Taking the Story out of History Pl2
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Information •P*^ Volume XLVI No. 10 October 1991 £3 (to non-members) Don't miss . Re-evaluating hero figures Kremlin chimes I at midnight p3 Silver spoon girl Taking the story out of History pl2 Singer of our he year 1992, which will soon be upon us, is a much misery, but it is sentimental to view the Stone song p/4 date charged with multiple significance. In Age civilisations destroyed in the process as havens of TEurope it will see the launch of the Single tranquility. What the critics likewise leave out of Market, with all that entails in economics as well as account is that that the chief indirect result of politics. America will commemorate the quincenten Columbus's discovery - the creation of the USA - has Blinkered ary of being discovered and Spain will celebrate its overall redounded to the advantage of mankind. Two God-seekers role as prime agent of that discovery. World Wars this century would have had a different- Both the commemoration and celebration are not to say disastrous - outcome but for American rand, in subjects of controversy. Fragmentary evidence points intervention (and the same holds true of the Cold Ibsen's play to the Vikings having reached America four centuries War). And what about the role of the United States as of the same ahead of the Spaniards; more importantly an increas a haven for Europe's 'poor huddled masses yearning B ing number of people view Columbus's discovery and to be free'? name is so God- its aftermath as a cause for shame rather than Fittingly, a Jewess, Emma Lazarus, composed this obsessed that he celebration. According to their way of thinking epigraph for the Statue of Liberty; had a significant disowns his own Columbus was a greedy and brutal racist and the proportion of our people not passed through Ellis mother and wife. Spaniards brought nothing but genocide and enslave Island by 1924 our demographic losses during the The Jewish ment to the indigenous Americans. Second World War might indeed have proved ter family too has its This criticism of the quincentenary is simul minal. At the same time it must be said that in the Brands who are taneously well-founded and blinkered. The Spaniards 1930s many Americans from President Roosevelt not on speaking did indeed wipe out the Caribs and turned the Indios down remained stonily indifferent to Jewish suffering terms with their on the mainland into helots - but they also overthrew in Europe. kin they deem the Aztec kings who practised ritual human sacrifice. This means that FDR, one of the saviours of the insufficiently The impact of the Old on the New World occasioned world from the black night of Nazism, lacked observant. Their common humanity. It probably also means that there exclusiveness has is no such thing as a flawless hero. to be tolerated, What we know for certain nowadays is that many a conventionally eulogised historical figure has been no but when it more than a whited sepulchre. The critics of the causes scandal ColuiTibus celebrations justifiably pillory Ferdinand censure must be of Aragon and Isabella of Castile as monsters of greed expressed. It is and bigotry, but the English pantheon of heroes, too, to be hoped that needs drastic revision. Richard the Lionheart per the new Chief petrated massacres of Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem. Rabbi who faces Simon de Montfort slaughtered Albigensians. The a dauntingly Black Prince caused several Oradours avant le lettre. difficult task Cromwell inspired an Irish curse - but he also reconciling the readmitted the Jews to England. Post-Cromwell an disparate array of English public personalities - Wilberforce, tendencies in Macaulay, Balfour, Churchill - truly deserve their cachet. Anglo-Jewry Clearly every nation - and such supranational will also be bodies as the Catholic Church - has to re-evaluate its able to address hero figures. The renaming of Leningrad contributes this ptoblem to that process; Chancellor Kohl's attendance at the with some reinterment of Frederick the Great emphatically does effectiveness. D not! AJR INFORMATION OCTOBER 1991 1 Anne Frank in London Profile Universal interest in the Anne Frank stoiy has prompted the organisation of a 'travel 1939, to take over the department at ling exhibition' by the Anne Frank Centre. To be of Use to Kitchener Camp concerned with onward The exhibition has already been shown in emigration. Upon the outbreak of war New York, Frankfurt, Berlin, Tokyo and Others Arnold, nee Horwitz, joined the Pioneer Marseilles. It will open later this year in the Corps, changing his name to Horwell. (T USSR, Australia, Israel and South America. lost my wits' he quips, 'but all was well.') Belsize Square Synagogue, in conjunction He went to France with the Expeditionary with St Peter's Church, has made arrange Force and was evacuated from St. Malo in ments for the exhibition to be shown at 1940. He was commissioned in 1943 and Belsize Square Synagogue from Monday 4th was posted to 102 Control Section BAOR to Thursday 28th of November. The theme soon after D-Day. At Belsen he worked day of the exhibition will be co-operation and night to bring the pitiful survivors back between Christians and Jews and the signifi to normality; and he pays tribute to the way cance of Anne Frank's story for today's in which the British Army accomplished world. that tremendous task. He recalls, too, that The exhibition will be open to the public he was able to intervene at that time in from Monday mornings to Friday lunch- favour of Jewish displaced persons for times and on Sundays. Admission will be £2 whom repatriation to their East European for adults, £l students and OAPs and £0.50 countries of origin would have spelt for children. Special rates can be organised disaster. for group or private evening bookings. For In 1946 he returned to civilian life, and in more information about this event contact 1950 he and his wife Susanne went into Henny Lehmann at Belsize Square Syna business distributing, exporting and later gogue. Telephone: 071-794 349. D manufacturing medical instruments and laboratory equipment. 'At first, we sold Research project hypodermic syringes by ones and twos', he Arnold Horwell. I'hoto: Newman. recalls. By the time they sold the company The History Department of the Technical 39 years later, it had become a market University of Berlin are researching the role mong the British soldiers who in leader in its field. Although he is no longer a of women in the German resistance April 1945 liberated Belsen concen member of the Council of the Laboratory movement. Atration camp was Captain Arnold Trade Association, on which he served for Any former residents of the Diisseldorf- Horwell. He walked through the gates eighteen years, his services to his industry Essen area who feel they can help this overcome by the thought that it was only by and to the community at large have been research are asked to contact Dr Christl the grace of God that he wore the uniform recognised by his admission to the Worship Wickert, Solinger Strasse 4, W-IOOO of the liberators, and not the striped garb of ful Company of Scientific Instrument Berlin 21. D the pathetic inmates he had helped set free. Makers as a Liveryman and by the award of Born in Berlin in 1914 Arnold had taken his the Freedom of the City of London. Abitur in 1932, read Economics and Politics Arnold has also served our immediate at the (re-named) Humboldt University and, community well. He is a former member of Let your body two years after graduation, been awarded the AJR executive and conducts the annual the degree of Dr.rer.pol., probably the last Seder of the AJR Club (of which his wife take a holiday ever Jewish student to receive a doctorate in Susie is co-chairman). He also acts as Whilst enjoying good quality hotels and excel the Nazi period. Interestingly, his thesis advisor to the Spiro Institute of Jewish lent cuisine, why not ease your aches and [summa cum laude) is still referred to in Culture and History, where his lifelong pains with the famous Fango mud treatments or Thalassotherapy as well as Health, Beauty academic discussion of economic theory interest in Judaica stands him in good and Fitness Courses. and the price mechanism. stead. I ] ABANO, MONTEGROTTO, ISCHIA, In the biographical notes published with Arnold's presidency of the B'nai B'rith IN ITALY the thesis he stated 'Alongside pursuing my Leo Baeck (London) Lodge coincided with D YVERDON IN SWITZERLAND studies, I have worked for various Jewish its 25th Anniversary. Addressing the cele n BIARRITZ IN FRANCE organisations as an academic assistant'. In bration banquet at the Guildhall on 4th July Scheduled flights from Heathrow or Gatwick different circumstances he would indeed 1968, Lord Hailsham, then MP for St. and regional airports. Prices with or without treatments. have been assured of a distinguished acad Marylebone, acknowledged the country's Private car transfers included. emic career, but now he felt duty-bound to debt to those who had 'managed to build FOR FREE COLOUR BROCHURE CONTACT: place himself at the disposal of the per themselves into one of the most solid, one of secuted Jewish community. As an official of the iTiost talented, one of the most respected the prestigious Hilfsverein, he became an and one of the most respectable elements in of Westminster Limited MH^^ expert in emigration matters, and, travelling the British community.' There are few 276 PRESTON ROAD, HARROW HAS OOA all over Germany, urged fellow-Jews to better exainples than Arnold and Susie ^ TEL: 081 -904 2202 ^^^^ leave while there was still time.