Gisèle Schenirer: from Alexandria to Auckland
From left to right: Marti Friedlander, Maru Kulka, Hilde Kulka, Gerrard Friedlander, Robert Fallek, Gisele Schenirer, and Henry Kulka, in a house designed by Henry Kulka in Auckland, 1964. Courtesy of the Gerrard and Marti Friedlander Charitable Trust.
by Simone Schenirer
Identity for Gisèle, like many Jews was not straightforward. She was an Italian Jew, born Gisèle Riches in Alexandria, Egypt, in May 1919. Her first language being French, she was educated at the French Lycée.
Her Mother Fortunée Cohen was born in Mansoura, Egypt, with British Citizenship. Her father, Raffaello Riches was a citizen of Livorno, Italy. Gisèle grew up speaking and hearing, French, Italian, English and Arabic. The family of three girls, Renée, Gabrielle and Gisèle and one boy, Max, who died young at 28, grew up in an assimilated Jewish household. The went to Synagogue on holy days and Gisele taught at the Jewish school when she finished her Baccalaureate. This was to be the start of a long and deeply satisfying career for her.
Gisèle’s favourite subject at school was philosophy and many years later when she was on sabbatical in Paris we lunched with her old philosophy professor, Jean Beaufret, who was influential in the reception of Martin Heidegger's work in France, and had taught her in Alexandria and introduced her to Existentialism.
Three Riches sisters. L-R: Gaby, Renée and Gisèle
A young Gisèle
Jean Beaufret, who was influential in the reception of Martin Heidegger's work in France, introduced Gisèle
to Existentialism.
Jean Beaufret and his class of philosophy students at Alexandria. Gisèle is the dark-haired girl in the middle row, 4th from the left.
Gisèle always maintained that between the two world wars, Alexandria was a cosmopolitan and tolerant city with Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Christians and Copts all able to practise their religion. It was a multicultural city with distinct French, English, Italian, and Greek areas, schools, businesses and organizations. With the rise of Arab nationalism, foreigners became less welcome and Jews found themselves losing opportunities for social and business advancement. Gisele’s eldest sister met and married a NZ soldier in Alexandria during the war and he helped my grandmother, Gisele and Gabrielle (Gaby) immigrate to NZ. Raffaello had passed away.
Gisele arrived in New Zealand in around 1947/48. Her first job was in New Plymouth teaching French at New Plymouth Girls’ High. When my grandmother Fortunée (Fofi) was asked how she liked living in New Zealand she would say, ‘it is a very beautiful cemetery’, a reflection of the cultural shock and isolation she and my mother experienced.
In 1950 they moved to Mount Eden in Auckland where Gisèle took a position teaching French at Epsom Girls’ Grammar, which she held until 1958. The move to Auckland gave her and the family the opportunity to meet and become a part of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation. Rabbi Astor was the rabbi at that time and I remember his kindness and generosity to our family. He bequeathed my grandmother a prayer book which I still have and gave me the last Gefilte fish ball from his own table at a bar mitzvah after I had made short work of all others in the room.
Gisèle moved on to a role as Senior Headmistress at Pakaranga College and began studying for her Bachelor of Arts at Auckland University. Around this time, my parents were introduced by Leo and Anne Philips and they married in 1961. My father, (a Galician Jew born in Munich), had been living in Melbourne. It took a good few years for Gisèle to realise that while he was most definitely the marrying kind, (she was number 5), and that he was terrible at it. I was unplanned, (but I like to think a ‘delightful surprise’), as Gisèle was 45 and my father 50. I was delivered by Dr Bernard Shieff in the Mater Maternity Hospital in Epsom 11 October 1963. They divorced in 1970.
Gisèle’s ‘alien’ card on arrival in New Zealand, 1948
At B’nai Brith
Gisèle and cat, 1986
It was at this time, while still living in the country as Howick was then, Gisèle started to teach at Auckland University while finishing her BA. She taught French language, literature and philosophy, specialising in the Existentialism of Simone de Beauvoir, Sartre and Camus. Gisèle remained there until she retired in 1984 and it was for her the happiest time of her life as she loved teaching the subjects she remained passionate about and was stimulated by being around young people.
Many of her ex-students stayed in touch long after university as she had become a mentor and confidant to many. During this time I remember Gisèle being actively involved in B’nai B’rith, Auckland Jewish Students, and Hillel. She was also actively involved in assisting Jews from Russia settle in Auckland. Some like Hannah Brodksy became good friends and Gisèle supported Hannah in applying to teach Russian at the University of Auckland which she did. Gisèle’s generosity and open home were legendary.
The families I remember my mother socialising with and being supported by over the years were: the Klissers; Hinda and John Goldwater; the Shenkins; Stones; Bermans; Benskys; Bems; Ruth and Harry Black; Alice Strauss; the Krukzieners; Narevs; Rosses; Aufrichts; and Leo and Anne Philips, (no hard feelings), among others. Henry and Hilda Kulka were especially close. Henry, an established international architect, (and my godfather), designed our home in Howick. There is a wonderful Marti Friedlander photo of mum and Henry with the rest of the family at the Kulka-designed home in Maskell Street, St Heliers in 1964.
Gisele’s retirement was full of painting, University of the Third Age, (she loved a captive audience), and lunches and dinners with friends. She remained intellectually interested in the world until dementia set in. She was a complex and charming person, of another age and another time. She was intellectually rigorous, had zero tolerance for those who weren’t, but also displayed great compassion and generosity for the less privileged. Her choosing to have a Jewish funeral was the start of my journey to claim my birth right and discover the kindness and strength of the Jewish community in New Zealand.
About Simone Schenirer:
I am Gisèle’s only child. I am an Italian language teacher living in Queenstown with my husband Gavin and our two Burmese cats. As observed by a dear friend who knew Gisèle well, I, like my mother, am an excellent cook and a terrible driver.