For the thousands of Holocaust survivors who made their way to Melbourne, building and maintaining community was central to their new lives. For some, Melbourne provided them with the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and colleagues; for others, it allowed them to forge new connections. Central to so many of them was one particular location: a cafe on Acland street, where one could purchase Eastern European Jewish food, converse freely in Yiddish, Polish and Russian, and sit for hours on end. A moving tribute to the indomitable strength of our survivors, Arnold Zable’s Cafe Scheherazade, which explores in detail the rich history of this iconic establishment, is now celebrating 25 years in print. To mark this auspicious occasion, Melbourne Holocaust Museum is hosting a panel discussion in which the legacy of this cafe will be explored, and at which visitors will be able to celebrate its enduring impact.

Image | Survivors at Cafe Scheherazade c.1990s. Facing the camera is Mendel Goldberg. MHM 2095 / Moshe Fiszman Collection.