RUTH, YAEL AND DAVID CODRON

OUR darling mother, Bella Codron, gave us everything. Not only did she give us life, but she showed us how to live it, always an unassuming yet powerful example of kindness, generosity and humility.

Not only did she give us love, but she showed us the importance of loving others, always looking for the good in others and being there for others.

She was a totally dedicated and devoted wife, mother, daughter, daughter in-law, aunt, sister and friend, who truly cared for and touched all who knew her.

Mum was a warm and caring person who loved being surrounded by her family and friends. She was truly a “people person”, gaining much joy and fulfilment from sharing in the lives of others, especially those of her immediate family.
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DENNIS BENJAMIN

SYDNEY Benjamin OAM was born on September 13, 1912 and lived a full life until passing away on Wednesday June 24, 2009.

Syd was a family man, religious Jew, businessman, author, actor, photographer, charity worker, social organiser, teacher of public speaking in Rostrum, high-ranking Freemason, world traveller and fanatical Saints’ supporter, to name a few of his interests.

As president for 10 years of the Jewish Young People’s Association (JYPA), he introduced many to their future life partners. This was the major Jewish social club in the 1930s and 1940s, which attracted thousands to its events. It was at JYPA that he met his wife Belle.
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LISA AND TAMMY SCHNALL

DR Simon Schnall, a well-respected and admired family doctor who dedicated his life to helping others, has passed away at the age of 56. He was one of the last of the old-fashioned solo GPs.

Simon was born in 1952 in Australia to Klara and Gershon Schnall, who migrated here after the Holocaust in 1950. His first ­language was Yiddish and he grew up in a traditional Jewish household with a very strong sense of Jewish identity. He always believed in donating and supporting Jewish charities and causes.

Simon’s intellectual abilities earned him a scholarship through Melbourne High. Unfortunately, both his parents passed away when he was just 18 years old, in 1971.

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ALAN LONGSTAFF AND TOM FRICKE

BEN Fink, who passed away aged 84 after a long illness, could safely be described as one of the founding fathers of the profession of consulting engineering in Australia.

Yet Ben came from relatively humble origins, born in Bialystok, Poland, and arriving with his family as a migrant from strife-torn Europe as a nine-year-old boy in 1933. He was the first in his family to learn to speak English on arrival and interpreted for his parents during regular family outings such as shopping.
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DR RON WEISER

FRANKIE Stein was a large man physically and even larger in stature. It is not possible for any one person or group of people to fully appreciate the impact that this truly fine fellow and special friend left on the people around him -– so large was the protective shadow he cast. Frank was born 51 years ago in Brisbane and from the age of seven was a fixture in Betar there, until he moved to Sydney in 1980, dedicating himself to both Betar and Hineni.

After a two-year stint back in the service of the community in Brisbane, in 1985 Frank made aliyah and settled in Jerusalem. In those early years he worked in a variety of jobs, but his favourite was being the live-in onsite manager of the Machon L’Madrichei Chutz La’aretz. Read the full story

LYNETTE ISAACS AND HELEN ADLER

JEAN Isaacs was a spirited woman with a giving, loving and generous heart. She enjoyed being around other people and lived with true determination. She shared in so many joyful, heartfelt moments, including many communal activities, events and celebrations with her family. Born as Jean Goldbloom in South Yarra, Melbourne on February 13, 1917, Jean was raised with three siblings -– Aleck, Freda, and Keith.   Read the full story

JULIET SEIFERT

BORN Helena Brumberg on March 14, 1913, in the town of Zgierz, Poland, Lena was the oldest child to Borys (Boruch) and Fajga Brumberg. She had a sister Julie and brother David. Lena received a thorough Jewish educational grounding. Hard work and application was a family trait. Lena’s mother, Fajga, ran a reputable and successful retail textile business. Read the full story

BORN in Györ, Hungary, in 1912 of Polish parents, Albert Scheinberg was a man of prescient vision, few words and great modesty. Albert loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and was proud of his ever-increasing large family, which now totals 64 and spans five generations. The entire family met annually for his birthday, eventually needing a tennis court to stage the family photograph.

Albert was the second of five children, two of whom -– Esther and Leo -– died of the Spanish flu. His brother Dezsö drowned due to an anti-Semitic attack. Finding himself stateless in 1937, Albert decided that Europe was set on a path of bloodshed at the hands of the Nazis and left at the first opportunity for Australia, which was as far away from Europe as possible. Read the full story

MICHAEL BORENSTEIN AND DEANNE SEGMAN

NANNA was and always will be a true matriarch. Even as a kid, some of my best times were at Nanna’s house way out there on Bulleen Road. I remember these days with real happiness as they were so pure. That house for all of us seemed to be a safe haven. We always laughed when we were there and for me, that was the house we all really got to know one another as cousins and relatives. 

Even now when we get together, without doubt, the stories start. We get on a roll and before you know it, we have gone back in time to a really nice, loving place. There are so many other things we can say about Nanna, 94-and-a-half years on this earth and a legacy I know we are all proud to be a part of. Read the full story

RABBI PHILIP HEILBRUNN

PRIVATE Gregory Michael Sher, Gilon Michael ben Shlomo Halevy, was killed in a rocket attack in Oruzgan Province, southern Afghanistan, on Sunday, January 4, 2009 – Tevet 9, 5769. I was privileged to know Greg from a young age. It was also my privilege to sit with Greg’s family and some friends, as they fondly recalled Greg and the impact he had on their lives. Read the full story