On Sunday 15th March 2026, the Australian Society of Polish Jews & Their Descendants (ASPJ), once again, took part in this year’s “In One Voice” Festival.

“In One Voice” is a festival that celebrates the vibrant diversity of the Jewish community in Australia – especially our Jewish community in Melbourne.

The ASPJ stall was visited by many people wanting to discuss their Polish heritage and issues of relevance to Polish-Jewish relations.

ASPJ President, Ezra May, and ASPJ Board members Lena Fiszman and Peter Schnall were on hand to answer visitors’ questions.

On Monday 17th November 2025, following the 2025 Australian Society of Polish Jews & Their Descendants (ASPJ) Annual Oration, a ceremony took place during which two of our ASPJ Past Presidents were honoured by the Republic of Poland.

By decree of the President of the Republic of Poland, Marcin Kawałowski, Chargé d’affaires a.i. at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Australia, awarded Bernard Brzegowski-Korbman OAM and Izydor Marmur OAM with the Złoty Krzyż Zasługi (Gold Cross of Merit) for their services in promoting Polish-Jewish relations.

Both Bernard and Izydor were founding members, when the ASPJ was formed in 2009. Bernard is the Founding ASPJ Past President. Izydor, also an ASPJ Past President, still remains a member of the ASPJ Board and continues to serve as Editor of the ASPJ twice-yearly magazine “Haynt”.

Presentation of awards in video begin at 38:20

HAYNT is the magazine of the Australian Society of Polish Jews and Their Descendants.

It is published twice annually and features articles on the ASPJ’s events and other activities, as well as articles on Polish-Jewish issues in Australia and Poland.

Click HERE to read this current issue!

HAYNT is the magazine of the Australian Society of Polish Jews and Their Descendants.

It is published twice annually and features articles on the ASPJ’s events and other activities, as well as articles on Polish-Jewish issues in Australia and Poland.

Click HERE to read this current issue!

On Sunday 16th March 2025, the Australian Society of Polish Jews & Their Descendants (ASPJ), once again, took part in this year’s “In One Voice” Festival.

“In One Voice” is a festival that celebrates the vibrant diversity of the Jewish community in Australia – especially our Jewish community in Melbourne.

Despite the rain and cold, quite a few people visited our stall, including Jewish politicians, Josh Burns (Federal MP) and David Southwick (State MP).

However, our most esteemed visitor was our Founding and Past President, Bernard Korbman.

On 10th December 2024, the Australian Society of Polish Jews & their Descendants (ASPJ), in conjunction with FestivALT, presented a compelling webinar about KulturDocs – a new online documentary series, produced by FestivALT, which explores the vibrant world of contemporary Jewish artists in Poland.

Canadian-Jewish born and now Krakow- based theatre creator, actor and FestivALT co-founder Michael Rubenfeld provided an outline of his personal history, from comfortably growing up and being raised Jewish Canadian, to what inspired him to move to Poland to further explore his Jewish identity.

Trailers, with accompanying explanations and commentary, were then shown of the three KulturDocs films, showcasing musician Mikołaj Trzaska, performer Betty Q and artists Marcella Szabłowska and Ezra Wojakowski.

A discussion was then held, primarily focusing on the impact on the Polish Jewish artist environment post 7th October, as well as about the overall Polish Jewish artist experience.

If you missed the event, watch the video recording here:

On Tuesday, 19th November 2024,at the Glen Eira Town Hall Theatrette ,the ASPJ was honoured to present an evening with Dr. Michał Trębacz, Acting Director of the Żydowski Instytut Historyczny (ŻIH) – the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw.

Dr. Trebacz provided an overview of the Institute, beginning with the history of its building and how the institute was forged, during the destruction of Polish Jewry, as a vision for the victims to record their own history and their wartime experiences.

He then gave an outline of some of the Institute’s exhibitions, events, collections and its library. Particular focus was placed on the Ringleblum Archive of the Warsaw Ghetto and the post-War survivor Registration Cards.

Following the presentation, a Question & Answer session was held.

Also present at the event, from Warsaw, was Michał Majewski of the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute. This was Michał’s third visit to Melbourne, having been brought to Melbourne by us for our 2019 and 2023 ASPJ Genealogy Days.

If you missed the event, watch the video recording here:

On Sunday 10th November 2024, at the Kadimah Theatre in Melbourne, the ASPJ hosted a concert of works by twentieth century Jewish-Polish composers. The performance featured artists Karolina Mikołajczyk and Iwo Jedenecki.

Th duo is considered one of the most vibrant and innovative chamber ensembles, being the winner of Grand Prix and First Prizes at international music competitions and having performed at Carnegie Hall, the Guangzhou Opera House and the Warsaw Philharmonic. Karolina played a 1776 Duke violin and Iwo a Pigni Sirius Millenium accordion.

For the ASPJ, Karolina and Iwo performed compositions from somewhat neglected Jewish-Polish  composers of the early 20th century, including: Gregorz Fitelberg’s Berceuse, Roman Ryterband’s Trois Ballades Hebraiques, Aleksander Tansman’s Cinq Pieces, Ignacy Friedman’s Romans and Szymon Laks’s Suite Polonaise.

The audience included the Polish Embassy Charge D’affairs, Mr. Marcin Kowałowski, from  Canberra, the Polish Consul General, Mr. Piotr Rakowski, from Sydney and Ms. Beata Koropatwa from the office of Honorary Polish Consul in Victoria.

The concert, sponsored by the Polish Embassy in Canberra, attracted an appreciative audience for an event, the type of which was a first for our organisation. Acting Ambassador Mr Marcin Kawalowski advised how the Polish Embassy was proud to support such initiatives that celebrate Polish-Jewish culture in co-operation with the ASPJ.

ASPJ President  Ezra May noted how the concert fits the ASPJ’s Statement of Purpose: To preserve and promote the historical and cultural heritage of Jewish life in Poland. He also remarked that, on the 86^th Anniversary of Kristallnacht, this was one appropriate way to remember – by listening to the music of these Polish-Jewish composers whose lives, like so many millions of others, were destroyed by the Nazis.

HAYNT is the magazine of the Australian Society of Polish Jews and Their Descendants.

It is published twice annually and features articles on the ASPJ’s events and other activities, as well as articles on Polish-Jewish issues in Australia and Poland.

Click HERE to read this current issue!

HAYNT is the magazine of the Australian Society of Polish Jews and Their Descendants.

It is published twice times annually and features articles on the ASPJ’s events and other activities, as well as articles on Polish-Jewish issues in Australia and Poland.

Click HERE to read this current issue!