David Robinson

David Robinson

In this clip, David Robinson recounts the story of how his grandparents escaped from a difficult life in the Russian Empire, immigrating to New Zealand in 1910.

David’s grandparents came from areas in the Pale of Settlement, the western region of the Russian Empire, where most Jews were forced to live. Their birthplaces are now part of modern day Belorussia, Lithuania and Latvia.

David’s maternal grandfather, Sam Treister was born in Glubokoye, now Belorussia. His wife Mary, nee Gotlieb was born in Mitau, now Jelgaua, Latvia. His paternal grandfather, Jack Robinson, left Riga, now Lithuania in 1903. His grandmother, Cecilia departed Telsia, now Lithuania, in 1905. Jack and Cecilia met in Glasgow and left for Sydney in 1910. After a few months they moved to NZ.

They were grateful to be in a place like NZ where they could practice their religion and live their lives without fear of constant persecution. While they arrived with nothing, they determined to work hard, enjoy life and contribute to society.

David Robinson is a former Associate Judge of the High Court of New Zealand and a former District Court Judge. David recently retired from his role as Honorary Consul for Israel. He is a Trustee of Jewish Lives and also of the Holocaust and Antisemitism Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand.

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