Jewish families - New Zealand - Wellington Region

Date: 29 Jul 2004

From: New Zealand Defence Force Military oral history project

By: Goldblatt, Regina, 1923-

Reference: OHInt-0938-16

Description: Interview with Regina (Rose) Goldblatt, born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1923. Refers to her family having moved from Poland to Melbourne in 1929, where they joined a large Jewish community. Talks about moving to Wellington in 1937, where her father set up a tailoring business in Molesworth Street and the family lived above the shop initially. Mentions she did not attend secondary school but instead learned the trade in her father's business. Refers to working from home as a dressmaker and dress designer until her children were almost through school. Comments on the active youth group at the Jewish social centre in Ghuznee Street when she was growing up. Mentions that she did not attend the Jewish school but her brothers and her daughter did. Comments that they were taught to read Hebrew at the school, but were not taught the language. Recalls an influx of eastern European Jews in Wellington just before the Second World War, although it was easier for them to enter Australia. Recalls her parents were very worried when Poland was invaded, and that they never heard again from any of their relatives in Poland. Comments that they got all of their war news from newspapers and the radio, and remembers being horrified by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. Mentions fear of a Japanese invasion, the arrival of American marines, and Jewish marines being welcomed by the local Jewish community. Refers to rationing during the war, but comments that shortages of some goods were worse after the war. Discusses the horror in the local community when news of the concentration camps filtered out towards the end of the War and when some camp survivors arrived in Wellington. Recalls the feeling of relief that the war would be over soon when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Reflects that life was comparatively easy in New Zealand during the war. Talks about the gradual return home of servicemen after the war and the number of marriages in the community in a short period. Refers to the Macabeean (youth group) camp at which she and her husband Joe were attracted to each other, having known each other from 1937. Refers to marrying in July 1946 and later building a house in Ngaio. Comments on the Zoinist movement in New Zealand and its support for the establishment of the state of Israel. Describes various Jewish organisations in Wellington and their fund-raising activities to support Israel. Mentions the departure of members of the local Jewish community for larger communities overseas in recent decades. Interviewer(s) - Martin Halliday Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-017219 - OHC-0172 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - transcript. 1 transcript(s) - printed. 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHDL-000407, OHA-6152. Search dates: 1923 - 2004

Date: 01 Dec 2006

From: Otari Wilton's Bush oral history project

By: Fantl, Robert, 1923-2016

Reference: OHInt-0830-06

Description: Interview with Robert Fantl, born Liberec, Czechoslovakia, 1923. Discusses his parents' lives - mother Paula was Polish and father Robert died when he was 5 days old. Describes the political situation in Europe after the Munich Pact and its effects on their lives and education as they were Jewish. Mentions being sent to England in June 1939 on a train organised by Sir Nicholas Winton, and joining his mother and sister in New Zealand in 1940. Refers to the family moving to Wellington and his working for Fred Turnovsky. Mentions his role in the war, and joining the Air Force in 1943. Explains being posted to the Pacific and missing out on fighting the enemy he enlisted to fight. Mentions working for the Ministry of Works after the war so that he could study architecture extramurally. Describes life in New Zealand for a foreigner. Recalls his first visit to Otari-Wilton's Bush in 1941/1942, and buying a home in Wilton. Describes his developing interest in the area, outdoor life and learning about native plants. Mentions taking his family on picnics at Otari. Recalls dealing with Ray Mole, Anita Benbrook and Carol Leach when he planted trees in Otari to commemorate his wife Clare and daughter. Explains his involvement with planting trees as part of the Kaiwharawhara Valley revegetation project. Discusses his involvement campaining against roads and landfills that the Wellington City Council proposed in the early 1980s. Explains that the "northwest connector" road would have gone through Otari-Wilton's Bush. Mentions others in the campaign - Jock Fleming, Chris Horne, the Hendersons, Helen Ranforth, and free legal work from John O'Reagan and Hugh Rennie. Comments on there being more birds around Otari now and the effects of possum control on bird populations. Other Titles - Interview with Bob Fantl Interviewer(s) - Jonathan Kennett Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-015372, OHC-015373 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2 C60 cassette(s). 1.57 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5567. Search dates: 1923 - 1940 - 2006

Date: 25 March 1987

From: European refugees to New Zealand - oral history interviews

By: Steiner, Charlotte Caroline, 1907-1991

Reference: OHInt-0009/12

Description: Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Wellington Interviewer(s) - Ann Beaglehole Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003815-003816 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available.

Date: 22 June 1988

From: European refugees to New Zealand - oral history interviews

By: Hess, Lydia, active 1988-1990

Reference: OHInt-0009/10

Description: Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Wellington Interviewer(s) - Ann Beaglehole Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003813-OHC-003814 Quantity: 2 tape(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available.

Date: 17 Mar 1996 - [1893], [1900-1940]

By: Young, Eve, 1916-; Perkins, Jane, 1961-2011

Reference: ATL-Group-00174

Description: Collection relating to Eve Young who was born Eve Webster on 1 March 1916 in Wellington. Comprises an oral history interview conducted by Jane Perkins with Eve Young covering her life history; family photographs, and genealogical material relating to the family of her husband Percy Young (nee Yuchnoweciki). Interviewer(s) - Jane Perkins. Accompanying material - Copies of photographs and family history material. Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 1 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 b&w copy photographic print(s). 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Audio cassettes, black and white photographs, and photocopies of handwritten sheets Finding Aids: Abstract Available - OHA-3932 holds agreement form and family information.. Processing information: Two previously separated items of the same provenance have been incorporated in this collection record made in April 2017. A third record was added to include previously undescribed manuscript material.

Date: 8 - 22 July 2004 - 08 Jul 2004 - 22 Jul 2004

From: New Zealand Defence Force Military oral history project

By: Goldblatt, Joseph, 1923-

Reference: OHInt-0938-15

Description: Interview with Joe (Joseph) Goldblatt, born in Wellington in 1923. Mentions that his parents divorced when he was very young and he lived from the age of 12 in the Deckston orphanage for Jewish children. Comments that he had to leave school shortly after and was apprenticed as a tailor's cutter and tailor. Refers to boarding, and living in the Boys Institute and a boarding house. Discusses the Jewish community in Wellington when he was young. Mentions Jewish refugees from Europe who brought some news of what was happening in Germany in the 1930s. Talks about volunteering for air crew for the Air Force on his 18th birthday and joining in 1942. Comments on being called up by the Army in the intervening period, having six weeks' basic training in a new camp at Johnsonville, and then being sent by the Air Force to the Bell Block station to do guard duty. Talks about attending the Initial Training Wing in early 1943 for ground training and then being sent to Winnipeg, Canada in April. Discusses training as a bomb aimer as well as learning aerial gunnery, observing, aircraft recognition and some navigation. Mentions his promotion to Sergeant at the completion of training and spent his embarkation leave in New York meeting his mother's family. Refers to sailing on the Queen Mary to England, attending an Advanced Training Unit at West Frew in Scotland where they trained in Blenheim bombers, and then an Operational Training Unit at Westcott to form crews and learn to work together, flying Wellington bombers. Refers to being trained in a ground-based link trainer to assist the pilot, and comments bomb aimers assisted pilots and relieved other crew positions on bombers. Mentions converting to four-engined Sterlings at Chedborough, including training for high level bombing, combating fighter attacks and avoiding searchlights. Describes posting to 199 Squadron in Norfolk in August 1944 where they initially did special night flying operations jamming German radar by flying in 10 minute circles with the radio operator transmitting interference, or by dropping "window". Talks about life in the Squadron: preparation for missions, flying kit, and training and equipment for bailing out and being captured. Comments that the ground crew had to service and repair planes out in the open air. Refers to leave in London where he stayed with the family of a cousin's husband, and visiting his father's relatives in Glasgow. Talks about moving in February 1945 to the much bigger and heaver four-engined Halifax bombers. Describes being on leave in London when VE Day was announced and walking around the streets, and the Squadron ceasing operations immediately. Refers to waiting several months to be shipped back home, and being delayed for a day outside Lyttelton Harbour because the watersiders would not handle the ship on Labour Day. Mentions returning to his trade when he was demobilised, rejoining the Wellington Jewish community, marrying in 1946, and later setting up his own bespoke tailoring business. Interviewer(s) - Martin Halliday Accompanying material - Two photocopies of Joseph Goldblatt's Flying Log Book. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-017213 - OHC-017218 Quantity: 6 C60 cassette(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - transcript. 1 transcript(s) - printed. 1 interview(s). 5.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHDL-000406, OHA-6151. Search dates: 1923 - 1939 - 2004 - 1945

Date: ca 1856 to 1860

By: Beetham, William, 1809-1888

Reference: G-946

Description: Half-length frontal portrait of Jacob Joseph (1819-1903), in formal dress. Quantity: 1 oil(s) in original gilt frame. Physical Description: Oil on canvas, 710 x 600 mm, in gilt frame 965 x 840 mm Provenance: From the collection of the Nathan Family, by descent from Jacob Joseph. The work was commissioned by Jacob, who was an acquaintance of Beetham's.

Date: ca 1856 to 1860

By: Beetham, William, 1809-1888

Reference: G-947

Description: Half-length seated portrait of Kate Joseph (1824-1873). Quantity: 1 oil(s) in original gilt frame. Physical Description: Oil on canvas, 710 x 600 mm, in gilt frame 965 x 840 mm Provenance: From the collection of the Nathan Family, by descent from Jacob Joseph. The work was commissioned by Jacob, who was an acquaintance of Beetham's.

Date: [ca 1959-2000]

By: Temple Sinai (Wellington, N.Z.)

Reference: MS-Group-1642

Description: Includes minutes, correspondence and other records relating to Temple Sinai Hebrew School Quantity: 93 folder(s). 1 volume(s). 1.94 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescripts and printed matter Transfers: Collection as a whole taken into Manuscripts transfers made from here - Source of title - supplied by Library - To Drawings & Prints Collection - 1 collection bag for Curios Collection - To Oral History Collection - 5 tapes.

Date: 23 December 1995

From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers

Reference: EP-Religion-Jewish faith-03

Description: Dan Lewis lights candles during Hanukkah (the Jewish festival of lights) at his home in Karori, Wellington. With him are his grandchildren Rebekah Chereshsky (7), and Michael Chereshsky (4). At the back from left are Victor Chereshsky, Doris Lewis, Jessica Chereshsky (1), and Robyn Chereshsky. Photographed by Evening Post staff photographer Ross Giblin on the 23rd of December 1995. Quantity: 1 colour original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Dye Coupler print, 25.3 x 18.3 cms