Nilly Berger, the president of WIZO NSW and a long-time Bondi community figure, died on Friday morning following a period of ill health.
WIZO NSW said it was heartbroken by the death of an extraordinary leader whose warmth, strength and commitment had touched many lives.
“Nilly was an extraordinary leader. Passionate, smart, strong and deeply devoted to WIZO and our community,” the organisation said.
Born in Israel with the family name Shalom, Berger retained a deep connection to the country throughout her life and devoted more than 40 years to WIZO.
She joined WIZO Yaffa in the 1970s, when the organisation combined education and fundraising with a strong social network for Jewish women. Berger formed lifelong friendships in the group and beyond, becoming known for her calm, practical approach to planning and fundraising.
Her abilities caught the attention of the late WIZO NSW president Leila Share, who invited her to join the state executive.
Berger helped WIZO Yaffa become one of the organisation’s strongest-performing groups before taking on senior roles at state level.
One of her achievements was producing WIZO’s 1985 staging of Fiddler on the Roof.
She persuaded a doubtful executive that the production would raise funds and bring WIZO’s work to a wider audience. The show went on to become a major fundraising and community success.
As membership chair, Berger later coordinated the You’re the Voice campaign, which introduced WIZO’s work to thousands of households and helped recruit members and donors.
She was elected WIZO NSW president in May 2022 and led the organisation during a difficult period for Israel and the Australian Jewish community.
In a 2023 address, Berger spoke of the personal importance of her Israeli roots and said even the word “shalom” stirred a strong sense of belonging because it had been her family name at birth.
Beyond WIZO, Berger and her husband, Peter, were closely associated with the Gelato Bar on Campbell Parade, one of Bondi Beach’s best-known family restaurants.
The Berger family opened the business in 1958 and ran it for more than 50 years as Bondi changed from a largely migrant and working-class suburb into an international tourist destination.
The restaurant became a familiar meeting place for generations of local families and visitors, serving gelato, cakes and strudels alongside Hungarian and Eastern European dishes such as goulash, schnitzel and chicken soup.
Berger received the Denny Govendir Award for her service to WIZO and, in 2020, was presented with the Rebecca Sieff Award, the organisation’s highest honour.
WIZO NSW said Berger’s steady leadership and commitment to helping people in Israel had inspired members, supporters and donors.
“We feel incredibly privileged to have known Nilly and to have witnessed the remarkable impact she made,” it said.
“Her legacy will live on through the countless people she inspired and the community she loved so deeply.”
Berger is survived by her husband, Peter, and her family.
Her funeral will be held at the Sydney Chevra Kadisha Memorial Hall in Woollahra at 10am on Sunday, July 12, and will be livestreamed on the Chevra Kadisha website.