Aluminium suitcase used by Esther Starzynski
Object numberM1995/067
TitleAluminium suitcase used by Esther Starzynski
DescriptionAluminium suitcase with Australian address handwritten on the front in black marker. Esther Starzynski purchased it in Germany in 1947 in preparation for an illegal journey to Palestine aboard the Exodus.
Esther was born in Kalisz, Poland. When the Nazis invaded in 1939, her parents decided it was time to leave. They traveled to Bialystock, in Russian occupied Poland, but they refused to become Russian citizens, they were deemed enemies of the state and sent to an internment camp in Siberia. They were relieved to have escaped the Nazis, but life in Siberia was very difficult.
In 1941 a Polish general had Esther and her family released. They traveled to Georgia, hoping to go through Turkey to Palestine. They remained in Georgia for four years, during which time Esther got married and had a child. In 1945, she and her husband went to Germany, while the rest of the family went to Lodz, from where they traveled to Italy and eventually Palestine. In 1947, Esther, her husband, and two children secured places on the Exodus, a ship of over 4500 illegal immigrants hoping to get to Palestine. She bought this suitcase to carry their few belongings on the trip. The British intercepted the Exodus before it arrived and sent it back to Europe, leading to a worldwide outcry. The family eventually found another boat to Palestine, where they were reunited with Esther’s family and settled near Haifa.
When Esther’s sister Sonia wanted to go to Australia in 1948 to join her husband, she could not afford a suitcase, so Esther gave her this one. Donated by Sonia Den (nee Starzynski)
Esther was born in Kalisz, Poland. When the Nazis invaded in 1939, her parents decided it was time to leave. They traveled to Bialystock, in Russian occupied Poland, but they refused to become Russian citizens, they were deemed enemies of the state and sent to an internment camp in Siberia. They were relieved to have escaped the Nazis, but life in Siberia was very difficult.
In 1941 a Polish general had Esther and her family released. They traveled to Georgia, hoping to go through Turkey to Palestine. They remained in Georgia for four years, during which time Esther got married and had a child. In 1945, she and her husband went to Germany, while the rest of the family went to Lodz, from where they traveled to Italy and eventually Palestine. In 1947, Esther, her husband, and two children secured places on the Exodus, a ship of over 4500 illegal immigrants hoping to get to Palestine. She bought this suitcase to carry their few belongings on the trip. The British intercepted the Exodus before it arrived and sent it back to Europe, leading to a worldwide outcry. The family eventually found another boat to Palestine, where they were reunited with Esther’s family and settled near Haifa.
When Esther’s sister Sonia wanted to go to Australia in 1948 to join her husband, she could not afford a suitcase, so Esther gave her this one. Donated by Sonia Den (nee Starzynski)
Production placeGermany
Production date 1947 - 1947
SubjectExodus, immigration
Object namesuitcases
Materialaluminium
Dimensions
- height: 415.00 mm
width: 740.00 mm
depth: 190.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs. Sonia Den