^imx^i;vm ^i^^S!^mms=BES^iKmsiss^(^^^^^^>-^it^msm^ Information Volume L No. 3 March 1995 £3 (to non-members)

Don't miss... Out to Launch p.5 Thoughts on the war's most sombre ar)r)iversary Purim Perplexities pi 4 Red-Letter Day The Nadir of History p.l6 he commemorations of the 50th Yeltsin duly praised them - but, following Soviet Lethal anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz precedent, he omitted the very mention of Jews. xenophobia T had a twofold significance. Above all they Which brings us to another world leader who brought - probably for the last time - the unspeak­ could not bring himself to mention the word Jew. ohann able sufferings so-called human beings inflicted on The German and Polish bishops' disavowal of Strauss is one members of the same species to the attention of the antisemitism, one notes with dismay, proceeded of those composers - like world. Secondly, the commemorations showed the alongside Vatican moves to canonise the Pacelli JChopin or Verdi - degree to which the various nations and institutions Pope, Pius XII. Saint Eugenio Pacelli would make who represent their implicated had over the last 50 years purged them­ strange company, indeed, for Saint Maximilian nation. Not that selves of guilt for their sins of commission or Kolbe who volunteered to die in place of another Strauss represented omission. concentration camp inmate. the Austrians in The following facts are established beyond perad­ Let all those who would defend the silent Pope's every respect; they venture: Auschwitz represented the absolute nadir wartime record on grounds of 'averting a greater would hardly have of human history. At Birkenau SS personnel, driven evil' recall what happened in 194.3 when Cardinal concurred with the by the bloodlust of Stone Age man, applied indus­ Galen of Miinster spoke out and denounced Nazi pro-Gypsy senti­ ments suffusing Der trial methods to mass extermination. Such a 'mercy' killing from the pulpit. Some of the monks Zigeunerbaron. wedding of technical efficiency to mindboggling who distributed leaflets with his sermon were They still don't. black evil has no historic counterpart - not in the caught and executed, while the high-profile prelate Last month four Armenian massacres, nor in Stalin's deportations, remained at liberty - but, most importantly, the eu­ gypsies were killed or even Pol Pot's atrocities. It is absolutely sui thanasia programme stopped. Which indicates that in the Burgenland, generis as is the ideology that instigated Auschwitz. even in the Third Reich (popularly supported) resist­ scene of No document comparable to the 1942 Wannsee ance was conceivable. Its almost total absence from simultaneous lethal Protocol decreeing the destruction of an entire peo­ the German - and the wider non-Jewish - reac­ attacks on Croat ple has so far been - or ever will be - found in the tion to the Holocaust contributed to the nadir of refugees. Sultan's Palace at Istanbul, in the Moscow history.n The climate in Kremlin, or in Phnom Penh. which such The guilt for Auschwitz has been endlessly de­ Neo-Nazi terror ^m" AJR SELF AID bated. This is not the place for replicating this burgeons was with the WIENER LrBRARY debate. Rather let us analyse the readiness with created by present a incomplete postwar which the implicated nations and institutions have BENEFIT CONCERT de-Nazification, confronted their guilt. introducing the which in turn As for the Germans, the government and the SCHIDLOF QUARTET stemmed from the Churches, municipalities, newspapers, etc., alike, Ofer Falk & Rafael Todes — violins wrongful Allied have been - justifiably - concerned to purge them­ Graham Oppenheimer — viola designation of selves. The Catholic bishops, in particular, used the Oleg Kogan - cello Austria as 'Hitler's with Emanuel Hurwitz, viola Auschwitz anniversary to issue their most explicit first victim.' on SUNDAY I4TH MAY 1995 at 3pm condemnation yet of Christian antisemitism. Polish It is far too late atthe QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL now to repair these bishops spoke out similarly, though their statement Programme; mistakes; one can chimes in awkwardly with President Walesa's reluc­ Schubert Quartettsatz in C minor only hope that F"U tance to acknowledge the very fact of Jewish Mozart String Quintet in C major K515 membership will suffering at Auschwitz. (Oswiecim in Polish popular Beethoven Quartet in £ Flat Op. 74 wean the Austrians mythology was a torture chamber for their patriots Tickets are priced at £9, £12, £15 and £18 away from their Please send cheque, payable to - not a charnel house for Jews). AJR Self Aid, and SAE to: backwoods So much for the evildoers and the - more or less The Concert Secretary, mentality. impassive - bystanders. What about the Russian lib­ AJR I Hampstead Gate, la Frognal London NW3 6AL, Enquiries 0171-431 6161 Richard Grunberger erators? In his commemorative message President -:gaMMWBWBE''g^H» AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

Preconditions for peace Profile

he question whether the Israeli- Palestinian Peace Accord had Margot Williams Tproduced a change in their atti­ I tudes to each other was debated at an orn in Berlin "in the year Institute of Jewish Affairs symposium. dot," as she put it, Margot grew up Jewish Chronicle editor Ned Temko, a in a pleasant suburb, an only child, former Middle E.ast correspondent, B but with many friends. Her father was a thought no ideological change had oc­ neurologist and the family's social circle curred and that the notion that 'things appeared exclusively to consist of doctors. will never be the same' was a premature At the early age of eleven, she, too, de­ illusion. Dr. Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian cided to pursue a medical career. She at the School of Oriental and African enrolled at the university as a medical stu­ Studies, noted an immediate, though su­ dent, but the threatening political perficial, change in attitude by Israeli situation brought her studies to an abrupt Jews. The Palestinians' initial welcome to end. Her interest in medicine was, how­ the agreements reflected satisfaction at ever, undiminished and she began her their progress on the road to statehood; training as a nurse at Breslau's Jewish disappointment and frustration would, hospital. however, lead to anger and resistance. Tragically, aged only 54, her father died Dr. E^phraim Karsh, Director of Medi­ and the political situation worsened, for­ terranean Studies at King's College, cing Margot to leave for England without London, thought the agreements had her mother who was too ill to travel. Margot Williams "made a major difference". Israel was Soon after war was declared and she was now recognised by several Arab countries, interned with other 'enemy aliens'. including Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. A During her years of service Margot Margot acted as a camp nurse, and after "break through" which included the first formed many valuable friendships. Her release, returned to London to stay in a step towards Palestinian nationhood had husband died in 1976 and, she says, "If I nurses' hostel. It was at this time that she been achieved and patience was essential wouldn't have had my work with the met and became engaged to Maurice for further progress. Saida Nusseibeh, co­ AJR, I would have broken down." Williams, a philatelist and journalist. ordinator of Jewish-Arab Dialogue in Margot retired officially in 1985, but They married in Dunstan Road Syna­ Europe (JADE), saw a significant accept­ continued with her work for the homes. gogue in 1944 and had a daughter the ance of change among the Palestinians She remains a very active member of following year. who were now ready to listen, but much Osmond House House Committee where work remained to be done. She envisaged A busy social life centred around not she visits at least once a week. Still a the development of a Benelux type of eco­ only philately, but also her husband's driver, she makes a point of visiting all nomic association between Israel, Jordan other two loves, cricket and football. residents who have to spend time in hos­ and a Palestinian state. Dr. Karsh could, When her daughter reached the age of six, pital. As if that wasn't enough, Margot is however, foresee limits to economic co­ Margot returned to nursing training, also a volunteer worker at the Royal Free operation; he felt the Palestinian diaspora qualifying as an SRN. Hospital, turning her hand from serving ought to be harnessing itself to the devel­ In 1950, with the opening of Otto in the hospital shop, running a tea trolley opment of a state. Pressed on the Schiff House in Netherhall Gardens, and, more lately, manning the enquiry apparent contradiction between Israel's Hampstead (later converted to sheltered desk. Active in B'nai B'rith and Belsize attitude towards Jewish as opposed to flats), Margot was appointed to take Square Synagogue among other pastimes, Arab immigration to Israel, Dr. Karsh ar­ charge of the admissions. It was essential one wonders how she copes when many gued that if and when the Palestinians to speak German; dealing with displaced - much younger are happy to put their feet had a state, they too could enact their and often disturbed - people required con­ up in front of the television. own right of return. sideration and humane understanding for A bright, intelligent and smart lady, DRac. their needs. Working from the AJR of­ Margot follows the early careers of her fices, as the other homes were established two adoring grandsons with a wry sense HILARY'S AGENCY and added to her portfolio, for 31 years of humour. She remains totally involved Specialists in Long and Short-Term Margot was the Admissions Officer, inter­ in the welfare of the residents in Osmond LivG-in and Daily Care RESPITE AND EMERGENCY CARE viewing people in London and other parts House, several of whom she has be­ CARE FOR THE ELDERLY of the country to assess their suitability. friended for many years. At the time of HOUSEKEEPERS "Although I had only a part-time job," RECUPERATION CARE her retirement Theo Marx wrote, "Your MATERNITY NURSES she recalls, "I was on the go practically work at AJR brought you into contact NANNIES AND MOTHERS' HELPS every day". At that time potential resi­ with virtually every resident. . . You EMERGENCY MOTHERS dents were both fitter and younger than carved out a niche in the refugee commu­ Caring and Experienced Staff Available today's applicants, and applications far nity which is without parallel." We will be happy to discuss your requirements PLEASE PHONE 081-559 1110 exceeded places available. DRD.C. AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

with the taboo on antisemitism in the pre­ Island occupation Chopping blok vailing political climate he softpedals the Moscow archives, recently uncovered by issue. Guardian reporter Madeleine Bunting, re-1918 more Europeans lived in Antwerp's cohesive 20,000-strong Jew­ shed new light on the years of German multinational Empires than in ish community is, according to Liberal occupation of the Channel Islands. It was nation states. Since the disappear­ Party spokesman Andre Gantman, now P revealed that 46 suspected war criminals ance of the Habsburgs, Romanovs and waking up to the danger posed by the never faced prosecution, probably because Ottomans, nation states have been the Vlaams Blok. A Jewish-populated district the degree of collaboration would be ex­ norm - at least in Western Europe. Anti- has voted an Auschwitz survivor, who lec­ posed, as well as evidence of the largest Spanish Basques and even anti-French tures schoolchildren on the dangers of mass murder ever on British soil - an es­ Corsicans are more of a nuisance than a Fascism, on to the City Council. On the timated 3,000 imported slave labourers problem. 55-strong Council Gantman's Liberals died. The then Bailiff of Guernsey, who work closely with the other democratic The one West European State with a was knighted, provided the occupiers with parties to stymie the 18-strong Blok fac­ genuine deep-seated nationality problem names of Jewish residents. is Belgium. Here the Dutch-speaking tion. General elections loom ahead; they Flemings and Francophone Walloons have will show whether Belgian democracy is AJR member honoured been joined in a marriage of inconven­ inclined to put its head on the chopping Mrs. Eva Evans was appointed MBF" ience since the medieval Dukedom of Blok. for services to the University Associa­ Burgundy. DRG. tion for European Studies, the UK When Belgium gained independence in Association for European Law and the the 1830s, industrial Wallonia was ahead UK Committee for the College of of largely agricultural Flanders and Bruges in the New Year Honours list. French, a world language of culture, had Budapest remembers the edge over Dutch. Ever since, Flemish At a service in Budapest's Great Syna­ resentment at French predominance - part gogue, commemorating the 50th Schidlof Quartet real, part imaginary - has been a constant anniversary of the liberation of the The Schidlof Quartet, who are the guest in Belgian internal affairs. ghetto, the arrival of the Red Army was artistes of the AJR and the Wiener Li­ Surprisingly, under Nazi rule the lan­ recalled. They drove out the Nazis and brary at a concert at the Queen guage divide didn't matter a great deal; their Hungarian accomplices in the Arrow Elizabeth Hall on 14th May, are also 'Gauleiter' Degrelle was a French Cross, freeing some 150,000 Jewish survi­ playing in a concert of German-Jewish speaker and Walloon volunteers formed vors. The synagogue and the buildings composers for the Manor House Soci­ an entire division of the Waffen SS. Con­ around it have been renovated and a wall ety, in celebration of 50 years of peace, versely, Flemings as well as Walloons plaque commemorates the event. on 30th April.D helped to hide Jews. Over the past half century of independ­ ence, while Brussels has grown into the JACS Belsize Square 'capital of Europe', the internal wran­ gling has gone on unabated. These days cordial invitation is extended the Vlaams Blok (Flemish Nationalist to all AJR members to a recently Party) are setting the pace. The Blok has a A formed branch of 'JACS', the short term and long term agenda. In the Jewish Association of Cultural Societies. short run they demand the compulsory re­ Highlights of the programme to date have BELSIZE SQUARE patriation of immigrants, but their been a lively debate on the Israel Peace SYNAGOGUE ultimate goal is nothing less than the crea­ Accord between Laurence Brass, Malvyn tion of a sovereign Flemish state with a Benjamin and Sidney Shipton, Professor 51 BELSIZE SQUARE, NWS de-Frenchified Brussels as its capital. Eric Moonman sharing reminiscences of We offer a traditional style of While the attraction of such a far-reach­ his years as an M.P., and Sally Fiber talk­ religious service with Cantor, ing change for Dutch speakers can be ing on 'Family Life in the Jewish West Choir and organ doubted, the Blok's radical anti-immi­ End', a once vibrant community. grant platform has earned it an alarming Meetings are held every Tuesday after­ degree of popularity: nearly thirty percent noon from 2pm to 4pm at the Belsize Further details can be obtained of Antwerp's voters backed it at the last Square Synagogue Hall, London NW3, from our synagogue secretary municipal election. and a full and varied programme has been Filip Dewinter, the Blok leader, resem­ arranged for the spring and summer Telephone 071-794 3949 bles the Austrian would-be Fiihrer Haider. months covering political, social, cultural, He is young, speaks in measured tones religious and local issues. Annual mem­ Minister: Rabbi Rodney J. Mariner and dresses in Yuppie - rather than bership is £4 with 50p per meeting to Cantor: Rev Lawrence H. Fine skinhead - style. His anti-immigrant tub- cover the cost of refreshments. (You do Regular sei^ices: Friday evenings at 6.30 pm, thumping is directed at highly visible not need to be a member of the Belsize Saturday mornings at 10 am targets: Moroccan and Turkish unskilled Square Synagogue). For further informa­ Religion school: Sundays at 10 am to 1 pm labourers. Dewinter's hidden xenophobic tion please call Mrs. Henny Levin (at the agenda undoubtedly targets the Jews, but Synagogue) on 071-794 3949. Space donated by Pafra Limited

3 i^ AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

who gains in stature as life inexorably Renaissance Holocaust drains away from him. A similarly riven personality is of course the eponymous La reine Margot (France 1994, Director Queen Margot who grows before the be­ Patrice Chereau). On general release. dazzled cinema-goer's eyes from wayward royal strumpet into a warmly n La reine Margot (Jewish) compassionate creature. producer Claude Berri and his director But the film is more then the sum of its I put the story of the French Religious parts. What it is, ultimately, about is the Wars on screen to stunningly dramatic ef­ bloodlust generated by religious bigotry Israel's Finest Wines fect. It is, of course, a story brimful of and the way the French come to grips from the drama. In 16th-century France the Catho­ with their shameful past. A flavour of Na­ lic Valois, a dysfunctional family who run zism is conveyed by the murderous Golan Heights the Borgias a close second, occupy the Catholic mobs turning Paris streets into a throne, but their kingdom is threatened charnel-house, while shots of corpses be­ Yarden, Golan & Gamla by Spain from without and religious dis­ ing stacked after the massacre evoke Write, phone or fax sension from within. The veteran soldier images of the Holocaust. for full information Coligny, a Protestant, is a father figure to In visual terms La reine Margot comes the unstable mother-dominated King close to being a cinematic masterpiece, House of Hallgarten Charles. Coligny wants to unite Catholics and the performance of Isabelle Adjani and Protestants in a patriotic war against (Margot), Jean Hughes Anglade (Charles) Dallow Road, Luton LUI 1UR Spain. The same aim of unifying the reli­ and Lisa Virni (Catherine) are exemplary. Tel: 0582 22538 gious factions lies behind the marriage of For all that I would only advise those Fax: 0582 23240 the King's sister Margot to the leading with a strong stomach to go and see it. Protestant, Henry of Navarre. Queen URG. Mother Catherine de Medici, resentful of GERMAN BEDDING Coligny's influence over King Charles, PARTNER CENTRE arranges to have him killed. When the as­ (est. 1970) sassination is botched she hatches a larger in long established English Solicitors Experts for cleaning, re-covering, topping- plot to wipe out all the top-ranking Prot­ (bi-lingual German) would be happy up of down/feather filled duvets and estants (who are present in Paris for the to assist clients with English, German pillows. New German Kero-Step quality royal wedding). The retina-ravishing and Austrian problems. Contact Goose Down Duvets supplied. splendour of the wedding ceremony con­ Also German Sofa-Beds and Wall Beds. sequently soon gives way to a vast Henry Ebner For advice and price list gut-wrenching massacre which few Prot­ Tel. 081-500 3914 Myers Ebner & Deaner estants survive. Crucially, one survivor is 40 Trehearn Road, Hainault, Essex IG6 2NN 103 Shepherds Bush Road Margot's husband Henry, and another LondonW6 7LP her newly - and randomly -acquired lover, la Mole. Telephone 071 602 4631 AUSTRIAN and GERMAN PENSIONS Henry is a virtual prisoner in King ALL LEGAL WORK UNDERTAKEN Charles' palace where his life is threat­ ened by Catherine de Medici's ceaseless plotting. One plot involves gluing pages PROPERTY RESTITUTION of a hunting manual together with arsenic FOR THOSE YOU CARE MOST ABOUT CLAIMS paste. Alas, it isn't Henry, but the King EAST GERMANY- BERLIN who picks up the poisoned book. Not Springdene On instructions our office will that Catherine is overly dismayed at A modern nursing home wilh Charles' demise; she preferred her second 26 yrs ol excellence in heallh assist to deal with your son Anjou all along - a preference she care to the community. applications and pursue the Licensed by Barnei area shows with hugs and kisses that have lit­ health authority and matter with the authorities. tle of the maternal about them. recognised by BUPA & PPP. Anjou now becomes King, while Henry HYDROTHERAPY & For further Information and manages - with la Mole's help - to reach PHYSIOTHERAPY provided by full time chanered physiotherapists for appointment please the safety of his native Navarre. The film inpatients and outpatients. contact: ends with Margot, i.e. Henry's adulter­ ous wife and la Mole's lover, likewise SPRINGDENE 55 Oakleigh Park North, setting out for Navarre. Whetstone, London N.20 ICS CLAIMS La reine Margot interleaves the unfold­ 081-446 2117 146-154 Kilburn High Road ing of highly-charged historical events SPRINGVIEW 6-10 Crescent Road, Enfield. Our London NW6 4JD completely new purpose built hotel style with the lurid interplay of outsize person­ Tel: 071-328 7251 (Ext. 107) alities like the (literally) poisonous retirement home. All rooms with bathroom en-suite from C305 per week. 081-446 2117. Fax: 071-624 5002 Catherine de Medici and King Charles AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

meets the widow of Ribbentrop and Neo-Nazi leader, Rainer Sonntag, was Out to launch makes polite conversation about her Lon­ also engaged in sex shop protection rack­ Lord Weidenfeld, REMEMBERING MY GOOD don 'friends'. His encounters with these ets, and was shot dead by an enraged FRIENDS. Harper Collins, 1994, £20 notorious figures are described without shop owner (shades of the pimp Horst oming to England in 1938 as emotion. This deadpan approach occurs Wessel of the Nazi national anthem). In a 19-year-old with little financial also in what for others would have been a Berlin one of the leaders was revealed as a Cor emotional support (his parents highly charged experience - his first return former Stasi spy. did not get out of Austria till later), what to Vienna. There is just a brief mention of In Hungary, where the old Communists George Wcidenfeld has achieved is amaz­ the fact that his grandmother had been are re-forming under a new name, their ing. He describes his family as less than deported to a death-camp. opponents play on antisemitism, although orthodo.x, though descended from a long One of the most fascinating parts of the the author considers the Magyars less line of rabbis. His solitary childhood com­ book is his analysis of Israeli politics and given over to that 'pastime' than the bined with his father's library gave him personalities, including the rivalry be­ Czechs - and it goes without saying, the an early taste for reading. Young Arthur tween the aging Chaim Weizmann and Slovaks. Hockenos thinks that, in the (the name George was adopted later) Ben-Gurion. Lord Weidenfeld has a Czech rump, Vaclav Havel's towering went to a Catholic school in Vienna shrewd understanding of both the Arab presence obscures the prevailing hatred where he experienced encouragement attachment to their land which the Israelis for all minorities in that once totally from some teachers, hostility from others. underestimated, and the Israeli need for a Western and democratic state. Skinheads defensible country. Perhaps the most try to terrorise central Prague and there Going to university in 1937 he finds genuine feeling expressed in this book is have been bloody fights. some professors already seduced by the his awe at the 'miracle' of the founding Nazi doctrines of race and blood. With In Romania the Securitate, a 'cleaned- of the State of Israel which he has tried to duels de rigeitr, he proves his manliness by up' version of Ceausescu's political serve in many ways. fighting one, even though Jews were not militia, has penetrated the new parties. supposed to have this 'honourable' re­ His private life has not till lately been as Admittedly, Jew hatred has been obscured dress for insults. An interesting sidelight: successful as his public one and no won­ by the persecution of the Hungarian mi­ Kurt Waldheim helps him after the der, for with all these hundreds of good nority which, to its dismay, is coupled Anschluss by supplying notes of the lec­ and famous friends, how could he have with the few remaining Jews as Roma­ tures he is forbidden to attend. found time for it? He comes across as the nia's arch enemy. In Hungary the new man of action rather than deep thought Nazis present the matter precisely the After the arrest of his father, it becomes and one must accept his achievements as other way round. Enemy No.l are the clear that he must leave Austria. Arrived such. Gypsies, described as blacks by the obvi­ in England, he joins the circle of refugees UManha Blend ously colour-blind Balkanians. They share in the Hampstead area and is given hospi­ the persecution with foreign workers tality by various ladies prominent in the brought there by the Communist regimes. Jewish community, among them Mrs. These are often Vietnamese, but African Schwab. When war breaks out he is taken The East is red and Asian students are also attacked. in by a kindly English couple at Evesham Even tourists are not always exempt. The in the West Country. There one well- (or brown) skinheads consider themselves part of a meaning acquaintance remarks: "I hear Paul Hockenos, FREE TO HATE,The Rise ofthe kind of 'Neo Nazi International' though you come from Germany. Did you know Right in post-Communist Eastern Europe, they are just as capable of hating each the Gorings?" Routledge, 1993, £17.99. other when they belong to reciprocally He finds work with the BBC monitoring ree to Hate takes a sharp look at the hostile nations. German broadcasts to Europe. A friend astonishing events that followed the Antisemitism without Jews is the aston­ advises "You must get to know people!" breakdown of the Communist em­ ishing phenomenon most bizarrely present This he does with a vengeance. (In fact F pire. Everywhere the post-'89 era started in Poland where there are only 5,000 left. one or two of the chapters of his book as a carnival of democracy, and is now At election time no less a personage than read like an appendix to 'Who's Who' threatened by the escape of a Fascist genie Lech Walesa implied that his opponents in and should be rapidly skimmed over). from the bottle. There is nothing fictional the former Solidarity movement were With the end of the war, he conceives about it. Just old hates so long diverted rootless Jewish intellectuals. However, the the idea of a publishing house which he (rather than eradicated) masquerading in author sees the possibility of real demo­ launches with the help of a scion of one of new disguises when this is found advanta­ cratic forms emerging out of all this England's most illustrious families, Nigel geous - but where tolerated they take the turmoil. His solution: the inclusion of the Nicolson, the son of Vita Sackville-Wcst. past forms. With these differences: the East in a truly United Europe. They make an unlikely but apparently new stormtroopcrs, being skinheads, have UJohn Rossall symbiotic partnership. bald pates and are devotees of music their He publishes some novels, one of old mentors would have condemned as WIENER LIBRARY which, Nabakov's Lolita, nearly gets him decadent jungle rhythms. •SATANAT HIS BEST' into trouble with the law. However, his Hockenos underlines that the throw- film documenting chief interest is in publishing histories and backs to Stalinism and to Nazism often memoirs, notably Hitler's Table Talk and make common cause, from the Baltic to British POWs at Auschwitz the memoirs of Hitler's architect, .Spcer, the Black Sea and from the Oder to the Sunday 26th March, 3pm newly released from Spandau prison. He Danube. In the former GDR the Dresden Tel: 0171-636 7247 AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

- though even the converted need to be knowledgeable and well-briefed when im­ parting historical data. Penrhyn Road Deborah Goldberger j^^\0^Ji^^ Colwyn Bay, Clwyd ZIONISM NOT OK PROFESSOR TREASON OFTHE Sir - I want to express my concern that al­ SIR GEOFFREY ELTON INTELLECTUALS? most without exception, Zionist lies, disinformation and platitudes are swal­ Sir - The obituary of my late brother re­ Sir - Your 16 column inches sledgeham­ lowed whole by Jewish people everywhere fers to the 'fascinating fact' that he was mer not only failed to crack Dr. Klein's 2 who then wax lyrical about 'the miracle a descendant of one of Moses inch nut, it did not even hit it. You en­ that is Israel.' Mendelssohn's intimates and that this in­ tirely missed the point that Popper's And what nonsense to claim that the formation was obtained, not from him, philosophy belongs to a different world Ethiopian Jews were lifted out for hu­ but from another source. Our ancestor in from that of faith. manitarian reasons. This was a highly question can only have been our You scored some formidable intellectual secret and covert operation, undertaken greatgreatgrandfather Samuel Mayer minus points with all that mumbo jumbo with the consent of the White House, and Ehrenberg who, in establishing a liberal about the cerebral propensity of our an­ which, when it came to light, caused the Jewish School, followed in cestors. Evidently not all Jews benefit Israeli government considerable embar­ Mendelssohn's footsteps. However, as he equally from it! Also, grand-filial grati­ rassment. The whole point of this exercise was only thirteen when Mendelssohn died tude, homage and solidarity may have led was to further help destabilize the Ethio­ and to the best of my knowledge never some to Judaism, but it also led many pian economy, already prey to a dreadful even met him, he can hardly have been more into morally indefensible dogma. civil war and to acquire a ready-made one of his intimates. Could it be that the In the interests of brevity I won't go underclass for the state of Israel. 'fascinating fact' could not be obtained on. Belgrave Street Stefan George from my brother, because of the latter's Potter Street H.S Grunewo/d Rochdale respect for historical accuracy? Pinner, Middx. Two articles in the same issue of AJR Sir - When seen against the historical Sir - What an insult to say I was dimin­ seem to me relevant to your statement background, the only valid indigenous ti­ ished by failure to recover a Jewish that Geoffrey was 'decidedly lukewarm tle of the land, maliciously called identity I never had! to his own heritage and no longer consid­ Palestine by Rome, belongs to the Jews. Just to escape your censure, as being be­ ered himself a Jew'. In 'Treason of the Until well into this century, the Arabs reft of nobility I would have had to learn Intellectuals' you castigate two eminent regarded 'Palestine', a national entity Hebrew, and the Torah, and become a savants. Popper and Bondi, who - like unknown in their history, as an un­ hypocrite, confessing a religion I had Geoffrey - found their spiritual home not founded and arbitrary demarcation of never learnt, did not believe in, disagreed where their forefathers' had been, as hav­ modern origin imposed by outside powers with, from which I had been separated by ing been 'diminished by their failure'. against their wishes. In contrast, for Jews two generations,. . . what an extraordi­ But you do not apply the same yardstick mindful of their people's history, it delin­ nary idea.!! in 'A celluloid cabal', when you state eated their ancient, unrelinquished Connaught Ave E.H. Kenneth that current leading Hollywood Jews have homeland (never claimed as such by any Grimsby no connections with their founding fa­ other people), from which they had been forcibly exiled as punishment for their thers, 'some of whose number were HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL veritable monsters'. epic resistance to Roman domination. Sir - From his elevated position ex-Chief Kingsley Road S. Goodman Mendelssohn himself might have had Rabbi Lord Jakobovits has declared him­ Kingswinford, W. Midlands more sympathy than you for those who self on the BBC's Timewatch - opposed left the Jewish faith. ''Die edle, massvolle, to the establishment of a British-based DR. KELLNER'S PROPHECY milde und ruhige Person des Nathan (ist) Holocaust Commemoration and Docu­ selbst das getreue Bild Moses mentation Centre. If he thinks it is time to Sir - According to Mr Huttrer Mendelssohn's" (S. Hensel, Die Eamilie let bygones be bygones and to start look­ (Chajesgymnasium Reunion, January is­ Mendelssohn, Berlin 1989, p. 15) and it ing to the future by funding Jewish sue) Dr. Kellner movingly remarked was Nathan - in Lessing's great play - schools rather than (if I understand him 'Shema Israel will be said for longer than who said: "Der echtc Ring vermutlich correctly) waste moneys on a solitary Heil Hitler' on the occasion of the clo­ ging verloren". Or, as Frederick the Holocaust Memorial, I would ask him a sure of the school in October 1939. This Great, Mendelssohn's contemporary and pertinent question: is not correct. The remark was made a noted representative of the enlighten­ In over twenty years as Chief rabbi did more than a year earlier at a Maturafeier ment, said: "/« meinem Staate kann jeder he ever attempt to persuade his flock to in 1938. I was myself present, and it was nach seiner Fagon selig werden". perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust a highly emotive occasion with Nazi flags Great Quarry Professor Lewis Elton among future generations? Preaching to flying on the surrounding buildings and Guildford, Surrey the converted is not what this is all about the Viennese police actually guarding the AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

building against attacks! Dr. Kellner emi­ Though my "Austrian credentials" This would not change the fact that grated to Palestine in December 1938 and were made clear right from the start, I 'we are what we are' (Mr. David's mes­ the headship was taken over by Prof. would still have accepted the decision but sage in the November '94 issue). 'AJER' Noel. for one fact: I know for certain that a still includes the word 'refugee', so I Priory Gardens Henriette Fishlock number of women who applied under the think as an ex-refugee whose father died London N6 same conditions (Altoesterreicher) have in Dachau in November 1938, I'll settle already received the Kinderbeitrag. for that. FACILE EDITORIAL The only explanation I can find for this, Linfelds K.L Orpen is that the rules were changed in the Lt. Chalfont, Amersham Sir - If, as you truthfully say, we are in­ "middle of the game". That does not deed 'brothers under the skin' you surely seem good enough. I should think we Sir - The majority of Central European cannot take serious exception to anybody have suffered enough without being made Jewish refugees who arrived here pre-war getting confused about the relative politi­ fools of as well. neither invoked pity nor expected or re­ cal identity you claim for us. Are you The Green, Jenny Zundel ceived charity. We arrived with very little really suggesting that a Tibetan Buddhist Southgate except a multitude of skills and a desire to and, say, a Burmese Buddhist are compa­ live without fear of persecution. rable in their political identification with REFUGEES NO MORE? Unlike successive waves of economic an Israeli and a non-Israeli Jew in theirs? migrants who, on arrival, received hous­ The complexity of this matter surely does Sir - True, we are no longer refugees, but ing, child and other state benefits, our not lend itself to such facile treatment. we are identified in this way and probably generation received nothing. We did, Harcourt Drive Arnold Rosenstrauch have little choice. While one should not however, contribute immediately to Brit­ Earley, Reading accept other people's perceptions of one­ ain's scientific, artistic and economic life. self, it is foolish to ignore them altogether To imply that our refugee status in some The term 'refugee' seems to me to be FACING THE WRONG WAY way reproaches the indigenous population an invisible parallel to the tattoo marks of with being unkind or unhelpful is ridicu­ Sir - What a good idea - in your January our less fortunate sisters and brothers. lous. Refugees we were and refugees we issue - to point Iphigenie "searching for These can be removed, but only at the ex­ remain. After fifty-three years of living in the Land of the Cireeks with her soul" in pense of pain for the people concerned. England, which I love, I still feel a a different direction, as she had obviously Mallwyd Manfred Landau 'Mischling'. I am neither English nor not found it for over a hundred years in Machynlleth central European - just a happy and set­ the direction that Feuerbach pointed her. tled refugee. Decoy Avenue Hanne Norbert Sir - To say wc arc not refugees implies Loughborough Road Bob Norton London NWl I that we have overcome the trauma of our Ruddington, Nottingham past, and been fully absorbed in the cul­ ture of our host country. INJUSTICE Sir - We have all made some sort of life But is this correct? Even if we had an for ourselves. I have many English friends Sir - I would like to protest through your 'easy' emigration, many of us still suffer and acquaintances, and I hardly ever pages against the apparent injustice a nightmares, or harbour feelings of guilt. speak German. 1 never read German lit­ number of Austrian Refugees suffered at What about language? How many of us erature now; too difficult to translate. I the hands of the Bundcsvcrsicher- are accent-free? And arc our fears for the am British-naturalised, and later by mar­ ungsanstalt fuer Angestellte (BFA), Berlin. future of Europe not more intense because riage, but I am not an emigrant, nor an Some time ago it became known that of our past experience? ex-refugee. women born before 1921, with children Our memories go back to Hermann I am a refugee from Nazi oppression, born abroad before 1949 could apply for Leopoldi (I was born in Vienna), and not grateful to this country for saving my life Kindererziehtmgsleistungen under the Gracie Fields, and, dare I confess, I some­ (and of course loyal to Israel as well), but Vorschriften ueber die Wieder­ times count in my original language. Fate I am a REFUGEE! gutmachung nationalsozialistischen has decreed that we live in a foreign coun­ Colmer Road Ruth Le^ott Unrechts (WGSVG) . . . gemaess 294 try, and most of us are happy here and Streatham, London SWl6 SGB VI. consider it home. But not even the Angli­ Together with numerous others I made cised spelling of a family name shows that an application to the BFA including a we are assimilated, any more than a small Simon P. Rhodes M.Ch.S. multitude of photocopied documents, Xmas tree did so many years ago. duly "stamped" by the German F>mbassy. Maxwelton Close H.E Reiner STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST My application was acknowledged, I was Mill Hill. London NW7 sent further forms which I returned fully Surgery hours: answered. Sir - You mention (p.14, January issue) 8.30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday To my great surprise I received a letter 'The Association of Jewish Ex-Berliners'. 8.30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday this month informing mc that I was "eli­ On that basis, and to be logical, is it not Visiting chiropody service available gible in principle" but because I had my time for you to decide to change the mast­ "ordinary abode" from 12.03.33 to head of your journal to AJFTl Information 67 Kilburn High Road, NW6 (opp. M&S) 13.03.38 in Austria the directions about - for members of the Association of Jew­ Telephone 071-624 1576 Kinderheitrag did not apply to me. ish F^x-Refugees? B»BB^»TOg8majsi»gwwBrag!irowwr-t»'g'i''.^^ AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

Timely help From time to time, however, the AJR Midlands AJR has to put its 'rescue operation' into ac­ any of our members, now well tion. Recently, one of our elderly meeting to consider the viability into their retirement years, gentlemen members failed to respond to a of inaugurating an AJR group, M continue to lead active and fulfill­ routine call and neither did he reply to the A based on Birmingham and serving ing lives and to pursue a wide variety of telephone. AJR's social worker, suspect­ members in the Midlands area, took place interests, which may include days at the ing something was not quite right, in December last year and was attended Balint AJR Day Centre and most certainly persisted in trying to reach him, assuming, by 18 people. reading AJR Information from cover to rightly as it turned out, that he was at cover. Many members also have good rea­ home but in some kind of difficulty. Following discussion, it was agreed to son to appreciate the key supportive role begin regular gatherings and to make fur­ Eventually she heard sounds of move­ played by the AJR's social workers in ther contact with fellow ex-refugees to providing all manner of extra help which ment and, with patience and encouragement passed through the offer help where needed. The importance enables them to maintain their independ­ of meeting others from similar back­ ence, in their own homes, as long as letterbox, coaxed Mr.X to the the door grounds was also recognised, particularly possible. which he just managed to open before the emergency services were called. Mr. X (we for people living in the country who had can't reveal his name for professional little contact with other Jews. reasons) was in great pain having fallen in WHO'S WHO IN THE AJR the bathroom and, it later transpired, A committee was formed to consider fractured his leg. An ambulance was further the content and venue for future called immediately. meetings: F^dgar Glaser (Chairman), HEAD OFFICE Theresa Bloom, Henry Aron, Fred Fortunately, Mr. X comes from a tough Landau and Ken &c Sonja Shindler. Ernest David - Director school and soon made a very good recov­ Carol Rossen - ery, but living on his own in his weakened The next meeting of Midlands AJR will Assistant to Director condition would inevitably lead to further take place on 26th March 1995, at 3pm, falls and he might not be so lucky next at the Birmingham Progressive Syna­ Agi Alexander - time. So the social worker successfully put gogue, 4 Sheepcote Street, Birmingham Head of Social Services a strong case for him to be admitted to an B16 8AA. (Sheepcote Street is off Broad Otto Schiff Housing Association home. Norah Gittings - Social Worker Street and the synagogue is the second There he has settled in very happily. His Wendi Wilson - Social Worker children, who now visit him regularly, arc building on the right). The meeting will be Ruth Finestone - Social Worker delighted with the AJR's professionalism, preceded by a light lunch at 1.30pm; please let Corinne Oppenheimer know in Laura Howe - dedication and concern, and are grateful advance if you require lunch. Volunteers Co-Ordinator for the warm and caring environment their father now enjoys.D Tel. no: 0121-705 9529.0 Katia Gould - Sheltered Accommodation Richard Grunberger - AJR'Drop in'Advice Centre AJR SEDER NIGHT Paul Balint AJR Day Centre Editor AJR Information 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 Ronald Channing - We are pleased to announce that a between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on the following dates; Publications & PR Manager Tuesday 7 March 1995 SECOND NIGHT SEDER Wednesday 15 March 1995 Gordon Greenfield - Accountant Thursday 23 March 1995 Andrea Goodmaker - will be held on Saturday 15 April Monday 27 March 1995 Tuesday 4 April 1995 Lynsey Zimmerman - at the Paul Balint AJR Day Centre and every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Reception/Membership 15 Cleve Road, NW6 AJR, I Hampstead Gate, la Frognal, led by London NW3 DAY CENTRE Cantor Marshall Stone

Please phone: 0171-328 0208 No appointment is necessary, but please bring along Sylvia Matus - all relevant documents, such as benefit books, for application forms. letters, bills, etc. Day Centre Organiser Seating is strictly limited Renee Lee - Assistant Organiser so prompt replies will be required to ensure places. Joanne Botsman - Assistant Anneiy Juda Fine Art Unfortunately, as there is limited space, Joan Kupler - Assistant 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) Susie Kaufman - wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Tei: 071-629 7578 Fax: 071-491 2139 Catering Manager 6 p.m. for 6.30 p.m. CONTEMPORARY PAINTING Joseph Periera - Caretaker £18 per person AND SCULPTURE AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

Message from Ernest David Dimbleby's first impression on entering In the midst of evil and widespread in­ Belsen without his once mentioning the difference, there were bright spots of he Jewish calendar contains word Jews, and even when he revisited goodness, and during our Purim celebra­ days of commemoration of death the site in 1965, there was no mention of tions we, who escaped murder, can rejoice and destruction and days which Jews, but the final shot showed a large at being alive and resolve to do all in our T cross. As Hlie Wiesel said, "Not all vic­ commemorate liberation. With Purim cel­ power to fight intolerance. ebrating a disaster avoided, those of us tims were Jews, but all Jews were Happy Purim! who managed to escape from the Shoah victims." DErnest David can take stock and be thankful. The programme on the silence of Pope We are thankful that we were lucky Pius XII was also illuminating, in that, •Kaffee Klatsch' enough to have been allowed into a even when he did make cautious mention he atmosphere of a Vienna democratic country, whose people are of suffering, for example in his encyclical Kaffeehaus was reinvoked at the generally far less antisemitic than those of 'mit brennender Sorge', again there was T Paul Balint AJR Day Centre when many other nations. no mention of Jewish suffering. This man, members enjoyed a 'Kaffee Klatsch'. It is impressive that so much media ef­ who is being considered for beatification, The caterers did everyone proud with fort is going into the commemoration of only once condemned Nazism unambigu­ apfelstrudel, Viennese pastries and a vari­ those of our people who, 50 years ago, ously. That was in June 1945. Luckily, ety of open sandwiches. A very pleasant were not so lucky, and yet some of the despite the lack of condemnation of State afternoon was completed by playing Vien­ programmes shown on television give murder by the Vatican, the church at nese music, on members' own records, some food for thought. grass roots level in various countries did which brought nostalgia and amusement It was quite eerie to listen to Richard help to shelter and rescue Jews. in equal measure to many.D

PAUL BALINT AJR Thursday 9 EMOTION - RHYTHMS Monday 27 THE BUSHEY SHOW DAY CENTRE & GESTURES - THE GROUP POWER OF INDIAN Tuesday 28 OPERA & OPERETTA DANCE - Presented by IN MARCH - Laurence Lakshmi Haas Hart (Baritone) & Joanne Tei. 071 328 0208 Sunday 12 GENERAL FelJerman (Soprano) KNOWLEDGE QUIZ - accompanied by Geoffrey Open Tuesday and Thursday 9.,30 a.m.- Presented by Lily Rudolfer Whitworth I'Piano) 6.30 p.m., .Monday and Wednesday 9.30 Monday 13 "HAMANTASHEN" - A Wednesday 29 JERRY WRAY - a.m.- 3.30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.- 6.30 PURIM CONCERT by MEMBER OF THE p.m. Ronnie Goldberg (Songs METROPOLITAN & Guitar) POLICE BAND - Tuesday 14 "QUARTISSIMO" AT Entertains on Clarinet &C Morning Activities - Bridge, kalookie, PURIM - Alison Friend, Keyboard scrabble, chess, etc., keep fit, discussion Norma Roth, Suzanne Thursday 30 THE BEST OF THE group, choir (Mondays), an class (Tuesdays Goodman, Ann Sadan 'CANTUS' PIANO and Thursdays). accompanied by Sheila TRIO - Amanda Palmer Games (Piano) (Soprano) Armen Boldy Wednesday 15 TWO VOICES & A (Tenor) accompanied by Afternoon entertainment - PIANO - Eddy Simmons Marek Dabrowski- Pernas & Helen Blake (Piano) MARCH Thursday 16 WIZO CHOIR AT Wednesday 1 ALL THAT JAZZ- PURIM Kathleen & Miriam Sunday 19 ANNETTE SAVII.LE APRIL Gilbert (Violin) ENTERTAINS FOR Sunday 2 AN APRIL CONCERT - accompanied by Bridget PURIM Gordon Mackay (Violin) Marshall (Piano) Monday 20 THE MUSICAL DUO - & Geoffrey Whitworth Thursday 2 LIGHT CLASSICAL Jack Harris & Happy (Piano) MUSIC - Trinity College Branston Monday 3 VIENNESE MUSIC - of Music Tuesday 21 AN AFTERNOON OF Claude May (Baritone) Sunday 5 DAY CENTRE OPEN - MUSICAL with Self Accompaniment NO ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT - Tuesday 4 A MEDLEY OF SONGS Monday 6 THE GEOFFREY Lara Jane Moyler &C ARIAS FROM STRUM & JOHNNY (Soprano) accompanied MUSICALS, OPERETTA WALTON DUO by Marek Dabrowski- & OPERA - Kim Whyte ( Tuesday 7 SPRINGTIME Pernas (Piano) Soprano with Self Piano MISCELLANY - Popular Wednesday 22 ".50 YEARS ON - A Accompaniment) Songs & Arias - Michacla 1940s VARIETY SHOW" Wednesday 5 A CONCERT FOR AN Davies (Soprano) - Anita Elias APRIL AFTERNOON - accompanied by Jean Paul Thursday 23 SPRING Geoffrey Strum Gandv (Piano) MUSIC & SONG - accompanied by Johnny Wednesday 8 HEBE & GEOFFREY IN Sue Kennett (Soprano) Walton (Piano)' HAR.MONY - Hebe accompanied by Gordon Thursday 6 THE MUSIC MAKERS - (Soprano) accompanied Weaver (Piano) Elizabeth Winton & Stan by Geoffrey Whitvvorth Sunday 26 DAY CENTRE OPEN - Longmire with piano (Piano) NO ENTERTAINMENT accompaniment AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

FAMILY EVENTS Companion/Carers Manicure and Pedicure in the Birthdays Active elderly widower requires comfort of your own home. Tele­ SHELTERED FLATS Schiller Congratulations and best kind and caring housekeeper/com­ phone 081 455 7582. TO LET wishes to Susie Schiller on her panion. Own room, modern flat, A choice of studio & two room 90th birthday (22nd February) St. Johns Wood. Please write to flats now available at from Trude, Leni, Friedl, Ida, Box No. 1274. WOULD YOU .. Eleanor Rathbone House Ruth and Gary. . . give up a few hours to visit Highgate N6 members in Holborn, Westbourne Details from: Mrs K. Gould, Diamond Wedding Miscellaneous Park, W2, or take out someone AJR, on 071-431 6161 Tuesday and Thursday Electrician City and Guilds quali­ from Wembley? Voluntary visitors AJR members Eva and Rudi needed! mornings. Jones (Jonas) celebrated their Dia­ fied. All domestic work Viewing by appointment only mond Wedding in January. Their undertaken. Y. Steinreich. Tel: Please ring Laura Howe, AJR marriage took place in Paris on 081 455 5262. office, 071 431 6161 Tues./Friday 3rd January 1935. FOR FAST EFFICIENT FRIDGE & FREEZER REPAIRS 7-day service Deaths All parts guaranteed Romano Elvira Romano died 3rd IRENE FASHIONS January 1995. A special lady who J. B. Services formerly of Swiss Cottage. will be sadly missed by her many Tel. 081-202 4248 friends at the AJR Balint Day Sizes 10 to 50 hips until 9 pm Centre. Romano Elvira (Vera). Sadly CLOSING DEFINITELY END OF MONTH missed by her friends Eva and Everything Must Go Residential Home Mary. Clara Nehab House Summer & Autumn Dresses and 2-pieces, suits, skirts, slacks, (Leo BaecK Housing Associaton Ltd.) Aronow Alexander Aronow jackets, blouses, cocktail wear and rainwear 13-19 Leeside Crescent NWll passed away 1st December 1994. Buy now and save £££s All rooms with Shower W.C. and Mourned by his wife and family. H/C Basins en-suite For an early appointment kindly ring before 11 a.m. King Ronald Michael King Spacious Garden - Lounge & (Werner Oppenheim, Kinder or after 7 p.m. 081-346 9057. Dining Room - Lift Transport from Berlin). Peacefully Near Shops and PublicTransport on 7 January 1995 in London 24 Hour Care - Physiotherapy aged 72 years. Eternally loved - Long & short Term - Respite Care Shalom. ANTHONY J. NEWTON -Trial Periods Enquiries: Mrs Gloria Randall Fulda Louise Fulda, formerly of & CO Otto Schiff Housing Association Breslau/Munich, passed away on The Bishops Avenue N2 OBG SOLICITORS Phone: 081-209 0022 1.1.95 in her 99th year. Much loved mother of Beatrice and 22 Fitzjohns Avenue, Hampstead, NW3 5NB Henry and sadly missed by all her R.&G. family and many friends. ALL LEGAL WORK UNDERTAKEN (ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS) Bischoff Olga Bischoff, nee LTD. Lobel, wife of Hermann and well Telephone: 071-435 5351/071-794 9696 loved teacher of rythmic gymnas­ tics at the Berlin Bar Kochba 199b Belsize Road, NW6 1935-38, and Bulawayo, Rhode­ 624 2646/328 2646 sia, until 1960. Passed away ADVERTISEMENT RATES peacefully aged 89, on 25th Janu­ BELSIZE SQUARE FAMILY EVENTS Members: E.C.A. ary 1995 after a long illness. APARTMENTS First 15 words free of charge, N.I.C.E.I.C. C2.00 per 5 words thereafter Deeply mourned by her daughter 24 BELSIZE SQUARE, N.W.S Ann. CLASSIFIED Tel: 071-4307 or 071-435 2557 E2.00 per five words. ALTERATIONS Kreisky Gerda Kreisky has left us BOX NUMBERS OF ANY KIND TO for ever, after a long stay in hospi­ C3.00 extra. LADIES' FASHIONS tal. We shall miss her and MODERN SELF-CATERING HOLIDAY ROOMS, RESIDENT HOUSEKEEPER DISPLAY, SEARCH NOTICES I also design and make remember her with affection. Ilse MODERATE TERMS per single column Inch children's clothes Evans, Betty Goldschmidt and NEAR SWISS COTTAGE STATION 16 ems (3 columns per page) £10.00 West Hampstead area Ruth Young. 12 ems (4 columns per page) £9.00 071-328 6571 Bertram Irma Bertram, died 13th January 1995. Remembered with SWITCH ON love and will be sadly missed by TORRINGTON HOMES The AJR does not accept all her family and friends. ELECTRICS MRS. PRINGSHEIM, S.R.N. responsibility for the MATRON Segal Dora Segal, on 6th Febru­ Rewires and all fiousefiold For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent Standard of service ary 1995, at Edenhall Marie electrical work. (Licensed Oy Borough of Barnetj renderedt)y advertisers. • Single and Double Rooms. Curie Centre, died peacefully after PHONE PAUL: 081-200 3518 a short illness. Leaves a void in • H/C Basins and CH in all rooms. the lives of her family and many • Gardens, TV and reading rooms. • Nurse on duty 24 hours. friends. C. H. WILSON Erratum Carpenter • Long and short term, including trial period if required. German-Jewish Dilemma Dora Segal Painter and Decorator French Polisher From £250 per week University of Sussex Obituary Antique Furniture Repaired 081-445 1244 Office hours 21st to 24th March '95 Tel: 081-452 8324 081-455 1335 other times in next issue Car: 0831 103707 39Tornngton Park, N.12 (not from 12th as given) AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

Alice Schwab Other exhibitions include the Channel Is­ tional Portrait Gallery (until 25 June). lands, Fashion on the Ration and War The National GaUery is showing Span­ Paint. ish Still Life: From Velasquez to Goya, There are three fine exhibitions at the sponsored by Glaxo Holdings pic (until National Portrait Gallery. The first is The 21 May). Three early scenes of everyday road from 1945: Makers of post-war Brit­ life by Velasquez are on display, as well as ain (until 18 June) which comprises a four still-life paintings by Goya. selection from its portraits of the period, The Revival of the Palladian Style. including Attlee, Bevan, Beveridge, Lord Burlington and his House and Gar­ he Ben Uri Art Society is showing Churchill, Gaitskell, Wilson, etc., as well den at Chiswick is the subject of a Royal (until 9 April) a wide range of as portraits of scientists, artists and per­ Academy exhibition (until 2 April). T Irene Scheinmann's works, includ­ sonalities from the world of cinema, Richard Boyle, third earl of Burlington ing her recent series of paintings and radio, music and sport. (1694-1753) was the architect and owner etchings entitled The New Wilderness. Also at the National Portrait Gallery of Chiswick House. He was a leader of Irene, Baghdad born, has lived in England (until 11 June) is Richard Avedon: Evi­ the Palladian Revival and developed for many years; she has exhibited widely dence 1944-1994. This is a retrospective Chiswick House on an understanding of and was the founder of the European exhibition organised by the Whitney Mu­ the architecture of Palladio, reworked in a artists' association 'Print Europe'. To­ seum of American Art of the work of a new and original style. The gardens were gether with Irene Scheinmann's work, photographer who occupies a prominent laid out by William Kent over a period of the Ben Uri will also be showing sculp­ and singular position in recent art history. seventeen years. The exhibition includes tures by Dania Appel, her first exhibition The exhibition is sponsored by Harpers 122 paintings, drawings and engravings in London. Dania trained in Switzerland and Queens and contains some 200 black of the house and garden. Each Sunday and Israel and studied stone carving with and white photographs covering 50 years during the exhibition at 1.30pm a compli­ the Romanian sculptor Tuvia luster. of Avedon's work. mentary bus service, provided by English Gydrgy Gordon, born in Hungary in Heritage, will travel from the Royal 1924 and trained at the Budapest Acad­ Academy to Chiswick House and return emy of Fine Art, fled to England during from there at 4pm. the Hungarian uprising in 1956. For 20 Willem de Kooning is considered one of years he taught at the Wakefield College the most influential American artists. An of Art. A retrospective exhibition of his exhibition of some 70 of his paintings, paintings and drawings, to celebrate his drawn from collections all over the world, 70th birthday, is being held at the Na­ is at the Tate Gallery (until 7 May).D

Museum mounted an exhibition. Though SB's Column best known for his novels set in the old monarchy (e.g. Radetzkymarsch), Roth Irene Scheiiimanii, 'The Tree of Life', etching. reasure Trove. The epic of also made his contribution to contempo­ Jewish extermination, originally rary journalism and was a staunch An exhibition of Literary Portraits, called 'Dos Lied fun ojsgehargetn opponent of rising National Socialism. photographs by Mark Gerson FBIPP, is at T jiddischen Volk', just published by Member of the Vienna literary circle and the Manor House (until 15 March). Kiepenheuer & Witsch, is a poem of con­ a friend of Stefan Zweig, Joseph Roth had Gerson claims to have photographed siderable length, written in Yiddish by an untimely death at the age of 45 as an more literary figures than anyone else in Jizchak Katzenelson and translated into exile in Paris. this country and fifty works are being German by Wolf Biermann, who recently Advance announcement. The Royal Op­ shown, including portraits of Somerset recited excerpts at the Vienna Burgtheater. era House Covent Garden announces a Maugham, Evelyn Waugh, Pinter, The work was written in Auschwitz dur­ balletic triple programme including La Priestley, Golding and Arnold Wesker. He ing 1943/44, its author murdered there in Ronde, to be premiered on 27th April will be having a major retrospective exhi­ 1945. The manuscript, hidden in bottles (booking from 20th March). It is based bition at the National Portrait Gallery and in a leather suitcase, was subse­ on the play by Arthur Schnitzler, with next year. quently smuggled into Palestine. music composed in Hollywood by Erich The Imperial War Museum is marking Biermann, who has been a translator for Wolfgang Korngold (not identical with its 1995 Victory Festival by an exhibition over 30 years, calls it 'the most impor­ the waltz theme by Oscar Straus). about London and Londoners at war, tant work about the greatest tragedy in Obituary. Peter Hay, the Austrian actor through photographs, films, sound re­ history'. It is a sincere effort to transfer and cabaretist who has died at the age of cordings, documents and personal knowledge of the Holocaust from peo­ 80, was a popular figure on Vienna's mementoes, incprporating a Civil Defence ple's brains into their hearts, which, 'smaller stages' such as the 'Simpl' HQ in the Blitz and a Lyons Corner Biermann hopes, will give future genera­ where he was regularly seen during the House. In the Home Front Memorial Gal­ tions greater understanding. Fifties and Sixties. He also partnered Karl lery there will be the names of 60,000 Joseph Roth - a remarkable Austrian Farkas in the top television programme men, women and children killed by enemy author. To mark the centenary of Galicia- Bilanz der Saison.O action during the Second World War. born Joseph Roth, the Vienna Jewish AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

Those Jews who were not shot on ar­ created an economic empire by supplying Hitler and the rival were crammed into the already labour, including prisoners of war and overcrowded ghettoes of Warsaw, Lodz foreign workers, to firms making arma­ Holocaust (Part 6) and other Polish cities, and those who sur­ ments. The availability of cheap labour Continued: Lord Bullock's authoritative vived the conditions there were gassed led Germany's leading chemical firm to lecture given under the auspices of the during the 'cleansing' of the ghettos in build a synthetic rubber factory adjoining Yad Vashem Committee of the Board of 1942. Auschwitz and to add a labour camp of Deputies. Having launched the deportation pro­ its own, Monowitz, as part of the Ausch­ gramme precipitately in the autumn of witz complex. The Jews who were fit 1941 on Hitler's orders, the SS leaders enough were not immediately killed but he whole operation was wrapped found it necessary to call a conference to were literally worked to death in appall­ in secrecy. As little as possible was discuss the large-scale problems of organi­ ing conditions. Their final release came committed to paper, and where T sation involved in carrying out 'a total only when they were removed to the gas that was unavoidable, it was standard solution of the Jewish question in Eu­ chambers. Methodical as always, even in procedure, strictly followed, to employ rope'. Known as the Wannsee costing murder, the SS accountants made such coded euphemisms for extermination Conference, it met in Berlin on 20th Janu­ an estimate of their operating costs: as evacuation, 'resettlement' or 'special ary 1942. The hiring of concentration-camp in­ treatment'. Hitler made clear what he The minutes of the meeting record: mates to industrial enterprises yields an wanted orally, leaving it to Himmler and average return of 6 to H RM, from which Around 11 million Jews come into con­ Heydrich, as leaders of the SS, to convey 70 pfennig must be deducted for food and sideration for this final solution of the the necessary orders, using the stock for­ clothing. Assuming an inmate's life ex­ European Jewish question, who are dis­ pectancy to be nine months, we must mula in accordance with the Fuhrer's tributed among the individual countries as multiply this sum by 270.'The total is wishes. follows. {Among those listed were the 1,431 RM. This profit can be increased by An answer, however, had to be found to rational utilisation of the corpse, i.e. by 330,000 Jews in England and 4,000 tn the question of how the SS proposed to means of gold teeth fillings, women's Ireland}. In the process of carrying out put to death, under conditions of secrecy, hair (used for stuffing mattresses), cloth­ the final solution Europe will be combed ing, valuables, etc., but on the other hand several million Jews brought together through from west to east. every corpse represents a loss of 2 RM from all over Europe. We can document which is the cost of cremation. The Wannsee Conference accepted that in detail the steps by which the methods priority must be given to the 'cleansing' This can be accurately described as 'the used moved from (a) the use of carbon of occupied Poland. Himmler required the industrialisation of murder'. monoxide in specially built trucks, devel­ members of each SS team selected for oped by Herbert Lange, one of the To be continued 'special duties' to swear personally an euthanasia programme technicians, to (b) oath of silence, telling them: 'I have to the purpose-built gas chambers, devel­ expect of you superhuman acts of inhu­ oped by another recruit from the manity. But it is the Fuhrer's will.' SEARCH NOTICES euthanasia programme, Christian Wirth, Goebbels, who had given the signal for to (c) the use of prussic acid gas, Zyklon Historian Seeking Internees. If you Kristallnacht, wrote in his diary on 27th B. which enabled the SS technicians at were a Jewish refugee interned in Great March 1942: Auschwitz to claim that they were able to Britain at the beginning of World War II, I Starting with Lublin, the deportation of exceed the 'productivity' of the other the Jews to the east has been set in mo­ would like to talk to you about your ex­ death factories. tion. It is a pretty barbarous business - periences. Please contact Professor Hitler did not wait for all the practical one would not wish to go into details - Maxine Seller, 23 Clifton Gardens, Little problems to be solved before ordering the and there are not many Jews left. One Venice, London W9 lAR. I will arrange simply cannot be sentimental about these our interview at the time and place most deportation of the remaining Jews from things ... The Fiihrer is the moving spirit Berlin, Vienna and Prague. The gas cham­ of this radical solution both in word and convenient for you. bers, however, were not yet ready to deed. Peter Jennings, born 19.7.1902 and receive such numbers. What happened A year later Himmler had a report pre­ Gertrude nee Guttman, born 15.9.18, can be illustrated by two examples from pared for Hitler on the progress made of Vienna, sought by a relative in Israel. the former Baltic States investigated in with the Final Solution during 1942. The Please respond to Box No. 1275. post-war trials. Five convoys of German total number of Jews who had received Jews from Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Vi­ 'special treatment' - altered to read Edmund Eric Mandle. The State Trus­ enna and Breslau which arrived in Kovno 'who had passed through camps in the tees of Melbourne, Victoria. Australia, are were massacred in Fort IX on 25th and Government General' - was 1,873,000. seeking the heirs of Eric Mandle, a 29th November. In Riga, another thou­ Re-typed on the special Fiihrer typewriter 'Dunera Boy', who died intestate in 1991. sand from Berlin who had been kept in a with large letters for Hitler to read, it was Born June 25th 1913 in Austria to Max siding all night were pulled out of the eventually returned to Eichmann with Ludwig Mandle and Helena, nee train and shot between 8.15 and 9 Himmler's instruction: 'The Fuhrer has Friedmann, he had a younger sister o'clock in the morning. They were fol­ taken note: destroy. HH'. Emilie. Please contact Messrs. Marotta or lowed the same day by 14,000 Jewish With the ever-growing demands of the White, State Trustees, Melbourne, on inhabitants from Riga itself who were armed forces on German man-power, the (03) 677 6444 or 1800 133 095 (Toll massacred in snow-covered pits in the inmates in concentration camps became Free) with any information on him, or the Rumbuli Forest outside the city. important as a source of labour. The SS whereabouts of his sister and family.

12 AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

UK has with the EU stem from distorted conference. This, according to Pauline Letter from the reporting. Things to our advantage seem Green, was a hugely important develop­ not to be reported at all and events such ment. In the long term she is optimistic European Union as the addition to the EU of the above na­ about the future. tions, are not reported properly. He We also spoke about domestic matters ewish Conservative ex-MEP Derek maintains that media hype runs the UK. of importance to the Jewish community in Prag tells the following story. Just This feeling is shared by Pauline Green. the UK. We touched on Shechita. David after Margaret Thatcher was ousted During all the hysteria about cucumber Morris, a Welsh MP, has tried to find a J from being Prime Minister, he was sit­ directives, she pointed out that we started fine line between animal welfare and reli­ ting next to Jacques Delors. He asked him growing straight cucumbers, had been for gious rights. The Socialist Group feel that if he was not a teeny bit sorry that some time and that the directive actually it is not part of their role to interfere in Maggie had gone. He replied: "Not a bit, helps our farmers to sell them. This has age old traditions which have stood the but I'll tell you who is and that's the never been properly reported. But al­ test of time. She is in constant touch with Prime Ministers of European Union Gov­ though UK reporting does not help our the Board of Deputies, particularly Mar­ ernments. They were only too happy to cause in the EU, she also blames the Tory tin Savitt, Chairman of the Foreign have her say what they themselves were Government. Affairs Committee, whenever a subject af­ thinking." A similar situation seems to On the Middle Eastern peace moves fecting the Jewish Community arises. have grown up around John Major. Pauline said the Labour group were very The Conservative group were, as we Margaret Daly, another Conservative supportive of the Israelis. She has great know, heavily defeated in the last Euro­ ex-MEP, quoted Sir Leon Brittan. He says sympathy with those who suffered in the pean elections. Many of those who lost that the EU believes that the United King­ Gulf War and feels it says a lot for them their seats last time had served for years dom is out to destroy the Community. that they showed such restraint under ex­ in the Parliament. Some like Derek Prag This is being openly discussed and doing treme provocation. She also supports have a distinguished career behind them. the UK untold damage. Mrs. Daly pointed Prime Minister Rabin in his efforts with He was vice-chairman of the Institutional out that our business investment from the peace process. Pauline shows insight Committee and had wanted to stand as overseas was $28 billion in 1978 and was into the whole Middle East problem. She that organisation's chairman. An inter­ now well over $200 billion. She attributes understands Rabin's difficulty in getting esting insight into how the Parliament this to our membership of the EU. She the Israelis to accept the initiatives. She really works was that he was nominated added that the European Parliament and also has sympathy for the ex-guerrilla and had all-party support to get the job. the Commission's position is that they Arafat's problem in trying to hold his However, the Spanish wanted the chair­ need the Brits and think we are mad to people together as a democratic leader, manship. It is rumoured that deals were behave as we do towards them. since, unlike Rabin, he has no experience done and he was informed that if he did In spite of the Treaty on Independence of participatory democracy. not withdraw his name, any recommenda­ regarding Commissioners to the EU, there She discussed with Shimon Peres ways tion for a UK honour would have to be is nevertheless the feeling that the Com­ in which the EU could help the peace reconsidered, so the Spanish had their missioner is always on his Government's process. The way forward is successfully way. side. It is countries' Governments that to conclude the present negotiations on a Which brings me to another gripe that get the plum jobs and not individual com­ new package for Israel. This includes en­ the Conservatives have with the honours missioners. Sir Leon Brittan lost out couraging Israel's access to the European system. Derek Prag's long history of because of Britain's perceived attitude to market-place. The Labour Group is in the good work for the disabled is legendary. the European Union. He was deprived of forefront of this. Hamas came into its He organised the first referendum in the political East Europe part of his Exter­ own during the Gulf War when Arafat 1974/75. Also, through sheer persistence nal Trade Portfolio, which is the really made his mistakes. The Socialist Group he managed to get approximately £1 mil­ interesting side of it. Sir Leon wanted des­ now wish to increase aid to the Palestin­ lion for innovative projects in his perately to open up Eastern F'urope to ians as a way of immediately improving constituency in Hertfordshire. If anyone Western economies in the EU. With the their living standards and thus undermin­ was eligible for an honour for his work it arrival of Sweden, Austria and Finland, ing Hamas' influence. Hence the would have been Derek Prag. Other this would have been an exciting project importance of financial support for Gaza MEPs of fifteen and twenty years' stand­ for him. He was bitterly disappointed. and Jericho continuing, in spite of the ru­ ing also got nothing. Yet one person was But Pauline Green, Labour MP for mours that funding is being made a Baroness after only serving for Barnet and Socialist Group leader in the mis-channelled. The EU is monitoring the five years. It is rumoured that Patricia European Parliament, has no time for the situation closely. She can see peace com­ Rawlings, a well-heeled Jewish lady, way Sir Leon Brittan behaved over the is­ ing to the Middle East, but concludes that wined and dined all the right people in the sue. He indicated that he might resign. atrocities there will continue well into the House of Lords during her MEPship, with Her press release said, amongst other future. the desired result that she was made a things, that "he was behaving like a spoilt She sees the recent Casablanca confer­ peeress in the Honours List. There are still child". She accused him of being moti­ ence as having been very important to some bad vibes amongst those who were vated by personal greed and ambition and improving trade between Arabs and Israe­ not so fortunate or so wealthy. of not being a "team player", a charge lis. Nine ministers and many bankers and DNikki van der Zyl she also laid at the Tory party's door. businessmen from Israel took part and Derek Prag thinks the problems that the were doing business with the Arabs at the

13 AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

Cooking with Gretel Beer PURIM PERPLEXITIES WINTRY CHEER An ethnic gallimaufry Chanuka - candlelit season of latkes And of shanks wrapped in long flannel BREAD AND BARD gatkes Pitta tastes as close to beigel As Shakespeare does to Tieck and SEX AND DEATH Schlegel Wife-swapping is randomly practised in Esher THE UNKINDEST CUT Which to this day lacks a Chevra Kadisha The mention of a mohel URG. dates back to the first Noel

POSTHUMOUS PRAISE To Spinoza a heartfelt mazel tov What other lensgrinder turned philosoff} Walnut Meringues 1 discovered a long time ago that cooks FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING East Germany can be divided into two distinct groups: Yachnas may take in each other's wash­ those with left-over eggyoiks and those ing with left-over eggwhites lurking in the But Weightwatchers shun indiscriminate and Berlin fridge. I belong strictly to the latter class noshing We give Immediate attention. and one of the nicest ways of using them We process and buy properties/claims. up is to make small Walnut Meringues (in POETIC JUSTICE fact you could use chopped hazelnuts in­ Among fellow scribblers Swift lost punim stead of walnuts, but walnuts are better). Over "Lilliput's" unpronounceable We pay cash. Two eggwhites will yield 2-3 dozen small Houyhnhm meringues. We have proven track records and furnish documentation. SOCIAL ENGINEERING 2 eggwhites Shadchonim carry drab umbrellas Write to: 2 '/20Z (70g) icing sugar Pass data on to single fellas Nagel & Partner 2 '/2OZ (70g) chopped walnuts Shadchenkes trawl through shoals of gels Uhiandstrasse 156*10719 Berlin 2 '/20Z (70g) chopped candied peel Who, unaided, can't hear wedding bells Phone: 030-882 56 31 rice paper Like desperately-seekin Suzan Fax:030-881 39 16 Who craves a thirty-something chozen Whisk eggwhites and sugar in a bowl Then, at the Trooping of the Kalle set over a saucepan half-filled with sim­ The kehille clap - think they're at the mering water until very thick. Remove Halle from heat and whisk until cold. Fold in chopped walnuts and candied peel. Cover a bakingsheet with rice paper and place teaspoonfuls of the mixture on the rice paper, well apart. Bake at gas mark 1/2, 250°F, 120°C for about l'/2 - 2 hours until dry and very lightly tinged with colour. Set to cool on a rack.D

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1-4 AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

Obituaries GERMAN BOOKS We are always buying: Books, Autographs, Judaica Lord Schon working, among other jobs, as a rabbit- and German works of art skin stretcher, a timber porter, a Antiquariat Metropolis rank Schon who died, aged 82, was laboratory assistant and a waiter in a Leerbachstr. 85 the son of a Viennese lawyer. Soho gambling club. During this latter job D-60322 Frankfurt a/M Gymnasium-educated, he joined a F he began saving up to study at the Royal Tel: 0104969559451 chemicals business while continuing law Academy of Dramatic Art. REGULAR VISITS TO LONDON studies in the evening. He spent a great deal of the 1930s in Czechoslovakia, Having graduated, he toured Cornwall in what was probably the last of the old- where he married and whence, in 1939, GERMAN BOOKS he escaped to Britain. fashioned family touring companies. His political beliefs had led him, while still a BOUGHT In 1940 with borrowed money he estab­ drama student, in the direction of the lished a small chemicals manufacturing A.W.MYTZE Unity Theatre and later in his career he company in Cumbria, a hitherto deprived became its director. He produced Brecht's region ripe for industrial development. 1 The Riding, London NWll Mother Courage and Brecht- One of the company's first products were Feuchtwanger's Visions of Simon firelighters which saved on wood and pa­ Machard there. Later he spent some years per as a wartime economy measure. as director/actor at the Century Theatre, CAMPS Postwar the firm, called Marchon, ex­ followed by a two-year stint as the INTERNMENT - P.O.W. - panded into detergents and its subsidiary "rabbi" in Fiddler on the Roof at the FORCED LABOUR - KZ Solway Chemicals manufactured sulphu­ Haymarket Theatre. I wish to buy cards, envelopes and folded postmarked ric acid and cement. Expansion continued He interrupted his career to spend ten letters from all camps of both world wars. apace: by 1965 Marchon Products and Please send, registered mail, stating price, to: years in Israel, where he acted in Hebrew Solway had more than 2,300 employees at Habima and became well-known to 14 Rosslyn Hill, London NW3 and a fleet of ships for transporting phos­ generations of Israeli children in a long- PETER C. RICKENBACK phate rocks from Morocco. running English-teaching series on TV. It Over the following years Frank Schon took him some time to re-establish his ca­ was appointed a member of the Industrial reer after returning to Britain in 1981; Reorganisation Corporation and became last year, while already in poor health, he COMPANIONS a founder director of the Overseas Mar­ took on a variety of roles in the eight- OF LONDON keting Corporation and adviser to the hour marathon, The House of The Spirits. Ministry of Technology. Created Baron No one who knew him will ever forget his A specialist home care service Schon of Whitehaven in 1976, he ended warmth, enthusiasm and enjoyment of to assist the elderly, people his maiden speech in the Lords with the life. with disabilities, help during words "The debt I owe to the kindness and after illness, childcare and humanity of the British people cannot and household needs. be discharged." Richard Krautheimer For a service tailored to your individual needs Frank Schon also had diverse social and ichard Krautheimer, born in Fiirth by Companions who care. Please call cultural interests; he chaired the of Jewish parents, a leading art 071-483 0212 Cumberland Development Council and historian of our era, died in Rome R 071-483 0213 served on the council of King's College, at the age of 97. He was prominent as a Newcastle. His hobbies included golf; he historian of medieval church architecture 110 Gloucester Avenue, once memorably achieved a hole in one in in Rome and other cities in the Mediterra­ Primrose Hill, a game against the then Prime Minister nean area, and author of a history of London NWl 8JA Harold Wilson. sacral architecture from antiquity to the (Emp Agy) late Byzantine period which formed a vol­ ume in the Pelican History of Art. Heinz Bernard After emigrating to the United States in einz Bernard, who died aged 1933, he lectured at the Institute of Fine 70, had an extraordinary history. Arts in New York. He went to Rome in H He was brought up as the only 1971 where, at over 70, he became virtu­ BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE child of a wealthy orthodox family, the ally the centre of the Bibliotheca 51 Belsize Square, London N.W.3 Lowensteins, in 1920s Nuremberg. Only Hcrtziana, an art institute of the Max Our communal hall is available as an adult did he discover that he had in Planck Society right up to the end of his for cultural fact been adopted as a small child and life. and social functions. that, to his delight, he had an elder Although not religious, he never aban­ For details apply to: brother and sister living in Israel. doned Judaism, even though conversion Secretary, Synagogue Office. On arrival in England at the age of 15, might have secured him a professorship in he was thrown on his own resources. He the Weimar Republic. Tel: 0171-794 3949 spent many years in a variety of jobs DF.H.

15 AJR INFORMATION MARCH 1995

the education of Jewish children in state days later Nagasaki met the same fate. Red-Letter Day: schools, inter alia. There were only These two bombs ended the war. 40,000 Jews in Italy, fewer than 0.1% of 19 July 1928 the population, nearly all fully integrated America's gain into Italian society and physically indis­ What would have happened if Fermi tinguishable. Many Jews had been early had not married Miss Capon on the 19th lthough it was not recorded and keen supporters of Mussolini, even July 1928, apart from probably missing a in any newspaper, on that day a 26 participants in the March on Rome. There church wedding? Statistically, his mar­ year-old Professor of Theoretical A seemed to be no valid reason for Musso­ riage to a Jewish girl was most unlikely. Physics of the University of Rome, mar­ lini's U-turn regarding the Jews, except Given their proportion, Fermi was 1,000 ried 21 year-old Signorina Laura Capon to please Hitler and demonstrate his loy­ times more likely to marry a Roman in a civil ceremony in Rome. The alty to him. Catholic than a Jewess. If that unlikely al­ groom's parents may have been socially liance had not taken place, there would somewhat below that of the bride's, but Mrs. Fermi, the former Miss Capon, have been no pressing reason for Fermi to it was not a misalliance. Enrico Fermi's was a Jewess. Her children were half- emigrate. He would have continued living grandparents were farmers in the Po val­ Jews. Her father had been dismissed from and working in Rome, most likely in co­ ley, but his father had risen to be a senior the navy. It was obvious to her that life operation with his German counterpart, railway administrator for a whole prov­ for Jews in Italy was going to be made Werner Hcisenberg, of a similar age. The ince. Fermi himself had had a most difficult, if not impossible. Fermi agreed two physicists knew each other from their promising career before him, with a Chair with his wife that the only solution to student days under Max Born at of Theoretical Physics being created spe­ these political developments was emigra­ Goettingen. The combination of Fermi cially for him at the tender age of 26. He tion to America. and Heisenberg would have made a for­ had graduated "Summa cum laude", and, Nobel Prize midable team, the latter having become a after taking his doctorate, he had studied In December 1938, the whole family Nobel Laureate in physics six years before under Max Born at Goettingen and than was invited to Stockholm for the presen­ Fermi, in 1932. Italy's gain of Fermi under Paul Ehrenzweig at Leiden. No one tation of the Nobel prize to Enrico Fermi. would have been America's loss. Fermi could have a better start as a physicist. After this ceremony, they did not, as ex­ and his German associates might have Laura was the daughter of Augusto Ca­ pected, return to their home in Italy, but built an atomic reactor not in (Chicago pon, Commander in the Italian navy in went directly to New York, where they ar­ but, say, at Joachimstal in the northern World-War I; in 19.32 he was to become rived on the 2nd January 1939. Perhaps Sudetenland, the location of the only Chief of Italian Naval Intelligence and an the pogrom in Germany on the preceding source of uranium in F'urope. When Admiral. In 1944, he died an old man at 10th November had precipitated this deci­ Robert Oppenheimcr was a young boy, the death-camp of Auschwitz, where he sion. his parents took him there on a visit to had been transported. Within four years of arriving at their the mines, and it inspired his future ca­ Experimentation new domicile in America, where they reer; in the year of Fermi's Nobel prize it were treated as enemy aliens for some of was annexed by Hitler. The young Fermi couple lived a happy the time, Fermi designed the first atomic In the late 1930's, Germany was well and active life in Rome, and in due course reactor. He persuaded the American au­ ahead in atomic research; for instance they had two children, a daughter born in thorities to provide the money and built Otto Hahn split the uranium atom at the 1931 and a son five years later. Profes­ and operated it. He used pure graphite in­ end of 1938, at the very time when Fermi sionally, Fermi was experimenting with stead of paraffin to slow down neutrons, left for America. Half a year later, just be­ the irradiation of a series of elements with and uranium as the target, which, on neu­ fore the war, a German professor neutrons, the atomic particle which was tron capture, became explosive Siegfried Fluegge, wrote a most perspica­ later found to fission - i.e. split - atoms of plutonium. His reactor became "critical" cious article on the possible development uranium and plutonium. His success was on the 2nd December 1942, in the of atomic energy but, lacking the courage variable, until, on the 22nd October squash-court of the University of (Chi­ of his convictions, did not believe the sci­ 1934, he inserted a layer of paraffin be­ cago. It proved beyond reasonable doubt entific evidence and failed to follow it up- tween the neutron bullets and a silver that atomic energy and bombs were real­ The more clear-sighted and adventurous target. He noted that the silver became isable propositions. Fermi would certainly have done so, as he strongly radioactive, hundreds of times Literally within days of that success, the demonstrated so ably in America. Luckily more so than without the paraffin layer. American bomb programme went into for the world, he was not in German-con­ He explained that behaviour by assuming full swing. In January 1943, a special en­ trolled Italy, or Germany might well have that the neutrons were slowed by the par­ gineering department started construction won the race for the atomic bomb. He affin, which could than be captured by of the atomic laboratories at Los Alamos, was in America, because he had married a the silver target. This resulted in the silver, under the overall command of General Jewish girl on the 19th July 1928, and did now containing extra neutrons, becoming Leslie Groves and the scientific leadership not wish his children to suffer from dis­ radioactive. For this work, Fermi was of Robert Oppenheimer. crimination. The date of his marriage awarded the Nobel prize four years later, Two and a half years later, the first must be a memorable one in the history of in December 1938. atomic bomb was successfully tested in the world. In the same year, in 1938, Mussolini the desert of New Mexico. Three weeks DA.W. Freud published his first antisemitic laws which after the test, on the 6th August 1945, the prohibited inter-marriage with Jews and town of Hiroshima was destroyed, a few

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