Myths, sagas and legends are the most intriguing form of memory. When it comes to Minnie Kronfeld, known in Germany by her stage name Minnie Maria Korten and in New Zealand as Maria Dronke, almost everything sounds like the stuff of myths and legends.

Ann Gluckman, in writing about her career as the Principal of Nga Tapuwae College, stated, ‘From the first day I was greeted with “hey Miss”. If I had ever got round to writing a book of my life it would have been titled “Hey Miss”.’

Jewish Lives mourns the death of Zachary Simon Lerner, just 20 years of age, the beloved youngest son of Rachel Moses and the late Robert Lerner. Zac was also the greatly loved grandson of the driving force behind the creation of Jewish Lives, the late Roger Moses and his wife, Barbara.

All four of our grandparents, plus our mother, Eva Stern Paykel, were born in Russia, but fled because of pogroms. They had terrible journeys to all leave Russia for USA, and then the Paykel grandparents, after living for some time in Wisconsin, were encouraged to come to NZ by relations already here.

John's love of the outdoors turned into a career in dairy farming and led him to seize at every opportunity to take part in competitions and expeditions all over the world. One adventure would lead to the next, but it was not until 1989 that his interest in climbing turned into a passion.

The concept of Dor L’Dor, from generation to generation is the key to Jewish community and survival. Raye Freedman was raised to identify actively with the Jewish people and religion, and to pursue mitzvot with a generous heart. 

Roger Moses was a driving force behind the vision for Jewish Lives NZ. He had a passion to see the story of Jews in New Zealand told. Roger and Barbara’s lives were connected years before they met. Find about more about their respective families’ stories.

Maurice Caro is the very first name listed on the Honour Roll of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation. Maurice voluntarily enlisted for service in WWI and was promptly sent to the Western Front. He was killed in action on 2 July 1916, the second day of the Battle of the Somme.

In 2020, Ann Gluckman published the third book in the series, Identity and Involvement. At (then) 91 she wrote the story of her parents’ life and her own life, to show how she came to her own personal beliefs within Judaism.

Rabbi Alexander Astor served the Auckland Jewish community for forty years, from 1934 until 1971. Astor guided the community through the tumultuous years of the 1930s and 40s. He advocated on behalf of the victims of Nazi persecution and during the Second World War was chaplain to visiting Jewish soldiers.

Resilience is a Holocaust story and a New Zealand story. It includes captivating stories of escape, survival, resilience and triumph over many adversities.  Included is a history of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, which Woolf was so pivotal in creating.

Inge Woolf was surrounded by tragedy, but her life was a case study in tolerance, and support for humanity and all its diversity. A child survivor of the Holocaust, she dedicated her later life to making sure the lessons learned from World War II, and the Nazi genocide of six million Jews, is never forgotten.

Bendix Hallenstein was well liked and inventive. His businesses prospered and he was a leader in the Jewish community

Woolf Fisher’s name is recognised as a byword for business excellence, but the man himself may yet be best remembered for his outsize contributions to New Zealand’s educational culture. In either event, his life story is a testament to a common Jewish story in New Zealand of effort and reward.

Augusta Klippel (née Manoy), who arrived in New Zealand in 1910 from Latvia with her mother and two sisters, was the first [Jewish] woman to graduate in medicine in New Zealand, receiving her degree from Otago University in 1926, and following this with graduate studies in pediatrics in London and Vienna.

Noah Tetro interviewed Holocaust survivor Benjamin Steiner in 2015 as part of a school project, at age 10. Noah is now seventeen and about to embark on a conjoint global studies/arts degree at the University of Auckland. He is grandson of the late Roger Moses, a founding Trustee of Jewish Lives.

As an eight year old, Benjamin Steiner was thrust from his comfortable home in Budapest, Hungary into the cauldron of Auschwitz, where for ten months he endured unimaginable suffering at the hand of the Nazis. Remarkably, he survived the medical experimentation foisted on him by Josef Mengele and was reunited with his parents after the war.

Professor Dov Spolsky was a socio-linguist of international renown and contributed to the revival of Te Reo Māori. Spolsky writes about his childhood, growing up in Wellington, his academic career and family life.

From Ukraine and Venezuela to New Zealand: the Gezentsvey Sterental family: The story of four generations of the Gezentsvey Sterental family.

Talented musician, family man, loyal friend, Norman Simms published upwards of 400 articles, reviews, pamphlets and books in a six-decade career.