VOLuAJRme JOURNAL10 NO.12 december 2010

In defence of doves

The following article does not reflect a new form of coexistence with the the views of the AJR. It attempts to give Arabs. In August 1967, in the immediate expression to a historical position on the wake of the Six-Day War, he wrote: ‘This Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to relate it to relationship – and the foundation of the present conditions – Anthony Grenville. future – cannot rely on military victories nor on the subjugation of a hostile he Association of Jewish Refugees population … To conquer the hatred has, it goes without saying, always and to remove the feeling of humiliation T been a strong supporter of the of the enemy is more important, and Jewish state. In 1948, the AJR Information possibly even more difficult, than military welcomed the founding of Israel as action.’ an event of unique and incomparable Rabbi Dr Leo Baeck, 1873-1956 Weltsch had been the editor of the significance for Jews the world over. In Jüdische Rundschau in Germany, and 1956, it shared in the elation brought In March 1946, the journal reported the he, too, stayed on after 1933. In April about by the Israeli army’s victories submission that Rabbi Dr Leo Baeck, the 1933, he penned the famous headline of in Sinai. In 1967, the journal greeted spiritual leader of the Jews from Germany, proud defiance to the first Nazi measures Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War with flanked by the Chairman and Vice- against the Jews: ‘Tragt ihn mit Stolz, jubilant relief: ‘There has never been a Chairman of the AJR, made in London den gelben Fleck’ (‘Wear it with pride, time when we followed the news from to the Anglo-American Commission of the yellow badge’). (The compulsory hour to hour with such intensity and Inquiry on Palestine. Baeck believed in wearing of the star was introduced only in feelings of personal involvement as we the possibility of peaceful coexistence 1941.) Yet Weltsch claimed the authority did during the past weeks. The speed between Jews and Palestinian Arabs: of the founder of Zionism, Theodor and thoroughness with which the Israelis ‘There may not be friendship between Herzl, for the strategy of treating the achieved a military victory on three Arab committees and Zionist committees Palestinians with humanity: ‘It was also fronts against an overwhelming majority but there is friendship between Arab fundamental to Herzl’s thought that the exceeded all expectations. Words cannot villages and Jewish villages, and in the implementation of Zionism would have adequately express the tribute due to end villages are more important than to be carried out in accordance with the the courage, morale and strategic ability committees.’ Leo Baeck had been principles of humanity. Nothing was displayed by the people of Israel in those President of the Reichsvertretung der more remote from his mind than the memorable days.’ And in 1973, during deutschen Juden, the organisation of the expulsion of native peasants from their the anxious days of the Yom Kippur War, German Jews under Nazi rule. He had ancestral soil.’ the AJR helped to channel donations to refused to emigrate and abandon the Jews Some will dismiss as naïve the idea Israel. in his charge, and survived two years in that Israel should treat the Palestinians But the AJR Information inclined Theresienstadt. humanely, as people with rights and towards the view that the best way of History, as we know, did not conform dignity, when it is under attack from safeguarding the future of the Jewish state to Leo Baeck’s expectations. The State of them; yet Jews are proud, and rightly so, lay in concluding a peace settlement with Israel came into being and passed its first that Israeli Arabs enjoy civil rights and the Arabs. If there were no enemies – a years under constant threat from its Arab freedoms while the Arab states long ago big ‘if’, admittedly – there would be no neighbours. But the victories of 1967 expelled their Jewish minorities. More threat. Inspired by leading Israeli figures and 1973 brought about a fundamental difficult to dismiss is the contention that of German-Jewish descent like Georg shift in that balance of power. One of the the Palestinians should be treated as a Landauer and Werner Senator, it tended to AJR Information’s most distinguished people. Yet it is plain that, like Jewish advocate engaging with the Palestinians, correspondents, Robert Weltsch, who national consciousness, Palestinian insofar as was consistent with Israel’s also wrote for the Israeli newspaper national feeling has also developed during security, in the hope of reaching a Ha’aretz, believed that the key problem the long period of conflict between the negotiated settlement. arising out of victory was that of finding continued overleaf

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in defence of doves cont. from page 1 HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY two, if more slowly. Beyond question, the spread of nationalism across the Middle NATIONAL COMMEMORATION East in general after the First World War ‘Untold Stories’ and the immigration of Jews into Palestine in particular accelerated the development 27 January 2011 of national feeling among the Palestinians. 3.45 pm to 6.30 pm The Arab Revolt of 1936-39 bore testimony to its beginnings, and the first intifada of In Central London the late 1980s to its maturing. Spaces are limited but if you would like to attend The crucial point, though, is that the this event, please write to us at Palestinians came to see themselves as [email protected] a national entity; what matters is their or call Head Office by perception of themselves as a nationality, Friday 10 December 2010 which, once established, cannot be erased from their consciousness. This matters, because Israel’s choice of strategy Arab front dedicated to the destruction of the West Bank. Abdullah’s acquisition depends on its correct understanding of of Israel. This flies in the face of the of Arab Palestine in 1948 occurred in the Palestinians with whom it is in conflict. evident willingness of Egypt, Jordan and flat contradiction of Palestinian national Only if you know your enemy can you deal almost all other Arab states bar Syria to aspirations. Since 1973, Arab governments with him successfully. If the Palestinians strike a deal with Israel once their own have arguably supported the Palestinians perceive themselves as a nation, no interests, principally territorial, have been only to the extent necessary to placate amount of decades of military occupation accommodated; it is no coincidence that Arab popular opinion. will cause them to desist from their Syria is both the most hardline rejectionist Why, it is often asked, did the Arab demands for a state of their own – and a state and the only one that still has an states not absorb the hundreds of state implies a coherent block of territory. unresolved territorial dispute with Israel, thousands of Palestinians languishing The strategy of relying primarily on over the Golan Heights. in refugee camps, as post-war Germany Israel’s overwhelming military superiority It is also no secret that ever since absorbed the millions of Germans over the Palestinians, on the other hand, the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 expelled from Eastern Europe after looks misguided: military measures like the Arab states have accorded scant 1944/45? The usual answer is that those taken against the Gaza Strip appear regard to the interests of the Palestinians keeping the refugees in the camps was to have done little to improve the prospects and that since 1973 the notion of a politically convenient for the Arab states for Israel’s long-term security. monolithic Arab front against Israel has in their confrontation with Israel, and that On this analysis, the conclusion been confined to the realms of rhetoric. is doubtless true. But there is a deeper proposed by United Nations Resolution When the Palestinians attempted to set reason: whereas the German refugees 242 after the Six-Day War, which up a government of their own in 1948, could integrate into a German state, East essentially rests on the principle of ‘land it was systematically undermined by its or West, within the borders of 1945, the for peace’, is the correct strategy for Arab allies. Egypt’s decisions to launch Palestinians, retaining a sense of their Israel to embrace. The alternative is to and then withdraw its forces against Israel own nationhood, did not wish to become condemn Israel’s young men and women in 1948 were dictated entirely by Egyptian Jordanians, Egyptians or Lebanese. And indefinitely to military service in face of a interests, principally that of preserving whereas no German refugee with any potentially insurrectionary Arab populace, its leading role in the Arab world against sense of reality dreamed of a new German to condemn Israelis to live indefinitely in King Abdullah of Jordan, who in turn was state in East Prussia or the Sudetenland, fear of bombs and rockets, and to condemn quite willing to do a deal with the Jewish Palestinians continued to believe in their the State of Israel itself to a vicious cycle Agency in return for Jordanian control right to a state on part of the land they of violence, reprisals and war. Far from AJR Directors formerly inhabited. representing a betrayal of Israel, as its Gordon Greenfield Michael Newman Anthony Grenville enemies like to portray it, the principle of Carol Rossen land for peace would be Israel’s best hope AJR Heads of Department of achieving a settlement that combines Susie Kaufman Organiser, AJR Centre Sue Kurlander Social Services The Chairman, both peace and security in acceptable AJR Journal Management Committee measure. That means, in return for the Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor recognition of Israel by the Palestinians Andrea Goodmaker Secretarial/Advertisements and Staff wish all and reliable security guarantees, the AJR members creation of a Palestinian state. Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not necessarily those of the Association of Jewish The argument mounted against this is Refugees and should not be regarded as such. a Happy Chanukah that the Palestinians are part of a greater

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Witnesses in uniform

visited Berlin for three days sure that nothing they suffered, at the beginning of June no indignity and no pain, came I2010. I had been to Berlin close to the agony of knowing, before, in 2000, with my father, as they stood on the platform my late mother, and my two in Grunewald station, as they elder children but this visit was doubtless had so many times special in another way: I was before, that their only child there in the uniform of the was being left alone in the Israel Defence Forces. world, among strangers, in The Israeli army regularly a foreign country that was sends groups of officers and at war with her country of under-officers on educational birth. No, I was deprived of visits to Poland which include the pleasure of knowing that Warsaw, Lublin, Crakow, couple, but they were my Treblinka, Majdanek and grandparents, Isidor and Rosa Auschwitz. Often, reserve Dobrin, and their daughter, officers are invited to join these Miriam, was my mother; and groups, called ‘Witnesses in I know that she would have Uniform’. I have been invited The author’s Sefer Torah leading the march into Birkenau looked at a delegation of on a number of occasions, but Israel’s defenders in Berlin and have always felt that the place would be where Gleis 17 has been made into a called us an ‘eternal name that shall not put to better use if occupied by a young memorial for all those deported ‘to the be erased’. officer who did not grow up living East’, I showed a bus full of Israeli and My second memory is actually from and breathing the Shoah and could German soldiers the medal awarded in the last day of the tour, in Auschwitz benefit from the lessons to be learned. 1933, and again in 1934 (I have both – where, unlike my grandparents, I This time, however, the trip was to be citations, including the one in the name marched proudly in, and out – but it preceded by three days in Berlin, the city of the ‘Führer und Reichskanzler’), to is connected to Berlin. At the head of in which both my parents were born and my paternal grandfather, Karl Cohn, the column as we marched in was a which I grew up knowing in song, story for his service in the First World War. Hungarian-born Israeli, a 79-year-old and reminiscence. Before emigrating to Having established my credentials as survivor who has participated in every Israel in my early twenties, I grew up in a real German, I asked the bus to stop war Israel has fought and who still London, in a community of German- outside 34a Koenigsallee. In almost voluntarily does reserve duty in the Jewish refugees. We spoke German with flawless Hebrew, and in less good Israeli army. This was not the first time the one set of grandparents Hitler had German, I spoke about the family that he had been in Auschwitz in uniform left us. We had the works of Goethe used to live in that house. I spoke about – that was in 1944 and his uniform then and Schiller at home long before we the Konditoreien they used to own, was striped pyjamas. Next to him was acquired a one-volume compendium of about founding the synagogue in the an army rabbi carrying a Sefer Torah. Shakespeare. And here I was, a reserve neighbourhood, and about how they Now, we only have three pictures of my officer of ZAHAL, invited to be in Berlin sent their 12-year-old daughter on a grandfather Isidor and in one of them as a guest of the Bundeswehr. How Kindertransport to England in April he is completing the writing of a Sefer could I refuse? 1939. I believe that, just for a moment, Torah that was donated to the Synagoge We saw the Reichstag and the I brought them back to life. But then Grunewald. We know what happened Holocaust Memorial, went to we moved on to the station and I led to the synagogue (my father lived right Sachsenhausen and Villa Wannsee, my colleagues to the plaque marking opposite and is still waiting for the fire and visited the Weissensee cemetery, the deportation of 12 January 1943 brigade to respond to his father’s call); where we had a joint ceremony with to Auschwitz. There I showed them and we know, more or less (see above), the Bundeswehr, commemorating the the Gestapo index cards allocating the what happened to my grandfather. We Jewish fallen of what is now known as couple a place on that transport as also know that the caretaker rescued all the First World War (and where I have guests of the Reichsbahn. the scrolls on Kristallnacht and brought more relatives buried than in any other That day in June was the day that them to my grandparents’ house. We cemetery in the world). We also had anybody learning the Bible as part of have no idea what happened to them fascinating discussions with serving the regular cycle learned Chapter 56 of after 1939. So, when my son became German officers. I personally had the Isaiah, where we read: ‘I will give them Barmitzva, we had a Sefer Torah written pleasure of a number of friendly and in my house and within my walls a place to replace the one my grandfather had informative chats with a representative and a name [‘Yad Vashem’ in Hebrew] had written some 70 years earlier. My of the Protokoll department of the better than sons and daughters; I shall son finished writing the last words at Bundesministerium der Verteidigung. give him an eternal name that shall not the Western Wall, the last remnant In the turmoil of emotions the visit be erased.’ I never knew the couple of of our holy temple in Jerusalem, and created, through tiredness and tears, whom I spoke. I don’t even know if they half an hour later read from it for the two events stick out in my memory and made it alive to Auschwitz – though, if first time. I read from this Torah scroll, one impression remains in my mind. they did, they would apparently have seven years to the day later, in Berlin, On the way to Grunewald station, been gassed on arrival – but I am quite continued opposite

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Does anyone remember Elly Rothwein?

or all of us, the over- a disciple of Alfred Adler, that whelming feeling about third Central European guru of Fhaving been refugees is the mind. In time, she became profound gratitude that we a prominent member of the found safety here in Britain. Adlerian movement. Having said that, in the early In the 1920s-30s Elly was days more often than not writing learned articles about this emotion was tinged with her subject. I am unclear as to regret at being cut off from whether her enterprise was a our language and culture, commercial sideline or conducted accompanied by an acute for research purposes. Quite pos- awareness of our reduced sibly both reasons were equally material circumstances. This valid. It amuses me to think that did not imply any lack of ap- what I did there might have been preciation since our exile was studied. Perhaps I appear as ‘child caused not by our British hosts x’ in some academic dissertation. but by Hitler’s henchmen. The internet sources do not For myself, being young, give a reason for her emigration this didn’t bother me very to Chicago but to us the cause is much. I adapted fairly easily obvious. She would have found a and nostalgia kicked in only occasionally. parents sent their children along. welcome in the Adlerian community there When it did, for some reason I would I now have only the haziest recollection and she was able to continue her career in focus on what in our family had been of what actually went on there though I her new country. She ran a private kinder­ known as ‘going to Elly Rothwein’s’, still retain the impression of having been garten in that city. Having changed her which in hindsight seemed to me to have treated as rather special. I think we were name to Eleanor Redwin, she trained new- epitomised that lost world. there for a large part of the summer comers in her profession and resumed her Elly Rothwein was an enterprising because we all had labels sewn into our regular output of learned papers in 1945 lady who organised entertainment for clothes. We were identified not by names (this time in English) and again ran sum- children in Vienna and summer holidays but by numbers allocated by the Rothwein mer camps. She died aged 84 in 1983. in the Austrian countryside. This group organisation. The strange thing is that 75 Whenever I look at the photograph picture was taken (I have been told) for a years later I still know that my number reproduced here, I wonder how many of brochure to advertise these holidays. The was 28 and my older brother’s was 27. those appearing on it were as fortunate reason it features in my family album is How weird is that? I was also there the as Elly (and I) in escaping the fate that that I was that overweight little cherub in following summer in 1936. overtook so many. Looking carefully at the centre of the first row. The picture’s Now, thanks to the internet, I have my image in the picture, I see that my precise provenance is authenticated by found out quite a lot more about Elly. small podgy right hand is being held by the caption in my mother’s handwriting: Although I can’t actually remember the motherly and only slightly bigger little ‘Wienerbrück August 1935’. At the age what she looked like, since I see that she girl who is standing immediately behind of four years and four months, I was was born in 1899 I think it is extremely me. I regret to say that with an all too clearly the youngest child present. I don’t likely that she is the self-assured woman characteristic lack of gallantry I have no know for a fact that Elly’s events were standing at the left of the picture. I now recollection of this childhood friendship. meant only for Jewish children but the also know that having originally trained Even so, I like to think of her today as photograph does appear to support that as a teacher, she later qualified as a a grandmother in, perhaps, Wyoming, impression. Possibly they were open to child psychologist. She belonged to the Valparaiso – or even Hendon. all but only the fairly well-heeled Jewish school of neither Freud nor Jung but was Erwin Schneider

Witnesses in uniform continued and it accompanied us from Berlin to shame, let alone guilt. But I cannot Gedenken an die 1941-1945 durch Auschwitz, and from there back to escape the impression that to blame Zuege der Deutschen Reichsbahn in die Jerusalem. everything on ‘National Socialists’, as Todeslager Deportierten’ (In memory The impression I would like to share every plaque and every person seems to of those deported to the death camps is the following: I speak, of course, do, is to evade the simple truth that the between 1941 and 1945 by trains of only for myself, but I feel more than a atrocities were committed, or abetted, the German National Railway). I do little uncomfortable with the culture of or approved, or even just allowed, by not believe for a moment that if my commemoration. It is difficult to see Germans, in the name of Germany. Not grandparents had had to contend anything in Berlin without some sort today’s Germans, not all Germans, but only with a train, rather than with of reminder of what once happened Germans nonetheless. The Nazis did not the Gestapo, the SS and their myriad there. I also detected a remarkable arrive from outer space in 1933, they admirers and supporters, that the train openness among the young German did not ‘seize’ power, and they did not would have won. officers I met to address past events. disappear into thin air in 1945 – and I thank the Berlin police, the However, both elements appear to be to pretend otherwise is dishonest. The Bundeswehr and the Bundesministerium a little clouded in euphemism. I do record, however, must go to Grunewald der Verteidigung for their hospitality not consider all Germans guilty of any station, where it wasn’t even real live and friendship. crime. I certainly do not believe that any Nazis who did the job but Nazi trains, Jeremy M. Cohn, post-war generation bears any personal for the plaque there reads: ‘Zum Jerusalem

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and I are happy to have many Austrian friends, including the family now living in what used to be my home in Vienna. George Vulkan, Harrow

Sir – I refer to the letter from George and Helga Lazarus. They enjoyed the AJR’s annual Tea but were disturbed that a member of the Austrian embassy was to be present, in view of the part that country played in supporting the Holocaust. In the event, the Austrian representative was RETURN TO NEUBAUGASSE Sir – ‘Fame’ at last! I was born at not present. Sir – Whenever the AJR Journal arrives at Neubaugasse 36, as were my brother and Today’s Germans and Austrians are my house, I scan it then put it aside until sister. It was a really beautiful flat. like baalei teshuva (those who repent) I can give it my full attention. But not What a happy childhood I spent there, and deeply regret what happened in their this time! opposite the corner of Westbahnstrasse countries in the Nazi era. One must warmly The article ‘21 Neubaugasse’ by Judith and Neubaugasse! Der Puppenpfeifer – welcome those who repent and not remind Gordon in your October issue caught my how I loved that shop, the lovely windows them of their former lifestyle. Most likely attention big-time and I couldn’t wait and the various themes depending on the the member of the Austrian embassy who to read it! For I too was a child of the time of year! was to have been present was not even Neubaugasse – born and raised at number I phoned my old schoolfriend, who lives born so many years ago. And he would 70, just a short distance from where the in Leeds now. We started school together have come to express friendship. Gelber family once lived. in the Volksschule Zollergasse. She too When I was invited by my father’s My dad had a small shop in our third- lived in the Neubaugasse. We had a lovely hometown near Bremen, a local lady aged floor apartment, selling and repairing time reminiscing about places there. 86 came to all the meetings and outings. radios. Further up the street were some I am 87 now. Then I was known as Her husband, a Christian clergyman, large, fancy radio shops. But my dad had Mimi Blumenfeld. If anyone remembers had spoken out against Hitler and had his long-time, loyal customers who didn’t me, I would like to hear from them (via been taken away, leaving her with six mind climbing the stairs. the Journal). children. Whoever in history heard of a Our apartment house was large, Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep my country that persecuted Jews later paying consisting of two buildings connected by promise to my daughter to show her compensation! These payments enable a courtyard. There were many tenants and the ­Puppenpfeifer – after the war, it was survivors to live in their old age without we always had a cordial relationship with gone. financial worries. our neighbours. It came as a shock when I would dearly love to go to Vienna Henry Schragenheim, London N15 neighbours and friends turned against us once more as I still love the city but my overnight once the Nazis marched in. health restricts me. But I still have happy ‘VOTE, VOTE, VOTE FOR I was the only survivor in my memories even though my father came CLEMENT ATTLEE?’ family. A few months too ‘old’ for the to England and died here at the age Sir – Professor Brent in his letter in the Kindertransport, I managed to get to of 58 from ill-treatment in Dachau and November issue seems to have overlooked England on a domestic permit. I lived with Buchenwald. I am always looking forward several very important points in his a family, doing housework and caring for to your journal every month and still miss enthusiasm for Clement Attlee. their young child. In 1941 I joined the the meetings we had at Prentis Road, First, with Sir Stafford Cripps, Mr Attlee Auxiliary Territorial Service and served until Streatham. very nearly bankrupted this country and the end of the war. Marianne Gregory, Sutton, Surrey caused the worst devaluation of Sterling, Some 50 years later, I finally returned from which we have never been able to to Vienna with my daughter Heidi. We TODAY’S AUSTRIANS fully recover. stood outside Neubaugasse 70 and looked Sir – I was both saddened and shocked It is true that life in Britain is still largely upward to where I used to live. All around by the letter from George and Helga based on his welfare system, which is us streetcars clanged, cars blew their horns Lazurus (November). I fully share their now one of the major problems that has and people hurried along the busy thor- views about the atrocities committed by thereby been created. oughfare. Did anybody remember? Did many Austrians during the war and this The NHS has served this country very anybody know? Heidi and I climbed three can neither be forgotten nor forgiven. well up to now, but it is questionable stories to the apartment and stood before But the present generation of Austrians, whether future generations can continue the closed door. The door of the neigh- and indeed their parents, are not guilty to afford the luxury, with an ever-growing bouring apartment opened and a Turkish of these crimes and cannot be held elderly population and the rising cost of lady came out. We chatted and she invited responsible for them. Rather belatedly the new equipment, drugs and expanding us in. She made coffee and served pastries. Austrian government has done much to methods of treatment. She had lived in Vienna for 15 years. No, make amends as far as that is possible, and The benefit system created by the she knew nothing of the Holocaust. the embassy in London has fully reflected Attlee government is the big problem that We thanked her and left. Going ­down- this. Many ex-Austrians have been warmly has now to be tackled. It has created a stairs, I paused for a moment. I thought of and generously welcomed back on visits generation of spongers. There are perfectly the Stormtroopers who, 50 years earlier, to their home towns. The very successful healthy people who have never earned had rushed up these steps to fetch my ‘Letter to the Stars’ programme a few a living and are entirely supported at mother to her death. ‘Are you OK, mum?’, years ago showed that many Austrians, taxpayers’ expense, and it is certainly not my daughter asked. ‘I’m fine,’ I said. especially young people, wanted to because of a lack of jobs (why can others And we left Neubaugasse 70 to return express their disgust concerning what come from afar and obtain jobs?). to our busy lives. Frances Nunnally happened in the past and to work for Also, we now have four out of ten of Richmond, Virginia, USA reconciliation with the survivors. My wife the working population whose salary/

6 AJR JOURNAL december 2010 wages are paid by the state, whereby each Sir – In the summer of 1943 I was secretary in recent years has become weaker – not taxpayer in private industry is having to to David Blickenstaff in Madrid, having fled ‘stronger’, as he maintained. It has lost support 40 per cent of a state employee. from occupied France. most of its allies. With ever-increasing automation, that is David was director of the American Furthermore, where did I say that what just not sustainable, so the public sector Quakers and of the American Joint cannot be seen (God) does not exist? Or must be shrunk. Distribution Committee, which looked that religious Jews should not have the Finally, the unfunded pension system after mainly Jewish refugees in Spain, as vote? (Come to think of it, if the religious created by the Attlee government is mentioned in Anthony Grenville’s article Jews refuse to do military service, it might producing an ever-increasing burden on in your October issue. be a good idea if they didn’t have the future generations as current taxpayers are Wilfrid Israel came to our office to see vote!) Also, nowhere did I argue that parts having to pay the pensions of yesterday’s David. He also saw me to give me a ­message of Israel should be judenrein. employees. from Dr Bell, the then Bishop of Chichester, I also do not believe, as he does, that Edgar H. Ring, Edgware, Middx who was instrumental in getting me to God gave Israel to us, and I am horrified Britain in the middle of the war. by his saying that, if it were not for that THE FUTURE OF THE AJR A few days later, Wilfrid left for Portugal one reason, we would have very little Sir – As a Second Generation ­member, I to board that fateful plane to London. It claim to it. Has he not heard of the ­Balfour read with interest both Michael ­Newman’s was a terrible shock for all of us when Declara­tion and the 1947 UN vote? Why article in the September issue and ­Andrew David was informed of it. The British does he want to ‘spill the other guy’s Kaufman’s message in the August embassy told us the Germans were blood before he gets at our kids’? Is that ­edition. convinced Churchill would be on board. what his ‘religious types’ are teaching I myself was not aware until these arti- Peter Hart, London NW2 Israeli children? cles appeared that the AJR was operating Lastly, why is he so arrogant as ‘not with such a deficit. Furthermore, in the ‘A NICE JEWISH REFUGEE BOY’ [to] give a monkey’s’ what gentiles think? present economic climate, this deficit is Sir – Edith Argy (November) was inspired Why not be grateful for what the major- likely to worsen. At the same time, consid- by her cousin Herb Feith. So was I. He ity have done since the Holocaust? Israel ering the demography of the membership, and I became friends at Melbourne High needs friends – but, perhaps, not friends there is likely to be an increased demand School. In the late 1940s, influenced by like him! on the AJR’s Social Services department. a Victor Gollancz book, Herb persuaded Now to Rubin Katz (November), who I myself have been involved with the a girl and shy, reluctant little me to join ­accuses me of having no seichel. The rea- AJR for more than nine years but it was him in collecting money, door to door, for son he gives is that I suggested to a fellow only the recent articles which suggested to starving Germans. I think they were dis- Jew that he go and live in Israel, something me the desirability, and indeed necessity, placed Sudeten Germans, to my parents’ Mr Katz felt I had no right to do as I was of leaving a legacy to the AJR if it is to horror. ‘Civilised people don’t even leave a refugee from Austria! I can’t follow this continue performing its valuable function. their enemies to starve, let alone their logic. With regard to The Finkler Question, I have now done so. defeated former enemies,’ Herb said. I don’t see myself as Finkler. I am neither For those members who wish to leave a George Landers, Chania, Crete ‘anti-Israel’ nor ‘anti-Zionist’. And I do legacy but already have a will, I can assure not ‘abhor’ religious Jews. I simply do them as a retired solicitor that a simple A PLEASURE TO READ not feel I have anything in common with codicil would suffice without going to the Sir – I’m writing to say how much I enjoy them, and I am upset that they now seem expense of drafting a new will. the AJR Journal. My father, Manfred to be running Israel. Israel was set up as Anthony Portner, Chertsey, Surrey Vanson, got it through the years until he a secular state not a religious fundamen- passed away. Then my sister, Dorothea talist one. Mr Katz defends Rabbi Ovadia A FATEFUL FLIGHT Shefer-Vanson – yes, the one who writes Yosef’s ‘gaffes’ by saying that ‘a curse or Sir – We are twice blessed in the October the ‘Letter from Israel’ – continued the two never broke anyone’s bones’. That is issue with Dr Grenville’s customary subscription and she passes it to her sisters pathetic. Lastly, he says that only ‘marriage informative and ­intelligent contributions. to read, and we all enjoy it. It is interesting and divorce’ are in the domain of the Beth With regard to his article on Wilfrid and the English is of a very high standard. Din. What about conversion? What about Israel, some of us will recall the front My profession is that of proof-reader and the fact that they dictate Mr Netanyahu’s page of our newspaper that reported the editor and I can assure you it is a pleasure policies – because he knows he is in power loss of BOAC Flight 777 – in the case of to read a publication which has been only thanks to them? Stop kidding your- the News Chronicle accompanied by a edited and proof-read to a high level. self, Mr Katz. Look around Israel and see photograph of the actor Leslie Howard in Esther (Vanson) Rosenfeld what is really going on there. Romeo and Juliet. Jerusalem Henry Schragenheim (November) spoils I was surprised then and remain so by a good letter with his second paragraph. the realisation that civilian flights took A WORD TO MY CRITICS What on earth has the fact that 3,000 place in or anywhere near war-battered Sir – Thank you to Amnon Needham years ago Jewish kings ruled the people Europe. Most people would not have (October) for making it so clear why and that the king (which king?) read from dared to venture this, but it was suggested there is so much antipathy towards Israel. the Torah in the temple on the festival that Howard himself was engaged in Arrogant, uncaring, self-centred – that’s of Succot, got to do with anything that undercover intelligence work for his how I would describe his views. And is happening today? Anyway, how does country but that the plane was destroyed naïve! He didn’t like being David fighting he know this? Was he there? because the Germans thought Winston Goliath. I should remind him that David Henri Obstfeld (November) has my Churchill himself was on board. won. We, the ‘liberal, enlightened and sympathy. I posed the question as to who As for Dr Grenville’s article ‘Lost cities educated’, did not look on ‘with pity’ is a genuine Holocaust survivor because of the Mediterranean’, is it not wonderful at the ‘inevitable destruction’ of Israel. of people like him. Reading his history, that, in the absence of national boundaries, With so many supporters in the USA and I personally would say he is a genuine Jews and countless others can live, work Europe, Israel was always going to win Holocaust survivor and so, I believe, would and express themselves culturally without any war against its Arab neighbours, most people. Peter Phillips fearing, or even insulting, each other? culminating, indeed, in its great victory Loudwater, Herts Alan S. Kaye, Marlow, Bucks in the Six-Day War. Israel did survive but continued on page 16

7 AJR JOURNAL decEMber 2010

the air. Poor light made proof difficult, but he invented and patented a shutter REVIEWs mechanism for his camera which could speed up the image. In 1879 he modified Triumph over adversity a projector to operate in conjunction with WE WERE EUROPEANS: A PERSONAL a shutter and glass disc in order to capture HISTORY OF A TURBULENT CENTURY ou could call E a d w e a r d the 1000th of a second. By repetition of by Werner M. Loval Muybridge the bad boy of Anglo- the same image with a slightly different Jerusalem and New York: Gefen, 2010 perspective, the view became a three- Y American photography. He shot ([email protected]); hard his wife’s lover in San Francisco, but dimensional moving image – heralding the cover (large format) 520 pp., $39.95 was acquitted of murder on grounds of birth of film. The horse in motion spawned justifiable homicide. On his wife’s death other ‘moving’ animal images – elephants, This is a kaleidoscopically presented that same year, Muybridge sent their two- baboons, buffalo and eagles. Finally he and richly illustrated book, dedicated to the author’s 12 grandchildren. It year-old son to an orphanage, believing turned to the human form and his dancing is not merely an autobiography but him to be the son of the lover. The stuff figures, his athletes, and a child with infant also a history of a large Jewish middle of fiction, perhaps, but this artist’s work paralysis walking on hands and feet, or a class family in Bohemia (going back to was among the first to herald the moving hemiplegic walking with a stick. In the the eighteenth century), an account centre of one room a dancing woman in image. In fact, you could call him one of of the Jewish community in Bamberg, the fathers of the cinematic arts. a floating blue dress reflected on a glass and a scholarly and well researched Tate Britain pays tribute to his ground- zoopraxiscope disc. commentary on the rise of Nazism, His broken-down images the Holocaust, and the creation and are claimed to have influ- development of the State of Israel. enced artists like Marcel Furthermore, Loval gives historical Duchamp, Jasper Johns, Cy descriptions of the countries in which Twombly, Douglas Gordon he has lived at one time or another and Francis Bacon, whose (Germany, England, Guatemala, the USA portraits suggest cinematic and Israel) and provides vignettes of a facial fragments themselves. great many people who have crossed The exhibition runs until 16 his path, both famous and unknown, January 2011. as well as of members of his extended Nothing is too small to family. Because the book is not always capture Rachel Whiteread’s written in chronological order, and imagination – especially if it’s because it is partly based on the diaries oblong or rectangular. Also at of four people close to him as well as Tate Britain until 16 January on his own, it is not always easy to keep is Rachel Whiteread: Draw- track of the narrative. Eadweard Muybridge Leland Stanford, Jr. on his Pony Loval was born in 1926 as Werner “Gypsy” – Phases of a Stride by a Pony While Cantering 1879 ings, which she describes as Wilson Centre for Photography a ­‘diary of her work’. She is Löbl, the son of a well-to-do Jewish noted for many presti­gious family. His own diaries began in his childhood and consisted largely of breaking photography in a major retro- commissions, such as the Holocaust events and dates that helped him piece spective of 150 works. Muybridge began Memorial 2000 in Vienna, an inverted together that part of his life. His sister looking at landscapes in quite a new way concrete library described by a passer-by Erika (later Erica) kept detailed and well as ‘harrowing’, and her 2005 Embankment with his three-dimensional images of Alas- written diaries at various stages of her ka on albumen silver print. At a time when installation in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, life, beginning in her German childhood photography was in its infancy, his pano- which was a mass of white poly­styrene and continuing when she (and her ramic landscapes, his geographic images boxes. But, while the massive scale brother) were pupils at Bunce Court of the Yosemite Valley, Alaska, Guatemala sculptures can look impressive, these School, the German-Jewish progressive and San Francisco, and the magnificent works on ­paper, which she describes as boarding school transplanted in 1933 by sweep of his landscapes became history ‘doodles to aid [her] thought processes’, a farsighted headmistress from southern in the making, a kind of cartography of suggest ­absence, loss, voids and hid- Germany to the North Downs of Kent. land mass as never seen before. Alaskan den ­presences. They also imply fluidity, Another diary was that of his uncle labourers were employed in constructing ­uncertainty, a sense of incompleteness. Robert, describing life before, during vineyards as well as the Eastward-bound But essentially they are drawings of boxes and after trench warfare in the First Railroad through California, Nevada and and, much as they may be a useful artistic World War; and his maternal cousin, Utah, which he documented. His light- diary, they give little intimation of her Ludwig Regensteiger, provided details houses on the Pacific coast blended brown thought processes on their own. of Werner’s mother’s birthplace. Finally, sky with brown land and, to capture these there was the diary of Dr Morgenroth, images, Muybridge would walk miles, the head of the Jewish community in carrying heavy equipment. Annely Juda Fine Art Bamberg, who chronicled the events 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) of the Nazi period. Thus eyewitness With the industrial dawn of the late- Tel: 020 7629 7578 Fax: 020 7491 2139 nineteenth century, Muybridge became accounts are dovetailed with Loval’s ever more inventive. He tried to prove that CONTEMPORARY PAINTING own narrative, to which they impart a AND SCULPTURE a racehorse in motion had all four feet in high degree of verisimilitude. Because

8 AJR JOURNAL december 2010 so many members of his family survived, successful career in more than one sphere, Loval was able to illustrate his text with and he contributed substantially to the A GIFT FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON numerous photographs and documents economic and cultural development relating to his family’s history. of Israel. This was later recognised in Jewish Refugees from The author does not claim to have various ways, in particular when he was Germany and Austria written a reference book or a source of made an honorary citizen of Jerusalem in Britain, 1933-1970: data, but ‘a non-objective account of my in 2000. Their Image in life, my times, and events as I saw and This book will be of particular experienced them’. Although he does interest to those wishing to extend ‘AJR Information’ not provide a bibliography the reader their knowledge of Judaism in Germany by Anthony Grenville will nonetheless find much information and the development of Israel. (Loval about the cataclysmic events of the was a prominent exponent and founder published by Vallentine Mitchell, 2010 twentieth century. For example, this member of the religious ‘Reform ISBN 9780853038528 reviewer had been unaware of the Movement’ in the country.) I have, fate of the old cattle barge Struma, however, a few minor caveats, such £19.95 from bookshops and amazon.uk which in December 1941 attempted as the occasional gratuitous name- to reach Palestine with 770 Romanian dropping. For example, the author had Jews on board, more than 100 of them to look after the Duke and Duchess of arrested, is a target for their burglary. children. The British authorities were Argyll when they were invited to Israel, Otto Quangel is a conscientious, once again callous in refusing the ship but was it really necessary to burden hard-working foreman in a carpentry entry and no other country was willing the reader with the sordid details of firm, now manufacturing coffins. He to accept it. Its clapped-out engine their scandalous relationship? His refuses to join the Nazi Party because having failed, a Turkish tug towed the description of Bunce Court School, an being miserly, he resents having to pay barge to Istanbul, where it remained avant-garde German-Jewish boarding the subscription. He keeps his head off-shore for two months whilst the school and prime example of German down. It is interesting to contrast this authorities were engaged in futile ‘Reform Pädagogik’ as ‘an English High novel with The Book Thief, whose negotiations and conditions on board School with its own prep school’ is author, Marcus Zusak, depicts numerous deteriorated catastrophically. The Turks fanciful to say the least! But my more compassionate Germans. However, he were eventually pressurised by the serious criticism is that although half of didn’t live in Germany, whereas Fallada Germans to tow the barge into the Black this substantial book deals with Israel, did! Sea, where it was promptly torpedoed Loval fails to address the problem of the Otto’s life changes completely when by a Russian submarine. There was Palestinians and how successive Israeli his only son is killed in the war. He only one survivor – a truly horrendous governments have signally failed to now hates Hitler for sending young episode. resolve a burning issue that threatens men to their deaths in a senseless war. The third and very substantial part to engulf the whole of the Middle East He and his wife Anna devise a plan to of the book deals with Loval’s move in and even further afield. promote dissent: they write postcards 1953 from New York to Israel, having Leslie Baruch Brent containing anti-Hitler slogans, leaving already worked in the Israeli embassy them in places where, they hope, they for several years. There he remained will cause a backlash to the regime. and soon married Pamela; they had four The plot becomes their obsession and children. Loval worked for many years in An insider’s view of even when they fear capture, they a senior capacity for the foreign ministry, Nazi-dominated Berlin cannot stop. mainly in the Department of Public ALONE IN BERLIN Fallada’s view of human nature is Relations, where he had the opportunity by Hans Fallada deeply pessimistic. A son beats up his of mixing with ‘the good and the true’. translated by Michael Hofmann father for money; another son confines (The list of wedding guests in the King his drunkard father to a rehabilitation David Hotel included a large number of Penguin Modern Classics 2009, 588 centre for life; a husband seeks to steal VIPs, the Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Moshe pp., £9.99 paperback his wife’s savings. Even the novel’s Dayan, the Chief Justice of the Supreme his gripping but deeply depressing central character, Quangel, is reluctant Court and several ambassadors.) Loval, novel, an English version of the to help a Jewish woman. The one decent who provides a well written potted T1947 publication Jeder stirbt für character in the block is a retired judge, history of Zionism and the creation of sich allein (Everyone Dies for Himself Fromm (a Jewish-sounding name). He is the State of Israel, was fortunate to Alone), is based on a true story. Hans like an angel from an old morality play. have been able to play a significant Fallada depicts life in Berlin under the Inevitably the Quangels’ plot is doomed. role in the development of his adopted Nazis. The society he describes is a grim People are too cowed even to hold the country, until he became a major player one. This is no happy, healthy nation, postcards in their hands for any length in real estate, having formed the ‘Anglo- grateful for full employment and hero- of time before handing them over to Saxon Housing Cooperative’, which later worshipping its Führer. Rather, it lives the authorities. developed a major branch in Cyprus. under a cloud of fear and suspicion. The ending is unconvincing: not As well as being a highly profitable The story deals with several families wanting to end on such a bleak note, business, it also had a political basis as living in an apartment block in a work- Fallada has tacked on a Victorian-style its aim was to attract well-off families ing class area of Berlin. There are three happy conclusion. Nonetheless, this is from Western countries, primarily the ‘villains’: a scrounger, a drunkard and an engrossing, superbly written book USA and the UK, to Israel and especially a spy. All hope to profit from the Nazi which gives an insider’s view of Nazi- to Jerusalem. regime without having to work. A Jew- dominated Berlin. Werner Loval therefore had a highly ish woman, whose husband has been Thea Valman

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Unsere Kinder Next year in Vienna hildren everywhere in the world Salzburg University in the Old City right are our legacy for the future of on the river Salzach was idyllic. Chumanity. So it is commendable In three full days there were seven that there is an increasing body of sessions of simultaneous panels. This research focusing on the experiences comprised 39 panels, each including of children caught up in persecution, two to four presentations, making a war and genocide and the effects of total of 123 presentations, of which their experiences at the time and later the maximum one could hear was as adults. Some universities, such as 28. All those I attended were of an Reading and Wolverhampton in Britain extremely high quality and we were and Salzburg in Austria, have ‘War told that approximately 80 papers Child’ departments devoted to these would subsequently be published in studies. an anthology. Refreshments were more Wolverhampton and Salzburg than adequate and enabled maximum Universities jointly organised a opportunity for networking. Lisl Bohea, 2009 conference in Salzburg University on On the first evening, we were treated 30 September-2 October 2010 under to a reception with a cheerful and arlier this year, I received an email the title ‘Children and War: Past and melodic ‘boys’ choir’. On the second Efrom Gretel Fleischer, who lives in Present’. This was an excellent, truly evening, we were shown a moving Israel and has been trying for years international and interdisciplinary 1946 film in Yiddish (with subtitles) to contact her cousin Lisl Bohea. Lisl gathering with participants literally about orphaned child survivors entitled had been volunteering for us as a from all corners of the world, including Undzere Kinder; it was introduced by a befriender in Hampshire and I had researchers, historians, social scientists, man who was one of the survivors in mentioned her name in a volunteer practitioners and live witnesses. Among the film. My own contribution was to newsletter a couple of years back. the issues covered were Holocaust show a 30-minute DVD about Julia, a The newsletters are reproduced survivors, the Kindertransport, evacuees Gypsy child survivor of Auschwitz, and on our website so, when Gretel from various countries, children of the my paper related this to Gypsy children ‘googled’ Lisl’s name, it appeared in Armenian genocide, child soldiers in today. the newsletter. Africa, and legal issues. The setting of Ruth Barnett The two cousins have now spoken on the phone. Previously each had believed she was the only ARTS AND EVENTS DIARY – december surviving member of the family. Mon 6 Philippa Bernard, ‘Roderigo Square, London WC1, 4.00 pm tbc. Tel Gretel, who will be 90 this year, has Lopez, Jewish Doctor to Queen 01273 678771 been back to Vienna a couple of Elizabeth I’ Club 43 times. Lisl says that up to now she Mon 13 Ken Baldry, ‘Love into Music, Wed 8 ‘Holocaust Studies in the 21st Music into Love: Robert and Clara has not felt able to return to Vienna Century’ Workshop co-organised by Schumann’ Club 43 (though her daughters have). Now, Prof Christian Wiese, University of there is a strong possibility the two Sussex, and Prof Andreas Gestrich, Thur 16 Dr Paul Betts (Fraenkel Prize cousins will have their first reunion Category A Winner), ‘Private Life in German Historical Institute, London. in Vienna next spring. Devoted to topics addressed in the the German Democratic Republic’ At Wiener Library, 7.00 pm. Tel 020 7636 There are many benefits of volun- publication Years of Persecution, Years teering for the AJR, but now I can add of Extermination: Saul Friedlaender 7247 and the Future of Holocaust Studies, finding lost relatives to the list! Club 43 Meetings at Belsize Square Carol Hart ed. by Christian Wiese and Paul Syna­­gogue, 7.45 pm. Tel Ernst Flesch Betts (Continuum 2010). At German on 020 7624 7740 or Leni Ehrenberg Head of Volunteers Department Historical Institute, 17 Bloomsbury on 020 7286 9698 AJR

Bust of Sir Nicholas unveiled he Rev Bernd Koschland and AJR reminder of the story of Sir Nicholas and TDirector Gordon Greenfield were the Kindertransport. among those who attended the unveiling Vera Schaufeld thanked Sir Nicholas on of a bust of Sir Nicholas Winton at the behalf of the 669 Kinder he had ­rescued. Jewish Museum. To her, the bust expressed his ­humanity. Sir Nicholas, approaching 102, unfortu- Oliver Bloom, the sculptor, said that, nately was unable to ­attend due to health as a friend of Sir ­Nicholas, he had come reasons. to create the bust more by chance than Ann Cowan, Chairman of the Friends intent. of the Jewish Museum, said the bust was Bernd Koschland referred to the ­totality beautiful and especially evocative of Sir Ni- of the Kindertransport – ­irrespective of cholas. She hoped it would be a constant who were the agents of rescue.

10 AJR JOURNAL december 2010

An unbelievable miracle happened to me

fter the war lists of sur- Eventually I settled in Brighton vivors were published. and learned to be a tailor. I A I kept studying them, married 53 years ago and have thinking that being one of six three children. Now we have six children, one other child might grandchildren. have survived. I wrote to the Red Although we live in Hove, I Cross but without any result. I have always stayed in touch with couldn’t find anybody. Suffer- the boys, attending each and ing from tuber­culosis, I didn’t every reunion together with the pursue it. family and any other gatherings One day, when I was recovering we can get to. My wife feels she in the Grosvenor Sanatorium, is one of the boys. Alfred Huberman and his sister Idisa Ashford, I came across a copy Sadly, my sister died young in Sam Dresner’s room of the Yiddish tyer kinnd’. She said my mother (her but she left two lovely daughters, newspaper Undzer Shtime, which was sister) had left her a precious legacy. who have become very close to us and published in Paris. Knowing several I suddenly found myself with a consider us surrogate parents. We have members of my family had settled in family who were as overjoyed to find six grand-nieces and nephews and seven France before the war, I hoped some of me as I was to find them. Letters and great-grand-nieces and nephews in them had survived. photographs followed containing France and we are always included in Sister Maria called me out in the familiar names and faces, many of their celebrations. middle of an English lesson given by Mr people who had not survived. It was well worth surviving! Englehart and showed me a telegram. Once I had received the necessary Alfred Huberman You will understand my feelings at travel document, I was able to go finding a sister I had last seen in Poland to France, where I discovered more in 1942 and who was now in France, just photographs of the Polish families who ‘Churchill’s German Army’ as I was thinking I was quite alone in no longer existed. I felt guilty and not the world. It was purely by chance that really able to talk to the other boys with a member of my family had attended me in Ashford who had lost everyone the funeral of someone from my home and had no photographs. town of Pulawy. In conversation it was As a child, I had heard that two of my mentioned that someone who origi- mother’s uncles were living somewhere nated from my home town was looking in England. I knew only their first names: for lost relatives. My Aunt Sarah heard Uncle Shlomo and Uncle Perez. They about it, visited my sister Idisa, who was had settled here many years before the (from left) Colin Anson, Willie Field, Geoffrey the oldest (my big sister!), and asked if war. An uncle in France had visited them Perry, Harry Rossney, Bill Howard she had won the lottery. Idisa said she before the war – he hadn’t survived but Dr Helen Fry introduced the film to hadn’t. My aunt told her she had won his daughter had been able to give my some 60 AJR members, mainly from something more precious. sister the addresses. I found out that the Pinner group. ‘Churchill’s German Now we’d found each other, we they lived in Brighton and wrote to them Army’, produced in 2009 and shown to began writing letters on a daily basis. in Yiddish. They visited me in Ashford great acclaim in many countries, tells of In her first letter, my sister said: ‘Today and invited me to visit them. the wartime experiences of six refugees something extraordinary happened to On being discharged from the from Germany or Austria who managed to get to England before the outbreak me. I could only dream about it, never sanatorium, I visited them for longer of war and joined up. They are Willy believing it would happen. My head is periods and was asked if I would like Field, born in Bonn and a survivor of spinning and I am in turmoil. People to live with them. I was hesitant as I Dachau; William Ashley Howard, who envy me.’ She continued: ‘I want to see missed being with the boys, with whom served in the Pioneer Corps and then in photographs of you and see how you I had so much in common. As I had the Royal Navy; Sir Ken Adam, the only look.’ I have some of those letters and been in England for only a short time, known German fighter pilot in the RAF; still find it difficult to read them as they it was difficult to obtain permission to Colin Anson, who joined the Pioneer Corps in December 1940 and in 1942 are so emotional, containing phrases travel. As my sister was married to a was accepted for ‘special forces’ duties, like ‘my newly born little brother’ and Frenchman, she was able to visit me. i.e. the commandos; Harry Rossney, a wondering how I had ended up in The first time we met our reunion was sign-writer and craftsman at Kitchener England, who was looking after me, happy and very tearful. Camp; and Geoffrey Perry, who read doing my washing etc, if I would be able The last time I had seen her she had the first Allied broadcast from the to earn a living, if I was healthy, and if I been my big sister. Four and a half years same microphone at Radio Hamburg as had the right to remain in England. later, we were the same height! On our had been used two days previously by William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw) and who My sister had married six weeks before journey from the airport, we recounted captured Joyce in a forest nearby. we found each other. Although she and the happenings of those years. My All these men, with the exception of Sir her husband were just establishing their sister suggested that as I was living Ken Adam, were present at the screening home, she asked if I would like to go to in England and she in France, ‘Let’s and enjoyed the enthusiastic support of France. I also received letters from my imagine that our parents and four sisters the audience, their Landsleute. Aunt Sarah, who referred to me as ‘mine are somewhere.’ Ernest Simon

11 AJR JOURNAL decEMber 2010

HGS A lovely discussion and sent good wishes to members unable The Wiener Library’s Howard Falksohn to join us due to ill health. description of how the Nazis’ rise to power Myrna Glass affected the lives of children, Jewish and Next meeting: 8 Dec. Chanukah Party non-Jewish alike, was followed by a lovely discussion between our members and Temple Fortune pupils from Henrietta Barnett School, who Improving our wellbeing were invited to the meeting. Leeds CF Memories of Kristallnacht Laszlo Roman We had a lively discussion about Kristall- Next meeting: 13 Dec. Myra Sampson, ‘The nacht. Some members had vivid memories Story of Jack the Ripper’ of that terrible night and could recall every detail; for others, the memory was too Glasgow disturbing to discuss. But by the time tea The Targu Mures community and delicious cakes were served, everyone was smiling again. Barbara Cammerman Experienced yoga teacher Judy Smith Next meeting: 7 Dec. Yorkshire Chanukah taught us simple movements for improv- Party ing our wellbeing, then demonstrated some yoga poses too advanced for us, Oxford Refugees in WWII which Esther photographed. The poses The wide-ranging activities of German were followed by breathing and relax­ and Austrian refugees during the Second ation exercises, which we did. A very World War were recounted by authors Following a dinner served on tartan-laid enjoyable afternoon. David Lang Helen Fry and James Hamilton. As always, tables in true Scottish style, Ethne Next meeting: 9 Dec. Social Get-together we learned a lot. Anne Selinger and Quiz Next meeting: 7 Dec. Chanukah Party Woldman, former Chief Executive of and Quiz Jewish Care Scotland, spoke about her work with the tiny Romanian-Jewish Welwyn Berlin from 1714 Speaking about the history of Berlin, Ealing ‘Jews and the Mind’ community of Targu Mures. Mostly survivors of Auschwitz and Dachau, they Alfred Simms went as far back as 1714, Why, among many other questions, Prof when the first synagogue was built and Gerald Curzon asked, do Jewish men suffer are living in appalling poverty. Agnes Isaacs there were only around 100 Jews in the more from depression than Jewish women city, making it the fourth largest Jewish and why do Jewish men drink less? Much community in the world. Hazel Beiny to discuss here. Esther Rinkoff Norfolk Sampling the delights We young-in-spirit members met once Next meeting: 9 Dec. Judy Kelner, ‘Desert Next meeting: 7 Dec. Helen Fry, ‘Goodnight Island Discs’ Vienna’ again for lunch, eager to sample the delights of kosher goodies brought all Cafe Imperial Young and cheerful Bromley CF A discussion on past, the way from the Jewish settlements in presence needed NW London by Myrna. We heard about, present and future This was the best attended of all the and saw pictures of, a visit to the Isle of A very interesting and well-attended meetings in my experience and, as always, Man, retracing where members had been afternoon on which we had a lively highly enjoyable. Esther and Hazel’s interned. Frank Bright discussion on everything concerning presence is greatly appreciated by all of the past, present and future, though no Edgware The Bank of England us too. We old men need your young and decisions were made. Eva Byk cheerful presence! Thank you for the effort Next meeting: 2 Dec. Social Get-together Mark Menory spoke to us about the at home of Eva Byk activities of the Bank of England. We the and care you put into it. Henry Myer public are also very much impressed with Newcastle ‘Written by Candlelight’ Ilford World Jewish Relief the monumental building in the City of Liesbeth Langford related some of Harry Heber gave us a very informative talk London. What an interesting talk! the dreadful things that happened to about this highly important charity, which Felix Winkler operates worldwide. A most enjoyable Next meeting: 6 Dec. Joint Groups friends and neighbours during the Nazi meeting. Ivor Perl Chanukah Party with Hendon, North occupation of Holland and told stories Next meeting: 1 Dec. Chanukah Party London and Radlett. Naomi Hyamson about her mother’s exploits, which and Quiz entertaining included harbouring a young Jewish girl. She read extracts from her mother’s diary, Pinner Towards an end to North London 50 years in catering on which her own book, ‘Written by the Arab-Israeli conflict Bernard Ecker gave us a most amusing talk Candlelight’, is based. Agnes Isaacs Abbi Ben Ari looked at current efforts on his 50 years in the catering industry, towards a two-state solution in the Middle both as a chef and as a waiter in leading Radlett Readings from ‘They Called East. This eloquent lecturer left us not hotels. Herbert Haberberg Her Cassandra’ without hope for an eventual end to the Next meeting: 6 Dec. See Edgware Renée Tyack read to us vivid extracts from conflict. Walter Weg her book ‘They Called Her Cassandra’ Next meeting: 2 Dec. Chanukah Party and Wessex ‘The Jews in about her and her family’s escape in 1938 13th Birthday Celebration Regency London’ from Leipzig. Her readings were followed Following our annual lunch, David Barnett, by a lively discussion. A thoughtful Harrogate/York CF who has done research in the Guildhall occasion for the audience. Fritz Starer A new account of survival (City of London) archives and in synagogue Next meeting: See Edgware Meeting in Skelton, York, we welcomed records, told us about the return of the new member Otto Greenfield, who told us Jews to England under Oliver Cromwell Hendon The life of a tour guide of his survival in four concentration camps and the setting up of Jewish businesses Helga Bellinger and Sima Ginsburg hold and a forced labour camp. We also talked in London. George Ettinger Blue Badges for escorting tourists round about our experiences after immigration Next meeting: 14 Dec. Subject tbc London, for which they had to pass stiff to Britain, a topic we hope to explore examinations. The job involves dealing further. Marc Schatzberger Wembley CF Social Get-together with all kinds of people and is very Next meeting: 9 Feb. At the Littles’ home We met having missed September. We satisfying. Annette Saville in Harrogate heard about each other’s trips and activities Next meeting: See Edgware

12 AJR JOURNAL december 2010

Cleve Road What makes Jews tick? Prof Gerald Curzen had been interested A wonderful afternoon at Paul Balint AJR Centre since the age of four in what makes Jews Luton Hoo 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 Nineteen lucky tick. The ‘people of the book’ developed Tel: 020 7328 0208 their powers of memory and intelligence members enjoyed over the centuries by studying Talmud. a wonderful after­ But from about 1700 they began applying noon at Luton AJR LUNCHEON CLUB their minds to secular subjects, resulting Hoo, including Wednesday 15 December 2010 a talk, a guided in the golden age of Jewish intellectual Glenys Groves achievement. David Lang tour and a splen- Next meeting: 21 (not 28) Dec. Belated did after­noon tea. from The Garden Party Zena Dickin­son, Chanukah Party and Quiz PLEASE NOTE THAT SPEAKERS who has worked START AT 12 NOON Bristol/Bath A controversial deal there for 25 years, Please be aware that members should not Prof Ladislaus Löb told us about the fascinated us with its history from the seventeenth century automatically assume that they are on the Luncheon highly controversial deal between Rezsö Club list. It is now necessary, on receipt of your Kasztner and the SS whereby some 1,700 through its years as a home to the Wern- copy of the AJR Journal, to phone the Centre on Hungarian Jews were permitted to travel her family, who remodelled it to look 020 7328 0208 to book your place. to Switzerland in exchange for trucks. like the Ritz; its use as a film set, includ- David Hackel ing Four Weddings and a Funeral; and its rebirth as a five-star hotel. Perhaps KT-AJR Weald of Kent The history of World best of all, we visited the bedroom used Kindertransport special Jewish Relief by the Queen on her honeymoon! interest group Harry Heber told us about WJR and how Susie Barnett Monday 6 December 2010 it started with Hitler’s rise to power. It is Just to say thank you for the wonderful CHANUKAH PARTY comforting to know that it is there to help outing to Luton Hoo. Most interesting in crises which continue to arise. KINDLY NOTE THAT LUNCH and very well arranged. Wonderful WILL BE SERVED AT Inge Ball tea and, as a bonus, the weather was Next meeting: 21 Dec. Anthony Gimpel, 12.30 PM ON MONDAYS ‘Jewish Roots’ perfect, so the view from the house couldn’t have been better! Reservations required Please telephone 020 7328 0208 Book Club Dorli Neale Meeting in Costa Coffee in Temple Fortune, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday we agreed that The Help was an excellent, Bookstore on 22 December at 3.00 pm if 9.30 am – 3.30 pm easy-to-read book. The choice for our next you’d like to join us. Hazel Beiny meeting is Rosenblum’s List by Natasha Please note that the Centre is Solomons. We’ll be meeting at Joseph’s Cambridge Sharing memories closed on Tuesdays Our scheduled speaker having been forced to cancel her talk at short notice, we December Afternoon Entertainment AJR GROUP CONTACTS spent a most pleasant morning recalling Wed 1 William Smith Bradford Continental Friends the person who had been the greatest Thur 2 Harvey Manning Lilly and Albert Waxman 01274 581189 Mon 6 KT Chanukah Party Brighton & Hove (Sussex Region) influence in our own lives and sharing Fausta Shelton 01273 734 648 Tue 7 CLOSED these memories with the group. Wed 8 Chanukah Party Bristol/Bath Keith Lawson Thur 9 Sheila Games Kitty Balint-Kurti 0117 973 1150 Next meeting: 16 Dec. Tba Cambridge Mon 13 Kards & Games Klub Anne Bender 01223 276 999 Tue 14 CLOSED Cardiff Bradford Surprise at Salts Mill Wed 15 LUNCHEON CLUB Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 We had our annual lunch at Salts Diner, Thur 16 Michael Heaton Cleve Road, AJR Centre being joined for the first time by visitors Mon 20 Kards & Games Klub – Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 from Hull CF. As always, everyone enjoyed Monday Movie Matinee Dundee Tue 21 CLOSED Agnes Isaacs 0755 1968 593 the outing but the real surprise came at the Wed 22 Ronnie Goldberg East Midlands (Nottingham) continued on page 15 Bob Norton 01159 212 494 Thur 23 Ann Shirley & Colby Edgware Norfolk (Norwich) Mon 27 CLOSED Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3077 Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Tue 28 CLOSED Edinburgh North London Wed 29 CLOSED Françoise Robertson 0131 337 3406 Jenny Zundel 020 8882 4033 Thur 30 CLOSED Essex (Westcliff) Oxford Larry Lisner 01702 300812 Susie Bates 01235 526 702 Glasgow Pinner (HA Postal District) Claire Singerman 0141 649 4620 Vera Gellman 020 8866 4833 Hazel Beiny, Southern Groups Co-ordinator Harrogate Radlett Inge Little 01423 886254 Esther Rinkoff 020 8385 3077 020 8385 3070 Hendon Sheffield Myrna Glass, London South and Midlands Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3070 Steve Mendelsson 0114 2630666 Groups Co-ordinator Hertfordshire South London 020 8385 3077 Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3070 Lore Robinson 020 8670 7926 Susanne Green, Northern Groups Co-ordinator HGS South West Midlands (Worcester area) 0151 291 5734 Gerda Torrence 020 8883 9425 Myrna Glass 020 8385 3070 Susan Harrod, Groups’ Administrator Hull Surrey 020 8385 3070 Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Edmée Barta 01372 727 412 Ilford Temple Fortune Agnes Isaacs, Scotland and Newcastle Meta Rosenell 020 8505 0063 Esther Rinkoff 020 8385 3077 Co-ordinator 0755 1968 593 Leeds HSFA Weald of Kent Trude Silman 0113 2251628 Janet Weston 01959 564 520 Esther Rinkoff, Southern Region Co-ordinator Liverpool Wembley 020 8385 3077 Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Laura Levy 020 8904 5527 KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Manchester Wessex (Bournemouth) Andrea Goodmaker 020 8385 3070 Werner Lachs 0161 773 4091 Mark Goldfinger 01202 552 434 Child Survivors Association–AJR Newcastle West Midlands (Birmingham) Henri Obstfeld 020 8954 5298 Walter Knoblauch 0191 2855339 Fred Austin 01384 252310

13 AJR JOURNAL decEMber 2010

family announcements Deaths ajr CHANUKAH PARTY Baginsky, Erna (née Goldenberg), born 8 DECEMBER 2010 20 September 1918, passed away peacefully £6 payable in advance 26 October 2010. Remembered with much love by her sons Sidney and William, Please book by 1 December 2010 family and friends. t Elting, John 6 January 1921-20 October 2010. Steve and Judy are very sad to KINDERTRANSPORT CHANUKAH PARTY announce that their father, John Elting, 6 DECEMBER 2010 passed away peacefully at home after £6 payable in advance spending several weeks in hospital. Often referred to by others as a true gentleman, Please book by 1 December 2010 he was loved, admired and respected by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. ‘DROP IN’ ADVICE SERVICE Heinemann, Lore (née Benjamin) Members requiring benefit advice please telephone Linda Kasmir on 020 8385 3070 to make an passed away peacefully in her sleep on appointment at AJR, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL 8 November 2010. She will be remembered by Julian and Tom, family and many Electric scooter available friends for her energy, enthusiasm and Dimensions 1.25 m long x 1.25 high x 0.6 m wide. the patience in her long illness. She may Please phone the AJR Centre on 020 7328 0208 to arrange viewing. now experience real happiness at last. Kenward, Ernest. Born Klinger in switch on electrics Austria, died peacefully 23 October 2010 PillarCare aged 96. Deeply mourned by his wife and Rewires and all household Quality support and care at home electrical work her family. He will be sadly missed.  Hourly Care from 4 hours – 24 hours PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 Mobile: 0795 614 8566 ‘IDENTITY’: A SECOND GENERATION  Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care WORKSHOP WITH RUTH BARNETT  Convalescent and Personal Health Care  Tuesday 7 December, 7.00 pm at Compassionate and Affordable Service Home Care the Wiener Library  Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff ColvinCare through quality and  Ruth Barnett recently published her auto­ Registered with the CQC and UKHCA professionalism biography, Person of No Nationality, which Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 Celebrating our 25th Anniversary portrays the struggles of a displaced person PILLARCARE · THE BUSINESS CENTRE · 36 GLOUCESTER AVENUE · LONDON NW1 7BB 25 years of experience in providing the growing up in England in the 1940s-50s. She is PHONE: 020 7482 2188 · FAX: 020 7900 2308 highest standards of care in the comfort a former teacher and psychotherapist. www.pillarcare.co.uk of your own home

FIRST FLOOR RETIREMENT LEO BAECK HOUSING FLAT FOR SALE in kenton ASSOCIATION First floor retirement flat with lift. CLARA NEHAB HOUSE Warden-assisted. Entryphone system RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME Small caring residential home with large 1 hour to 24 hours care 1 fitted bedroom, lounge/dining room, Registered through the National Care Standard Commission attractive gardens close to local shops and fitted kitchen, modern bathroom/WC public transport Call our 24 hour tel 020 7794 9323 25 single rooms with full Electric economy heating, residents’ www.colvin-nursing.co.uk lounge, laundry room and games room en suite facilities 24 hour Permanent and Respite Care Communal gardens Entertainment & Activities provided New 99-year lease Ground Floor Lounge and In excellent condition Dining Room wanted to buy Near shops, synagogues, buses Lift access to all floors. German and and trains For further information please contact: The Manager, Clara Nehab House Asking price £139,000 13-19 Leeside Crescent, English Books Please call Carol on 01923 857 822 London NW11 0DA or 0794 7694 844 Telephone: 020 8455 2286 Bookdealer, AJR member, welcomes invitations to view and purchase valuable books. ADVERTISEMENT RATES FAMILY EVENTS – First 15 words free of charge, £2.00 per 5 words thereafter Robert Hornung 10 Mount View, Ealing, CLASSIFIED, SEARCH NOTICES – £2.00 per 5 words London W5 1PR BOX NUMBERS £3.00 extra Email: [email protected] DISPLAY ADVERTS – Per single column inch 65mm £12.00 Tel: 020 8998 0546 COPY DATE 5 weeks prior to publication

14 AJR JOURNAL december 2010

Tea and sympathy: The Free German Youth

n his interesting article on the was a reading from a Communist author Central Committee members became Free German League of Culture like Brecht on racial theory entitled worried. Horst Brasch, the General Iin the September 2010 issue of the ‘Longheads and Roundheads’. This Secretary (he had come to England Journal, Dr Anthony Grenville mentions piece struck a note with me because on a Kindertransport and later became its youth movement, the Free German I remembered a biology lesson at the Minister of Culture in the DDR), Youth (FGY), to which several hundred Grunewald Gymnasium in Berlin in descended on Willesden to explain of us belonged. which the teacher had measured my the importance of the move. It did The FGY had branches throughout head to show it was ‘shorter’ than those satisfy some members. After all, the London and in the provinces where of Aryans and I was therefore inferior. FGY provided a haven with tea and refugees lived. It was an organisation The evening always finished with the sympathy for lonely youngsters. But aiming to send young people to build a ‘Soviet Fatherland’ song, which ended about 20 of us left. I saw Dr Werner Communist Germany after the war. We with the refrain ‘There is no country in Rosenstock, General Secretary of the didn’t object to Communism because the entire world where the heart beats AJR, who was very pleased about our at that time the Red Army was the only so free.’ leaving this organisation: he didn’t like army which seemed to be fighting A turning point came in February refugees belonging to a Communist Hitler. We certainly had no intention 1943. Fieldmarshal Paulus and General movement. We decided to form our to return to Germany but that was still Seidlitz were taken prisoner by the own Jewish Youth Group and the AJR years ahead. The Liberal Synagogue, Russians at Stalingrad and, together was willing to pay one month’s rent at 1 under the direction of the Hon. Lily with Moscow émigrés, formed the Broadhurst Gardens for us to meet. Montague, tried its best to wean us Free German Committee, the nucleus Finally, Horst Brasch wrote me a away from the FGY and involve us in of a future German government. The letter saying ‘We are sorry to note that discussion groups on such topics as Central Committee of the FGY sent a you have abandoned the fight against ‘Has the blackout increased immorality telegram to Moscow affiliating to the fascism.’ This ended my experience among young people?’, while the FGY Moscow Committee and calling on with the Free German Youth. discussed ‘Is free love important?’ the German people to rise against the Peter Prager I belonged to the Willesden (north- Nazis. We ordinary members were This is a shortened version of a west London) branch. Every Tuesday aghast. We thought it was laughable chapter from Peter Prager’s auto­ we had group evenings. The evening that German Jews were asking the biography From Berlin to England started with a German workers’ song Germans to revolt. What notice would and Back. such as ‘Volk ans Gewehr’. Then there they take of us! We protested. The

inside the ajr continued from page 13 end of the meal when we discovered we praised the hospitality they had received their mindsets have changed. Denial of the had all been the guests of Maggie Silver, from this Muslim country and thanked Holocaust in Germany and Austria can lead the owner of Salts Mill, as a diamond the Albanian citizens for saving their to a jail sentence, Howard said. wedding present to our members Lilly lives. Larry Lisner and Albert Waxman. Thank you to all Ceska Abrahams Next meeting: 14 Dec. Social Get- concerned! Anna Greenwood Next meeting: 20 Dec. Social Get- together Next meeting: 8 February together Ilford A pleasant day at Geffrye Brighton and Hove Sarid Rescue in Essex Hitler Youth Museum Albania The Wiener Library’s Howard Falksohn A small number of AJR stalwarts spent a With Dr Scarlett Epstein as our guest gave a very interesting and thought- very pleasant day at the Geffrye Museum speaker, we watched a DVD produced by provoking talk on young people who in Shoreditch. An informative lecture, Joanna Newman, who had interviewed joined the Hitler Youth. Those children, followed by lunch and a walk through the survivors welcomed in Albania while like Kindertransport children, are now in Elizabethan herb garden, completed the fleeing the Nazis. All those interviewed their late 70s and 80s and so, hopefully, enjoyable outing. Herman Rothman

Continental Recipes remembered of your childhood kitchen – of special dients or method, perhaps you can tell us Continental Friends groups in the North times or festivals or dishes your mother or stories about the dish – who used to cook have so far collected over 40 recipes grandmother made and perhaps you still it or what it smelt like or looked like. from AJR members for their Recipes make today. Second Generation could tell For more information, or if you would Remembered project. We are hoping to us about recipes from their parents etc. like to send a recipe, please contact AJR print the recipe book early in 2011. We are interested in anything you can volunteer Pippa Landey (Leeds) on 01332 We are collecting recipes and dishes remember about the food – at what time 893 144 or at pnlandey1@googlemail. from AJR members nationwide, where of day you ate it, or perhaps you ate it com Alternatively, contact Susanne Green, possible together with memories and/or in the winter or on a picnic or at festival AJR Northern Co-ordinator, on 0151 291 photographs. Anything that reminds you times. If you don’t know the exact ingre- 5734 or at [email protected]

15 AJR JOURNAL decEMber 2010

women. The Commander of the Navy, representing the IDF, congratulated Letter from the young recruits, complimented their Israel families and encouraged the youngsters to ‘Go out and lead.’ There were more speeches by military personnel, outstanding cadets were decorated, and meanwhile the sun shone down. Some My granddaughter, the officer of the young officers were overcome by the heat and were swiftly removed from ’ve never been to a passing-out parade A f t e r t h e the scene by stretcher-bearers. As the at Sandhurst or West Point, and am food came the band played some more marches, the Inot likely ever to go to one, but I have ceremony. The newly-appointed officers strode past and a sneaking suspicion that the ceremony new officers left each family watched proudly, many of us at which my granddaughter was made an to go to their with tears of pride and joy in our eyes. officer in Israel’s Air Force (no, she’s not a appointed posi- My granddaughter told me later that she pilot!) was nothing like those events. tions while the also shed a tear or two of joy and pride at Several hundred soldiers were due families pro- having reached that point. to receive their officer’s insignia that ceeded to the I know it sounds corny, but I believed day. Each and every one of them had stands surrounding the parade ground the Commander of the Officers’ Training demonstrated his or her excellence and on three sides. Each family found a place School when he said it was not only a duty was without doubt their family’s pride and to sit, whereupon some of them brought but a privilege to lead soldiers who were joy. They were all entitled to invite parents, out balloons, others produced posters ready to defend Israel. siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts and bearing slogans such as ‘Assaf, we’re The ceremony ended and the newly- close friends to share that day. Our little proud of you,’ while yet others donned appointed officers all gave a mighty yell family gathering numbered about 20 specially printed hats or T-shirts in bright and threw their hats into the air. We people. Multiply that by the number of colours bearing the name of the soldier parted from our young officer, who looked soldiers and it’s quite a crowd. they had come to honour. All the families so impressive in her Air Force uniform, As befits such occasions, we began with were justifiably proud of their offspring, and raced to the car to beat the inevitable nourishment. Each family brought its own who had undergone a ­rigorous selection traffic jam, while she proceeded to yet food, while plastic tables and chairs were procedure and completed a series of tests another course, this time a specialised Air provided by the Officers’ Training School and exercises to reach this moment. Not Force one, to prepare her for the next two under the trees which shaded the spacious all who had embarked on the course had years of her military service. lawns. All around us hampers were being been allowed to complete it. Two of her great-grandfathers served opened, shopping bags emptied and The IDF band played and, to the cheers in the German army in the First World drinks poured. Ravenous youngsters fell of the families, the cadets marched out onto War and perished in the Holocaust. I’m upon the food their families had brought the parade ground and stood to attention, sure they would have been happy at them, glad of the opportunity to enjoy a forming a square. The youngsters, each the path their descendant has chosen little home cooking as well as relax and one carrying a rifle, were drawn from all to take. benefit from the festive atmosphere. three forces and included both men and Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

letters to the editor continued from page 7 ‘A POPULAR JEWISH MYTH’ principally because of deteriorating with my many years’ participation in Sir – I refer to Dorothea Shefer-­Vanson’s economic conditions. It is noteworthy voluntary activities with Women’s Cancer Letter from Israel in your November ­edition. that the hereditary Jewish Patriarchate Control. Mr Fernandez gladly gave me his She expertly displays her ­knowledge of (the office of Nasi) remained in place in address. world history but is quite wrong on one Palestine until the early fifth century. No sooner said than done. Claire was point. Michael Busse, Welwyn Garden City delighted to hear my tale. She got in touch She reiterates the popular Jewish myth with the gentleman and was delighted that the Romans exiled the Jews from A FULL LIFE: CLAIRE RAYNER to sign his copy of her book. To my joy, their country! I studied the history of that Sir – Some 15 years ago I indulged in a one- she presented me with a further signed period in detail for my London University off luxury – a taxi to a theatre matinee. The copy of her book. I have treasured her MA so I am qualified to state that all the play wasn’t my cup of tea but my encounter marvellously researched saga of the history Romans did in this regard in CE 70 was with the taxi-driver made it worthwhile. of our people going back to 70 AD. to take captive (as slaves) inhabitants He was a middle-aged Sephardi Jew and Being Claire Rayner, her vivid portrayal of Judea, which was just a small area his hobby was research into genealogy. He of the misery of poverty, snobbery and around Jerusalem. Jews remained (in told me his favourite book was The Run- class distinction among our Jews in the large numbers) in the rest of Palestine. In ning Years by Claire Rayner. ‘How I wish she so-called Good Old Days is all-pervasive. subsequent decades, there was gradual would jump into my taxi!’, he said. Claire certainly lived a full life. With migration to Galilee and in the following I told him I couldn’t promise that but affection and admiration! centuries migration from the Holy Land, that I had met Claire Rayner in connection Laura Selo, London NW11

Published by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL Telephone 020 8385 3070 Fax 020 8385 3080 e-mail [email protected] For the latest AJR news, including details of forthcoming events and information about our services, visit www.ajr.org.uk Printed by FBprinters llp, 26 St Albans Lane, London NW11 7QB Tel: 020 8458 3220 Email: [email protected]

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