DALIA SABLE

MAKOR Jewish Community Library is set to release its sixth anthology with the support of the Zionist Council of Victoria. Part of the Write Your Story program, the anthology is titled Memory Guide my Hand: Building a Nation and includes personal stories of life in Israel by current and former members of Melbourne’s Jewish community.

Among the contributors to the anthology are Jeff Gould and Benno Henenberg.

Gould writes of his experience in the Israeli army in 1970. Titled, Schehrazade -– the Bar Lev Line, Gould recounts thirdhand the story of a night in the Sinai desert when, surrounded by the Egyptian army, one of his army mates asked the captain if they could set up a movie for the troops.

“Under a full head of steam, sprinkled liberally with a few choice Arabic and Russian swear words, the captain let fly at both of them: ‘Yob tvoja matz! Entertainment! Where do they think this is? Dizengoff Street? The Armon Theatre? Why didn’t that one-eyed putz [he was referring to the Minister for Defence] send us some of those strippers from the Caliph Club in Jaffa, and maybe a crate or two of fine French cognac would be nice while he was about it’,” the story reads.

In Henenberg’s The Jews Build a Port, he tells firsthand of the construction of Tel Aviv port.

Fleeing Germany in 1933, Henenberg arrived into Jaffa Port with his parents and brother.

“The old port of Tel Aviv is described by the travel guidebooks as one of the liveliest quarters of Tel Aviv for nightlife and daytime relaxation. The area offers lovely views along the old wharf, with restaurants and cafes and a pretty seaside vista. But it was not always so. Whenever I visit Tel Aviv I like to visit this place and remember,” he begins his story.

Also included in the anthology is a section called the Israeli Album, which includes anecdotes from Australians who made aliyah, lived in Israel after fleeing Europe, or simply love Israel.

The book will be launched on Sunday, August 2, 11am, at Beth Weizmann Community Centre in Melbourne. Featured readings will also take place on August 30 at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Enquiries: www.makorlibrary.com