
throughout the exhibition is to remind
The emotional impact of the exhibition
The November Pogrom of 1938 or
visitors of the lives lost. Fibre optic
was a major consideration for the
Kristallnacht is represented as a
points arranged in a Star of David
Thylacine team, and communicating
smashed glass monolith in the centre
diminish in number as visitors move
the traumatic content to visitors
of the space to focus visitors’ attention
through the space, representing the
affectively posed a challenge that
on the start of the atrocities.
six million Jewish lives lost.”
they addressed alongside our team of Holocaust experts.
Our curatorial team drew upon the
that physically and personally connect
Making it a reality required project
Gallery 3: Freedoms Lost
The team were faced with some
MHM Collection of over 12,000
them to the space. The team boasts
management and coordination of
Subtle manipulation of the exhibition
challenges in terms of the limited size
We hope to take the audience on an
historical artefacts and 1300 survivor
an impressive list of clientele including
the construction of all aspects of
gallery space to restrict in size,
and restricted shape of the gallery.
emotional journey, one of empathy
testimonies, and worked with Thylacine
the Western Australian Museum, the
the exhibition fit out, working with
represents the restrictions on life as
Lucy explains that the “exhibition
with Holocaust survivors and their
to develop the interpretive methods,
National Archives of Australia, and Arts
specialists and contractors to ensure
freedoms were lost.
design uses the perimeter of the
stories. Starting with the quality of
and thematic and physical structure
Centre Melbourne.
all the bespoke elements of the design
space to create a rich ‘mosaic’ of
life before the war and gradually
were made to strict specifications. An
Gallery 4: Life Unworthy of Life, and
information, objects and experience
descending into disbelief, fear, horror,
Thylacine Senior Creative Designer
important part of this process was the
Gallery 5: Liberation
as visitors flow through the exhibition
and devastating loss during the
Lucy Bannyan describes the MHM
development of a tailored exhibition
A birch “forest” made of birch tree
from start to end in one direction.”
Holocaust, then emerging into the
With over 20 years’ experience in
project as a real “team effort” as her
graphic style guide that the Thylacine
trunks was installed to represent a
interpretive design, Thylacine had
colleagues and the MHM team
team created to assist the MHM in
They created the design works at two
new life with the message that this
a wealth of experience in making
worked closely together to bring these
preparing and selecting text and
levels; the experiential, that surrounds
was real and must never be allowed
museum exhibitions “accessible” to
survivor stories to life through every
images for the exhibition.
visitors; and the detailed – stories,
to happen again.
all visitors through interpretive displays
phase of the project.
words, images and smaller collection
of the exhibition space, to create a powerful visitor experience.
10
light of hope, empowerment, and
– Lucy Bannyan
11
by Meg Hibbert Communications & Marketing Specialist
The Factors flee Nazi Germany
people related to us, out of Germany.”
A pioneer of cosmetics –
Andy Factor was born in Plauen,
- Andy Factor.
including foundation creams,
Germany in 1924. He was nine years
false eyelashes, and compact
old when the Nazis came to power
When the situation became more
powder – Maksymilian
in 1933.
severe in Germany following
Faktorowicz (Max Factor)
Melbourne Holocaust survivor Andy Factor holds a business card for his relative Max Factor. Photographed by Jon Moss.
Kristallnacht, Max’s son, Davis,
became a household name in
When the antisemitic laws were
organised for these provisions to be
Hollywood when his business,
introduced in Germany, he
distributed to family members to leave
Max Factor, was established in
experienced isolation and humiliation.
Germany for Australia immediately.
1909. Though his vocation of
During this period of persecution, Andy
Davis believed Australia would afford
“beautifying” the stars on the big
was attacked by a German student at
his family members the opportunity
screen is well known, what may
school one day and was forced to fight
to build a new life, far away from the
be lesser known to the public,
back. The next day, the German boy
impending war in Europe.
is the part he played in saving
was given several strikes with a cane
the lives of Jewish people living
for being “beaten by a Jew,” indicating
“My father was released from
in Nazi Germany prior to the
to Andy just how severe the situation
Buchenwald and received news that
outbreak of World War Two.
had become in Germany.
Davis Factor had secured visas for France. So, we left within two weeks.”
Not just a
Hollywood name
My father was released from Buchenwald and received news that Davis Factor had secured visas for France. So, we left within two weeks.
Maksymilian Faktorowicz (Max Factor) was born in Zdunska near Lodz, Poland in 1872. While working as a cosmetics expert within the Tsar’s palace in Russia in the early 20th century, Max witnessed the escalation of revolutionary sentiment fueling antisemitism among the population. Max was forced to flee. He obtained a visa and, at age 30, immigrated to America. He soon became a prominent figure in the Hollywood scene. Among his first clients were Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. 12
Our new core exhibition,
The day after Kristallnacht (“The Night
Everybody Had a Name,
of Broken Glass”) in 1938, Andy and his
Andy and his family obtained visas
will explore Max Factor’s
father, Chiel, were arrested. Andy was
to France, where they lived for
contribution to saving Jewish
released after a week, but his father
several months during which time
lives in the lead up to the war,
was sent to Buchenwald concentration
the war broke out. They arrived in
and feature one of his historic
camp, where he remained for six
Australia in 1940.
business cards (1938), which
weeks, until he was released.
his great, great nephew and
Today, Andy shares the story of his
Holocaust survivor Andy Factor
His release was secured through
escape from Nazi Germany with
OAM loaned to the museum for
Andy’s great great uncle, Max Factor.
students and visitors to the MHM to
the permanent display.
Max Factor died in 1936, some three
remind them of the importance of
years before the beginning of World
being a good person for people
War Two. With a concern for the rising
in need.
antisemitism and growing tensions in Europe, Max had the foresight to make
“Davis Factor acted on the instructions
provisions in his Will to support his
of Max Factor before he died, to help
relatives who were desperate to
any of our families who were stuck in
leave Germany.
Europe, who wanted to get out. He did bring out quite a number of our close,
“Before he died, he put a note in his
and even distant family members, to
Will that he would like money reserved,
Australia. There are some good people
and every effort should be made to
that go to any lengths to save people
get people, Jewish people, and Jewish
and be kind to them.” 13
On his sixth birthday, his aunt Chana Milechman
An emotional discovery
gifted him a cutlery set – a fork, knife and spoon –
Paul was certain his treasured cutlery had
engraved with his initials. He still remembers the day
been lost during the war.
by Meg Hibbert Communications & Marketing Specialist
Their memory will live together with that cutlery.
clearly – his aunt and her children were all present at the luncheon.
In 1978 when Paul’s mother Malka passed away, Paul’s wife Sarah and his sister Suzanne emptied his
“I loved it [the cutlery set], I used to eat with it all the
parents’ apartment. “My wife brought home a box
time until I was nine years old.”
of odd cutlery which she put under the sink and forgot about.”
In 1942 Paul and his family made the difficult decision to flee their apartment in Paris and cross the
In 1993 Sarah re-discovered the box under the sink
demarcation line to Vichy France.
and “found the two items [spoon and fork] which were totally black. She polished them up and found
“When I was nine years old, we had to leave Paris in a
my initials on them.”
hurry. We were told to leave everything behind, we were not to take anything with us, because we would
“I was sure that I had left them in Paris in 1942. And yet,
be crawling under barbed wire for quite a while, and
there they were. I got most emotional about it, and
we did not want to be weighed down by anything.”
I treasured them until I decided to give them to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.”
Preserving
memory
through artefacts
Paul left his possessions behind in Paris, including the cutlery set that he had received from his aunt.
Paul was overcome with emotion because this cutlery set is not just a cutlery set to him - it is a
He treasured the cutlery, but knowing they
symbol. It serves as a memorial to “my aunty and
would weigh them down, he left them behind.
her children, who were gassed in Auschwitz. Their
Or so he thought.
memory will live together with that cutlery.”
For approximately one year, Paul and his sister
Although Paul found it difficult to part with his
Suzanne were placed on a farm in France where
cutlery, he was “honoured” to donate the set to the
they worked, pretending to be Christians. When the
MHM to ensure that his family’s memory would live
money their parents supplied the farmers to care for
on through every visitor who walked through the
them ran out, they went into hiding with their parents
museum doors. When asked what he hopes people
until liberation.
will take away from viewing the cutlery within our Hidden: Seven Children Saved exhibition, he said:
After the war, Paul found out that his aunt and
Holocaust survivor Paul Grinwald was born in Paris, France in 1933, to a traditional family who observed Jewish holidays. Paul attended kindergarten in Paris from age three and went to government schools later. He loved school and was an avid reader. 14
her children were murdered in the gas chambers
“I think it will make them aware of the Holocaust, and
of Auschwitz.
of artefacts that relate to the Holocaust; not only the dramatic side of it, but the hopeful side of it, of the
The family moved back to Paris for a brief period
people, and the things that have survived.”
before immigrating to Australia in November 1946. 15
80
by Meg Hibbert Communications & Marketing Specialist
Lodz boys
reunite after
years
Class of students in the Lodz Ghetto dated October 1941. Wolf is sitting fifth from the right in the front row. Marian is sitting second from the right in the front row. Of the students pictured, it is believed that Marian and Wolf are the only ones still alive today. Students within the class were the “cream of pre-war Jewish students in Lodz”.
Connecting long-lost friends Wolf and Marian were connected through the Marek Edelman Dialogue Centre in Lodz — an institution dealing with the history of the city, with an emphasis on Jewish Lodz. Wolf’s son, John, contacted the centre’s director, Joanna Podolska. While corresponding, Joanna sent John a photograph of a class of students in the Lodz Ghetto dated October 1941, in hopes the family could identify Wolf. Sure enough, there he was, sitting in the front row with his knees crossed, staring nonchalantly into the camera. Wolf could identify several of his classmates within the photo, including Marian who was sitting in the same row. Joanna was delighted to share with the family that Marian was still alive and living in Warsaw, and she could put the pair in contact. 16
In July 2021, at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Deane family – Holocaust survivor Wolf and his wife Asya – sat in their home in Camberwell (joined online by their son John and daughter Leanne) eagerly awaiting a Zoom call. But this was not just any Zoom call – this was a reunion, a reunion of survivors: Wolf Deane (Walek Fabiszewicz) and Marian Turski (Mayer Turbowicz). Wolf and Marian attended the same high school in the Lodz Ghetto until October 1941 when the school was shut down. As the Zoom call lit up Wolf’s computer screen and Marian’s face appeared, Wolf’s anticipation turned to delight as he and Marian reminisced, in Polish, on the days spent at school and the lives they had led in the 80 years since they had spoken. Until they were reconnected, they each believed they were the only one alive from their classmates.
Wolf Deane on Zoom call with Marian Turski and Joanna Podolska, 2021.
Wolf Deane’s Holocaust experiences
Wolf was deported with his parents
construction of the previous Jewish
Wolf was 13 years old when the
and extended family to Auschwitz-
Holocaust Centre building, and
German army invaded Poland. In
Birkenau, arriving on 20 August 1944.
sharing his message with visitors to
March 1940 Wolf’s family was forced to move into the Lodz Ghetto.
the museum. “With the movement of his thumb, the SS officer separated men from
“The horrors and suffering that I
Life was difficult in the ghetto,
women and children. This was the
experienced in my youth made
however, Wolf and his friends were
last time I saw my mother, who,
me realise that family, love and
still able to attend school.
together with my aunt Chana Fayga
affection are the most important
and her young son Shmulik, were
things in life. We should cherish and
Immediately after the ghetto was
sent straight to the gas chambers.”
appreciate this every day. People in
formed, some teachers from pre-war
– Wolf Deane.
society should be more tolerant and
Jewish schools organised a high school in the ghetto.
understanding.” Wolf and his father remained at Auschwitz until they were eventually
Being recognised in the
The school was referred to as “Ghetto
selected to work in a factory near
Lodz Survivor Garden
High School”. Wolf said “one of the
Braunschweig. On 5 March 1945
In 2021 Wolf was recognised with
advantages of being at school was
Wolf’s father died from typhoid
a ceremonial tree planting at the
that we got additional food – a bowl
and exhaustion.
Survivor Garden in Lodz.
Weeks later, Wolf was taken on
As the family were not able to attend,
The school closed when the Nazis
a death march to Wattenstadt.
Marian received the certificate of
commanded all “able-bodied” Jews
From there, he was transported to
appreciation on Wolf’s behalf.
in the ghetto into forced labour to
Wobbelin, where he was liberated on
produce materials for their war effort.
2 May 1945.
of soup and a ration of bread”.
A tree within the Lodz Garden serves as a physical dedication to the
On 18 August 1944 it was announced
Wolf immigrated to Australia in 1955.
Fabiszewicz/Deane family history and
Lodz Ghetto would be liquidated. Wolf
He married Asya in 1961. They have
represents the enduring inspiration
sustained permanent hearing loss
two children and four grandchildren.
Wolf has passed on to younger
when he was hit with a metal club by
Wolf has been involved at the MHM
generations, to build a brighter future.
one of the German soldiers facilitating
for many decades, contributing his
the liquidation.
expertise and time advising on the 17
Transcendent reunions:
The Czestochowa Synagogue model
by Dr Anna Hirsh Manager of Collections & Research
Feature
Chaim Sztajer and grandson with model, MHM Collection. Image courtesy of Malka Zylbersztajn.
Our new permanent exhibition, Everybody Had a Name, features two significant models created by Holocaust survivor Chaim Sztajer z”l in the mid-1980s, exemplifying a duality of individual and collective memory. In the absence of a camera, Sztajer’s models represent his 3D manifestations of destroyed sites of memory. They also represent the extremes of Jewish experiences. One model is of the Treblinka extermination camp, where over 925,000 people were murdered, and the other is of the Old Synagogue of Czestochowa, a site of celebrations and divine ritual. Embedded with Sztajer’s memories and emotions, the models invite the viewer to project their own personal responses, transforming the space into a communal site of memory. 18
Feature
The Czestochowa Old
between the Czestochowa
of the ceiling layout as a
and Bronka Fajgenblat
Synagogue model located
Synagogue and the death
guide, I recreated a version
and recently donated by
in The World that Was gallery
camp. His father was
of the synagogue ceiling.
their sons Mark and Len,
space, depicts Jewish life
renowned artist, Professor
The initial concept was
features as the sole original
in pre-war Europe, while the
Perec Willenberg, who
to merely colourise the
artefact in this space. The
Treblinka model dominates
redesigned the interior
drawing, but I quickly felt this
parochet’s metallic threads
the Life Unworthy of Life
of the Old Czestochowa
lacked many of Willenberg’s
and lustrous silk shimmer in
gallery. This reunion of
Synagogue in the 1920s.
wondrous details. I began a
the low light: necessary for
the two models provides
Perec added magnificent
reconstruction based on the
its preservation, evocative of
a counterpoint, of the
modernist flourishes through
fragments of information we
a candlelit Erev Shabbat.
synagogue’s sublime
his inventive Hebrew
had, digitally manipulating
Heaven to Treblinka’s
typography and trompe
the original photographs
A multimedia display created
Hell. The synagogue
l’oeil iconography, alongside
and painting over pieced-
by Creative Director of
model extends beyond
earlier religious murals. Both
together printouts on heavy
Multimedia Arek Dybel,
Czestochowa in Poland,
spiritually and aesthetically
watercolour papers.
explores Czestochowa,
providing a touchstone to
sublime, Perec’s designs
all synagogues and further
embodied G-d’s words that
The resultant collage was
sites of Jewish communities
created the world, to be
expertly photographed,
destroyed by the Nazis and
explored by the congregation
then meticulously realigned,
These artefacts from the
their collaborators.
below. But the enhanced
through photographer Mark
Old and New Czestochowa
interior existed only briefly
Ashkanasy’s post-production.
synagogues signify many
Chaim Sztajer grew up near
before its destruction in the
MHM CEO Jayne Josem and
old and new layers of
the Old Synagogue, and
early years of World War Two.
Senior Curator Sandy Saxon
meaning, hidden and
it had been central to his
The MHM’s curatorial team
worked with Thylacine, the
revealed, much like Judaism
early life. Chaim, along with
came up with the idea to
museum’s interpretive
itself. The transcendent
his pregnant wife and child
imagine what the ceiling
designers, and added
reunion of Sztajer’s
were deported to Treblinka,
might have looked like for
geometric undulations to
synagogue model with his
where only he survived. After
the new exhibition, and
the ceiling panels to signify
Treblinka model is enduringly
nearly a year working as a
I offered to work on this
fragmentation.
bittersweet.
sonderkommando, Sztajer
meaningful project. The vivid ceiling contributes
Thank you to Ada Willenberg
From the few existing
a jewel-like cover to the
and Orit Willenberg-Giladi,
monochrome photographs
treasure chest (or reliquary)
Alon Goldman of the Society
The Czestochowa
of partial views of the
of the Czestochowa
of Czestochowa Jews,
Synagogue ceiling
ceiling, a painted remnant
room. The rare parochet
Malka Zylbersztajn, and to
Samuel Willenberg, another
from Willenberg’s mural
(ark curtain), from the
Grimwade Centre for
survivor of the Treblinka
in Poland’s Piotrkow
Czestochowa New
Cultural Materials
Uprising, also has a
Synagogue, now library,
Synagogue, brought to
Conservation for the
significant connection
and the post-war drawing
Australia by survivors Chaim
outstanding preservation.
escaped after the Treblinka Uprising of August 1943.
the Willenberg family and Perec’s artistic legacy.
19
of the Eichmann trial One of the most famous trials in legal history, and one that most contributed to a growing awareness of the Holocaust, was the trial of Adolf Eichmann in 1961. This trial has generated – and continues to generate – great debate. Who was Eichmann? How important was he to the organisation that he served? And what might his trial mean for people today?
When we consider the role of Adolf
Polish ghettos languished while the
Eichmann, our story begins in 1938,
occupying authorities deliberated on
for it was in the newly-annexed Austria
what a final solution to their “Jewish
that he first distinguished himself in
problem” might be.
by Dr Simon Holloway Manager of Adult Education & Academic Engagement
Anniversary
Below left: Former Jewish partisan leader Abba Kovner testifies for the prosecution during the trial of Adolf Eichmann. Below right: Defendant Adolf Eichmann takes notes during his trial in Jerusalem in 1961.
the eyes of his superiors. By uniting all the different agencies that Jewish
With the invasion of the Soviet Union
emigrants needed to visit, he greatly
in 1941, such a solution presented
expedited their departure. This was
itself with brutal simplicity. In January
very much in line with Nazi policy,
of 1942, Adolf Eichmann chaired
but it was his subsequent failure
a meeting on the shores of Lake
at achieving the same goal in the
Wannsee at which this new solution
Sudetenland that led him to propose a
could be presented by Heydrich to
new one.
senior members of the SS and state
How does one exact justice for crimes
That this trial was in the name of
It was in the involvement of survivors
bureaucracy. A “final solution”, it would
of this nature? For Gideon Hausner,
the victims became evident to a far
that the Eichmann trial was most
Known as a “territorial solution”, this
involve combing Europe from West to
who headed the team of prosecutors
greater degree than it had with any
impactful, and it is in relation to the
involved moving large populations
East, murdering all of the captive Jews.
at Eichmann’s trial in 1961, this
of the previous trials conducted in
testimony of those survivors that it
question loomed large. There is no
Germany. For the first time, Holocaust
most deserves to be remembered
of Jews to a reservation in the East. In the interest of expediting this plan,
Eichmann himself had only a very
punishment that can possibly match
survivors were given the opportunity
today. Eichmann, for all of his criminal
Reinhard Heydrich authorised the
minor role in the actual development
the enormity of Eichmann’s crimes,
to testify – not solely in relation to
deeds, was but one part of a large
creation of ghettos into which Jewish
of this process. A “desk murderer”,
but by prosecuting those crimes one
Eichmann’s crimes, but in relation
and sprawling machine, too complex
populations should be moved as a
he headed the Jewish Office within
might at least give voice to his victims.
to the crimes perpetrated by the
to be summarised and too varied to
preliminary measure. He ensured
the Gestapo. It was only with the
As Hausner declared in his opening
organisation of which he was a part.
be completely understood. It is to the
that these ghettos would all be close
occupation of Hungary in 1944 that he
speech, he did not feel that he was
Over one hundred survivors took the
experiences of those men and women
to railway lines, to better facilitate
was given the authority to supervise
standing alone in the courtroom that
stand during the trial, speaking of their
who were subjected to its horrors that
deportations.
matters directly, and it was largely due
day. “With me,” he announced, “are
experiences in innumerable ghettos
we should be attuning ourselves if we
to his supervision that the Germans
six million accusers… Their graves are
and camps. They had hidden, they
really wish to engage with the legacy
For all that Eichmann’s idea had
succeeded in eradicating so much
scattered throughout the length and
had fought, and they had suffered;
of the Holocaust.
seemed feasible, it was poorly thought
of what was the last major Jewish
breadth of Europe… and in their name I
together, they provided an indictment
out and ultimately impractical. For
community left within the German
will unfold the terrible indictment.”
of Adolf Eichmann far greater and
over a year, the residents of the
sphere of influence.
more terrible than might have otherwise been possible.
20
21
by Jennifer Levitt-Maxwell Chief Experience Officer
The MHM Learning Framework.
Many museums create relevancy
Building a framework based on
Mapping character strengths to the
by linking their programs and
character strengths
lessons of the Holocaust
exhibitions to contemporary issues,
To build our holistic Learning
When we began to map character
other genocides, or human rights
Framework we explored the
strengths represented in Positive
issues. Though this helps build a
Learning Power Approach: a
Psychology to the lessons of the
connection between the past and the
method responsible for a shift in
Holocaust, we found an incredible
present, we believe creating relevancy
education worldwide, underpinned
connection. From there, the Learning
in these ways bears the risk of diluting
by a move toward wellbeing and the
Framework was born.
the Holocaust.
development of character along with academic success.
We took this audience insight as a
and its wide-reaching implications, we
driving force to find the answer to
In many ways, our education
engaged the University of Melbourne
the questions:
programs were already aligned with
(UoM), Centre for Wellbeing Science,
this approach, but to truly ensure
to ensure this project could reach
How can we create relevancy while
relevancy at MHM, we wanted to
its full potential. We began working
not diluting the Holocaust?
increase our capacity for change by
alongside wellbeing and education
We began researching this, drawing on
emphasising the role of character
experts Rachel Colla, Bianca Venuti-
a wide range of sources, including:
strengths that underpin the lessons of
Hughes and Erica Frydenberg from
•M HM and Department of Education
the Holocaust to everyone who walks
UoM, who were instrumental in
resources for teachers as part of
through our doors.
scientifically grounding the refinement
mandated Holocaust education in
Creating relevancy at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum By bringing together Holocaust knowledge, the foundation of our Learning Framework, with key character strengths, we can ensure the lessons of the Holocaust that we teach at MHM influence meaningful and relevant shifts in individual thoughts and actions today. 22
In 2021 MHM undertook a comprehensive audience research project with visitors, teachers, donors and volunteers. The purpose? To investigate each group’s experience with MHM, our impact on their lives presently, and the potential to impact their lives in the future. One of the key insights from the research across all audience groups was that the same question was being asked: How will MHM ensure the Holocaust remains relevant for visitors and students?
Realising the weight of this project,
of the Learning Framework.
Victoria in 2021
To practically implement our Learning
•2 021 MHM audience research
Framework, we drew on the science
The framework is a crucial component
•A cademic research projects on the
of Positive Psychology. One of
of MHM across not only education but
impact of Holocaust museums and
the core components of Positive
in every interaction we have with the
their relevancy to the 21st century
Psychology is character strengths.
public. It is one of the future-forward
Character strengths constitute a
projects that will assist in long-term
While completing this comprehensive
family of positive traits that are often
sustainability and relevancy for MHM.
research, a key takeaway began
considered to be “values in action.”
to emerge: We determined six character strengths Relevancy exists within the
grounded in the science of Positive
lessons of the Holocaust and our
Psychology, seen ubiquitously
agency as individuals through the
in our survivors’ testimonies and
choices we make.
students’ post-program reflections.
The project called on all MHM staff
By combining these strengths with
to get an inclusive perspective
core Holocaust knowledge, we can
from Holocaust experts across our
stimulate several capabilities in all
organisation as to what they felt were
visitors and equip them with the
the core lessons of the Holocaust.
tools and motivation to actively make a difference.
MHM Learning Framework was developed by: Jennifer Levitt Maxwell Chief Experience Officer Jayne Josem CEO Simon Holloway Manager of Adult Education and Academic Engagement Lisa Phillips Pedagogical Specialist 23
by Meg Hibbert Communications & Marketing Specialist
Building
our future with the generosity of our supporters
Gifts in Will We acknowledge the following people for leaving a gift in their Will to the MHM or MHMF. May their memory be a blessing. Regina Adelfang
Rita Greiner
Don & Sonia Marejn
Helen Sharp
Henrietta (Kitia) Altman
Arnold Hacker
Anna Mass
Otto Shelton
Erika Bence
Eugene Hacker
Sonia Mrocki
Marianne Singer
Abraham Benedykt
Bessie Heiman
Victor Muntz
Sara Smuzyk
Elza Bernst
Mendel Herszfeld
Robert Newman
Oscar & Lisa Sokolski
Albert & Lena Newmann
Mary Starr
Since then, Elaine has been an
For Elaine, leaving a gift in her Will to
invaluable volunteer at MHM. She
MHM was a personal decision that
Susan Blatman
Anita Jaffe
has developed a deep connection
expresses her deepest-held values:
Gitla Borenstein
Sabina Jakubowicz
Peter Boss
Betty Janover
Kalman & Elka Bajla Parasol
to, and understanding of our survivors’
Samuel Stopnik
experiences through her work
“By including the Melbourne Holocaust
transcribing testimonies.
Museum in my Will, I am contributing
Joseph Brown
to its work to keep the voices of
Basia Kane
Edith Peer
Hyman & Malcha Brown
Berta Strom
Thea Kimla
Elizabeth Peer
Sonia Suchodolski
Lola Kiven
Esther Poelman
Geoffrey Tozer
Leslie Klemke
Lillian Renard
Joseph Tyler
Eva Rivka Knox
Joe Ronec
Izabella Krol
Gerda Rogers
Chana Annette Uberbayn
Chaim Feldman
Pinek Krystal
Betty & Rose Rosalky
Emanuel Wajnblum
John Fox
Nona Lee
Szymon & Hadasa Rosenbaum
Claire Weis
Currently, Elaine is undertaking a
Holocaust survivors alive, long after
project assisting in the creation
my lifetime.
of ‘survivor profiles’ for our website
Majer Ceprow
redevelopment project, enabling our
The MHM is dedicated to this,
Jenny Chaenkel
MHM Volunteer Elaine McTaggart
audiences to connect with survivors’
providing extensive education
Elaine McTaggart began volunteering at the MHM in 2015. Newly retired and looking for community involvement, a chance meeting with Holocaust survivor Phillip Maisel OAM z”l – the then director of the testimonies project at the museum – motivated Elaine to take on a volunteer position transcribing survivor testimony.
experiences online.
programs and resources, as well as
Richard Charlupski
24
Georgette Steinic
permanent and temporary exhibitions.” “I find hearing survivors’ stories deeply
Bertha Fekete
moving and a privilege. It is absolutely
Gifts in Will to MHM ensure our mission
vital that their experiences are told
to remember those murdered and
as widely as possible so that the
combat racism, antisemitism, and
Jakob Frenkiel
Ivor Leiser
atrocities of the Holocaust are never
prejudice, is carried into the future.
Cecilia Freshman
Ruth Leiser
Romana Frey
Wilhelm Lermer
forgotten and never repeated.” “I’m so very grateful when someone
Shmuel Rosenkranz Szmul Rostkier Bencjan Rozencwajg
Piry Weiss Kathe Weisselberg Ludwik & Rita Weisz Jadwiga Wiener
Elaine not only volunteers her time at
lets me know about their decision to
Sara Frucht
Charlotte Lesser
the museum but has happily shared
leave a gift in their Will to the museum.
with us that she has made the very
It’s very comforting to know that the
Walter Geismar
Kurt Lewinski
Ignacy & Irene Rozental
personal and generous decision to
museum’s future is ensured through
Paul Gere
Sara Liebmann
Leslie Sandy
Ludwik Winfield
leave a gift in her Will to the museum.
the generosity of the community.” –
Fania Gitein
Ada & Julek Lipski
Josef Scharf-Dauber
Chaya Ziskind
Chaskiel Gliksman
Abram Malewiak
Raymond Schiller
Sophia Zitron
Samuel Gnieslaw
Janina Marcus
Marianne Schwarz
CEO Jayne Josem. If you have any questions or if you wish to have a confidential conversation about leaving a gift to MHM in your Will, please email donate@mhm.org.au or call (03) 9528 1985.
Pinkus Wiener
For all gifts in Will or general fundraising enquiries, please contact donate@mhm.org.au
25
Do you own an item that you could not bear to part with? Maybe it is something that’s been in your family for generations, relating to your heritage, or an item passed on to you from a loved one, that holds immeasurable sentimental worth. Imagine, then, a family possession that is so important that you feel you must part with it.
by Meg Hibbert Communications & Marketing Specialist
Uncovering rare documents
Rabbinical teaching certificate written and signed by Rabbi Moses Sofer Chatam Sofer for Rob’s great great great grandfather Rabbi Meir Klein Stroh. It says he is able to teach at the highest levels of learning, and also congratulates him on his forthcoming wedding to the daughter of Rabbi Daniel Prossnitz, the Rosh Beth Din of Pressburg and Rob’s great great great great grandfather. Courtesy of Robert Lehrer.
In 2017 Robert Lehrer discovered approximately 250 documents written in Yiddish, Hebrew and Hungarian while cleaning out his family home. As Rob shuffled through the papers, he realised they were religious documents. After some self-led investigation, Rob understood that these documents were too significant not to be shared with the world. Rare documents dating back hundreds of years
The Chatam Sofer was one of the
took the Judaica to the MHM to discuss
“It was such a privilege to see these
leading Orthodox rabbis in Europe in
where and how these documents
documents up close, to understand
the early-mid 19th century.
could be shared with the world.
their significance, and to contemplate
Rob’s great-grandfather Dr Martin Singer was forced to flee
how lucky it is that they survived.
Austria in 1938 with his family, including his son and Rob’s
After visiting with Melbourne-based
MHM CEO Jayne Josem, Collections &
grandfather, Kurt. They packed their belongings, including
Judaic historian Rabbi Shimon Opman,
Research Manager Dr Anna Hirsh and
Rob’s family agreed and decided
clothes, personal items, and a parcel of important documents.
on the advice of his helpful neighbour
visiting scholar Dr Michael Berenbaum,
to donate most of the documents,
They made their way to Hungary, with a final destination of
Joel May, Rob discovered he had
provided Rob with their expert opinion
including the certificate signed by the
Sydney, Australia, where the family arrived later that year.
multiple rare documents penned
on where the most appropriate place
Chatam Sofer. In May 2022 Rob took
and signed by the Chatam Sofer,
was to house these items, and where
the documents to Israel and delivered
Generations passed, and almost 80 years later, Rob
and his son known as the Ksav Sofer in
they would have the most impact.
them to Dr Yoel Finkelman, curator of
rediscovered these historical family documents, dating from the
his possession.
late 1700s to the mid-to-late 1800s, while helping his mother arrange her belongings.
the library’s Judaica collection. The MHM Collection focuses on
We grow up hearing so much about
historical items from Holocaust and
These rare documents can now be
our Jewish heritage that knowing you
immediate post-war eras and therefore
accessed by researchers, students
Among his mother’s documents were Jewish religious writings,
have uncovered a unique piece of
was not the appropriate institution to
and the general public to further their
such as sermons, Halachic notes, and teachings, as well as
that heritage in the form of primarily
house 19th century Judaica.
understanding of history, and religious
letters between Lehrer’s family members and others, including
religious writings, largely of the many
several hand-written notes by his great great great great
Rabbis of my family and the Rabbis
One of the recommendations was to
grandfather Rabbi Daniel Prossnitz.
they corresponded with is very
offer this material to the National Library
impactful on a personal level.
of Israel.
practices and ensure the preservation
Rabbi Daniel Prossnitz was the head of the Pressburg Beth Din Head of Manuscripts Dr Yitzchak Gila, former Head of the Judaica Collection Dr Yoel Finkelman, and Rober Lehrer at the National Library of Israel. Courtesy of Rob Lehrer. 26
of Jewish culture for future generations. If you have important historical items that you wish to contribute to the
for over 40 years and often described as the closest confidant
Where are the documents now?
CEO Jayne Josem was grateful to Rob
of the highly regarded Rabbi Moshe Schreiber, also known as
With an understanding of just how
for bringing the documents into the
the Chatam Sofer.
significant these documents were, Rob
museum, recounting:
MHM Collection, please contact Dr Anna Hirsh for further information at collections@mhm.org.au 27
by Helene Spigelman
My mother Miriam was a true survivor. Miriam was born in 1934 in Warsaw, Poland. She lived with her parents, Herschel and Justina, and younger brother, Sol. Herschel was an excellent shoemaker and had a successful shoe business. As war began to loom many friends left Warsaw, however, as Herschel had a very profitable business the family remained.
Miriam Lederman A Child Survivor of the Holocaust In 1940 my mother’s family were
eight years old, didn’t want to go as
Fearing for her life, she forced herself
the cellar at all times. She thought that
A Russian soldier approached and
forced to move into a tiny flat in the
she was terrified she would never see
to make a choice and approached
dying would be an easy way out but
offered to help her. Miriam was taken
ghetto area. My mother would tell
her parents and little brother again.
one of the men. He took her hand and
she wanted to live. Her eyes eventually
to a home for Jewish children where
me of the horrible conditions of living
She was told by her mother not to
walked away quickly. Miriam felt relief
got used to the darkness of the cellar,
she was joyfully reunited with her
in the ghetto. Her parents became
move when the furniture was being
when they entered a residential house.
and the rats that lived there. There
little brother, Sol. Her mother, Justina,
aware of plans for an uprising in the
lifted to help avoid detection.
was no floor, just earth. Each day she
had escaped the ghetto through the
She was told she must remain hidden
would receive some water and one
sewerage tunnels towards the end of
ghetto and decided that the children
Miriam at the end of the war preparing to come to Australia
28
Miriam’s daughter Helene holding a painting that Miriam did after the war representing herself cuddling her mother as they said goodbye before Miriam was placed in the cupboard to be smuggled out of the Warsaw ghetto.
must be smuggled out. With help from
Once the furniture had reached its
in the cellar under the house during
cooked potato. She lived in constant
the uprising. Her father had been killed
members of the resistance, Herschel
destination she was instructed to wait
the day to avoid detection. One night,
fear. How she survived alone in this
fighting in the ghetto uprising. Justina
and Justina planned to secretly get
until it is dark, climb out and then go
as she looked out of the window, she
small dark cellar for 20 months was
began frantically looking for her
their children out of the ghetto to the
onto the street. Miriam was told to
saw the sky was red and flames were
quite remarkable.
children and miraculously found both
other side of the wall to be looked
then look for a man wearing a grey
coming from the ghetto. She was
after by Polish people.
coat, carrying a suitcase. After a while
told that there was an uprising. This
One day the potato and water did not
she felt the cupboard being lifted and
went on for 3 weeks. Each night she
arrive. Nor did it arrive the next day.
Eventually they were offered
The key was the knowledge that, each
she instinctively stretched her arms
fearfully watched the burning through
The Polish people who were hiding
sponsorship from a family in
day, the German soldiers stole furniture
and legs out so as to not move her
the window and thought of her parents
Miriam, had abandoned her as Warsaw
Melbourne. They arrived in Australia
from the ghetto to be transported to a
body as the cupboard was placed on
who she believed were probably still in
had been liberated.
in 1947. Miriam married and had two
warehouse outside the walls.
a wagon.
the ghetto.
at the children’s home.
children. Her extraordinary courage Miriam said it wasn’t the hunger but
and determination to survive was, and remains, an inspiration.
My mother remembered one dark early
Miriam waited until it was dark, climbed
The Polish people who were hiding her
the thirst that forced her to leave the
morning dressing in her best clothing
out of the cupboard, and began
became worried for their own safety
cellar. Her legs could barely stand
and being placed in a cupboard that
looking for the man with a grey coat
and told her that she must remain in
but she managed to stagger out.
was to be transported. Miriam, then
and suitcase. She saw two. 29
We are all witnesses and actors of bias, injustice and structures of discrimination; sometimes unwittingly, or naively, we spread disinformation and dangerous ideas online. Therefore, we must constantly remain aware of our societies’ potential to descend into the worst possible abyss of violence, and never lose sight of the personal and societal values and, more importantly, the civic behaviours which can help prevent group-targeted violence.
Meet
Karel Fracapane
I believe that long-term prevention starts on the benches of schools.
This year we are pleased to announce our Betty & Shmuel Rosenkranz Oration will be presented by Karel Fracapane – Leader of hate speech issues within the Division for Peace and Sustainable Development arm within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
We train teams of dedicated senior
Secondly, Karel also advocates
Working in the field for over 20 years,
civil servants and NGO leaders
Holocaust education is “not like any
Karel has seen the development of
to work together nationally and
other type of education” due to its
new challenges in the fight against
develop ambitious Holocaust and
propensity to empower individuals
antisemitism and discrimination,
genocide education projects in their
and nations, with values that foster
notably through the rapid spread
countries. We seek changes at the
behaviours to counter the threat
of hate speech, disinformation and
national policy level based on the
of violence.
conspiracy theories. He addresses the
understanding that the genocide of
current state globally, positing:
the Jewish people and Nazi crimes
The challenges at a national level
have partly shaped the world we
Karel outlines that genocide
“We can see political forces at work
live in today and that education is
prevention is the responsibility of
that seek to divide societies, erode
a central feature of dealing with
governments and the international
trust in the rule of law, scapegoat and
the past and a fundamental pillar
community. His work in Holocaust
threaten vulnerable groups, online
of genocide prevention. We are
education is grounded in his
and offline, and fragilise the pillars of
currently working with countries as
position that “atrocity crimes are not
the most solid democracies. These
diverse as Brazil, Cambodia, Ecuador,
spontaneous acts of violence: they
are new challenges, which require
Greece, India, Nigeria and Serbia.
are rooted in specific conditions
new education policies, creative
- Karel Fracapane.
and develop over time. The main
pedagogies and renewed training for
responsibility of governments is to put
educators so that coming generations
The importance of Holocaust
measures in place to address
are better equipped to face the
education on a global scale
the root cause of violence, tackle
interconnected and global challenges
Karel understands the potential for
the risk factors and create the
of today and become active and
effective education to inspire change.
preventative frameworks.”
responsible citizens more capable to stand.”
Karel has dedicated his professional
A pioneer in global
In 2015 Karel partnered with the
He believes Holocaust education is
Some of these frameworks include
life to combatting antisemitism and
Holocaust education
United States Holocaust Memorial
essential firstly, as a responsibility
respect for human rights and a fair
We look forward to welcoming Karel
racism, Holocaust remembrance and
In 2018 Karel pioneered a program
Museum (USHMM) to launch the
to remember all that taken for the
economic, political, and judicial
to the MHM in November to share
the prevention of genocide, and violent
aimed at combatting antisemitism
International Program for Holocaust
Jewish population.
system, ensuring the free flow of
his insights locally so we can learn
extremism. Currently, he is focused on
worldwide. This program, in partnership
and Genocide Education. The program
ideas and pluralistic media, and any
more about how to address these
global citizenship issues, including hate
with European human rights bodies,
enables countries to build effective
“I think it is a responsibility we have
others that support a diverse society
challenges at an individual, national
speech, post-Holocaust issues, and
saw Karel and his team create a
genocide prevention frameworks with a
towards the Jewish people, first
and ensure some protection to the
and global level.
addressing contemporary forms
suite of capacity-building activities
foundation in education.
of all, and its heritage, to preserve
most vulnerable groups.
of antisemitism.
and resources for educational
and cultivate what could have been
authorities globally.
irremediably lost.”
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by Lilly Harris & Michael Salzberg
Sala’s Story
Sarah (Sala) Szental and Chaim Shlomo Salzberg.
When the war broke out in September
Back in Germany, she met Chaim who
other prisoners were transferred to
daughter Lilly, in 1953. Chaim died of
1939 Sarah was a schoolgirl, two
was her second cousin. Liberated
Hessental. He was then one of several
pancreatic cancer in 1965 at age 54.
weeks from her 14th birthday. The
from Dachau, he was a displaced
hundred prisoners who in April 1945
family somehow escaped the Warsaw
person living in Munich. They married
were marched from Hessental to the
Sala, a widow at 40, remarried in 1973.
Ghetto, joining relatives in Dzialoszyce.
in 1947 and migrated to Australia by
Allach subcamp of Dachau – one of
Her second husband, Michal Szental,
ship, the SS Derna, in 1948.
the so-called “death marches” – a
also a Holocaust survivor from Poland,
journey of over 200 kilometres with
was himself a widower, the father of
many dying or murdered on the way.
two adult boys. In marrying Michal,
There Sala endured a further series
Sarah, known as Sala, was born in Warsaw in 1925 to an orthodox Jewish family consisting of her parents, Golda and Mordecai, and brothers, Yaakov and Shlomo. They lived in a two-room apartment in a tenement in the Jewish quarter.
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of trials and horrors including the
Chaim, born in 1910, grew up in
Dzialoszyce Ghetto, the roundup and
Pinczow in southern Poland. His
deportation of Jews in September
orthodox family lived in a two-storey
He was liberated at Allach on 19 April
of a large and growing stepfamily:
1942 and the murder of several
residence facing the central square:
1945. Chaim’s wife and son both died
two stepsons, Stephen and Richard
members of her family by a non-
their printing works occupied the lower
during the war, presumably during the
Szental, their wives, children and
Jewish Polish farmer who had taken
level, the family home the upper. In
deportations in late 1942. With the help
grandchildren.
money to hide them from
1935 he married Chaya Korman and
of UNRRA he recovered physically,
the Germans.
moved to Radom.
reunited with his brother-in-law and
Michal died in 2004. Sala was a
a niece, Sonia. His parents and four
longstanding, active member of
Sala became a beloved matriarch
After a period on the run, hiding in
He and Chaya attempted to make a
brothers and their families had all
WIZO and a generous donor to a
haystacks and in forests, she was
life in Palestine, but returned after a
perished, apart from Sonia, who
range of causes.
captured and sent to the Plaszow
year or so. They had a son, Eliezer.
had endured an extended period
concentration camp in Krakow. There
Soon after the German invasion, he
in Auschwitz.
she endured almost two years of slave
was forced into slave labour in an
labour before being sent to Bergen-
armament factory. In 1944 he was
On arrival in Australia, Chaim and
she was very pleased that this would
Belsen via Auschwitz. It was there,
one of 2000 Jewish men who were
Sala lived in various places: a
go towards the new building and, in
starving and near death, that she was
transferred via Auschwitz to Vaihingen
boarding house in St Kilda, another
particular, that the library would be
liberated on 15 April 1945.
in southern Germany where they
in Carlton, then a small apartment in
named in honour of Chaim. Sadly,
After a period of recovery, Sala made
performed gruelling physical labour in
Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda. Chaim
she did not live to see this. Michael
her way back to Poland to seek family.
a quarry.
was quickly involved in making a living,
and I are very proud of our mother’s
establishing a successful women’s
involvement with the MHM.
All had perished except one maternal
Sala died in 2021. She had made a wonderful donation to the MHM, and
aunt, Bluma Balitzky (Rafalowicz),
When Vaihingen was abandoned
shoe factory and later a store. A son,
whom she found in Lodz.
because of Allied bombing, he and
Michael, was born in 1949, and a 33
Dola’s wedding, 1931. Only five people in the photo survived. As Helen says,
To honour and remember
Stefa and Rubin Rutman in 1991.
by Helen & Jeffrey Mahemoff and family
Lena and Tolly Mahemoff, Jeffrey’s parents, together with their extended families, arrived in Melbourne from Russia in 1927. Helen’s parents, Stefa and Rubin Rutman, were Holocaust survivors each with very different stories of survival. Rubin came from a small immediate family, with a very large, yet close, extended family, where almost no one survived. Stefa from a smaller family where almost all survived.
After writing my dad’s story, learning the fate of my family, and reflecting on him as a joyous and happy person determined to live life to the full while enduring the pain of loss and trauma, I knew I had to honour the memory of both his loss and his experiences. This led me to volunteer at the MHM shortly after his death. Together, Jeffrey and I are passionate about its mission and efforts. We are totally committed to Holocaust education and memory. We feel privileged and proud to be deeply involved with the MHM as both financial supporters and volunteers.
For over 50 years, neither of Helen’s parents spoke about
In September 1939, Rubin left his family and went east as
Rubin worked hard, was successful, appreciated and loved
and she was called Stefa from then on. After the August 1944
their early lives nor of wartime experiences. Their children
instructed by the Polish government. Sent to Siberia as a
everything that was his and had the most positive outlook on
Polish uprising, Stefa, her mother and sisters, were taken
only knew that Rubin had no family and that they were lucky
political prisoner, he lived under very difficult conditions.
life. He passed away in 2001, leaving his beloved wife, two
as Poles to a work camp in Görlitz, Germany. They were
to have one grandmother when most of their friends did not.
After the 1941 Amnesty, he lived in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
daughters, two sons-in-law and six treasured grandchildren.
liberated by the Americans in May 1945 near Leipzig, made
In late 2000, Helen convinced her parents to share their life
until the war ended.
stories to be documented for their grandchildren and future
their way back to Warsaw and were reunited with their two Renia (Stefa) Rutman (nee Bialylew) was born in Warsaw in
brothers, who had also miraculously survived. Their father had died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in April 1943.
generations. Sadly, a few weeks after finishing this project,
Returning to Warsaw, Rubin learnt that, tragically,
1921, the youngest child of Fryda (nee Szpacenkopf) and
Rubin passed away suddenly.
his whole immediate family and most of his extended family
Efraim-Leizor. The family were successful merchants and
had been murdered.
lived a very comfortable life.
Rubin Rutman was born in Radom, Poland in 1914, an
It was extraordinary that a mother and five adult children would survive, leave Poland as soon as they could and, via
only son with two sisters, Dola and Ewa. His father, Abram,
Soon after, he met Stefa Bialylew, they married in Warsaw in
Their home was in the Jewish quarter which was later within
had nine siblings and his mother, Helena (nee Szotland)
1947, moved to Paris, and had their first daughter, Helen, in
the Warsaw Ghetto. They lived in their own apartment,
had eight. Most were married with children and the
1948. Assisted by The Joint, they sailed to Melbourne on the
although overcrowded with many strangers, until 1942. After
Stefa was totally devoted to her husband and family
family numbered over 90 in 1939. The Rutman men were
Eridan arriving in January 1949. Their second daughter, Julie
managing to escape from the Umschlagplaz, Renia went
and, like Rubin, had an overwhelming zest for life.
successful timber merchants and they owned large tracts of
(Blashki), was born in 1952.
into hiding with her mother and two sisters. They moved
She passed away in 2014, leaving two daughters, two
frequently fearful of being denounced. All had false Polish
sons-in-law, six grandchildren and eleven wonderful
identity papers – Renia’s false name was Stefania Domeraska
great-grandchildren.
forests. They lived affluent lives.
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Paris, all settle in Melbourne to lead fulfilling lives.
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by Ezra Faigenbaum
In Memory of
They don’t want to remember, we don’t want to forget…
GARY GRAY
Gary was born Gustav Joseph Grajcar in Sosnewiec, Poland on 12 June 1926.
They don’t want to remember, we don’t want to forget
They don’t want to remember, we don’t want to forget
His parents were Ksil and Cyrla Leah. Gary was the older
win countless awards for his success as a car salesperson.
Freedom, happy lives no reason to fret
Turned to ash as the cold sun set
brother to sister Ada. He also had another sister Sarah who
One of his proudest achievements was also becoming a
Wealth, education, happiness were plenty
Mothers, fathers, children too,
died in infancy. His parents were hard-working and ran a
published author.
The Nazis stole this their hearts were empty
There was nothing at all that they could do
Kosher smallgoods business out of town in Katowice. Gary was introduced to his future wife Stephanie when Gary’s
They don’t want to remember, we don’t want to forget
They don’t want to remember, we don’t want to forget
His life was turned upside down during the long dark years
aunt answered an ad in the Jewish News that Stephanie’s
An election, a ghetto, a lit cigarette
wandering alone going home and yet…
of the Holocaust. In April 1942, aged thirteen, Gary was
mother had put it in to find her eldest daughter a husband.
Imminent distress they wanted to ignore,
Home doesn’t feel like home anymore
incarcerated for three years in a number of camps including
Together they had three daughters, and six grandchildren.
Human waste on the streets, diseases galore
Not without the people killed by this war
Birkenheim, Brande and Ludwigsdorf. He was finally liberated at Reichenback Sportsschule in May 1945. During this
He absolutely loved being a Zaide. He was fully occupied
They don’t want to remember, we don’t want to forget
They don’t want to remember the loss and the cold,
period he experienced hard work, brutality and
ferrying his grandchildren to their various appointments and
A toothbrush, moustache, a uniform, a face hard set
we don’t want to forget the stories they told
indescribable hunger.
activities, filling them with schnitzel sandwiches and donuts in what he called his Zaida run.
Concentration camps being built, fences twelve feet high And although they don’t want to remember
After the war, as an orphan, Gary went to technical college
because we don’t want to forget,
and also served in the Polish army reserve. Eventually he
Gary began volunteering at the MHM, speaking to students
They don’t want to remember, we don’t want to forget
they recount their stories to carry the torch
was tracked down by his two aunts Tosha and Fela who
despite the fact that every time he did, he would be
A mother kissing on their head
and keep the fire lit
had ended up living in Australia. He was compelled by them
confronting his worst demons.
A speech declaring they must die
An entire nation, deportation, searching far and wide A yellow star that can’t go far, they did their best to hide
to come to the other side of the world to be with his last And so we sit and listen to what they remember
remaining family.
Because they are the fire and we are the ember
Gary consistently said, “I am happy to be alive. I want to live
They don’t want to remember the shivering pains,
With limited English, Gary become a door-to-door
we don’t want to forget the lines as long as trains
encyclopaedia salesman and somehow still managed to
They don’t want to remember, we don’t want to forget, the people crammed together who’d never met, and the smoke came down like the night and everything was still
This poem was recited by student and poet Ezra Faigenbaum at the 2023 Yom HaShoah commemoration.
Though his journey in the end was fraught with difficulties, for as long as possible.”
impress one client so much that he asked Gary to come
He saw the good in everyone. Spontaneous, energetic,
and work for him selling cars. Here began Gary’s successful
charming, funny, honest to a fault and good to the core.
journey into car sales. Throughout his career, Gary would
He was a real mench.
And the mystery sent down their backs an electric chill 36
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