Four Generations Celebrating 30 Years. YEARS
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April 2014 Jewish Holocaust Centre Jewish Holocaust Centre: four generations celebrating 30 years. YEARS The magazine of the Jewish Holocaust Centre, Melbourne, Australia 1984-2014 Registered by Australia Post. Publication No. VBH 7236 Remember the Past Change the Future JHC Board: The Jewish Holocaust Centre is dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews President: Pauline Rockman OAM murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators between 1933 and 1945. Immediate Past President: We consider the finest memorial to all victims of racist policies to be an educational Shmuel Rosenkranz program which aims to combat antisemitism, racism and prejudice in the Secretary: Elly Brooks community and fosters understanding between people. Treasurer: David Cohen Members: Goldie Birch, Allen Brostek, Alex Dafner, Cedric Geffen, Abram Goldberg OAM, Sue Hampel OAM, Paul Kegen, Helen Mahemoff, Viv Parry, Willy Lermer JHC Foundation: CONTENTS Chairperson: Helen Mahemoff Trustees: From the President 3 Nina Bassat AM Editor’s letter 3 Joey Borensztajn Allen Brostek Director’s cut 4 David Cohen Education 5 Jeffrey Mahemoff AO Jewish Holocaust Centre guides and volunteers celebrate 30 years 6 Patrons: Professor Yehuda Bauer Sharing the Joint’s 100-year history 12 Mrs Eva Besen AO Confronting the Holocaust: keeping the memory alive 13 Mr Marc Besen AO Sir William Deane AC CBE The Sonderkommando in Auschwitz-Birkenau: the death factory’s squad of Jewish workers 14 Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE Mrs Diane Shteinman AM Introducing Pawel Milewski, Polish Ambassador to Australia 16 Steven Spielberg Is the Holocaust different from other genocides? 18 JHC Staff: Nazi and Stalinist legacies: implications of EU commemoration 20 Warren Fineberg, Executive Director Lisa Phillips, Director of Education The Betty and Shmuel Rosenkranz Oration: Jayne Josem, Curator, Head of Collections commemorating the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht 20 Michael Cohen, Community Relations An unforgettable moment in Corfu 22 Coordinator Reuben Zylberszpic, Development Jewish life on the Greek island of Corfu 22 Manager Angela Merkel visits Dachau 23 Phillip Maisel OAM, Head of Testimonies Project Judging ‘Privileged’ Jews: origins of a book 24 Robbie Simons, Testimonies Assistant Coordinator / Audio-visual Producer Book review: Once, Then, Now and After 25 Tammy Reznik, Education Officer Recognising the contribution of volunteers 26 Anatie Livnat, Education Officer Rae Silverstein, Volunteer Coordinator Students and guides graduate from the Mina Fink Guide Training Course 26 Claude Fromm, Assistant Archivist Willy Lermer’s memoir published in Germany as an e-book 27 Daniel Feldman, Project Administrator Stolpersteine in memory of Bruno and Margarethe Danzinger 27 Julia Reichstein, Librarian / Information Manager JHC Social Club 28 Lena Fiszman, Office and IT Manager Friends of the Jewish Holocaust Centre 29 Tosca Birnbaum, Reception Centre News Editorial Commitee: Seen around the Centre 30 Editor: Ruth Mushin Stories from the Collection 32 Michael Cohen New acquisitions 33 Lena Fiszman Jayne Josem Helen Sharp: a generous bequest to the Centre 34 Pauline Rockman OAM Community news 35 Reuben Zylberszpic Moshe Ajzenbud (Yiddish) On the cover: Rosa Krakowski, Jewish Holocaust 13–15 Selwyn Street OPENING HOURS Elsternwick Vic 3185 Centre survivor guide, with her family. Mon–Thu: 10am–4pm Australia Photo: Zina Sofer. Fri: 10am–2pm t: (03) 9528 1985 Sun & Public Hols: 12pm–4pm f: (03) 9528 3758 Closed on Saturdays, e: [email protected] Jewish Holy Days and w: www.jhc.org.au some Public Holidays This publication has been designed and produced by Izigraphics Pty Ltd www.izigraphics.com.au Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in Centre News are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine editor or editorial committee. While Centre News welcomes ideas, articles, photos, poetry and letters, it reserves the right to accept or reject material. There is no automatic acceptance of submissions. 2 JHC Centre NewsNews FROM THE PRESIDENT The Jewish Holocaust Museum and Nell was recognised by the Israeli Research Centre is an institution Government as a Righteous Among Pauline dedicated to the memory of the six the Nations in the 1970s. Like others Rockman OAM million Jews who were murdered who performed remarkable acts by the Nazis and their collaborators of courage, endangering their own between 1933 and 1945. lives, she did not think she had done We consider the finest memorial to anything particularly heroic. all victims of racist policies to be an educational program, which aims We have a panel in our museum to combat anti-Semitism, racism entitled Acts of Courage where we and prejudice in the community honour the Righteous Among the his year is a very special and foster understanding between Nations and other special people year at the Jewish Holocaust people. who risked their lives to save Jews Centre as we mark 30 years and other persecuted groups during This anniversary of the Jewish since that day in March 1984 the Second World War. It is such T Holocaust Centre gives us the when the doors at 13 Selwyn Street an important part of the learning opportunity to commemorate those were opened to the public for the process for students who come to our extraordinary 30 years. During this very first time. The Centre was the museum, as it is for all of us. fulfilment of a vision by Melbourne time the Centre has grown from a Holocaust survivors to create a small institution created and staffed Over the next twelve months we shall memorial to the millions of Jews who by volunteers, to one that today has embark upon a new journey to create were murdered between 1933 and a staff of 15 people, the majority an extraordinary space to house 1945. of whom are part-time, Holocaust our museum and collections, and to survivors who serve as guides and enable us to continue our legacy of What a different place we encounter who speak about their experiences, educating the over 21,000 students today! Established in a small former and volunteers. who come through our doors ballet school that housed our original annually. museum, the Centre now occupies Mrs Pieternella ‘Nell’ Van Rangelrooy passed away last year at the age two buildings that are home to our I would like to take this opportunity of 101, and Jayne Josem and I museum, archives, testimonies, to thank you, our survivors, donors represented the Centre at her funeral. library, education and administration and supporters for your continued Nell’s was a truly remarkable life. She departments. support. May your enthusiasm for was a resistance fighter in Rotterdam the Centre and your valuable role in We are now planning for the next during the Second World War who contributing to our success continue 30 years and will unveil building hid Jews in her home, and sent her for the next 30 years and beyond! plans later in this special anniversary two sons away to stay on a farm, year. Although our buildings have not only because food was scarce, To commemorate this special changed, and will continue to change, but also in case they inadvertently anniversary there will be many the legacy of our founders lives on. divulged anything to the Nazis. She events, including a gala dinner with Indeed, our mission is as relevant migrated to Australia after the war a special guest. It should prove to be today as it was three decades ago: and lived quietly in Melbourne. another fulfilling year for our Centre. EDITOR’S LETTER have created and run the Centre for anniversary of the American Joint the past 30 years – the survivors Distribution Committee, known as the Ruth Mushin and other volunteers with their ‘Joint’, an organisation that helped so wealth of knowledge, their amazing many Holocaust survivors establish commitment, and their passion for new lives after the Second World War, passing on the message of education and that continues to support Jewish and understanding that is at the people in need all over the world. To core of the Centre. So, in this special mark this anniversary, we have an edition of Centre News, we have handed the task of commemorating article by the Joint’s Executive Vice- the past 30 years to our survivors, President, Dr William Recant. ow do you commemorate and to the volunteers of all ages We also feature two distinguished th a milestone like the 30 who have played such an important Holocaust academics, Dr Gideon anniversary of the Jewish role in helping to run the Centre. Greif and Professor Dan Michman. Holocaust Centre? Some Contributors have written about H Dr Greif writes about the role of the may turn to overseas experts for the history of the Centre, their role, Sonderkommando in Auschwitz- learned dissertations about our and the people or events that are Birkenau, and Professor Michman Centre, or invite messages of support important to them, and together addresses the question ‘Is the from local and overseas dignitaries. they provide a kaleidoscope of facts, Holocaust different from other While I do not deny that there are opinions and insights that capture genocides?’ experts who have worthwhile things what the Centre has been, and what it to say, I believe that we need go is today. I hope you enjoy this edition as much no further than the people who This year also marks the 100th as I have enjoyed putting it together. JHC Centre News 3 DIRECTOR’S CUT Where to from here? During the standing and its ongoing generous next 30 years we shall need to support of the Centre. Further Warren manage the increased number generous support was given Fineberg of schools and students who will through the proceeds of the use our resources. We anticipate Jewish Holocaust Centre Friends that student numbers will grow Art Auction, a fundraising event by at least another 25% before with plenty of excitement and stabilising, and that the number community spirit.