Melbourne Holocaust Museum

Name: Melbourne Holocaust Museum
Address: Elsternwick, VIC, 3185, AU
Telephone: +61395281985
Price range: Not applicable

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Melbourne Holocaust Museum

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Founded by Holocaust survivors in 1984, we are Australia’s largest institution dedicated to Holocacaust.

17/10/2026

Today is Holocaust survivor Lusia Haberfeld's birthday. Lusia Haberfeld was born in 1931 in Łódź, Poland. During World War II, her family fled to Warsaw but were forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, where they endured severe hardship and forced labour.

In 1943, they were deported to Lublin, where Lusia and her mother were separated from her father and brother, who were both subsequently murdered. They were later sent to Majdanek and then Auschwitz - Lusia became a messenger girl. This saved her life, as she was exempt from selections and could smuggles clothes and food around the camp.

In January 1945, as the Soviets approached, she was forced on a death march and transported to Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated three months later, just before turning 14.

Join us in wishing Lusia a very happy birthday and honouring her remarkable story. To learn more about Lusia's remarkable story, watch her eyewitness testimony here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01rHY40

16/10/2026

The Power of One Person.

In the chaos of Auschwitz, a single piece of advice from a family friend changed everything.

Hans Kessler quietly told Erika Hacker's brother to make their mother younger when they reached the selection line. That small act of courage and compassion saved her life. Erika's story reminds us that even in humanity's darkest moments, one person can make an extraordinary difference. Every act of kindness matters. Every choice matters.

Testimony | Erika Hacker, Melbourne, Australia, 2 August 1993, MHM AV-395 / Phillip Maisel Testimony Collection

15/10/2026

What They Carried explores the relationship between Holocaust survivors and the objects that sustained them. One of the items featured is a tablecloth embroidered by sisters Rachela, Anna (Andzja), Estera (Edzia), and Bella Gersztynowicz.

In their family’s apartment in Łódź, Andzja and her sisters spent countless hours on this detailed embroidery. Each worked on their own section, from Bella, probably all of ten years old, to Rachela, a pharmacist in her 20s.

When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Rachela and Bella chose to stay in Łódź, while Andzja and Edzia fled to Warsaw, where Edzia died of tuberculosis in 1941. Smuggled out of the ghetto by the Polish resistance, Andzja survived the rest of the war in a cellar, going without sunlight for 18 months.

She emerged to learn that she was the only one of the four sisters left. Yet somehow, throughout it all, she held tight to their handiwork – the last surviving trace of the life that they had shared.

✨ Visit What They Carried to discover the personal objects and stories that reveal the resilience, courage, and humanity of those who endured the Holocaust.

Tablecloth embroidered by sisters Rachela, Anna (Andzja), Estera (Edzia), and Bella Gersztynowicz, Łódź, Poland, c. 1932. Courtesy Margaret Taft. Photography by Simon Shiff.

14/10/2026

William (Willem) Deenick was recognised in 1988 as one of the Righteous Among the Nations.

Before the war reached the Netherlands, Anthonie and Maria Deenick rented rooms to Jewish refugees fleeing Germany. In 1942, after the N**i occupation, they took in the son of one of the refugees, Eric Oppenheimer, who became friends with their son, Wilem, a 23-year-old theology student. Eric, a musician, stayed in the attic and gave piano lessons to the Deenick daughters. Eric's parents were sent to concentration camps but survived. The Deenicks helped other Jewish people as well.

The Reverend William (Willem) Deenick migrated to Victoria and lived in Healesville.

This motion artwork by reflects Danuta’s courage, memory, and legacy. You can view the full piece on the Ground Floor of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.

13/10/2026

What They Carried: Objects of Survival reveals the extraordinary stories held within everyday objects carried by people throughout the Holocaust. At the heart of the exhibition is a new immersive video installation featuring the voices of 28 Holocaust survivors from the Phillip Maisel Testimony Collection, sharing reflections on the objects that shaped their experiences and the memories they continue to carry. We invite you to experience our new special exhibition and discover the powerful stories these testimonies carry.

📅 On now until 31 January 2027. Learn more and book tickets here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01r7bQ0

This testimony section has been made possible through the generous support of the Pearce Family Foundation.

12/10/2026

Bearing Witness: Why Memory Matters.

For Holocaust survivor Jakob (Jack) Fogel, sharing his story is about more than remembering the past. It's about protecting the future. "I won't be around, but you will."

Speaking to young people, Jack encourages each new generation to carry these lessons forward. To stand against hatred, embrace tolerance, and never take for granted the freedoms we enjoy today.

His message is simple but powerful: learn from history, share what you've learned, and help ensure it never happens again.

Testimony | Jakob Fogel, Melbourne, Australia, 6 September 2011, MHM AV-4010-2 / Phillip Maisel Testimony Collection

11/10/2026

A love poem written in a ghetto might not be what you expect.

In the Melbourne Holocaust Museum collection storeroom, Dr Dan explores the poetry of Fritz Schiff, who was part of the vibrant cultural life created by prisoners in the Terezín ghetto.

Amid persecution and immense hardship, poetry, humour and human connection offered ways to hold onto a sense of identity, creativity and vitality.

Objects like this become vessels for memory, carrying stories of survival, loss, and resilience across generations. Each item helps us tell the stories that must never be forgotten. Explore our collection online to learn more through the link in our bio.

09/10/2026

From ancient times to the present, antisemitism has proved to be one of the most enduring and adaptable forms of hatred. In the latest edition of the Jewish Quarterly, acclaimed British historian Sir Simon Schama examines the forces that have enabled this old hatred to mutate and thrive, even within liberal democracies. With his characteristic clarity, erudition and curiosity, Schama looks at the antisemitic myths and imagery that recur throughout Jewish history.

Join the Jewish Quarterly, presented in partnership with the Jewish Museum of Australia: Gandel Centre of Judaica, Melbourne Holocaust Museum and Melbourne Jewish Book Week for a special live interview with Sir Simon Schama, who will appear via livestream.

Praise for Jew-Hatred: The Latest Edition
'A masterpiece of history: morality, balance and humanity ... essential reading for anyone with an opinion on the Middle East, Western culture and morality ... probably the most important work to be published since October 7.' —Simon Sebag Montefiore

📅 October 25, 10am

Secure your ticket here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01qFML0

07/10/2026

7 October marks three years since the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on Israel.

Three years on, the Melbourne Holocaust Museum pauses to remember the lives lost, those who were taken hostage, and the individuals, families and communities forever changed by the events of 7 October.

We also reflect on the hatred and antisemitism that has proliferated in Australia in the years since.

At the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, the experiences and voices of Holocaust survivors remind us of the devastating consequences of unchecked hatred, and of our shared responsibility to challenge antisemitism, racism and discrimination in all its forms.

Weekly, Holocaust survivors share their stories with students, helping the next generation understand the importance of compassion, courage and standing against hatred.

On this day of remembrance, we are guided by the words of Holocaust survivor Dr Jack Leder, whose message is heard by thousands of students who visit the Museum each year:

“Be aware of issues of hatred, bigotry and racism and to try do everything to prevent them.”

Today, we remember those whose lives were lost and forever changed by 7 October, and reaffirm our commitment to education and a future free from hatred.

Visit the Melbourne Holocaust Museum to learn from the past and discover why its lessons remain important today.

06/10/2026

What’s on the bookshelf at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum? 📚

For Part 1 of our 'What Are You Reading?' series, we asked staff members to share the Holocaust books currently on their reading lists. From survivor memoirs to historical research, these books deepen our understanding of the Holocaust and its enduring relevance today.

Which Holocaust book has had the biggest impact on you? Let us know below.

Address

Elsternwick, VIC
3185

Telephone

+61395281985

Website

https://linktr.ee/melbourneholocaustmuseum, https://mhm.org.au/

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