Roger and Barbara Moses
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. Sadly Roger passed in 2022.
On 13 December 2022 oral historian, Ruth Greenaway interviewed Roger’s wife, Barbara. They discussed Barbara’s and Roger’s family histories.
Barbara Moses shares heartwarming stories of how her family and Roger’s family were linked together decades before she and Roger met. She recalls the harrowing tales of grandparents on both sides of her family, who left Csarist Russia to escape the pogroms in the early twentieth century.
Barbara’s mother, Eva Stern, was a talented classical pianist who was making great strides in her career in New York. She met Barbara’s father, Joshua Paykel when he was in America, studying at Harvard university. They married in 1931 and after moving to New Zealand, Eva continued to perform giving recitals and performing for live broadcasts.
Barbara recalls that Roger’s family had a real public service ethic and were quite prominent in Wellington. Roger’s mother Mother, Dorothy, was the Wellington correspondent for NZ Woman’s Weekly and had the opportunity to meet many celebrities. Roger’s father, Sidney, was a prominent business man. He was the Chair of the Decimal currency board 1967 when New Zealand became decimal currency country.
According to Barbara, Roger’s Judaism meant an enormous amount to him and he had a very Jewish heart. He also enjoyed engaging in the wider community. She and Roger were fervent in their beliefs as traditional and cultural Jews and as Zionists.
Barbara and Roger have two daughters Rachel and Juliet who have both been very active in leadership roles in the Jewish community. They also have five grandsons. Enjoy this conversation with Barbara Moses, wife of Roger Moses (z’’l), co-founder of Jewish Lives.
Read more and view photographs from Barbara and Roger’s family history in this article.