Sydney Jewish Museum launches a campaign for good: Be A Mensch

Sydney Jewish Museum launches a campaign for good: Be A Mensch

9 December 2019

On Human Rights Day, Tuesday 10 December, the Sydney Jewish Museum will launch a new campaign that, together with Holocaust survivors and high-profile community leaders across Sydney, urges people to practise small acts of kindness on an everyday basis to make the world a more accepting and welcoming place. The campaign aims to inspire those it touches to Be A Mensch, because right now the world needs more mensches.

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…

“To be a mensch is to be supportive. To be a friend, to be calm in troubled times. To support others.”
The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, former Justice of the High Court of Australia

“A mensch is involved in noble actions such as being a promoter of peace, unity, love and harmony; helping people, especially those in need; treating people equally without any kind of discrimination; having a desire to give something back to society; helping people who cannot help you; leading by example; having a caring heart; and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.”
Noel Zihabamwe, Chairperson of the African Australian Advocacy Centre and Member of the Advisory Committee for Australian Human Rights Institute

“Do not to hate. Respect people. Have dialogue with people from different backgrounds.”
Olga Horak OAM, Holocaust Survivor

The Sydney Jewish Museum has developed the Be A Mensch campaign to make the lessons from the Holocaust and all of human history, past and present, relevant today. The campaign aims to inspire individuals to, in some way, whether big or small, do more for others, their community, and the world at large, to ripple outwards and create positive change. The campaign asks the public to use the hashtag #BeAMensch to join a bigger conversation about doing good.

The campaign will be rolled out from Tuesday 10 December through online and outdoor media channels.

Strategy development: Richard Sauerman – The Brand Guy
Design: Alphabet Studio
Photography: Gary Heery
Campaign Ambassadors:
Brandon Srot, Counsellor, Leadership Coach and Facilitator
Breann Fallon, Educator, Academic and Podcaster
Eddie Jaku OAM, Holocaust Survivor and Finalist for the NSW Senior of the Year Award 2020
Melanie Penicka-Smith, Event Manager, Co-founder Pacific Pride Choir
The Hon Michael Kirby AM CMG, former Justice of the High Court of Australia
Noel Zihabamwe, Chairperson of the African Australian Advocacy Centre and Member of the Advisory Committee for Australian Human Rights Institute
Olga Horak OAM, Holocaust Survivor
Susan Moylan-Coombs, Broadcaster, Educator and First Peoples Social Justice Advocate

About the Sydney Jewish Museum

The Sydney Jewish Museum was established in 1992 by the generation of Holocaust survivors who came to Australia. They envisioned the Museum as a place which could hold their stories and personal objects, memorialise those who were murdered during the Holocaust, and within which the lessons from the past would be taught.

27 years since its inception, the Sydney Jewish Museum is an continues to give history a voice through collecting and preserving historic objects, commemorating and educating, with a mission to challenge visitors’ perceptions of morality, social justice, democracy and human rights.