Uncovering the diaries of Hungarian Holocaust survivors at the Sydney Jewish Museum
The Sydney Jewish Museum has hosted a deeply moving event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust in Hungary, bringing to life the personal stories of Hungarian Holocaust survivors through their diaries.
Alexandra Kenessey, museum president Greg Shand and Eva Shand
From May 15 to July 9, 1944, Hungarian officials, under the guidance of Nazi officials, deported around 440,000 Jews from Hungary. Most were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where, upon arrival and after selection, SS functionaries killed the majority of them in gas chambers.
This event highlighted the varied experiences and responses of survivors, as captured in the selected extracts from the diaries of Dr Andor Kämpfner, Ida Benkő, Judit Jávor, and Klára Tihanyi. These powerful documents, part of the Museum’s collection, were meticulously translated by Museum volunteer and second-generation survivor Susan Kadar.
Museum President Greg Shand opened the event with a profoundly moving speech, sharing the harrowing story of his own family during the Holocaust. Greg’s mother, a child survivor, recalled a life of joy and prosperity in Budapest, overshadowed by the horrors that followed. His father’s journey, marked by anti-Jewish laws and conscription into forced labour camps, culminated in a daring escape. Greg’s powerful words resonated deeply with the audience, offering a personal connection to the historical context that Professor Konrad Kwiet later expanded upon.
The event underscored the importance of personal remembrance through objects such as diaries, which serve as enduring testaments to the resilience and courage of those who endured the Holocaust. Mark Benko Ure, grandson of survivor Ida Benkő, expressed his gratitude: “Thank you for keeping my grandmother’s story alive – it has given the family and me a chance to reconnect with her.”
The event featured readings of diary excerpts by family members and third-generation descendants. Mark Benko Ure and Robert Gregory (grandson of Judit Jávor) delivered poignant readings, while Avalon Korda, a member of the SJM Youth Committee and granddaughter of a child survivor, and Joanna Auerbach, a Museum volunteer and third-generation descendant, contributed to the powerful storytelling. The involvement of third-generation descendants and members of the SJM Youth Committee highlights the Museum’s commitment to passing on this legacy of remembrance and education.
Distinguished guests included Alexandra Kenessey, Hungarian Consul representing the Hungarian Consul General; Member for Coogee, Marjorie O’Neill; and George Foster, President of the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors & Descendants (AAJHSD). The event also saw the participation of Holocaust survivors, other descendants of the diarists, and members of the Hungarian community, all of whom gathered to honour the memory of those lost and those who survived.
