Newsletter No. 93

The Australian Jewish Historical Society Inc [NSW] publishes a newsletter four times per year. The  items are from the latest newsletter. To contact or join the AJHS [NSW] go to our Contacts page. Contents of previous Newsletters are indexed

ROSH HASHANA GREETINGS

The President and the Committee of the Australian Jewish Historical Society extends to all its readers its best wishes, L'Shona Tova Tikatevu, and hope it will be a good year for all Israel, and especially for members of the Australian Jewish Historical Society.

PARRAMATTA HISTORY TOUR POSTPONED.

It appears there were a number of members interested in joining our Parramatta History Tour, to have been held on 18th September, who had commitments for that day and were thus unable to participate in the tour. So that they will have the opportunity to join the tour, we have decided to postpone it until next year.

B'NAI B'RITH DAY OF JEWISH HERITAGE AND CULTURE

The seminar to have been presented by our archivist, Sophie Gelski, as the Society's contribution to the B'nai B'rith Day of Jewish Heritage and Culture has been postponed as, unfortunately, Dr Gelski is now not available on the day. However, we plan to hold the seminar early next year and will advise Members in the usual way. In place of this, Helen Bersten will be presenting her talk Jews are News which chronicles the contribution that individual Jews have made to Australian society. The talk will be given at B'nai B'rith House in Yurong Street.

SOCIETY STALWART RECEIVES ANOTHER AWARD.

More than 100 people, including the Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton, attended the Inaugural B'nai B'rith Community Award night on Sunday 17 July. B'nai B'rith NSW president Diana Laufer said it was a wonderful evening. "We are honouring people who are very dedicated to their tasks that don't seek the limelight and don't make the headlines. We attracted people who are not necessarily mainstream but the people that are the builders of our community. It was great to honour people who are often not mentioned." Amongst those recognized for the promotion of education in the Jewish community was our Honorary Historian, Louise Rosenberg OAM. A sprightly ninety seven year old, she recently completed yet another book, True Blue Jews, and has no intention of resting on her laurels. The award for the greatest contribution to the Australian community went to Clown Doctors founder Dr Peter Spitzer. The Bowral based doctor, who wanders the halls of hospitals across Australia as Dr Fruit-Loop to entertain patients, established the Humour Foundation in 1996. He then launched Clown Doctors at the Sydney Children's Hospital. "The charity began as an idea about the art of medicine," he said. The organisation has now grown to employ 58 performers, who have left the stage for the hospital. "I think no matter how serious the situation is, people still need to laugh so we use music, plays, humour or whatever it takes to make a difference to people's journeys," he explained. The award was for his most recent initiative, a "smile study" researching the impact of using humour therapy in dementia care. Also recognized were Rabbi Mendel Kastel from Jewish House, who won the award for the greatest contribution to the Australian Jewish community, and Ezra's Barbara Cohen, for the greatest contribution to Israel.

PROFILE - ROGER DAVIS

Roger recently joined the Committee and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him. Following a successful business career he now divides his time between his family, managing his investment and property interests as well as post graduate studies in history and various voluntary activities. Roger has worked extensively in the area of computer technology and this experience will be of great benefit to the Society. He is particularly proud of his family, especially his two young grandchildren and also enjoys, walking, classic cars, digital photography, reading voraciously, collecting books, model motor vehicles and wine. After some years working and living abroad and having seen much of the world he and his wife are determined to see more of Australia by road.

A NEW ONLINE INITIATIVE

The State Library of New South Wales in conjunction with the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce has launched a new digital initiative. Under the Library's Discover Collections programme there is now The Australian Jewish Community and its Culture, which will be officially launched on 21 September, 2011. The collection should be of great use to students and historians as well as serving to promote knowledge of the Jewish community amongst the wider community.

PUBLICATIONS.

Our latest publication, Hans Kimmel Essay Competition, selected essays 1979-2007, was launched by the Competition founder, Sophie Caplan, in conjunction with the Reading of the 2010 Prize Winning Essays at Moriah College on 5 September. As well as the 22 essays, there is an introduction by Sophie Caplan and some detailed explanatory notes prepared by Russell Stern to complement those essays relating to Holocaust survivors. The book is priced at $20.00 plus postage. Please phone or email if you are interested in purchasing. Our next publication, honouring the late Leslie Caplan, AM will be his Honours Degree thesis, The Road to the Menzies Inquiry. This is an examination of the events that led up to the Commonwealth Government conducting a review of material relating to the entry of suspected war criminals into Australia and promises to be fascinating reading. It will also include an extensive biography of Leslie prepared by his widow, Sophie. The publication is due out early next year.

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.

Our Oral History Project under the expert guidance of Sophie Gelski is progressing well. Her very extensive interview with Louise Rosenberg is now completed and interviews have also been completed with Alan Milston, Esther Morrish and David Lesnie. In addition there are a further twenty people who have registered interest in participating in the project. Unfortunately, Gary Luke has had to withdraw from the interview team, however, Anna Marks has joined in his place.

THE SOCIETY'S JOURNALS – COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION.

The Society is presently reorganising the archives as we are rapidly running out of space to house our ever growing collection. We have surplus copies of almost every Journal printed and are offering them to Members at no cost. Copies of the Journal can be collected from the office on Tuesdays or Thursdays. We will also mail them out if the postage is paid. Please ring on (02) 9518-7596 or email to admin@ajhs.com.au.

FROM THE ARCHIVIST:

Three plaques from the Bankstown Synagogue have been placed on permanent loan with the Sydney Jewish Museum. The details are:- (i) Memorial Doors in memory of Marcus and Celia Horne donated by their children Marie, Harry and Israel, (ii) A plaque donated by J.L. Lewis JP to commemorate the barmitzvah of his son Maxwell, (iii) A plaque donated in memory of David and Helene Herzlinger by their children Hilda and Harry.

Philip Moses. Newsletter Editor

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Contributions to the Newsletter are most welcome. They can be mailed to AJHS Newsletter Editor, Mandelbaum House, 385 Abercrombie St, Darlington NSW 2008 or emailed to admin@ajhs.com.au.