Sydney Jewish education benefactor Aron Kleinlehrer has passed away at the age of 100.
In an interview with J-Wire several years ago, the Holocaust survivor said he was visiting Auschwitz decades ago when he found a child’s tooth on the ground. That was the moment when he decided to support Jewish education in Sydney singling the Emanuel School to be the major recipient of his donations.
In a joint statement, the board, principal, staff and students of Emanuel School said that Kleinlehrer was a “founder, friend and generous benefactor of the school, with a deep commitment to its development and success”.
The statement added, “Mr Kleinlehrer’s generosity helped spearhead the school’s growth through the construction of a number of buildings and state-of-the-art facilities. Thousands of Emanuel students and graduates have benefitted from the Aron Kleinlehrer Performing Arts Centre, Kleinlehrer Family Science Building, Kleinlehrer Family LINC Building and the Innovation Centre, which houses the Aron Kleinlehrer Jewish History Centre.
Mr Kleinlehrer’s dedication to Jewish education is rooted in his family history. Both his parents and four siblings perished in the Holocaust – a tragic catalyst which guided him towards an unwavering belief in the power of Jewish education as a means to help ensure Jewish continuity.
In life, he considered Emanuel School as a dream come true; in death his legacy will live on in the mind, spirit and being of our students. May his memory be for a blessing now and forever.”