Yiddish life in Melbourne has been greatly enriched by many international visitors. From the early part of the twentieth century until the present day a steady stream of Yiddish academics, writers, actors, singers and political figures have undertaken speaking and performance engagements in Melbourne, many returning on successive tours. These visitors often performed to full houses and were augmented by local lecturers, writers, actors and singers. Amongst some of the earliest visitors were the writers Peretz Hirshbein who came to Melbourne in 1921 and Melech Ravitch who stayed in Melbourne between 1934 and 1937 during which time he also became the inaugural Headmaster of the I.L. Peretz School.


The following table presents a list of those international visitors who contributed to the cultural life of Yiddish Melbourne.
Year | Name of person | Background | What they did in Melbourne | Who brought them out | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1921 | Peretz Hirshbein | Writer from USA | Lectured | Kadimah | Towards a History |
1934-37 | Melech Ravitch | Writer from Poland | Wrote, lectured, inaugural Principal I.L. Peretz School | Kadimah | Towards a History |
1955 (First of many tours) | Rosa and Zygmunt Turkow | Actors, theatrical directors from Israel | Performed in and directed plays; Zygmunt Turkow directed Uncle Moses, Zing Mayn Folk (Sing My People), Goldfaden’s Cholem (Goldfaden’s Dream), Oyf di Moyrn fun Yerushalayim (At the walls of Jerusalem), Scenes from Sholem Aleichem | The David Herman Theatre | Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1955 | Mr H. Triwaks | Lecturer from Argentina | Lectured on “Jewish Life in Argentina” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1956 | Yankev Pat | Bund leader, writer from USA | Lectured | Kadimah | AJN/Kadimah AGM Report |
1957 | Chayele Grober | Actress from Sweden | Five performances of her own play Oyf Fridlecher Erd (On Peaceful Soil) and also gave two recitals |
The David Herman Theatre/ Kadimah |
Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers/ Kadimah AGM Report |
1957 & 1963 | Dov Ber Malkin | Academic from Israel |
On both tours he delivered a series of lectures on a wide range of topics. In 1957 he delivered ten lectures:
| Kadimah | Towards a History/ Kadimah AGM Report |
1958 | Mr Leib Rochman | Academic |
Delivered three lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1960 | Ida Kaminska | Actress from Poland | Performed in and produced Baymer Starbn Stayendik (Trees Die Standing), Mirele Efros | The David Herman Theatre | AJN and Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1960 | Ruth Turkow-Kaminska | Actress from Poland | Performed in Baymer Starbn Stayendik (Trees Die Standing), Mirele Efros | The David Herman Theatre | Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1960 | Meir Melman | Actor from Poland | Performed in Baymer Starbn Stayendik (Trees Die Standing), Mirele Efros | The David Herman Theatre | Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1960 | Karol Latowicz | Actor from Poland | Performed in Baymer Starbn Stayendik (Trees Die Standing), Mirele Efros | The David Herman Theatre | Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1960 & 1963 | Yankev Malkin | Writer from Israel |
In 1960 delivered two keynote lectures on “Journalistic truth and literary lie in Leon Uris’ Exodus” and “Three Literary mirrors of Jewish Catastrophe in Europe.” Also delivered a series of fourteen lectures at the Kadimah on Jewish literature and theatre.In 1963 delivered a series of eleven lectures:
| Kadimah | Towards a History and AJN/Kadimah AGM Report |
1960 | Sidor Belarsky | Singer from USA | Performed in several concerts | Kadimah | AJN |
1961 | Dr H. Shoskes |
YIVO Repre- sentative from USA |
Delivered a series of three lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1961 | Abraham Sutzkever | Poet from Israel |
Delivered a series of ten lectures:
| Kadimah | Towards a History/ AJN/Kadimah AGM Report |
1961 | Mr J. Artuski | Lecturer | Lectured on “The Hebrew and Yiddish literatures in Israel” | Bund | Kadimah AGM Report |
1962 | Mendel Mann | Writer & painter from France |
Delivered a series of eight lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1962, 1969, 1970 & 1979 | David Tuszynski |
Artist/ sculptor | In 1979 lectured on “The Jewish artist in the world of art” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1963 | Jacob Zerubavel | Lecturer from Israel | Lectured on “Yiddish in Israel and the Diaspora” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1963 | Ms Chaike Grossman | Former Warsaw ghetto resistance fighter from Israel | Lectured | Friends of Hashomer Hatzair | Kadimah AGM Report |
1964 | Yosef Shein | Theatre director from Israel |
Directed Blondzhende Shtern (Wandering Stars), Zayn Nomen Redt far Zich (His name speaks for him), Di Tzvay Kuni Lemels (The Two Kuni Lemels) Delivered two lectures:
| The David Herman Theatre |
Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers/ Kadimah AGM Report |
1964 & 1976 | Prof Eliezer Knox | Academic from USA |
Delivered a series of fourteen lectures in 1964 on literature, religion, philosophy and Israel:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1965 | Dr Berel Frimer | Academic from Israel |
Delivered a series of five lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report & AJN |
1965 & 1975 | Szymon Dzigan | Comedian & satirist from Israel | In 1975 performed in Vu Zenen Mayne Zibn Gute Yor? (Where are my seven good years?) | Kadimah & The David Herman Theatre | AJN & Event Program |
1966 | Levi Shalit | Writer & editor of Yiddish newspapers from South Africa |
Delivered a series of four lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1966 | Abba Kovner | Writer & ex-partisan fighter from Israel | Guest speaker at Warsaw Ghetto Commemoration. Lectured on “The Time of the Khurbn and resistance and their reflection in literature” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1967 | Eve Rosenfarb Morgentaler | Poet from Canada |
Guest at Warsaw ghetto uprising commemoration and delivered four lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1967 | Dora Kalinova | Actress from USA | Gave 6 performances | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1967 | Prof B. Sherman | Academic from USA | Lectured on “Soviet Jews 50 years after the Revolution” | M. Sharett Foundation | Kadimah AGM Report |
1967 | Mr A. Lis | Writer from Israel | Lectured on “Yiddish in Israel in previous years and today” |
State Zionist Council of Vic | Kadimah AGM Report |
1967 | Prof A. Kahan | Academic from USA | Lectured on “USA on the crossroads” |
Bund Organi- sation | Kadimah AGM Report |
1968 | Prof Samuel Rozanski | Writer, journalist, academic from Argentina |
Guest at Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemoration.
Delivered a series of five lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1969 | Mr Pesach Burstin | Lecturer | Guest at Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemoration and lectured on “Israel after the Six Day War” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1970 | (Prof) Israel Gutman | Academic & former Warsaw Ghetto fighter from Israel | Guest at Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemoration and lectured on “How has Israeli youth been affected by the Six Day War?” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1971 | Abraham Shulman | Lecturer from USA |
Delivered a series of six lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1971 | Shalom Grajak | Lecturer & former Warsaw Ghetto Fighter from Israel | Guest at Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemoration and lectured on “Israel’s present political and military situation” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1972 | Moshe Warshavsky | Actor & director | Performed and directed Shalom Israel, Kaynmol Nisht tzu Shpet (Never too late), Geshosn un Getrofn (Shot and hit the target), Fun Alem tzu Bisleh (A Little of Everything) | The David Herman Theatre | Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1972 | Mordechai Tsanin | Newspaper editor from Israel |
Delivered a series of seven lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1972 | Dr Samuel Pisar | Academic from France | Lectured on “With weapons of Peace” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1972 | Dr Alexander Rosenfeld |
Repre- sentative Brit Ivrit Olamit | Lectured on “The Jewish nation between faith and sceptism” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1972 | Nathan Spiro | Actor | Performed in revues and plays | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1972 | Lola Sheinfeld | Actress | Performed in revues and plays | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1972 | Miriam Naaman | Actress | Performed in revues and plays | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1973 | Toivie Maizel | Lecturer from Mexico |
Delivered a series of seven lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1973 | Faivl Zigelboim | Writer from Israel | Lectured on “World themes in Manger’s Ballads” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1973 & 1977 | Leah Koenig | Actress | Performed in Bereshis (The Beginning) in 1973 |
The David Herman Theatre (1973) S. Migdalek (1977) |
Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers S. Migdalek biography |
1973 & 1977 | Zvi Shtolper | Actor & director | Performed and directed in Bereshis (The beginning) in 1973 and the revue Nor Oyf Simchas (Only at Celebrations) |
The David Herman Theatre (1973) S. Migdalek (1977) |
Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers S. Migdalek biography |
1974 | Dinah Halpern | Actress & director | Performed and directed in Di Kishefmacherin (The Witch) | The David Herman Theatre | Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1974 | Mr I. Kersh | Lecturer from Israel | Lectured on “Isaac Bashevis Singer – singer, writer of our generation” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1974 | Mr I. Stolarski | Lecturer from Israel | Lectured on “Jewish life in Diaspora – present and future” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1974 | Mr J. Papiernikow | Poet from Israel | Lectured | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1974 | Ms Sonia Lisaron | Singer from Israel | Gave 3 concert recitals | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1975 | Abram Stuczynski | Lecturer from Israel | Lectured on “Is a war in the Middle East unavoidable?” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1975 & 1978 | Prof Arthur Lermer | Academic from Canada |
Delivered a series of ten lectures in 1975:
Delivered a series of six lectures in 1978:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1976 | Jacob Rotbaum | Theatrical director and artist |
Directed theatre Production Di Yorshim (The Heirs), held a painting exhibition and delivered 2 lectures and 2 concerts:
| The David Herman Theatre |
Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers/ Kadimah AGM Report |
1976 | Yitzhak Korn | Chairman World Conference for Yiddish & Jewish Culture in Jerusalem | Lectured on “Is a world conference on Yiddish culture necessary?” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1976, 1977, & 1979 | Mike Burstyn | Singer | Performed in concerts |
S. Migdalek/ Kadimah |
S. Migdalek biography/ Kadimah AGM Report |
1976 | Jan Pierce | Singer | Performed in concerts | S. Migdalek | S. Migdalek biography |
1976 | Chaim Lazar | Former Warsaw Ghetto fighter | Guest speaker at Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemoration and lectured on “Political and cultural life in Israel” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1976 | Rabbi David Hollander | Lecturer | Lectured on “The Jews and Judaism in Russia” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1976 & 1977 | Micha Alexandrovich | Singer | Performed classical songs in concert | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1977 | Ethel Kovenski & Lev Kogan | Singer & musician | Performed in six concerts | Kadimah | AJN |
1978 | Schmuel Atzmon | Actor & director from Israel | Performed and directed in Motke Ganev (Motke the Thief), Dos Himel Bet (The Four Poster Bed) | The David Herman Theatre | Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1978 | Leah Shlanger | Actress from Israel | Performed in Motke Ganev (Motke the Thief), Dos Himel Bet (The Four Poster Bed) | The David Herman Theatre | Zable, Wanderers and Dreamers |
1978 | Vladka Meed | Lecturer & former Warsaw Ghetto resistance fighter from USA | Guest speaker at Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemoration and lectured on “Jewish people after the Holocaust” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1978 | Zenia Kessler & Shura Greenhouse | Entertainers |
Performed in two concerts:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1979 | Joseph Kerler | Former Soviet Yiddish poet from Israel |
Delivered a series of seven lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1979 | Dov Shilansky | Lecturer from Israel | Guest at Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemoration and lectured on “Israel – the centre of Jewish life” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1980 | Israel Berkowicz | Lecturer & theatrical director |
Delivered a series of thirteen lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1988 | Theodore Bikel | Actor & singer | Performed | Kadimah & Friends of the Hebrew University | Program published for Nign |
1988 & 1991 | Prof Gershon Winer | Academic from Israel |
Delivered a series of ten lectures in 1988:
Delivered a series of four lectures in 1991:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1988 & 1993 | Prof Wolf Moskowicz | Academic |
Delivered a series of eight lectures in 1993:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1989 | Prof Israel Gutman | Academic and former Warsaw Ghetto resistance fighter from Israel |
Guest at Yom Hashoah commemoration and lectured on:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1989 | Prof David Miler | Academic from USA |
Delivered a series of five lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1989 | Yosl Birstein | Writer (formerly of Melbourne) from Israel | Lectured “With a smile along the little streets of Jerusalem” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1989 | Hadassa Kestin | Lecturer | Delivered four lecturers on the “Pearls of Yiddish poetry and prose” | Kadimah | Kadmah AGM Report |
1989 | Yaffa Yarkoni | Singer from Israel | Performed in three concerts | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1991 | Melekh Frydman | Lecturer from Argentina |
Delivered a series of nine lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1991 | Judith Lechter | Singer | Performed Yiddish and Hebrew classical songs | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1991 & 2008 | Michael Alpert | Klezmer musician from USA | Performed and lectured on “Grandfather’s song” | Kadimah 1991 & Limmud Oz 2008 | Programs produced for both events |
1992 & 1994 | Prof Dov Noy | Academic from Israel |
Delivered a series of ten lectures in 1992:
In 1994 lectured on “Lag B’Omer and Shavuout in Jewish Folklore” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1995 | Prof Avrom Nowershtern | Academic from Israel |
Delivered a series of seven lectures:
| Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1996 | Itka Shamir | Lecturer from Israel | Lectured on Yiddish Culture in Israel | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1997 | Eliyahu Honig | Academic from Israel | Lectured on Yiddish Folksongs in relation to life in Eastern Europe and current events in Israel | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1997 | Maria Ajzen | Yiddish volunteer worker from Mexico | Lectured on Jews in Mexico | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1997 & 2003 | Adam Gruzman | Academic from Israel | Delivered a series of eight lectures in 1997 on Jewish history and its personalities. In 2003 he lectured on the history of Ashkenazi Jewry, Yiddish literature and anti-Semitism | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1998 | Genia Fajerman | Entertainer | Performed in concert | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
1998 | Jacob Levin | Actor | Performed a solo word concert | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
2000 & 2002 | Prof Eugene Orenstein | Academic from Canada |
Delivered a series of four lectures in 2000:
Lectured in 2002 on S.H. Anski Folklorist, his contribution to Modern Jewish Culture | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
2003 | Prof Ruth Wisse | Academic from USA | Lectured on the occasion of Abraham Sutzkever’s 90th birthday |
Pratt Orator University of Melbourne/ Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
2003 | Prof Martin Peretz | Academic from USA | Lectured | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |
2009 | Dr Zachary Berger | Academic from USA | Delivered a lecture on “Is medicine a Jewish profession?” | Kadimah | Kadimah AGM Report |

The following table shows the number of public functions held at the Kadimah over a 20-year period and the number of attendees during that period (Kadimah AGM Report).
Date | Number of public functions at Kadimah | Number of attendees |
---|---|---|
1950 | 213 | 41,900* |
1951 | 40 (Kadimah functions only) | 11,850 |
1952 | 42 (Kadimah functions only | 9,980 |
1953 | 157 | 43,200* |
1954 | 116 | 33,600* |
1955 | 134 | 35,780* |
1956 | 109 | 30,860* |
1957 | 129 | 41,430* |
1958 | 108 | 30,000* |
1959 | 97 | 20,000* |
1960 | 79 | 22,700* |
1961 | 68 | 16,800 |
1962 | 57 | 13,020 |
1963 | 52 | 16,350 |
1964 | 72 | 17,500 |
1965 | 68 | 17,360 |
1966 | 40 | 15,400 |
1967 | 50 | 13,440 |
1968/69 (up to 2/3/69) | 34 | 13,250 |
1969/70 (two-year period) | 73 | 21,040 |
*Includes attendances in newspaper/reading room and club room