Dov Ryzman – A True Gentleman

GUNNER DOV RYZMAN AIF VX123381 (V158326)

VAJEX Member
Passed away 25th December 2008

Dov Ryzman grew up in Melbourne and was always actively involved in sport and community. He was a good honest family man who could always be relied on to lend a helping hand.

A warm-hearted man of great intellect with a gentle nature, Dov employed his sense of humour and literary talents throughout his life, writing on a wide range of subjects. These included Health, Politics, Archaeology, Philosophy, Mysticism, Quantum Physics and Religion.

He was ready to do his duty proudly for family, community and country. A keen sportsman from his early youth, he studied Commerce at Melbourne University. Joining the Melbourne University Rifles, he then, as a teenager, became a member of the 16th Australian Field Artillery Regiment attached to the 1st Australian Armoured Division.

His contribution is documented in the official historical publication, Gunners of the Sixteenth in which his group from the Melbourne University is regarded as the most interesting and versatile.

Dov’s sense of humour helped him through his army years. The diligence with which he applied himself is evidenced by his voluntary undertaking in his own time of the gruelling combat assault course which the rest of the unit only performed when compulsory.

He entered his father’s well known men’s and boys wear manufacturing and wholesale clothing business, Ryzman & Co Pty Ltd, which he conducted successfully for many years, enhancing his reputation for fairness and reliability.

With a great thirst for knowledge, he was an avid reader and writer with published work such as Cardio Conversations, a layman’s guide to heart research, which benefitted many.

An active Freemason, he enjoyed his role as Editor for many years of Fraternally Speaking Newsletter of Lodge Fraternal No 603. He also wrote on Freemasonry, delivering talks eg on Noah’s Ark, Archaeology & Arkeology. His reported interviews included Rabbi Chaim Gutnick, Rabbi Michael Newman, Rabbi Ronald Lubofsky, Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls, Coroner Mr H W Pascoe and The Hon Mr Justice Gillard.

Dov’s altruistic nature prompted his involvement in numerous good causes. He also wrote many articles and letters in defence of Israel and the Jewish community.

An ardent admirer of Sir John Monash, even a few days before his passing, he sought out his book on Sir John in his valued home library. Dov’s own life epitomised Monash’s words, “seek knowledge in all directions for its own sake.”

A gifted poet, he wrote a series of books, skilfully putting into verse literature he found inspiring. With modesty he writes, “In my own verse I see the main value of it as being a form which facilitates conciseness.”

He penned these verses to hopefully widely convey positive messages. One such verse book is based on Rabbi Roland B Gittelsohn’s Man’s Best Hope.

More than 1,500 Jewish marines fought at Iwo Jima from 19th February 1945. Rabbi Roland, Jewish chaplain for the American Marine Corps was originally asked to deliver the memorial service for the whole battalion. Some chaplains objected. However, the Protestant Ministers boycotted their own service to support Gittelsohn. This triggered off a reproduction of his magnificent sermon, which was broadcast and recorded in the Congressional Record.

In one stanza of Dov’s verse based on Rabbi Gittelsohn’s book,

“There are miracles of spirit too
I remember a Jewish boy at Iwo Jima in strife
Horribly frightened before the first wave of attack
In that action he later saved another’s life.”

Here is an excerpt of Dov’s verse version of ideas contained in Gittelsohn’s Man‘s Best Hope:

Valley of Shadows

Questions still remain to be answered
Which religion must try to solve
Like “Why did G-d let this happen to me
Despite life lived with good resolve?”

If it is part of religion
To give man meaning in his life
What can we say in the many cases
Which clearly evince much unearned strife.

To stand at the grave of a tender child
Or of fine young friends in combat killed
Who can glibly explain the anguish
What skilful spun logic can assuage what’s been willed.

Yet when the heart breaks we have to try
No less than when it sings
We cannot abdicate G-d-given reason
In trying to answer such things.

There can be no valid answer
Not based on correct assumption
That life with or without religion can see growth without pain
Is not a correct presumption.

Often but now always pain is a mystery
With understanding left unsatisfied
It’s not so much the pain we find intolerable
But pain with no meaning applied

We have known unbelievable heroism
With deep suffering in many a tale
Triumphantly endured by ordinary men
Who saw reason and purpose in their travail

Our ultimate need is to understand
No matter how piercing the pain or intense
Does it amount to whistling in the dark
Or part of greater unknown plan profound immense

Dov will be sadly missed and remembered as a wonderful husband, father and friend. He is survived by his wife, Netty and children Deborah, Leonard, Marlene and Selwyn in whom he fostered a yearning of knowledge.

By Dr Marlene Ryzman (Daughter)

Gwidon Gottlieb-Borucki
1912 ~ 2009

VAJEX member Gwidon Gottlieb-Borucki passed away on 31th December 2009 and, but for the many articles and tributes posted on the web (in the Polish language), his lifetime achievements would never have been known to most of us. The last occasion that I spoke to Gwidon was at our Remembrance Day Luncheon on the 22nd November 2009. He was a regular Luncheon attendee and still sprightly at 97. He promised to see us again in 2010. Sadly, this promise can't now be kept.

Born Gwidon Alfred Gottlieb in the Polish city of Krakow, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he showed a talent for the piano and accordion. He received an education, sang and acted on the stage participating in numerous performances.

When World War II broke out, he soon found himself in the army of General Wladislaw Anders. In May 1944 his unit, part of the Polish 2nd Corps, took part in the battle for Monte Casino in Italy and was instrumental in the capture of the Monastery and defeat of the German forces there.

The song made famous after the battle of Monte Casino is called "The Red Poppies of Monte Casino."    

Between 1945 and 1958, Gwidon lived in London and acted in films and on the stage, singing solo in numerous performances as Guido Lorraine.

Some of the films he acted in were: The Red Beret, State Secret, Port Afrique, The Colditz Story, Hotel Sahara and many others. He also made appearances on radio.  

Settling in Australia in 1959 with his wife Eva, Gwidon appeared  on the National HSV7 TV production of Sunny Side Up as Guido Lorraine. He became involved in Polish community activities in Melbourne and joined VAJEX in 1978.

Over 100 people attended his funeral service on the 6th January 2010. It included many notables from the community and I was invited to recite the Military Ritual and the Ode. As a fitting  farewell, the mourners sang "The Red Poppies of Monte Casino."

VAJEX offers sincere condolences to Eva and family.

 LEST WE FORGET

Ben Hirsh
President

Raye Smith nee Crafti

In the Smith and Crafti families, VAJEX has been a long standing  family institution. So when Rachael Smith passed away on 14 June 2010, VAJEX mourned her loss as part of her extended family and numerous friends.

Raye had other siblings and family who were members of VAJEX:

brother, Mocky (Matthew) Crafti ז״ל, QX43658
sister Pearl QFX64362, who is currently on the committee
brother Yanki (Jacob), QX37462
sister Esther’s husband, Woolf Klapisch ז״ל, British Forces
Raye’s husband, Maurice Smith, 430064
Maurice’s sister, Phyllis Rose ז״ל , VFX116457
Phyllis’ husband Clive Rose ז״ל , VX 15357
Maurice’s sister, Betty Hilton ז״ל , VF346733
Betty’s husband Kurt Hilton ז״ל , V377762

Even Raye’s late father, Q203103 PTE Edward Crafti, who was born in Sebastopol (Crimea) Russia, enlisted on 1 May 1942, served in the 4 Bn Volunteer Defence Corps until he was discharged on 21 Oct 1945. He was the only family member who served and was not a VAJEX member.

Most recently at the end of 2005, Raye and Maurice’s son Ross Smith, who is a well-known local sports physiotherapist, enlisted as a Reservist in 3 Health Support Bn.  

In Ross’ obituary for his mother, he stated that during World War II, the Crafti’s vibrant Jewish home became legendary throughout Australia, and news of their hospitality even spread as far as the United States. Their status was earned from hosting hundreds of Australian and American servicemen and women who were fed a kosher, home-cooked meal or just given a place to rest before they left Australian shores to fight in the South Pacific war region.

Rachael’s dream was to train as a nurse, but her parents were against the idea. As soon as she turned 18, she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force, where she served as a clerk and developed book-keeping skills.

But it was her physical attributes that caught the eye of her superiors. They dressed her in overalls, perched her on top of a stationary aircraft, put a pneumatic drill in her hands and used her image to promote female recruitment to the Air Force.

After the war, she joined her sister, Pearl in Melbourne. It was here that she met her future husband, Maurice. On 22 June 1950, Rachael and Maurice were married by Rabbi Dr Alfred Fabian of Brisbane Hebrew Congregation. The wedding was held in the middle of a cyclone, with the bride carried across the Shul’s flooded gutter fireman-style, clinging to her brother-in-law’s shoulders, with her white dress all   dishevelled.

Despite the wet start to their marriage, the couple experienced 59 years and 51 weeks of a busy, but infinitely happy partnership. They were devoted to each other and created a warm, Jewish home which, in the family tradition, was open to all-comers. They raised three grateful children, who, in turn, blessed them with seven loving grandsons and one treasured granddaughter.
 ~ May Her Dear Soul Rest In Peace ~