Avram Zeleznikow

Avram Zeleznikow OAM (1924 – 2013), also known as Abram Zeleznikow and Abraham Zeleznikow) was a prominent Australian community leader, restaurant owner, and teacher. Born in Vilna, Poland, Zeleznikow escaped the Vilna ghetto and fought with the partisans. After World War II, he migrated to Australia where he and his wife operated a popular Melbourne restaurant. He taught Yiddish and served on the board of numerous community organisations.

Biography

Avram Zeleznikow was born in Vilna, Poland (current day Vilnius, Lithuania) on 25 May 1924.[1] His father was a trade unionist and his mother was a midwife.[2]

When the Germans invaded Vilna in 1941, Avram was sent to the Vilna ghetto.[2] He escaped in 1943 when the ghetto was liquidated and joined the partisans until Vilna was liberated in 1944.[3]

He moved to Lodz where he attended University of Lodz.[1] There, he met his wife Masha Frydman.[1] When the Communists come to power in Poland in 1948, the couple moved to Paris.[1] In 1951, they emigrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne.[1] In 1958, they opened Cafe Scheherazade in Acland Street, St Kilda.[1][4] Arnold Zable wrote a book, about the pair and the cafe, called "Cafe Scheherazade", which was later turned into a play by Therese Radic that was performed at Melbourne's fortyfivedownstairs theatre and gallery.[5][6] The part of Avram was played by Jim Daly.[6]

Zeleznikow was passionate about keeping Yiddish alive[4] and taught Yiddish on Sundays at a local school.[1]

He served on the board of numerous organisations, including the board of the Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre in Melbourne, the Board of Governors at Mt Scopus College, and the Victorian Jewish Board of Deputies. He was president of the Australian Jewish Welfare and Relief Society[7] from 1990-1992 and chairman from 1993-1996. He was also the chairman of the Jewish Community Council.[7]

In 2003, Zeleznikow and his wife were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia[7][8] in the Queen's 2003 Birthday Honours.[4]

Zeleznikow died on 8 June 2013.[1] He was 89.[1][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Zable, Arnold (2013-07-12). "Escape to Paris inspired iconic local cafe". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
  2. ^ a b Zable, Arnold (2003). Cafe Scheherazade. Text Publishing Company. ISBN 9781877008092.
  3. ^ Brygel, Jackie (23 September 1994). "Vilna Ghetto remembered". Community. The Australian Jewish News. Melbourne, Australia. p. 24. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Carbone, Suzanne (June 9, 2003). "OAM for pair who ladle soup for the soul - Queen's Birthday Honours". The Age. Melbourne, Australia. p. 9.
  5. ^ Barrett, Peter (February 25, 2011). "Box office". The Melbourne Magazine. The Age. p. 77. In 1993, writer Arnold Zable dropped into Acland Street's Cafe Scheherazade with the intention of writing a newspaper article about the St Kilda institution on its 35th anniversary. Scheherazade, run by Masha and Avram Zeleznikow, had long served as a home away from home for Jewish immigrants, refugees and survivors... "When I left that night," says Zable. "I knew I had more than an article...The book went on to become one of Zable's best‑loved works. Now, 10 years after it was first published, it has been turned into a stage play.
  6. ^ a b Ball, Martin (10 March 2011). "Telling tales of a cafe's culture". Arts. The Age. Melbourne, Australia. p. 16.
  7. ^ a b c d "Mainstay of Melbourne Jewish community, Avram Zeleznikow, dies". The Times of Israel. 2013-06-10. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
  8. ^ Hingston, Chris (2013-06-09). "Holocaust survivor leaves behind a sweet taste of a noble legacy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-02-18.

Bibliography

  • Zable, Arnold. “The Babel of New Beginnings.” The Age (Melbourne), October 25, 2008, sec. A2, 12.
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