Historic WWII Haggadah donated
WWII-era Haggadah belonging to Jewish Australian airman donated to St Kilda Shule.
A World War II-era Haggadah belonging to a Jewish Australian airman has been donated to Melbourne’s St Kilda Shule for preservation in its War Memorial cabinet.
Local resident Ahron Adelist presented the “Service Edition for Australian Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen” Haggadah to Rabbi Yaakov Glasman in a ceremony held in front of the VAJEX (Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women) Book of Remembrance at the shule’s bimah.
The Haggadah belonged to Adelist’s grandfather, who served in the Royal Australian Air Force during 1944 and 1945.
“My grandfather in 1944 and 1945 was in the air force. And he was a Jewish soldier, and so that’s how it got to him,” Adelist said.
“When they had the Pesach Seder he probably got the Haggadah.”
Adelist discovered the historical document while clearing his grandfather’s house after he passed away approximately three years ago. “We just took away all the religious items and some family photos. And I just said, you know what? Maybe a shule might like to have this, maybe it’s an iconic thing to have,” he said.
Rabbi Glasman said the donation was particularly meaningful.
“It was such a delightful surprise to have been contacted by Ahron about this precious family heirloom that he decided to donate to our shule, especially given the number of St Kilda Shule members who served our country in both World Wars.
“We will cherish this gift and ensure it is used to educate the next generation of Jews and non-Jews alike.”
The donation ceremony took place in front of the VAJEX Book of Remembrance, which was dedicated to the shule by then Rabbi and senior chaplain to the ADF, Rabbi Jacob Danglow, on April 18, 1944.
The Haggadah will join other wartime memorabilia in the shule’s special War Memorial cabinet, serving as a connection to Australian Jewish military service during World War II.