VOLume 16 NO.10 OCTOber 2016 journal The Association of Jewish Refugees

Baghdad’s Kristallnacht n 1-2 June 1941, the Jewish planned to establish his capital at Babylon by the forces of Suleiman the Magnificent population of Baghdad but died in 323 BCE. Subsequently, the (who had besieged Vienna in 1529); the experienced a pogrom sometimes city fell under the rule of the Seleucids, the Turks finally established control over Ocompared to those that took place Baghdad in 1638. It languished in the towns and cities of Nazi as a provincial capital until the Germany on the night of 9-10 First World War. November 1938. The Farhud, The division of the Middle as the anti-Jewish excesses in the East between the imperialist Iraqi capital are called, is far less powers, Britain and France, after well known in Britain than the the First World War catapulted so-called ‘Crystal Night’ pogroms the area into the era of modern in Germany. Yet Iraq had come nationalist politics. British policy under British control in the First in Iraq, and in the wider Middle World War, when British forces East, greatly affected the fate defeated those of the Ottoman of Baghdad’s Jews after 1918, Empire, occupying Baghdad on especially perhaps in its failures. 11 March 1917. The League of The Farhud pogrom in Baghdad, 1941 Though they were welcomed as Nations subsequently granted liberators in 1917, the British, Britain a mandate over what became the successors to Alexander in that part of his attempting to impose a quasi-colonial Kingdom of Iraq, and Britain effectively empire, then of the Parthians, the eastern form of government under guise of their administered Iraq until its independence foes of the Roman Empire, and then of mandate, soon provoked disaffection and in 1932. After that, Britain retained the Sasanian Empire, which fought the active resistance; that burst into outright important air bases in Iraq, notably Romans and the Byzantines, the Romans’ revolt with the Iraqi uprising of 1920, at Habbaniya, some 55 miles west of eastern successors, over several centuries. which was only suppressed by means of Baghdad. The strategic importance of Iraq But in the seventh century CE came the substantial military force. From then and its huge reserves of oil led Britain to Arab invasion, which brought the area on, radical Iraqi nationalism was hostile maintain its influence in the country, by under Muslim rule. The centre of the Arab to British power and influence in the preserving the Hashemite monarchy that world moved to Baghdad in 762, when country and looked to Britain’s enemies ruled from 1921 until it was overthrown the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur founded for support. by the revolution of 1958. the city, to the north of the Sasanian The post-1918 settlement also created At the end of the First World War, capital, Ctesiphon. Baghdad became a division between Baghdad’s Jews, Jews composed about a third of the the glittering capital of a vast empire who were on the whole supportive of population of Baghdad – incredible as extending from present-day Pakistan British rule, and those sections of the that may now seem. Jewish settlement in across the Middle East and North Africa Arab population that were opposed to the Baghdad area dates back no less than into Spain. Baghdad’s Jewish community the British administration and, after 2,500 years, to the deportation of the flourished under Muslim rule, producing 1930, to the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty that Jews into Babylonian captivity early in great Talmudic scholars, though Jews (as bound Iraq to Britain. That division the sixth century BCE. The ancient city of dhimmis) were regarded as inferior and between Jews and Arabs was sharpened Babylon was situated about 50 miles south treated accordingly. as a result of British policy in Palestine, of present-day Baghdad. When Cyrus the Baghdad’s role as one of the great where the Balfour Declaration of 1917 Great, King of Persia, who conquered centres of power and culture was ended had established a Jewish homeland. The Babylonia in 539 BCE, allowed the Jews by incursions from Central Asia, first by situation deteriorated further after 1933, to return to Judea, many chose to remain the invasion of the Mongols under Hulagu when the Nazi regime in Germany sought in Mesopotamia (the Greek term referring Khan in 1258, when the sack of the city to undermine the British position in Iraq to the lands between the rivers Tigris and marked the end of the Islamic golden age, by offering support to disaffected army Euphrates). There they survived the many then by the capture of the city by Timur officers eager to throw off all vestiges conflicts, conquests and changes of regime (Tamerlane) in 1401, with his trademark of British control. In the 1930s, Iraq that affected the area. slaughter of its inhabitants. The city was underwent a period of intense political In 334 BCE, Alexander the Great of later contested between the Ottoman instability, with a series of changes of Macedon invaded the Persian Empire Turks and the Persians. It first fell to the government that threatened to erupt into and defeated Darius, the Persian king; he Ottoman Turks in 1534, when it was taken continued on page 2  journal OCTOBER 2016

Baghdad's Kristallnacht  continued outright violence. considering themselves Iraqis. Despite Naim Dangoor, bearer of a distinguished During the Second World War, the the atrocities of the Farhud, Jews lived Baghdadi Jewish name and a leading constellation of radical Arab nationalism unmolested in Baghdad until the defeat industrialist and philanthropist, and in combination with both anti-British of the Arab armies in 1948 and the the eminent scholar Elie Kedoorie, an and anti-Jewish sentiment bore malign establishment of the State of Israel sparked authority on nationalism at the London fruit in Iraq. In spring 1941, the British fresh anti-Jewish measures that led over the School of Economics, were other Jews position in the Middle East had become following few years to the mass exodus of from Baghdad to enrich British life. precarious. General Wavell’s successful Iraq’s Jews and the end of two and a half Readers will be pleased to know that advance into the Italian colony of Libya millennia of history. the history of the Jews of Iraq is being had been halted, and by April 1941 the Jews from Baghdad played a significant recorded for the future as part of Sephardi arrival of Rommel’s Afrika Korps had role in British history, in particular those Voices, a collection of filmed interviews pushed the British back to the Egyptian who moved in the nineteenth century similar to the AJR’s Refugee Voices and border. British forces had also been unable to Bombay, where British India offered designed to preserve the precious legacy of to stem the German invasion of Greece lucrative commercial opportunities. the entire Sephardi-Mizrahi tradition. Dr and were forced to withdraw to Crete, Probably the most famous family was that Bea Lewkowicz, who created the exhibition where in May 1941 they came under of Sir David Sassoon, the ‘Rothschilds of Continental Britons (2002) with myself and successful attack from German airborne the East’, who built a huge commercial is currently administering the second phase forces. Pro-Nazi and anti-British officers empire from the trade between India of Refugee Voices, is, as Director of Sephardi in the Iraqi army seized on this moment of and China in cotton and (regrettably) Voices UK, responsible for the British part crisis for the British to launch a coup d’état, opium. Sassoon funded the building of of this historically significant endeavour. installing Rashid Ali al-Gaylani as prime one of India’s largest and most beautiful The new interest in the story of the Jews minister. This led to the brief Anglo-Iraqi synagogues, the Magen David Synagogue from the Arab lands has already led to War of 2-31 May 1941, which formed the in Byculla, Mumbai; his most famous the first event in Britain commemorating background to the Farhud. descendant was the writer and war poet the Farhud, held at Lauderdale Road The British, their military forces Siegfried Sassoon. The brothers Sir Ellis Synagogue, London, on 2 June 2016, stretched to the limit, relied mainly and Sir Eleazer (Elly) Kadoorie established the 75th anniversary of the Farhud. on the RAF to garrison Iraq. Initially major commercial enterprises in Hong Information on the project is available at besieged in their air base at Habbaniya, Kong and Shanghai; Elly’s son Lawrence www.sephardivoices.org.uk. they nevertheless succeeded in defeating was the first Hong Kong-born man to Anthony Grenville the Iraqis in short order and advanced on be elevated to the House of Lords. Sir the capital. Rashid Ali’s regime collapsed; he fled via Iran to Germany. On 1 June AJR FILM CLUB 1941, in the power vacuum before the British entered Baghdad and during KT LUNCH Please join us at our next Film Club. the Jewish festival of Shavuot, a wave Wednesday 16 November 2016 Our film showing will be at of violence erupted, aimed at the city’s at Alyth Gardens Synagogue Sha’arei Tsedek North London Reform Jewish community. Shops and businesses 12.30 pm Synagogue were looted and many homes destroyed; We are delighted to be joined by 120 Oakleigh Road North, marauding armed mobs killed at least 180 Jonathan Arkush Whetstone N20 9EZ on people – some estimates put the number President of the Board of Deputies Wednesday 23 November 2016 far higher – before order was restored on 2 of British Jews at 12.30 pm June. This was the first anti-Jewish pogrom Jonathan is a barrister by A lunch of smoked salmon bagels, in Iraq in modern times; previously, the profession, specialising Danish pastries and tea or coffee will be Jewish community had mostly coexisted in property, probate and served first. commercial law as well as peacefully with its Arab neighbours, whose a mediator. ‘WOMAN IN GOLD’ culture they shared in large measure, He was elected Senior starring Dame Helen Mirren Vice President of the Board of Deputies in May 2009 BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL AJR Chief Executive and chaired the Board’s Defence Division for two Sixty years after fleeing Vienna, Maria Altmann Michael Newman three-year terms until 2015. His responsibilities (Helen Mirren) attempts to reclaim family Finance Director included defending the community against possessions that were seized by the Nazis. David Kaye antisemitism, discrimination and any threat Among them is a famous portrait of Maria's Heads of Department to Jewish faith and practice in the United beloved Aunt Adele: Gustave Klimt's ‘Portrait Karen Markham Human Resources & Administration Kingdom, and forging deeper understanding of Adele Bloch-Bauer I’. With the help of young Sue Kurlander Social Services lawyer Randy Schoeberg (Ryan Reynolds), Maria Carol Hart Community & Volunteer Services between the Jews of Britain and other faiths. He was elected President of the Board in embarks on a legal battle to recover this painting AJR Journal and several others, but it will not be easy as Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor May 2015. Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor Austria considers them national treasures. Karin Pereira Secretarial/Advertisements For further details and booking, £7.00 per person please contact Susan Harrod at AJR on Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not 020 8385 3070 or email [email protected] Please call Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 necessarily those of the Association of Jewish Refugees and should not be regarded as such. We look forward to seeing you or email [email protected]

2 OCTOBER 2016 journal More or less Lamarr he recent correspondence in much of a problem. I was less well the Journal about Hedi Lamarr placed, living in Charlottenburg, by Tevokes delicious memories. She public transport nearly an hour’s ride came into prominence as a result away. My cousin became adept at of a brief appearance in the nude in calculating when the constellation Ekstase (Ecstasy), a film daring in its would be favourable and rang me day but today fit for Children's Hour. when it was time to get moving. The Of course, we all went to see it. My reward, subject to sudden changes cousin watched it 33 times – but then in the weather not interfering, was he came from a rich family. Through overwhelming, as was the crick in his good offices I had the unusual my neck. Hitler saved my cervical advantage of getting glimpses of Hedi vertebrae from permanent damage. au naturel, not just on film. Many years later, when Hedi Lamarr It came about in this way. My (née Kiesler) was a great Hollywood cousin lived in a very grand villa star, and her flesh just a pleasant in Neubabelsberg, just outside memory, I had the chance of being Berlin (Louisenstrasse 23, if you are introduced to President Reagan as a interested in Jewish geography), next reward for a minor service rendered to door to an even grander Palais, the the CIA. It involved a meeting in the home of Lamarr’s then boyfriend. Oval Office, scheduled to last precisely Annual Election Meeting of She was a regular visitor and in the three-and-a-half minutes. I was sure The Association of Jewish habit of sunbathing in the nude in the the President had been briefed on sheltered garden. But there was one why I had been accorded this honour, Refugees (AJR) weak spot in the otherwise perfect and equally sure he had immediately he Annual Election Meeting of The cover and, if one took up position by forgotten. It was therefore up to me Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) a particular first-floor window in my to think of something to say as I was Twill take place at 4 pm on Wednesday cousin's house and craned one’s neck being introduced by Melvin Laird, my 7 December 2016 at Winston House, at an agonising angle, one could see sponsor and one-time Secretary of 2 Dollis Park, London N3 1HF. a wide strip of the lawn next door. As State for Defense. The following serving Trustees are being the earth moved – in every sense – so I decided to mention that I had not proposed for re-election: David Rothenberg, did the sunny strip and with it Hedi. only seen Hedi Lamarr in the nude on Anthony Spiro and Philippa Strauss. There therefore came a moment when film (as I was sure he had) but also – Any associate member wishing to she hove into view in all her splendour. ah, bliss! – in the flesh. I also explained nominate any other associate member It was a matter of fine calculation to briefly about the acrobatics involved. for election as a Trustee must submit a be half-hanging out of the window at A look of recognition lit up the proposal signed by ten associate members the right moment at the right angle. President’s features and, thumping to the AJR’s Chief Executive, together with For my cousin, who had both patience his right fist into the palm of his left the signed agreement of the person being and opportunity, this presented not hand, he said with great conviction nominated. ‘Great bust, bad legs!’ The deadline to submit nominations is Right about that as about so many midday on Friday 4 November 2016, duly other things. received at the AJR’s offices: Winston House, Victor Ross 2 Dollis Park, London N3 1HF.

Visit to Air Transport OUTING TO THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY Auxiliary Museum Monday 12 December 2016 Tour led by Paul Lang 11.00 am followed by lunch TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2016 Guided Tour conducted by Rachel Kosky FLY A SPITFIRE SIMULATOR Join us for a visit to the Air Transport ‘Your Loyal Subjects’ Auxiliary Exhibition. Listen to a forgotten On Rachel Kolsky’s fascinating and ever-popular tour of story of courage, skill and sacrifice. 70 years the National Portrait Gallery, discover members of the on, it is difficult to believe that Britain was Jewish community who became representative British so desperate that the amateur pilots of Air Benjamin Disraeli subjects in the fields of politics, finance, industry and Amy Winehouse Transport Auxiliary (men and women) were culture. Their stories and those of the artists are also the employed to fly dozens of different types of story of the development of the Jewish community in the UK, including the first and only Jewish-born war plane between factories and front-line squadrons. British Prime Minister, two controversial artists who became father and son-in-law, the founding of ICI, and a 1930s Jewish émigré who wrote The Buildings of England. You will have the opportunity to fly a Spitfire Simulator and we will have lunch in a local While there is of course some walking involved, there are portable stools which members can take restaurant before our return. with them around the gallery. For an application form, please call We will arrange travel by coach and, following the tour, lunch in the Portrait Café. Head Office on 020 8385 3070 or email [email protected] For further details, please contact Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 or at [email protected]

3 journal OCTOBER 2016 Back to my roots am what is colloquially known as a was born in 1948 he was named ‘Dovid (closed) town cemetery and, after a few ‘second generation survivor’ – the child Leib’. During my childhood years, I recall unsuccessful attempts, a visit was finally Iof a Holocaust survivor – as are many my mother speaking about her early life arranged for November 2015. My brother people in our community. As the years in London: how she was ‘adopted’ by a David came over from Israel and, with my pass and my parents are unfortunately no lovely family with two sons and stories husband Mike, we made that eventful longer with us, the desire to find out more of her refugee friends, many of whom journey to Germany. about my roots and history has increased. didn’t have as positive experiences with Many people asked me before we My mother arrived in this country on their host families as she did. These went how I felt about it. The truth is that the Kindertransport on 14 February 1939 stories made such an impression on me although I really wanted to go, I was and, in common with so many filled with trepidation at entering Holocaust survivors, hardly spoke a country I had previously never about her experiences leading up to had any desire to visit, with such that day. My father would buy her a horrendous history. I tried to flowers on that date and for many focus on the purpose of the years I thought it was a romantic journey – to visit Gelsenkirchen Valentine’s Day gesture – in reality and the cemetery with the help of it was a celebration of the date on Judith and we would then escape which she arrived in England! as quickly as possible. We landed In 1987 my eldest nephew on German soil and, as I got off in America was working on a the plane, I whispered to Mike family history project at school ‘This is the first and last time I and was required to interview will come here and I will not say a his grandparents about their life Shehecheyanu (prayer to celebrate stories. Never having spoken about special occasions)!’ these distressing memories either Amazingly, the outcome of to my brother or to me, my mother Outside mother’s house in Gelsenkirchen (from left) Mike the trip was far different from recorded much of her story for him Potashnick, Sandy Potashnick, David Feiler this. There were many surprises on tape and, although for many ahead of us that day. Judith years I found it too painful to listen to, that I wrote my dissertation as part of met us on the evening of Sunday 8 it was this recording that enabled us to my sociology degree on ‘The Absorption November at the new synagogue, built piece together some of her story. Process of German Jewish Refugees’ and on the site of the synagogue my mother My mother was an only child born dedicated it to her. had attended and had been burnt down in Gelsenkirchen, a town in north-west Understandably, my mother had on Kristallnacht. She informed us of the Germany, to Polish parents who ironically no desire ever to return to Germany. programme she had planned for the next had moved to Germany for a better However, in the late 1980s, after she had day – coincidentally the 77th anniversary life. In 1927, when she was three, her been diagnosed with cancer, she took the of Kristallnacht. father died and was buried in the town’s incredibly brave and emotional decision When we arrived at the synagogue the Jewish cemetery. A few years later her to visit her father’s grave. My parents next morning there was a large wreath of mother, Sarah, remarried a man with made contact with the head of the Jewish flowers at the memorial stone on the side two sons. The family of four remained community in Gelsenkirchen and they of the building. This was an annual gift in Gelsenkirchen until September 1938, arranged the visit. I recall her commenting from the local government. We discovered when they were all rounded up and taken on her return how well looked after the that Judith’s late father, Kurt Neuwald, away. They were deported to a place cemetery was and how everything in had been the previous president of the she describes as ‘no man’s land’ on the Germany was so well organised – ‘typical community and the person who had borders of Germany and Poland and it of the Germans’, she said in disgust. The taken my parents to the cemetery some was from this camp that she was able to other remarkable thing that came out 25 years earlier. He had been taken to register for a place on the Kindertransport. of that visit was that, according to the the camps with 27 family members and Unfortunately, neither of her step- headstone, her father’s name was actually lost his first wife there, but after the war brothers was eligible and, although one Yehuda Menachem and not Leib! When he resolved to return to Gelsenkirchen was eventually able to escape through my son was born in 1990 we named and rebuild his own life and that of the Siberia to the USA, the rest of the family him Shmuel Yehuda in honour of my community. He was determined that perished in, or en route to, the camps. grandfather and to continue the family Hitler would not destroy all Jewish life. Through the Red Cross, she was able to names down the generations. Remarkably, he did just that! There is maintain contact with her mother by letter Mum sadly died in 1993 aged only a huge memorial wall dedicated to until 1942 and I am the proud owner of 69 but having had a happy marriage, a the approximately 300 Gelsenkirchen this bundle of letters sent from a loving fulfilling life, and having been fortunate residents who were deported in 1942, mother to a daughter living many miles enough to have seen both her children but what we also experienced first-hand away in a strange country with an English married and four grandchildren. was a warm and thriving community with family: seemingly her main concerns in the As the years have passed, the desire a full-time rabbi and a modern building correspondence were whether she was to visit my grandfather’s grave, to see hosting many varied events including a eating enough, keeping warm enough, Gelsenkirchen, where my mother grew youth theatre group, a sing-along session and why she didn’t write more often! It up, and to find my roots deepened. for senior members and, of course, regular was the same Red Cross organisation that Unfortunately, she did not leave us any Shabbat services. How courageous of informed her after the war of the death information about the cemetery or the one man with a vision and how heart- of her mother. whereabouts of his grave. However, warming to meet a rabbi and a synagogue Although my mother didn’t have after much research, I made contact with president working hard arranging the many memories of her real father, she the President of the Jewish Community, same kind of activities as we in Edgware recalled that he was fondly known at Judith Neuwald-Tasbach, and located and David’s synagogue in Netanya. home as ‘Leib’ and so when my brother my grandfather’s grave in the old continued on page 5 

4 OCTOBER 2016 journal My grandmother – the best cook in the world y grandmother, Adele Metall, by Eva Blumenthal and mother as domestic servants to the was born in 1887 into a relatives of the improvident Hungarian Mprosperous family in Lemberg. me two conflicting stories about this and my father, a lawyer, as a bookkeeper At that time, Lemberg was still very talent. My mother was born in Vienna in to the lampshade business. Somehow much part of the Habsburg Empire and 1908. As a small child she was travelling they managed to bring with them their she grew up speaking both Polish and on a train with my grandmother and furniture, including my pink-painted German and, since she had a French in the same compartment was a man nursery table and chairs. Our home, until governess, also French – but heaven who had a parrot in a cage. My mother my mother died in 1994, looked just forfend, not Yiddish! Her grandfather put her hand too close and the parrot like that of Sigmund Freud in Maresfield had made his fortune dealing in timber nipped her. The man was very concerned Gardens (except for the couch). for the building of the railways. She was and the next day a bunch of flowers In the second story, my grandmother the youngest child of the youngest of his was delivered to their flat with a card explained that when they knew they were five sons and the youngest of 28 cousins. signed ‘Franz Lehar’, saying leaving their comfortable life All the sons were left enough money he hoped the little girl had in Vienna she asked her cook by their father to live as gentlemen of recovered; in return, my to teach her everything she leisure but her father was a gambler: by grandmother, who was a knew about cooking. I have the time she had grown up, there was marvellous baker, sent one detailed exercise books with only enough money for a small dowry of her delicious cakes to all her Viennese recipes. I also and, when she was 19, a marriage was him. The family became firm have her book Wie koche ich arranged with a much older pharmacist. friends and Lehar became in England by Kitty Köberle, Fortunately he had to work for his living my mother’s Onkel Franz. published in Vienna in 1938. and they moved to the centre of the As a teenager my mother It contains recipes for rissoles, Habsburg Empire, Vienna, where my took singing lessons and shepherd’s pie, bubble and mother was born and grew up, became performed at concerts of his squeak, bread and butter a pharmacist like her father, married my pupils. I still have the concert pudding, rhubarb fool, and father, and eventually gave birth to me programmes and a collection other English delights, none in 1936. Almost all my grandmother's of postcards from Onkel of which my grandmother cousins remained in Lemberg and were Franz‘s trips to many places. ever made. Throughout the murdered in the Holocaust. The other story concerned war she somehow managed Our family was fairly prosperous and our escape to England in 1938. My to make the rich Austrian dishes of her lived a rich social and cultural life. In 1938 grandmother had two sisters, one pre-war life. everything changed when my father of whom had married a dashing but It was my grandmother who cared lost his job as company secretary to improvident Hungarian who was, luckily for me in London while my mother and the largest department store in Vienna, for us, unable to make a living in Vienna. father went out to work and I used to Gerngross, and my mother’s pharmacy He and my great-aunt moved to London sit on our kitchen window ledge while was ‘aryanised’. in the 1920s and set up a small lampshade she cooked and told me stories about My grandmother, like everybody else’s manufacturing business. In 1938 my her previous life. Later on I became her grandmother, was the best cook in the grandmother, parents and I were able world – she really was! – and she told to come to England, my grandmother continued on page 10 

Back to my roots  continued Kurt Neuwald was made an Honorary current Jewish community – a community ‘Sarah Chaya’. Whilst Hitler had destroyed Citizen of the city of Gelsenkirchen for all financially supported by today’s German and devastated so many of our families his efforts in Jewish renewal and there is a government in what appeared a sincere and communities, he had not won. square named after him in the town centre. attempt at T’shuva (repentance). This That evening, before we flew home, Aside from this, our personal family interview later appeared as part of a we participated in a memorial march to journey was emotional and uplifting. news item commemorating Kristallnacht. the old cemetery in the presence of the Unknown to us, Judith had enlisted I never expected my first (and probably mayor and other dignitaries, who made the help of a local historian who had only) TV appearance to be on German speeches on remembrance and tolerance. uncovered two handwritten documents TV with my words dubbed into German! That Kristallnacht memorial march is an showing the addresses where our mother We then went to the old cemetery annual event sponsored by the city with had lived. We visited both locations with – the original main purpose of the trip. the participation also of many non-Jews. Judith. One was a flat above a shop We were saddened to see several double We came home physically and (possibly the family furniture business), headstones with only one name engraved emotionally exhausted and deeply moved the other a large house, which we on them of someone who had died by so many events in 24 hours, but at the guessed would have been occupied by before the war: their spouse presumably same time uplifted, having experienced more than one family. At the house we had no burial place just like our own the warmth of the Jewish community in a were interviewed by the local TV station, grandmother. It was, of course, an small town that was almost destroyed in who asked us about our feelings towards emotionally charged moment finally to be the Shoah but has risen up and revitalised modern Germany. We both expressed standing at the grave of the grandfather itself and – please God – will continue to our mixed feelings that day: the intense we never had the privilege of knowing go from strength to strength. We can emotions of our family’s history, seeing but, as we recited Tehillim (Psalms) never forgive or forget but there was how our mother’s family’s lives were cut and El Male Rachamim, I looked at the some personal closure that day and a new down, together with many reminders names on the stone and realised how my friend was made. I feel sure I will return all over the town of who and what grandfather lives on through my son Sam to Germany one day despite my original had been destroyed, contrasting with and my grandmother Sarah – who has no misgivings. the renewed faith we felt within the burial place or headstone – lives on in me, Sandy Potashnick

5 journal OCTOBER 2016

Saturday was cancelled about 24 hours beforehand in deference to objections by one (or some) nameless Jewish member(s). As there was insufficient time to arrange another meeting, we were unable to make a nomination. Some of the most vociferous objectors to this came from the other Jewish Labour supporters themselves. Plainly, they do not consider that the Party is antisemitic. The Editor reserves the right John Buck, London N15 to shorten correspondence submitted for publication Sir – Mr Grünewald’s letter reminds me of an old English proverb: ‘There are none so blind as those that do not want to see AN EVENING TO REMEMBER and none so dumb as those that do not want to learn.’ Sir – It was an honour to be part of the summer day, with the colourful picnickers Perhaps a reminder of the post-Second AJR’s recognition of the work of Sir in the grounds followed by an excellent World War government action against Rudolf Bing and his vision to establish performance of The Marriage of Figaro survivors anxious to get to Palestine the tradition that is now Glyndebourne. and an enjoyable dinner. My daughter might reignite a spark: the interception of Prior to the dedication, as we in Surrey and I would like to thank you so much clapped-out ships and the internment of waited patiently for our coach, we had for organising this visit, which was the passengers in camps in Cyprus – not unlike enough time to admire how glamorous highlight of my summer. those these people had experienced during we were and how evening attire had Marion Stenham, Elstree, Herts the war; and the culmination of the return swept away the years. It was unfortunate to Hamburg of the Exodus passengers that due to circumstances beyond our Sir – On a perfect summer’s day, with followed by their incarceration in a control we were a little late. However, not a cloud in the sky, a group of AJR camp in Lübeck previously used to house kindly, the assembled gathering waited members went to the opera – Mozart’s forced and slave labour for the local steel for us before beginning the dedication The Marriage of Figaro at Glyndebourne. industry. Yes, Mr Grünewald, those actions of the AJR plaque to Sir Rudolf. And what a treat it was. The performance were ordered by a Labour government Following the ceremony it was great was outstanding as expected, the singing under a department controlled by Ernest to explore. The sunshine, together with superb and, as always, it was a bonus Bevin! Certainly such actions could not the picnickers in their evening finery to meet old friends. The dinner during have been motivated by anything other scattered around the beautiful lawns, the interval was delicious with more than anti-Jewish bias. made for a picture perfect scene. opportunities to chat to colleagues. It The writer’s diatribe of dislike for the The opera Le Nozze di Figaro – was a long day but full of pleasure and State of Israel signifies his mindset. well, what can I say! The beautiful, we all left Glyndebourne with Mozart’s Herbert Haberberg, Barnet, Herts effortless singing was a joy made more wonderful music still ringing in our ears. so because the cast seemed to enjoy their Our thanks to Esther, Kathryn and KINDERTRANSPORT BOYS IN LEEDS performance as much as the audience Rosemary for their support as always and Sir – I am researching the reception given did. to the AJR for making this trip possible. by the Leeds Jewish community to the With the long intermission we were Meta Roseneil, Buckhurst Hill, Essex Kindertransport children, in particular in for another treat. Arranged by the the establishment and running of the AJR, with their usual attention to detail, Sir – Beryl and I would like to thank the boys’ hostel in Stainbeck Lane. I would buggies were laid on for those in need to AJR for organising such a successful be interested to hear any information that take them to the restaurant. Every detail and enjoyable outing to Glyndebourne. readers may have of the names of boys for dining must have been planned down It was an unforgettable experience for who stayed there during the war years, to the last coffee and truffle. Thankfully both of us. any recollections about life in the hostel the walk back to the auditorium was Gabor and Beryl Otvos, and the experiences of the boys, and if any downhill – I would never have made it Pinner, Middlesex photographs still exist. uphill! See report on unveiling of plaque on Ian Vellins, Back to enjoy – and enjoy I did in no page 11 (Ed.). 173 Alwoodley Lane, Leeds LS177PG small measure – the second half of the tel 011 3268 5747 opera. email [email protected] Home by midnight. What an evening! LABOUR AND ANTISEMITISM Thank you, AJR. Sir – As a Labour Party member and the A FISHY STORY June Wertheim, Esher, Surrey spouse of a Kindertransport refugee (now Sir – On reading Fran Horwich’s article sadly deceased), I should like to speak up about Hull in your August issue, I was Sir – As one of your oldest members, in support of Heinz Grünewald, who in my reminded of my mother’s and my arrival may I thank you for the most wonderful opinion was unjustly criticised by several in Hull in mid-June 1939 as refugees from outing. We arrived just in time for the correspondents in your September issue. Nazi oppression. unveiling of the plaque to Sir Rudolf In my local constituency, we have many Our journey to Hull took place because Bing, which was a wonderful beginning active Jewish members and from our of the purser of the German liner we were to a fantastic evening. Facebook blog I judge that although a few booked on to go to America, where we Having loved and experienced of them would side with Mr Grünewald’s had relations who had sponsored us. Our Glyndebourne in all its stages since I critics, the vast majority would agree luggage was thrown off the boat as the arrived in England with my family in with him. purser shouted ‘We have enough bloody 1937, I never thought I would be able Recently, a constituency meeting for Jews on board!’ to visit the opera house one more time. the Labour leadership nomination that We were stranded in Hamburg without It was such a typical hot English had been arranged to take place on a money (as with so many other people, my

6 OCTOBER 2016 journal mother’s bank account had been frozen enigmatic, reading. when he was old enough and the dust by the Nazis). We stayed in a convent until As I am a native speaker of Hungarian had settled. Hopefully it will be passed on the Jewish community found us a British – that ‘ridiculous language’ – it would to my grandson in due course – but, since fishing boat going to Hull. The boat had give me pleasure to translate into English he is only two now, I will once again be about ten passengers. The crossing was the captions in his late grandfather’s unable to pass on ‘oral history’. extremely rough even though it was June. sketchbook. Michael Feld, London N3 My poor mother was very seasick and I Thank you for the interesting Journal – I thought I would arrive in Britain as an look forward to reading it every month. ‘MEMORIES OF A GERMAN orphan. The captain and a lady looked (Mrs) Martha Weissbart, London NW11 CHILDHOOD’ after us, assuring me mother would Sir – Rachel Mendel’s letter in your August survive – a relief to my 16-year-old ears! A HUGE HONOUR issue rang not just a bell but set in motion In Hull, members of the Jewish Sir – In my article on my recent visits an entire tintinnabulation. community saw us to our train for to Berlin and Koszalin (August issue), My mother knew by heart not only the Scotland, bought us sandwiches and, as a modesty forbade me to mention one whole of ‘Das Lied von der Glocke’ but special treat, a large bar of Cadbury’s milk episode that I now feel I should not have all Schiller’s poems and plays, it would and nut chocolate for our onward journey omitted in deference to Professor P.A. seem, as well as all the German classics in to Stirling to take up our positions as cook Albrecht and Anna Essinger, whose name general. She and my father would amuse general for mother and me as housemaid was adopted for the combined schools in themselves by making a sort of game out – but that’s another story. Zehlendorf, Berlin. of it: he’d go to the bookcase, take out any That is my memory of Hull together After I had given my account of volume, open it on any page and read one with the smell of fish! When I visited the Anna Essinger’s personality and line out to her, whereupon she would tell city a few years ago the smell of fish was achievements Professor Albrecht made him instantly where it occurred, just like gone .... a short impassioned speech in which he some modern-day computer. Ruth Young, Sidcup, Kent announced the setting up of an annual But what really threw me were those prize for the three pupils who had done quotations with some funny line added on GENEALOGICAL PATHWAYS most to further multicultural and social that she heard from her mother. They were Sir – Reading Anthony Grenville’s article development in the school: the Anna the very same ones I used to hear from my and its mention of a 1975 victim of the Essinger and Leslie Baruch Brent Prize. I mother in a different context but equally IRA, Professor Gordon Hamilton Fairley, did my best, but unsuccessfully, to have funny, e.g. ‘Raum ist in der kleinsten Hütte’ gave me a different memory slant on my name taken off, but it is of course a (There’s room in the smallest hut, from the episode. I first met Gordon in 1958 huge honour for me to be linked in this Schiller’s poem ‘Der Jüngling am Bache’), when I was a clinical medical student at way to Anna Essinger. our hairdresser’s name having been Barts Hospital. Even then I was interested It is the second annual prize set up in ‘Raum’ and his shop in Fürth a small hut. in family history and I knew he had my name in the last couple of years: the As for the oft quoted ‘Der Wahn ist married a Jewish distant cousin of mine. Leslie Baruch Brent Prize is given by The kurz, die Reu ist lang’ (Illusion is brief but I showed him the family tree and for (international) Transplantation Society for regret is long-lasting, from ‘Das Lied von the next few years, while I qualified and the best basic science paper published in der Glocke’), walking through the park worked as a junior doctor at Barts, we its journal Transplantation. as a child in Maribor, Slovenia, one day, saw quite a lot of each other. He was Leslie Baruch Brent (Emeritus Professor), I overheard a German-speaking lady say aware of his wife’s well established Anglo- London N19 to her friend in an Austrian accent what Jewish ancestry, extending back to our I understood as ‘Der Wagen (Wag’n) ist communities in Falmouth and Penzance in ‘SECOND GENERATION MEMORIES’ kurz, die Reu ist lang’ (The carriage is short the early eighteenth century, as well as her Sir – Referring to Anthony Grenville’s but the journey is long). When I reported connection to similiarly well established recent article, I was born in Berlin in this to my mother she said this was one ‘aristocracy’ of the early Australian-Jewish 1929 and fled with my parents in 1933, of the best jokes she had heard and that I community. therefore retaining few memories of that must have misunderstood – what the lady In May this year Matthew Parris wrote life. Not many more of the following two must have said was: ‘Der Wahn ist kurz, an article in The Times about an interview years in Prague either. I only really started die Reu ist lang.’ with Charles Moore, a former editor of remembering after we got to London in As for Peter Phillip’s letter in your the Daily Telegraph, and Moore’s choice 1935. August issue, all it does is furnish further of a ‘great life’. Despite his biography of Eventually I married into the Anglo- proof of my point as, once again, it doesn’t Margaret Thatcher, his choice was his late Jewish community and, for reasons some make sense. I hadn’t written that ‘[W]ives neighbour, Gordon Hamilton Fairley. The of which were perhaps not unconnected to don’t want to sit next to their husbands in recording interview was with Gordon's past events, went through a catastrophic shul.’ I clearly stated that couples who opt widow and (now adult) children in the divorce before the children were old to sit next to each other in synagogue ’will studio at the time. enough for intelligent conversation obviously not even contemplate attending Another tangential connection of about the past. However, I never entirely Orthodox services.’ possible interest to your readership is that lost contact with my younger son and No one but the most unintelligent David Lang, a frequent reporter of AJR began to worry that he was growing up or devious person could have got my events in your columns, is equally a distant not knowing where he had come from meaning wrong – but then ‘logic’ is not cousin of mine and of Daphne Hamilton although my parents lived long enough in Mr Phillips’s dictionary. As for the rest, Fairley through the same genealogical for him to experience their warmth. I need to take a deep breath and leave it pathways. I can well understand that to some at that. (Dr) Anthony Joseph, people the past was so painful that they Margarete Stern, London NW3 Emeritus President, Jewish Genealogical tried to expunge it, but my parents were Society of Great Britain, able to view it as just another part of our KEEPING UP THE TRADITION Smethwick, West Midlands family history. That I couldn’t talk this over Sir – I recently read about AJR members’ with my son as he grew up seemed to me problem with regard to sitting – or not ‘A RIDICULOUS LANGUAGE’ next door to a dereliction of duty. This sitting – next to their wives in synagogue. Sir – David Wirth’s article in your September decided me to write down a short sort of In Budapest, where I come from, there is a issue makes for interesting, if slightly autobiography, which I gave to my son continued on page 16 

7 journal OCTOBER 2016

by a woman artist. To some, her oeuvre is the ultimate expression of the female body; others hear REVIEWS musical notation. But there are Cubist influences too in New York Street with Moon, A magnificent work ART while Black Cross with Stars and Blue from MY DEAR ONES: ONE FAMILY AND her New Mexico period merges the deep THE FINAL SOLUTION NOTES blue landscape and paler blue starry night by Jonathan Wittenberg GLORIA TESSLER with the brooding black cross, only partially London: William Collins, 2016, 354 conveyed, which ingeniously suggests that pp. hardback including Notes, Christian influence over the elemental ISBN 978-0-00-815803-3 Modernist painter who developed Mexican landscape. efore it was agreed that I should shapes and forms from her private O’Keeffe is an artist equally dominated review this book there was fantasy world, Georgia O’Keeffe’s by colour. In 1934 she discovered Ghost Bdiscussion as to whether I was Aimagination peaked when she visited Taos maybe ‘too close’ to the author for Ranch, where tourists discovered a fake and Alcalde in New Mexico in 1929. She Wild West effect. She bought the house professional reasons but, since Rabbi was mesmerised by the colours of the sky, in 1940 and painted the subtle mood and Wittenberg and I work for different the earth-built architecture, the mountain colour shifts seen from the window: ‘I wish movements in different countries, I plateaux and the ubiquitous crosses. you could see what I see – the earth pink felt this should not be a problem. Soon and yellow cliffs to the north – the after opening the book, however, full pale moon about to go out in an I realised that early morning lavender sky – it is a there was indeed very beautiful world.’ a closeness, not In a career spanning seven decades in terms of our (she died at 98), she became the best profession but a known female artist in photographer personal one for Alfred Stieglitz’s avant-garde circle. we have stories which are closely She later married him. parallel – both of Jonathan Her first abstracts were in charcoal: us searching for Wittenberg she resisted any colour except black the history of a lost family, recreating and white but her colour skills became from salvaged documents a sequence evident in her vivid watercolours of of events, and trying to clothe the Virginia and Texas. scraps of knowledge and fill the gaps Her abstracts in oils demonstrate with surmise, a surmise compounded the relationship of form to music, with regret at not having asked these colour and composition, preceded questions earlier when there might by her famed flower abstractions. have been more chance of discovering But frustrated by critics who saw her Georgia O’Keeffe photographed in 1918 by the information that would fill some Alfred Stieglitz. Photograph: The J. Paul Getty paintings as erotic, she moved into less of the aching gaps. And the book is Museum/Alfred Stieglitz popular, Cubist-inspired work. filled with aching gaps, chronicling From 1925 she painted New York the lives and relationships of many Tate Modern’s (until 30 October cityscapes but the city lost its magic for her family members and in many – in 2016) most significant exhibition of her after the Wall Street crash of 1929. Her love most – cases describing how all their work outside the US charts her progress of New Mexico was possibly rooted in her best efforts met with no success and, from floral shapes in primary colours – paintings of Lake George, with its maple trapped in a tightening net, they met particularly her celebrated flower painting colours, its soft blues and greens and, of their brutal and undeserved fates. Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 (1932) course, her eternal flower. Rabbi Wittenberg’s search began – to red desertscapes and, later still, her ‘Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so with an encounter while clearing exploration of animal bones found in the small – we haven’t time – and to see takes the home of a deceased relative, desert. She was less interested in the pelvic time,’ she wrote. stumbling over an old suitcase on bones themselves than in the blue sky a balcony in Rehavia in Jerusalem. she glimpsed through the holes in them. Unopened for 60 years or so, the Working in the 1940s, the era of the Second suitcase proved to contain letters, World War, she read its metaphor into Annely Juda Fine Art documents, receipts, and all sorts of the bones, suggesting that the blue would 23 Dering Street things including a Ketubah (Jewish survive ‘all man’s destruction’. (off New Bond Street) marriage contract), receipts for The Tate has assembled over 100 major funeral expenses and photographs works from lenders across 23 US states. Tel: 020 7629 7578 – a true treasure trove. The story the Her famous depiction of the humble white Fax: 020 7491 2139 documents tell is one familiar to many garden weed is on loan from Crystal Bridges CONTEMPORARY readers of this journal so it doesn’t need to be explained at length. Museum of American Art in Arkansas and is PAINTING AND SCULPTURE the most expensive painting sold at auction Jonathan discovers family members

8 OCTOBER 2016 journal from Berlin and Breslau, from Posen discard the old and rusted artefacts. I noted one slight typo – where and Holesov, and explores on the There are references to the traumas ‘Siberia’ should read ‘Silesia’. But this basis of the few facts available and one inherits when a father suddenly is nitpicking. It is a magnificent work. occasional family anecdotes handed snaps ‘Don't write your religion on Walter Rothschild down. He describes in a moving, clear that official form – that’s how they and readable style how they met and found the Jews!’ married, their piety, their impressive If an intelligent teenager is to and respected rabbinic careers, the read any one book about the Shoah A precious record families they raised, how they later this should be the one. Although it A BERLIN DIARY 1943-1944: THE tried to escape the tightening controls references historical events and cites COMPLETE GERMAN-ENGLISH around them, how they worked so from speeches by Nazi leaders it is not ANNOTATED DIARY OF CÄCILIE hard to save each other as well as a listing of statistics but a passionate, LEWISSOHN themselves, writing and pleading for moving description of the destruction Stephen Graeme Hodgson (ed.) a visa here, a guarantee there, an of a family of innocent people: Saarbrücken: Editiones Originum, opening anywhere. mothers and fathers, grandmothers, 2013, 162 pp. paperback, All is placed in historical context, for cousins and aunts and children, some ISBN 9783639540062 instance Hitler's speech on 30 January of whom survived physically but all of his book is the record of the last 1939 threatening ‘annihilation’ for whom were devastated, both keeping months of the life of a Jewish Europe’s Jews. The author is excellent and hiding documents from the past. Twoman in war-torn Berlin. In at describing how Nazi policy gradually In a sense, the core of the book is a her diary, Mrs Lewissohn chronicles changed as the war progressed, how personal comment on p. 240f: ‘[T]hey the nightly Allied bombing raids and there were internal disputes about decided they had had enough. “We her panic to get to the shelter in time. what best to do – to force emigration couldn’t take any more,” Jenny told Food is a daily preoccupation, all the or prevent it, to use labour or eliminate me. They had known [the writers] and more so for her as she has left the people, to deport them east of the could hear their voices in every word Judenhaus to which she had been Urals or shoot them straight away, or ... I and those like me belonging to moved and is living illegally with a to let them starve and die of hunger, the second and third generations were forged identity among friends and cold and exhaustion ... free to follow our inner compulsion family, constantly dependent on their Letters, hopeful, personal letters to know what had happened without goodwill. In her sixties at the time of describing to those in America or experiencing a similar impact of writing, she is not always in good Palestine what those in Germany or immediate personal pain.’ And this health. Her children and other family the ‘Protectorate’ or even in obscure is it – the effort of the following members, long absent, are a source of transit camps are doing, are contrasted generations to decipher, to translate, anguish to her. She finds some solace with the official instructions not to to explore, to visit and to understand in her music: she is an outstanding let Jews use telephones (p.208) or what happened to the grandparents pianist and continues to give lessons arguments between various groups as and great-aunts and uncles and to supplement her very restricted to who might profit from destroyed cousins whom they never met. Just income. synagogues, or the letter by Höppner ordinary people. ‘My dear ones.’ This account could stand alone, of the Reichssicherheitsdienst in Shining through the book too poignant and revealing, with Posen putting forward a suggestion is an endless faith in a God who is some background information to that it might be more merciful to kill frequently called upon to protect and contextualise it. Instead, the editor has the Jews rather than just let them help and save the ‘dear ones’. Not all chosen to add more than double the die – the ‘final solution’ was to be readers may share this faith, not all text and here some subjects are more a ‘most humane solution’ (p.236). will be able to balance the ‘theodicy’ useful than others. For example, a tour This is highly valuable in terms of question – the role of God in a tragic of the streets and places of Berlin that establishing the context for it is family saga which continues through are her shrinking world is most helpful clear that the victims could not have the post-war tragedies (one of the as it tells us what has been bombed known what was to happen if even family members is murdered in the and when and what her city would the perpetrators were unsure what ‘Hadassah Convoy Massacre’ during have looked like then. Interesting too to do next. the build-up to the independence of is the account of wartime films that There are beautiful insights. One the State of Israel) – to the present, Cäcilie went to see or some that were person, having safely got to England the author himself as a rabbi clearly also being shown at that time. What after a stormy ferry crossing from feeling strongly connected to the faith messages did they give? Were they Hoek van Holland in January 1939, of his ancestors. In Alfred’s last letter propaganda films in disguise? writes to his mother still in Berlin before his murder he described his Less useful and frankly puzzling ‘We were all seasick during the night. efforts to establish legal principles for is a section on the use of language It’s an illness most people long for the nascent state: ‘I’m responsible for in the diaries. The editor claims that the opportunity to have.’ There are the departments of religious, family ‘transliteration [of her handwriting] personal connections to a set of and inheritance law. There are many reveals more about intonation, stress old prayer books which survived or difficult issues that could be resolved and rhythmic meter.’ There are some the manner in which parents and if only our rabbis were of the right six pages on this theme, bringing in grandparents had preserved fruit calibre.’ One could – should – write a Shelly [sic], John Locke and the poetry in jars – and yet the time comes to book on this statement alone. continued on page 10 

9 journal OCTOBER 2016 HISTORY, GENEALOGY, AND GENETICS OF EUROPEAN JEWS have had a lifelong interest in European by Edward Gelles Rothschild. history but my deeper studies of the While the review does not give readers IJews in Europe began about 20 years circle intermarried over many centuries. an adequate picture of the book’s scope, ago with a search for my family roots. This These families were part of the backbone it has served the providential purpose involved the records and memorial books of Ashkenazi Jewry and their story of impelling me to respond and, in so of many Jewish communities, the study could be taken as a microcosm of a doing, to clarify what the book is about of documents including birth, marriage, wider history of the Jews in Europe. The and why it might appeal to a wider death and property records, tombstone biographical and genealogical material readership looking for some guidance inscriptions, business, taxation, and thus brought together led to studies in a search for their ancestry. school records, army lists, ship manifests, presented in my latest book: The Jewish The reviewer comments on two immigration and naturalisation records, Journey: A Passage through European passages from my book, relating to the monographs of all kinds, and ephemera History (I. B. Tauris, 2016). ancient Chayes rabbinical lineage and to including old newspapers and personal This is an interdisciplinary work that the subject of Davidic descent. My books correspondence. The study led to my first brings together European history with and my ‘Edward Gelles’ web page in the book, An Ancient Lineage: European Jewish genealogy and the increasingly Balliol College archive show these in a Roots of a Jewish Family (Vallentine important application of DNA tests different light. Mitchell, 2006), which received a number that throw fresh light on old and new I have published articles on the Chayes of favourable reviews, including one in problems in historical and genealogical family in British, American, Israeli and the AJR Journal (December 2006). research. Austrian genealogical journals. On the The book showed how scores of It was reviewed in the August 2016 subject of Davidic descent, my discussion prominent families in my wider family issue of the AJR Journal by Walter in this and earlier books focuses on the ‘historical impact of ancient myth’, namely the importance that presumed My grandmother – the best cook in the world continued from pg 5 Davidic descent played in medieval and  early modern times in supporting the assistant cook and was allowed to beat now and a fair cook myself, though legitimacy of certain ruling families and the cake mixes and whip the week’s not up to her standard. From time to in the accompanying issue of the ‘divine accumulation on top of the gold-topped time I feel the urge or am pushed by right of kings’. milk into cream – strenuous jobs before my children, her great-grandchildren, The reviewer seems to lack an the advent of the food mixer. She went to make Krautstrudel or Kaiserschmarrn understanding of what the study on cooking three-course meals for my or the Nussroulade she always made of genealogy is about and what parents, myself and, after I married, my for my birthday. My two daughters, husband and our four children, every one here and one in Israel, are both contributions it makes to historical Sunday until she was 90 and always more than competent bakers of classic research. He expresses his dislike of the sent us home with Monday’s supper Viennese cakes. large number of genealogical charts ready to reheat. Every Wednesday she As Claudia Roden writes in her Book included in my book, which is after and my mother came to visit us with of Jewish Food: ‘Dishes are important all largely concerned with genealogy! cakes for our tea. She died when she because they are a link with the past, And incidentally, most of my charts are was 91 having smoked 20 cigarettes a a celebration of roots, a symbol of original, in many cases incorporating day for 20 years. When we advised her continuity. Cooking … is transmitted in data unearthed by me and often very to give up she always said she was too every family like genes … and … makes revealing in connection with their old to die of cancer, but in this instance it possible by examining family dishes historical background. He criticises the she was wrong. to define the identity and geographical lack of biographical history of individuals I am a mother and grandmother origin of a family line.’ continued on page 14 

 Reviews continued from pg 9 of Ferdinand Freiligrath. Surely there into English are worse and very coal up for her from the cellar. She is no need to claim great literary merit frequent. These mistakes mean that continues: ‘Dafür stopfte ich ihnen die for the diary? the reader who does not understand Strümpfe, eine Liebe ist der anderen Apart from the disjointed effect of German is misled on many occasions. Wert!’ This means ‘In return, I darned the contextual sections, there is one On page 16, ‘Ich habe eine ganze their socks for them – one good turn major problem: the book apparently Menge Lebensmittel in dieser Zeit deserves another!’ In the book, this escaped the attention of a single copy von ihr bekommen’ is rendered is rendered as ‘I found it necessary to editor or proof reader. The English is as ‘[I] have been able to get a fair stitch my stockings. Hard work can be in parts inappropriate, in the wrong quota of ration cards during this another’s blessing.’ register or just incorrect: ‘She once time.’ But ‘Lebensmittel’ is ‘food’ not Cäcilie Lewissohn deserved better. slips into revelry [reverie?] as her ‘ration cards’ and the editor explains However, her diary in German, saved mind focuses on her music.’ This is elsewhere in detail the difficulties that and lovingly transliterated and not petty quibbling: poor English those in hiding faced without ration published here, is a precious record undermines the reader’s confidence cards. A baffling mistake. of one woman’s last days before she in what is being related and is a There are too many mistakes to was taken off to the camps and her distraction. quote so one last one should make the life extinguished. But the translations of the diary point. Her nephew came and hauled Anna Nyburg

10 OCTOBER 2016 journal AJR unveils plaque in honour of Sir Rudolf Bing at Glyndebourne s part of its 75th Anniversary Through our plaque scheme, we are celebrations, the AJR honouring prominent Jewish émigrés Ahas unveiled a special from Nazism who made a significant commemorative plaque in honour contribution to their adopted of Sir Rudolf Bing at Glyndebourne homeland. The plaque honouring opera house. Sir Rudolf was General Sir Rudolf follows the dedications Manager at Glyndebourne from 1936 we have already mounted: to the to 1949. biochemist and Nobel Prize-winner Sir Following the unveiling, AJR Hans Krebs, to Sir Ludwig Guttmann, members from across the country who founded the Paralympics, and enjoyed a performance of Mozart’s to the theologian, teacher and rabbi The Marriage of Figaro and a dinner Dr Leo Baeck. We have also installed at one of Glyndebourne’s famous a plaque in memory of the Cosmo restaurants. restaurant in Swiss Cottage, London, Sir Rudolf, who was born in Vienna a famous meeting place for the in 1902, studied music and art history refugees. at the University of Vienna before We believe that these moving in 1927 to Berlin, where he commemorative plaques will help served as general manager of opera form a tangible link between the houses, and later to Darmstadt. illustrious earlier residents and the In February 1934, at the request of local community as well as fascinating fellow émigré Fritz Busch, Sir Rudolf residents and visitors. In addition to negotiated the contracts for European being instructive and informative, they singers to perform at Glyndebourne bring the past into the present and Glyndebourne Executive Chairman before arriving there himself in the Gus Christie (left) with AJR Chairman Andrew they perpetuate the memory of the summer of 1934. He fulfilled the same Kaufman (Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: person being honoured.’ job a year later, when he also worked Sam Stephenson) Gus Christie, Executive Chairman of at the Festival as an assistant producer. Glyndebourne, said: ‘We are delighted In the following year, 1936, he took AJR Trustee Frank Harding said: ‘It to have a plaque honouring Rudi Bing, over as General Manager, a position gives us great pleasure to commemorate who, along with my grandparents, he held until 1939, and took up again the life of Sir Rudolf Bing, someone John Christie and Audrey Mildmay, the in 1945, until he left to become the whose accomplishments brought great conductor Fritz Busch and director Carl General Manager of the Metropolitan joy and entertainment to generations Ebert, were the founding fathers of Opera in New York in 1949. of people from around the world. Glyndebourne Festival Opera and were Sir Rudolf became a British subject Through his pioneering work at responsible for setting the standards, in 1946, a year before founding the Glyndebourne, and later at Edinburgh, to which we still aspire today. As my Edinburgh International Festival. He he made an enormous contribution to grandfather said: “[D]oing not the best was knighted in 1971 and died in New British culture, on which he has left an we can do, but the best that can be York in 1997 aged 95. indelible mark. done anywhere!”’

Valediction Memorial ‘To the parents who let their children go …’ ‘Goodbye, be good, look after your brother/sister, be polite to your English guardians – and write often …’ hese are the last words the It is planned to have the memorial Kindertransport children would in place by March 2017 to mark the Thear from their parents, most day the first train left Prague. of whom perished in the Holocaust. Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines MBE, As a permanent reminder of the 87, who arrived in the UK in August courage of the parents who let 1939, says: ‘This means so much for their children go, it is planned to our children and grandchildren. By erect a memorial in Prague’s main involving the younger generations, we railway station, Hlavjni Nadrazi, want to show the sacrifice our parents from which most of the ‘Winton made so that their families would live.’ trains’ departed. Lady Grenfell-Baines is working The memorial, which will be with fellow Kinder Zuzana Maresova mounted on a plinth, is to be made and Tomas Kraus, Chairman of the mainly in bronze and glass. Hands Federation of Jewish Communities, to modelled in the glass have been cast raise the £100,000 needed to build using the hands of descendants of and maintain the bronze and glass Artist’s impression of memorial by children put onto the train. memorial. Stuart Mason

11 journal OCTOBER 2016 less so – took us through many time may be empathy with people – and periods and traditions between 1480 entertained us with amusing anecdotes. and 2003. Our next book: Letters from Carol Hart, AJR’s Head of Volunteer and Skye by Jessica Brockmole. Community Services, spoke about the Anthea Berg AJR’s forthcoming 75th Anniversary Conference at JW3 and about free help INSIDE ILFORD ‘My Knee Problem and the with computers via SPF. NHS’ Eva Stellman the Due to a technical problem, we were unable to see The Sturgeon Queen DVD CHESHIRE CF Fly on the Wall AJR so the history of smoked salmon will Ernie and Vivienne Hunter were our have to wait another day. Our members, delightful hosts. We enjoyed a delicious GLASGOW CF Setting Aside City ever resourceful, gave us a few amusing lunch and discussed where we would Rivalry anecdotes but 95-year-old Edith Poulsen put ourselves if we were a ‘fly on the There was a large turnout when we set stole the show with a superb poem on wall’ for one day. There were some very aside the traditional city rivalry between her knee problem and the NHS. interesting ideas and the time flew by Southsiders and West End residents Meta Roseneil as always! to meet up at the beautiful Botanic Wendy Bott Gardens. Friends old and new enjoyed GLASGOW Career of a TV Props afternoon tea at the Tearoom. It was ‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’ Buyer just as well we had a room to ourselves An Energetic and Athletic Mike Ireland gave a fascinating talk on as the chat and discussion reached a Performance his career as a props buyer for the BBC rather high volume! We were delighted aking place at Regent’s Park and other TV companies. Mike had been to welcome a new member, Ann. Thanks Open Air Theatre, this was involved in well-known series such as to Agnes for organising another most Tsuch an energetic and athletic Taggart, The Lost Tribe and Still Game. enjoyable meeting. performance, with some really terrific He entertained the enthralled group Anthea Berg voices singing the catchy familiar songs in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd with tales of life on set interspersed with EALING Underground Tour of Webber’s powerful rock musical. well-chosen anecdotes. London Anoushka Lucas as Mary Magdalene Agnes Isaacs Nick Dobson’s fascinating talk and Tyrone Huntley as Judas were BRIGHTON Sir Isaac Shoenberg, centred on stations: their origins and particularly compelling. We had Engineer and Inventor amazing statues and monuments really good seats and the time flew Lesley Urbach’s talk was about Sir Isaac such as Cleopatra’s Needle and the by as the action drew towards a very Shoenberg, who came to the UK from Kindertransport Memorial, situated just dramatic if lurid ending. Russia to further his studies. During the outside stations. Janet Weston war he developed radar and he also Leslie Sommer worked for the BBC on the development LEEDS CF Life on the Bench ESSEX (WESTCLIFF) Intimate of television. Lesley also showed a Members enjoyed glorious sunshine Meeting film about ‘MP for refugees’ Eleanor in the beautiful gardens at Pippa and With our speaker Godfrey Gold Rathbone. Norman Landey’s home whilst listening indisposed, we had an intimate meeting: Ceska Abrahams to Judge Geoffrey Kamil’s talk on ‘A Esther talked about her holiday in Israel; Varied Life on the Bench’, after which Otto decsribed a visit to Southend by everyone tucked into Pippa’s amazing Disraeli; Miriam told a joke; Valerie KINDERTRANSPORT LUNCH baking. spoke about her husband David, who Fighting Antisemitism Wendy Bott was freed from Thereriesenstadt with ur August speaker, Danny my father Fiszel and Miriam’s first Stone, Director of the NORFOLK ‘The Music Survives’ husband Emil by the Russians on VE OParliamentary Committee Peter Beschorner said his father Hans Day; and I spoke about my newly born Against Antisemitism Foundation, was brought up by a German couple grandson Finley. told us they provided secretarial and was a gifted classical pianist, but Larry Lisner support to the All-Party Parliamentary was taken to Dachau. After leaving Group Against Antisemitism, chaired Germany for England, Hans was taken in EDINBURGH A Wonderful Day Out by John Mann MP since 2005. These by the Quakers, opened his own school First and Second Generation members voluntary groups, who do not in Wiltshire, and fell victim to post- enjoyed a superb lunch at the Royal receive any parliamentary funding, traumatic stress induced by his Dachau Overseas League with its fine views of meet to discuss and act on issues experience. He eventually recovered but the Castle, as well as excellent company, of concern. had many ups and downs. followed by a wonderful Mendelssohn David Lang Frank Bright and Webern concert performed by the Solem Quartet. GLASGOW BOOK CLUB ‘The Best Agnes Isaacs DIDSBURY CF A Most Prized or Book We Have Ever Read’ Sentimental Possession ‘The best book we have ever read at CAMBRIDGE JP Justice of the Peace Members spoke about their most prized Book Club!’, said members of Geraldine Not Jewish Princess or sentimental possessions. These Brooks’s People of the Book. Largely Susan Shaw JP took us behind the ranged from a tablecloth, drawing, ring, a work of fiction but based on the scenes to talk about JPs who work on Bakelite doll and brass candlesticks to a wonderful old Sarajevo Haggadah, the a voluntary basis – overall, the most watch chain. likeable characters – and some perhaps important characteristic they need Wendy Bott

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CONTACTS OCTOBER GROUP eventS Susan Harrod Edinburgh 6 Oct Social Lead Outreach & Events Leeds CF 6 Oct Social Get-together Co-ordinator 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Pinner 6 Oct Sue Kurlander, Head of Social Services, AJR Wendy Bott Book Club 19 Oct Social Northern Outreach Co-ordinator 07908 156 365 [email protected] Didsbury 19 Oct Social Get-together Agnes Isaacs Radlett 19 Oct Nick Dobson: ‘An Underground Guide to Northern Outreach Co-ordinator Literary London’ 07908 156 361 [email protected] Glasgow Book Club 20 Oct Social Kathryn Prevezer Leeds CF 20 Oct ‘Chocolatier’ Bob Winterflood Southern Outreach Co-ordinator 07966 969 951 [email protected] Welwyn GC 20 Oct Social Get-together Esther Rinkoff Hull 23 Oct Social Southern Outreach Co-ordinator 07966 631 778 [email protected] Glasgow CF 26 Oct Musical Afternoon Eva Stellman Nottingham 26 Oct Social Get-together and Lunch Southern Outreach Co-ordinator Wembley 26 Oct Henry Cohn: ‘The Jews of Jamaica’ 07904 489 515 [email protected] Cambridge 27 Oct Harvey Bratt, UJIA KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Susan Harrod North London 27 Oct Dr Susan Cohen: ‘The Life of Eleanor Rathbone’ 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Bristol/Bath 31 Oct tba Child Survivors’ Association-AJR Henri Obstfeld North West London 31 Oct Social Get-together 020 8954 5298 [email protected] York/Harrogate 31 Oct Social Ealing 1 Nov tba EDGWARE ‘Born Survivors’ Ilford 2 Nov Lesley Urbach: ‘Sir Isaac Shoenberg’ Members were mesmerised as Eva Clarke told the story of her birth: she Pinner 3 Nov Geoff Bowden: ‘Murder Most Profitable – the Life and Career of Agatha Christie’ was born in Mauthausen death camp, three days before liberation. Yet she tells the story of her remarkable mother, Anka Bergman, as one of hope, courage a fishing rod, which will last a lifetime, and survival amid the Holocaust. Her than a fish, which will last a day. ROUNDTABLE: story, along with those of two other David Lang MAKING A DIFFERENCE survivors, is movingly told in Wendy Holden’s book ‘Born Survivors’. NORTH LONDON Celebrating CRITICAL RESPONSES TO THE Eva Stellman Another Year of Friendship REFUGEE CRISES THEN AND NOW At our 15th Annual Lunch, we had a Part of the Wiener Library’s Refugees Then good attendance, delicious food and BIRMINGHAM A Special Garden and Now series, in conjunction with the a beautiful operatic performance by Party Remembering Eleanor Rathbone group and Kathleen Linton Ford. Group numbers Sir Bernard Zissman, our guest at his B’nai B’rith Leo Baeck, London are still going strong and we were happy first bench unveiling in the gardens to celebrate another year of friendship Wednesday 2 November 2016, of Andrew Cohen House, told us of together. Kathryn Prevezer 6-8 pm other distinguished benches, including ones marking the Magna Carta and the at the Wiener Library, WEMBLEY The City of London 29 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DF Queen’s Jubilee. Our bench was given City of London guide Elaine Wein by Birmingham AJR members in memory showed us fabulous photos and told us Speakers: of all the members and their families fascinating facts about the square mile Rabbi James Baaden past and present who had suffered of the City of London. We heard about on Bertha Bracey, a Quaker who assisted Nazi persecution. A truly special garden dragons, livery companies, Postman’s hundreds of mainly Jewish refugees to come to party. Park, the Guildhall and the very modern Britain from Germany and Austria in the 1930s Esther Rinkoff Walkie Talkie skyscraper. A treat! Dr Susan Cohen Kathryn Prevezer NORTH WEST LONDON Tackling on Eleanor Rathbone, the ‘MP for Refugees’ Challenges in Israel PRESTWICH CF Sentimental Daniel Trilling, Ben Dov Salasnik of the UJIA told Possessions a journalist, writer and campaigner us about the constantly changing There was much discussion about on the current refugee crisis challenges, internal and external, facing sentimental possessions. Helen brought Israeli society. The UJIA tackles poverty along a beautiful siddur which had For further information visit and the causes of poverty in Israel on belonged to her grandmother. www.wienerlibrary.co.uk/Whats-on the basis that it is better to give a man Wendy Bott or call 020 7636 7247

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History, Genealogy,  family  and Genetics of anouncements CLASSIFIED European Jews Death continued from p.10 Joseph Pereira (ex-AJR Flatter, Herta My cherished Vienna- caretaker over 22 years) is now born wife ‘Hertl’, after 72 years in our happy and fulfilling marriage, passed available for DIY repairs and and families, much of which is found in general maintenance. An Ancient Lineage, a book to which I away peacefully in hospital on 6/09/16, frequently refer in my later work. shortly after her 97th birthday. Sorely No job too small, He seems to be particularly upset missed by her ‘Haasi’ and by our children, very reasonable rates. about the subject of endogamy to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Please telephone who all adored their ‘Omi’. extent of playing word games with it. It is 07966 887 485 widely known that Ashkenazi Jews tend to be more inbred than the generality of their non-Jewish neighbours. It WHY NOT CONVERT was thought that the causes might YOUR OLD CINE FILMS spring grove have included demographic changes AND PUT THEM London’s Most Luxurious connected with wars, pestilence, ON DVDS persecutions, confinement in ghettos, RETIREMENT HOME and so on. Genetic studies confirm the FREE OF CHARGE? 214 Finchley Road London NW3 relatively inbred nature of Ashkenazi Contact Alf Buechler at Jews and attribute this to a ‘genetic [email protected]  Entertainment bottleneck’ many hundreds of years or tel 020 8554 5635  Activities ago as a result of which the majority  Stress Free Living of present-day Jews are descended  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine from a very small number of medieval  Full En-Suite Facilities forebears. www.fishburnbooks.com Call for more information or a personal tour The reviewer calls my book ‘depressing’ Jonathan Fishburn and ‘sad’ and questions the value of this buys and sells 020 8446 2117 interdisciplinary work because it does or 020 7794 4455 Jewish and Hebrew books, [email protected] not deal with ‘destination and destiny’. ephemera and items of For me, my book is a heart-warming Jewish interest. celebration of the Jewish contribution He is a member of the Antiquarian to our European civilisation. Periods of Booksellers Association. switch on electrics great tragedy alternated with periods of Contact Jonathan on great achievement and a Jewish remnant 020 8455 9139 Rewires and all household survived the darkest times in European or 07813 803 889 electrical work for more information history with its priceless heritage. PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 The Epilogue of my book has the Mobile: 0795 614 8566 subheading ‘Who am I and where did I come from?’ My book is very much concerned with what we as individuals Books Bought and as a society can learn from the past. Modern and Old PillarCare History and genetic admixture (about Quality support and care at home which the reviewer is silent) also give  us pointers to the future. For European Hourly Care from 4 hours – 24 hours  Jewry this may involve more emigration Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care Eric Levene  Convalescent and Personal Health Care in the short term and a continued process 020 8364 3554 / 07855387574  Compassionate and Affordable Service of genetic admixture.  [email protected] Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff As for the reviewer’s concern with  Registered with the CQC and UKHCA destiny, this is a matter that concerns all I also purchase ephemera thinking human beings but it is outside Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 PILLARCARE the remit of my book. Eschatology seems THE BUSINESS CENTRE · 36 GLOUCESTER AVENUE · LONDON NW1 7BB to be much closer to the reviewer’s PHONE: 020 7482 2188 · FAX: 020 7900 2308 interests than genetic genealogy and LEO BAECK HOUSING ASSOCIATION www.pillarcare.co.uk anthropology. CLARA NEHAB HOUSE Edward Gelles was born in Vienna and RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME came to England with his parents in Small caring residential home 1938. He won a Brackenbury Scholarship with large attractive gardens JACKMAN . to Balliol College, Oxford, where he close to local shops and public transport 25 single rooms with full en suite facilities. SILVERMAN obtained his degrees of M.A. and D.Phil. 24 hour Permanent and Respite Care He was a Research Fellow, Research Entertainment & Activities provided. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Associate and Lecturer in Physical Ground Floor Lounge and Dining Room Chemistry at several universities. Over Lift access to all floors. the past 20 years he has studied Jewish For further information please contact: history and genealogy and published six The Manager, Clara Nehab House, Telephone: 020 7209 5532 13-19 Leeside Crescent, London NW11 0DA books and over 40 articles in specialist [email protected] magazines. Telephone: 020 8455 2286

14 OCTOBER 2016 journal

he was interned behind barbed wire To mark the death of Lord Moser, PROFILE by Ronald Channing together with his father and brother and who passed away in September thousands of other refugees. Fortunately, Sir Claus Moser 2015 aged 92, we are re-publishing, after just three months he was released to in place of an obituary, an article n anonymous Georgian house in Great become immersed in the exciting intellectual which appeared in the AJR Journal in Russell Street is home to the British atmosphere of the London School of January 2001 (Ed.). AMuseum Development Trust. While Economics, completing his degree in 1943 busy and purposeful, an unpretentious as the outstanding student of his year. sitting room off the office of its chairman Opera House – serving as Chairman for presents an oasis of calm, the perfect venue RAF volunteer 13 years, Glyndbourne Opera, the London in which to meet the urbane aesthete and Claus immediately volunteered for the Philharmonic Orchestra, London’s South distinguished academic, former civil servant RAF as the most immediate way to pursue Bank, the London Symphony Orchestra, and merchant banker, Sir Claus Moser. his personal vendetta against Hitler. The Music at Oxford and the Oxford Playhouse With little prompting, he recalls his recruiting sergeant, taking note of Claus’s – being Chairman of both – and the happy, carefree and affluent boyhood enthusiasm to engage the enemy and Jerusalem Music Centre. in Berlin, particularly excelling at music excellent academic qualifications, promptly Claus’s presidential address to the and sport. At one and the same time his signed him on as a flight mechanic – British Association for the Advancement family were very German and yet intensely cleaning out aeroplanes. Though later of Science in 1990 led to widespread Jewish; his father, a banker, had promoted to instrument repairer, public discussion on Britain’s educational served in the Kaiser’s army in he was clearly cut out for other problems and the establishment of a World War I. Members of the professions, yet as virtually the National Education Commission on which Reform synagogue, the family only university-educated man he served. Sir Claus continues with his were ministered to by the great in his unit, the experience of work on educational research and policy, Rabbi Leo Baeck, Sir Claus’ father meeting people from all walks notably on post-school education and was wearing his top hat on their high of life was to prove invaluable. appointed Chairman of the Basic Skills holy day visits. After demobilisation he Agency in 1997. returned to the LSE as a member Jewish causes Humiliation at school of staff, was made Professor When discussing the celebration of this A sharp reminder of the changed of Social Statistics and advised status of the Jews came in 1934. year’s 60th Anniversary of the AJR, of the Robbins Committee on On entering the classroom his which he is a member, his involvement Higher Education. In 1967 he teacher performed the Heil Hitler and enthusiasm were much in evidence. was appointed Director of the ritual, to which the whole class Sir Claus sees no contradiction in his government’s Central Statistical responded with the exception of the two proud and public support for Jewish and Office, serving three Prime Ministers until Jewish boys who, should they have been Israeli causes among the many to which he 1978 when he joined NM Rothschild as so minded, were forbidden from following gives generously of his time and expertise. Vice-Chairman. From 1984 to 1993 he was suite. Humiliation was a regular daily Nevertheless, he is struck by the differences Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, and occurrence all round them in the streets. between refugee attitudes. Some happily Quite often he saw Hitler passing in his car. from 1991 Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Oxford. became anglicised and chose to bury Though as proud Germans many middle and He is Chancellor of both Keele University and their Jewish origins, while at the other upper class Jews believed that Hitler was a the Open University of Israel. extreme were those who never managed passing phenomenon, increasingly aware Talented musician to reconcile themselves to their adopted of virulent antisemitism, his father had Music is an essential element in Sir Claus’ country. Sir Claus sees himself as being decided to emigrate well before Hitler came life. He remains a talented classical pianist, somewhere in the middle, “settled very to power, which they eventually did in 1936. having studied under Louis Kentner, and happily in England, yet conscious of my After attending English public school, became actively associated with the Royal roots in Berlin”. A man forever connected soon after his 17th birthday in 1940 Academy of Music, the BBC, the Royal to his Jewish boyhood in Germany.

ObituarY Henry Grant, born Vienna 3 August 1924, died London 3 July 2016 enry Grant was born in Vienna in Following retirement Recalling 7 July 2005, 1924 but left Austria en route for (together with work for the when there were explosions England in 1939. He was aged 15 AJR), Henry volunteered to throughout the London Hand came with a group organised by Youth take on an arduous task – that Transport network resulting Aliyah. Their aim was to reach Palestine and, of Joint Honorary Treasurer in total lockdown, I phoned to that end, Henry studied Hebrew. They of the Association of Jewish Henry to say I wouldn’t be in waited for the necessary permits, which Friendship Clubs (AJFC) the office that day. He asked sadly never arrived. Initially the group was – and I came to know him in a somewhat surprised tone accommodated at Great Engeham Farm in whilst working as an AJFC ‘Why not?’ Ever a stickler Kent, then transferred to Bydown House administrator. To say he was for duty. in north Devon. Henry was hired out for exacting in his role would With great-grandchildren Henry held his position Lucas and Chloe agricultural work, which he felt had no be putting it mildly – woe with the AJFC for some ten future. He decided to leave and in 1941 went betide anyone who made the slightest error years, until finally the charity was wound up. to Birmingham, where he found work as a in calculation, down to the last penny or two! AJR member Rev Gershon Glausiusz building labourer. He would be onto them like a ton of bricks. recalled: ‘Henry was an ardent lover of the While Henry was on holiday at a Young Henry had a brilliant brain where figures were Jewish people and of Israel. He will be sadly Austria camp in the Peak District, he met concerned, never having the slightest need missed by friends and colleagues alike.’ the love of his life, fellow Viennese Trude for a calculator. Ever conscious of the need Henry is survived by his daughter Frischmann. Romance blossomed and they to be exact when presenting the Association's Marion, son Peter, grandchildren and great- tied the knot in 1945. The young couple came accounts at annual general meetings, he was grandchildren. His wife Trude predeceased to London and thereafter Henry worked for always ready to answer complicated questions him. Little is known of the fate of his parents many years in the field of accountancy in the on any financial matter and scrupulous in and family except that they were deported to fashion trade and as manager of a leather and submitting annual statements to the Charity death camps in Poland. travel goods company. Commission. Irene Glausiusz

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assaults, these are usually restricted to small- scale knifings and the occasional attempt Dorothea Shefer-Vanson to ram vehicles into bus stops or run down pedestrians. Obviously, every country and society has to tailor its counter-terrorist Security and naivety activity to meet its own needs and one cannot expect everyone to put into place happened to be in France at the time is host to a large Muslim population, much of the same kind of extensive surveillance and of several vicious terrorist attacks there. it from what were once French colonies and security checks that Israel does – but the fact The poor French public is subjected most of whose members are well integrated of the matter is that these methods work. Itime and again to these horrendous attacks into French culture and language. So there No one wants to live in an Orwellian and is left bothered and bewildered by it all, shouldn’t be any sense of disgruntlement dystopia – and Israel is not quite at that as well as being angry with its government there, nor should one expect young men stage – but surveillance is part of the modern for not doing enough to ensure its safety. (and it always seems to be young men) to world and the methods available in this The trouble with France – the country be so full of hatred and venom that they are day and age can contribute to preventing of liberty, equality and fraternity – is that it prepared to plough a heavy truck through terrorist attacks. When all is said and done, has allowed itself to be lulled into a sense of a throng of innocent people enjoying a day it’s still preferable to have a higher degree of false security by those very values. Everyone of national rejoicing or take a knife to the security than to put innocent lives at risk. tries to be very tolerant and enjoy the good throat of an elderly priest as he conducts a Surveillance makes it possible to identify things of life (and France has plenty of church service. and track down potential terrorists and, those) and this has enabled cohorts of One can only shake one’s head in dismay in my opinion, the price of less personal angry or possibly disturbed young men and wonder what’s going through the minds privacy is worth paying. to be persuaded by leaders and preachers of those young men. On the other hand, there There are indications that things are with evil intent to perpetrate acts of mass are a great many things that governments can moving in France. As we left Toulouse or individual murder on an unprecedented do to stymie or preempt those dastardly deeds airport a unit of ten heavily armed soldiers scale. and, unfortunately, the necessary actions patrolled the area. And a friend in the I have heard well-meaning French do not seem to have been taken by the south told me that the small holiday town intellectuals speak out in favour of the French authorities. After all, as an editorial where he lives on the Riviera was being assumption of a position of cultural in Le Figaro pointed out, the attacks that inundated by armed soldiers and policemen, superiority. It seems somewhat naive on recently took place in Paris, with dozens with sharp-shooters posted on the roofs of their part to contend that culture, music of casualties, should have triggered a far- buildings. This was happening just prior to and greater acceptance of ‘the other’ will reaching heightening of security. 15 August, a national holiday when crowds defeat all the hatred and radicalism that In this respect, Israel has much to teach tend to fill the beaches, promenades and is awash in the immigrant communities other countries. After suffering for many years open spaces. which inhabit the high-rise suburbs of the from terrorist attacks of every possible variety, In the final event, however, in France as big cities, where poverty, crime and murder the last few years have seen a drastic reduction in Israel, Germany and anywhere else, it’s are everyday occurrences. in such attacks, so that even though some all a question of being lucky enough not to Other than that, it’s no secret that France individuals still feel impelled to perpetrate be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 letters to the editor cont. from p.7 ladies’ gallery: there’s no sitting together Vanson says in her September ‘Letter Jews and she grew up in a large household as in a church. Hungarian Jews are not so from Israel’ – comparing the Palestinians in Herne Hill, filled with Polish refugees, religious but they keep up the tradition. with Goebbels!? – is not the view of all aunties, uncles and cousins, who, she felt, Clare Parker, London NW11 Jewish people. needed her protection. Judy Sherwood, Matlock, Derbyshire Her Jewishness manifests itself in a ‘NOT THE VIEW OF ALL JEWISH steely kind of detachment. She was well PEOPLE’ ANITA BROOKNER CULT integrated into society yet she also stood Sir – If this is what happens when Sir – Do we appreciate enough Jewish outside it. This helped her to see it all the Dorothea Shefer-Vanson expresses her talent when it is served up as background more clearly. Women’s position in society opinions, let’s go back to her bland information of secondary importance? was one of her recurring themes. descriptions of life in Israel! What Anita Brookner, who died in March, Her recent death marks the beginning one Palestinian says is not the view left an extraordinary oeuvre behind – a of an Anita Brookner cult. No prophetic of all Palestinians; what the Pope says world-class art historian and one of the talent is needed to foretell that it will is not the view of all Christians; and, great novelists of our time. grow. fortunately, what Dorothea Shefer- Her parents, on both sides, were Polish Nicholas Pal, London NW6

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