The Australian Women's Register

1 digital audio tape (ca. 56 min.) Dr June Factor speaks about the involvement of her parents and her self in the Itzik Wittenberg Study Group since its inception in the 1960s. She speaks about her father’s (Saul Factor) background and active role in the Itzik Wittenberg Study Group (IWSG); the background of other IWSG members who survived the WWII by escaping over the Polish- Soviet Union border; the subsequent influence of years spent in Soviet Union by most of IWSG members; the politically left wing nature of the IWSG; IWSG’s attachment to the Jewish culture, Yiddish language and culture; the Bund Group, ideologies and history of Bundist movement; her schooling at the Peretz school, run by Bundists; the Kadima and its role in Jewish community. Dr Factor speaks about the IWSG’s beginnings after Six-Day War,1967; broad political views of the Jewish community in Australia from 1941; growing anti-semitism in Poland as a response to Jews being involved in politics after WWII; her father’s role in the IWSG; IWSG’s close ties with the Polish Consulate, Polish seamen and the Soviet Consulate; her father’s involvement with the Jewish Council to Combat Fascism and Anti-Semitism, Communist Party, Socialist Party and his interest in Cuba; Australian Jewish News being a battleground for all major issues; IWSG’s lack of interest in the next generation taking over the Group.