Jewish Holocaust Centre in Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia | Community organisation

Jewish Holocaust Centre

Locality: Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9528 1985

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• Education
• Community organisation
• History Museum

25.01.2022 CONNECT // Joe de Haan turns 98 today. Joe’s life was saved many times by various people during the Holocaust. After the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands a succession of brave people, at risk to their own lives, hid Joe across many locations for five years. Although his immediate family were murdered, Joe maintains a gratitude for life and a nurturing, empathic attitude. At 98 he still bakes the best cakes! Joe deserves a fabulous cake worthy of this milestone birthday. We ...look forward to seeing Joe again soon. Meanwhile, we hope you have a Happy Birthday Joe! Joe writes Reading the letters sent to me from students, it is clear to me that I have been leaving a huge impact after they have listened to my story of survival. I really feel honoured by all of them. LEARN more about Joe’s story. Watch his testimony and write him a letter during lockdown. Visit www.jhc.org.au/survivor-connect #askasurvivor #survivorconnect #Holocausteducation #virtualworkshop Image: Joe de Haan at home during lockdown. Photo by Elly Brooks

24.01.2022 Teachers // Enhance your teaching with engaging resources Join us for this virtual professional development session on the 24th of November at 4PM. Our Head of Education, Lisa Phillips, will demonstrate a few learning resources, techniques and strategies that teachers can confidently use in the classroom knowing they are teaching the Holocaust effectively in only a few lessons.... Find out more - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=675840 #HolocaustEducation

24.01.2022 Memorial // Architect Kerstin Thompson, whose team has designed our new building, is quoted in this article discussing memorials and their role in shaping community memory about important moments in history. https://www.smh.com.au//he-survived-the-plane-crash-that-k

23.01.2022 CONNECT // Survivor Guta Goldstein was nine years old when the Nazis invaded Poland. Despite many occasions in which she was almost selected for death in the gas chambers, she has become a resilient, positive and coherent advocate for the importance of educating about the Holocaust. Guta might be in lockdown but that has not stopped her from sharing her message. Tomorrow she will be doing a LIVE Q & A session with Year 10 English students from Heidelberg, VIC during one of o...ur virtual workshops. Guta says As I’m getting older I can’t waste time and need to put my message across as much as I can. LEARN more about Guta’s story and write her a letter during lockdown. Visit www.jhc.org.au/survivor-connect #askasurvivor #survivorconnect #Holocausteducation #virtualworkshop

22.01.2022 It’s #NAIDOCWeek2020 this week, and the theme this year is #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe, recognising the special connection between First Nations people and their land. A week borne from a day of protest, #NAIDOCWeek each year reminds us of the ongoing aspirations of First Nations communities as they continue the movement towards justice and equality. In keeping with the JHC values we express abhorrence at deliberate attempts to erase culture and histories of communities and peopl...es, and express support to First Nations people to be afforded equality. NAIDOC’s roots came from activism from the 1920-1930s. In 1938 Aboriginal elder and activist William Cooper led a delegation from his home to the German consulate in Melbourne to deliver a letter protesting against the violence against the Jews in Germany. The Jewish Holocaust Centre owes a debt of gratitude to Cooper and his supporters. They protested for the safety of Jews when others with more power and influence did not. Painting by D. B. Williams [Kungarri] Coming Together Acrylic on canvas (2017)

20.01.2022 BUILD THE FUTURE // Our building works have begun! I want to congratulate everyone involved at the JHC, Kerstin Thompson Architects and @McCorkell Constructions who kept moving our redevelopment project on, despite COVID-19. Working in restricted conditions, through a citywide lockdown and getting it done. Thanks to everyone who supported it.... Onwards and upwards, building for a better future. Jayne Josem, Museum Director & CEO

19.01.2022 CONNECT // It’s Holocaust survivor Szaja (John) Chaskiel’s 91st birthday today. Szaja was 10 years old when the Nazis invaded Poland, and was orphaned by war’s end. One of the Buchenwald Boys (orphans who were liberated from Buchenwald concentration camp), Szaja is a vocal and ardent advocate for Holocaust education. He has a convivial spirit, though no tolerance for hypocrisy. ... He is missing the JHC, the schools and the children who come, and looks forward to meeting with students again to tell his story and to encourage them to protect the rights of all humans. We miss him too and look forward to welcoming him and the other survivors who so generously share their stories. LEARN more about Szaja’s story. Watch his testimony and write him a letter during lockdown. Visit www.jhc.org.au/survivor-connect #askasurvivor #survivorconnect #Holocausteducation #virtualworkshop Image: Szaja at his home. Elly Brooks, photographer

18.01.2022 When our unequivocal mission is acknowledged in the Victorian Parliament, we feel vindicated that the hard work we are doing in this challenging year, to continue to educate young people about the Holocaust, is receiving the accolades it deserves. Nina Taylor MP spoke in the chamber about her recent zoom meeting with JHC Museum Director and CEO Jayne Josem, and commended us on receiving a Multicultural Events Program grant. We are grateful to receive this support toward delivering Holocaust Remembrance Day to our community on 27 January 2021. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=636073153945929

18.01.2022 Teachers // How do you teach the Holocaust meaningfully and safely ? Join us for this virtual professional development session on the 17th of November at 4PM. Our Head of Education, Lisa Phillips, will provide guidance and advice to ensure that your lessons follow the ‘safely in and safely out’ principle and are meaningful for your students. Find out more - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=675794... #holocausteducation

17.01.2022 There's still time to book your ticket for this annual event. Hear keynote speaker Paul Salmons, an independent curator and education consultant specializing in difficult histories. For more information and to book your free ticket, click on the image below.

17.01.2022 You are invited to a book launch. "The Unsung Family Hero" is the first book-length narrative work by Dr Paul Gardner AM, the son of German Jewish refugees who emigrated to Australia in 1938. This event will be chaired by Jayne Josem, Museum Director and CEO of the Jewish Holocaust Centre, and will be launched by well-known local author Dr Howard Goldenberg.... The Zoom event is being hosted by The King David School and is supported by five other organisations. When: Sunday 18 October 2020 Time: 7:30pm Venue: Online via Zoom Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/BLOID More information at https://www.jhc.org.au//book-launch-paul-gardners-the-uns/

17.01.2022 CONNECT // Happy birthday to Holocaust survivor Viv Spiegel! Viv has waited patiently for COVID stage 4 lockdown to end in Melbourne and can now celebrate her birthday with others. A miraculous escape from the Vel’ d’Hiv roundup in Paris resulted in Viv and her siblings being hidden by a Catholic family until liberation.... As a child survivor, Viv is keenly aware of the importance of keeping children safe and demonstrates her warmth during her conversations with students. Viv misses her interactions with students and would love to hear from you. You can write a letter to Viv by visiting www.jhc.org.au/survivor-connect Viv outside her home. Photograph by Elly Brooks

17.01.2022 We are very pleased to announce that the JHC received a Highly Commended rating at the MAPDA Awards 2020 [Museums Australasia Multimedia & Publication Design Awards] in the Program Website category. Competing against organisations with considerably bigger budgets and resources, we couldn’t be more proud of the staff and volunteers at JHC who contributed to the Ask a Survivor virtual program. View it here: https://www.jhc.org.au/edu/virtual-learning/ask-a-survivor/. Museum... Director & CEO, Jayne Josem, said It is truly gratifying to see the JHC’s educational programs being recognized on a local and national level; it is our mission to educate far and wide about the Holocaust." More information about MAPDA categories and winners can be found at http://www.mapda.org.au/2020-winners.html #askasurvivor #holocausteducation #virtuallearning #mapda

16.01.2022 ‘Non-Jewish responses to the Holocaust bystander/ collaborator/ saviour’ is the next lecture in the JHC’s immersive education program The Holocaust: Uncovering the History. The lecture will be conducted by the JHC’s Co-president, Sue Hampel OAM on Monday 14 September at 7:30pm The behaviour of bystanders during the Holocaust will be the focus this lecture. How did the non-Jewish populations in the countries of Europe respond to the genocide of Jews? What role did they pl...ay in perpetrating mass murder? In order to evaluate this topic, Sue will look at three case studies Collaboration in France; Rescue in Denmark and Neighbours in Poland. Central to the discussions will be the problematic term bystander as well as the challenges of coming to terms with the past in recent decades as European societies have confronted their roles during the Holocaust. This course is open to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of the Holocaust. You can enrol for the remaining three lectures or choose individual lectures which suit you. ** You must enrol by 5pm, Sunday 13 September to receive your Zoom link. More information and booking details at https://www.jhc.org.au/uncovering-history/ Images: Father Andre Trocme with his wife Magda, recognized leaders of the rescue effort, which has been credited with saving some 5,000 refugees, about 3,500 of them Jewish. Irena Sendler helped smuggle Jews out of the ghetto to the Aryan side and helped set up hiding places for them.

16.01.2022 December 10 is the anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The principles enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as they were in 1948. This day is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights and the need for global solidarity, as well as reflect on our interconnectedness and shared humanity. The Jewish Holocaust Centre is dedicated to educating the public about human rights. Through our educati...on programs we teach young people how to identify human rights abuses and encourage them not to be bystanders. #Humanrights #Holocausteducation Jewish men in the central Polish town of Supca, c.1939-40. The men have had their beards cut off by the Nazis and their supporters, and each wears an identifier, a Jewish Star of David pinned to their outer clothing. After the Nazis had invaded Supca in September 1939 they immediately imposed restrictions on Jews, deported them to nearby ghettos and forced labour camps and in October 1941, murdered the remaining Jewish inhabitants in the Kazimierz Biskupi forest. Image from the JHC Archival Collection, anonymous donor.

14.01.2022 VIRTUAL LEARNING // As our education programs come to an end for this year, we are so thankful to all of our survivors who were able to continue to deliver their powerful message, just as Paul was able to with Beaconhills College in Berwick. While 2020 brought an abrupt end to schools visiting us in person, the delivery of meaningful Holocaust education continued through our Virtual Workshops reaching more than 3,000 students across Victoria and Australia. We look forward to... 2021 with a plan to continue delivering Virtual Workshops, allowing us to connect even more students with our survivors. #HolocaustEducation #askasurvivor #virtualworkshop

10.01.2022 We are very proud to announce that Jennifer Levitt Maxwell, Engagement Manager, was Highly Commended for Excellence in the Medium Museums/Galleries Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria Awards this week. Jennifer worked closely with the JHC Education Team, to swiftly develop an excellent Virtual Learning Platform during COVID. This included a Virtual Museum as well as the Ask a Survivor and Understanding Through Testimony educational interactives. The virtual materials featuring survivor testimony - have been well received by school students and teachers, and many others, across Australia.

10.01.2022 Deakin University is seeking applicants for The Brookes Cultural Heritage Scholarship themed Reconceptualising training, travel, and trauma: Jewish emigres and their impact on Australian Society. Project Supervisor Associate Professor Steven Cooke and Supervisory Panel: Professor Andrea Whitcomb and Dr Anna Hirsh [JHC Senior Archivist] Details and application forms at: https://tinyurl.com/y2bvmhra

09.01.2022 For Irma Hanner, the November pogrom (or Kristallnacht) will be etched in her memory forever. She recalls "November 9, 1938 was the day that turned my life upside down. And it still haunts me today. And every day." Learn more about Irma, her family and the impact of the November pogrom by clicking below. Irma (R) and her friend Lydia pose together in front of the iconic Frauenkirche on the River Elbe in Dresden, 1938. They are innocent and oblivious of what is to come.... #askasurvivor #holocausteducation https://www.jhc.org.au/the-november-pogrom/

09.01.2022 CONNECT // Today we celebrate the 96th birthday of long-time Holocaust survivor, guide and JHC Board director Abe Goldberg. Despite most of his family being murdered during the Holocaust, Abe is always willing to tell his story to visitors to the JHC. He is committed to the mission of the JHC to combat antisemitism, racism and prejudice in the community through educating young people. In lockdown Abe has embraced using technology to continue telling his story and reaching o...ut to students in our online education workshops. We wish Abe a very happy birthday and look forward to seeing him again beyond the screen. LEARN more about Abe’s story. Watch his testimony and write him a letter during lockdown. Visit www.jhc.org.au/survivor-connect #askasurvivor #survivorconnect #Holocausteducation #virtualworkshop Image: Abe taking a break while engaging with students in an online workshop.

08.01.2022 BUILDING THE FUTURE // Today was a significant day with our groundbreaking ceremony and naming announcement. The new museum building will be named the Josef Hellen Building, acknowledging the significant support of Auschwitz survivor, Josef Hellen z"l. Attended by Josh Frydenberg, Senator James Paterson, Nina Taylor MP and David Southwick it was wonderful to acknowledge the Federal and State bipartisan support this important project has received. It was most appropriate for... Holocaust survivor Abram Goldberg to break ground with the Federal Treasurer, as this is the home for survivor stories and messages preserved for the betterment of all. #JHCredevelopment #holocaustmuseum #newmuseum #JHCMelbourne #holocausteducation #holocaustmemorial #holocaustsurvivor #holocaustremembrance #weremember #neverforget #buildingthefuture

08.01.2022 During the night of November 9th, 2020, International March of the Living invites individuals, institutions and Houses of Worship across the world to keep their lights on, as a symbol of solidarity and mutual commitment in the shared battle against antisemitism, racism, hatred and intolerance. As part of this global campaign, people are encouraged to make a pledge of hope and a commitment to shine a light on hate. A media event will air on the anniversary of Kristallnacht T...he Night of Broken Glass - on November 10th at 11:00AM AEDT / 08:00 AWST. This event will be available to view on multiple platforms, including the Jewish Broadcasting Service, Jerusalem Post website, and International March of the Living website. To view the event and register, click here https://www.motl.org/

08.01.2022 It’s nearly Rosh Hashana, Jewish New Year, and the Jewish Holocaust Centre wishes you a Shana Tova Umetuka a Happy and Sweet Year. This is a Machzor, the prayer book used for Rosh Hashana services. It was published in Prague in 1880 and contains both Hebrew and German text. The service includes the prayers for the sounding of the shofar; it also includes a prayer for King Franz Josef and Queen Elisabeth (Sisi), monarchs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This Machzor belonged to Leo Parker (originally Pollack), who migrated with his family from Austria to Australia in June 1939, only a few weeks before war began. Leo had been imprisoned in Dachau concentration camp after being arrested on Kristallnacht, November 1938.

07.01.2022 ‘Holocaust revision and denial’ is the next lecture in the JHC’s online immersive education program The Holocaust: Uncovering the History. The lecture will be conducted by Dr Andre Oboler, Managing Director of the Online Hate Prevention Institute, on Monday 5 October at 7:30pm. In this session we will look at the origins of Holocaust denial, key modern Holocaust deniers and the shift of Holocaust denial onto the Internet. We will consider the evolving response to Holocaust... denial by major technology companies, discuss IHRA's Working Definition of Holocaust Denial and Distortion and current priority of "Countering Holocaust Distortion and Safeguarding the Record". You can enrol for this and/or the final lecture. * You must enrol by 5pm, Sunday 4 October to receive your Zoom link. More information and booking details at https://www.jhc.org.au/uncovering-history/

05.01.2022 There are a multiplicity of ways the Holocaust has been described. Much has been written of the challenge for #Holocaust artists, writers and survivors to express what it was like to have been there and how it feels to live in its shadow. We are partnering with @Jewish.Museum.of.Australia to present ‘Ways of Being: Representations of the Holocaust Through Art, Literature & Testimony’, a 6 week course which explores depths of expression for this topic. Join JHC Co-President ...Sue Hampel OAM for this inspiring short course which looks at how variably the indescribable is conveyed. For more information and bookings visit https://www.jewishmuseum.com.au//ways-of-being-representa/

05.01.2022 The community-based Lind Lane Theatre in Nambour, Queensland performed a season of ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ earlier this year. The not-for-profit theatre kindly donated the proceeds from program sales to the Jewish Holocaust Centre. They said We had an awesome season and met people touched by the Holocaust themselves or by family members. We thank the two 13 year old cast members who played Anne Frank, and the other theatre folk at Lind Lane who helped raise awareness a...bout the plight of children in hiding during the Holocaust. While the production was taking place we were dismantling the museum in preparation for a major redevelopment. This redevelopment will enable us to reach an even larger audience for our education programs. For more information about the current Holocaust education programs suitable for children visit us at https://www.jhc.org.au/jhc-school-programs-new/ Images: Anne Frank with the director. The last photo taken of the Anne Frank room at the Jewish Holocaust Centre before redevelopment commenced.

03.01.2022 On behalf of our Holocaust survivors, their descendants and the JHC community, we applaud Facebook for finally recognising Holocaust denial and distortion for what it is: antisemitic hate speech. This is a big step forward in challenging times when racism and antisemitism are on the rise." Jayne Josem, Museum Director & CEO #NoDenyingIt #askasurvivor

02.01.2022 Fred Liebmann, from Wiesbaden, Germany, chose Yom Kippur, the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar, as the day to remember his parents Grete and Albert Liebmann. They died in August 1942 as they faced deportation to Theresienstadt. This year, the evening of 27 September marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On this day we remember those who have died, and atone for sins committed in the past year. Image: Memorial notice for Grete and Albert Liebmann by their son Fred with an announcement of a service to be held each year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Melbourne, c.1945. Their son Fred Liebmann emigrated to Australia in 1938. (JHC Collections)