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Paul HirschlThe Hirschls:Paul was born in 27 th June 1923, in Vienna. It appears that all the Hirschlsmoved from Central Austria near the Hungarian border in SouthernBurgenland to Vienna in the early 20 th century. His parents Sigmund andJosefine (nee' Goldmann) were married in the Mullnergasse Synagogue, Viennain 1921. He attended the Schubert Schule which was next to the Synagogue. HisMother worked, managing the affairs of the Caffe City, which was owned by herbrother. The Caffe City was located next to the home and office of SigmundFreud.Anti-Semitism in Vienna:In April, 1938, Paul was excluded from school along with other Jewish boys.This brought his studies in Vienna to an abrupt end.The Mullnergasse Synagogue was destroyed on Kristallnacht, 1938. Paulremembered seeing the Nazis collecting Jews up and down the street. He wasfifteen years old and on his way home, when the family maid, Maria, a CatholicAustrian, went into the streets to intercept him. She then hid him in herapartment. By chance, during the arrests, his father was overlooked. Paul oftenretold the story of Maria‟s bravery to his children as an example of humandecency in the face of grave danger. This was a basic value in his life. Paul andhis wife Elizabeth took their children to Austria where they had the opportunityto meet Maria in hospital. It was a moving experience for them all.Departure from Austria:In 1938, Paul left for London on an unescorted children‟s train. His parentsremained in Vienna unable to leave. His father‟s friend, Karl Seitz, a formerLord Mayor of Vienna and also a past President of Austria, travelled towardsthe border as far as was allowed, to protect Paul. When Karl Seitz left the trainat the border, Paul was stripped, his luggage ransacked and taken away. Healways recalled the fear he felt when the train stopped at the first station inBelgium. However, he need not have feared. Belgium people greeted thechildren with food and hot drinks to welcome them. This experience alwaysaffected him emotionally when he retold it.A Child Refugee in England:After a few days in London, Paul was sent north to Middlesbrough in Yorkshire.Here, he was admitted to a Quaker School. Although he felt miserable waiting tolearn whether his parents could join him, the Quaker staff treated him withgreat kindness, helping to settle in and to fit into the school year. Heremembered that he had to become accustomed to „mass-produced‟ porridge,but he learned English and felt welcome. This kindness he always remembered.1

In the summer of 1939, he received the news that his parents could leaveAustria. They were finally reunited in England.A New Life:The Family stayed for only a few days and then departed from Tilbury Docks onThe P & O liner, “Maloya”, bound for Australia. Their big German passportswere stamped with a large “J” for Jews. They reached the Suez Canal whenEngland declared war on Germany. Their ship was requisitioned as a troop shipand all passengers were diverted to Bombay, India. Paul‟s mother wasseparated with other woman and interned in the city. The men and boys wereclassed as Prisoners of War and interned, after many hours of shunting andtravelling, at Ahmednagar. Paul was 16 years old. It was in the Internmentcamp that he met another internee, Hans Jensen who was later to become thefounder of North Shore Temple Emanuel. Nazis, missionaries and Jews were allthrown together. The camp conditions were overcrowded and poor.By the time the Australian Prime Minister Gordon Menzies had asked for therelease of Jewish migrants, Paul‟s father had succumbed to typhoid fever. Theymanaged to board a P &O Liner, “Strathmore” and departed for Sydney. TheHirschl family arrived in October, 1939.The Quaker Community knew of the family‟s arrival and offered friendship andsupport. Paul found work cleaning machinery and sweeping floors. His parentsstarted a grocery business in New South Head Road, Edgecliffe. However, withina very short time Paul received a phone call saying that his father had beenadmitted to Prince Henry Hospital. He took a tram to meet his mother but by thetime he arrived at the hospital, his father had died. Sadly the typhoid fever hadstrained his father‟s heart.The Night Student:Paul found a better job in a radio factory and enrolled at Sydney TechnicalCollege for night classes. Dismissal for security reasons did not deter him.Further night study secured his Radio Engineering Diploma. He joined theCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation as a TechnicalOfficer.Paul said that the hardest exam he ever passed, as a English second languagestudent, was matriculation for tertiary studies. He then worked towards adegree in Electrical Engineering at the new University of New South Wales. Hegraduated with honours after marriage to Betty (Elizabeth) Gray. Before long,Paul joined Qantas, as Senior Electronics Engineer. He travelled continually tothe United States, Europe the East and to Israel.Founding of North Shore Temple Emanuel:He renewed his acquaintance with Hans Jensen who lived nearby in theNorthern Suburbs. Hans had a dream. He wanted to form a liberal JewishSynagogue on the North Shore.Paul and Elizabeth joined forces and began to invite Jewish families to the homefor Passover, Sabbath dinners and after afternoon Teas.2

Hiring the old Dispensary Hall in Chatswood, with the help of the then TempleEmanuel, Woollahra, a religion school began. The Hirschl children were enrolledA congregation was forming. Paul and Elizabeth Hirschl became one of theFounding families of North Shore Temple Emanuel and Paul served on theBoard of Management. Paul and his family have had continuous connectionwith NSTE to the present time.Alfred Dreyfus Unit, B‟nai B‟rith*When the first Anti-Defamation Unit of B‟nai B‟rith was formed, Paul becamethe inaugural President. He helped organise a meeting, “Catholics and JewsFace-to-Face,” held in the Great Hall of Sydney. The Pope‟s Envoy flew from theUnited States to speak to the gathering.Paul also secured a government grant to fund the publication of the first editionof „The Prejudice Book,‟ which was launched by the then Premier, Mr. NicholasGreiner.The book was placed in every school library in the state.His family look back with Pride.Web editors Note: B‟nai B‟rith -Founded in the United States, B‟nai B‟rith is a world-wide Jewish communityservice organisation, bringing together people of the Jewish faith from all walksof life, without regard for background, level of religious belief or practice, socialor economic circumstances...3