Hannah Kessler z'l

Hannah Kessler (1909 – 1982) was born in Emden, Germany, but lived most of her younger years in Hamburg where for 10 years she attended a Jewish Day School. She came from a Rabbinical family through her maternal grandmother. She graduated in 1929 at a State School, majoring in modern languages and history. She attended universities in Hamburg and Berlin where she studied languages and journalism, and then worked on newspapers, particularly literary weekly publications in Berlin. The advent of Hitler prevented her from obtaining a degree.

She left for Australia in 1938, after marrying Albert Kessler of Sydney in London in 1937. They had met briefly in Antwerp prior to this. After arriving in Australia she became active in almost every Zionist organization. She was an Executive member of the J.N.F. and an elected member of the Z.F.A., holding the portfolio of Zionist Education.

Due to her exceptional organizational skills she was employed by WIZO in Sydney in 1958.

She had a dynamic and forceful personality. Hannah was instrumental in setting up WIZO Groups all over Sydney, by location, ethnic background, age groups. This had never been done before. Due to her foresight WIZO House in Woollahra was purchased.

She was elected President of the Australian Federation of WIZO in 1964, a role which she held till 1970. Through her many trip to Israel she befriended Raya Jaglom who appointed her an Ad Personam Member of the World WIZO Executive in 1972.

Hannah’s daughter, Naomi Kronnenberg, a senior public servant in Canberra , was a pillar of the ACT Jewish Community for almost 50 years. Her son, Dr. Clive Kessler (PhD London University), an anthropologist, lived overseas for many years. He is the Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at UNSWA.