Kathy Buchen, Jill Margo , Lianna Wittenberg, Dinah Danon, Susan Levy and Robyn Lenn (Chair).

The library, featuring a collection of books focusing on Jewish women’s issues, will be located at Council House in Woollahra and honours the memory of NCJWA’s honorary rebbetzin who passed away last April.

The late Rebbetzin Gottshall was also foundation vice president of the Australian Holocaust Survivors Association and honorary rebbetzin of B’nai Brith.

The advisory panel, chaired by former NCJWA National President and current Honorary Secretary of the NSW Division, Robyn Lenn, will include senior librarians, Kathy Buchen and Susan Levy, who have extensive experience and bring their expertise to selectively choose appropriate books for the collection.

Kathy Buchen started her career at the University of Cambridge Library in the United Kingdom in 1969 and was Head Librarian at Moriah College for 13 years until her retirement in 2007, while Susan Levy worked at the Willoughby City Library in Chatswood for 26 years, managing the Technical Services department.

Another key member of the advisory panel is noted author, Jill Margo AM, whose books include the best-selling biography of Frank Lowy and is an award-winning journalist on the Australian Financial Review.

Also joining are NCJWA National Vice President and former State President, Dinah Danon, and the late Rebbetzin Gottshall’s granddaughter, Lianna Wittenberg, who recently returned from  teaching Design & Technology at the Australian International School in Singapore and has expertise in graphic art and technology.

Chair, Robyn Lenn, said the proposed library collection would be incorporated in boardroom renovations currently underway at Fanny Reading Council House in Woollahra.

” For many decades the late Rebbetzin Gottshall played a key role within NCJWA since meeting our founder, Dr Fanny Reading, who had befriended Rabbi and Rebbetzin Gottshall when they arrived in Sydney as Holocaust survivor migrants in 1949, ” she said.

“Over the years, we all  enjoyed the benefits of having her as our own ‘Council Rebbetzin’, when she  graced NCJWA special events, reciting brachas and benching at our luncheons, dinners and national conferences.

“Rebbeztin Gottshall always  presented a warm  friendly presence to our members and their guests and since passing away in April 2010 she is very much missed by our organisation.

“We are very pleased that her children Eva and Alex have chosen to continue their family’s close bonds with NCJWA and we are able to honour her memory with a Library dedicated in her name,” Mrs Lenn said.

Rebbetzin Gottshall and her late husband, Rabbi Dr Benjamin Gottshall, served in several congregations including Newcastle, Wellington, Brisbane and Maroubra and after his death in 1978, she continued to be active in community and charitable organisations, respected as a counsellor and providing comfort, compassion and friendship.