Incense burner gifted to Max Freilich
Object numberM2018/013a
TitleIncense burner gifted to Max Freilich
DescriptionIncense burner. Iron Age 1200-930 BCE, from the private collection of Mr Moshe Dayan.
This object in two parts, incense burner and base, was presented to Max Freilich (1893-1986) on the occasion of his 80th birthday, in recognition of his dedication and service to the Jewish people and efforts to help establish the State of Israel.
Max Freilich was born on 8 June, 1893 in the town of Lesko in what is now Poland. The fourth of eight children, Max was the son of Aron and Jueta Freilich, both from Jewish families. From an early age, Max was a committed Zionist. Breaking off a potential career as a rabbi, Max instead pursued secular studies at the University of Vienna in Philosophy and Industrial Chemistry. His time there was interrupted by World War I, when he served on the Russian front and met his wife Sasha Landau (1894-1993) while on leave. After the war, Max returned to Vienna but was sickened by the anti-Semitic violence and resolved to leave Europe after he graduated. Following his marriage to Sasha in 1920 as well as the birth of his two sons Theodor (1922-1996) and Herbert (1925-2009), the family departed for New Zealand in 1926 and arrived in Australia on 14 June, 1927.
After his arrival, Max established the Safre Australasian Paper Industry Company, manufacturing toilet paper. Max was active in Zionist groups from the beginning of his time here. He was Secretary in 1933 of Keren Hayesod and helped found the State Zionist Council of New South Wales. A full account of his activities and achievements are listed in his autobiography, ‘Zion in Our Time’, but it is clear he was highly regarded by his peers. This incense burner, from the private collection of Moshe Dayan, was presented to him as the recipient of the Maurice Ashkanasy award for Australian Jew of the Year in 1973. In 1982, Max was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. On 19 October, 1986, he died aged 93.
This object in two parts, incense burner and base, was presented to Max Freilich (1893-1986) on the occasion of his 80th birthday, in recognition of his dedication and service to the Jewish people and efforts to help establish the State of Israel.
Max Freilich was born on 8 June, 1893 in the town of Lesko in what is now Poland. The fourth of eight children, Max was the son of Aron and Jueta Freilich, both from Jewish families. From an early age, Max was a committed Zionist. Breaking off a potential career as a rabbi, Max instead pursued secular studies at the University of Vienna in Philosophy and Industrial Chemistry. His time there was interrupted by World War I, when he served on the Russian front and met his wife Sasha Landau (1894-1993) while on leave. After the war, Max returned to Vienna but was sickened by the anti-Semitic violence and resolved to leave Europe after he graduated. Following his marriage to Sasha in 1920 as well as the birth of his two sons Theodor (1922-1996) and Herbert (1925-2009), the family departed for New Zealand in 1926 and arrived in Australia on 14 June, 1927.
After his arrival, Max established the Safre Australasian Paper Industry Company, manufacturing toilet paper. Max was active in Zionist groups from the beginning of his time here. He was Secretary in 1933 of Keren Hayesod and helped found the State Zionist Council of New South Wales. A full account of his activities and achievements are listed in his autobiography, ‘Zion in Our Time’, but it is clear he was highly regarded by his peers. This incense burner, from the private collection of Moshe Dayan, was presented to him as the recipient of the Maurice Ashkanasy award for Australian Jew of the Year in 1973. In 1982, Max was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. On 19 October, 1986, he died aged 93.
Subjectworld that was, Keren Hayesod, Zionism, youth groups
Object nameincense burner
Materialclay
Dimensions
- height: 170.00 mm
width: 190.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Valmae Freilich