Community mourns inspirational survivor
A FLOOD of mourners at the Chevra Kadisha farewelled humanitarian, philanthropist and inspirational Holocaust survivor Sabina Van Der Linden-Wolanski on Sunday morning.
A FLOOD of mourners at the Chevra Kadisha farewelled humanitarian, philanthropist and inspirational Holocaust survivor Sabina Van Der Linden-Wolanski on Sunday morning.
Wolanski, who transformed the lives of thousands of Australians through her generosity and passion, died aged 84 last Thursday.
Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins told mourners: “Sabina was one of those rare influential people whose life has made a real difference. You will no longer be physically with us, but you will always be within us.”
Wolanski was born in Poland in 1927 and migrated to Australia in 1949 after surviving the Shoah.
She devoted the last 20 years of her life to humanitarian causes.
“Sabina had a passion for human rights, giving countless hours to Courage to Care to promote tolerance, to discourage prejudice and to instill the belief that it only takes one act of kindness to make a difference,” Rabbi Kamins said.
Her work was highlighted when, in 2005, Wolanski was invited to travel to Berlin, Germany, to speak on behalf of the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust at the opening ceremony for the important Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
“What have I learned from my bitter experience?” she asked from the podium in front of an audience that included German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“I have learned that hatred begets hatred. I have learned that we must not remain silent and that each of us as individuals must fight the evil of racism, discrimination, prejudice and humanity.”
Wolanski’s recollection of that 2005 journey to Berlin, as well as her meeting with 97-year-old Berthold Beitz, known as the “Oskar Schindler of Boryslaw”, who gave her work papers which helped her escape detection during the war, featured on ABC’s Australian Story only three weeks ago.
But her lasting legacy stretches far beyond the Jewish community. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd sent flowers to the Wolanski family, Bundestag president Norbert Lammert sent a note of condolence and senior Australian journalists who participated in the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies annual journalists mission to Israel – made possible through Wolanski’s philanthropy – also mourned the loss.
“One of them immediately dissolved into tears,” Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff said.
“It took him a while to compose himself, such was her effect on people. His spontaneous response was ‘I just loved that lady’.”
Wolanski is survived by her husband Kjeld Hansen, two children and four grandchildren.
JOSHUA LEVI
Sabina Van Der Linden-Wolanski (left) with Sydney Morning Herald editor Amanda Wilson
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