Thirty Four years ago when I visited Sydney for the first time, I walked into The Customs House in Circular Quay, and saw something that has remained unresolved (for me) since 1985!
Please read on!
I visit Sydney several times each year to see my family, as well as for business. However, I don’t ever get to Circular Quay, one of the major tourist areas in the world!
Last Sunday, 24 November 2019, while in the area, I decided to revisit the building, to satisfy my curiosity!
AND THEY WERE STILL THERE!
Inside the entrance of the building.
What do you make of it?
I called in at the information desk in the lobby of the building, and I was given this information sheet.
The receptionist told me that two Jewish tourists recently called in at her desk quite distraught after walking into the building, and seeing these symbols.
I searched the net on the subject. This what Wikipedia has to say about these symbols – quite detailed and informative:
Because of its use by Nazi Germany, the swastika since the 1930s has been largely associated with Nazism. In the aftermath of World War II it has been considered a symbol of hate in the West,[160] or alternatively of white supremacy in many Western countries.[161]
As a result, all of its use, or its use as a Nazi or hate symbol, is prohibited in some countries, including Germany. Because of the stigma attached to the symbol, many buildings that have used the symbol as decoration have had the symbol removed.[citation needed] In some countries, such as the United States’ Virginia v. Black 2003 case, the highest courts have ruled that the local governments can prohibit the use of swastika along with other symbols such as cross burning, if the intent of the use is to intimidate others.[5]
No-Nazism sign
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I decided to write to the Australian Jewish News, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, and J-Wire (online zine)
These were the replies:
Vic Alhadeff – NSW Jewish Board:
As the leaflet says, it’s there as Buddhist/Hindu culture. Nothing to be done.
Henry Benjamin – J-Wire:
You would have a problem visiting Bali. The swastika is part of the island’s culture.
The AJN did not respond!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
Should a public building in Sydney, Australia have these images displayed in its entrance, and with no visible explanation given – only when I asked at reception!
These may be positive symbols in Asia, but what about in a country that has a large population of Holocaust survivors and their descendants.
What do you have to say on the matter?
UPDATE
I called the front desk at Customs House this morning, and spoke to Veronica, who told me that there is a plaque in the foyer. Neither Jill nor I saw it!
Veronica kindly took a couple of photos for me and also pointed me to an item on their website – see below
My updated notes arising from this last image:
The plaque states that during WWII the floor was covered – interesting!
Both right and left facing swastikas are on the Customs House floor (not just counter clockwise as per the plaque above).
‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’ – Edmund Burke, philosopher.
CONTINUE TO REMEMBER AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Today, 10 November, we commemorate Kristallnacht, also called Night of Broken Glass or November Pogroms, when German Nazis attacked Jewish persons and property in Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland on that date in 1938.
The Perth ceremony will be held at Perth Modern School at 5pm tonight. The keynote address will be delivered by Malcolm McCusker, the former Governor of WA, who will speak on:
“Evil Creeps Back, If Good People Stand Aside”.
The final item on the program is the Partisans’ Song, to be sung in four languages, Yiddish, Hebrew, Noongar and English, by the joint choirs of Ellenbrook Secondary College and Carmel High School, under the direction of Stuart Rhine-Davis. The song was originally written as a poem by Hirsh Glik in 1943. Jesse John Fleay, a lecturer at ECU translated it into Noongar, and Suzanne Kosowitz re-arranged the music by Dmitri Pokrass to fit the Noongar. Michele Galanti coordinates the Carmel School Choir.
The joint Ellenbrook Secondary College – Carmel High School choir first performed this inspiring anthem on 5 August at Ellenbrook Secondary College in front of 2000 people, and then repeated it at Carmel School on 7 August. The original recordings are here: https://wah.foundation/program/
The Kristallnacht ceremony this year will be attended by Lance Turner, son of Uncle Boydie Turner and great grandson of William Cooper, the indigenous Australian, whose protest against the pogroms, at the Nazi consulate office in Melbourne, was finally recognised by the German government in 2017, 79 years later!
Eli Rabinowitz
Perth, Australia
Show your support for our growing band of Upstanders here in Perth WA
‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’ – Edmund Burke, philosopher.
Each year on 9/10 November, we commemorate Kristallnacht, Night of Broken Glass or November Pogroms, when Nazis attacked Jewish persons and property in Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland on that date in 1938.
Some 30000 Jewish males were rounded up and taken to concentration camps. As a result of Kristallnacht, the Nazis ordered the Jewish community to pay one billion Reichsmark as compensation for the damage, and introduced many anti-Jewish laws.
Kristallnacht was a turning point or watershed in the Holocaust. It was the first time that violence against Jews was coordinated on such a large scale in Nazi Germany.
This year, the Perth Kristallnacht Commemoration will be held at Perth Modern School. It is being organised by the CCJWA – Council of Christians and Jews of WA. The keynote address will be delivered by Malcolm McCusker AC CVO QC, a former Governor of Western Australia. The title of his address is: “Evil Creeps Back, If Good People Stand Aside”.
The final item on the program is the Partisans’ Song, to be sung in four languages, Yiddish, Hebrew, Noongar and English, by the joint choirs of Ellenbrook Secondary College and Carmel School, under the direction of Stuart Rhine-Davis.
The song was originally written as a poem by Hirsh Glik in Vilnius in 1943. Jesse John Fleay, a lecturer at Edith Cowan University, translated the poem in 2018 into Noongar, a Western Australian indigenous language. Perth composer Suzanne Kosowitz skilfully re-arranged the music by Dmitri Pokrass to fit the Noongar words. Michele Galanti coordinated the Carmel School Choir performance.
Hirsh Glik
The Partisans’ Song has been sung since 1943 as the anthem or hymn of the Partisans and since the Holocaust by survivors. Traditionally sung in its original Yiddish, the poem is now available in 28 languages, including Noongar.
Abba Kovner & The Vilna PartisansBielski Partisans, Belarus
Carmel School welcomed at Ellenbrook Secondary College
The joint Ellenbrook – Carmel Schools Choir first performed this stirring anthem on 5 August at Ellenbrook Secondary College in front of 2000 people, and then repeated the performance at Carmel School on 7 August. The original recordings can be seen and heard here: https://wah.foundation/program/
The Kristallnacht ceremony this year will be attended by Lance Turner, son of Uncle Boydie Turner and great grandson of William Cooper, the indigenous Australian leader who marched the 10 km from his home in Footscray to the Nazi consulate office in Melbourne, to protest against the Kristallnacht pogrom. William Cooper’s petition was ignored, and was only recognised by the German government in 2017, 79 years after his march!
The Argus, 7 December 1938Eli Rabinowitz, Lance Turner, Stuart Rhine-Davis, Nance Adler & Jesse John FleayEli Rabinowitz & Uncle Boydie Turner in Mooroopna VICStatue of William Cooper in Shepparton VICPlaque in front of the statueGiant Mural Of William Cooper In Shepparton VIC
The US government funded our WE ARE HERE! Upstanders Project for educators in 2019. This enabled us to bring Seattle based educator, Nance Adler to Australia to headline our project. This was most successful, and opened the door for teachers and students around the globe to use our free resources. More information to follow.
Presentation In Novogrudok, Belarus
Nance Adler, Aron Bell (Bieski), Henryka Bell & Eli Rabinowitz in Novogrudok, BelarusMaty Belsky & Eli Rabinowitz in Forest Jerusalem, Naliboki, Belarus
WE ARE HERE! Perth Team Lisa Marino – US Consulate Perth, Eli Rabinowitz – founder, Jill Rabinowitz, Suzanne Kosowitz – composer, Stuart Rhine-Davis – Music Director Ellenbrook Secondary College, Richard Cohen, Professor Lynne Cohen – retired Vice Chancellor and Head of the School of Education at Edith Cowan University, Anne Rhine-Davis, Michele Galanti – Jewish Studies Carmel High School, Shirley Atlas – Educator at the Holocaust Institute WA & Bob Marino
Ohi Day or Oxi Day (Greek: Επέτειος του Όχι, Epéteios tou Óchi [eˈpetios tu ˈoçi]; “Anniversary of the No”) is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world on 28 October each year. Ohi Day commemorates the rejection by Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on 28 October 1940, the Hellenic counterattack against the invading Italian forces at the mountains of Pindus during the Greco-Italian War, and the Greek Resistance during the Axis occupation.
Richard, Lynne, Anne, Michele, Shirley, Bob, Lisa, Eli, Jill, Suzanne and Stuart (absent Jesse John).
Come join us at Perth Modern School on 10 November.
Featuring a special performance of the Partisans’ Song in Yiddish, Hebrew, English and Noongar by the joint Ellenbrook Secondary College and Carmel High School choir.
Choir Performances | WE ARE HERE!
Choir Performances | WE ARE HERE!
At Ellenbrook Secondary College 5 August 2019, and encore performance at Carmel School on 7 August 2019.
August saw the passing of Leonard R Reitstein, aged 91, much admired and respected member of the Cape Town Jewish community, particularly Temple Israel, and as South Africa’s “Mr Chess”.
Leonard’s father Julian was a founder member of the Progressive Judaism movement in Cape Town in the 1940s and brought his son in, where he rose to be President of Temple Israel. Leonard’s admiration and enthusiasm for the Reform movement and his high regard for Rabbi David Sherman, saw him fully committed, and even more so when he and his wife Ruth moved next door to the Temple in Wynberg! Besides presidential and general duties, his contribution included his role as Editor of the annual magazine, and leader of many shiurim and lay services.
Leonard was a man of great intellect, blessed with a sharp mind, quick wit and erudition. His general knowledge was wide and often obscure, his interests ranging from music (he hosted classical soirees), maths (he calculated without a calculator), history, religion, literature, cricket and cryptic crosswords (he called himself a cruciverbalist). He delighted nothing more than to encourage his grandchildren to discuss with and question or challenge him on all topics.
In the words of Rabbi Richard Newman, “He made me think, made me see things from a different perspective, made me realise that here was a man to whom I could turn, for advice and counsel. Here was a man whose knowledge was only superceded by his wisdom. There was a wealth of life, welling forth, a font of meaningful words backed up by well-tempered thought. Here was a saintlike mortal, stretching out his hands to those around him.”
Leonard is regarded as the person who has made the greatest and longest impact on South African chess. Former SA champion David Friedgood describes him as “truly South Africa’s Mr Chess”, with a background as player and correspondence player, captain of the SA team to various internationals and Olympiads, and organizer of major chess events, as well as a stint as President of the SA Chess Federation. Leonard was a chess resource, buying and selling books and publications, and at one stage his home library was regarded as the largest in the southern hemisphere! He single-handedly compiled The South African Chess Player magazine, publishing it for over thirty years, and wrote several Test Your Chess books and other works. His magnum opus, A History of Chess in South Africa, was a labour of love for the game and sold internationally, its author a major force and reputation.
Dr Lyndon Bouah, Director of Sport & Recreation, Western Cape Government, has been appointed as the custodian of Leonard’s “chess world”. He says, “As I have known Mr Reitstein for over twenty years I was honoured and privileged to be requested to be the custodian. The chess material consists of books, magazines and particularly hundreds of copies of The South African Chess Player, documents, minute books, photographs and memorabilia.” These are being collated and digitised for a future public display in Leonard’s honour.
Leonard Raymond Reitstein was born in Cape Town on 6th June 1928. He was the third child of Polish born Julian, and first of English born Greta. His older siblings were Claude and Raie (Gurland) and his younger, Maurice, all deceased.
He attended Sea Point Boys and Oudsthoorn School, and graduated as a bookkeeper accountant. Most of his working life was at Blumberg & Kleinman and for the Jewish Board of Deputies.
Leonard married Ruth Saevitzon of Wynberg in 1953; a long, happy and devoted partnership that lasted over sixty five years. They lived in Newlands and Wynberg, and moved into Highlands House two years ago.
Leonard is survived by his wife Ruth and his children Jillian, Anthony and Michelle. He has five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, living as far afield as Cape Town, Ra’anana, Sydney, Perth and London!
Jill Rabinowitz, daughter
Perth, Australia
6th September 2019
The Cape Jewish Chronicle
Rapport
Translation using Google Translate:
A life: SA Chess loses a giant with Reitstein’s death
By Herman Lategan 13 October 2019 00:02
A highly respected member of the local Jewish community and the man who for many years served as South Africa’s Mr. Chess, Leonard Reitstein, recently died in Cape Town. He was 91.
Leonard Reitstein: A versatile person.
Former SA chess champion David Friedgood says Reitstein is considered the person who may have had the biggest influence on chess on the ground so far.
Not only was he an active player, he won several tournaments, as far back as 1961. Reitstein was also president of the Cape Chess Club, as well as the SA Chess Federation.
He played this game in various places around the world, even in Cuba in 1966, where he met Fidel Castro. There he was the captain of the SA chess team during an Olympics.
His contribution was dynamic. He has published numerous books on the subject, including Test Your Chess. Reitstein’s magnum opus, however, was the coffee table book A History of Chess in South Africa, which received international recognition.
He has published numerous books on chess.
His collection of books, photos and memorabilia is believed to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere on the subject. His collection also eventually developed into a bookstore in the small, a home business he operated from his home in Newlands, Cape Town.
“My dad also published The South African Chess Player magazine himself,” says his son Anthony. “The whole family really helped. We posted them to people. There were many! One child had to put the magazines in the envelopes, another had to put up the seals, then another had to lick and apply the envelopes again. My mother wrote the addresses in a neat handwriting on it. It was a whole family affair.”
“My parents also loved horse racing. I remember how he took us to the stables as kids to talk to the horses and caress them. ”
His daughter Jill from Perth: “He was a connoisseur of English and knew words in all their shades. He completed every crossword puzzle imaginable in record times. His general knowledge was not only wide, but also completely obscure.
“Throughout the day he worked at Blumberg & Kleinman in the city, where people could buy porcelain ware, cutlery and even diamonds. Then for the Jewish Board of Deputies. He was charming and always wore a neat suit, with a nice tie. “
Reitstein and Fidel Castro.
Reitstein’s father, Julian, was a founding member of the Progressive Judaism Movement in the 1940s in Cape Town and has been a faithful and devoted member of Temple Israel all his life. He took his faith seriously and lived it to the full, so much so that the family later moved out of Newlands into Wynberg next to the temple.
Reitstein was versatile. He could make complicated sums without the help of a calculator. Their home became known for classical soirees, where afterwards talks were held on history, religion, cricket and every subject imaginable.
Born in Cape Town, Reitstein attended school at Sea Point Primary School for Boys and later Oudtshoorn High School. His father was a Polish refugee and businessman and his mother, Greta, an artist and poet. He married his wife, Ruth Saevitzon, in 1953.
He is survived by his wife and three children. Reitstein has five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all over the world from Cape Town to Ra’anana in Israel, Sydney and Perth in Australia and London. † Leonard Raymond Reitstein, born June 6, 1928, passed away August 2, 2019.
With children Michelle, Anthony & Jill and wife Ruth nee Saevitzon
With Jill, and our visitors, Bernice & Wally Kegel, from Seattle
A tourist drive around Perth and Fremantle
Fremantle
Old Synagogue, Fremantle
Fremantle Former Synagogue
Notre Dame University – Manjaree Place
From Prendiville Catholic College
STUNNING ABORIGINAL MURAL AT NOTRE DAME UNI
STUNNING ABORIGINAL MURAL AT NOTRE DAME UNI
It was full house at Fremantle Notre Dame University’s Manjaree Place this morning for the unveiling of the major 5.5 x 2.2 metre Manjaree Mia Kaart Aboriginal painting. The wo…
WE ARE HERE!- Professional learning event for teachers
WE ARE HERE!- Professional learning event for teachers
ECU’s School of Education is proud to host a free professional learning seminar to introduce teachers and educators to a social justice project designed to inspire young people with the confidence and ability to be “upstanders” rather than “bystanders”; to stand up in the face of prejudice and oppression in their communities. The WE ARE HERE! project is sponsored by funding provided by the United States Government. Using the stories of the Partisans in the forests during World War 2, WE ARE HERE! empowers young people to take steps to confront and combat acts of discriminatory prejudice and injustice with their voices and their actions. WE ARE HERE! aims to enable the individual to make a real difference towards the goals of social justice. For more information about WE ARE HERE! please visit the WAH Foundation website. About this seminar The seminar will be facilitated by Nance Adler, a highly experienced educator from the U.S. Nance is a Museum Teachers Fellow at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and a Powell Fellow at the Holocaust Centre for Humanity in Seattle.This professional learning seminar will also feature the short film “Ties That Bind” – a conversation between Aboriginal “upstander” William Cooper’s grandson Uncle Boydie and a Holocaust survivor . Attendees will be provided with a lesson plan and other resources to incorporate WE ARE HERE! into your classroom activities. This is a free professional learning event. Registrations and afternoon tea will begin at 3.30pm and the seminar will commence at 4.00pm – 5.00pm.
Carmel School welcomed at Ellenbrook Secondary College
