(Author: Adrienne Kollenberg, Vol. 71, No. 2, Rosh Hashanah 2016)
This year marks the 175th anniversary of Tikvath Israel – the first congregation and synagogue in South Africa. We salute the Jews of Cape Town who, from that time onwards, have had a vibrant and flourishing Jewish community. From this momentous beginning, congregations and synagogues have been established in small towns and big cities throughout the country.
t was not easy for the early Jewish settlers in South Africa’s country towns and villages to even get a minyan, let alone form a congregation, and even more so to build a synagogue. They were, however, determined to carry on their religious beliefs, even in this foreign and unknown land. The story of these country communities has been uncovered through meticulous and comprehensive research carried out by the South African Friends of Beth Hatefutsoth (SAFBH) over the past 24 years.
In the early 1980s, a very successful exhibition documenting the Jews of South Africa was jointly undertaken by the Beth Hatefutsoth Museum in Tel Aviv, the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), and the SA Zionist Federation (SAZF). Curated by Rose Norwich, it was first shown in Israel, and thereafter in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
The success of the exhibition resulted firstly in the formation, in 1984, of the SAFBH, with a small committee under the chairmanship of David Ellman (subsequent chairmen were Derrick Barnett, the late Dennis Fox, Ian Mann and, currently, Rose Norwich and Adrienne Kollenberg). Its brief was to make known the information provided by the Museum, and to provide it with financial support. In 1992, the Museum sent out the highly regarded Kafka Exhibition, which the Friends opened at the Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg, and which subsequently travelled around the country.
Secondly, a request was received from the Beth Hatefutsoth Museum for further information on the Jews of South Africa. The Museum has a database of Jews throughout the world; however, it only had information on the major towns in South Africa up till 1960. The SAJBD and SAZF were asked for assistance in sending out a researcher for six months to document the country’s smaller communities. As this was not a practical proposition, the Friends decided to carry out this research themselves.
Chaitow family store, Pilgrim’s Rest, 1909
Further motivation was given by the late Phyllis Jowell and the late David Susman who, in the early 1990s, had visited Latvia and Lithuania, and found no sign of anything Jewish in towns which had once had thriving Jewish communities. So began our venture into the inspiring, if also somewhat sad story of the former Jewish country centres. This story, which began some years before the first congregation was formed in Cape Town, is one that remains significant to all South Africans, whether Jewish or not. It tells the history of South Africa and the contribution Jews made to its growth and development. Rose Norwich, Phyllis Jowell and I convened this project. With the help of two retired gentlemen, the late David Seligman and the late Les Meyerowitz, we met a couple of mornings a week and started delving into the archives of the SAJBD.
The project begins with the arrival of the 1820 Settlers, who came from England to escape poor economic conditions at home. The British government gave each settler a plot of land to farm in the Albany district of the Eastern Cape. Among these settlers were 18 Jews, who had travelled as part of the Wilson party on the ship Belle Alliance.Most of these Jews, however, were not of farming background, and soon drifted into Grahamstown to find other means of making a living. They formed a close relationship with the Jews of Cape Town and became country members of the Tikvath Israel congregation. In fact Benjamin Norden, an 1820 Settler, and Nathan Birkenruth, a Grahamstown merchant, were both founder members of Tikvath Israel.
The English Jews were followed by Jews from Germany. The Anglo-German Jewish community in the Eastern Cape paved the way for those from Eastern Europe, who came via London, where they were assisted by the Poor Jews Temporary Shelter. They left their homes mainly to escape antisemitism, poverty and the threat of 25 years conscription into the Tzar’s army, leaving behind them families they most likely never saw again. Some came penniless, with just the clothes on their backs. The lucky ones were able to get assistance from relatives or landsleit who had arrived before them. They knew nothing about the country they were coming to, and in fact, when they were offered free passage to South Africa on the Union Castle Mail ships in exchange for a year’s work on the diamond mines, many thought they were going to America to join family who had gone before them. They could not speak the language and many surnames were changed by immigration officers when the passenger gave their occupation, instead of their name – for example, a teacher was given the name Melamed and a tailor became known as Schneider. Most of these immigrants started out as smouse, with a donkey or horse and cart, going on to become general dealers in a remote village where they felt they could make a living. Or, as the anecdote alleges, where their horse died and they could go no further!
Lancrish Hotel, Lichtenburg
The amount of information the volunteer researchers uncovered was overwhelming and this was only from the SAJBD Archives. We realised that we had to approach this important task in a more professional manner. A database was set up especially for the project by Mark Jowell, Phyllis’ son. The sample questionnaire sent from the Museum in Israel was not relevant to this country, and Joan Gentin, who was employed as the research coordinator at that time, designed a more applicable one. A librarian, Larna Bronstein was employed to source and index material for each town. A full list of the researchers and staff who have worked on the project over the years can be found on the SAFBH website.
The questionnaire covers all aspects of the place being researched, stating whether it was a farm, a settlement, a village or a small town. It begins with the geographical position, its description and background; when it was established and how it was run – by a health committee or municipality; neighbouring places where Jews lived and association with these Jews, religious and social; information on the first Jews to settle in the place, within a chosen time frame; where the residents came from, alone or with family; occupation prior to arrival and after; and informal religious services.
The questionnaire then goes on to the establishment of a congregation, synagogue, cemetery, chevra kadisha, mikveh, cheder and provisions for kashrut. Economic activities of the residents and prominent members of the community in all fields of endeavour are mentioned, as are relationships with the general community and any antisemitic incidents. All the Jewish societies in a town are listed as are all residents, ranging from a single individual to over 2000 people. Official census and community figures are also recorded.
When the questionnaire is completed, it is captured onto the database by the research coordinator, currently Elona Steinfeld, and her assistant, Shirley Hatzkilson, who check all information, and make sure all data is correctly referenced.
Finally, Rose and I write the overview of each town, from the database, and these form the contents of the book. The wonderful old photographs which are introduced alongside the text are carefully captioned with names and dates.
Two of the committee members, Joy Kropman and Yvonne Jawitz, organised publicity and fundraising functions for the project. The first was the Jewish Hoteliers Exhibition, held in Johannesburg in 1998, and again in Cape Town, under the convenorship of Phyllis Jowell, at the Albow Centre in 2000. This was followed, in 2002, with “What was Was”, an exhibition of old photographs shown at a dinner held at the Sandton synagogue hall, with speakers hilariously recalling bygone days and which concluded with an auction.
Geoff Sifrin was the main speaker at an evening held by the Friends for farmers of the ‘Tel Aviv Strip’. Members of the audience entertained the full hall with their reminiscences. Another get-together took place in 2007 for Free State Jews (with Bernard Lurie bringing along his branding iron with which he branded his cattle with a Magen David!). The event was so successful that it was repeated a month later.
Throughout this project, the Friends have fundraised from individuals and trusts which recognised the importance of preserving this history for posterity. Initially, when staff had to be hired and rent payed, David Susman came to our rescue. To keep the project running, other sponsors had to be found. After two years, the sponsors wanted to see something concrete for their support. The aim of the project had been to provide the South African community and the Beth Hatefutsoth Museum with a database of research, and now the sponsors asked for a book to be published!
The team could not afford a publisher, so had to become self-publishers! That, of course, meant finding an editor, typesetter, designer, indexer and printer. Happily Vol 1, complete with interesting photographs, was a great success. This first volume has been sold out and reprinted three times!
Now that one book had been published, there would have to be a series of books. This meant raising a significant amount of funds. To date we have published five volumes, two of which have been sponsored – Vol IV on Natal by the Victor Daitz Foundation and Volume V on the Free State, by the Goldstuck family in memory of the late Oscar Goldstuck. This was greatly appreciated and of tremendous assistance to the project.
Contributors who have helped keep the project afloat include: the Norwich Charitable Trust, Kirsh Foundation, Berdun Charitable Trust, George Elkin Charity Trust, Graham and Rhona Beck Foundation, Cecil Jowell Family Trust, Kollenberg Family Trust, Harold and Beatrice Kramer Foundation, Rabb Charitable Trust, Samson Foundation, Susman Charitable Trust and Tolman Trust. There are also numerous individual donors whose regular support is very important to us.
The project to date covers 1550 small towns and villages, with the occasional new place still being added. It was not always easy to tell the exact number of Jews living in the country towns at any one time. For example, a survey done in 1943 by the so-called Matzo Board counted how much matzah was needed per town for Pesach, but unfortunately, did not take into account how many were residents and who were family and friends coming to the Seder from other towns! We also use the official census figures, but with names and borders being changed constantly, it is difficult to get a precise number of Jews in these towns.
Certain themes run through most of the towns. However isolated they were, the early Jewish settlers supported the Zionist cause as individuals, long before there were Zionist societies in their localities. This trend has been passed down through generations, as South African Jews are known for their strong Zionism. As soon as there were sufficient men in a country town to form a minyan, services were held in private homes. In the smaller communities, in the evenings, the men played klabberjas while the women played penny rummy. In a larger town, if they were lucky, there might have been a bioscope, or films shown in the hotel dining room. The SAJBD Country Communities Department organised Family Days when families met for the day in a nearby town. Eventually, communities grew and formed congregations and some even built synagogues. In smaller communities, Jews went to the nearest town which had these facilities, and possibly a cemetery.
Young Israel Society, Robertson, 1923-5
The SAJBD has concerned itself with the country communities since 1939, when two country community organisers, Messrs Overdoff and Dwolatsky, were appointed to attend to the needs of the country Jews. Then rabbis, such as Rabbi AH Lapin, later of Yeoville Synagogue, and Rabbi Abt, Cultural Officer of the SAJBD, toured the country. In 1951, the SAJBD employed a Country Community Rabbi, Rabbi Dr J Newman, who travelled round the country, visiting the isolated communities and bringing to them kosher products, companionship and news of the outside Jewish world. This service is still in operation today, with Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft travelling to all parts of the country and even further into Africa. Rabbi Silberhaft has been of immense assistance to the Friends, updating us on the state of the communities where there are still Jews and on the condition of the cemeteries where there are no longer communities. The SAJBD Country Communities Department also instituted the Mother-Teachers scheme, sending educational material to families where there was no one in the town to provide Jewish education.
Joseph Levy, Mayor of Aliwal North 1889, and Acting Mayor, 1899-1902
Young Israel Society, Robertson, 1923-5
The most important outcome of this research was the extensive contribution made by Jews to the development of South Africa in all spheres of life. Starting out as smouse, most eventually became general dealers. They had the reputation of being helpful to their customers when times were hard, allowing them to buy on credit until they were able to pay. There is a touching story of one of these customers arriving ten years later to pay all his debts to the shopkeeper.
As the towns grew, many Jews became town councillors, mayors or active on the Chamber of Commerce. There were also professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants, to name but a few. It appears that wherever there was a country hotel, it was almost invariably owned by a Jew at some time or other.
Many country Jews excelled in their fields, and greatly influenced the growth and development of the country. Often the early traders and/or their offspring became captains of industry and commerce. Among them were Samuel Marks and Isaac Lewis, who started farming in Pienaarsrivier, and who with Alois Hugo Nellmapius, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant living in Irene Gauteng, established the first real industries in the Transvaal. Mining magnates included Samuel Marks, Alfred Beit, Isaac Lewis and Barney Barnato, all of whom made their mark on the history of the Barberton community.
In the early 1840s, Adolph Mosenthal was in partnership with his brother, Joseph, in Graaff-Reinet and Port Elizabeth. The Mosenthal brothers owned a network of stores in the Eastern Cape and promoted the merino wool and angora mohair industries in the Graaff-Reinet area, strengthening the Cape stock. They went on to become parliamentarians, bankers and traders.
Another pioneer was Jonas Bergtheil, the first Jew in Pietermaritzburg (1843). Amongst other things, he brought out 190 settlers from Germany to start a cotton plantation in what are now New Germany and Westville. Although the cotton plantation failed, New Germany today has one of the country’s largest concentrations of textile industries and has been called the ‘Manchester of South Africa’.
The following, in alphabetical order, are some other Jews from the country areas who achieved noteworthy success:
Gustave Ackerman, born in Riversdale in 1894, founded Ackerman’s Stores. His son, Raymond, was the pioneer of hypermarkets and is today a household name in this country.
Dr Henry Bernstein, f r o m Bronkhorstspruit, was appointed Medical Officer of Health in Vereeniging in 1952. In 1955, he established a Tuberculosis Hospital in Sharpeville, renamed the Henry Bernstein Chest Hospital the following year.
Robert Brozin, who grew up in Middelburg, Transvaal, founded Nandos Chickenland (Pty) Ltd. By the 21st Century, Nandos was operating in 23 countries around the world.
Dr Hymie Ebedes was born in Ermelo in 1936. In 1978 he lived in Stellenbosch, where he was instrumental in developing tranquilisers to assist translocation of wild animals in order to reduce stress and mortality. He was the Chief Vet at the Pretoria Zoo in the 1980s, when he became involved in obtaining giraffe and rhino for the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem.
In 1950, Philip Frame established a cotton mill in Pinetown. By 1999, Frame Spinning Mills was the largest yarn spinning operation in South Africa.
Legendary cricketer Norman Gordon (1911-2014) was born in Boksburg. He was educated at Jeppe High School in Johannesburg, where he developed a passion for cricket. He started playing cricket for Transvaal in 1934 and represented South Africa in five test matches against England in 1938-9. In the famous ‘Timeless Test’ match in March 1939, he bowled 92.9 eight ball overs, still considered a record. Until the age of 97, he was a keen golfer, scoring a hole in one at the age of 87 (when he was made an honorary member of the Houghton Golf Club). Gordon was possibly the first Jewish cricketer to speak openly about his Jewish faith, despite the possibility of being subjected to antisemitic jibes.
Sidney and Emily Kark were doctors in Pietermaritzburg. In 1982, Sidney was awarded an honorary D Sc (Med) by the University of Witwatersrand, the citation for which stated that he had “established the Pholela Health Centre, which was a trailblazing institution of its kind” and that, supported by his wife, Dr Emily Kark, he had “laid the foundations of social medicine in this continent”. The health centre was west of Pietermaritzburg.
Meyer Kahn, ‘the boykie from Brits’, was named as one of the top five businessmen in the country in 1983. He was managing director of OK Bazaars before joining South African Breweries in 1988. The following year, the University of Pretoria honoured him as Professor Extraordinaire and in 1990 awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce. Also in 1990, he was named Businessman of the Year, and in 1992, he received an award for Business Excellence from the University of the Witwatersrand. In 1997, he was appointed chief executive of the South African Police Force for a period of two years, and in 1999 he was runner-up in the Lexus Lifetime Achiever Award.
Betty Pack, one of four musically talented daughters of Marcus and Jesse Pack of Middlefontein in the Bushveld, was a well-known cellist. She devoted herself to chamber music. In 1952, her Youth South African Chamber Orchestra made its debut, touring schools and inspiring pupils.
Professor Philip Tobias, who grew up in Westville, Natal, was Professor of Anatomy and Human Biology at the University of the Witwatersrand. He was best known, however, in the field of human evolution and the fossilised ancestry of humanity. He was awarded the Walter Sisulu Special Contribution Award from the City of Johannesburg and nominated three times for the Nobel Prize.
Professor Phillip Tobias
n 1933, Fred Smollan from Uitenhage was selected to play for the Springbok rugby side against the touring Australians. He was one of a number of Jewish Springbok rugby players from the small towns. Another Jewish rugby Springbok was Morris Zimerman, considered the greatest rugby wing of his day. Born and educated in Jansenville, he played for Western Province in 1929 and for the Springboks during the 1931-1932 rugby tour to the UK. After 1934, he played for the Transvaal provincial side. Following a serious illness, he could only play club rugby and eventually went into coaching. He was a member of the SA Rugby Selection Committee. A lawyer by profession, Morris specialised in labour law, working closely with Solly Sachs and the Garment Workers Union and constantly coming up against the Nationalist government during the 1950s. After his retirement in 1979, he joined the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), a fledgling organisation that provided free legal aid to those who could not afford it. At the LRC he concentrated on consumer law. After his death in 1992, the LRC established a law scholarship at Wits in his honour.
There were many innovative and successful Jewish farmers. In 1927, it was recorded that the Jewish Highveld farming in the Transvaal stretched east from Springs to Bethal for about 82 miles. It was known as the Tel Aviv Strip. There were approximately 116 Jewish farmers in the area by 1948.Most of the Jewish-owned farms were started from scratch, usually without any capital or knowledge of farming. Jewish farmers nevertheless revolutionised agricultural practice on the Highveld and in the Free State.
Ezrael Lazarus, of Bombardie farm between Ogies and Leslie, became the ‘Maize and Potato King’ of the Transvaal, and was growing the largest amount of mealies in the world by the time of his death in 1946. Jacob Lurie of Tweespruit, the ‘Potato King’, became the one of the largest potato growers in the world. Captain Bernard Podlashuk, owner of the Bellingham Wine Estate in Franschhoek, Cape, was the only South African to be awarded the title of Chevalier de Confrerie de Tastevin (1966). Commercial and industrial magnate IW Schlesinger owned three farms at Letaba, near Tzaneen. At one point he had the second largest citrus estate in the world.
Although relations between Jews and non-Jews in the country communities were generally cordial, there were outbreaks of antisemitism, especially in the 1930s and 1940s. The Grey Shirts held meetings in the towns and spread anti-Jewish propaganda through the distribution of pamphlets and the like. The SAJBD sent representatives, as well as Morris Alexander KC, MP, to conduct ‘goodwill visits’ in many areas to counter this propaganda and other incidents of antisemitism.
Kroonstad synagogue, Free State
On the other hand, among many such examples, in 1960, the Vereeniging Branch of the SA Women’s Agricultural Union (SAWAU – SA Vroue Federasie) held a special function devoted to the land of Israel, its people and customs. Information for the event was provided by the Israeli Consulate, the Women’s Zionist Council and the SAZF. Farmers and their wives as well as Jewish residents attended the event. According to the Zionist Record of 6 May 1960 “Relationships at these events were said to be ‘not only cordial’, but even described as ‘brotherly’”.
At their peak, there were around 220 congregations, and 130 synagogues, in 1550 small towns around South Africa. These communities have mostly disappeared. Jews moved to the large centres for a variety of reasons — to give their children Jewish schooling and a larger circle of Jewish friends, to have a more complete Jewish life, or for economic reasons. Small towns have become big towns and the simple life enjoyed by many has largely disappeared.
The responses to the books produced thus far by the SA Friends of Beth Hatefutsoth have been gratifying. In conclusion, here are some comments from our readers:
- ‘The evolution of the immense Jewishcontribution to South Africa constitutes a huge part of the history of our relatively young nation. These books are valuable pieces of Africana that document the progress of a country from rural backwater to modern day industrial powerhouse. The photographs in particular are of important historical interest, especially those of buildings still recognisable throughout the land’.
- ‘In our opinion, Jewish Life in the South African Country Communities is a must-have for every South African Jewish family and even more so for those who have emigrated in more recent years. It is also of considerable interest to all South Africans with an interest in history and how it relates to their own personal stories. This is a missing piece of their story, and a truly marvellous one, at that. Jewish Life in the South African Country Communitiesis beautifully laid out with a particularly rich assemblage of photographs, both historical and of a more recent vintage’.
- ‘The book evoked great pride of where and what I came from, but simultaneously and sadly, nagging nostalgia and resignation for what once was. It is beautifully compiled and thoroughly researched’
For further information on this project, please view our website www.jewishcountrylife.co.za
Adrienne Kollenberg is, with Rose Norwich, co-chairman of the SA Friends of Beth Hatefutsoth and has been one of the project convenors of its country communities research project since its inception. She has a BA (Social Science) and Honours – Sociology degrees from Wits University.
