VOLumeAJR JOURNAL10 NO.11 NNOVEMbovember 2010

A Jewish intellectual

he historian Tony Judt, who were published in The New York Review of died in August aged 62, was Books, the last appearing only a fortnight or T an academic who was also an so before his death. An interview with him influential intellectual, one of those was broadcast in June by BBC Radio 4, in widely recognised figures who set the the occasional series No Triumph, No agenda for public discourse and debate, Tragedy; it made for compelling listening. helping to determine the course of ideas Though he worked in New York, far beyond the groves of academe. His Judt can still be considered a British towering achievement was his history of intellectual, thanks to his British birth Europe since 1945, Postwar, which was and education and to the international first published by Penguin in the USA in nature of modern scholarship, which has 2005 and has since received widespread made his writings as influential in Britain acclaim. as they are in America. While Jews have The book provides a compelling and long been prominent in the American coherent analysis of the development of intellectual landscape, they have been less the continent of Europe, East and West, of a permanent feature among the leaders starting with its emergence from the of thought in Britain. And while Jewish destruction of the Second World War, Tony Judt, 1948-2010 intellectuals have retained their leading proceeding through the reconstruction position in America, they seem to be on of the 1950s, the turbulence of the 1960s continent of Europe. the wane in Britain. and the disillusionment of the 1970s, and Judt had in his youth been an ardent Where are today’s equivalents of taking us on to its reunification in the wake left-wing Zionist but, after serving as Sir Isaiah Berlin and Jacob Bronowski, of the fall of Communism. It concludes a volunteer driver and interpreter for the giants of earlier decades? Tony with an acute analysis of Europe’s current the Israeli army in 1967, he became Judt has some claim to be regarded as uncertain state, with national entities and disillusioned. Falling prey to the temptation their successor, but other candidates identities persisting beneath transnational to indulge in political commentary, are hard to find. Jonathan Miller, for all structures. Its epilogue has the striking an occupational hazard of the public his achievements in both science and title ‘From the House of the Dead’ (taken intellectual, he pronounced with some the performing arts, is not primarily a from Dostoyevsky’s account of life in trenchancy on the subject of Israel and man of ideas. Simon Schama, a brilliant a Siberian prison) and deals with the was not a little put out by the vehemence historian, is a public figure thanks to his half-submerged role of the Holocaust in of the reaction his writings provoked. TV programmes, but his status has veered modern European memory. Fortunately, his scholarship on modern towards that of a celebrity, at least since he Tony Judt was born in 1948 to Jewish European history was unaffected by these has taken to popping up at general election parents in the East End of London, though partisan diversions. night parties on BBC TV and even on his he grew up in Putney. He studied at Judt wrote copiously for The New York own cookery programme. Cambridge, and taught there, at Berkeley Review of Books, and continued to do Jews are, of course, very well established in California and at Oxford, before moving so even when smitten by a particularly in British academic and cultural life, but in 1988 to New York University, where vicious form of motor neurone disease, these days they mostly remain limited he founded the Remarque Institute, which paralysed him from the neck to their own particular professional dedicated to European studies, whose down and obliged him to live encased specialities. Jewish academics in Britain director he remained until his death. in a metal tube, entirely dependent on no longer reach out, in the manner of the From his early studies of French left-wing external assistance. His courage in the classic intellectual, to a wider public: the politics and thought, his prodigious range face of this affliction came across in the difference is that between Bronowski, of knowledge enabled him to broaden out series of reflections and recollections that whose TV series and book The Ascent of into the history and culture of the entire he dictated from his metal tomb and that Man attracted a huge audience, and his continued overleaf

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A Jewish Intellectual cont. from page 1 KRISTALLNACHT daughter Lisa Jardine, an academic whose preserve Britain’s (largely imaginary) ‘place MEMORIAL SERVICE 2010 work is highly respected in scholarly at the top table’, it budgeted £209 million on circles, but not well known beyond them. military expenditure for 1947, as compared Tuesday 9 November Judt’s Postwar is a veritable goldmine to the £6 million spent on all military and at 2 pm of insights, both in its analysis of diplomatic expenditure in the years 1934-38. the underlying long-term trends in Quite what maintaining full naval fleets in at Belsize Square Synagogue, European history since 1945 and in its the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean as London NW3 often arrestingly innovative treatment well as the Atlantic, plus a full ‘China station’, The service will be led by of individual events, people, products, a raft of 120 RAF squadrons worldwide and Rabbi Rodney Mariner trends, institutions and crises. Judt seems military forces from Hong Kong to Trieste, to know about everything. He covers was supposed to achieve for a bankrupt, Guest speaker: every country in Europe, from the damage middle-sized European nation remains Rev Bernd Koschland inflicted by the war on Norway’s industrial obscure. As a result, Britain was unique in Refreshments will be served output, set in the context of an illuminating devoting hardly any of the Marshall Plan account of the rapid economic recovery aid it received to industrial investment or RSVP: 020 8385 3070 of the Western European countries after modernisation; 97 per cent of the funds it 1945, to the 1949 show trials of ‘Titoist’ received went on repaying the country’s AJR THEATRE OUTING leaders in Bulgaria, graphically illustrating debts. WAR HORSE the ruthlessness of Stalinist repression in This had predictably dire consequences. Thursday 25 November 2010 Eastern Europe. In a revealing section entitled ‘A Tale 2.30-5.15 pm at New London Theatre The book contains a wealth of detailed of Two Economies’, Judt shows how Drury Lane, London information, but always deployed in the the shoddy, unreliable and overpriced War Horse is a thrilling and spectacular framework of a lucid and original structure goods produced by Britain’s inefficient, production based on the celebrated of argument. Judt is your man if you want strike-ridden industries were unable novel by Michael Morpurgo and has to know about the politics of the punk rock to compete with the products of West been at the National for an extensive run before moving to Drury Lane. bands of the 1970s (‘as one-dimensional as German industry, whose costs were kept The First World War is the backdrop their musical range’); or about the failure down and whose quality was kept up by for this tale of bravery, loyalty and the of the economies of the Communist states sustained investment in new and efficient extraordinary bond between a young of Eastern Europe (in 1989 East Germany production methods. Britain thus lost the recruit and his horse. was producing one-fiftieth of the number peace almost as comprehensively as it Price of ticket: £30 of computers manufactured in Austria); or won the war. For further details, please call the complexities of postmodernist thought But Judt’s analysis goes deeper. He Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 (‘a level of expressive opacity that proved pinpoints demographics as the key factor irresistibly appealing to a new generation underpinning the spectacular economic south into the factories of the north. of students and their teachers’); or how, growth that characterised the immediate Here Britain was at a disadvantage. in the years 1945-48, France ‘abruptly post-war decades in Western Europe. For For though it shared in the remarkable negated’ 300 years of history and resolved what transformed European industrial increase in the birth rate that occurred from its German problem by Europeanising productivity was a vast new workforce that 1945, providing Europe’s industries with it within the framework of common flooded in millions from low-productivity new consumers as well as new workers, it European economic institutions. sectors like agriculture into the new, no longer had a large agricultural sector Judt’s analysis of Britain after 1945, high-productivity industrial sector; the to provide a pool of cheap labour. This to take just one example, is engrossing. classic example was the extraordinary is a significant and frequently ignored He begins with the stark fact that Britain transformation of Italian industry through factor in the economic decline of areas emerged from the war insolvent, having the influx of workers from the agricultural like Britain and south-eastern Belgium, lost one quarter of its national wealth which had industrialised early and had no AJR Directors and burdened itself with crippling dollar- Gordon Greenfield agricultural labour surplus left on which Michael Newman to draw. However, as Judt shows, Britain’s denominated debts that it struggled for Carol Rossen baby-boom generation went on to pioneer decades to repay. But, as Judt shows, the AJR Heads of Department British people were utterly ignorant of Susie Kaufman Organiser, AJR Centre the explosion of new trends, fashions and Sue Kurlander Social Services the extent of their national bankruptcy, attitudes that made the 1960s the era of AJR Journal accepting as normal levels of austerity Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor so-called ‘youth revolution’, fuelled by the Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor consumer prosperity that put money into where the queues, rationing and shortages Andrea Goodmaker Secretarial/Advertisements were almost reminiscent of conditions in teenagers’ pockets and by the expansion the Soviet bloc. Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not of higher education that put radical ideas necessarily those of the Association of Jewish into their heads. Apparently the British government Refugees and should not be regarded as such. shared this ignorance for, in its eagerness to Anthony Grenville

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A Call to the Third Generation spring grove RETIREMENT HOME

G is not just a Their faces are known to 214 Finchley Road mobile network! many yet, as the saying London NW3 3I am a member of goes, familiarity breeds London’s Most Luxurious 3G - by which I mean contempt. And yet for  Entertainment  Activities I am a member of the many, knowledge of  Stress Free Living Third Generation of the Holocaust remains  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine those born after the limited. With a wide mix  Full En-Suite Facilities Holocaust. My late of students - from Polish Call for more information or a personal tour grandfather was a Studies, Politics, Russian 020 8446 2117 survivor; neither of my Studies and History - or 020 7794 4455 parents experienced the and with passionate [email protected] Holocaust. Although and knowledgeable I have not chosen tutors, the course was this identity, it is one eye-opening (I urge I am now beginning Hannah Goldstone, with Mischa anyone interested to Annie, Fourth Generation, named to embrace more than after Hannah’s grandfather investigate it on the NEWTONS ever. This is a label I wear Martin Wertheim University website). I with mixed feelings: am not preaching that SOLICITORS pride, anxiety, guilt and a sense of duty. it is necessary for everyone to undertake Our experienced team It is this last category that I wish to academic research into this area, but to expand on - this consciousness that I show a concern. will give you expert am in some way, together with other 3G What became very apparent as the and personal advice members, bound to continue the work of academic year progressed was the 22 Fitzjohn’s Avenue the First and Second Generations. They importance of memory. While this may London NW3 5NB have built for us the foundations we sound obvious, it is vital that memory need to develop. They depend upon our and testimony be preserved. Yet who Tel: 020 7435 5351 generation to continue their important is responsible for this preservation? Fax: 020 7435 8881 work in the fields of Holocaust testimony, Survivors who have felt able and have [email protected] education and the fight against racism, recorded their own testimony in various as well as providing a support network formats have fulfilled their own duty. for those directly or indirectly affected It is now vital that the legacy of the by the Holocaust. survivors is continued and it is time With the demise of the first generation that the Third Generation shows its JACKMAN . of Holocaust survivors, it is now even commitment to their grandparents more important for the next generations while there is still the time for the First SILVERMAN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS to show their commitment to continuing Generation to appreciate that we care. the memory of what these men and We must now demonstrate to our women experienced. Compared to our grandparents that we are committed parents and grandparents, we, the Third to continuing their work, and that of Generation, have an easy task. They the Second Generation, with dedication spent hours collecting and recording and enthusiasm. As adults ourselves, testimonies, gathering evidence and we can no longer rely on our parents writing memoirs. All we have to do is to preserve and educate: we must now Telephone: 020 7209 5532 to continue to tell these testimonies. share this responsibility and do so with [email protected] My grandfather, who came to England a sense of pride. on the Kindertransport, did not share Another vital issue is the need for a 3G his own experiences with the family, support network for those who require which is not uncommon. When he died help and advice, as the psychological Third Generation members, regardless suddenly three years ago, my interest issues that have plagued some members of age, knowledge of the Holocaust, in the Holocaust deepened. Having of the Second Generation have and previous attendance at Holocaust- always attended the Yom Hashoah event unfortunately been passed on to some related events – it is now time that in Manchester and knowing many of members of the Third Generation. we organise some form of collective the survivors in the local community, I What I am suggesting therefore is an to ensure the future of Holocaust wanted to learn more about this time official Third Generation group linked remembrance. in history from an academic as opposed to, yet remaining independent of, the I urge all who are interested to contact to a purely emotional perspective. I First and Second Generations. As for the me at [email protected] enrolled in the Masters in Holocaust specifics, they depend on what other While there are still survivors, let us Studies course at Manchester University. Third Generation members believe is demonstrate to them that we are not Living in Manchester, a community with necessary. But, like all groups, we need only prepared but privileged to be able many Holocaust survivors, it is easy to a starting point and I am hoping that to continue their legacy. forget how important their stories are. this could be it. This is my call to all Hannah Goldstone

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A new member of the AJR, Sue Barnett recently attended a talk in Westcliff by Renée Tyack, who mentioned she had been invited back to Leipzig by the city authorities as a former citizen. Several members of the audience also said they had paid similar visits to their former home towns in Germany. The following is an edited version of an article which appeared in the Woodford Liberal Synagogue newsletter ‘Bimah’ in 2004.

n September 2003, I set off from and known all the sights. This is where the taken to the beautiful town hall for a Stansted somewhat reluctantly for great freighters, the traditional source of splendid lunch in the Kaisersaal. Inge and Ia visit to Hamburg, the city where Hamburg’s wealth, are to be seen. It was I were invited to sit on either side of the I was born. I was travelling with my lovely sitting in the fresh air chatting to Mayor, who was charming. He told us surviving sister, Inge, who is 14 years my sister, who remembered her childhood how seriously Hamburg took these visits older than I. She was accompanied by her here. They also hired a canal boat which of ‘former citizens’. My sister, who has granddaughter, who says she will never took us down the Alster, providing us with never given a speech in her life, was asked forget the experience - a view shared by beautiful views as well as refreshments. to give the thank-you speech at the end of myself and others in the party, who had The Jewish/Christian Society of the lunch and couldn’t resist saying how travelled from Israel, Argentina, Uruguay, Hamburg together with WIZO gave us proud our parents would have been. An Canada, Australia and the USA. Everyone a warm reception and supper in the understatement! We were photographed had been invited to bring a companion. synagogue hall. The synagogue has a and an article with our photo appeared in Their trip, like ours, was paid for by the permanent police guard. It was strange the national newspaper Die Welt. Senate of Hamburg, which had invited us to see German police providing Jews with There were magic moments when as ‘former citizens’ to revisit the city of our security. On the Friday evening several of I could only just control my feelings. birth and see for ourselves how it The visit to my sister’s school, had changed since we had been her face, her memories - words forced to leave a lifetime ago. cannot describe what we felt. There were 15 ‘Hamburgers’ It is now an institute for Jewish and with our ‘companions’ we studies. Children come there stayed at a five-star hotel with all for history lessons. They see a trips paid for. The generosity was film which doesn’t show the unbelievable. Our companions worst horrors, although they were there because they recognise are described. Today’s children that the experience can be very see Jewish children of the 1930s stressful. On the first morning we made to stand with their backs all recounted our family stories to a blackboard while the others and from that emotional moment in the class make fun of them on, we bonded and became and signs above their heads ram Sue Barnett (left), Mayor Ole von Beust, Sue’s sister Inge in the family-like. Two of our members Kaisersaal in Hamburg home the message that Jews are had been in concentration camps the enemies of Germans. and all had family who had. The stories us went to synagogue. My father would There is an exhibition of photos of the are all commonplace but it is a draining have been so pleased to have known I was time and one of our group recognised her experience to hear over and over again there. Two men in our group wore skull class. She pointed to one girl and told me chilling phrases such as ‘I never saw my caps knitted by someone in their family her name, adding that after putting her father (or mother, or brother, or sister) before they fled Hamburg. I thought they on the Kindertransport train, her parents after that …’ There were tears as we were knitted when my family were in had gone home and committed suicide. listened, but laughter and applause too Hamburg - a strange emotion. The entire My sister pointed to a building outside as one or two people included jokes to synagogue visit had a very special feeling and asked if it had been the gym. It had. lighten the mood. attached to it: ‘Look, Hitler we’re back, She could remember it as well as some of We were then taken around the old and you aren’t!’ I said a little prayer for her teachers’ names even though she is Jewish area of the city. It was really nice those who had perished. There are few now 79. They have preserved the science to be in the area but dreadful to imagine German Jews in Hamburg - our prayer room as it was and imagine how everyone the horrors that happened around those book was in Hebrew and Russian. felt when Inge sat in the place she had fine houses. My imagination went mad! Some of us went to family graves as occupied all those years ago! Photos of There were round advertising boards well as visiting people they knew there. that moment are now all over the world. where previously there had been posters The Senate also treated us to an evening After that we went to the Talmud showing Jews in a mocking light - in my of ballet. Torah school. It had been a boys’ school. mind’s eye I could see people laughing I saw the shop where my father had The Jewish community are holding on and mocking my parents. But I felt how been a buyer although it has changed its to it in the hope they can raise enough lovely that the boards were now there name. So many strange feelings. Odd to money to reopen it as a Jewish school. for real advertising purposes and there think that one of our group had also fled They don’t have the money to renovate was no threat. to Shanghai like my father and had been it. A member of the Jewish community Our hosts hired a boat to take us in the typhoid hospital where he worked. opened the building up for us and said down the Elbe. I kept thinking of my As guests of the Mayor of Hamburg, ‘I don’t know anything about the school parents, who must have done this trip Ole von Beust, and the Senate, we were continued opposite

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A unique wedding in Hamburg ans Radziewski, a year older than experience in taking services and funerals, myself, was my friend in pre-war delivering sermons and being able to sing. HBerlin. He had at that time two A date was arranged this May. Being younger sisters, Rosemarie and Helga, and non-orthodox, they wanted to change a brother, Gideon, who was born after I several of the prescribed prayers, especially emigrated in 1937. As the train slowly as books they had consulted all gave drew out of the Lehrter Bahnhof, the slightly different versions. I conducted the family had stood right at the end of the wedding service in Hebrew, German and platform so that they would be the last English and sang the various prayers and people we would see as we left. Sheva Brachot in the setting by Sholom In the early 1940s Hans worked and Secunda, arranged by myself accompanied slept on the Weissensee Cemetery (which The plaque opposite the former synagogue of by an excellent professional musician. I in 1988-90 I helped in a relatively small way Friedrichstadt reads: ‘Opposite this spot once was the only person present who knew the to restore). One day he received a message stood the Synagogue (Am Binnenhafen 17), the groom’s grandparents, aunts and uncle, Jewish School (Am Binnenhafen 18), and the that Jews, including his family, were being offices of the Rabbinate (Westermarktstrasse the last mentioned being only children rounded up and that he should come at 24) of the Jewish Community of Friedrichstadt. when they were murdered. once. He saw his family on a Lastwagen The inside of the Synagogue, the foundation It was a unique occasion for a Jewish (open lorry) with many others. He dared stone of which was laid in the year 1845 – in wedding to take place in Germany the year 5606 according to the Jewish calendar not approach too closely for fear of being – was destroyed by the National Socialists on among non-Russian Jews. There were caught himself, but managed to exchange the morning of 10 November 1938. Those alive present many non-Jews who had never a few words with them. His parting words [today] be tolerant and ever vigilant!’ attended a Jewish wedding and their, were: ‘Lasst mir die Rosemarie hier, ich and everybody’s, comments were most kann auf sie aufpassen’ (Leave Rosemarie Alex too married a non-Jewish girl and, complimentary. with me, I can look after her). These words living near Hamburg, they had two I also took the opportunity to visit my have haunted him, and me, ever since. But lovely girls, the elder of whom is an cousin Wolfgang and his wife Marlis in his father refused his request and the lorry exact replica of her grandmother. Last Friedrichstadt. This small town, founded set off for one of the railway stations from year, Alex, who plays percussion in the in the sixteenth century under Dutch which they were transported, probably in Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and influence only a few kilometres from indescribable conditions, to Riga. There his wife divorced. He later found a Jewish Hamburg, eventually contained up to the train stopped in the Rumbula forest academic girl and in 2009 they undertook 3,000 inhabitants. Of these, 400 were Jews near a village called Bikernieki. They were a civil marriage in the USA, where she and the old synagogue proved too small ordered ‘Raus!’, shot on the spot and fell lived. They decided, however, that they for them. A new one was built but, as can into prepared pits. Hans was eventually wanted a Jewish marriage, for which he be seen on the photograph above, the caught and taken to Auschwitz, where he would have to be officially converted. They inside was destroyed in 1938. It has since survived by the skin of his teeth. contacted two rabbis, one in Amsterdam been refurbished with its Jewish heritage Hans eventually recovered partially, and one in Berlin, but neither fitted in mind and is now used for cultural studied to become a social worker, and into the conditions and timescale they events. There are also two cemeteries. married a non-Jewish girl. They had two envisaged. So it was that I volunteered to There are no Jews in Friedrichstadt today. children: Alexander (Alex) and Claudia. officiate for them, having as a layman had Rudi Leavor continued but I think we are standing in what was was only 11 months old when my mother door neighbour. What made her choose the hall’ - whereupon one of our group escaped with me to England. By a miracle, this trip at the same time as he had? There said he had gone to the school and we my parents and all my siblings survived are four trips a year and they have been were standing in what had been the gym. and so my sister and I consented to be going on for years. He went on to talk about the school and interviewed by students of Hamburg At the end, I collected money for said that when things got very difficult the University. The recording will be used for flowers for the organisers and an elderly director of the school had opened a class educational purposes. Young Germans man asked if he could give a short speech. for girls, an unheard-of thing! Ellen, from cannot understand how it all happened He said he had been to Hamburg twice Jerusalem, said she had been a member and there is remorse. These are not the before and had hated it, but now he of that class. She paid tribute to the head perpetrators of those hideous crimes. realised that the Holocaust was slipping and I thought it very touching that all And so the sights went on. I even saw into history and he found people in these years later a former pupil should the road where I was born. The hospital Hamburg now very friendly. This frail old be so glowing in her praise of him. What itself is still standing and still in use. For a man had travelled from St Louis to make better tribute! fleeting moment, I wondered if the people his peace with the city of his birth, a I was much moved also by the fact that who had been there in 1938 would come ‘closure’ of the most touching kind. That my sister had often spoken of her visits to out to greet us. alone made the trip worthwhile. I had our maternal grandmother’s old people’s One of our party, a lady from Uruguay, declined invitations for years and had not home and suddenly there it was in front said to another, Mr Kauffman, now an really wanted to go this time, indeed had of us. She pointed out the exact room. I American citizen, that she could name gone only for my sister’s sake. I still have felt as though I was living her previous the dogs he had owned nearly 70 years mixed emotions, but it was an experience life in Hamburg. It had been the subject ago and proceeded to do so. He couldn’t I’m glad I’ve had. of my childhood nightmares, although I believe it because she had been his next- Sue Barnett (née Frankenberg)

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Born in 1881 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Ludwig Koch was musical enough to sing and play the violin professionally. He was fluent in French and consequently during the First World War was in German military intelligence, making a number of investigative trips behind the French lines. He became interested in recording the sounds of birds and animals and became a pioneer in this art, having, as Ms Shefer- Vanson writes, to carry the very heavy ‘VOTE, VOTE, VOTE FOR CLEMENT determination of the early Zionist pioneers equipment of that pre-transistor age ATTLEE?’ in Palestine with what she calls the ‘ghetto around the countryside. He also wrote Sir – Having been away for much of the mentality’. books on nature and in the mid-1930s summer, I have only just caught up with The Jews of the diaspora formed well the foreword of one of his books was your July edition. I would like to add a organised communities which can in no written by Hermann Göring, who signed comment on Anthony Grenville’s excellent way be described as cowardly or helpless. himself ‘Reichsoberförster’ in one of his ‘Ich article ‘Vote, vote, vote for Clement Attlee?’ In all these communities there were strong bestimme, wer hier Jude ist’ phases. I didn’t vote for him because, like other political parties and religious, social, cultural Ludwig Koch fled Germany in 1936 and refugees, I didn’t have the vote in 1945. But and self-help organisations which fought for after the start of the war was briefly interned whilst I had the highest regard for Winston the rights of Jews in often very anti-Semitic on the Isle of Man. Churchill as an indispensable war leader, environments. He was very popular with listeners to the Attlee certainly would have had my vote. These organisations continued BBC, both for his fascinating recordings and I was an officer in the Worcester Regiment clandestinely in the ghettoes under the his heavy accent, which his friends suspected in Germany at the time and one of my murderous German occupation. The Jews, was to a certain extent nurtured, since it more challenging duties was to give ABCA thrown into ghettos, concentration camps made him so distinctive. (Koch’s style and (Army Bureau of Current Affairs) talks to the and even extermination camps, showed accent are gently but brilliantly mocked by soldiers under my command. In discussing heroic passive as well as, when possible, Peter Sellers on his 1958 record ‘The Best the political situation and the forthcoming armed resistance against impossible odds. of Sellers’ in the last item on it, ‘Suddenly election, it became clear that many of the There were organised revolts in almost It’s Folk Song’.) conscripts had never even entertained all the ghettos and camps. All this is well Koch was invited at least once by the the idea of voting anything other than documented. The Warsaw Ghetto uprising Royal Family to play some of his recordings Conservative as their working class parents lasted five weeks. The Jewish resistance to them privately and he was awarded an had traditionally done. Like very many other fought the then victorious German army MBE. He died in 1974. One feels privileged non-professional officers, I explained to trying to defend the Jewish population and to have known him. them that they had another option, which at was annihilated in the end. I owe my life Ernest H. Simon, Merstham, Surrey that time seemed to me to be far preferable to the organised Jewish resistance fighters, for the rebuilding of war-torn Britain. It was first in the Warsaw Ghetto and later ‘on ‘THE PIONEERING SPIRIT’ the vote of the armed forces that swung the the Aryan side’, and have known many Sir – Victor Ross’s article ‘The pioneering election to the Labour Party and so I claim Jewish men and women who sacrificed their spirit’ (October) reminded me that my late to have played a bit part in what transpired lives for others. I am proud of the ‘ghetto father, Frederick Masserick, was also in the in 1945. mentality’. Pioneer Corps. He spoke of his time digging Attlee was indeed a self-effacing man Wlodka Blit-Robertson, London SE26 trenches around Cheltenham, which had who served under Churchill with total loyalty, been identified as a possible reserve seat of whatever Churchill may have thought of ‘HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR’ government in the event of an invasion. My him. It was thanks to his managerial skills Sir - So Peter Phillips (October) agrees that father’s job was to fill a wheelbarrow and and steely resolve that he inaugurated the ‘If you were Jewish and in Nazi-occupied Arthur Koestler’s job was to wheel it away. welfare state, on which life in Britain is still territory on Kristallnacht you are a genuine Koestler would protest that the barrow largely based. I well remember listening to “Holocaust survivor”.’ What am I and the was too full. My father’s response was that his election speech in the old Bull Ring in likes of me to make of that definition? I am with half-full barrows the war would never Birmingham in the 1950 general election: Jewish. I can prove that with a certificate be won! So Koestler’s reputation as a man it was heart-warming to see the thousand- giving details about my brith mila, signed in search of a cushy billet appears justified! odd men and women, mainly men in flat by an ‘Orthodox’ mohel. At the time of My father was eventually transferred to the caps, warmly applauding the man who had Kristallnacht, I hadn’t yet been born. At airborne divisions gliding in to the ‘Bridge transformed their lives. birth, I was Austrian, but did not live in too far’ foul-up in Holland. Whilst I have your ear, may I take the Nazi-occupied Austria. Having been born, I Francis Masserick, Isle of Man opportunity of thanking Gloria Tessler for had to wait one month for the Nazi invasion the many telling contributions she has made to occur. As a result, I came to live in a THE OPTHALMIC SPECIALIST AND THE over the years in her Art Notes - always Nazi-occupied territory. Am I therefore not SERB lucidly written and enticing the reader to a genuine ‘Holocaust survivor’? I and the Sir – I read Margarete Stern’s article (October) visit this or that exhibition which might likes of me are used to being overlooked. with great interest. I am Professor Oscar otherwise have remained obscure. She is a We don’t like it very much. Fehr’s daughter and would like to make two very great asset to the Journal and long may Henri Obstfeld, Stanmore, Middx corrections. My father did unpaid, voluntary she continue. work in Moorfields Eye Hospital, taking Professor Leslie Baruch Brent, London N19 THE BIRDMAN OF FRANKFURT some clinics. He did get paid by his patients Sir – Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, in her October in Harley Street, where, however, he treated ‘GHETTO MENTALITY’ Letter from Israel, refers in a throw-away poor people, mostly refugees, free. Sir – I am offended by Annette Saville’s letter manner to Ludwig Koch. Readers of the AJR Before he could practise in this country (September) contrasting the bravery and Journal have reason to be interested in him. he had to become a medical student (at

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Edinburgh University), where he passed them once a year, and still do, although our secular. These very laws are based on British after three years’ study aged 72. I sent his numbers are now diminishing. Stuttgart is laws which he so admires. sketches and account of his internment not what it was, but our meetings, marked Rubin Katz, London NW11 to the Manx Museum on the Isle of Man by reminiscences of the ‘not-so-good’ old at their request. After the war, a road in days, are always moving occasions. Sir – Mr Phillips appears to think he is the Braunschweig, his birthplace, was named Professor Ernst Sondheimer, London N6 only one in step. He writes that Herzl, Ben- Oscar Fehr Weg. Gurion and Golda Meir envisaged a secular Inge Samson (née Fehr), ‘ULU’ NAMIER state, but in 1948 Ben-Gurion agreed that Bishop’s Stortford, Herts Sir – In ‘Letters to the Editor’ (September), those studying at yeshivot and koleils be Lionel Blumenthal mentions the historian deferred or exempted from military service. A WONDERFUL TEA PARTY Lewis Namier. He was my father’s first In England only a judge can rule on crimes Sir – Once again we all enjoyed a wonderful cousin. We knew him as ‘Ulu’ – that’s what or civil disputes so why in Israel should not concert and delicious Tea on the occasion our family called him. dayanim, who have studied Jewish law for of the AJR annual event. I went with my (Mrs) Anne Selinger, Reading years, be the only ones to decide on divorce younger family members who also enjoyed and who is a Jew? If Arabs are members of this special occasion. The choice of songs SEELOW, SEELÖWE the Knesset, why should not Israelis who are from various operettas was good and the Sir – I was interested in David Harris’s article strictly Orthodox be members of the cabinet? singers performed excellently. on visiting Seelow in your April issue, which Mr Phillips appears to have overlooked Thank you AJR for all your good work I recently acquired. I visit a gymnasium there the fact that strictly Orthodox Jews lived throughout the year looking after the ex- roughly once a year to speak on Judaism. in Jerusalem long before Herzl envisaged refugee community, enhancing our lives in Seelow is also the site of one of the last a Jewish state. He also overlooks the fact our old age. Thank you also for the good major battles of the war and part-way down that 3,000 years ago Jewish kings ruled the meals and entertainment at the AJR Centre, the hill into the ‘Oderbruch’ flat valley are people. And they were not atheists: the king which I much appreciate. The staff are a memorial and museum as well as mass read from the Torah in the temple on the always friendly. Also special thanks to Susie graves - thousands of Germans and Russians festival of Succot. Kaufman. Josie Dutch, London NW2 fell in this Red Army attempt to break Henry Schragenheim, London N15 through the last natural barrier before Berlin. Sir – My friend Stanley Birne and I want to How ironic that Hitler’s plan to invade ‘WICKEDNESS, MALICE’ place on record how much we enjoyed the Britain was Operation ‘Seelöwe’ – Sealion – Sir – In reply to Peter Fraenkel’s query annual AJR Party at the Watford Hilton. The and that the last campaign which led to the (October) regarding the origin of the refreshments were of a high standard, tea defeat of the Third Reich was at Seelow. I German-Jewish word risches, meaning was served promptly and - by no means know the two words are not connected but anti-Semitism, it is simply the Hebrew word least - the fruit platter was so artistic it they sound so similar. rish’ut, meaning wickedness or malice, should have been photographed for House Rabbi Dr Walter Rothschild, Berlin according to the Ashkenazi pronunciation. It and Garden. is clearly a word current in Jüdisch-Deutsch, Of course, the music was, as always, very A MATTER OF JUDGEMENT the western dialect of Yiddish that died out nostalgic and it was a joy to see the people Sir – Evidently, an Oxford degree and seichel at the beginning of the nineteenth century, around us nodding their heads and tapping do not necessarily go together. and was not used in the Eastern dialects. their feet in enthusiasm. Our thanks to Seichel is not something one can acquire That would explain why the Yiddish speakers everyone who helped to make this afternoon through study: you are either born with it he consulted didn’t know the word. such a pleasurable event for everyone. or not. The exact definition of the Yiddish There are several other such words (Mrs) Meta Roseneil, Buckhurst Hill term is difficult to define. It can be loosely current among Jews of Western Europe translated as a mixture of tact, sound that differ from the Eastern usage. For Sir – We have just returned from a very judgment, shtetl wisdom and a lot more. example, a prayer book was called a tefillah entertaining and enjoyable afternoon tea Anyone lacking in seichel has a tendency rather than a siddur and the loaves eaten and song at the Watford Hilton together to put his foot where his mouth is! For on Shabbat were known as baerches or with AJR members. instance, for one Jew to tell another to go tatche rather than challah, all words that The only disturbing factor was the to Israel demonstrates a distinct lack of would almost certainly not be recognised mentioned presence of the member of the seichel, especially if he is himself a refugee by Yiddish speakers. Austrian embassy (although he was not from Austria. As regards George Schlesinger’s query there), which we deem to have been very To back up his dislike of the religious, regarding the sentence ‘Rachmones unnecessary, in view of the part that country Peter Philips (October) quotes Howard (the patient) entered Beth ganev (the … played in supporting the Holocaust. Jacobson but fails to see his own mirror- Hospital). Amhoretz (the chief surgeon) ...’: George and Helga Lazarus, London N3 image in Finkler, the ashamed Jew who is the rachmones is the Hebrew word rachamanut character Jacobson created in his novel The meaning ‘mercy’ and is used to describe a THE NOT-SO-GOOD OLD DAYS Finkler Question. Like Mr Philips, Finkler is person for whom everything goes wrong, Sir – To accompany Francis Steiner’s tale in anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, abhors religious Jews otherwise known as a nebbich. Beth ganev your August issue (‘Matura 70 years on’), and feels comfortable in his outrage. His means literally ‘the house of a thief’, though I have a somewhat similar story to tell article is all polemics and devoid of facts. For I have no idea to what the allusion is in this concerning my home town, Stuttgart. I have instance, he queries the difference between case. Amhoretz means ‘an ignorant person’, known my best friend there since our days at Sharia and the laws governing Israel. Some as Schlesinger wrote, from the Hebrew am primary school, before 1930, and I attended of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s gaffes are indeed ha’arets, meaning literally ‘a peasant’. with him and other school friends the objectionable but rabbis don’t promulgate Martin D. Stern, Salford, Lancs Reformrealgymnasium from 1933 to 1936, laws in modern-day Israel and a curse or two when I was sent to school in England. My never broke anyone’s bones. Only marriage Sir – Peter Fraenkel is acquainted with risches, German non-Jewish friends, none of them and divorce are the domain of the Beth Din, signifying anti-Semitism in Yiddish; he will Nazis, have been meeting ever since then, which is the legacy of his idol, David Ben- also remember rosche, a word used to except for the war years, at their monthly Gurion. The courts are subject to the Israeli describe an anti-Semite. The two words are Stammtisch and in recent times I have joined judiciary, who are fiercely independent and continued on page 16

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he travelled widely, leaving his wife and children in Europe and spending two long periods in Tahiti with various lovers, in one REVIEWs sense he barely moved from his original exploration of religion, tradition and myth Bringing war criminals to which began in Brittany. justice HITLER’S WILL aul Gauguin liked to regard himself Gauguin started out as a banker, a by Herman Rothman as an artiste-sauvage, a painter who stockbroker, before gaining notoriety as edited by Helen Fry P preferred the South Sea islands to a journalist, editing Le Sourire, a satirical The History Press (tel 01453 883 300; the salons of Paris. He loved myth, despised journal, before his transition to self- www.thehistorypress.co.uk), 2009, the church, but often painted himself as a conceived bohemian savage, painter and 192 pp. hardback, £18.99 red- or green-haired Christ figure, an artist author of Noa Noa, a Tahitian memoir. He he title of this book doesn’t really do reviled and misunderstood by his peers. desperately sought a return to nature, to justice to a fascinating autobiography. Herman Rothman grew up in a In one work, his body is held up by three the South Sea islanders, with their solid, T middle class, modern Orthodox Jewish Tahitian women wearing Breton hats – a robust beauty. He was a careful, reflective family in Berlin and the early part of the clear symbol of freedom versus restraint. painter, slowly applying his brushstrokes, book describes his family background. He also portrayed himself as a fox, implying painting a field pink or orange rather His father was born in Austrian Poland and had had a very adventurous life as wisdom in Maori lore. A proto-hippy, his than green. If he saw a piece of red an officer in the Austrian cavalry during rounded and squat portraits of women glass on a beach it might inspire him to the Great War. After the war he moved are filled with symbolism; his Breton paint the whole meadow red. His work to Berlin, where the author was born in landscapes contain the wistful glimpse of cut through the distinctions between 1924. The family relationships in Berlin were warm and caring and young Herman civilisation and the primitive. Contrast led a sheltered, happy childhood. his paintings of Breton women with the In 1933, with Hitler’s rise to power, physicality of his tribal subjects among life changed but, until 1938, this was surprisingly perceived more as a very whose mysterious peace he sought his unpleasant experience than an actual nirvana: he painted them in the style threat to one’s existence. Herman of Polynesian carvings, accentuating continued to go to school and synagogue their primitivism. What is exciting in and in 1937 celebrated his barmitzvah in style. In 1938, however, it became obvious his work is that, in the stillness of his that the Nazis were becoming more female subjects in particular, there is a aggressive, culminating in Kristallnacht. sense of becoming, of change. Herman’s father had a friend in the police, The vast panoply of European Inspector Belgart, and it is probably due to him that the family was able to escape history is present in over 200 works the worst excesses of Nazism. The book is from Budapest’s Museum of Fine dedicated to him. Arts partnered by the Hungarian Events forced the family to conclude that Herman should take advantage of the National Gallery in The Royal Kindertransport escape route, and the 14- Academy’s Treasures from year old moved to a new life in England. Budapest: European Masterpieces Here, the youngster had to get used to from Leonardo to Schiele, until doing manual agricultural work, poor living conditions and, most important of December. Religion and myth in all, losing contact with his parents and Paul Gauguin, Teha ‘amana Has Many Parents, portraits, sculptures, still lifes and brother. Fortunately, he was a strong, 1893. Oil on canvas. Art Institute of Chicago, USA. landscapes from the Italian Renaissance athletic young man and good at making ©Art Institute of Chicago, USA to the High Baroque include British lasting friendships. Towards the end of the war, he was able a ship ready to take him away, back to the artists like Reynolds and Constable and to join the British army and, although he South Seas. Hungarians like Ferenczy and Rippl- saw no active service, was able to use his Gauguin: Maker of Myth at Tate Ronai. Some works are from the Esterhazy language skills in dealing with German POWs and gathering intelligence. At one Modern until 16 January, the first major collection, acquired by the Museum in stage, he was put in charge of moving London exhibition of his work in half 1871. There are popes, peasants and a large numbers of Germans to the rear even a century, offers a lush and colourful bucolic wedding scene alongside works by though he was still only a private. perspective of the Post-Impressionist who Schiele and Picasso. It is a generous show Herman Rothman’s full contribution to bringing to justice those responsible for helped launch Modernism and clearly but one or two more contemporary works war crimes began after the war. Initially, inspired Picasso in the sensuality and would also have been welcome. he acted mainly as interpreter for senior symbolism of his subjects. investigators, but later became one Rejecting Impressionism and European himself, when not only his knowledge of Annely Juda Fine Art German but his ability to interview and culture by his self-imposed exile in Tahiti, 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) assess potential criminals came to the fore. Gauguin failed to notice that the old Tel: 020 7629 7578 Fax: 020 7491 2139 The title of the book relates to the most life of the South Sea islands was itself CONTEMPORARY PAINTING dramatic event in his intelligence work. During a routine search, a corporal became being overtaken by modernity. Though AND SCULPTURE

8 AJR JOURNAL NOVEMber 2010 suspicious of bulging shoulder pads worn his beautiful pianist wife, is the only a country that isn’t yours?’ ‘It’s because by one of the prisoners, ripped them uxorious one; Finkler has had extra- they’re Jewish,’ comes the reply. open, and discovered documents which marital relationships from time to time; Finkel’s wife, a convert to Judaism, had turned out to be copies of Hitler’s personal Treslove has never stayed long with one found the whole debate tiresome: ‘Jews ... and political wills and an addendum by partner and manages to have an affair endlessly falling out about how Jewish to Goebbels. Interrogations revealed that with Finkler’s wife which is described in be ... whether they’re practising or not, the prisoner was Heinz Lorenz, who some erotic detail. What Treslove really whether to wear fringes or eat bacon, had been Goebbels’s press attaché. The wants is to have a share in the mysterious whether the world hates them or doesn’t.’ author describes not only his own role in bond that binds Jewish people together. The question also comes up as to why translating and assessing the documents, Meeting Finkler’s relatives at a seder, Israel should be expected to behave better but the dramatic story of how they had however, leaves him dissatisfied and than any other country. been entrusted to Lorenz in Hitler’s bunker ambivalent. At the end of the book Sevick dies in and his escape to the West. The most Into this mix Jacobson puts a good mysterious circumstances, adding to the interesting aspect of the wills relates to deal of discussion of the Jewish position cycle of loss in the narrative. Hitler’s reaction to the betrayal, as he saw vis-à-vis Israel. Finkel is a member of an All in all, this book is a rich tapestry it, by Göring and Himmler. The wills and organisation called ‘ASHamed Jews’ (pace whose threads are the ever-present Goebbels’s addendum are, in my view Jews for Justice to Palestinians). Treslove is dilemmas of Jewish life. unnecessarily, given in three appendices. puzzled: ‘How can you be ashamed about Martha Blend Although this was clearly the highlight of Mr Rothman’s work in this field, there are many other descriptions of encounters with suspected Nazi criminals. One was with a A limited life-span: shady character with an English name who has a separate chapter relating to him. The Arbeitskreis der A very interesting chapter recounts the remarkable stories of how the author’s deutschen Emigration mother and brother, and separately his father, survived the war. He discovered these only in detailed letters written by his nthony Grenville’s account of those of the FGLC. First and foremost brother which he partly quotes. the British-based Free German was the question of making economic There are many interesting photographs ALeague of Culture (FGLC) in the support available for emigrants, linked in this very readable book. It is to be September issue of the Journal is a timely to a proposal to provide for them commended for demonstrating yet again reminder of comparable developments an employment exchange under the how individual refugees used their talents in France, where the Arbeitskreis der auspices of the French trade unions. A in fighting the Nazis and helping to bring at least some of them to justice. deutschen Emigration pre-dated the second objective was the maintenance George Vulkan FGLC by two years. Founded in 1937, the of the emigrants’ cultural life, involving Arbeitskreis undoubtedly mirrored Léon the establishment of a cultural centre, Blum’s Popular Front government, being the founding of a newspaper and the The ever-present dilemmas of the creation of both Social Democrats increased involvement of non-political Jewish life and Communists, but predominantly of emigrants. Particular attention was also Jewish emigrants. to be given to the organisation of public THE FINKLER QUESTION The inaugural meeting of the events. The third objective, which did by Howard Jacobson Arbeitskreis on 8 March 1937 was not seem to rank so highly among the Bloomsbury (tel 020 7494 2111), 2010, chaired by the Social Democrat Rudolf stated intentions of the FGLC, was the 320 pp. hardback Breitscheid, a former member of the need to develop and maintain cordial t is said that Howard Jacobson – winner Reichstag and one-time Prussian minister relations with the host community. of the prestigious Man Booker Prize for of the interior. He was partnered by the Underlying all these purposes was the IFiction this year – is incapable of writing Communist Willi Münzenberg, first chair issue of a united left-wing front which a boring sentence. Certainly the reader of the Young Communist International, was eventually deferred to be resolved is regaled with puns (‘the real McGoy’, for instance), Yiddish expressions, and all who had, however, broken with Stalin in a future non-Nazi Germany, while kinds of verbal wit that contribute to the in early 1937 and founded the Paris- the immediate concern remained the flavour of his latest book. Its narrative based anti-Nazi and anti-Stalinist journal emigrants’ political interests. moves slowly and has to be savoured Die Zukunft, which he edited together Following the meeting establishing without haste. with Arthur Koestler. This first meeting the Arbeitskreis, it was agreed that a The main characters are three men was attended by five Communists and public event be held on 20 March 1937 who have enjoyed a long friendship: Sam five Social Democrats who, following at which, it was hoped, Heinrich Mann Finkler, a television personality, Julian the withdrawal of Breitscheid and could be persuaded to speak. The artistic Treslove, a former BBC radio producer, and Münzenberg, elected from among structure of this event was to be left in Libor Sevick, their former teacher. Treslove is the only non-Jew of the trio. themselves two co-chairmen, August the hands of Erwin Piscator, a renowned At the outset of the story, he is mugged by Hartmann (Communist) and Robert German theatre director and producer a woman while gazing into a music shop. Breuer (Social Democrat). Little is and a colleague of Bertolt Brecht. He is convinced she called him a Jew and known about Hartmann but Breuer Inevitably, the life-span of the this sets in trail much speculation about was a well-known writer and journalist Arbeitskreis was limited. With the the vulnerability of Jews to anti-Semitic in the Weimar years and a confidant of outbreak of war in 1939, most Germans attack. Consulting the internet, Treslove is President Ebert. In 1932 he reputedly living in France were interned, though horrified to find news of dozens of such advised President Hindenburg that Hitler the relatively speedy release of political incidents in many countries. should be arrested. emigrants and Jews stood in marked As they meet at Sevick’s apartment, The objectives of the Arbeitskreis contrast to the dilatory approach both Sevick and Finkler have recently lost their partners. Sevick, bereft of were, in many respects, similar to continued overleaf

9 AJR JOURNAL NOVEMber 2010 A nice Jewish refugee boy

ookish, left-wing and fervently still at university. Between 1957 and 1960 peace and human rights. agnostic, the Feiths, my mother’s he completed his doctorate at Cornell My cousin’s unworldliness had its Bfamily, more than anyone else University in the United States, where downside. Anecdotes about his missing shaped my future attitudes. their second child, Annie, was born. flights and appointments abound. On My aunt Ida, the oldest of the four I saw Herb briefly at the beginning of one occasion, three of us were awaiting siblings, was also the most forceful and 1939 in London, where the family spent him eagerly at Heathrow. When he the family’s mouthpiece. The second, a few days on their finally arrived, before Rosa, my mother, sadly died when I was way to Australia, and ‘His is the story of we had time to greet a small child. Siegi (short for Siegfried) then not until 1950 him a woman from was generally considered a Sonderling (an in Sydney, where, at a nice Jewish refugee Amnesty International eccentric) mainly because he never wore the time, I lived with boy who not only had seized him. ‘Ah, Dr an overcoat, even on the coldest days. He my new husband. Feith!’, she beamed. was said to speak 12 languages including Herb charmed us both made good but also He had forgotten to tell Esperanto. with his warmth and did good. I miss us he had committed The youngest, Arthur, 13 years Ida’s modesty. himself to going to junior, was born in Dresden and went to Herb started his him very much and Oxford first. school in Berlin and Vienna, where the a c a d e m i c c a r e e r will be thinking of After his retirement family finally settled. At the outbreak of a s a l e c t u r e r a t in 1990, he and Betty the Second World War, Arthur, a bright Monash University in him on 3 November spent part of each lad of 20, was working in Manchester Melbourne in 1962 of this year, which year as volunteer and had no desire at all to fight for and in 1968 was teachers in Indonesia. Kaiser and country. He preferred to promoted to the chair would have been his T h r o u g h o u t t h e be interned on the Isle of Man and of politics. However, 80th birthday.’ nineties I went to remained an anglophile for the rest of he didn’t at all enjoy M e l b o u r n e f a i r l y his life. Eventually he returned to Vienna being a professor, and in 1974 demoted frequently and got to know Herb better. and married in his thirties. After the himself to reader. When I asked him His self-effacement and genuine concern Anschluss he and his wife Lily emigrated years later if he had ever regretted for others never failed to impress me. to Melbourne with their only child, eight- that decision, he said the only thing he On 3 November 2001, his 71st year-old Herbert. regretted was that he had not taken it birthday, I tried to talk to him on the Throughout his scholastic career earlier. phone but Betty told me he was in Herbert, or Herb, as he preferred to be Status and material possessions Indonesia and wasn’t expected back for called, was an outstanding student. meant nothing to him. When some Asian another few days. He read politics at the University of refugees needed chairs he gave them all Twelve days later, on 15 November, Melbourne and, on graduation in 1951, his, or rather the family’s - by that time while cycling home (he had given up his went to Indonesia as a volunteer for two he and Betty had three children. ‘We’ve car for ecological reasons), he was hit years to work for the civil service on local got garden chairs,’ he told my uncle, who by a train at a level crossing and killed pay and conditions, and Indonesia was to wanted to know what they were going instantly. Over 600 people from across become his main interest and his passion. to sit on. Arthur wisely bought each of the world attended his funeral. He met his future wife, Betty Evans, while his three grandchildren a house before His is the story of a nice Jewish refugee he died and arranged for the rest of his boy who not only made good but also A limited life-span: estate to be held in a trust to which Herb did good. I miss him very much and will had only limited access. be thinking of him on 3 November of The Arbeitskreis der Herb and Betty devoted any time they this year, which would have been his deutschen Emigration could spare of their busy lives, as teachers 80th birthday. and parents, to campaigning tirelessly for Edith Argy continued from previous page adopted by the UK. Many, though ARTS AND EVENTS DIARY – NOVEMBER not all, of the emigrants were thus able to escape the Germans. Some, Mon 1 David Simmons, ‘Inside - Outside: Tues 23 Dr Anthony Grenville, ‘Jewish like Piscator, managed to reach the My Aunt’s Little Book’ Club 43 Refugees from Hitler in Britain, US, while others, like Breitscheid, were 1933-1970’, Centre for German- M o n 8 Geoffrey Ben-Nathan, Jewish Studies, University of Sussex, arrested by the Gestapo and confined ‘Observations on Jewish, Irish and Meeting Room Arts B127, 4.30 pm (tea in Buchenwald, where he was probably Other Humour’ Club 43 4.00 pm). All welcome, booking not murdered. Münzenberg, who had fled Wed 10 Book launch: Chronicle of required, tel 01273 678771 to southern France, became a victim a Downfall: Germany 1929-1939 Mon 22 Hall not available Club 43 of the Vichy regime, whereas Breuer Andreas Wesemann brings the launch managed to reach Vichy-controlled of his new English-language edition Mon 29 Jim Betts, ‘The Quakers in Morocco; from here he moved to the of Leopold Schwarzschild’s writings Britain’ Club 43 French island of Martinique, where he to the Wiener Library, 7.00 pm, tel 020 7636 7247 Club 43 Meetings at Belsize Square Syna­­ died, largely due to the effects of the gogue, 7.45 pm. Tel Ernst Flesch on allied blockade of the island. Mon 15 Robin Hanau, ‘Nuclear Weapons 020 7624 7740 or Leni Ehrenberg Eric Bourne since 1945’ Club 43 on 020 7286 9698

10 AJR JOURNAL NOVEMber 2010

ome 250 members and guests packed the AJR’s Management Committee. included the AJR in their wills. Their the Hertford Suite in the Hilton Hotel, Welcoming guests, AJR Chairman forethought and generosity are enabling SWatford for the AJR’s 2010 annual Andrew Kaufman stated that ‘The AJR us to continue to provide our much- Celebration Tea – ‘one of the best teas we operates at a considerable deficit, with needed services.’ have ever held,’ AJR Director Carol Rossen our expenditure almost £1.5m greater said. Operatic entertainment was provided than our income.’ ‘This shortfall,’ Andrew Photos by Alan Ezekiel by Glenys Groves, Jonathan Fisher and added, ‘is met through the receipt of of That Personal Touch Alexandre Naoumenko, accompanied at legacies and we cannot overstate our 07773 444 335 the piano by Diana Franklin, a member of gratitude to those members who have

An unforgettable piano duo: Rawicz and Landauer

ho can remember husband, Annie’s parents, and his own was the driving force behind her sons’ this famous piano parents. He guaranteed their upkeep success. Annie also told me that Walter Wduo? As a matter of and had to give so much money to the married a Blackpool chorus girl but the fact, who can forget them? government that his bank account was marriage failed – not surprising as they In 1937, when I was 13 cleared out (though he soon recouped had nothing in common! I don’t know years old, I attended the the money). He installed Annie and her whether he ever married again. wedding of my second cousin, husband in a flat in Streatham, in south Many years later, when I lived in Annie Wiesel, to Bertold London. Catford in south-east London, Landauer Landauer, the brother of When war broke out, all ‘enemy aliens’ appeared alone at the local town hall. Walter Landauer. The Rawicz had to face a tribunal. Annie, who was Rawicz, the older of the two, had died and Landauer duo were sitting the wife of an engineer, was put into ‘B’ and Landauer could never bring himself back-to-back at two pianos, on category. to enter into another partnership and a specially constructed piano In 1940 all the men, and Annie, were had carried on alone. In fact, I possess a stool. They were already well interned on the Isle of Man. Rawicz was record on which he had recorded both established, earning lots of the first one to be released and he carried parts on top of each other – it’s called money and lifelong friends. on playing alone until Landauer too was ‘Landauer and Landauer’. I introduced In March 1938 Hitler’s released and rejoined him. myself to him and he was pleased to troops marched into Austria. In 1946 I stayed with cousin Annie tell the people there that I was his only Annie was very lucky indeed. on sick leave. She told me that Walter remaining relative. He must have been Walter Landauer helped no Landauer’s mother had escorted him to over 80 years old. How pathetic – but fewer than six people to come the conservatoire every time to make sure that is the story of us displaced people! to the UK – Annie and her he wasn’t skipping his piano lessons. She Annette Saville

11 AJR JOURNAL NOVEMber 2010

Surrey meeting overshadowed by Essex ‘London’s First Hotels’ sad news David Barnett, our very own Hotel Inspector, Fifteen of us (some were on holiday, took us through the history of the hotel from others not well enough to attend) met the 1760s onwards as tourism in London for a coffee morning at my home. It was began to take off following the Industrial a small but pleasant meeting, though very Revolution. It wasn’t surprising to hear that much overshadowed by the news from two Jewish gentlemen, Louis Benjamin and Jutta Saunders that Vernon was not doing Moses Hart, established hotels in the 1800s. Manchester ‘False Holocaust well and there was no hope of recovery. A factual and interesting talk. Testimony’ Vernon was the pillar of our group and Esther Rinkoff The delightful Professor Sue Vice of will be missed very much. Edmée Barta Next meeting: 9 Nov. Tba Sheffield University addressed us on Next meeting: 7 Nov. Social Get-together ‘False Holocaust Testimony’. Figments Edinburgh ‘British And/Or Jewish?’ of imagination, guilt complex, We enjoyed a very lively discussion on the ‘psychobabble’, or just plain deceitfulness ‘Remembering theme ‘British And/Or Jewish?’ The variety - it all comes into play. A most interesting of personal backgrounds inevitably led to and pleasant afternoon. for the Future’ spontaneous diversions into any number Werner Lachs An Intergenerational Event of relevant – and irrelevant – areas. Our Next meeting: 10 Nov. At War Museum thanks to organiser Agnes Isaac and North. Speaker: Anthony Grenville Our second ‘Question Time’- Dorothea Brander, our hostess, for the 5 Dec. Chanukah Social at Nicky Alliance style event in the North, at Leeds delicious afters. Jonathan Kish Centre Royal Armouries on this occasion, brought members together in lively Radlett ‘The Kibbutz in Crisis’ Ilford Holocaust Exhibition discussions forgoing the wonderful David Merron spoke of the early days ‘essential viewing’ weather outside. of Jewish settlement in Palestine and Suzanne Bardgett spoke to us about Panel members were Arek then of the young State of Israel and the the Imperial War Museum’s Holocaust Hersh, camp survivor; Sue Pearson, important role kibbutzim played at that Exhibition: how the idea arose in the Kindertransport refugee (replacing time. Recent political and social changes first instance, how the artifacts were Dorothy Fleming, who was unwell); have reduced the number of kibbutzim collected, the grand opening in June Trude Silman, former child refugee; and altered their status, he said. An 2000, and how it has grown since. The Deanna Van der Velde, Second outstandingly thought-provoking lecture Exhibition attracts many people from all Generation; and Hannah George, - one hopes David will come back soon walks of life, confirms the existence of Third Generation. The meeting was to deal with the many questions his talk the Holocaust, and is therefore essential ably chaired by AJR Director Michael raised. Fritz Starer viewing for everybody. Meta Roseneil Newman. Next meeting: 17 Nov. Ladislaus Löb, Next meeting: 3 Nov. Howard Falksohn Questions echoed those discussed ‘Rezsö Kasztner’s Daring Rescue Mission’ of the Wiener Library, ‘Children of the in Manchester in February. What is Third Reich’, tbc the best way to take the story of the Brighton & Hove Sarid The Jews of Holocaust forward to the younger Ostrava Sheffield CF ‘Connections’ generation, both Jewish and non- The gift to Kingston Synagogue of a Torah We again enjoyed Dorothy Fleming’s Jewish? Did we ever over-protect our scroll from the Czech town of Ostrava in kind hospitality and her suggested topic children? 1965 triggered David Lawson’s research of discussion: ‘Connections’. Being a Many found they had delayed into the town’s Jewish history. From group of camp survivors, Kindertransport telling their children. As in Manchester, insignificant beginnings, Ostrava grew refugees and Second Generation many recognised their wish to protect from banking into a coal and steel centre, members, there was no shortage of their children from knowledge that resulting in a vibrant Jewish population connections and coincidences - some could distress them - just as many with 5 synagogues. Most of the Jewish poignant and some humorous. of the Second Generation avoided population ended up in Terezin and Susanne Pearson asking their parents questions for the Auschwitz. Shirley Huberman Next meeting: 28 Nov same reason. Next meeting: 15 Nov. Renée Tyack, ‘They Most panel members were Called Her Cassandra’ Pinner ‘Music and the Visual Arts’ involved in Holocaust education but were rarely asked to speak in Hull Memories of Kristallnacht Alan Cohen gave a most interesting talk We had a lively discussion about on ‘Music and the Visual Arts’, explaining Jewish establishments. It appeared that members of the British-Jewish Kristallnacht. One member remembered that images often initiate musical themes seeing a Viennese synagogue go up in as well as the reverse - how music often community had initially not wanted to know - and some still didn’t flames; another was locked into a room brings images to our minds. Alan’s talk with her family while the local Nazis was illustrated with recordings and want to know - of the refugees’ and survivors’ experiences. smashed up their business premises. pictures. All an interesting experience for Some of course were too young to us. Paul Samet The AJR’s future was envisaged thus: in addition to its welfare remember details. It wasn’t all gloom Next meeting: 4 Nov. Suzanne Lewis of though: we enjoyed one another’s the Ben Uri Gallery work, investing in various forms of Holocaust education; some members company as well as a delicious afternoon of succeeding generations would tea and it was also great to meet a Bradford CF Life as a peripatetic member of the Liverpool group who had rabbi in Berlin wish to be (or continue to be) involved in the latter. Third Generation panel come along with Susanne. Rabbi Dr Walter Rothschild from Rose Abrahamson Berlin talked to us about his work as a members at both events are linking peripatetic rabbi to numerous Reform to form a nationwide group. Hannah George said: ‘I feel a responsibility to Cafe Imperial Life on the Dunera congregations in Germany, assisted by Dr Sitting outside in the glorious sunshine Ulrike Offenberg, a historian of postwar be a vessel for the stories told to me by my grandparents.’ was a first for this meeting - a lovely Jewish life there. Later we joined Walter way to welcome in the New Year! A full and his family in a meal celebrating the Susanne Green, Northern Groups’ Co-ordinator, organised this most morning was spent discussing naval birthday of his father, Edgar, who is a pursuits and life on the Dunera. Some member of our group. interesting event. Barbara Dresner Dorrity excellent Pope jokes too, as told by Bill Anna Greenwood Howard. Esther Rinkoff

12 AJR JOURNAL NOVEMber 2010

European Association of Edgware ‘Discs to our liking’ Paul Balint AJR Centre Survivors Annual Conference, Judy Kelner gave us a wonderful ‘Desert 13-16 August 2010 at Island Discs’-style presentation. Her choice 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 Roehampton University, London of discs was very much to our liking and, Tel: 020 7328 0208 Saturday was the big day. We heard as usual, it was a very pleasant afternoon. Trudy Gold of the London Jewish Felix Winkler Cultural Centre (LJCC) deliver a powerful Next meeting: 16 Nov. Howard Falksohn, AJR LUNCHEON CLUB talk on ‘The Future of Education: ‘Children of The Third Reich’ Wednesday 17 November 2010 Developments and Trends’. This was Lynne Gould JP most interesting as the LJCC works in London attractions: A lovely day out ‘The Work of countries as far apart as Belarus and Hendon, North London and Pinner Group China, where Holocaust education is members enjoyed a lovely day out. Magistrates’ much appreciated. Following a visit to the London Eye, which Please be aware that members should not Joanna Millan then spoke about included a 3D film, we had a tour of the automatically assume that they are on the Luncheon Jewish costume through the ages. Her Globe Theatre and this was followed by a Club list. It is now necessary, on receipt of your talk was well presented and provoked visit to the Globe Museum. A walk on the copy of the AJR Journal, to phone the Centre on 020 7328 0208 to book your place. a deluge of questions. Millennium Bridge for the more energetic After lunch, Martin Stern’s theme was of us completed the trip. Myrna Glass ‘What determined behaviour during the KT-AJR Holocaust? Why would ordinary people, Kindertransport special given the right conditions, turn into Child Survivors ‘Why is Hebrew interest group monsters?’ Yet there were always some Written Backwards?’ Monday 1 November 2010 who refused, which at least gave us hope. Dr Martin Stern answered the question Following dinner there were speeches ‘Why do you write Hebrew backwards?’ Sir Erich Reich by our Chair, Joanna, and the President and was assisted by members of the ‘The Investiture Experience’ of the European Association, Max audience. Diversions led also to the roots Arpels Lezer. Later we were entertained KINDLY NOTE THAT LUNCH of a number of English-language words by Margaret Watson on the harp. WILL BE SERVED AT On the Sunday we proceeded to the – neither Latin nor Greek but Phoenician/ 12.30 PM ON MONDAYS Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City and Hebrew. Dorothy’s cakes were a delight for the palate. Henri Obstfeld Reservations required then on to the newly refurbished Jewish Please telephone 020 7328 0208 Museum at Camden Town. On the Next meeting: 21 Nov. ‘Visiting Antarctica’ Monday morning we said our farewells. Monday, Wednesday & Thursday Many thanks to Joanna and her team ALSO MEETING IN NOVEMBER 9.30 am – 3.30 pm who worked out a truly interesting Outing 1 Nov. To Luton Hoo. Call Head programme. Office for details Please note that the Centre is Steven Frank Ealing 2 Nov. David Lawson, ‘The Jews closed on Tuesdays of Ostrava’ Cardiff 4 Nov. The Dep. Israeli Ambassador AJR GROUP CONTACTS Kingston CF 4 Nov. Helen Fry, ‘Enemy November Afternoon Entertainment Aliens’ Bradford Continental Friends Mon 1 KT LUNCH – Kards & Games Klub HGS 8 Nov. Charles Emanuel, ‘Israel and Lilly and Albert Waxman 01274 581189 Wed 3 Margaret Opdahl Brighton & Hove (Sussex Region) the Peace Negotiations’ Fausta Shelton 01273 734 648 Wembley CF 10 Nov. Social Get-together Thur 4 Ronnie Goldberg Bristol/Bath Temple Fortune 11 Nov. Rosette Wolf Kitty Balint-Kurti 0117 973 1150 Mon 8 Kards & Games Klub Cambridge Outing 18 Nov. To Jewish Museum. Call Wed 10 Roy Blass Anne Bender 01223 276 999 Head Office for details Cardiff North London 25 Nov. Blanche Benedick, Thur 11 Chris Sausmann Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 ‘The Jews of Denmark’ Mon 15 Kards & Games Klub Cleve Road, AJR Centre Hendon 29 Nov. Helen Fry, ‘Harriet Cohen: Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Music and Men’ Wed 17 LUNCHEON CLUB Dundee Thur 18 Geoffrey Strum Agnes Isaacs 0755 1968 593 Cleve Road 30 Nov. 4th anniversary and Jane Rosenberg East Midlands (Nottingham) Mon 22 Kards& Games Klub Bob Norton 01159 212 494 Wed 24 Douglas Poster Edgware Norfolk (Norwich) Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3077 Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Thur 25 Michael Heaton Edinburgh North London Françoise Robertson 0131 337 3406 Jenny Zundel 020 8882 4033 Mon 29 Kards & Games Klub 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 NOVEMber 2010

family announcements St Lucian sunshine The Quakers: Wedding at the AJR Centre A Get-together Congratulations to Susie and Andrew Friends Meeting Hall Kaufman on the wedding of their daughter 23 November Nicole to David Feldman, son of Michelle The Quakers in Welwyn Garden City were critically instrumental in the and Richard Feldman. rescue of children from Nazi Germany at the time of Kristallnacht. The Deaths Synagogue in Welwyn Garden City Murray, Ilse (née Perl), 19 March was founded by those children and the 1921–22 September 2010, mother of the evacuees from London during the Blitz. late Claus Nicholas Perl, passed away It is now over 70 years since those peacefully. Remembered with love by days and thanks is long overdue to the For 10 years Theresa Alexis has Quakers from the community. family and friends. brought her St Lucian sunshine into As part of National Inter-Faith Week, Saunders, Vernon Jutta, David and the AJR Centre. She has had a long we are holding a get-together in Friends association with the AJR – almost Meeting Hall when survivors from both Jessica are very sad to announce that sides can retell their experiences. Vernon Saunders passed away peacefully 30 years. In late September we gave The proceedings will be recorded for a lunch in her honour with AJR on Sunday 19 September at Sam Beare posterity by the Welwyn Garden City members, staff and personal friends. Heritage Society. Hospice in Weybridge. He was much We wish her well in her retirement loved, admired and respected by all who For further details, please contact and will miss her greatly. Welwyn Garden City Hebrew knew him and will be very greatly missed Susie Kaufman Congregation on 01707 322443. by his family and friends.

MITZVAH DAY 2010 PillarCare switch on electrics THE SEPARATED Rewires and all household CHILD FOUNDATION Quality support and care at home electrical work The AJR is collecting basic essentials  Hourly Care from 1 hour – 24 hours for an arrival pack. Further information PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 is available at the AJR Centre  Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care Mobile: 0795 614 8566 (telephone 020 7328 0208),  Convalescent and Personal Health Care at Regional Group meetings, and at www.ajr.org.uk  Compassionate and Affordable Service  Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff Home Care ColvinCare through quality and  Registered with the CSCI and UKHCA ‘DROP IN’ ADVICE SERVICE professionalism Members requiring benefit advice please Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 Celebrating our 25th Anniversary Studio 1 Utopia Village 25 years of experience in providing the telephone Linda Kasmir on 020 8385 3070 to highest standards of care in the comfort make an appointment at AJR, Jubilee House, 7 Chalcot Road, NW1 8LH of your own home Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL LEO BAECK HOUSING FIRST FLOOR RETIREMENT FLAT FOR SALE in kenton ASSOCIATION CLARA NEHAB HOUSE First floor retirement flat with lift. RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME Warden-assisted. Entryphone system 1 hour to 24 hours care Small caring residential home with large Registered through the National Care Standard Commission 1 fitted bedroom, lounge/dining room, 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’ en suite facilities www.colvin-nursing.co.uk lounge, laundry room and games room 24 hour Permanent and Respite Care Communal gardens Entertainment & Activities provided Ground Floor Lounge and New 99-year lease – Dining Room wanted to buy In excellent condition Lift access to all floors. Near shops, synagogues, buses For further information please contact: German and and trains 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 Telephone: 020 8455 2286 Bookdealer, AJR member, or 0794 7694 844 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 NOVEMber 2010

Obituary

Lilian Renée Furst, 1931-2009 ilian was born in Vienna on 29 June ten other professors. Several other posts 1931. Her parents, both dentists, followed but she eventually settled at the Lwere exact contemporaries of my University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. mother, who was a student at the Vienna At the time of her death, on 11 September medical school. The Fursts (Fürst at that 2009, she was Marcel Bataillon Professor time) lived around the corner from us. of Comparative Literature, emerita, at that Both Lilian and her parents emigrated university. to England. Only her father practised Lilian published mainly on nineteenth- dentistry here (in Manchester). All three century European literature. Her books became members of the AJR. ‘Sub-Department’ of Comparative Literature, included Romanticism in Perspective, Lilian was educated in Manchester, which had become her speciality. Fictions of Romantic Irony and All is True: reading French and German at the Some years later, while on an exchange The Claims and Strategies of Realist Fiction university, followed by a PhD at Girton visit to the USA, Lilian was offered the post as well as several works on literature and College, Cambridge in 1955. Her first of Professor of Comparative Literature at medicine. She also published Home is academic post, in the same year, was the University of Oregon. As Manchester Somewhere Else: An Autobiography in Two in Belfast. She told me that on her first was still considering whether she was Voices, which combined her childhood day she was asked whether she was a ready for possible promotion to a senior memories of emigration with a manuscript Protestant or a Catholic - to which she lectureship, she accepted the Oregon post. left by her father. The autobiography answered ‘I am a Jew.’ The next question A succession of senior posts in the USA and Random Destinations, a study of the was ‘Are you a Protestant Jew or a Catholic followed, including an invitation to set up a Holocaust in literature, were reviewed in Jew?’ After a few years in Belfast she department at the University of Texas, where the AJR Journal. obtained a post in Manchester, setting up a her first task would be the appointment of Paul Samet

Search Notices David, Clara, originally from Dresden, Herz, Erika, my mother, b 2.5.1926 in contact Carlos Guerreiro at Urb. Vista Elite, Durerstrasse 3, last known address 270 Krefeld, went via KT from Berlin to UK in May Rua da plameira, Lt 89, 8700-207 Olhao, Heathfield Road, Ainsdale, Southport, is 1939. She was in an Orthodox orphanage Portugal or at [email protected] the niece of Aliza Ben Yosef (b Leipzig), in London, then in a boarding school with My mother, Renate, from Teplitz, was a pupil who lives at Retirement Home Bayit Bekfar German teachers (Bunce Court?), then in a at Upper Chine School, Isle of Wight, until 1939 Hadarim, 77 Ben Yehuda St, Kfar Saba, Israel. boarding school in northern England. In 1941 then lived in London until 1947. If you have If you have any info about Clara’s current they emigrated to Brazil, where I was born in any info on her or on the life led by young girls whereabouts, please write to Aliza or contact 1947. My mother died in 2002. With her on the in similar circumstances please contact Hugh Ruby Davis at [email protected] KT were her sister Hannelore Herz, b 21.12.23, Wilson at [email protected] I am searching for Dunera Boys who were part of and cousins Margot and Ellen Herz. Any info please to Renato Fraenkel, Spinnerstr 35, Whg I am researching a book about a boy interned the Kindertransport. Please tel +61 8 6488 2049 on the Isle of Man in 1940. I would like to or write to [email protected] 50, 38114 Braunschweig, tel +49 531 886 3936 or [email protected] trace people interned in Rushen camp, Port My father did 2 years’ hard labour during Erin and Port St Mary’s. Please contact me WWII in Christianstadt for Dynamit Atktien My grandmother, Ili Jakubovic, now living at [email protected] in New Jersey as Ellen Hersh, was born Gesellschaft. Have any readers knowledge Seidmann, Gertrud no longer has any of this hard labour? Harry Breman, in Ungvar, Czechoslovakia on 26.1.1924. She went with her friend, Fitzy Klein, to recollection of leaving Vienna in 1937 (?), Timorstraat 70, 8022NE Zwolle, Holland; settling in Belfast or her father, Ludwig (Louis), [email protected] the Hebrew Gymnasium. Any info on Fitzy or schoolmates please to Bex Shapiro at who was interned on the Isle of Man. Does Hecht, Otto, b around 1900 in Przemysl [email protected] anybody remember them? Please contact (?), fled Vienna at time of Anschluss, [email protected] I am working on a project on Jewish probably to France. He owned a business Stolenberg, Alice Gerda, my mother, left in Hüttelsdorferstrasse, Vienna 15. We later memory and trauma and looking for volunteers of Italian or any other nationality Berlin after the war for Norway then left for heard (unconfirmed) he was deported but the USA in 1947 (?). She was in a DP camp survived and after liberation worked in willing to tell me their story of the period of anti-Semitic persecutions. Please contact in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. She told me she publishing in an English-speaking country. lost most of her family except her mother and Any info please to [email protected] me at [email protected] or call me on 07780995386 (Roberta Piazza) sister. She had a friend, Siegfried Einhorn. If Descendants of Ignaz (Isak Maier) Haas and you have any info on my mother or Siegfried, Clara (Klara Debora) Haas (née Plahner), Mayer, Ilse Charlotte née Fabisch, b Breslau please write to [email protected] 12.9.1915, emigrated to London and had formerly of Vienna. Ignaz (b Jaslo) died in Weiss, Richard (b 5.4.1880) and Regine Buenos Aires in 1947, Clara, b Tarnopol 3 children (b 1939, 1944, 1946). In the 1960s she lived at 181 Goldhurst Terrace, (b 22.7.1882), my parents, lived in 16.2.1879, died in Vienna 24.3.1967. Castellezgasse, Vienna 2, from where they Clara was the sister of Samuel Plahner, d London NW6. Her brother, Hans Fabisch, was murdered in Auschwitz. In the 1960s were evicted to Staudingergasse, 20. They Vienna 12.1.1936. Clara, Samuel and their were deported to Theresienstadt in 1942; last parents Mina and Simon Beer Plahner are she searched for him and his wife, Valerie Fabisch (b Scheftel). Any news about this news was their deportation to Auschwitz on buried at Vienna’s Zentralfriedhof. Clara’s 28.10.44. My mother was a mezzo soprano memorial inscription mentions children, family would be welcome. Please contact Sarah Wildman at [email protected] who sang in St Gallen before WWI. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Any stage name was Grete Strauss. Can anyone info about Ignaz and Clara’s descendants I am a Portuguese journalist wishing to remember her singing in Theresienstadt? please to Prof Robert Shaw, Brettargh contact refugees in Portugal in WWII for Please contact Edith Kronenberger at 52 Holt, Camden Way, Kent BR7 5HT, UK or to a book project. If you have any stories, Hartley Avenue, Whitley Bay NE26 3NT, UK [email protected] memories, documents, pictures etc, please or tel 0191 252 0013

15 whereas the extreme Orthodox live mainly in B’nei Brak and Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim quarter.whereas But the opposing extreme suchOrthodox fundame liventalist mainly ideas in B’nei does Braknot mean and Jerusalem’sforbidding Mea Orthodox JewsShearim from quarter. living whereverBut opposing they suchwish fundame in Israel.ntalist It’s hard ideas to doesbelieve not Herzl mean forbidding intended thatOrthodox only ‘secular’ Jews from Ashkenazi living wherever Jews could they live wish in Israel. in Israel. It’s hard to believe Herzl intended that only ‘secular’AJR JOURNAL Ashkenazi NOVEMb Jewser 2010 could live in Israel. Mr Phillips should look into his soul and see how hypocritical are his tirades against the buildingMr of Phillips homes forshould Jews, look religious into his or soul secular, and seeanywhere how hypocritical and everywhere are his in tirades against Israel, especiallythe building in Jerusalem of homes - the for Je Jews,wish religiouscapital 3,500 or secular, years agoanywhere when London and everywhere was in harassed, throughout Europe. This process just a steamyIsrael, swamp. especially in Jerusalem - the Jewish capitalLetter 3,500 years from ago when London was culminated in the Holocaust, though some just a steamy swamp. Trudy Gefen, Israel 50 years beforehand the Dreyfus Affair and Israel the rampant anti-Semitism it revealed led Trudy Gefen, Israel Theodor Herzl to suggest that the Jews Sir- In his letter (October), Amnon Needham asserts that we shouldn’t ‘give a deserved a homeland. L’Affaire Dreyfus also monkey’s’Sir- what In our his gentileletter (October), friends think Amnon andSelf-defence continuesNeedham ‘[W]easserts can that do we comeswithout shouldn’t their at‘give a a price caused some Jews to espouse socialism and Holocaust monkey’s’memorials, whattheir oursympathy’ gentile friendsetc. As thinkfrom timeand continues to time Mr ‘[W]e Needham can do visits without their the Russian Revolution, others to abandon the UK, heHolocaust probably knowsmemorials, that we their have sympathy’he he Punicre a HolocaustWars, etc. theAs Romanfrom Day time Empire,and toother timereligio events. Mr), theNeedham Shall Huguenots, visits the War of Jenkins’ their Jewish identity and seek to assimilate we ignore themthe UK, because he probably they are knows organised thatthe we bymigrations have‘gentiles’? he andre a conquestsHolocaust of Day Ear, and the other British events. defeat Shall of the Spanish in the Gentile world. Hitler would have none Armada, the first Schmalkaldic war in 1547, we ignore them because Tthey arethe Germanicorganised tribes, by ‘gentiles’?theNicholas Visigoths, Marton, Bromley of that, however: as far as he was concerned, the Ostrogoths, the Barbarians, the split when Duke Maurice of Saxony assisted birth determined identity. Nicholas Marton, Bromley WICKEDNESS, MALICE between the Roman and Byzantine churches, Charles V, the second Schmalkaldic war Israel has been attacked since its the Islamic conquest of Spain, Charlemagne, in 1552, when the French secured bases inception, whether by regular armies WICKEDNESS, MALICE Sir - In reply to Peter Fraenkel’s querythe Wars (Oct ofober) the Threeregarding Brothers, the or whichigin of inthe Alsace, German- the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, or guerrilla groups (the polite term for ended with the treaty of Verdun in 843, the Henry of Navarre’s blood-soaked path to the terrorists). Israel is anathema to radical Jewish wordSir risches - In reply, meaning to Peter anti-Semitism, Fraenkel’sMagyar pillages, query it isthe (Octsimply Normanober) conquestthe regarding Hebrew (1066 wordthethrone or rish’utigin of France, of, the the German- Thirty Years’ War, the Muslims, who are gaining an ever greater meaning wickednessJewish word or rischesmalice,, accordingmeaningand all that),anti-Semitism, to the the Ashkenazi Crusades, it isthe pronunciation. simply Hundred the HebrewCromwellian It is clearly word Revolution rish’ut and, the execution say in world events. Muslim countries a word currentmeaning in Juedisch-Deutsch, wickedness or malice,Years’ the westernWar according between dialect England to theof Yiddish Ashkenazi and France that pronunciation. diedof King out Charles at the It I, isthe clearly French Revolution dominate the UN and control some of the beginning ofa word the nineteenth current in centuryJuedisch-Deutsch,in and the was14th notand the 15thused western centuries, in the dialect Eastern the Wars of dialects. Yiddish and the That th guillotiningat died out of Kingat the Louis XVI, the world’s most valuable natural resources. would explainbeginning why the of Yiddishthe nineteenth speakersof the century Roses he consulted in and England, was didn’t not the usedReconquista know in the Easternword.Napoleonic dialects. Wars, the That Franco-Prussian War, Large groups of Muslims are to be found would explain why the Yiddishin Spain, speakersthe Mongol-Tatar he consulted invasions didn’t of knowthe First the World word. War, the Second World War, throughout Europe. They are represented occasional Balkan wars. in the parliaments of those countries, There are several other such wordsPoland current of 1241,among the JewsFall of of Constantinople, Western Europe that differ the defeat of the Crusader Kingdom in Thus, from a historical perspective, determine national spending and are able Harold Saunders, Manchester from the EasternThere areusage. several For example,other suchthe a13th wordsprayer century, currentbook the was among Reformation, called Jews a tefillah theof Wester the rather idean Europe thanof peace a that in Europe differ is a startling to influence non-Muslim representatives. siddur and fromthe loaves the Eastern eaten onusage. Shabbat ForCounter-Reformation, example, were known a prayer asalliances baerches book and was unions or tatchecalled innovation. arather tefillah than rather than a Thus, it is hardly surprising that challah, allsiddur words and that the would loaves almost eatenthat certainly onchanged Shabbat thenot borders werebe recognised knownof Turkey, as Spain,by baerches Yiddish What or speakers. tatche does thisrather mean than for Israel? Is it governmentsSir – The condemnword risches Israel formay building come from the Hebrew rish’ut, meaning evil, wickedness. challah, all words that wouldPortugal, almost France, certainly Poland, all not the be countries recognised destined by Yiddish to endure speakers. 1,000 years of fighting a wall to keep out those who would blow Bernd Koschland, London NW4 As regards George Schlesinger’s queryof Eastern regarding Europe, theRussia, sentence the Scandinavian ‘Rachmones before (the someone out there finally accepts the up buses, cafés and shopping malls. Nor patient) enteredAs regards Beth ganevGeorge (the Schlesinger’s …countries, Hospital). Germany, query Amhoretz regarding and Italy (the (the the chief latter sentence twosurgeon) idea ‘Rachmones that...’: peace, however (the unsatisfactory, is that a flotilla organised by people who not actually existing as sovereign states until still better than incessant bloodshed? areSir openly – Risches hostile isto cognateIsrael is preventedwith the Yiddish-Hebrew word roschl, meaning ‘Evil does.’ rachmonespatient) is the Hebrew entered word Beth rachamanutganev (the … meaning Hospital). ‘mercy’ Amhoretz and is (the used chief to describe surgeon) ...’: the 19th century), the conquest of the Low Has any Israeli leader ever opened a fromThe breaking ‘evil’ itthe pillories blockade is intended anti-Semitism. to a person forrachmones whom everything is the Hebrew goesCountries wrong, word rachamanut byotherwise Spain, the knownWar meaning of the as Spanish a‘mercy’ nebbich history and. Beth is book usedganev and to tried describe to learn its lessons? prevent arms entering Gaza. Those arms means literallya person ‘the forhouse whom of a everything thief’,Succession, though goes Ithe havewrong, battle no of otherwise idea Lepanto to what in known 1571, the allusionasHas a any nebbich Arab is in leader? . Beth ganev would be directed against Israel - not any S. S. Prawer, Queen’s College, Oxford this case. Amhoretzmeans literally means ‘the ‘an houseignorantwhen of person’,athe thief’, combined thoughas Schlesingerforces I ofhave Spain, no wrote, Genoa idea tofrom whatIn the the the 2,000 allusion years is after in the Romans other country. Israel is not in a comfortable Hebrew amthis ha’arets case. Amhoretz, meaning meansliterallyand ‘an Venice ‘a ignorantpeasant’. crushed person’, the Turkish as Schlesingerinvaders, exiled wrote, the Jews from from the their country, the Jews position,Sir - Onbut self-defenceGoogle Yiddish-to-English comes at a price. translation, risches means ‘evil’. Hebrew am ha’arets, meaningthe Wars literally of Religion ‘a peasant’. (Martincuius regio, D. Stern, eius Salford,were persecuted, Lancs or at best tolerated and Dorothea Shefer-Vanson Eran Elijahu Ben Joseph Martin D. Stern, Salford, Lancs Association of Israelis of Central European Origin, Tel Aviv Sir - Peter Fraenkel is acquainted withlette rischesrs to, signifyingthe edito anti-Semitismr continued from in pageYiddish; 7 he will alsoSir remember - Peter Fraenkel rosche, isa wordacquaintedclosely used related, to with describe having risches the an same, signifyinganti-Semite. Hebrew anti-Semitism TheSir –two Risches words isin cognate Yiddish; with the Yiddish- Sir – The German-Jewish word risches Sir - The German-Jewish word risches is no doubt a corruption of the Hebrew are closelyhe related, will also having remember the same root.rosche Hebrew , a word root. used to describe an anti-Semite.Hebrew word The rosche two, wordsmeaning ‘Evil does.’ is no doubt a corruption of the Hebrew In the Passover Haggadah, the second .meaningmeaning wickedness,wickedness orvillainy עשר are closely related, having the same Hebrew root. The ‘evil’ it pillories is anti-Semitism. wordword of the four sons is given the moniker S. S. Prawer, Queen’s College, Oxford villainy. Ruth Tuckman, Ashkelon, Israel In the Passover Haggadah, the second‘a wicked of the one’, four translated sons is given from thethe m oniker ‘a Ruth Tuckman, Ashkelon, Israel wicked,(wicked, of the evil).evil). four German, Germsons isan, given CentralSir the – On andm oniker Google ‘a Yiddish-to-English) ר ָ ָשsecond ע wicked one’, In translatedthe Passover from Haggadah the HebrewHebrew, the Yiddish,(wicked, Ashkenazis it evil). becomes Germtranslation, roschean, Central risches. means and ‘evil’. Sir – I had assumed that this expression ר ָ Inָש ע. East Europeanwicked Ashkenazis one’, translated pronounceCentral from this theand as Hebrew Eastroscho European pronounce this as roscho. In Yiddish, it Eran Elijahu Ben Joseph, Association of wasSir of– IYiddish had assum origin. edAs athat child, this I heard expression it was of Yiddish origin. As a child, I heard it withas roscho thean AshkenaziHebrew. In Yiddish, pronunciationIsraelis it becomes of Central Europeanrosche. Origin, Tel Aviv continuously and, here in England, fellow ר ְ ִשSimilarly,this .עוּת Similarly, theEast Hebrew European word Ashkenazis for wickednessbecomes pronounce rosche is .withofwith both an wordsAshkenazi with pronunciation refugeescontinuously often included and, here it in inconversation. England, fellow refugees often included it in conversation ר ְ ִש עוּת of rischüs renderedSimilarly, as the risches Hebrew in Yiddish.word for Thus,wickednesswickedness the connection isis anti-Semitismof rischüs is only rendered associative. as rischesan Ashkenazi in Yiddish. pronunciation Thus, theof rischüsconnection Sir of– Peter both Fraenkel words asks with about the origin of JustJust a aweek week or ortwo two ago, ago, to my to surprise, my surprise, a a Continental acquaintance in my age group anti-Semitism is only associative.rendered as risches in Yiddish. Thus, the the German-Jewish word risches, meaning Continentalhad never acquaintance heard of the in mysaying. age group It would be interesting to know how many of our connection of both words with anti- anti-Semitism. It is the Ashkenazi (Yiddish) hadmembers never heard have ofsimilar the saying. responses. It would I was born in Berlin and only remember tsores and Semitism is only associative. pronunciation of the Hebrew word rish’ut, be interesting to know how many of our Harold Saunders, Manchester meaning wickedness. The word rasha means membersrisches. haveOtherwise, similar responses.German was I was our language. a wicked person (see the name of one of born in Berlin and only remember tsores Laura Selo, London NW11 Sir – The word risches may come from the the four sons in the Haggadah), which is and risches. Otherwise, German was our Hebrew rish’ut, meaning evil, wickedness. pronounced rosho in Ashkenazi or Yiddish. language. Bernd Koschland, London NW4 Esther Rosenfeld, Jerusalem Laura Selo, London NW11 -end- 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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