Now, more than ever, our societies need more individuals practising small acts of kindness on an everyday basis, working towards making the world a more accepting and welcoming place. In other words, we need more mensches.

Be A Mensch is a reminder of the impact that kindness, humility, integrity and personal responsibility can have on the world – small acts that can make a better society, one person at a time. Be A Mensch is a call for the lessons of history to inspire humanity and empathy.

A mensch, in Yiddish, is a person of integrity, morality, dignity, with a sense of what is right and responsible. But mensch is more than just an old Yiddish adage. It is relevant now, across the world, more than ever.

The Sydney Jewish Museum’s tagline, “Where history has a voice”, distills the origins of the Museum and its mission that continues to transmit across generations.

The objects within the collection and on display in the Museum’s exhibitions tell compelling stories of their owners and contribute to the narratives that the Museum tells within its walls. Testimony, accessible digitally and face-to-face, anchors the objects in the display cases to real world events, and gives life and narrative to history.

The Sydney Jewish Museum is a living museum, where history is kept alive and dynamic to continue to speak to future generations in a way that will always resonate.

We have a new Education Programs online portal, where teachers can browse our wide range of innovative programs for primary and secondary students.

All education programs are linked to NSW Education Standards Authority syllabus outcomes.

Search our programs by year level and subject to choose the perfect program to suit your students.

The generation of Holocaust survivors is dwindling and when today’s young children are old enough to have a conversation about the Holocaust, they may not be able to actually meet a survivor and hear their testimony.

Introducing the Holocaust to young children can be difficult, but the photos in this powerful photographic book, one day, can be a way to start that conversation.

These photographs, taken by photographer Nadine Saacks, are published in a 145 page soft-cover book.

To purchase a copy of 'I Met a Survivor', follow the link below.

As part of our Be A Mensch campaign, we are highlighting people whose respectful, inclusive and empathetic actions have made a positive difference in the face of adversity and inhumanity.

In this article, we shine light on two ‘mensches’ whose stories feature in our collection. Siek and Anna Attema were Dutch farmers who hid Mia Polak and her sister for two years on their farm in Gaast-Friesland, Holland, during World War Two.

Due to the selfless actions of Siek and Anna Teema, Mia and her sister survived the war. They were the only survivors of their family.