VOLUME 6 NO. 6 JUNE 2006
When Irish eyes weren't smiling The ninetieth anniversary of the 1916 spoke of the sacred Irish soil that could be Easter Rising in Dublin, in the crucible of liberated by Irish blood - terms reminiscent whose bloodstained suppression modem of Nazi 'Blut und Boden' ideology; and the Msh nationalism was largely forged, raises doomed Rising itself, whose leaders were the somewhat neglected subject of Irish executed by the British with wholly attitudes to the Jews - neglected because counter-productive bmtality, was stylised Jews in Ireland were so few. In the most into an act of martyrdom in the national famous Irish text of the twentieth century, cause, in form (though not in substance) James Joyce's Ulysses, Mr Deasy asks similar to the mythologisation of those Stephen Dedalus if he knows why Ireland Nazis who fell in Hitler's failed beer-hall has 'the honour of being the only country putsch in Munich in November 1923. which never persecuted the Jews', then The Easter Rising and its aftermath also answers his own question: 'Because she permanently advanced the cause of the never let them in.' extremists in Irish politics, for they allowed For a century and a half after the great italo Svevo (Ettore Schmitz), 1861- the men of violence to parade as the purest famine of the 1840s, Ireland was a poverty- 1928, the Italian-Jewish writer and defenders of the Irish national cause, a model for Joyce's Leopold Bloom stricken land that could not support even its tactic employed ad nauseam by the existing population, as the vast emigration war - quaintly dubbed 'the Emergency' in Provisional IRA, a paramilitary, proto- from its shores demonstrated. It was also Ireland - reflected the ambivalence of its fascist organisation whose 'revolutionary' sunk in deeply conservative Catholicism attitude to Nazi Germany. Though nationalistic aims are propagated by its (or, in the north, Protestant bigotry). Both Ireland's neutrality in practice tended to political wing, Sinn Fein. The most famous factors made it unattractive to Jews. After favour the Allies, the very fact of its hne in the most famous of all Irish poems, 'A Ireland won independence from Britain in neutrality, behind the shield of the British terrible beauty is bom', from W. B. Yeats's 1921-22, its inward-looking conservatism war effort (as the British saw it), counted Easter, 1916, reflects precisely the powerful intensified as the government, especially against it, as did its refusal to allow the but ambivalent attraction that violence in under Eamon De Valera, deployed an British to use on its Western coast the the struggle for national liberation has obsessive nationalism and hostility to strategically valuable Treaty Ports, which exercised over Irish politics for nearly a external cultural influences. had been British until 1938; they could century. Consequently, Ireland played host to very have saved Allied ships and lives from The dangers of that ideology were few of the Jews fleeing Nazism after 1933. German submarines. In Jewish eyes, apparent to James Joyce well before the One of the handful who did gain admission neutrality towards Auschwitz was Rising: he made the representative of was Hans Reiss, who arrived as war broke indefensible. This was compounded by extreme Irish nationalism in Ulysses, the out, studied at Trinity College Dublin, and Prime Minister De Valera's bizarre Citizen, his equivalent of the one-eyed went on to enrich British academic life as decision to express his condolences to the Cyclops Polyphemus, who held Ulysses Professor of German at the University of German minister in Dublin on the captive in his cave and devoured his men. Bristol for over 20 years. But Reiss's entry occasion of Hitler's death in April 1945, Brutal, intolerant and ideologically blind to into Ireland was perhaps smoothed by just as the horrors ofthe camps were being all but his own one-eyed perspective, the having the backing of a priest, Dekan revealed to a shocked world. Citizen is also the natural spokesman for Hermann Maas of Heidelberg, who was It is now known that important people in Irish antisemitism. Leopold Bloom deported to a forced labour camp in France the Irish political establishment were pro- encounters him in Barney Kiernan's bar and by the Nazis for aiding Jews and after the German - and not just out of an ingrained has the temerity to state that Christ was a war was the first German to be officially hostility to Britain that proclaimed Jew: 'By Jesus', roars the Citizen, Til brain welcomed to Israel by the Israeli Britain's enemies the friends of Ireland. that bloody jewman for using the holy government. Otherwise, those admitted For the Irish nationahsm that emerged name. By Jesus, I'll crucify him so I will', were mostly people who brought capital from the Easter Rising was not without and he hurls a biscuit tin after Bloom, with them and could benefit the country's ideological elements uncomfortably close as Polyphemus flung a rock at the economy. to National Socialism. Padraig Pearse, who escaping Ulysses. The Irish policy of neutrality during the with James Connolly led the uprising, (Continued on page 2) AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006
(Continued from page 1) thrall to the seductive myth of the Easter Beyond camps and Irish nationalism grew out of a small Rising, with its call to violence in the name forced labour nation's struggle for freedom from a of nationally exclusive extremism, should Current research on powerful, oppressive neighbour Irish contemplate other lines by Yeats: survivors of Nazi persecution nationhood, achieved as late as 1922, was Out of Ireland have we come, A major international conference on insecure, aware of the shallowness of its Great hatred, little room. historical roots when compared to the Current International Research on Survivors Maimed us at the start. of Nazi Persecution, organised by Johannes- more settled national identity of the I carry from my mother's womb Dieter Steinert (University of British. That insecurity led it to emphasise A fanatic heart. Wolverhampton) and Inge Weber-Newth national and ethnic homogeneity, (London Metropolitan University), has been inevitably diminishing its tolerance of 'non- (from Remorse for Intemperate Speech) held at the Imperial War Museum. It was a Irish' minorities like Jews. Those still in Anthony Grenville follow-up to the successful conference which took place in 2003, also at the Imperial War Museum. The conference brought together The doll and the hidden child scholars from a variety of disciplines. Twenty-eight panels ran in parallel sessions, when the parents of Berthe Suzanne providing over 100 established and young Rappaport Ripton were taken from academics with a platform to present their their Paris apartment and deported to results and research projects. Auschwitz, Suzanne began a new life The thematic focus of the conference was as a hidden child in the medieval the 'life after', ranging from experiences of French village of Mondoubleau. displacement and uprooting, the reception and resettlement process of survivors in Here she was taken in by the family different countries, to testimonies of Guillon, who had two daughters: survivors and issues of memory and identity. Alice, who died at the age of 26, and The conference was academically Paulette. One day in 1944 Suzanne supported by an international advisory 'disappeared' from her new French board of renowned scholars, and financially home, taken away by two men. But supported by the Koerber Foundation Paulette held on to Suzanne's beloved (Hamburg), the British Academy, the German Embassy, the Austrian Cultural doll. She wrote a note about women were reunited, Paulette Forum, the German Historical Institute and Suzanne's background on a piece of returned the doll, which she had kept Renovabis, a Catholic foundation based in paper and hid it in one of the all this time. Shortly Paulette is to Freising. doll's shoes. receive in Paris a medal from Yad Feedback from participants and sponsors was highly positive. In his closing address, Vashem on behalf of her parents; a Last year Paulette finally tracked Professor David Cesarani remarked: 'Three down Suzanne, now a member of the reception will be held by the mayor years ago you tapped into an emerging Leeds and Harrogate Continental 'Hitler didn't win it all I', says Suzanne. subject and now it is taking a definite shape. Friends groups. As soon as the two HS It will be fascinating to see the landscape at the next conference in three years' time.' Johannes-Dieter Steinert and Notarlsation of German life certificates Inge Weber-Newth
With effect from this July, the AJR will be without the necessary paperwork and ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING recognised as an 'official British office' identification. ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES and will be able to notarise for AJR For the purpose of having their forms Tuesday 27 June 2006 at 11.30 pm members life certificates issued by the legalised, members can continue to visit at German pension authority, the Deutsche the German embassy as well as police The Paul Balint AJR Day Centre 15 Cleve Road, London NWS Rentenversicherung Bund, for social stations, financial institutions, security and Altersrente pensions. physicians, rabbinates and notaries For further details please telephone In order to avoid complications and public. 020 8385 3070 delays with payments, members wishing In addition to all lump sum payments to have their life certificates notarised by and pensions from Austria, the AJR is AJR Directors the AJR must present themselves, authorised to sign life certificates issued Gordon Greenfield Finance Carol Rossen Administration and Personnel together with their passport (or some by the Diisseldorf and Hesse German AJR Heads of Department widely accepted form of identification), at compensation authorities and the Marcia Goodman Social Services AJR Head Office, at our Day Centre in Hamburg social security office. The AJR Michael Newman IVIedia and Public Relations Cleve Road, or at a regional group is further recognised by the Claims Susie Kaufman Organiser, Day Centre meeting. Home visits can also be Conference as authorised to notarise life AJR Journal arranged by contacting Head Office. certificates and applications to the Article Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor Please note that an AJR representative II and Hardship Funds. Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor Andrea Goodmaker will be unable to sign the life certificate Michael Newman Secretarial/Advertisements AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006
OF VlEv\f Who is our enemy now? NEWTONS Leading Hampstead Solicitors 'My love-hate relationship with Vienna', the highest number advise on my piece in the March issue, told how I of antisemitic incidents is France. Property, Wills, Family Trusts felt about that city. Yes, I was only three Shall I hate the French too? and Charitable Trusts when we were forced to leave. Yes, my Angela Merkel of Germany and Heinz father, a doctor, had had his teeth kicked Fischer of Austria have not, to the best of French and German spoken in while doing a visit. Yes, but for a loyal my knowledge, ever uttered one word Home visits arranged patient, he would have been sent to against the Jews or Israel. But theirs are Dachau. But I don't hate Vienna. And the countries some of you still want me 22 Fitzjohn's Avenue, that's where the trouble began. I had to hate. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran London NWS SNB four letters condemning me for my love- denies the Holocaust and wants to wipe Tel: 020 7435 5351 hate relationship with Vienna. 'It should Israel off the face of the map. So does Fax: 020 7435 8881 only be hate', one writer said. Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. So do the Let me make it quite clear. The leaders of Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. Holocaust must never be forgotten. I am And so does Bashar al-Assad of Syria. very proud that in my neck of the woods, Not forgetting, of course, the worst each year, on Holocaust Memorial Day, enemy of them all: Osama bin Laden of Northwood and Pinner Liberal al-Qaeda. Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels, CONSULTANT Synagogue get together with Goering - they are all long dead. It's the to long established English Northwood United Synagogue to teach Islamic fundamentalists who are the Solicitors (bi-lingual German) the schoolchildren in our area about the danger now. They are the murderers. It's would be happy to assist clients Holocaust (we had 2,000 pupils this Abu Hamza and Omar Bakri - not Julius with English, German and year). However, Ezekiel 18:20 states that Streicher and Alfred Rosenberg. Austrian problems. 'the son shall not bear the indignity of I have a certain sympathy with Daniel Contact Henry Ebner the father'. All those who were Nazis - Barenboim. Of course, Wagner was a and there were many - are now well into rabid antisemite but should we not Myers Ebner & Deaner their eighties. I agree with Goldhagen be allowed the pleasure of the Ring 103 Shepherds Bush Road that they were 'Hitler's Willing cycle? I become sentimental when London W6 7LP Executioners'. So, if you want, let's hate listening to the Vienna New Yearns Day Telephone 020 7602 4631 them - but don't let's hate their children Concert. Should I feel guilty? And, ALL LEGAL WORK too. David Irving has just been oh dear, I prefer wiener schnitzel to UNDERTAKEN imprisoned in Austria for Holocaust falafel. Perhaps I'm committing yet denial. I doubt whether the English another sin? would have given him such a penalty. In I apologise to those I offended by Germany, impersonating Hitler is admitting that I have some love for punishable by a heavy fine or Vienna. But surely you must realise that AUSTRIAN and GERMAN imprisonment. Prince Harry, over here, the enemy today is Islamic PENSIONS was merely considered a bit of an idiot. fundamentalism, not National Ken Livingstone and George Galloway Socialism. And, on a controversial note, I PROPERTY have been allowed to get away with haven't heard many of you condemn RESTITUTION CLAIMS defamation of Israel and Jews in general Stalin and the Communists. Under such as would never be allowed in Stalin, millions of Jews were killed too. EAST GERMANY - BERLIN Germany or Austria. Should I now hate How come your silence about him? On instructions our office will the English? And what about the Some of you didn't support Communism assist to deal with your French? According to the Jewish before the Second World War, did you? I Chronicle, the country in Europe with applications and pursue the matter Peter Phillips with the authorities. Hardship Fund For further information and an appointment post-war agreements were reached between The AJR has received the following please contact: announcement from the Claims that country and Germany - are not currently Conference. We understand that receiving payments from the Hardship Fund. ICS CLAIMS Holocaust survivors and refugees from The German government is not making funding available at present for such 146-154 Kilburn High Road Austria are included in this definition payments. Applications from such western London NW6 4JD ofWestern persecutees': persecutees are not therefore being processed 'Western persecutees' - Nazi victims who were at this time. Announcements in the future Tel: 020 7328 7251 (Ext. 107) citizens of certain western [west European] regarding new developments will be posted Fax: 020 7624 5002 countries at the time of persecution and when on our website at www.claimscon.org AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006 Anne Frank and AJR behind bars Since 2002 the Anne Frank Trust, the Winston has been to HMP Foston Hall and British sister organisation of the Anne Nottingham. Frank House in Amsterdam, has been Acklington Prison Officer Simon Ripon taking its exhibition .Awne Frank, A History wrote: 'The importance of Dr Kurt for Today into British prisons. This has Schapira's visit cannot be overstated; it been a remarkably successful venture, was the highlight of the exhibition and offering prisoners and young offenders the provided a focus for all who attended it. Dr opportunity of learning about Anne Schapira's message that democracy, Frank's life and times and reflecting on tolerance, economic stability, truth and their own attitudes towards others. justice must prevail in society was warmly The exhibition visits each prison for one received and applauded by all.' week and the prison education team and Other AJR members who have visited the Anne Frank Trust work together to The AJR's Mark Goldfinger, seated, in prisons are Mark Goldfmger, Arek Hersh, create a programme of activities to conversation with Barry Greenberry, maximise the impact ofthe visit. Teams of Freddie Knoller, Steve Mendelsohn, Paul Governor of Guys Marsh Prison, Dorset prisoners are trained to be exhibition Koppel, Ludwig Simonson, Rosie Schatzberger and Alfred Huberman. guides, which not only raises their self- Manager, Steve Gadd, and AJR's Head of esteem and imparts communication Social Services, Marcia Goodman, have The AJR speakers have made a skills but remains a memorable been seeking to match prisons with AJR significant contribution to the Trust's experience for them. members in the vicinity who will go mission to make our society a better and Herbert Levy has trained prisoners to 'inside' to speak about their experiences to safer place. For more information about be Anne Frank exhibition guides around prisoners. Constant evaluation has found the Anne Frank prison tour and other the country. By relating the exhibition to that these talks give offenders a sense of Anne Frank Trust events and initiatives, his own experiences in Berlin and then as perspective about their own grievances including those supported by the AJR, a child on the Kindertransport, he and difficulties and challenge their please call Gillian Walnes on 020 7284 thoroughly engages the attention of his prejudices. 5858, email [email protected] or trainees. In recent weeks Dr Kiul Schapira has visit www.aimefrank.org.uk. More recently, the Trust's Prison Tour been to HMP Acklington and Simon Gillian Walnes
The White Rose Project On 5 May Austria commemorated the addresses where victims had lived On a more local level, residents in the National Day of Remembrance in before being deported. The roses were 9th District, with the support of the Memory of the Victims of National then placed on walls, pavements and local Alsergrund Museum, are carrying Socialism. For the last three years this front doors, and each with the name of out a project to trace the history of event has included the participation of the previous resident attached. The list the Jews who used to live in schoolchildren from all parts of Austria of names and addresses was compiled Servitengasse, a road which was a who were encouraged to find out through the Jewish Welcome Service centre of Jewish life before the war. something about the individuals who and the Jewish Community in Vienna. Information on this is available at were so brutally removed from their In the previous two months, schools www.servitengassel 938.at. homes and murdered. So far, about had been able to register their interest The Documentation Centre of the 25,000 pupils have researched online and pupils were linked to Austrian Resistance has a great deal of biographies both of victims and individual names. From the web page information on the fate of the survivors. The programme first attracted of the project it was also possible for community both before and during the attention in 2003 when 80,000 white students to see if any Jewish people war. As well as a museum and balloons with 'letters from the present to previously lived at their address and, if permanent exhibition in the Old Town the past and from the future' were so, their families were asked to offer a Hall in Wipplingerstrasse, there is a released in the Heldenplatz. sign of reconciliation by allowing the comprehensive website www.doew.at, previous occupants or their which includes a list of the names This year, the event centred on St descendants to visit their old home. and dates of deportation of 62,000 Stephen's Square, where 80,000 white Austrian Jews. roses were mounted on a large structure The project is not limited to Vienna designed by the University of Applied and pupils from schools throughout While the crimes of many Austrians Arts. These represent the Austrian victims Austria participated. Austrian Railways before and during the war must never of Nazism, of whom 65,000 were Jewish. provided free travel for participants. be forgotten, it is encouraging that Following a memorial service attended by The project and its history are today's young Austrians fully survivors, political dignitaries and described more fully on the website acknowledge what happened and are representatives of the main religions, the www.lettertothestars.at, which also doing their best to keep the memories roses were taken by individual has several useful links, including an of the victims alive. schoolchildren to the last known English summary. George Vulkan AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006
How did you escape from Nazi Europe? Peter F. Kurer
The Society of Friends rescued were rescued from Germany and lone children between 1922-1938.' thousands of Jews from Nazi Europe. Austria by the Society and enabled to Today, the question is: what have The Society does not seek publicity, but come to England. They played an the beneficiaries of the Society's work this is no reason why people like myself important role in the Kindertransport and dedication done to ensure that - whose family and life it saved - movement. we, and future generations, are should be content with the minimum That Quakers were among the most aware of its actions to save us in our recognition it has received from us active groups of rescuers of Jews from hour of need and to ensure that its Jews. the Holocaust was recognised by the unique, inspired help will never be The Quakers gave guarantees - award in 1949 of a Nobel Peace Prize forgotten? the life line essential for Jews to for humanitarian efforts to both the With the support and assistance of obtain visas to move to England - not British Friends Service Committee and the Association of Jewish Refugees, I knowing in most cases the people for its American counterpart. would ask all those who were helped whom they were providing guarantees In 2001 a sculpture of a leader of the in any way by the Society of Friends - but aware that help was needed. Quaker movement was installed and or who have a friend, acquaintance or My brother and I were provided with dedicated in the courtyard of Friends' relative who might have received help two free years in a Quaker boarding House, London. The sculpture was - to forward to me their names and school in Cumberland to ensure our made by Naomi Blake, herself a addresses so that I can send them a safety and to enable our parents to Kindertransport member Its plaque form for completion and initiate the look after their other relations. Of the reads: 'To honour Bertha Bracey (1893- project We Must Never Forget. Please school's less than 150 pupils, five were 1989) who gave practical leadership contact me at: 7 Bruntwood Lane, refugees. to Quakers in quietly rescuing and re Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1HS, tel 0161 More than 10,000 Jewish children settling thousands of Nazi victims and 428 5080, email [email protected].
A school which no longer exists
We now have the story of the Jews in Synagogue in St John's Wood, needs North Devon (Helen R Fry,/ews in North mentioning too. On Sunday momings the Devon during the Second World War, school went to church, but we five reviewed in the April issue), but there is refugees stayed behind in the library and also a story of a small group of child worked at our correspondence course on refugees from North Cornwall. My story is Jewish studies. Unfortunately, I about a school which no longer exists. remember nothing more. (Several years Kingsley School, founded in 1915 (?) by ago I contacted the Liberal Synagogue four forward-thinking ladies - the about this matter but nobody knew Principals - occupied three houses in anything about it.) Belsize Park. In 1939 the school was One year, all five of us were invited to evacuated to Tintagel in North Cornwall, Taken probably in 1942, this photo shows spend a Jewish holiday in Par, South where it remained throughout the war. Its four of the five refugees at Kingsley School. Cornwall with a Professor (?) and Mrs buildings in London were damaged by Front row left, Steffi (with hair ribbon), Singer. It would be nice to be able to say bombing and the school did not return to then Reni Birnbaum; back row right, Trude 'thank you' to the present-day generation Silman, then Vera Baer London but continued in Horley, Surrey, of the Singer family. I remember Mrs probably until the 1970s. joined the school in December 1940, Singer as a pleasant, small, plump lady As part of the Principals' humanitarian leaving in December 1944. We received an who wore a large hearing aid on the front of activities, five refugee children aged from excellent education and were taught high her dress. It would be wonderful if more 10 to 14 were taken as full boarders (as moral principles. We proceeded to make information surfaced to flesh out my well as being looked after in the holidays) our own lives and lost touch. The four memories. without any payment throughout the war. years I spent in Cornwall were a most In conclusion, I wish to state my Four of the children were from Germany formative period of my life and I am gratitude to the late Principals of Kingsley and, I believe, were initially at Hoddesdon eternally grateful to the school for School and to say how much else they did Manor, being cared for by the Rothschilds. supporting a lonely child without family for people and the war effort throughout There were two sisters - Steffi and Reni (my parents perished in the Holocaust). the war - on which subject an entire book Bimbaum - Vera Baer and Dse Solomon. I, The existence of a correspondence could be written. the fifth, came from Czechoslovakia and course, possibly organised by the Liberal Trude Silman AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006
ideological end to the conflict instead of pursuing a pragmatic, humanitarian one based on social justice? The Editor reserves the right Inge Trott I TO THE ) to shorten correspondence Cheam, Surrey submitted for publication LETTER FROM ISRAEL Sir - I fully agree with every word Bertha ^ EDITOlU Leverton writes (May issue). But even if Dorothea Shefer-Vanson thinks that most of the matters Bertha mentions are brought to us by the daily newspapers and ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS Sir - Inge Trott's constant pro-Palestinian television, surely there must be more Sir - Inge Trott's letter, like the many diatribe reminds one of a body of German interesting events happening daily in Israel reports in the media, has confused me. Jews in the aftermath of Hitler's accession than the banalities she reports. At present, Many speak of the illegal occupation by to power known as the Auerbachjuden. her column is a waste of valuable space in Israel of some of the West Bank and some Their credo was that the Nazis' anti- an otherwise excellent journal. parts of Jerusalem. I am 85 years old and I Jewish ravings were in reality aimed not at O. Findling have witnessed many events. I remember German Jews, but at the despised London NW4 the '67 war and the admiration of the UK Ostjuden. We all remember the error of press and others for the way the plucky that concept. Sir - Whenever I visit Israel, I never fail to Israelis resisted their neighbours, who Herbert Haberberg bump into someone I know: it's part of the swore to drive them into the sea. Israel Barnet, Herts excitement of the holiday fabric. It is a captured large tracts of its neighbours' delight, therefore, to read Dorothea land, only to give it back - the last piece of Sir - Gisela Feldman and Henry Shefer-Vanson's experience as related in land being the Gaza Strip - leaving some Schragenheim (May issue), and others, her Letter from Israel column. Her articles areas in Israeli hands. give the impression that the entire are always of interest as they are almost I found an article by Robert Fisk in The readership of the AJR Journal is against personal communications from an old Independent (1 April 2006) very my stance on the Israel/Palestine conflict. friend which I read with pleasure as they disturbing. He wrote, inter alia, about the However, I am heartened by the fact that I are so well written. Ms Shefer-Vanson is massacre of Sabra and Chatila supposedly am certainly not alone in my criticism of obviously a successful immigrant to Israel by Israeli troops. Similarly, the unlawful Israel. from these shores. killing (inquest result) of the British I wonder if your readers listened to Marcel Ladenheim journalist James Miller needs answering. I Daniel Barenboim's Reith Lectures, Surbiton, Surrey also do not like to see pictures of Arab broadcast on Radio 4 in April and May. homes being destroyed, allegedly to root Together with the Palestinian Edward Sir-1 like to read the Letter from Israel and I out terrorists and to pay for suicide Said, Barenboim founded the West am sure I am not the only one. It is a attacks. On the other hand, seeing Arab Eastern Divan Orchestra, made up of comforting thought that the Israelis can children provoking Israeli troops by young Israeli and Arab musicians. They still laugh and chat about photographs throwing stones at them is not a very have been performing with great success. and be thrilled because they met sensible thing to do. Making music together encourages a somebody who used to be a schoolmate in Recently a reporter on the Radio 4 greater understanding of each other's far-away England years ago. It reminds me programme 'From Our Own culture. Translated into political reality, it of the Londoners who, during the Blitz, Correspondent' talked about the could put an end to the never-ending would emerge after a night of hell from Palestinians in their newly acquired Gaza killings. their air-raid shelters to carry on with their Strip - how they fired mortar shells into I cannot do better than quote from the usual jobs. Let us be grateful that it is not Israeli territory, hitting schools, houses, address Barenboim gave to the Knesset in all grief and doom in Israel. killing children and their parents. I did not May 2004 when he received Israel's Julie Franks see this reported anywhere else. It does prestigious Wolf Prize, awarded to artists Westcliffe-on-Sea not encourage Israel to make and scientists who have contributed concessions! I was heartened, however, notably to the benefit of mankind: ANTI-ZIONISTS AND ANTISEMITES by the Chief Rabbi's Thought for the Day' Sir - Antisemitism is a word that should be on 4 April when he talked about Daniel Can we, despite all our achievements, ignore used sparingly begins Bryan Reuben's Barenboim's efforts to bridge the divide the intolerable gap between what the Declaration of Independence promised and thought-provoking article (April). It is, in with music. what was fulfilled, the gap between the idea fact, a word that should not be used at all. I feel too little attention is paid to the and the realities of Israel? Does the condition It derives from the Greek 'anti' and 'Semite' atrocities of others, whereas the Jews of of occupation and domination over another and was first coined in 1879 by the Israel are singled out for condemnation. people fit the Declaration of Independence? Is founder of the League of Antisemites, there any sense in the independence of one at This does not excuse wrongdoing by Wilhelm Marr, to designate the then the expense of the fundamental rights of the Jews. It does, however, show that anti- current anti-Jewish campaign in Europe. Israel feelings are beginning to descend other? Can the Jewish people, whose history is a record of continuous suffering and relentless Clothed in the pseudo-scientific, into growing antisemitism. We have all persecution, allow themselves to be academic-sounding newspeak of the day, been here before! indifferent to the rights and suffering of a the word lends undeserved respectability Alex Lawrence neighbouring people? Can the State of Israel to the idea hiding behind it - pure and Marlow allow itself an unrealistic dream of an simple hatred of Jews. It may be too late to AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006 eradicate the misnomer, but we can make AQUESTION OF NATURALISATION a start by using the expression Jew-hatred Sir - My naturalisation was completely ARE YOU ON A LOW or similar instead of antisemitism. Many different from Francis Deutsch's (May INCOMEANDINNEED hitherto acceptable words have issue). I wasnota minor (over 21) when disappeared in the last 50 years. I applied. It took a full two years before OF HOMECARE HELP? Antisemitism, in time, may be one more. it was processed. I had a stringent AJR might be able to offer you interview at the Home Office, including Walter Goddard financial assistance for cleaning, Stanmore, Middx a means test to prove I was not bankrupt. Twice I had to go to a Justice gardening and caring. of the Peace - and had to pay £10, Members who might not POLES, JEWS AND ANTISEMITES which was a fortune for me in those otherwise be able to afford Sir - Further to Professor Brent's and Peter days, for the naturalisation. The letter homecare please contact: Fraenkel's letters (April issue), perhaps the accompanying the application form two gentlemen are not sufficiently clearly stated that we had to be able to Estelle Brookner, Secretary acquainted with Poland, or perhaps they read and write English as well as speak AJR Social Services Dept only attend organised events in the it. Evidently they were satisfied with my Tel: 020 8385 3070 company of the intellectual elite. Had they knowledge of English and did not visited the provinces and met up with actually test it. The majority of us were ordinary people, they would no doubt 21 and over when we went through the modify theirviews. process of naturalisation. We had no Companions I turned my back on that unhappy help with completing the forms. country - or rather it would be more correct of London (Mrs) A. Saville Incorporating to say that Poland spurned me, as London NW4 Hampstead Home Care manifested by the brutal attacks against the pitiful remnant after the liberation, WIENER LIBRARY PROJECT A long established company including my hometown of Ostrowiec, From September 2006, the Wiener providing care in your home where five survivors were cruelly done Library will be offering up to 15 persons Assistance with personal care to death. a unique opportunity to explore their General household duties On a visit to Poland in the nineties, family history and develop an in-depth Respite care I found that little had changed. understanding of the Holocaust. It is Medical appointment service I encountered mostly hostility wherever the first time in this country that a I went. One may not sense this, keeping to project specifically aimed at the 'Third "OUR CARE IS YOUR CARE' the well-trodden path leading to the Generation' - the grandchildren of 020 7483 0212/0213 camps, or attending the Cracow Festival of Holocaust survivors and refugees - has Jewish Music and Culture, which, been undertaken. incidentally the Poles never acclaimed The project will offer a series of linked ^^^ SPRING when the Jews were around. seminars. Through using some of the ^-^> GROVE Professor Brent suggests that one should specialist material available at the 214 Finchley Road not dwell on the past. On the contrary, it is Wiener Library, the 15 participants will London NW3 incumbent on us to honour the memory of gain a clearer understanding of their the countless victims betrayed and families' past, the ongoing generational London's Most Luxurious murdered by Poles. Those 'passing' for non- effects of exile and genocide, an RETIREMENT HOME Jews like my sister and I were, ironically understanding of where and how to • Entertainment-Activities more afraid of Poles than Germans. The access historical and genealogical • Stress Free Living latter were gullible enough to believe in information, and develop a sense of • 24 Hour Staffing • Excellent Cuisine their own infallibility - that Jews were only community with other members of the • Full En-Suite Facilities to be found inside ghettoes and camps. group. Call for more information Eva Hoffman, whom Professor Brent If you know, or are aware of, any or a personal tour quotes, is a gifted writer and a good Third Generation' members who might 020 8446 2117 'ambassador' for Poland. She even disputes be interested to find out more about or 020 7794 4455 the figure of 1,600 Jews burnt alive by their this project, please ask them to neighbours in Jedwabne, based on the contact me at the Wiener Library on [email protected] exhaustive study by Professor Jan T. Gross, 020 7636 7247 or email me at and prefers to rely on a Polish source that [email protected]. 2s COMPANY came up with a figure of between 250 and We anticipate that the time 400. The Poles I have spoken to, both here 2s Company specialises in commitment for the project will be up companionship, whether for yourself, and in Poland, conveniently blame it all on to six one-day meetings from your family or friends. We can be there the Germans, and everything since the war September 2006 to February 2007. All at any time and any place to accompany on the Communists, as if the latter were reasonable travel expenses will be you on any shopping trips, journeys, not Poles. They remain adamant that they reimbursed and lunch and holidays, walks or even a cuppa. Living have nothing to answer for, as they refreshments provided. in or living out. Why not call us for an informal chat on themselves were victims of the Nazis. Monica Lowenberg 020 7586 8988 mobile: 0778 880 8907 Rubin Katz Third Generation Project Coordinator ALL STAFF SCREENED AND VETTED London NWl 1 Wiener Library, London Wl AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006
given by the Italian Sebastiano Novelli's The Kiss, in which a girl holding a long bunch of flowers approaches a REVIEWS NOTES sleeping boy. The strewn flowers convey Gloria Tessler the lushness of summer and the passion A new publication from an old ofyouth. friend At 93, veteran photographer, film maker and self-described humanist Wolf WHO'S NOT WHO AND OTHER Suschitzky publishes his book Wolf MATTERS Suschitzky: Photos this month. A by Carl F. Flesch retrospective of 70 years' work, it follows Cambridge: Vanguard Press, his spring exhibition at Newport Street's 2006, 227pp., £7.99 Photographers Gallery, which featured his view of 1930s-40s London's East End, There are not many authors still its life and vanishing street trades. turning out books at the age of 95, Icons cuid Idols celebrates 25 years of so it is a particular pleasure to review celebrity portraits commissioned by the this volume by an old friend of the National Portrait Gallery, which AJR. Carl Flesch, son ofthe legendary number 140 portraits, sculptures and violinist of the same name, came to mixed media works and 120 photographs. Britain as a refugee from Germany in One somehow expects the portrait ofthe 1933 and settled into a career as an well-known to convey everything we know about them; it's much harder to hint insurance broker, specialising in the at something undiscovered. John musical field. His firm, Leroi, Flesch & Keene's reflective portrait of the late Co., was among the earliest to politician Mo Mowlam is an example. advertise in AJR Information, where Paula Regan's intelligent depiction of one can track its rising fortunes. Carl Sebastiano Novelli The Kiss Oil on canvas feminist philosopher Germaine Greer in a Flesch was elected onto AJR's red dress has her poised on the brink of an The opening of Gallery Dikowski in Executive in 1965, in which capacity argument. Yolanda Sonnabend's Belsize Terrace, Hampstead is the he served our Association for a painting of Stephen Hawking has a fulfilment of a dream for art aficionado number of years, and was a member touching liquidity: his misty eyes look out Peter Ross. The 40 years he spent of the management committee of where no one else can see. trawling antique shops and local auctions the Old Age Homes. He was also a A. S. Byatt preferred not to see her own for Victoriana has finally paid off, yielding member of the committee that face so Patrick Heron's charcoal an astounding 400 paintings for his organised the 'Thank-You Britain' abstract swirl conveys her hesitation in gallery, which is named after his pianist Fund, the joint brainchild of the AJR wife Susan's Polish grandparents. The facing the blank page. Alan Bennett also and Victor Ross, another of our Bamet businessman, himself a gifted preferred to be conveyed through his distinguished senior members, violinist, is currently showing the writing than his physical presence. But which raised the then considerable European rural and industrial scenes that he comes alive in a lightning, almost represent the fi^uits of his research. sketchy illustration by Tom Wood which sum of £95,000 in 1965 and There are some Mediterranean scenes renders him entirely in monochromatic donated it to the British Academy for by artists like Miles Stuart Gibson, beige. academic research. such as James Salt's Venice Idyll and Jan Kazuo Ishigoro said of his prize-winning Those familiar with the author's van Couver's Dutch Waterway. The new yellow and orange impasto portrait by previous publications. And Do You gallery features delicate, filmy Peter Edvi^ards that it was 'very hard to Also Play the Violin? and Where Do landscapes like John Ottewell's Winter see yourself in the picture.' Roger Fry You Come From? will recognise his Smiles and Robert Edward Morrison's agreed; 'I cannot see the man for the playful, self-mocking style and his mysterious Lady in Mantilla, in which likeness.' And when Paula Rego's full- sometimes mildly rueful sense of the subject's perfect profile is covered in sized portrait oi David Hare was unveiled humour. This book follows a similar fine black voile. Ross claims that Louis later, complete with Renaissance van Staaten's Maaren is arguably the symbolism, Hare responded: 'I look mad pattern, combining memories from best watercolour by the artist he has ever as a hatter.' the pre-war years of settlement in encountered. Perhaps the comatose are best served. Britain with observations culled Ross was particularly attracted to Famous sleeping beauty David Beckham from many years of acquaintance William Bradley's Haymaking, which gracefully snoozes through Sam Taylor- with a wide range of people, both he identifies as Box Hill in Surrey, where Wood's 67-minute video of recorded British and refugees, and with he grew up. But the romantic touch is slumber. The exhibition ends on 18 June. reflections on contemporary issues AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006 like the monarchy and the best parts of this book. His burnt books and killed with malice punishment of criminals. observations on subjects like aforethought the very people who Among the most interesting paedophilia - the public's reaction to had given this city its reputation as sections are Flesch's pen portraits of certain forms of 'paedophile' an artistic jewel in the first place. friends and acquaintances like the behaviour is, he believes, hysterical Agata Schindler, a Slovak Doctor of impresario Victor Hochhauser, the and excessive - and the death Music who moved to Dresden in cartoonist Vicky (Victor Weisz), the penalty - the 'only suitable 1981, has since the mid-1990s made sculptor Benno Elkan (a Jewish punishment' for certain classes of it her business to carry out research refugee two of whose candelabra, murder - carry less conviction with into Dresden musicians condemned inspired by the Old and New me, but his positive remarks on the because of their race. She has Testaments, are in Westminster British monarchy and class system revealed to us, factually and Abbey), and Kurt Hahn, his accurately mirror the opinions sympathetically, the pre-1933 headmaster at the school of Salem formed by many refugees in the elation and success of 12 musicians - in Germany, who later founded post-war period, as they came to performers, conductors, composers Gordonstoun, where he numbered understand the country in which or promoters - who had lived for both Prince Philip and Prince they settled. their art and had elevated Dresden, Charles among his pupils. Flesch Anthony Grenville and their post-1933 anguish and even dared to stand up to the despair when their efforts were formidable Hans Keller, rewarded with disdain. There are musicologist and arbiter of BBC also short notes on 151 musicians Setting the record straight Radio 3's classical music output, who were Dresden-born and backing his late father's adverse DRESDNER LISTE - MUSIKSTADT performed there in the 1920s and judgmentof the violinist Huberman DRESDEN IN early 1930s and were persecuted in the face of Keller's more NATIONALSOZIALISTISCHER because they were Jews, half-Jews or favourable view; we then learn JUDENVERFOLGUNG 1933-1945 quarter-Jews. Among them are cited about Keller's successes with the IN WORT UND BILD: EIN BEITRAG 84 musicians who were excluded football pools, a piece of inside ZUR DRESDNER from all public, musical and cultural information surely available MUSIKGESCHICHTE life between 1933 and 1938 and had nowhere else. Keller's widow, the by Agata Schindler given performances sponsored by artist Milein Cosman, remains one the Israelitische Religionsgemeinde, Dresden: ProhUser Str 24, 01237, of the author's close friends. which gave them an outlet for their 2003, €15,00 -\- p&p; email: agata- talent and subsistence since they It is not every day that one reads a achim@t-online. de had lost all income, had been book by a living author who Dresdeners, who were flattened by dismissed on the spot, and had been numbered among his schoolmates the RAF and the USAAF in February denied pension or compensation. Dr Thomas Mann's son Golo, a 1945, have been sorry for Schindler deals thoroughly with the distinguished writer and historian themselves ever since and the world question of why everybody kept in his own right, with an acclaimed seems to feel sorry for them. But quiet for so long, giving a blow-by- history of Germany and a book on what about the Jews? What Jews? blow chronological account of the seventeenth-century general Well, the thousands of Jews whom musical events held in private, on Wallenstein to his credit. Carl the good burghers of Dresden ever-tightening restrictions on life, Flesch's book is a living link with the hounded out of their jobs and on the race to escape, on high days of pre-Hitler German homes from January 1933 onwards, diminishing opportunities, on help culture, when families like the reducing them to penury before they from abroad and, finally, on Manns rubbed shoulders with sent them to Riga and Auschwitz. deportations. Jewish friends like the conductor The Frauenkirche became a symbol Bruno Walter, part of the pre-Nazi for Goebbels, neo-Nazis, This book needs to be translated cultural golden age to which Communists and useful Western from German to give it a wider Germany's Jews contributed so idiots, but the Semper Synagogue, audience. Also typically - because it prominently. burnt like all the others by keen tells it as it was, and still is - the For my taste, the author's Dresdeners in November 1938, got author has failed to find a German memories of eminent no mention. It is an outsider who has publisher, but the book can be acquaintances and his vivid made it her business to throw light obtained directly from her. It is recollections of the early years of into this murky corner of Dresden, profusely illustrated. refugee settlement in Britain are the which claimed to be cultured but Frank Bright AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006
author considers so utter\y judenrein THEATRE as to suggest that Hitler won. A dark, dark tale But the original context is restored to the play in this current New End THE DEAD FIDDLER production in which live Klezmer music interweaves with the action as by Isaac Bashevis Singer eight musician-actors leap to their Israel's relations with the Diaspora adapted and directed by David feet with their instruments, and have always been ambivalent, if not fi-aught. It is hard to imagine one Zoob; musical director Roderick stamp out the rhythms of the dying without the other, though in the Skeaping shtetl. Lydia Baksh, also on guitar, 2,000 years ofthe latter's existence fervently portrays the hapless young New End Theatre, Hampstead, without the former things were not bride, Liebe YentI, in an acrobatic North London always rosy. In fact, they seem to performance which is as supple as it is need one another. Take a small shtetl where religious soulful. Her desperate family can only The prominent Israeli writer A. fervour is expressed in Hasidic watch and pray as the town's B.Yehoshua recently angered his dancing and singing, where the old assembly of Hasids, rabbis and American hosts when he way of life is challenged by the new exorcists attempts to drive out the proclaimed that as an Israeli he did modernism. Add a soupqon of Jewish intrepid spirit of the gypsy musician. not feel he had much in common folkloric mysticism - and what do you And, as suddenly, the rude guy is with them. He did not go so far as to get? A journey into the unknown. taken over by a prostitute who makes negate the Diaspora's existence, but This is the theme that so fascinated her own take-over-bid for the soul of his intention was clearly to Singer, a Jewish writer from that very poor, innocent Liebe Yentl. dissociate Israel from Jews who era which saw the concepts of choose to live outside the country. David Zoob, with composer and first Zionism and Socialism rise up in the The image oflsrael that emerges violinist Roderick Skeaping of the face of the old, rustic ways. How does irom the media is unavoidably a writer on the cusp of two great Jewish Music ensemble The Burning distorted.The items that reach the traditions reconcile these conflicts in Bush, generates plenty of electricity as headlines invariably concern his own life? The question troubled well as musical talent, but this subject bloody attacks or the antics of a Singer, who grew up in a Polish village arguably calls for more passion and misguided minority which regards where his father was a deeply depth than can be accommodated on it as its inalienable right to exert humanistic rabbi. The result is a dark, the small stage. There is a hint - but a material and emotional blackmail dark tale: a ghost story with not one very subtle one - of Singer's on a society which adheres to ghost but two, which must be laid to perception of the 'fragile transition' democratic values. rest. The story is the classic tale of a between tradition and modernity. The daily life ofthe vast majority young girl whose body is inhabited by Gloria Tessler of Israelis is not one of bloodshed a spirit on the eve of her wedding. and suffering. Zionism may or may not be a factor, but life on the whole Other Jewish writers too have been Annely Juda Fine Art is pleasant for the masses. No one attracted to the theme of the dybbuk, 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) has an hour-long commute to work a spirit whose presence shocks the Tel: 020 7629 7578 in overcrowded underground community into a rude awakening. In Fax: 020 7491 2139 trains. People do not have to endure most cases, the possession idea has so-called summers of grey skies CONTEMPORARY PAINTING deep political and historical roots, and rain. The sun shines here every AND SCULPTURE and hints at the Cabbalism which day for most ofthe year. There is a often determines the essence of plethora of fresh fruit and Jewish thought. WANTED TO BUY vegetables, almost universal access In S. Ansky's 1914 play, the dybbuk German and to kosher food, and the fi-eedom to refers to the broken promise of a love adhere to whichever dictates of match between a young and gifted Englissh Books one's religion one prefers. And best Cabbalistic scholar and his fiancee. of all, since Israel is a small country, it does not take more than a Ansky's play, written in Russian, Bookdealer, AJR member, couple of hours to get together with impressed Konstantin Stanislavsky, welcomes invitations to view and purchase valuable books friends and family. the director of the Moscow Art There are plenty of media Theatre, but the author died virtually Robert Hornung reporting the newsworthy aspects on the eve of its production and it 10 Mount View, Ealing of life in Israel. This column seeks was performed by a Vilna troupe of London W5 IPR to redress that imbalance. players. In Julia Pascale's Dy66u/c, the Email: hornungbooksSaoLcom Tel: 020 8998 0546 Dorothea Shefer-Vanson place is modern Germany, which the
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A mile or two firom the beautiful army too, ending up in the Far East. cathedral town of Wells in Somerset, Back in England again, she trained as a deep set in lush farmland, lies the tiny PROFILE health visitor. But, having, as she puts village of Wookey - not to be confused it, reached the conclusion that nobody Howard Spier with the nearby touristy cave complex actually dropped dead in the street fi-om of Wookey Hole. Not perhaps the most hunger or disease here, she joined the auspicious area for locating a German Colonial Service and spent a number of Jewish refugee, one might think. Yet it Marianne Parkes years in Tanganyka and then Kenya - is precisely at this spot where, 'The past cannot be altered' one of the most fascinating periods of following their retirement in the mid- her life. There she met her husband-to- 1990s, Marianne Parkes and her genial be Bruce - previously a soldier in the husband Bruce 'landed in the middle of British army in Palestine - and they afield'. married in Dar es Salaam. When East Marianne Grunbaum was born in Africa gained its independence, they Berlin in 1925, her brother Thomas a retiu"ned to England, where they had a year later. Marianne's father was in the son and a daughter, who are now clothing industry; her mother was a married with their own children. psychologist, an unusual occupation for None of Marianne's family married a woman of the time. Following the Jews: it just didn't happen that way, she divorce of their parents, the children points out. Yet all of them are aware of moved with their mother to the south of their background. Otherwise, 'I Germany, from one place to another as wouldn't be a member of the AJR she sought work. (Bristol group) and other groups.' Marianne was sent to a Jewish A few years ago Marianne heard of a boarding school in the lovely village of scheme of short visits to Berlin offered Herrlingen near Ulm. Having been by the municipality to Holocaust brought up in a 'free-spirited' manner, survivors born in the city. Despite her she found life at the school difficult to fit by the Kindertransport organisers. She reservations about digging up the past, into. Marianne remembers a garden remembers the shock as Thomas's was Marianne found the Berlin visit she close by where they lived with a small the first name to be called. There were undertook a hugely worthwhile boy playing in it - she is convinced this no long goodbyes. experience. Her observations on the was Field Marshal Rommel's son Marianne and her brother were diversity of those she met in her Manfred. exceptionally fortunate. Years earlier, visitors' group are typically humorous. Herrlingen's Burgermeister, an Marianne's mother had spent some One Kindertransport member, who ardent Nazi, made life difficult for the time at an English school and had lived in Peru, 'looked like something Grunbaum family, who were lodging in become particularly fiiendly with a out of Star Wars with huge pleated a house belonging to a retired landlord pupil there. Though they hadn't been in shoulders on her jackets. She only and his daughter, both civil servants. touch since, the friend offered to take spoke Spanish and hardly spoke at all Their landlord was told his pension the two children in immediately. The until I dropped a small bag on her nose would be stopped and his daughter lose fi-iend who went out of her way to help by mistake. She never stopped after her job ifthey didn't evict their tenants. Marianne and her brother was a that.' Another visitor looked like 'a It was essential to get back to Berlin to relative of Lord Herschell, Britain's faded 1930s film star. She had tufts of look into the possibility of emigrating. Lord Chancellor under Gladstone. brilliant red hair, a sort of Barbara One morning in the early hours the The children were sent to the best Cartland make-up and more costume landlord's daughter appeared. Without schools. Thomas joined the army, jewellery than I have ever seen in one a word she picked up their suitcases married and eventually went to place outside a shop window.' and took them to the station - one of Australia, becoming an engineer. Marianne is nonetheless at pains to many personal kindnesses Marianne Marianne was keen to study medicine point out that the Berliners who recalls during the family's stay in but, other considerations apart, was organised these trips were 'of the next Herrlingen. classed as 'a friendly enemy alien'. She generation. They had read the right In Berlin railway station, on a dark, took up nursing children, general books and done their research but they wet morning in March 1939, Marianne nursing and midwifery instead. At the were not here in 1939. The past cannot and her brother's names were called out end of the war, Marianne joined the be altered...'
11 AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006
sprinkle over tempestuous waves in order questions on issues such as the NHS, the INSIDE to calm them. Walter Weg local elections, and the future of the AJR - which were discussed, sometimes with Next meeting: Thur 8 June, 2.00 pm. considerable passion. Herbert Haberberg theAJR Michael Newman, Central Office for Holocaust Claims Next meeting: Thur 29 June. Slide show by Clement Krysler on 'Gemstone and Minerals' South-West Midlands and the Enjoyable afternoon in Hull friendly ghost Keen interest among members in the Imre We had a delightful meeting at the home Kertesz film Fateless is to be pursued by Leeds HSFA and the Austria patent of Margaret Conu and Bruce Heywood. arranging a viewing. Veronica Keczkes and Dr Nina Collins gave a very interesting The house is said to be haunted by a Susanne Green told us about the unveiling account of a patent granted -in Austria friendly ghost of indeterminate sex of the Leeds Holocaust Memorial Book. shortly before WWII. Ostensibly, the Support for joining an AJR 'London Day known as Fred or Freda. It was the best purpose of the patent was to enhance the Out' with an overnight stay was expressed. attended meeting we have had and an appearance of Jewish cemeteries. But on Finally, we discussed efforts by Peter Kurer outstanding social gathering. closer inspection, it was evident that the to obtain recognition forthe Quakers, who real purpose was to interfere with the Richard Neubauer rescued manyJews from the Nazis. A most Jewish tradition of visitors leaving small enjoyable afternoon's fellowship at Harold Next meeting: Sun 16 July at home of stones on graves. MartinKapel Richard and Wendy Neubauer in Forest of Rose's home. Bob Rosner Dean. Followed by a boat trip on the River Wye Next meeting: Sun 23 July at home of Bob Pinner talk on refugees in uniform Rosner Some 60 people heard Helen Fry speak about 'Refugees in Uniform in WW2'. Brighton & Hove Sarid talk on Papua Fighting crime in Oxford About 25 per cent of us had either been New Guinea Graham Milne, a civilian Crime Reduction involved or had relatives who were. Helen Economist and social anthropologist officer, advised an attentive audience on traced the aliens in the Pioneer Corps Professor Scarlett Epstein spoke to us aspects of improving the community's from Kitchener Camp to its move to about her experiences in Papua New safety. Myrna Glass thanked the speaker llfracombe. There are few records of Guinea, where she had been teaching at for his timely comments. Jussi Brainin women in uniform but we had one in the Madang Catholic University. We enjoyed audience! There was a lively exchange of looking at vivid images of folklore on Next meeting: Tues 20 June. Eli Benson of reminiscences. PaulSamet campus on DVD and there were several Magen David Adom questions from the audience. Next meeting: Thur 6 July. Neville Nagler Fausta Shelton Essex miracle on his work at the Sternberg Foundation We had a social get-together in Fay Sober's Next meeting: Mon 19 June. Writers' beautiful home. She catered everything contributions herself including baking the bread. A Manchester lecture on post-Holocaust member read us a true story about the theology Liverpool speaker's unconventional life miraculous re-encounter of a mother with Over 40 members heard Dr Daniel Dr Max Block told us about his unusual her long-lost son underthe Nazis. Langton, from Manchester University's life - from his scramble to the UK from Julie Franks Centre of Jewish Studies, give a brilliant Germany up to his time on a kibbutz. Here lecture on post-Holocaust theology. It Next meeting: Tues 13 June. HGS visit and he lived in tents, in an atmosphere of became apparent that responses to the lunch question 'Why was this allowed to religious socialism, with people who, happen?' were varied and even having survived the war, had various Thorny subject tackled in llford contradictory, but none could be simply peculiarities. Friendly Arab neighbours, Consultant solicitor Raymond Rudie disregarded. l/Verner/.ac/is new Jewish immigrants from Iran, Iraq enlightened over 25 of us on making wills and Kurdistan - he met them all. Dr Block and on how essential this was. He also ended up as a financial advisor - and he explained the intricacies of inheritance tax FORTHCOMING MEETINGS plays in the Wimbledon veterans tennis and gave us a few ideas on how to Herts 8 June Social get-together at championship. GeraldJayson minimise it. He answered our many home of Monica Rosenbaum questions patiently and we all learned a Cardiff 12 June Lunchtime social get- Pinner: touring with Lady Montefiore great deal on this thorny subject together (tbc) Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, who has Meta Roseneil Oxford 20 June Eli Benson of Magen made a special study of the Montefiore David Adom nineteenth-century travels to the Holy Next meeting: Wed 7 June. Katharina East Midlands (Nottingham) 21 June Land, described the problems facing the Hubschmann on the Wiener Library Lunchtime social get-together at home intrepid Lady Montefiore travelling by of Ruth and Jurgen Schwiening horse-drawn carriage with or without her North London 'Any Questions' session Cambridge 22 June Details to follow illustrious husband, meeting famous Our advertised speaker having had to people and doing good works. Prone to cancel for family reasons, the indomitable Hendon 26 June Inaugural meeting. sea sickness. Lady Montefiore carried Walter Woyda once again stepped into the Details from Head Office aboard ship Passover afikomans to breach. Walter had prepared a number of Wessex 27 June Outing to Isle of Wight
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JOIN US FOR A DAY TRIP TO BRIGHTON Northern Second Generation gathering Paul Balint AJR Day Centre TUESDAY 11 JULY 2006 Our fifth meeting, in Leeds, was 1 5 Cleve Road, London, NW6 Leaving Day Centre, 15 Cleve Road, attended by people from, among other Tel: 020 7328 0208 London NW6 at 10 am places, Manchester, York and the Lake A 3-course kosher lunch at Ralli Hall District. Among subjects discussed were foilovi'ed by entertainment identity and how we view our 'legacy'. AJR LUNCHEON CLUB Wednesday 21 June 2006 Returning to Cleve Road at approx 6.30pm We propose to visit Beth Shalom Centre £15 including transport and lunch in September and to meet again in Leeds Alf Keiles Please send a cheque to in November For further information, 'The Jewish Influence on Jazz' AJR, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, contact Barbara Dresner Dorrity on 0161 |XT_A tn Kindertransport Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4RL 368 5088 or at [email protected]. Ix I ~r\3 l\ special interest group Monday 5 June 2006 11.45 am for 12.15 pm Karl A. Bettelheim will speak about his experiences in Shanghai Reservations required Please telephone 020 7328 0208
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 9.30 am - 3.30 pm
June Afternoon Entertainment Thur 1 Ronnie Goldberg Sun 4 CLOSED Mon 5 KT LUNCH Kards & Games Klub Over 130 people witnessed the unveiling of the Leeds, Hermann Hirschberger led Tue 6 CLOSED Bradford and Harrogate Continental Friends Holocaust this year's Yom Hashoah Wed 7 Jenny Kossew Memorial in Leeds (a full story of the event will appear in prayers at the Paul Balint Thur 8 Simon Gilbert the next issue of the Journal) AJR Day Centre (see p. 16) Sun 11 CLOSED Mon 12 Kards & Games Klub Tue 13 CLOSED AJR GROUP CONTACTS Newcastle Wed 14 Katinka Seiner Brighton & Hove (Sussex Region) Walter Knoblauch 0191 2855339 Fausta Shelton 01273 734 648 Thur 15 Madeleine Whitson Norfolk (Norwich) Sun 18 DAY CENTRE OPEN Bristol/Bath Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Kitty Balint-Kurti Oil7 973 1150 Mon 19 Kards & Games Klub North London Cambridge Tue 20 CLOSED Jenny Zundel 020 8882 4033 Anne Bender 01223 276 999 Wed 21 LUNCHEON CLUB Oxford Cardiff Thur 22 Geoffrey Strum Susie Bates 01235 526 702 Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Sun 25 CLOSED Pinner (HA Postal District) Dundee Mon 26 Kards & Games Klub Vera Gellman 020 8866 4833 Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Tue 27 CLOSED Sheffield East Midlands (Nottingham) Wed 28 Jack Davidoff Steve Mendelsson 0114 2630666 Bob Norton 01159 212 494 Thur 29 Margaret Opdahl South London Edinburgh Lore Robinson 020 8670 7926 Frangoise Robertson 0131 337 3406 South West Midlands (Worcester area) Essex (Westcliff) DIARY DATES Ruth Jackson 01386 552264 Larry Lisner 01702 300812 June 7 Visit to Cabinet War Surrey Glasgow Rooms with Lunch Edmee Barta 01372 727 412 Claire Singerman 0141 649 4620 June 11-18 Eastbourne holiday Weald of Kent Harrogate June 27 AGM Max and Jane Dickson Inge Little 01423 886254 01892 541026 July 9-16 Lytham St Annes holiday Hertfordshire Wessex (Bournemouth) July 11 Day trip to Brighton Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Mark Goldfinger 01202 552 434 August 23 Lunch at Day Centre, HGS West Midlands (Birmingham) afternoon trip to Tiptree for Gerda Torrence 020 8883 9425 Ernest Aris 0121 353 1437 Cream Tea Hull Myrna Glass, AJR South and Midlands September 10 Annual Tea at the Bob Rosner 0148 2649156 Groups Co-ordinator Watford Hilton llford 020 8385 3077 Oct 29-Nov 5 Bournemouth holiday Meta Roseneil 020 8505 0063 Susanne Green, AJR Northern Groups For further information about any of these Leeds HSFA Co-ordinator events, please call us on 020 8385 3070. Trude Silman 0113 2251628 0151 291 5734 Liverpool Susan Lewis, Groups' Administrator Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 020 8385 3070 'DROP IN' ADVICE SERVICE Manchester KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Members requiring benefit advice please Werner Lachs 0161 773 4091 Andrea Goodmaker 020 8385 3070 telephone Linda Kasmir on 020 8385 3070 to make an appointment at AJR, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Editorials and articles published, and opinions expressed, in the AJR Journal are not Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL necessarily those of the Association of Jewish Refugees and should not be regarded as such.
13 AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006
FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS HOLIDAY FOR NORTHERN MEMBERS Congratulations North of England Social Worker Sunday 9 July - Sunday 16 July 2006 Congratulations to ray grandchildren Laura and The AJR is now recruiting for a second Philip Godfrey on the arrival of Isabel Kate, a sister AT THE FERNLEA HOTEL, St Annes for Alexander and another grandchild for Marion and social worker in the North of England, Anthony Godfrey and Vicki and Ronald Rosenblatt. preferably based in the Yorkshire or The cost, including Dinner, Bed and Proud great-grandma Gerda Wiener. North-East area, to assist our members Breakfast, is £410 per person Kadisch, Debora. I wish my mother mazeltov on the in the North-East of England. The hotel charges a supplement per room occasion of her 99th birthday on 8 June 2006. With all To apply for this rewarding full-time for sea view or deluxe room my love. Margaret Mager. post (30 hours per week), you must be Programme includes Kadisch, Debora. Happy birthday, darling Debby. a qualified social worker, be able to ENTERTAINMENT OUTINGS Keep smiling. Love, Lore. work on your own initiative, and PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT Deaths computer-literate. You must also hold a Please contact Ruth Finestone on Glaser, Jacob (Jack). Much loved husband, father and full driving license and be willing to 020 8385 3070 grandfather, passed away on 28 April after a lengthy travel as required. illness. May his soul rest in peace. Ruth, Paul, Miriam and Mark. For further details, please email your CV to Carol Rossen at [email protected]. Levy, Dr Werner. Bom in Berlin, son of Ernst and Jewish Care Betty (n6e Bradt) Levy, brother of Margot (Hirst) and and the Ursula (Neville); died 5 April 2006 at the Royal Free Otto Schiff Housing Association Hospital aged 89. Educated at Friedrich-Werdersches Gymnasium, Berlin; qualified as a doctor in Glasgow. Working for the personal and nursing care Was a veteran of internment in the Isle of Man and needs of the Jewish Refugee community. Canada, and of the British, Australian and New Our homes are situated in The Bishops Zealand Armies' Medical Corps, serving in Avenue, where residents live in spacious Somaliland, Kenya, Japan and New Zealand. Set up and comfortable surroundings, looked after medical practice in Canfield Gardens, NW6, which he in a warm and caring environment. ran, single-handed, from the 50's to the 80's, Residents can enjoy a variety of activities becoming well respected in the community and loved and outings, as well as take part in by his patients. He never married and is survived by traditional synagogue services and the two nephews. It was his express request that he be celebration of Jewish festivals. cremated without ceremony or anyone in attendance. Short term respite care also available. The cremation took place at Knebworth on 21 April. A grandchild Is a wonderful blessing Day Centre to have. If you would like to spend For more information call Chiropodist. Trevor Goldman at the Paul Balint more time with them then you need Jewish Care Direct on 020 8922 2222 AJR Day Centre 14 June between 10 and to call CORRECT COMPUTERS. or email us at [email protected] 11.30 am. Imagine being able to see your Jewish Cafe Charily Registration NumDer 802559 family whenever YOU want. We teach complete beginners to use a {ycytou^ Home Care computer and will show you how to have video conversations with any FillarCare Care through quality and professionalism Ctire at homo Celebrating our 25th Anniversary of your family. That's as easy as making a telephone call but one 25 years of experience In providing the Hourly Care from 1 hour-24 hours hundred times better. Call us now on highest standards of care in the comfort of Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care your own home 0207 449 0920. Convalescent and Personal Health Care Compassionate and Affordable Service BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff 51 Belsize Square, NWS 4HX Registered with the CSCI and UKHCA We offer a traditional style of 1 hour to 24 hours care religious service. C>ill us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 Registered through the National Care Standard Comnnission Details can be obtained from the S(udii) 1 Utopia VilLige 7Ch 14 AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006 Obituary Search Notices Central Office for Holocaust Clainns Anspacher - Bernd (or Bernhard), later Michael Newman Sir Hans Singer, changed to Anson, and Gunther Weiss, Development Economist who became Joe White. Bernd lived in Extension of Belgian scheme The passing of Professor Sir Hans Singer is a Dewsbury, Yorks; Gunther lived in London. The deadline of the Solidarite 3000 sad event not only for his close kin and Info pis to James Schultz, 275 Clinton compensation programme, previously Avenue, Brooklyn, NewYork 11205, USA or friends but for the entire world. I am featured in the AJR Journal, has been jamesjschultzCa'verizon.net privileged to have been able to spend many extended to 30 June 2006. hours with him discussing all sorts of Army interrogators in WW2 - For Channel problems. In oiu: talks, he bridged the gap 4 TV programme we are looking for people The Solidarite 3000 initiative entitles who worked in places like The London Cage that so often exists between macro- Holocaust survivors who lived in and Bad Nenndorf. Call Liz Webster at development economists and micro-social Belgium between 1 May 1940 Guardian Films on 020 7886 9799 (beginning of the German occupation) anthropologists. Bratz, Hilda - b. Poland 1914, daughter of and September 1944 (the liberation) to I not only learned a great deal from his shirt tailor Josef Bratz. Married Victor a minimum of 3,000 euros in wide-ranging wisdom but also came to Smith, my father, in London in 1948. Died appreciate what a kind and modest man he Hampstead 2001. Info pis to Jenny Ciampa, reparations. Holocaust victims who was. He repeatedly told me he could not 4 Cholmeley Park, London N6 5EU have previously received less than 3,000 understand why people thought so highly of [email protected] euros in compensation are eligible for him and all he had done: he himself saw Buchdahl, Werner - from Wiesbaden. the difference up to that amount. Shoah nothing extraordinary in any of it. Came to London 1939 to join army. Was victims who have never applied for In reply to my many questions about what friend of my father Otto Hess. Info pis to compensation for lost or stolen assets or had made him so concerned about inequality [email protected] previously been ineligible to apply are and poverty, Hans's answer was: 'I consider Co-ed Jewish school in Poland - evacuated now entitled to claim. to Denmark then Wales 1939. When the myself extremely lucky compared with the teachers were interned in 1940 some or all Application forms together with an millions of my fellow German Jews and other of the pupils were temporarily housed with English translation are available from persecuted minorities, who perished in Quaker Walter Birmingham near Dorking, the AJR and, once completed, should be concentration camps.' Surrey. Info pis to Mark Bridge, 10 Torriano sent by post to the Fondation du Hans became my role model and mentor. I Cottages, London NWS 2TA; tel 020 7267; Judaisme de Belgique, Avenue am grateful for all he taught me and the M.D.P [email protected] Ducpetiaux 68,1060 Brussels, Belgium. courage he gave me to continue fighting for Glaser, Edith and her mother Mitii the better world he envisaged. (Marianne) - emigrated from Vienna to UK Netherlands art restitution Professor T. Scarlett Epstein in 1938. Info pis to Jussi Brainin, 13 High Following a recommendation from the (extracts from eulogy) Street, Ascott-U-Wychwood, Oxfordshire Ekkart Committee, the Dutch 0X7 6AW or tel 01993 830 725. Acting on government has announced a new behalf of Dr Gustav Beck, residing in USA Arts & Events Diary - June deadline - 4 April 2007 - for applications Love during WW2 - Were you a German to the NK collection of artworks. To mid-July Holocaust Memorial refugee who had a love affair with a British Photographic Exhibition 'Absence and person during the war? Testimony Films is The NK collection comprises 4,217 Loss' at Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre, making a series for UK TV History. Contact works of art - including 1,750 paintings - Notts Tel Marion Davies on 01623 836627 Lisa Lipman on 0117 925 8589 many of which were owned by Jews Mon 5 No lecture (Bank Holiday) Club 43 Millisle Farm Belfast - Anyone who went before the Second World War but there on Kindertransport, or knows anyone Thur 8 Roman Halter in Conversation with were confiscated or purchased who did, pis contact me re novel I am Fergal Keane London Jewish Cultural illegally by members of the German writing. Ruth Tobin at Centre, 7.30 pm. Tel 020 8457 5000 [email protected] occupying force. Mon 12 Dr Nicholas Worrall, The Influence Rosenberg, Hans -1 am seeking proof my Information about the NK collection of Russian Avant-garde Artists on Soviet father was deprived of German citizenship. and applications for restitution should Theatre Production' Club 43 He came to South Africa in 1939. Info pis to be sent to: The Ministry of Education, Mon 19 Prof Susan Neiman, 'Natural and Hans Rosenberg at [email protected] Culture and Science, Attn State Unnatural Evils' Venue; Wiener Library, 7.00 Winter, Dr Pavel - b. 1904 Straznice. Secretary for Culture, Postbus 16375, pm. Tel Leo Baeck Institute on 020 7580 Parents were Moric and Ruzena. Younger 2500 BJ Den Haag, The Netherlands. 3493 sister Nelly was a pharmacist in Uhersky Mon 19 Dr E. M. Batley, 'Mozart and Hradiste. He studied law. In 1941 joined Further details of this scheme and the Schikaneder's Magic Flute: Fusion, Czech Army in exile in Palestine. Mid-1943 efforts made by the Dutch state to Profusion or Confusion?'Club 43 left for England on Mauretania. In 1949 return looted art are available at Thur-Fri 22-23 Teaching and Researching was registered with 'Joint' in Paris as staying www.originsunknown.org and the Politics of Mass Murder" Two-day with 'A. Waldmann' in London W6. www.restitutiecommissie.nl international conference. Kingston Naturalised in 1950 as Paul Winter Became University, London. Contact Penny Tribe on known as biblical scholar with 1961 book Written enquiries should be sent to 020 8547 7884 The Trial of Jesus. Died October 1969 when Central Office for Holocaust Claims (UK), Mon 26 AGM Club 43 living in NW6. I'd like to find his grave. Pis Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Club 43 IVIeetings at Belsize Square contact Daniela Torsh, 15 William Street, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL, by fax to 020 Synagogue. 7.45 pm. Tel Hans Seelig on Balmain, NSW, 2041 8385 3075, or by email to 01442254360 danielati @bigpond.com [email protected] 15 AJR JOURNAL JUNE 2006 Newsround Austrian President admits popular Remarkable Israel support for Anschluss Austria's President, Heinz Fischer, has It is always a special pleasure to existence cease from non-rational become the country's first head of state celebrate a sirrwha in Israel, especially atavistic leaders who substitute to admit that a large number of its among my Israeli wife Sima's close glorification of death for the progress to citizens welcomed Adolf Hitler with open family, where the warmth, vitality and which their own youth are entitled? arms when he annexed the country. Jewish milieu come guaranteed - not to Our time in Israel followed President Fischer said he also regretted mention fine weather and unimaginably immediately upon the general election that Austria had not reached out at the large banquets. Last year, it was the at which the incumbent prime minister end of the war to Jews who had fled wedding of our elder daughter Joanna to was a comatose non-participant and the because of the Anschluss. Dan in Eilat. This year, it was the nuptials party he had recently formed, Kadimah Rise in convictions of Nazi war of Dana, daughter of her youngest (Forward), with which to fight the criminals brother Yitzhaac and his wife Batsheva. election on policies to withdraw from Convictions of Nazi war criminals rose At the wedding garden near Kibbutz most of the West Bank, secured a more than threefold in the past year, Naan, little more than a stone's throw qualified mandate. For the first time, a challenging conventional wisdom that from Moshav Yashresh, where the whole pensioners' party is to be represented in suspects are now too old to be family were nurtured and our own the government and, in another first prosecuted, the Simon Wiesenthal wedding reception was held nearly 34 step, neither the incoming prime Center (SWC) says. The Center stated that years ago, a large outdoor reception area minister nor his defence minister will most fresh investigations and was entirely surrounded by stalls with an have been serving generals. convictions occurred in Italy, Poland, amazing variety of Vorspeizers, more than Germany and the USA. Austria was enough to keep all the guests replete. Yom Hashoah commemorations singled out for 'consistent failure' to With the arrival of the beautiful bride With the introduction of Holocaust prosecute Milivoj Asner, a police chief and her beau, Shahar, together they Memorial Day as an annual national undqr Croatia's pro-Nazi Ustase regime ascended the steps to a floodlit chupah. event, some confusion was perhaps who, the Center said, had been living in Though the decorum is not quite St inevitable. For the Jews, however, there Klagenfurt. Johns Wood, and the inevitable is no doubt that Yom Hashoah is the day Racism in Russia photographers blocked our lines of sight, on which we commemorate the Nazi According to a report into violent racism the traditional vows were recited and the genocide against our coreligionists, all by Amnesty International, racist killings groom proclaimed 'Be thou my wife too many of whom were the close in Russia are 'out of control'. In 2005, the according to the laws of Moses and Israel' relatives of AJR members. report shows, at least 28 people were and pledged to be a good Jewish husband Having been honoured to lead killed and 366 were assaulted. An Amnesty International spokesperson said - only in our ancient-modern tongue, prayers for the six million victims at the that the Russian government should Ivrit His traditional stamping on a glass, service held at the AJR Paul Balint adopt a comprehensive 'plan of action' to which of course alludes to the Centre in West Hampstead, I called combat racism and antisemitism. destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, upon the generous participation of was greeted with enthusiastic cries of Herman Hirschberger, chairman of our NatWest swastikas to remain mazaltov. Nothing now prevented us Kindertransport planning group, who Following a complaint from a customer, from entering the banqueting suite gave a moving address and recited the the NatWest Bank has refused to get rid of two swastikas from a branch floor seating 500 guests for a long evening of Kaddish. Similar Yom Hashoah mosaic. The swastikas can be seen in the celebration with music and dancing, commemorations have increasingly tiled floor of the foyer of the branch in eating and drinking, and hope for the become a part of the programmes of Bolton, near Manchester NatWest said newlyweds and the family with which, in synagogues throughout the country. I the symbols were an original feature time, it was anticipated they would be attended my local service at Radlett US, of the branch and predated Hitler's rise blessed. where Mala Tribich's account of her to power immense hardships and losses could Will they and their children be left in Umlaut victorious not fail to move. At Pinner Synagogue, peace to prosper in this remarkable and Moben, the kitchen furniture company, Gaby Glassman presented Daniel incredibly successful country, little more has won a five-year battle for the right to than half a century old and utterly unique Finkelstein, Associate Editor of The use an umlaut in its name. The in the history of the world, with Jews Times, and his mother Mirjam, a Advertising Standards Authority has originating from more than 70 countries? survivor of Bergen-Belsen and concluded that use of the spelling Moben Not 60 years after the European daughter of the late Dr Alfred Wiener, does not imply that the company's Holocaust, will threats to Israel's very the founder ofthe Wiener Library. kitchens were made in Germany. 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] Website www.ajr.org.uk 16