From the ASPJ New South Wales Desk

Dear Members and Friends,

The past few months have continued to be challenging. It has been, for me, a time of grief and deep reflection. In many ways, the Australia, which provided a safe haven for our families after the Second World War, has shifted since October last year.

Here in Sydney, the ASPJ Committee has been reflecting on our role. We are exploring new avenues of engagement to find meaningful ways of connection with our friends in the Polish community, and beyond.

As a backdrop, the ASPJ’s recent events have woven together threads of history, memory, and resilience. In June, we had the privilege of hearing from award-winning photographer Chuck Fishman, who shared his powerful and poignant work documenting what he thought was the final chapter of Jewish life in Poland from 1975 to 1979. The unexpected revival of these fractured communities came about with the collapse of the Communist government in June 1989, fostering new hope.

This month, September 2024, the ASPJ was fortunate to host a webinar “In the Shadow of March ‘68”, featuring a conversation between Rabbi Yitzhak Rapoport from Warsaw and Professor Lucy Taksa, ASPJ Board Member. Their talk focused on the momentous events that occurred in Poland in 1968 and the anti-Zionist campaign that began in the aftermath of the Six-Day War in 1967. This ultimately led to the expulsion of some 13,000 Polish Jews. If you were unable to attend this thought-provoking webinar it is available for viewing on this ASPJ website and at: https://youtu.be/B7x79yFEq28.

Meanwhile, the ASPJ NSW Board continues to recalibrate its mission with the promise of some new initiatives in 2025. We hope you will join us. 

Thank you for your continued support and involvement as we navigate these complex times together.

Shana Tova Umetukah,

Estelle Rozinski,

ASPJ Co-Vice President N.S.W.
info@polishjews.org.au