Personal Reminiscences

Readers, writers and would-be writers are all invited to contribute material to this page. Personal recollections, snippets of memory, fictionalised accounts of events or even short stories inspired by actual experiences are the type of text envisaged. It is hoped that this page will eventually contain a mosaic revealing the richness of the communal life that nourished Strathfield Synagogue.

Clicking on one of the blue titles below, will open a link to the text.

The Yolanda Kramer Kindergarten 474 words, contributed by Gerard Tran, a personal reminiscence

A Wild Night in Strathfield 627 words, contributed by Rabbi Aryeh Solomon, a personal reminiscence

The Shabbaton Room 185 words, contributed by Rabbi Aryeh Solomon, a personal reminiscence or a Talmudic homily?

David Dight ​73 words, a personal reminiscence.

Leaving Home ​The author of this short story, the late Susan Hartman, was the grand-daughter of Reverend Leon Goran. The story was first published in 1966 in “Baringa”, the literary magazine of the students of Wagga Wagga Teacher’s College, where Susan was a student at the time. Reading it today, one cannot say whether it is a romanticised rendition of actual events, a work of pure imagination, or a little of both. However, the  name of one of the principal characters, Leon Goronovsky, leaves little doubt that the story portrays the childhood of Susan’s grandfather, who was later to become the first minister of Strathfield Synagogue. 

Wolf Besser, Yiddishist and Partisan 247 words, contributed by Rabbi Aryeh Solomon, a personal reminiscence

WIZO at Strathfield 74 words, contributed by Judy Doobov, a personal reminiscence

Pearlman's Place in the 1940s 109 words, contributed by David Lewis, a personal reminiscence

New Methods in Archaeology, 1578 words, reprinted by permission of the International Journal of Urban Archaeology

Strathfield Was a Way of Life, contributed by Rod Hyman, 429 words, a personal reminiscence

Those Were The Days, contributed by David Hyman, 468 words, a personal reminiscence

The Old Schule, contributed by Geoff Toister, 767 words, a personal reminiscence,

Strathfield Synagogue, contributed by Sam Zweig, a personal reminiscence, 299 words

19 Florence Street, contributed by The Property, 1,187 words, a diary

A Personal Reminiscence contributed by Angela Grossman, 495 words

On Keeping a Promise contributed anonymously, 268 words

Thirty Years Later contributed by David Guy, 176 words

Strathfield Memories contributed by Kevin Sekel, 331 words

Habonim at Strathfield Synagogue contributed by Litzi Lemberg, 159 words

A Personal List contributed by Victor Sekel, 250 words

Letter from Dr Dov Dorfman forwarded by Ethan Dorfman, 125 words

The Friends Who Peopled my Youth contributed by Sharon Milch, 1217 words, a personal reminiscence