In his last-ever interview, played at the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies’ Kristallnacht commemoration, Eddie Jaku shared a message with the Australian Jewish community: “Be friendly, be kind. Love is a beautiful thing.”

By Evan Zlatkis
The Australian Jewish News
November 11, 2021

The late Eddie Jaku has shared his last message with the Australian Jewish community: “Be friendly, be kind. Love is a beautiful thing.”

Jaku – who passed away last month at the age of 101 – recorded the message for the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD)’s annual Kristallnacht commemoration two weeks before his death.

Posthumously addressing 800 members of the community on Tuesday night, Jaku stressed that family is the most important thing.

“I did not have a chance to say goodbye to my beloved mother and I have missed her every day of my life,” he said.

“If you have the opportunity today, please go home and make sure you tell your mum how much you love her. Please do this for your new friend Eddie.”

As well as the lighting of six candles to honour the six million Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust, a recording was played of the Sydney Children’s Choir singing There are Always Miracles, a piece composed by Sam Weiss inspired by and using words from Jaku’s book The Happiest Man on Earth.

Members of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel watched the commemoration in a private screening at Parliament House on Tuesday.