Object numberM2018/066:007
DescriptionSmall prayer book bound in black, written in Hebrew belonged to Viktor Bleyer, (Hebrew name: Avram, son of Levi) first cousin of Irene Goldstein (nee Bleyer) and uncle of Judy Vall. It was published in Vienna Austria in 1913. Viktor inscribed the Yahrzeit dates for his mother for 20 years after her death.
Viktor Bleyer, cousin of Irene Goldstein nee Bleyer donor’s mother, was born in Rimaszombat, Czechoslovakia in 1900 to Leo Bleyer, the brother of Irene’s father Rudolf, a general practitioner. He established a chemical factory in Budapest and survived the war.
Irene Goldstein (nee Bleyer) was born in Miskolc, Hungary in 1901 to Rudolf and Anna Bleyer. She married Karoly Szametz, and they welcomed their daughter Judy, on 7 September 1924. Irene and Karoly divorced in 1926 and in 1937 she married Sandor Goldstein.
In 1944, the Goldstein family were evicted from their apartment and sent to live in a 10 room villa with several other Jewish families. Both Judy and Sandor were transported to forced labour camps. Irene and her mother, Anna Bleyer, remained at home and forced to work at a brick factor; eventually Anna secured a Wallenberg Schutzpass and survived in a Swedish safe house. Judy was eventually transported from the country to Budapest and reunited with her mother at the brick factory. In mid-1944, they were forced to march for six weeks toward the Austrian border. During a bombing raid the two women escaped and made their way back to Budapest. They managed to secure false identity papers and live in hiding as Catholics until the end of WWII. Sandor Goldstein survived. Irene’s first husband and Judy’s biological father never returned from forced labour.
In 1956, Judy, her husband George Vall (previous Wohl) and their 12 year old daughter, fled during the Hungarian Revolution and immigrated to Australia. Irene passed away in in 1993; she was 92 years old.
Viktor Bleyer, cousin of Irene Goldstein nee Bleyer donor’s mother, was born in Rimaszombat, Czechoslovakia in 1900 to Leo Bleyer, the brother of Irene’s father Rudolf, a general practitioner. He established a chemical factory in Budapest and survived the war.
Irene Goldstein (nee Bleyer) was born in Miskolc, Hungary in 1901 to Rudolf and Anna Bleyer. She married Karoly Szametz, and they welcomed their daughter Judy, on 7 September 1924. Irene and Karoly divorced in 1926 and in 1937 she married Sandor Goldstein.
In 1944, the Goldstein family were evicted from their apartment and sent to live in a 10 room villa with several other Jewish families. Both Judy and Sandor were transported to forced labour camps. Irene and her mother, Anna Bleyer, remained at home and forced to work at a brick factor; eventually Anna secured a Wallenberg Schutzpass and survived in a Swedish safe house. Judy was eventually transported from the country to Budapest and reunited with her mother at the brick factory. In mid-1944, they were forced to march for six weeks toward the Austrian border. During a bombing raid the two women escaped and made their way back to Budapest. They managed to secure false identity papers and live in hiding as Catholics until the end of WWII. Sandor Goldstein survived. Irene’s first husband and Judy’s biological father never returned from forced labour.
In 1956, Judy, her husband George Vall (previous Wohl) and their 12 year old daughter, fled during the Hungarian Revolution and immigrated to Australia. Irene passed away in in 1993; she was 92 years old.
Production placeVienna, Austria
Production date 1913 - 1913
SubjectHolocaust, Schutz pass, prayer, survivors
Object nameprayer books
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- length: 98.00 mm
width: 72.00 mm
hw height: 22.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Judy Vall