VOLume 15 NO.8 AUGUST 2015 journal The Association of Jewish Refugees

An accidental warrior riting about German Jews in service in his Sword of Honour trilogy. It British uniform in last month’s was the same impenetrable and blinkered issue of the Journal brought bureaucracy that saw Lynton shipped off to Wto mind one of the most remarkable and Canada on the SS Ettrick, in the improbable entertaining autobiographical texts by a company of Hans Kahle, a convinced Jewish refugee who served in the British Communist who had commanded a division Army in the Second World War. Mark in the Spanish Civil War, and Fritz Lingen, a Lynton, author of Accidental Journey: grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Lynton spent A Cambridge Internee’s Memoir of World War II several months in Canada, unable to return (Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press, 1995), to Britain until 1941 since the Home Office, was born Max-Otto Ludwig Loewenstein in believing him to have drowned when the SS Stuttgart in 1920, moving to Berlin two years Arandora Star was sunk on its way to Canada later when his father was appointed head in July 1940, had ‘mislaid’ him there. But at of a major German car manufacturer. The least the Canadian camps provided modern Loewensteins were a fairly typical assimilated comforts, equipped as they were with ‘every German-Jewish family, proudly patriotic – gadget known in the Western Hemisphere, Max-Otto’s father had won the Iron Cross some of which, I suspect, may not have in the First World War – well educated, reached England to this day’. financially secure, comfortably established in On his return to Britain, Lynton the upper reaches of the professional middle volunteered for the Pioneer Corps, serving class, and with a certain cosmopolitanism of Mark Lynton, 1920-1997 in 251 Company, in an array of more or less outlook. futile and unsuitable occupations, including That latter quality led his parents to send well-meaning British soldiers who guarded a hare-brained scheme to construct fake Max-Otto to be educated at the Lycée Pasteur, the internees; the shambles behind barbed storage tanks to divert Luftwaffe pilots in the wealthy Parisian suburb of Neuilly, wire that was Huyton, the holding camp from attacking the oil storage facilities at in 1933, and from there to Cheltenham on Merseyside where he was first taken; Avonmouth, outside Bristol. His description College in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in and the absurdity of the entire operation of his company on parade in their new 1936. His parents emigrated to Holland in of the mass internment of so-called ‘enemy uniforms as ‘almost indistinguishable from 1935, subsequently moving to the United aliens’, directed from Whitehall with a logic a Gräfin Mariza [operetta by Emmerich States. Lynton’s description of Cheltenham apparently deriving from Lewis Carroll. If Kálmán] rehearsal’ is classic Lynton. The as ‘an English public school of indifferent Lynton’s time at Cambridge recalls Evelyn time he spent back in Cheltenham, under academic reputation, sterling social standing, Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, his years in the disapproving eye of retired army officers and towering military distinction’ is typical internment and in the British Army recall who had attended his old school, provided of his ability to deal out ironically back- Waugh’s darkly comic depiction of wartime him with further rich material for a satirical handed compliments to venerable British depiction of establishment British attitudes institutions. In 1938 he went up to St John’s and conduct. Eventually, he was selected for College, Cambridge, to read law. But his legal SIR NICHOLAS WINTON officer training at Sandhurst. studies took second place to his pleasurably 1909-2015 Having officially changed his name, Lt. leisured existence as a member of a highly Lynton was commissioned into the Third privileged elite at an institution that seemed Royal Tank Regiment, an elite armoured more dedicated to preserving antiquated The Association of Jewish unit with a proud record that had taken social values and customs than to learning. At Refugees expresses its it from Libya to the Normandy landings. first, the university appeared to regard the war profound sadness at the Lynton’s commanding officer was Colonel as little more than an annoying irrelevance, Teddy Mitford, brother of the five Mitford but on Whit Sunday 1940 the young passing of Sir Nicholas sisters. One of the most gripping sections of Loewenstein was rudely jolted out of his Winton. Our thoughts and the book consists of Lynton’s account of the lotus-eating languor: returning to his college stubborn fighting in the Normandy bocage, after a hard day’s punting and drinking, he prayers are with his family. followed by Eleventh Armoured Division’s was arrested and interned. It was to be nine rapid advance through France and Belgium, months before he saw Cambridge again. An obituary of during which Third RTR was involved in Lynton’s account of his internment Sir Nicholas appears on the taking of Amiens and the vital port of highlights its farcical aspects: the ‘staggeringly Antwerp, in the Battle of the Bulge, the incompetent’ but occasionally kindly and page 5. continued on page 2  journal AUGUST 2015

 An accidental warrior continued Special KT Lunch Rhine crossing at Wesel and the liberation every building, assemble all his troops Wednesday 9 September 2015 of Bergen-Belsen, ending up at Flensburg on the main square, men on one side, at New North London on the Danish border. Third RTR had arms on the other, and do it all within Synagogue outfought the Wehrmacht from the sands of ten minutes, he appeared to view that Guest speaker: Barbara Winton the Western Desert to the Baltic Sea – but as an eminently sensible suggestion, Please join us for a special KT Lunch at great cost. Often in the van of the British provided he be allowed to phone his on Wednesday 9 September at the New advance, the regiment’s tanks frequently felt superiors to advise them that he was North London Synagogue, 80 East End the force of the German defences, notably retiring from this war. Road, Finchley N3. We are delighted the 88mm anti-tank guns and the dreaded that Barbara Winton, daughter of For all the apparent levity of Lynton’s the late Sir Nicholas Winton, will be our Tiger tanks. The life expectancy of a tank account of his often picaresque progress guest speaker. commander like Lynton was short; he was through the wartime years, the courage of Barbara will be talking about her fortunate to have been wounded only once the men he fought with – even when they father’s remarkable achievements and when his tank was hit, since his unit, 2,000 maintained the outer appearance of sheep- signing copies of her book men strong, suffered some 600 killed. faced British stuffed shirts of the officer class If It’s Not Impossible … The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton. Lynton describes the exhilarating but – was beyond question. bloodstained advance across north-western After the German surrender, Lynton We are also delighted that some of the Europe with gusto, and to no little comic Year 6 pupils from Akiva School will be was involved in some of the most notable in attendance to meet you and Barbara. effect. Here is a sample of his style, recounting events in the British Zone of Occupation. Please strongly encourage your families the capture of one German town: He observed the taking prisoner of Admiral to accompany you for this unique While nearing Neustadt, a small town Dönitz, Hitler’s successor as Führer, gathering. north of Hamburg, the ‘telephone caper’ and his cabinet at Flensburg, and was NB: The KT Lunch will be at the regular occurred to Teddy Mitford. He had come present by chance at army headquarters in venue at Alyth Synagogue for the August across some engineering unit restringing Lüneburg when Heinrich Himmler was and October meetings. telephone wires who had told him that held there. He participated in the arrest of they had, quite by accident, tapped into SS-Standartenführer Otto Bovensiepen, one the Neustadt Exchange a few miles up of the early senior Nazi war criminals to be the road. He summoned me to join him, caught and brought to justice. Transferred since I was the only German speaker in from Third RTR to Military Headquarters Third RTR, and suggested I try to phone at Bad Oeynhausen, Lynton was involved in the Neustadt garrison and talk them into the systematic pursuit and interrogation of Diary surrendering, rather than put everyone war criminals. The high point of his activities to the trouble of fighting for it. […] I here was his part in the arrest of Rudolf Höss, Date got hooked into the line, asked for the the commandant of Auschwitz. Interestingly, Neustadt commandant, and promptly got Lynton’s account makes no mention of put through to him. After that it became Hanns Alexander, who, according to Thomas AJRAJR LunchLunch pure farce. Harding’s bestseller Hanns and Rudolf, was Pitching my voice somewhere between the man responsible for arresting Höss; SUNDAYSUNDAY Erich von Stroheim and Dr. Anthony, perhaps unsurprisingly, Harding makes no I outlined a scenario of hundreds of mention of Lynton either, though the latter 1111 OCTOBEROCTOBER 20152015 tanks, clouds of planes, and swarms of was, or at least claimed to have been, an DetailsDetails toto followfollow paratroopers, all bunched down the road eyewitness to the arrest. for the declared purpose of obliterating After a spell in Denmark, Lynton Neustadt. The party at the opposite end, returned to occupied Germany to participate hearing of this imaginary Armageddon, in intelligence work, first in military clearly felt that Neustadt hardly warranted intelligence, then, from early spring 1946, 10-DAY VISIT TO so much attention, and politely inquired in political intelligence, with 16 SHIO what we wished him to do. On being told (Schleswig-Holstein Intelligence Office), to fly white flags, sheets or whatever, from based at Kiel. In this capacity, Major Lynton, as he now was, met some of the most NOVEMBER 2015 influential figures in post-war West German AJR Chief Executive politics, including Kurt Schumacher, Ernst Michael Newman Reuter, Karl Arnold and Konrad Adenauer Finance Director (whom he disliked). Demobilised in August David Kaye 1947, Lynton resolved not to resume his The AJR is considering organising a 10-day Heads of Department Karen Markham Human Resources & Administration law studies. He held his internment against trip to Israel in early November this year. Sue Kurlander Social Services the British authorities, also the tardiness The cost of the visit is not yet decided. Carol Hart Community & Volunteer Services with which they agreed to grant him British Carol Rossen will be AJR Journal citizenship (in March 1947, nearly two accompanying the trip. Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor years after the end of the war). Lynton soon If you would like to join the trip, Andrea Goodmaker Secretarial/Advertisements emigrated to the USA, where he built a please contact Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not successful career as a corporate executive. Lorna Moss on 020 8385 3070 necessarily those of the Association of Jewish He died in 1997. or at [email protected] Refugees and should not be regarded as such. Anthony Grenville as soon as possible.

2 AUGUST 2015 journal THE ‘JECKES’ IN ISRAEL he AJR is not alone in this world. for urgent needs such as dental care, will find many echoes not only We are one of three parallel glasses, hearing aids, emergency alert of the stories but also of the way Torganisations, with the other systems, and mobility aids. they are told. The exhibits have two based in Israel and the USA, and In addition, they run eight ‘Parents’ explanations in Hebrew, German which together form the Council of Homes’ in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and and English. Jews from Germany. Haifa, accommodating nearly 1,000 It is difficult in a short article to I recently met senior figures in residents. Having visited one of reflect the impact the ‘Jeckes’, as they our sister organisation in Israel and these ‘Homes’ in Jerusalem, I was proudly call themselves, have had thought our members here might enormously impressed not only by the on the State of Israel, from the very be interested in their work, which is quality of the buildings and gardens way it looks – the Bauhaus style of Tel very similar to ours. in which the residents can enjoy the Aviv’s world heritage architecture – Israel’s equivalent of the AJR was sun when it’s not too hot, but also by to science, medicine, education, the established in British Mandatory the dedication of the staff who work arts, business and banking. Palestine in 1932. Its overall title there. If only we had such facilities in Just a side comment will show is Irgun Merkaz Europa - the the UK! how they are seen in Israel. In Central Organisation (of Jews) of There are over 500 social meetings 2012 they published a lighthearted Europe, meaning in fact Central throughout Israel every year. illustrated book, Sabre Deutsch – Europe. Together with its subsidiary They publish a full-colour magazine, Das Lexikon der Jeckes. Published organisation, the Solidaritaetswerke, Yakinton, which claims over 7,000 as a hardback, it became an instant it is indeed Israel’s sister organisation readers and covers the same ground bestseller in Israel, with over 20,000 to the AJR. The email address – as the AJR Journal, with numerous copies sold. http://www.irgun-jeckes.org – tells life stories forming a regular feature David Rothenberg you exactly who they are! of the magazine. Their website has Together they do much the same 20,000 monthly visitors. work in Israel as the AJR does in the They also have their own museum, UK for much the same constituency, The German-Speaking Jewry Heritage KINDERTRANSPORT LUNCH namely German-speaking refugees Museum, also known as the Jeckes Wednesday 12 August 2015 from Nazi Europe. Membership Museum, and one of a number of at 12.30 pm stands at some 3,500, including galleries in an Open Museum. Even Please join us for our next lunch at many from the second and even the location of the museum in Tefen, North West Reform Synagogue, Alyth Gardens, third generations. an industrial park in north-western Finchley Road, London NW11 7EN Their core values as described on Galilee near Ma’alot, Karmiel and their website are: Nahariya, has a strong German- CARL DAVIS • Mutual assistance and social Jewish connection. ‘How and Why I Composed solidarity Tefen was founded by Stef The Last Train to Tomorrow’ • Volunteering and contributing Wertheimer, himself a German- To book your place to community and society Jewish refugee who in 1937 came please phone Andrea Goodmaker • Zionism and building the with his parents from Kippenheim on 020 8385 3070 country to Palestine aged 11 or 12. He Early booking essential • Immigrant absorption became an enormously successful • Excellence in all occupational industrialist, selling the majority stake in his business Iscar to and knowledge fields VISIT TO • Education and culture Warren Buffett and is today a major • Civilised society philanthropist. CHILTERN VALLEY WINERY • Intellectual pluralism A visit to the museum is very AND BREWERY worthwhile. Those who remember • Preserving and imparting the Henley-on-Thames heritage to descendants and our Continental Britons Exhibition society at large Monday 7 September Solidaritaetswerke provides welfare benefits through a network of inter- agency collaboration with elder services, community agencies, government healthcare providers and Join us for a visit to this family-owned cultural frameworks. business producing English wine. They help hundreds You will have the opportunity to taste and of people, including purchase the produce following a behind- Holocaust survivors and the-scenes guided tour of the Winery, the chronically ill. They Brewery and liqueur production. The pay monthly assistance Brewery has a Royal Warrant. grants to those with Lunch will be provided together with travel financial difficulties by coach. (similar to our own Self Holocaust survivor Freddie Knoller meets HRH For further details, please contact Susan Harrod Aid arrangements) as well Prince William at a June fundraising dinner at on 020 8385 3070 as giving one-off payments Alexandra Palace, London, given by Jewish Care or at [email protected]

3 journal AUGUST 2015

Ruth Barnett

recently spent a week in Berlin a German author, Ursula Krechel, who might like to research the real witnessing the results of some won the Frankfurt Book Prize with story of my father as a postgraduate I amazing endeavours to make her novel Landgericht (County Court) dissertation. To my surprise and delight, factual evidence of injustice available (see review by Peter Fraenkel in AJR Dr Bernd Pickel, President of the court, to public knowledge. Journal, April 2013 and my article in decided to do this research in-house The most moving part of the week AJR Journal, March 2014). with two colleagues, Dr Thomas was an event in honour of my father The first I heard of this was when Heymann and Dr Susann Mueller, in the court in which he had been a a friend in Mainz sent me a copy of both judges. They were interested in judge for five years until the Nazis the local paper in which there was this piece of the history of their court chased him out – literally at the point a large photo of my family and the – an awesome building, beautifully of a gun – in 1933. exposure of Krechel’s protagonist, restored after misuse by the DDR and I knew very little about my parents’ ‘Richard Kornitzer’, as my father, now dedicated to Hans Litten, the pre-war life until that event as I came Robert Michaelis. My publisher of defence lawyer who had the courage to England on the Kindertransport Person of No Nationality wanted to to subpoena Hitler as a witness in at the age of four with my seven- sue Krechel when he heard she had the case against his storm-troopers’ year-old brother in 1939, while my used my book to write a chapter in assault on the Workers’ Club. The father escaped to Shanghai and her book about my brother and me street, formerly Friedenstrasse, has my non-Jewish mother remained but I wanted to meet her and find been re-named Littenstrasse. in Germany throughout the war. out why she hadn’t contacted me. The outcome of their two years of I was thoroughly anglicised in my Although Krechel lives in Berlin, I research – the real life and work of upbringing in three foster families met her in Mainz when I went there my father – was presented on 28 May and a hostel during the ten years my to give a talk for the Local History in the court in which he had been a brother and I were separated from Association. I found her a very judge prior to the Nazi takeover under our parents. shy, rather unforthcoming person the title ‘Ich bin meiner Ermordung Inevitably, I developed a deep anti- but with an excellent command of zuvorgekommen’ (I Escaped My Own German prejudice from British war- English. I thanked her for giving Murder). My father received the time propaganda and the desire to my father the recognition through recognition he had fought for but belong in England. Therefore, when ‘literary justice’ that he was never was denied on his return after the my father returned from Shanghai able to achieve when he returned to war when President Monika Nohre after the war and I was repatriated Germany after the war. Landgericht opened the event by addressing to Germany against my will in 1949 is not what I would call ‘reader- him as a ‘former colleague’. He aged 14, I experienced a repeat of friendly’ – even some German people had never been addressed as a the disjunction and disorienting have difficulty with it – but in this colleague in the Mainz court where effect of the Kindertransport. This book I began to learn about the he worked when he returned soured both my relationship with injustice my parents suffered not to Germany after the war and my parents and my attitude to only before and suffered severe Germany and left me with shattered during the war discrimination self-esteem and deep mistrust, a but also in the and injustice again re-traumatisation that took another decades after my by ‘colleagues’ 40 years to overcome. father returned who did not want I have written about this in detail from Shanghai. him there. in Person of No Nationality (2010), I wasn’t at all Drs Pickel a book to supplement the Holocaust sure what was and Heymann education talks I give regularly in based on facts described in schools and elsewhere. The upshot is Krechel had heart-warming that from the time we were reunited found in archives detail my father’s in 1949, talking about the past was and what was achievements as taboo – too raw, frightening and her imagination a brilliant law dangerous. This meant that I had filling in the gaps student, a judge at a huge blank over the pre-war and in her research. age 26, and a man war-time experiences of my parents So I decided to whose advice was that I was not confident enough contact the court sought widely on to face until the ‘Reunion of the in which ‘Richard extra-complicated Kindertransport‘ in 1989. By that Kornitzer’ in her cases. Even before time, both my parents had died, novel worked Robert Michaelis (‘Richard Kornitzer’) the Nazi takeover, my mother in 1966 and my father before the war. I he had had to in 1973. was pleasantly surprised to receive fight for due promotion in the face not only verification that my father of anti-Semitic senior colleagues. He IN SEARCH OF MY FATHER had been a judge there but an challenged the Nazi order over the Buried history has strange ways of invitation to meet a group of judges. removal of Jews from professional finding its way into daylight. A series They had, of course, read Landgericht. of amazing events was set off when I asked them to try and find a trainee continued on page 15 

4 Obituary AUGUST 2015 Sir Nicholas Winton, 19 May 1909-1 July 2015 ir Nicholas Winton’s and he devoted himself deed in rescuing to fundraising for Mencap S669 Czechoslovak and the Abbeyfield children, most of them charity, which provides Jewish, might have accommodation for elderly remained unknown had people. It was for this work his wife, Grete, not found that he was appointed a scrapbook containing MBE in 1983. the documentation while In the late 1980s, Sir clearing out the family attic Nicholas approached the decades later at their home BBC to try and trace some in Maidenhead. of the ‘Winton children’ – Sir Nicholas disliked those he had helped bring the repeated comparisons to the UK in 1939. He was of his actions with those moved to do so by the of Oskar Schindler, the discovery at their home in industrialist who saved Maidenhead by his wife, 1,200 Jews from the Grete, of a scrapbook in Holocaust by employing which he had inscribed them in his factory. He their names, addresses and said at the time that he dates of birth, together felt he was doing ‘nothing with photographs of the remarkable’ and insisted he was not a hero after a day’s work in the City, returned home children at the time of their rescue. because he had never been in danger – he to Hampstead each evening to organise Eventually, Sir Nicholas turned to Elisabeth had merely been ‘working from the safety permits and travel warrants for them. The Maxwell, who showed the scrapbook to her of my home in Hampstead’. British bureaucracy moved unhurriedly, husband, Robert, and within weeks the Sir Nicholas - ‘Nicky’ as he was known to believing there was no urgency as war story appeared in the Sunday Mirror. At many - was born into a well-to-do Anglo- was deemed unlikely, and the government the same time, appearing on the BBC’s Bavarian Jewish family that had emigrated demanded a bond of £50, no small sum That’s Life programme, hosted by Esther to England in the 19th century. His parents in those days, for each child as well as the Rantzen, Sir Nicholas was unaware that he were Rudolph and Barbara Wertheim. By nomination of foster parents. ‘If America was surrounded in the audience by many the time of Nicholas’s birth, the family had had only agreed to take [the children] too,’ of those whose lives he had saved, their converted to Christianity, though the name Sir Nicholas said, ‘I could have saved at least whereabouts having been traced by the was anglicised to Winton only in 1938. 2,000 more.’ programme’s researchers. Sir Nicholas’s predominant attitude to his Frustrated by the slowness to react of the Sir Nicholas subsequently received many Jewish ancestry appears to have been that British authorities, Sir Nicholas personally awards from the Czech authorities, including too much conflict was caused by religions organised the children’s placements. As in 2014 their highest award, the Order of dwelling on their differences rather than the situation in Czechoslovakia grew the White Lion. In 2001 he was the subject on shared ethics. ‘When I set out to try and more desperate following the German of a Czech documentary The Power of bring children from Czechoslovakia,’ he said occupation of the entire country in March Good. In the same year, his story, Nicholas later, ‘I didn’t do it because they were Jewish 1939, he began forging the Home Office Winton and the Rescued Generation: Save children. I did it because they were children.’ entry permits. That summer eight rail One Life, Save the World, co-authored by In December 1938 Sir Nicholas, then a transports were conducted. A ninth Vera Gissing, one of the children he had London stockbroker, was asked by a friend, Kindertransport, which was due to leave on saved, and Muriel Emanuel, was published. Martin Blake, to cancel a planned skiing 1 September 1939 with 250 more children, In 1999 he received the freedom of the trip and meet him in Prague instead. On his was cancelled by the Germans and most city of Windsor, an honour he shared only arrival in Prague, he was introduced to the of those who would have been on board with members of the Royal Family. Having organisers of the recently formed British were transported to concentration camps. been appointed MBE for other charitable Committee for Refugees. There were an Nevertheless, Sir Nicholas saved at least 669 services, he was knighted in 2003. In 2014 estimated 250,000 people, many of them children, including 561 who were Jewish, 52 his daughter Barbara published an account Jewish, who were fleeing Germany, Austria Unitarians, and 34 Catholics. of his life: If It’s Not Impossible ... The Life and the German-speaking Sudetenland, Most of the children, sent across Europe of Sir Nicholas Winton. which the Nazis had annexed. Others were alone or with their brothers and sisters, In June 2013 Sir Nicholas was a from political families and opponents of would never see their parents and relatives guest at a Reunion organised by the AJR the Nazis. Their living conditions in camps again. Of 15,000 Jewish children who commemorating the 75th anniversary of the were squalid. remained stranded in Prague after war was Kindertransport. Sir Nicholas became determined to help declared in September 1939, only about Sir Nicholas himself insisted he had never at least the children of some of the families. 100 survived. been a hero. He claimed that it had been his He began taking names and found his With the outbreak of war, Sir Nicholas colleague Trevor Chadwick, who had stayed hotel room besieged by families queuing became an ambulance driver in Normandy in Prague to organise the evacuations, who all day in the freezing cold to ensure their but was evacuated at Dunkirk and then had been the real hero. However, writing names were on the list. Sir Nicholas and his joined the RAF. After the war he worked to Sir Nicholas to award him the Order of colleagues, Doreen Warriner, a lecturer at for a time for the International Committee the White Lion, the Czech President, Miloš the LSE and organiser of the committee, for Refugees and took charge of selling Zeman, said: ‘You did not think of yourself and Trevor Chadwick, a schoolteacher, began Nazi booty to aid Jewish organisations. He as a hero but you were conducted by a to organise the evacuation of the children. later worked for the International Bank in desire to help those who could not defend The first flight of 20 left in January 1939; Paris, distributing loans to the war-ravaged themselves, those who were vulnerable. Your it was sponsored by the Barbican Mission, countries of Europe. It was there that he met life is an example of humanity, selflessness, whose intention was to convert them to his Danish wife, who was a secretary at the personal courage and modesty.’ Christianity. bank. The couple had three children, one of Grete died in 1999. Sir Nicholas is After three weeks Sir Nicholas returned whom died in childhood. survived by his children Nicholas and Barbara to London with a long list of children and, Sir Nicholas was able to retire early and by two grandchildren.

5 journal AUGUST 2015 translations before broadcasting them. His verdict was always the same: ‘OK, but definitely more German expressions and less Viennese ones needed!’ – definitely ‘Guten Morgen’ (Good Morning) and not ‘Grüss Gott’ (Greet the Lord). And I certainly need not teach them ‘Grüss Gott tritt ein, bringt Glück herein’ (Good morning arrives, brings happiness along)! Well, I hope German youth learnt well!! The Editor reserves the right Kitty Schafer (née Kaufmann), North to shorten correspondence York, Ontario, Canada submitted for publication COLLECTION IN SEARCH OF A HOME Sir – As I get older I am increasingly aware of the contribution our people have made RECOGNITION OF CONTRIBUTION OF FORMER JEWISH REFUGEES TO to the world and civilisation in so many THE WAR EFFORT spheres. As a result, I have collected several hundred obituaries of people of Jewish Sir – Not another memorial! Leslie earmarked for such a monument to be descent over the past few years. They are Baruch Brent proposes (July) one in devoted to Service or similar funds where mainly from the Times and Daily Telegraph. London. Why not in Plymouth, Oxford they could be put to better use. If anyone is interested in this collection or Edinburgh for those refugees who This, however, would be far too simple (e.g. for research or archiving) I would be served in the armed forces of this country for the ‘do-gooders’, who like to see their pleased to find a home for it. in the last war? names in newslights when organising What of those in, say, the Civil the building of memorials, be they in a Peter Briess, London NW3 Defence, Air Raid Wardens, Rescue, synagogue or in Hyde Park! [email protected] Auxiliary Fire Service, Woman’s Land Ernest G. Kolman, Greenford, Middx Army and Voluntary Service and many ‘LOOTED ART IN THE GDR’ others who ‘did their bit’? Sir – I was very interested and moved by The Great and the Good will have a Sir – For information: there is an the above mentioned article in the latest wonderful time organising the building excellent book by Martin Sugarman – issue of your journal for two reasons. of this folly, of which few people will take Fighting Back: British Jewry’s Military First because I grew up in the GDR and notice once the novelty of seeing it will Contribution in the Second World War, feel ashamed how the authorities dealt have worn off. published in 2010. with the works of Albert Schäfer-Ast and Much better to devote funds Bernd Koschland, London NW4 subsequently with his heirs. And second because I am very familiar with Prerow, where I have been spending lovely summer IN MEMORY OF THE ‘MP FOR ideas themselves, or can offer support, weeks for the last six years. REFUGEES’ we would be delighted to hear from you. I often cycle along the Schäfer-Ast-Weg We have set up a website and blog and and have never questioned the origin of you are welcome to add your comments. the name of this street. I also know the There is also an email contact form: http:// Darss-Museum which is mentioned in the rememberingeleanorrathbone.wordpress. article. com We have already had a plaque put In a few weeks’ time I am travelling to up at the cemetery in Hoop Lane in 2013 Prerow again with the article in my bag and look forward to doing a lot more to and hope to find some pictures in the commemorate this amazing woman. museum or even more information about Lesley Urbach and Dr Susan Cohen their history. [email protected] Susanne Bates, Abingdon

Sir – We are planning a number of events ‘GOOD MORNING ARRIVES, BRINGS SEEKING INFORMATION next year to celebrate the 70th anniversary HAPPINESS ALONG’ Sir – My great-grandfather, Dr Benjamin of the death of the humanitarian activist Sir – I always enjoy Dr Grenville’s articles (later Berthold) London, born in Ungvar Eleanor Rathbone MP. Our particular and found the recent one about the (now Uzhgorod), qualified in Vienna in interest is in her campaigning activities German broadcasts in Hamburg (July) very 1865. In 1866 he did his army service as and support for refugees from Nazi interesting. It reminded me of my wartime Oberarzt in the Santa Chiara hospital in Europe, earning her the soubriquet ‘efforts’ at the BBC – in England however. Venice. ‘MP for refugees’, but she was also a During the war I worked with the Presumably this was an Austrian formidable social and welfare reformer, Monitoring Service of the BBC and, after the garrison hospital. I have been unable to feminist, suffragist, architect of the war, I was transferred to Bush House, where trace it. I hope somone can point me in family allowance and more besides. Her they assigned me to the newly established the right direction. contributions to society were far greater department Erziehung der Deutschen While we are on the same period, I than the sum of their parts. Jugend (Education of German Youth). My know fragments of a song which begins: We are confident that members will work consisted of translating various articles ‘Wer will mit nach Italien ziehn, Radetzky agree that Eleanor Rathbone deserves from English into German. The work was kommandiert’ and ends ‘Legt an, gebt to be remembered, particularly by the sometimes easy, sometimes difficult, but Feuer, und ladet schnell, Weich‘ keiner von Jewish community. There are numerous always interesting and often funny. der Stell.’ Does anyone know the full text? plans underway to commemorate her in I was fortunate that my supervisor, Rolf Now to more recent times. My first Liverpool, Oxford, London and elsewhere Sigler, a delightful person with a great army unit, 246 Coy. Pioneer Corps, had but, if any members of the AJR have any sense of humour, often corrected my its own song:

6 AUGUST 2015 journal We are the Amps, the jolly good Amps was the Senior Medical Officer in charge. The role of Amazon in our society is We give a good show wherever we go ‘Hughie’, as he was known to his friends, such that its tendencies are a matter of real We’re working hard and yet we are saved many lives by careful management concern. I think it would be worthwhile smart of food and drink. for a historian of Germany to peruse Whether it’s outside the gate or In 1977 my wife Nina and I were in their catalogue of history books. Perhaps whether it’s on parade ... Toronto for a wedding, following which Anthony Grenville would be interested? Now, there’s a bit missing, then it we were invited to dinner by two survivors By the way, my mother, Else Levin finishes ‘... twofoursix company are we.’ and two of their friends. My hostess (Stettin 1900-London 1988), was a keen I hope someone can supply the missing turned to me and said she had a friend in subscriber to the AJR Journal. Some bit. London called Dr Hughes. My reply was years after her death, I realised that I Peter Block, London SE24 ‘Do you mean Hughie?’ She then told missed the journal enough to become me that she, her husband and their two a subscriber. A ‘DUNERA BOY’ friends visited London every year and that Michael Levin, Forest Hill London Sir – By pure chance I came across your Hughie and his wife were their guests. March 2009 issue in which you mentioned May I also mention that after liberation ATROCIOUS ACCUSATION the ‘Dunera affair’ – the expulsion of Hughie was very short-staffed so he Sir – Peter Phillips (June) is frightened by Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany who asked some London teaching hospitals to Netanyahu’s new coalition government. He lived in the UK to internment in Australia. canvass senior students to go to the camp knows that ‘Netanyahu will do anything to I am one of the ‘Dunera Boys’ who and help. One of the young men who did keep power.’ This reads like a very belated came to England in January 1939. After this became Dr Roger Sheridan, who in realisation – with which I fully agree. I’ve the outbreak of the Second World War I later years also became my friend. agreed with it for a long time. was interned in Douglas, Isle of Man, and Murray Cohen, London N11 Does this mean that Peter Phillips forcibly placed on the Dunera, which was is now against Israel, which is what supposed to sail to Canada. UNFAMILIAR TERMINOLOGY he accuses Ed Miliband of? That is an It’s a long and interesting story how we Sir – I am in the process of preparing a atrocious accusation, with which I do not eventually landed in Sydney, Australia, in book for publication based on the First agree. It totally lacks evidence. But it fits order to be interned in an Australian army World War correspondence of my uncle, someone who is ‘delighted with the UK camp near Hay in New South Wales. who served as an officer in the Austrian election results’ – someone who doesn’t I was born in Fürth, Germany, on 13 Imperial Army and was killed in action care for the increased suffering and the April 1920. I assume there are not many in 1915 on the Russian front in Eastern continuing decline of our NHS that this alive today of the approximately 2,000 Galicia. election result has promised us. German Jews on the Dunera. The vast majority of the correspondence Eric Sanders, London W12 I am now 95 years of age and – thank has been translated but there are a few G-d – medically quite well, who has bits where there is unfamiliar terminology DOWN MEMORY LANE! collected over the years many documents and some problems in extracting the Sir – I consider it very presumptuous of referring to this unbelievable story. I have correct meaning, partly due to illegibility. Margarete Stern (June) to tell me where published my life story (in Hebrew). But there remains very little to bring it to I lived during the war! She refers to my I am neither a grandfather nor other completion. letter (published in April) ‘claiming’ to relative of the ‘Dunera Boys’ but one of Might it be possible for you to put me have lived at 3 Adamson Road when, them myself and therefore in a position to in touch with someone from the AJR who according to her, I ‘obviously’ lived at answer truthfully any possible questions could help me sort this out? Someone Boarding House Sachs at 4 Adamson readers may have. with some knowledge of Austrian military Road! Eliezer (Emil) Hoechster, Jerusalem matters who can read old-style German May I assure her that I lived happily at script would be ideal. Number 3 between 1940 and 1945 and ‘REVOLT OF THE SAINTS’ John Adler, Bristol [email protected] know nothing about Number 4 except Sir – Dr Jennifer Taylor has drawn my ANTI-SEMITIC MATERIAL ON SALE that it was across the road from us! In attention to Anthony Grenville’s article case she doubts this, I even still have my Sir – In his article ‘Jews, minorities and (May) about the book Revolt of the Saints blue Junior Ration Book with my name and anti-Semitism in Britain today’ (June), by my grandfather Ernst Sommer. address on it. It is always best to check Anthony Grenville refers to ‘crude, lower- We hope that Ernst Sommer’s books will one’s facts before rushing into print and I class racial prejudice [that] has continued gradually be republished in their original look forward to seeing Mrs Stern’s apology to lurk below the surface of British society German and then in other languages. I in the next issue. since the war’. myself published this particular historic George Vulkan, Harrow translation and it would be good to see I’d like to add that, as in Germany and it reaching a wide audience with all the Austria before the Nazi takeover, so in Sir – I wish to apologise unconditionally anniversaries of the Second World War Britain today (and in the USA and South to George Vulkan for causing him such approaching. Africa) the universities have become distress. What I want to reiterate is merely I would like to add that I am interested centres of anti-Semitic agitation. this: There existed during the war, and for in finding out more about Ernst Sommer’s Furthermore, in December the AJR many years after it, a boarding house at ancestry. I can trace the line of his wife, Journal published my letter about the Number 4 Adamson Road popular with Leontna (Lella) Illovy, quite far back but Amazon Kindle history category, which refugees from Nazi oppression. It was run I know surprisingly little about Ernst’s included a number of books of Holocaust by one Mrs Pick and one Mrs Sachs, after family background. denial. Looking at this source again, I whom it was called Boarding House Sachs. I would like to make contact with found Kollerstrom and Fetzer, Breaking the The house directly opposite is No 9, anyone who can supply me with further Spell: The Holocaust: Myth and Reality and which was like a sort of extension of information. Arthur R. Butz, The Hoax of the Twentieth Century, the blurb of which includes No 4. They belonged together. Miranda Pinch, Alresford, Hampshire ‘Except, if those exterminations simply We – my parents, grandmother and ‘HUGHIE’ didn't happen.’ Both these books are I – went to stay at No 4 in the autumn of Sir – Permit me as the spouse of one of part of Holocaust denial and a number of 1943 after our return from Tring. About your members to refer to the liberation of other books from something called Sprech half a year later we moved back to our flat Belsen. Brigadier-General Dr Glyn Hughes Media look highly suspicious. continued on page 16 

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type dog, and the child, standing stolidly behind him, her hand gently resting on his shoulder. Both are dressed in blue and REVIEWS there are sharp shadows of trees etiolated by the sun. Three women who defied ART Perhaps the subtext to this painting is the odds a more contemporary political one - to BORN SURVIVORS: THREE NOTES do with land, possession and the threat YOUNG MOTHERS AND THEIR posed to Israel’s national integrity. But EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF GLORIA TESSLER does it convey Jephthah’s Biblical message? COURAGE, DEFIANCE, AND HOPE Well, no. The ominous quality of this by Wendy Holden sraeli artist Matan Ben Cnaan has painting reflects Ben Cnaan’s early love Sphere, 2015, 386 pp. hardback, won the £30,000 BP Portrait Award for Rembrandt and Titian and the facial £18.99, ISBN 978-0-7515-5738-1 at the National Portrait Gallery for intensity and composition detail shared by lthough the true stories told Ihis painting Annabelle and Guy. His super- both artists in Ben Cnaan’s portrait. But I here inevitably reflect the realistic portrait of his friend Guy and his could not feel the Biblical message. Ahorrors inflicted on human step-daughter Annabelle with their dog is In an interview with freelance journalist beings by the based on a theme from The Book of Judges. Richard McClure, the 35-year-old artist Nazis, they The narrative concerns a vow made said: ‘For me Biblical themes are like the are primarily mythological and religious concerned with inspirations for the Old the courage and Masters. They contain the determination most extreme and complex situations and moral.’ of three young Ben Cnaan hints at women who not parallels between Jephthah’s only survived but dilemma and Guy’s struggle gave life to new with his faith and the secular generations. world, symbolised by his Being sent to casually dressed daughter. Auschwitz was This more abstract parallel in most cases equivalent to a death gives the work an exciting sentence and for pregnant women definition. this was nearly always the case. In this I particularly liked the remarkable book the author recounts Second Prize-winning how these three women managed to portrait, Eliza, by Leicester- defy the odds. based Michael Gaskell, who The book is based on three separate Matan Ben Cnaan Annabelle and Guy Photograph: won £10,000 for his pellucid Matan Ben-Cnaan/National Portrai/PA stories about women who did not head-and-shoulders portrait know of each other’s existence until to God by Jephthah before leading the of his niece. The acrylic painting has a long after the war but whose main touch of a Florentine Old Master but Israelites into battle against the Ammonites common experience was being in the idiom is contemporary as it conveys – that if he won the battle he would the early stages of pregnancy when sacrifice the first thing that greeted him the mind of a young girl contemplating womanhood. Its particular charm is in its arriving in Auschwitz and facing Dr on his return. He assumed this would be Mengele’s selection process. his dog but, in fact, the first welcome came suggestion of all ages of womanhood. The third prize of £8,000 went to The first third of the book describes from his daughter. Jephthah honours his the individual life stories of the vow after allowing her to wander in the 36-year-old Spanish artist Borja Buces women and their families in pre-war desert with her friends, weeping that she Renard for My Mother and My Brother on times, with the central part covering will never marry and trying to come to a Sunday Evening. His mother Paloma and terms with her terrible destiny – which brother Jaime are depicted in soft focus in their ordeals in Auschwitz, Freiberg she, noble soul, totally accepts out of love their living room in this quiet and reflective and Mauthausen. The final section for her father. family portrait, which invites you in to a describes their liberation with its The Biblical theme reflects a similar delicate moment in their lives. difficult readjustment but ends on a dilemma in the Greek myth on which positive and hopeful note with new Mozart based his 1781 opera Idomeneo. lives beginning and their children But here the god Neptune, who has rescued Annely Juda Fine Art meeting each other. King Idomeneo, is prepared to forego the Priska Rona was born in 1916 in sacrifice of the first thing the King sees – 23 Dering Street Slovakia, where her parents owned his own son. (off New Bond Street) a kosher café in Zlate Moravce. She Greek mythology has supplied a happier Tel: 020 7629 7578 had a very happy childhood and, even ending. Ben Cnaan’s brooding painting Fax: 020 7491 2139 after the start of the war, was able to seems at odds with the fierce Israeli desert lead a relatively normal life, including sunlight, which implies a problem between CONTEMPORARY getting married in 1941. This state the seated father, whose hand rests on of affairs suddenly and terrifyingly the intended sacrifice, a panting boxer- PAINTING AND SCULPTURE changed in September 1944 when she

8 AUGUST 2015 journal and her husband were transported to Anka gave birth to a baby girl, Eva. Auschwitz. She was already pregnant Fortunately the gas chambers but managed to deny this when facing in Mauthausen had just become Mengele. inoperable and a few days later the Rachel Abramczyk was born near camp was liberated by American Lodz, Poland, in 1918. She became troops of the 11th Armored Division. part of a large, cultured middle-class Medical assistance for the babies, their family and, despite the prevalent anti- mothers and the other prisoners from Semitism, had a pleasant childhood. Freiberg had arrived just in time. She married in 1937 and with wealthy The liberation forced the mothers in-laws had no need to work. She to face up to the grim reality that shared her husband’s Zionist ideals their husbands had been killed, as had and had converted to Lutheranism so and spent her time on fundraising. most of their families. Their dreams of as to make life easier for their children. Unlike Priska, she and her family were going home turned bitter as all they (According to the author, ‘many Jews affected immediately war broke out. had known from before the war had converting for practical reasons could Life became a battle for survival, mostly vanished and their return received not quite bring themselves to join the in the Lodz ghetto, until August 1944, a mixed reception from the local Catholic Church, the primary source of when they were also transported in population, especially in Poland. Austrian anti-Semitism’.) cattle trucks to Auschwitz. Rachel too The book concludes with their Georg’s own views about Judaism hid her pregnancy. eventually successful return to are touched on several times. He In September 1944, when Anka relatively normal lives and the creation says, for instance, that ‘one of the Nathanova, née Kauderova, arrived of new families. Sixty-five years after worst things that has befallen the in Auschwitz, she had already spent the liberation, Hana, Mark and Eva, Jews is … that they think they are three years in Theresienstadt. Anka the ‘miracle babies’, met for the first the salt of the earth. I don’t feel any was born in 1917 in a small town time at a commemoration organised of that.’ And of the Jewish operetta near Hradec Kralove, Czechoslovakia. by veterans of the 11th Armored composers of the Austrian monarchy Her family owned a factory and Division at Mauthausen. They have (Oscar Straus, Emmerich Kalman, Leo she was able to go to university as since remained in touch and consider Fall and others) he says that although well as enjoying a life of sport and themselves ‘honorary siblings’. ‘they absorbed the characteristics of travel. She married Bernd Nathan As well as the personal stories of their surroundings … no matter how in May 1940 and initially they were the three mothers, the book covers hard they tried, they were never really able to continue living in Prague. In some of the wider history which “one of them”’. November 1941, however, Bernd was affected them before, during and after Georg began piano lessons at the sent to Terezin and a month later Anka the war. Wendy Holden has gone to age of six and it became clear that he followed him. They were unable to great lengths to make the stories as had the very rare gift of absolute (or live together but did manage to meet full and accurate as possible and this perfect) pitch, the ability to correctly and remained optimistic irrespective is borne out by the impressive seven- classify a note simply by hearing it. of the regular transportations to the page list of sources and bibliography. Taken to a concert of the Vienna east and the continuing worsening Despite the harrowing nature of Boys’ Choir, he was so enchanted conditions. Despite losing a baby she some parts of the book, it is full of that he wanted to join them. He again became pregnant shortly before hope and a fitting tribute to three very was permitted to do so – the first she too had to join one of the feared courageous young women. Highly Jewish boy to join the choir – and transports. recommended. remained a member for four years. In There are separate chapters George Vulkan the choir, however, he suffered many covering each of the three individual instances of anti-Semitism not only experiences following their arrival in from the other boys, but also from Auschwitz. In spite of the appalling A difficult man the conductor. He later said that he conditions and the need to keep their OUT OF TIME – THE VEXED LIFE OF felt ‘like a hunted animal’. He never pregnancies secret, Priska, Rachel and GEORG TINTNER mentioned it to his parents as they Anka managed to survive Auschwitz, by Tanya Buchdahl Tintner would have taken him out of the choir only to face equally horrendous University of Western Australia immediately, whereas he wanted to experiences in a labour camp in Publishing, 420 pp. paperback remain a member for the education Freiberg, Germany, where they had to his book, first published in 2011, and pleasure the music gave him. work 12-hour shifts in bitter cold with was written by Georg Tintner’s Tintner emigrated to New Zealand practically no food. On 12 April 1945, Tthird wife and widow. Tintner is in 1938, shortly after the Anschluss. He while still in the factory, baby Hana not well-known in this country as his fell in love quite early with the music was born to Priska. This was followed career as a conductor and composer of Anton Bruckner, who remained his by a nightmare train journey lasting unfolded almost exclusively in New favourite composer until the end of his 16 days in open trucks. During the Zealand, Australia and Canada. He life. About a year before his death in journey, on 20 April, on bare planks, was born in Vienna in 1917, the 1999, he recorded in Glasgow a cycle Rachel gave birth to Mark. The train second child of Alfons Tintner and of Bruckner symphonies which were finally arrived at the Mauthausen KZ Marie Elisabeth (‘Mitzi’) née Steinhof. on 29 April 1945. On the same day Both his parents were of Jewish origins continued on page 10 

9 journal AUGUST 2015

 Reviews continued BIRMINGHAM YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION very favourably reviewed. The Times ith Ukraine praised his ‘majestic, surely-paced again in the conducting’ and the author says ‘in Wnews for all only a year Georg had gone from the wrong reasons, this obscurity to more fame than we had year’s Yom HaShoah ever imagined.’ He conducted most commemoration in works without a score and quite early Birmingham focused on dispensed with a baton. on the ‘Holocaust It is clear from this book that by Bullets’ that took Tintner was a very eccentric man who place in that part of was often difficult to get on with. He Eastern Europe. Over seems to have been oblivious of other 130 people attended people’s feelings and what impression the commemoration his pronouncements would make and at the King David was usually convinced that his own School. Babi Yar memorial, Kiev views were correct. As the German The author has clearly done army overran the region in the by the Nazis themselves, perhaps a great deal of research for this summer of 1941 it was closely the most notorious is that at Babi book: it took her five years and followed by the Einsatzgruppen Yar, a ravine near the Ukrainian she fills four pages with the names – the murder squads. Directed by capital Kiev. It was there, on 29- of people she wishes to thank for Heinrich Himmler and supervised 30 September 1941, that 33,771 their co-operation. But I couldn’t help feeling that as a result she by Reinhard Heydrich, these Jewish men, women and children incorporated many details which ‘Task Forces’ operated in all were murdered by Einsatzgruppe C. might have been left out. Thus she of the occupied territories of In 1961 the renowned Soviet quotes the programme of practically Eastern Europe, often with the poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko every concert Georg conducted and willing assistance of local Nazi published his epic poem ‘Babi Yar’ the names of soloists probably collaborators. Einsatzgruppe C as a protest at the Soviet Union’s mean more to readers in their was assigned to north and central own persecution of Jewish people countries than to English ones. Ukraine, and Einsatzgruppe D and its refusal to recognise Babi The book is full of quotations – to Moldavia, south Ukraine, the Yar as a Holocaust site. Dmitri extracts from letters and newspaper Crimea and north Caucasus. Shostakovich subsequently set reviews as well as verbal comments. Before the war, a little under the poem to music as the first Frequently the author speculates one-third of Ukraine’s urban movement of his Symphony No. 13. about the psychological reasons for population were Jews, the This highly emotive work formed actions or pronouncements of her country’s largest national minority, the backdrop to the Birmingham late husband and, in my view, the numbering around 2,700,000. commemoration, the music being book would be improved if some After the war, a Soviet census interspersed with readings by four details were omitted. counted some 840,000 Jews in members of the local community All quotations are given their origin the country, equating to a loss – AJR members Lia Lesser, Ruth in the Notes at the back – there are of 1,860,000, of which around Drapkin, Peter Posaner and Yvonne 13 pages of them. A comprehensive 1 million had been machine- Stollard – each having a personal Index (14 pages) is also included as gunned by the Einsatzgruppen. link to that terrible period. well as numerous photographs. Of the many massacres recorded Brian Cooper Fritz Lustig

ARTS AND EVENTS CUBA’S RESILIENT JEWISH COMMUNITY AUGUST DIARY e were delighted to have rationing but not for matzos. Friday Andrea Goodmaker’s night is the main weekly service in To 2 Oct 2015 ‘Humanity After the husband Philip as the the capital, Havana, followed by a Holocaust: The Jewish Relief Unit, 1943- W 1950’ This newly curated temporary speaker at our June Kindertransport communal Friday night dinner. exhibition at the Wiener Library marks Lunch meeting. Many items are in very short the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. The exhibition focuses on the Philip told us about his and supply – for instance toothbrushes Library’s outstanding collections relating to Andrea’s recent visit to Cuba, where and toothpaste – so, if anyone the post-war relief and rehabilitation work of they made contact with the resilient travels to Cuba from the UK, the Jewish Relief Unit in Bergen-Belsen and elsewhere. 10 am-5 pm Monday to Friday Jewish community, which is now please bring some for the Jewish and until 7.30 pm on Tuesdays. Admission down to 1,300 people. There is no community. free. Tel 020 7636 7247 anti-Semitism but no rabbi. There is David Lang

10 AUGUST 2015 journal

BAD CAMBERG’S ALTE On the family run JÜDISCHE SCHULE REOPENS uth Young’s hate Germans!’ At the AS CULTURAL CENTRE interesting letter time, she was only 22 Rin the June issue of or 23 and pregnant. uring the Shavuot weekend, two former the AJR Journal reminded They moved to London, Jewish citizens of Bad Camberg (Hesse- me of how she and I where her daughter Eva DNassau), as well as 30 descendants from met entirely thanks to was born. many countries, attended the opening of the the Journal’s ‘web’. A As I have a daughter town’s newly re-erected Alte jüdische Schule, couple of years ago I who lives in Kent we a project conceived some years ago and now wrote a short note to the arranged to meet the next brought to fruition under the auspices of the Journal after watching time I visited and did so. Historical Society of Bad Camberg. Addressing the gathering, Ruth Akron (Israel), a TV programme about We had a lovely time and who as Ruth Landau fled with her parents in Jewish shops in north Eva came round for tea. the early 1930s to what then was Palestine, London. The note was We talked about those explained: ‘Camberg is my homeland (Heimat), about my somewhat dreadful times, although Israel is where I feel at home (mein Zuhause).’ limited memories of living I remembered nothing. Sylvia Hurst (England) recalled her childhood in the Stoke Newington I told her that my niece, visits to her grandparents in Camberg. area during the war. who was piecing a family Philippe Pierret, the Curator of the Jewish A short time later I Reunion, December 2013: history together, had Museum in Brussels, spoke of the recent attack received a letter from Peter Gildener, Ruth’s discovered that Dad had daughter Eva Seely, at the Museum in which four people were killed. the AJR enclosing a letter gone AWOL one weekend A one-minute silence followed his words. Ruth Young addressed to me from and got seven days ‘CB’ Ruth Wagner, a former Land Hessen minister, emphasised the importance of remembering Ruth in which she asked if I was the ‘little (confined to barracks) for his efforts, the past and praised the initiative of Camberg four- or five-year-old’ she sometimes which resulted in the birth of my brother City Council in supporting the project. Doris looked after when my mother went out nine months later! Ammelung of the Camberg Historical Society to work in Weymouth. Her husband and The irony is that Ruth said my parents thanked the visitors for having undertaken the my father were both in the 74 Coy of the spent the whole time arguing. And could strenuous journey to be present at the festivities, Pioneer Corps. She said that she and I my mother argue! From an early age I adding, visibly moved: ‘You made our day!’ spent many air raids together ‘in the little learned every filthy German swearword The event took place in the presence of house’ where we were all living. and insult – that was the only time they representatives of the town, the Land Hessen, Of course, as soon as I received the ever spoke in German! – that existed and I the Council of Christians and Jews (Limburg), and letter I rang her as it was indeed me must confess there are times when I enjoy organisations connected with the project. The aged four-and-a-half at the time! We using them! new building is designed as a cultural centre and lasting memorial to the centuries-old, erstwhile had a long chat and she told me that Ruth and I are still in touch via email vibrant Jewish community of Bad Camberg, so whenever an air raid began we would and I very much hope we will meet again brutally destroyed. go and sit on the stairs and I would next time I’m on the family run. Walter E. Goddard call out ‘Those bloody Germans! I Peter Gildener

THE ‘CONCORDE EXPERIENCE’ A LOVELY EXPERIENCE – A VISIT TO PORTERS

veryone from the different groups present – Ilford, Kent, North London, Pinner and our own Essex (Westcliff) – Eintroduced ourselves. We had the pleasure of seeing Myrna Photo: Paul Lang Glass, Janet Weston, Kathryn Prevezer and our own Esther Rinkoff, t was chocks away when, under clear blue skies and a blazing sun, making plus Eppie Byrne, the first-aider on the coach. it the hottest day of the year so far, Paul Lang, aviation enthusiast and After a very nice buffet lunch we saw Southend pier – the Iyounger son of AJR members Charlotte and David Lang, led a group to visit longest pleasure pier in the world – and enjoyed a tour along Concorde at Brooklands in Surrey. the seafront. Following a talk about the history of motor racing and aircraft On our arrival at Porters Civic House, we were greeted by the manufacturing at Brooklands, the group boarded Concorde G-BBDG to view Mayor, Andrew Mooring, and his mace-bearer Adam, who gave the displays detailing its development and construction, then took a seat in us a tour ‘upstairs and downstairs’. We let the eldest person, the front section for a ‘virtual flight’ to New York. aged 93, sit in the ‘Mayor’s throne‘ first and most members The trip was finished off with a visit to the flight simulator, where the followed his example. Everyone said it was a lovely experience. British Airways pilots learned to fly Concorde and watch a short flight over We had tea and coffee with the Mayor and more photos were Brooklands and back to Heathrow. A good time was had by all! taken in the garden. Paul Lang Larry Lisner

11 journal AUGUST 2015 of Ocado deliveries to cultural and leisure colours and enjoyed a fine cream tea. events. Exhibitions, film music and books Harry Grenville were recalled and reviewed. Hazel told us about future visits and provided a delicious lunch at Liane’s home. Edinburgh CF ‘Jews in Scotland’ Dorothea Lipton Exhibition Members visited the ancient town of INSIDE Linlithgow, birthplace of Mary Queen the LEEDS CF Fulfilled Ambitions of Scots, where an exhibition of some As always, Leeds members enjoyed a 80 black-and-white photos by Judith AJR ‘sumptuous’ afternoon tea courtesy Passow were on show at the Burgh of the host, Barbara Cammerman. The Hall. The subject of the exhibition was welcome refreshments followed a most ‘Jews in Scotland’. Passow spent a year CAFE IMPERIAL A Lunch Washed interesting discussion session about on this project, tracking down Jews in Down with Many Memories fulfilled ambitions and things we may such far-flung locations as the island of We met for a celebratory lunch to still wish to do. Yell in the Shetlands as well as the larger commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE Wendy Bott communities of Glasgow, Edinburgh Day. Union Jacks bought by Peter Wayne and Dundee. in 1945 were waved enthusiastically. Vivien Andersen A delicious lunch washed down with PINNER Six Point Foundation many, many memories. Thank you, Peter Six Point Foundation (SPF), clearly Eden, for suggesting we meet. explained by Susan Cohen, was set BRIGHTON & HOVE ‘SARID’ A Special Esther Rinkoff up in 2011 from disposal of assets to Treat support needy Holocaust survivors. Richard Stanton gave us a special treat Working closely with the AJR, SPF helps with his own version of the Last Night EALING One of the Most Influential individuals in major or minor ways by of the Proms. His arrangement of the Jews of All Time funding, e.g. stair lifts, roof repairs, classical favourites, the sing-along David Barnett gave a most interesting dementia care. There is also an SPF net and the flag-waving transported us talk on the life of Daniel Mendoza, who technology project which introduces spiritually to the Albert Hall. It was an rose from humble beginnings to become survivors to computers and connects enjoyable morning. Well done! the most famous and successful boxer them with family and friends. Ceska Abrahams of the turn of the 18th-19th centuries. Walter Weg The book The 100 Most Influential Jews of All Time ranks Mendoza no. 82, the KENT Dealing with Local Criminals highest-rated athlete on the list. HGS An Extraordinary Woman Police Community Support Officers Leslie Sommer A woman who spoke several languages, Claire and Dave, based in Tunbridge was proficient as a musician and a Wells, reassured us there was not so singer, was a seasoned traveller, and much crime locally – they mainly deal ILFORD In a Merry Mood wrote the first Jewish cookery book: with shoplifting – but gave us useful tips We all found Debbie Pearson’s talk on the life of Judith Montefiore is unlike on dealing with bogus callers. wine very interesting. Debbie is the chair any other of her time or even by Janet Weston of a local wine society as well as a City today’s standards. One wonders why of Westminster Guide and therefore the a movie has not been made about her. samples of red and white wine handed Once again David Barnett gave us a RADLETT In Hungary after the out at the end of her talk were a fitting fascinating life story he has researched. Holocaust conclusion. We all left in a merry mood. Hazel Beiny The end of the Second World War ended Meta Roseneil the catastrophe of the Holocaust in Europe but sadly it was not the end of HARROGATE/YORK ‘Summertime’ DIDSBURY ‘Fulfilled and Unfulfilled all troubles for the remaining Jewish Meal Out Ambitions’ communities. Andrew Roth gave a Members enjoyed a ‘summertime’ In a discussion centred around ‘fulfilled very interesting talk on his experience meal out at a local restaurant. Good and unfulfilled’ ambitions, it was most as a child of the Hungarian revolution company, good conversation and good interesting to hear how members had in a small town and of his journey to food made the whole evening a success managed to fulfill ‘similar’ or ‘related’ England. and an extremely good time was had goals. An example was one member’s Fritz Starer by all! desire to be an opera singer, which was Wendy Bott impossible due to family obligations and CAMBRIDGE Life as an Officer in the commitments. However, this lady was Royal Marines able to showcase her talent by joining WESSEX Outing to Water Gardens Simon Granham, Deputy Head at a choir! We were joined by members of the Dovercourt/Harwich High School, has Wendy Bott Bournemouth Reform Congregation for been very involved in relating the an outing to Bennett’s Water Gardens events of the Kindertransport to his BROMLEY CF An Afternoon at Weymouth. This houses the national pupils. On this occasion, he gave us of Companionship and Lively collection of water lilies in a group a most interesting talk about his time Discussion of large ponds connected by broad as an officer in the Royal Marines, First and Second Generation members grass walkways. At the centre is a including many amusing anecdotes, enjoyed an afternoon of companionship charming replica of the Japanese bridge and stimulated a wide discussion of life and lively discussion, encompassing a in Monet’s garden at Givenchy. We in the Services. broad range of topics – from the merits admired the many water lilies of various Keith Lawson

12 AUGUST 2015 journal KINGSTON UPON THAMES/SURREY CF admired Capability Brown's gardens. On to note that the earliest fossilised rose – Another Very Entertaining Get- an excellent tour, we learned about the from 35 million years ago – was found together Dukes of Marlborough and the Churchill in Colorado! A delicious lunch at Edmee’s lovely family. After admiring the splendid Hanne R. Freedman home and garden, which was in full Meissen china, paintings, furniture and bloom, was enjoyed by members of tapestries, we enjoyed a convivial lunch NORTH WEST LONDON A Holistic both Surrey and Kingston Groups. on the terrace and took the train to the Treatment Another very entertaining get-together. Pleasure Gardens. Lesley Woolfe, AJR Dementia Befriending Susan Zisman Janet Weston Co-ordinator and a Reflexologist in private practice, told us about Reflexology, which originated thousands BRADFORD ‘Meat is the Finest WEMBLEY London and the Wine of years ago but came into general use Vegetable’ Trade again after being rediscovered in 1890 in We devoted our evening to a gemütlicher A small but very ‘select’ group met the USA. It is a holistic treatment which Kaffeelatsch musing on (un)fulfiiled for a most interesting talk on the joint concentrates on the feet and hands to ambitions or opportunities. Wendy subject of ‘London and Wine’. Debbie treat the whole body. Following a Q&A brought – to quote Michael Winner – Pearson, our speaker, an official guide session, Lesley did a hand massage for ‘historic’ home-cooked salt beef, adding in the City of London and Westminster, some of us. a new dimension to her usual delicious drew a fascinating parallel between the David Lang teas and endorsing my late father’s connections of her subjects. This was contention that meat is the finest followed by the usual refreshments and CHESHIRE CF Lively Discussions vegetable. Oh Blooms, where art thou? a good chit-chat among us. We had lively discussions on a variety Stephen Tendlow Tom Heinemann of current topics, including an in/out referendum on the EU. The afternoon WEST MIDLANDS (BIRMINGHAM) A NORTH LONDON Flowers and Fables was completed by a magnificent tea. Wonderful Trip to Blenheim Palace Nick Dobson, using some beautiful slides, Many thanks to Wendy for organising Our trip to Blenheim Palace was shared with us his extensive knowledge the afternoon and to hosts Peter and wonderful! We were impressed by the of flowers and their association with Heather for their hospitality. scale of the Vanbrugh building and fables and various countries. Interesting Ernie Hunter

AUGUST GROUP eventS CONTACTS

Ealing 4 Aug Bring a Poem to Discuss Hazel Beiny Glasgow 5 Aug BBQ Southern Groups Co-ordinator Ilford 5 Aug Nick Dobson: ‘Dazzling Dahlias – a Colourful 07966 887 434 [email protected] Introduction with Slides’ Pinner 6 Aug Annual Garden Party Wendy Bott Bristol 10 Aug David Barnett Northern Groups Co-ordinator Edinburgh 10 Aug Shostakovich Concert 07908 156 365 [email protected] HGS 10 Aug Lesley Urbach: ‘The Story of Herbert Morrison’ Essex (Westcliff) 11 Aug Lawrence Collin: ‘People in Their 90s’ Susan Harrod St John’s Wood 11 Aug Alice Owen: ‘Holocaust Memorial Day in the Groups’ Administrator UK, 2015 and Beyond’ 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Book Club 12 Aug Social Discussion and Lunch Café Imperial 13 Aug Lunchtime Social Agnes Isaacs Scotland and Newcastle Groups Birmingham 16 Aug Annual Garden Party Co-ordinator Edinburgh/Glasgow 16 Aug Outing to Edinburgh Festival Open Day 07908 156 361 [email protected] Brighton 17 Aug Tour of Brighton Library Edgware 18 Aug Lynn Julius: ‘Jews in the Arab World’ Kathryn Prevezer Kent 18 Aug Fish and Chips Lunch Southern Groups Co-ordinator Radlett 19 Aug Marion Friend: ‘A Musical Career‘ 07966 969 951 [email protected] Cambridge 20 Aug Eva Clarke: Her Latest Book, Born Survivors Hull 23 Aug Lunch at East Park Esther Rinkoff Southern Groups Co-ordinator North West London 24 Aug Susan Shaw: ‘Magistrates JPs, Not Jewish Princesses’ 07966 631 778 [email protected] Whitefield/Prestwich 24 Aug Discussion Group KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Welwyn GC 25 Aug Summer Luncheon Andrea Goodmaker Didsbury 26 Aug Social 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Wembley 26 Aug Paul Lang, Professional Photographer Surrey/Kingston Child Survivors Association–AJR upon Thames CF 27 Aug Summer Luncheon Henri Obstfeld North London 27 Aug Annual Lunch with Light Opera Performance 020 8954 5298 [email protected] by Bronwen Stephens

13 journal AUGUST 2015  family anouncements Death Finkletaub, Gertrude (Gerty) Dressmaker. Born Vienna (20th District) 5/2/1925, IN MEMORIAM died 28/06/2015. Only child of Simon and PETER CLAUS RICKENBACK Charlotte Bandmacher. Left Vienna March Are you, or is someone you 1939 to North Shields, Leicester (WW2), *20 April 1920 †11 June 2015 know, a Jewish Holocaust DRESDEN LONDON Maida Vale (1947-52), Ilford (1952-2015). survivor in financial difficulty? Deeply missed by her children Mark and THE FAMILY Elizabeth A (Bagnall) Beverley Judith. Six Point Foundation gives grants to help with Martin H and Yvonne with Suzanne E and all kinds of one-off expenses such as home David adaptations, medical bills, travel costs and Antonia Jill CLASSIFIED temporary care. Jessica Laura Instead of flowers, please send donations to: TRANSLATOR REQUIRED We help UK-resident Jewish Holocaust Chai Cancer Care, London NW4 1EH Urgently looking for someone to survivors/refugees with less than £10k p.a. Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, work with me on translating a box of in income (excluding pensions/social security) London WC1R 4TH my family’s letters and papers dating and less than £32k in assets (excluding primary Jewish Blind and Disabled, from 1900 to the 1940s from German residence/car). London NW7 1GT (also some in Sütterlin) into English. Preferably North West London. For information please contact The Association Please telephone Kath of Jewish Refugees on 020 8385 3070. on 07957 638823. Books Bought [email protected] Modern and Old JOSEPH PEREIRA www.sixpointfoundation.org.uk Eric Levene (ex-AJR caretaker over 22 years) is 020 8364 3554 / 07855387574 now available for DIY repairs and general maintenance. [email protected] No job too small, I also purchase ephemera very reasonawble rates. spring grove Please telephone 07966 887 485. London’s Most Luxurious RETIREMENT HOME 214 Finchley Road LEO BAECK HOUSING ASSOCIATION London NW3 CLARA NEHAB HOUSE WHY NOT TRY AJR’S RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME MEALS ON WHEELS  Entertainment SERVICE?  Activities Small caring residential home with large attractive gardens The AJR offers a kosher Meals on Wheels  Stress Free Living service delivered to your door once a week. close to local shops and public transport  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine The meals are freshly cooked every week by 25 single rooms with full en suite facilities.  Full En-Suite Facilities 24 hour Permanent and Respite Care Kosher to Go. They are then frozen prior to delivery. Call for more information or a personal tour Entertainment & Activities provided. The cost is £7.00 for a three-course meal Ground Floor Lounge and Dining Room (soup, main course, desert) plus a £1 020 8446 2117 • Lift access to all floors. delivery fee. or 020 7794 4455 Our aim is to bring good food to your door [email protected] For further information please contact: without the worry of shopping or cooking. The Manager, Clara Nehab House, 13-19 Leeside Crescent, London NW11 0DA For further details, please call Telephone: 020 8455 2286 AJR Head Office on 020 8385 3070. www.fishburnbooks.com switch on electrics PillarCare Jonathan Fishburn Rewires and all household Quality support and care at home electrical work buys and sells Jewish and Hebrew books, PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518  Hourly Care from 4 hours – 24 hours Mobile: 0795 614 8566 ephemera and items of  Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care Jewish interest.  Convalescent and Personal Health Care He is a member of the  Compassionate and Affordable Service Antiquarian Booksellers JACKMAN .  Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff Association. SILVERMAN  Registered with the CQC and UKHCA COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Contact Jonathan on Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 020 8455 9139 Telephone: 020 7209 5532 PILLARCARE THE BUSINESS CENTRE · 36 GLOUCESTER AVENUE · LONDON NW1 7BB or 07813 803 889 [email protected] PHONE: 020 7482 2188 · FAX: 020 7900 2308 www.pillarcare.co.uk for more information

14 AUGUST 2015 journal I resemble him in this. Perpetrators  Buried history: in pursuit of justice continued of injustice often create a cloud of denial to cover up their crimes. posts until the Gestapo hounded murdered in the Holocaust, the Denial then masks the corrosive him out of his court at gunpoint exhibition under the Main Holocaust effects of injustice that continue and he left Berlin only in 1939 after Memorial, the exhibition of German until it is exposed. Recognition and Kristallnacht made clear the Nazis’ Resistance and the Topography of acknowledgement of the injustice, intent. Dr Mueller then presented Terror. What impressed me was even decades later, is an important a live conversation with me about that these exhibitions, most of form of justice. my reactions to their research. I was which I had seen before, had been amazed and gratified that nearly updated and extended to contain LEARNING LESSONS FROM THE 200 people attended this event in so much new material from recent HOLOCAUST recognition of my father. Included research and that they did not shrink Whenever I tell my Kindertransport among them were all three of my from detailing the injustices in full. story in schools and to other deceased brother’s children and Inclusion of material about the Sinti audiences I always refer to what their partners, so that it was also a and Roma part of the Holocaust is is happening today. I emphasise very moving family gathering. impressive and the Sinti and Roma that we have not learned two Hearing that I was coming to Memorial is extraordinarily moving. major lessons from the Holocaust: Berlin for this event, Minister Heiko The stories of numerous small to treat all people as equal human Maas invited me, accompanied cells and networks of resistance, beings and to protest early enough by my daughter, nephew and his including Jews and Sinti, in virtually when unacceptable violence begins. son, to an informal discussion with all ghettos and concentration camps Unchecked violence against a target members of the Ministry of Justice in expose the lie that they ‘went like group ultimately leads to genocide Berlin. This turned out to be a group lambs to the slaughter’. if it is not brought under control. of over 40 people who were very My current interest is in applying Learning about and commemorating interested in my family’s history. We my knowledge of exposed former the Holocaust is simply not enough also heard details of the ‘Rosenburg injustice to addressing current without action. I challenge the Projekt’ being researched by the injustices, such as denial of the audiences I talk with to move Ministry of Justice to bring to light Ottoman genocide in the First from being passive bystanders the details of how the legal system, World War, that have not yet been to becoming active upstanders located in the Rosenburg district of fully exposed. Holocaust research, by doing something – even very Berlin, functioned in the immediate education and commemoration are little multiplied by hundreds and post-war years. I was presented with essential but not sufficient. There thousands of people will have the first volume of their findings. has to be action to resolve current an effect. I challenge people to injustice against individuals and INDIFFERENCE A BIGGER PROBLEM think of ways to protest against minority groups, especially the THAN PREJUDICE what they know to be wrong. I ignorant and prejudiced attitude always focus on groups within our The interest and energy that these to Roma and Travellers. Injustice own local communities that are two institutions are deploying can be challenged but there are not unfairly treated because people in exposing former injustices is enough people with the courage to have stereotypes in their minds, encouraging and inspiring and will care and the will to act. Indifference particularly challenging the way hopefully have a bearing on more is, in many ways, a bigger problem people think about (or fail to think recent injustices such as the ongoing than prejudice. about!) Roma and immigrants. case of Jeremiah Duggan, a 22-year- The demons in our human nature Too many people fail to see old British-Jewish student who cause some people to commit ‘immigrants’ as individual human was found dead on the motorway injustice, usually for power and self- beings and don’t question the bad in Wiesbaden 12 years ago. This interest. But, as Steven Pinker says press they get. I emphasise the was covered up as suicide. Rather in his book The Better Angels of our difference between asylum-seekers like Doreen Lawrence, the mother Human Nature: Why Violence Has and refugees. We were given refugee of Stephen Lawrence, a British Declined (2011), we have angels status on the Kindertransport but teenager who was murdered in a in our human nature too, so some this status is today denied many racist attack in London in 1993, people develop a strong sense of people in England who are fleeing Jeremiah’s mother has fought a 12- fair play and justice. My father was for their lives from mortal danger year battle, which culminated in May one of them and I like to think that just as we were. Failure to take note 2015 in a new inquest in London. of the warning signs and protest at The coroner found that the death emerging violence has led to the was definitely not suicide and was ever-growing number of people probably instigated by a cult her son CORRECTION fleeing their home countries. Locking had been seduced into. Perhaps this In the obituary of Marianne them up in detention centres or case too will lead to an independent keeping them in ‘tent cities’ outside Leavor in your July issue, police investigation body. the borders of our affluent countries While in Berlin I visited a number Dr Engel’s first name was given as is not only inhumane but exacerbates of exhibitions with my daughter: Fritz. It should have read Richard. their problems and ours too. We an open-air exhibition of the I am grateful to Lord Peter Eden have to face – and act on – why end of the Second World War (previously Engel) for pointing this they have a need to flee and bear to at the Brandenburg Tor, the new out – Rudi Leavor look at what we ourselves might be Memorial for the Sinti and Roma contributing to the problems.

15 journal AUGUST 2015

Israel has its own refugee problem. First there are the Palestinians who left Israel in the course of the War of Independence in 1948 Dorothea Shefer-Vanson and have been kept in that state of limbo ever since. Their children and grandchildren have the same refugee status and demands. They ‘The daughter of refugees’ continue to live in poverty and privation in UN-sponsored refugee camps and are not t’s something we see almost every day on of refugees’. enabled to obtain citizenship in the Arab our TV screens. Hundreds of people are The Jews of Europe who tried to find countries where those camps are situated. packed into rickety boats as they throw shelter in the years following Hitler’s rise to The contrast with the Jewish refugees who themselvesI onto the mercy of the sea and the power were subjected to rigorous restrictions. left Europe and scattered all over the world countries of Europe. It’s enough to wring A sponsor or place of employment had to be in the 1930s and 1940s, rapidly becoming the hardest heart. A similar story has been found, a place of residence guaranteed or an self-supporting, could not be greater. unfolding in South-East Asia but there, it affidavit provided, and to all this were added In more recent years, Israel has been forced would seem, some kind of solution has been the exorbitant taxes that had to be paid in order to contend with the problem of people coming found and Malaysia has agreed to accept its to be allowed to leave Germany. The heartbreak from Sudan and Eritrea, seeking refuge and fellow Muslims. arising from having to leave home and family a way out of the conflicts and poverty that Many people in Europe, including was not confined solely to the children who afflict their countries. Faced with a constant governments, object to granting these people were fortunate enough to obtain a place on flow of these refugees, Israel felt obliged to sanctuary. Many of these unfortunates have one of the Kindertransports. build a fence to prevent their entry from Egypt paid considerable sums of money for the At that time, no one thought of getting and a special holding camp for those who privilege of being tossed by the waves for into a crowded rubber dinghy and throwing nonetheless managed to enter. Some of them days and many have perished in the process. themselves onto the mercy of some kind person have found low-paid work but many of them Many of them are exploited by unscrupulous out there. No one expected to be provided constitute an almost insoluble problem. racketeers who take their money, abuse them with food and accommodation after enduring Many Israelis come from families that were physically and sexually, and send them on a hazardous journey and being exposed to the themselves once refugees and find it difficult their way without food or water. elements. The nearest thing to that experience to harden their heart to the problem of the These people come from the countries of may have been that of the illegal immigrants to refugees of today. Africa, where conflicts, poverty, corruption pre-State Israel but that didn’t save very many and hopelessness are endemic. Others come Jews from the fate the Nazis had prepared for from Middle Eastern countries such as Syria them. and Libya, where orderly government has Mankind has always been on the move. collapsed, wars are being fought and no one Millions of years ago Neanderthals and Homo is safe from danger. sapiens migrated from one part of the African They are refugees. and European continents to another in search In Need of a Friendly Voice? Anyone reading this journal knows what of food and shelter. Migration is an integral part Want to chat to someone who cares? that word means, whether at first hand or of human nature and as we all know there have Call The Silver Line at one or two removes. It is a word that has been more than a few battles for territory and The national helpline for older people defined an entire generation of Jews who booty in the course of human history. But unless Any time, day or night were forced to flee their homes in Europe. one tribe was being threatened with extinction Though I was born in England, to this day by another, the people involved in this kind of From your landline: 0800 4 70 80 90 I still proudly define myself as ‘the daughter movement could not be defined as refugees. From your mobile: 0300 4 70 80 90

 letters to the editor cont. from p.7 in Northways but my grandmother stayed a boarding house frequented by Jewish Certificate of Registration. on at No 4 until her death in November refugees but didn’t know anything else. I moreover went to our local library but 1955! So obviously we were all very No 3 Adamson Road is – as can be drew a blank there too and was advised familiar with the boarding house and the guessed – three houses down the road to go to the library in Holborn, which I area it was in. At no time had anyone ever from No 9, almost at the beginning of it. didn’t bother to do. What I wanted to mentioned any other boarding house at I was trying to gain access, ringing door find out was whether there is any record No 3 Adamson Road! bells and banging loudly. It’s all flats of No 3 Adamson Road ever having been Eventually No 4 was converted into the now – no one responded; there was no a boarding house. so-called Swiss Cottage Hotel. I went there sound to be heard. The house seemed Please forgive me for causing you this afternoon (first week of June) for the completely deserted, as did all the others vexation, Mr Vulkan, but do try to bring sole purpose of finding out some more. I was passing. me proof that the house you claim to have The place looked eerily deserted except for As for No 4, I can furnish proof of its been staying in was indeed a boarding some receptionist or porter (a male), who existence and function by photocopying a house! What was its name? had heard that the house had once been few pages from my grandmother’s alien’s Margarete Stern, London NW3

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