Jack Meister: sharing his colossal life

Oo one had introduced me to Jack. But every Thursday this quiet, smiling man stood near the Auschwitz exhibit, ready to talk with visitors who stopped by, making jokes with passing staff.

It was 2016 and I was new to working at the Sydney Jewish Museum. I was excited, overwhelmed and trying my best to show everyone I was up to the job.

After a few weeks of exchanging smiling nods, I finally stopped to introduce myself. I had no idea that this would be the beginning of a friendship and a surprising new chapter in Jack’s life.

Jack shared with me his story. A story of a happy childhood, marked by dark moments of antisemitic violence in his hometown of Kielce, Poland. Then of war: of ghettos, forced labour, separation from his family, gruelling journeys in cattle cars. Of Auschwitz. Of a death march, Buchenwald and liberation by American soldiers.

But for me, the most intriguing part came after the war. Jack told me about his recovery, then the years he spent in a Swiss children’s home for orphan survivors. As one of the older kids, Jack mentored the young ones. But he had learning to do himself. He had to re-learn basic table manners; how to eat with a knife and fork, hygiene, household chores. He had missed so many formative years. He trained in leatherwork, following his father’s trade.