April 2013 Jewish Holocaust Centre The magazine of the Jewish Holocaust Centre, Melbourne, Australia Registered by Australia Post. Publication No. VBH 7236 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: Shmuel Rosenkranz We consider the finest memorial to all victims of racist policies to be an educational Secretary: Elly Brooks program which aims to combat antisemitism, racism and prejudice in the Treasurer: David Cohen community and fosters understanding between people. JHC Foundation: Helen Mahemoff Members: Goldie Birch, Allen Brostek, Alex Dafner, Cedric Geffen, Abram Goldberg, Sue Hampel, Paul Kegen, Henri Korn, Willy Lermer JHC Foundation: CONTENTS Chairperson: Helen Mahemoff Trustees: Nina Bassat AM From the President 3 Joey Borensztajn Editor’s letter 3 Allen Brostek David Cohen Director’s cut 4 Jeffrey Mahemoff AO Education 5 Patrons: Professor Yehuda Bauer Anne Frank: a history for today 6 Mrs Eva Besen AO Mr Marc Besen AO William Cooper’s Aboriginal protest re-enacted 8 Sir William Deane AC CBE Rescue and courage to care 10 Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE Mrs Diane Shteinman AM In search of Camp 32 12 Steven Spielberg Still life 14 JHC Staff: Warren Fineberg, Executive Director A fateful day in autumn 1943 15 Zvi Civins, Director of Education The Jewish Holocaust Centre Foundation celebrates ten years 16 Jayne Josem, Curator, Head of Collections Reflections on the Association of Holocaust Organisations’ conference in Michael Cohen, Community Relations Vienna and Berlin 19 Coordinator Reuben Zylberszpic, Development Kristallnacht: unheeded warnings 20 Manager Phillip Maisel OAM, Head of Testimonies What about the women? – the missing and marginalised in Holocaust film 22 Project Michelle Malet, Celebrating a partnership: the Jewish Holocaust Centre-Deakin University Resource Development Manager Memorandum of Understanding 23 Tammy Reznik, Education Officer Jewish Holocaust Centre wins Community Heritage Grant 23 Rae Silverstein, Volunteer Coordinator Claude Fromm, Assistant Archivist Book review: Nazi Dreamtime: Australian enthusiasts for Hitler’s Germany 24 Daniel Feldman, Project Administrator Julia Reichstein, Librarian / Information Returning to work 25 Manager JHC Social Club 26 Lena Fiszman, Office and IT Manager Tosca Birnbaum, Reception Friends of the Jewish Holocaust Centre 27 : Centre News Editorial Commitee Seen around the Centre 28 Editor: Ruth Mushin Michael Cohen Stories from the Collection 30 Lena Fiszman Fay Helfenbaum New acquisitions 32 Jayne Josem The JHC storypod app 33 Pauline Rockman OAM Reuben Zylberszpic Level 6 students visit the Jewish Holocaust Centre 34 Moshe Ajzenbud (Yiddish) Jewish Holocaust Centre Foundation supporters 35 Community news 36 On the cover: (l-r) Uncle Boydie Turner and 13–15 Selwyn Street OPENING HOURS Aubrey Schwartz at the Elsternwick Vic 3185 Mon–Thu: 10am–4pm re-enactment of Aboriginal leader Australia Fri: 10am–2pm William Cooper’s Kristallnacht t: (03) 9528 1985 Sun & Public Hols: 12pm–4pm protest. f: (03) 9528 3758 Closed on Saturdays, Photo: Lochlan Tangas, e: [email protected] Jewish Holy Days and Australian Jewish News 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 been other protests against Kristallnacht, of all ages, but particularly to young Pauline William Cooper’s was significant people. I accompanied my seven-and- because indigenous Australians a-half-year-old grandson Julian to Rockman OAM themselves were persecuted, and not the exhibition and he was drawn to it, even recognised as Australian citizens. and especially fascinated that people William Cooper’s conviction and were confined indoors and had to be courage resound through the decades, silent for most of the day. We thank the speaking to us all. exhibition’s principal supporter, Gandel Philanthropy, and acknowledge the United Nations International Holocaust support of the estate of the late Jakob Memorial Day is held every year on 27 Frenkiel for making this exhibition hat do William Cooper, January. Since it began in 2005, the possible. Anne Frank and Bunhom focus of the event has moved from a (Hom) Chhorn have in commemoration solely of the Holocaust We bid farewell to Adam Kreuzer, who common? The answer is to the recognition of other genocides has left the JHC Board after a seven- W as well. Nina Bassat, President of the year involvement. His contribution, that they have all featured at the Jewish Holocaust Centre (JHC) recently. Apart Jewish Community Council of Victoria, particularly in the human resources from Anne Frank, do you know who the delivered the keynote address on the area, has been of great benefit, more others are? theme of ‘Rescue and Courage to Care’, recently in the appointment of four new but we also heard the testimony of staff members. Adam will be greatly On 6 December 1938, William Cooper Bunhom (Hom) Chhorn, a young man missed. led a delegation of the Australian who is a Cambodian child survivor of Aboriginal League to the German In November I attended the Association genocide. Hom told his story publicly for of Holocaust Organizations conference Consulate in Melbourne to present a the first time at the Holocaust Memorial resolution condemning the treatment in Vienna and was overwhelmed by Day commemoration. It was a powerful the huge shift in attitude towards the of Jews on Kristallnacht in Europe. On and heartfelt presentation, serving to Holocaust by Austrian authorities. the 74th anniversary of William Cooper’s illustrate the extraordinary role the JHC From a past where the government walk, I participated in a reenactment, but plays in providing an environment in considered Austria as the first victim of this time with a different ending. While which survivors of genocide feel able to Nazism, today’s government recognises the German Consul refused to accept tell their story. that Austria was a willing collaborator. William Cooper’s resolution in 1938, It is indeed a privilege that the JHC is the current Honorary German Consul, This year will mark the tenth anniversary currently hosting a truly wonderful Michael Pearce SC, warmly accepted of the JHC Foundation. Mazal tov to exhibition, Anne Frank: A History for the arrival of representatives of the chairperson Helen Mahemoff for all her Today, at the beginning of its national Aboriginal and Jewish communities. efforts in ensuring the JHC’s future. tour. To this day, Anne Frank remains The JHC museum includes a panel one of the seminal symbols after the We are currently embarking on plans describing William Cooper’s actions, Shoah, and her story of hope and for the future development of the which for me is a special place. At resilience has inspired millions of Centre. Watch this space for exciting the JHC we pay special tribute to the people worldwide. This exhibition has developments. Aboriginal protest. Although there had the capacity to reach out to people Chag Pesach sameach! EDITOR’S LETTER currently abuzz with the exhibition Anne Holocaust Centre’s mission statement – Frank: A history for today and Anne that the finest memorial to all victims of Ruth Mushin Frank’s extraordinary diary. Like Anne, racist policies is an educational program both Maria Lewit and Marysia Censor which aims to combat antisemitism, were teenagers during the Holocaust, racism and prejudice in the community – and have written eloquently about their Centre News aims to bring you the stories experiences. It is a privilege for the JHC to of other genocides. In our last issue, we host the Anne Frank exhibition, but it is no featured the amazing testimony of Faina less a privilege to be able to bring you the Iligoga and her survival of the Rwandan stories of our own Holocaust survivors. genocide, and in this edition we feature Bunhom (Hom) Chhorn’s moving story Pauline Rockman mentions in her s editor of Centre News my of surviving the Cambodian genocide message that the scope of United Nations mission is to bring you the as a young child. In the next edition we Holocaust Memorial Day has broadened stories of Holocaust survivors. plan to publish an account of the Bosnian since it was first commemorated in 2005. In this edition we feature genocide from Hariz Halilovich, another A While the recognition of the horrors of the Saba Feniger’s insightful analysis of witness to yet another recent atrocity. Holocaust is still central to observances Kristallnacht, and the personal stories of around the world, there is recognition of I hope you will feel as inspired as I do Maria Lewit and Maria (Marysia) Censor. other genocides that have occurred, and when you read their stories. The Jewish Holocaust Centre (JHC) is continue to occur. In line with the Jewish JHC Centre News 3 DIRECTOR’S CUT and we are proud to be part of We commenced the 2013 year this enterprise. In early February with the annual United Nations Warren this year we formalised our Holocaust Memorial Day (UNHMD) Fineberg relationship with Deakin University commemoration at the St Kilda when we signed a ‘Memorandum Town Hall, held on 27 January, of Understanding’. This event was the anniversary of the liberation attended by the Vice-Chancellor of Auschwitz-Birkenau. We are of Deakin University, Professor indebted to Mrs Nina Bassat, Jane den Hollander, JHC President Jewish Community Council of Pauline Rockman, academics Victoria President and keynote and Centre staff.