Friends of the Jewish Holocaust Centre

Goldie Birch and Elly Brooks

THE FRIENDS COMMITTEE MEETS regularly throughout the year and is committed to supporting the social and educational programs of the Jewish Holocaust Centre, both practically and financially. We achieve this through recruiting new members, holding functions to raise money and volunteering to assist with events at the Centre.

Our committee comprises a wonderful group of dedicated people: Goldie Birch and Elly Brooks (Co-Presidents), Sabbie Berger, Vivienne Golabek, Annette Hayman, Sue Lewis, Rosi Meltzer, Rhonda Norich, Alice Peer, Cynthia Spicer, Lauren Spitalnic-Majtlis, Raizi Worcester and Edna Vexler.

Friends have funded projects to the value of around $35,000 this year, including the purchase of a high-quality scanner for the Archives department, back-up drives to provide additional storage for testimonies, and a hand-held temperature and humidity data logger for the curatorial staff.

We held a sell-out evening screening the movie Denial at the Classic Cinema. Based on Deborah Lipstadt’s acclaimed book, History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier, the movie recounts Lipstadt’s legal battle with David Irving, who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier.

We are delighted that the Young Friends group has become a new addition to our team. These young adults are aware of their responsibility as the last generation to be first-hand witnesses to the survivors’ testimonies, and it is gratifying that they are involved in continuing the work of the Friends group.

In April, Elly Brooks was invited to attend the 23rd Rwandan Genocide Memorial at Parliament House in Hobart where she spoke about being the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, and the lessons the Jewish people have learnt more than 70 years after the Holocaust.

The Friends team continues to go from strength to strength, and we look forward to planning further activities to continue to support the work of the Centre. We thank all who supported our functions over the past year, and look forward to another exciting year.

We wish you a shanah tovah and well over the Fast.

At the beginning of the year, the Young Friends hosted their first event at the Jewish Holocaust Centre at which Holocaust survivor, Lusia Haberfeld, told her compelling story of survival to a group of 60 university students. Young Friends also held their own Yom Hashoah commemoration on 24 April, following the community commemoration at the Robert Blackwood Hall. Over 130 young people attended this moving ceremony.

The Young Friends plan to follow these events with initiatives aimed at introducing young adults to the mission and work of the Centre. We expect that the growing support we have enjoyed will continue and hopefully guide the younger generation to take on more responsibility. By adopting their role as custodians of the lessons and values learnt from the tragedy of the Holocaust, we will ensure that never again does history repeat itself.

Become a Friend of the Jewish Holocaust Centre & support the activities of the Centre.

The Friends of the Jewish Holocaust Centre plays an important role in providing financial support to the Centre through membership subscriptions, raffle book sales, sales of the Entertainment Book and social fundraising functions.

To become a Friend of the Jewish Holocaust Centre, simply download and complete the form from jhc.org.au For further information please contact Goldie Birch on (03) 9528 1985 or email goldiegb@bigpond.net.au