The Association of Jewish Refugees

VOLUME 18 NO.10 OCTOBER 2018 JOURNAL The Association of Jewish Refugees

Honouring our COME FOR LUNCH Czech Mates With the new year chaggim behind us we are now looking forward to On 1 October 1938, eighty years ago this week, Nazi Germany a packed Autumn, an undoubted highlight of which will be our Annual began its occupation of the Czech Sudetenland. It was the Lunch on Sunday 21 October. beginning of what the historian Richard J. Evans called, “The Rape There are still some tickets available of Czechoslovakia”. It marked the start of a terrible half-century for for the lunch, which is taking place Czechs and Slovaks and, above all, for Jews. at the Holiday Inn in Elstree. Please contact [email protected] or call the AJR office if you would like to book.

Read on for details of other AJR events and activities taking place this Autumn.

News...... 3 Northern England on display...... 4 Fritz Bayer and Frank Filey...... 5 Letters to the Editor...... 6 & 7 Reviews...... 8 Art Notes...... 9 Three remarkable tributes...... 10 & 11 Around the AJR...... 12 Looking for...... 13 Antisemitism and Christianity...... 14 & 15 From L-R: Dominic Raab, Herbert Lom, Vera Schaufeld, Robert Maxwell and Franz Kafka – Ferenc Molnar...... 16 all part of Czechoslovkia’s rich Jewish heritage. Shipping stories...... 17

Louise London, in her book, Whitehall the new, small countries which had Letter from Israel...... 18 and the Jews, 1933-1948 (2000) shows emerged after Versailles and especially Adverts...... 19 how refugees from Sudetenland fell into in Chamberlain’s infamous phrase, “a Events & exhibitions ...... 20 three main groups: Sudeten Germans, far-away country”. Czechoslovakia just ‘old Reich’ refugees who had already seemed too remote. escaped to Sudetenland from Germany AJR Team and Austria and some 20,000 Jews. There was little awareness of modern Chief Executive Michael Newman Most went to Czechoslovakia but after Czechoslovakia, a new world of cinemas Finance Director David Kaye the German invasion in March 1939 (the first cinema in Prague opened Heads of Department had to seek refuge elsewhere. in 1907), department stores, electric HR & Administration Karen Markham tramcars, clerks and salesmen like Social Services Sue Kurlander They met with a less generous response Gregor Samsa, the central character Community & Volunteer Services Carol Hart from British officials than Jews seeking in Metamorphosis. And even less AJR Journal to escape Germany or Austria. Not awareness of the exciting new culture Editor Jo Briggs only did they have to deal with British emerging from the new Czechoslovakia. Editorial Assistant Lilian Levy antisemitism but also a curious snobbery Kafka was virtually unknown in Britain Contributing Editor David Herman Secretarial/Advertisements Karin Pereira at the Foreign Office about people from Continued on page 2

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Honouring our Czech South America, but most escaped film producer, Barney Reisz, sons of the to Britain and France. Among the filmmaker. Mates (cont.) extraordinary Jewish refugees who before the war. He was not translated came to Britain on the eve of the But some of the most moving stories into English in his lifetime and by the Second World War were the Labour are told by less well-known refugees. war only three novels and one short politician, Lord Alf Dubs, who came Last month I was fortunate to speak story had been translated. with the Kindertransport; the actor to Leo Wiener. Born in Ostrava, near Herbert Lom (born Herbert Charles the Polish border, he was only six Kafka, of course, was just part of Kucha evi ze Schluderpacheru), when his parents escaped to Cracow an explosion of cultural creativity in famous for playing Louis in The and then sailed from Gdynia (on the Czechoslovakia that included writers Ladykillers, Napoleon in War and Polish coast) to Tilbury, arriving in like Karel apek, Franz Werfel and Peace and, above all, the twitching May 1939. Seventy relatives were Jaroslav Hašek (The Good Soldier Svejk) Chief Inspector Dreyfus in The Pink killed in the Holocaust, including three and composers like Dvorak, Janá ek Panther films in the 1970s; the film grandparents, an aunt and uncle. His and Smetana. In the early years of the and theatre director, Karel Reisz, family ended up in Taunton where 20th century Prague had become one one of the key figures in the British his father, who had four university of the great centres of modern Europe. New Wave of the 1950s and ‘60s degrees, including law and political We often think of fin de siècle Vienna and famous for films like Saturday economy, worked as a school cleaner. as the crucible of modernism but we Night And Sunday Morning (1960) Leo’s father thought of anglicising forget that Budapest and Prague were and The French Lieutenant’s Woman his name to “Wilson”, but his son also important centres. (1981); the great literary critics, Erich laughed and said that with his accent Heller, author of the classic study, The and central European looks he would Kafka died before the occupation of Disinherited Mind (1952) and JP Stern, never pass for a “Wilson”. After a Czechoslovakia. His sisters were less professor of German at UCL for many series of jobs in Taunton his parents fortunate. They were killed in the death years; the philosophers Ernest Gellner ended up catering at a Jewish golf club camps, among the 263,000 Jews from and Stephan Körner; Dorrit Dekk, the in Potters Bar. Leo who arrived here the Czechoslovak Republic who were graphic designer who also worked without a word of English, trained killed in the Holocaust. during the war at Bletchley Park; the as a pharmacist and settled in north conductor and pianist, Walter Süsskind; London. On Sundays he and his wife Some of Kafka’s closest friends were the historian, GR Elton (born Gottfried had lunch at the Czech Club in West luckier. Max Brod and his wife escaped Ehrenberg), who revolutionised our Hampstead where Herbert Lom was a to Palestine in 1939, taking Kafka’s understanding of the Tudors, and regular. manuscripts with him. Another literary taught at Cambridge for almost forty friend of Kafka’s, Felix Weltsch, left years, and his brother, Professor Vera Schaufeld also has a deeply Prague with Brod on the last train out Lewis Elton (born Ludwig Ehrenberg); moving story which she tells with of Czechoslovakia and also settled in Robert Maxwell (born Ján Hoch), the extraordinary dignity. Born in Prague Jerusalem. publishing magnate, MP and press in 1930 she was one of 669 Czech baron. children, most of them Jews, who Palestine was one destination. were rescued by Nicholas Winton Singapore another. Two years before Several things are striking about these on the Kindertransport and came Brod left, the Sträussler family sailed distinguished refugees. First, the range to England, where she grew up in to Singapore. Dr. Eugen Sträussler of achievements, from philosophy to a Christian family in Suffolk. Her worked for the Bata Shoe Company. He cinema. Second, how young they were. grandmother died at Terezin and her died during the Japanese invasion of Most came as children, teenagers or parents were killed at Travniki. She met Singapore but his wife and his two sons, in their 20s. From this list the oldest her husband, a Polish survivor from Petr and Tomas, escaped to India where was Erich Heller, born in 1911. Thirdly, Auschwitz, in Israel but they returned she married a British major, Kenneth the vast majority came from big cities, to live in London. She attends every Stoppard. They settled in Britain soon mostly from Prague or Ostrava. Finally, Kindertransport reunion. I asked her after and he anglicised his stepsons’ the personal terrible losses that so many whether she considers herself Czech, first names and changed their surname endured in their youth, losing parents Jewish or British? “100% Jewish,” she to his. Only in 1993 did Tom Stoppard and other relatives in the Holocaust. replied. “British-Jewish, Jewish-British. learn of his Jewish origins and that It is very difficult to say.” his four grandparents and three aunts In addition, there was the second died in death camps. One of his great generation: the comedian and writer, Despite such losses, Czech Jews have themes as a playwright, especially in Ben Elton, son of Lewis; the Brexit made an extraordinary contribution his breakthrough play, Rosencrantz and minister Dominic Raab, whose father to Britain. As we remember the 80th Guildenstern are Dead, was how lives came to Britain as a Czech Jewish anniversary of the Anschluss and can end up differently, how contingency refugee aged just six; the judge Kristallnacht we should also remember is so important. Sir Bernard Rix, whose family had what Czech Jews went through and owned the largest department store what they gave to this country. Many other Czech and Slovak Jews in Ostrava; and the literary journalist, emigrated to the United States and Matthew Reisz, and his brother, the David Herman

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KRISTALLNACHT SERVICE AT THE ABBEY ENCOUNTERS In conjunction with the West WITH ALBION London, Belsize Square and New North London Synagogues, please join us for a special service to mark the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht at 6.30pm on Thursday 8th November at Westminster Abbey.

Free entrance strictly by tickets available via the Westminster Abbey website: www.westminster-abbey.org or by contacting [email protected] The interior of Westminster Abbey

WHY NOT TRY AJR’S DEBATE MEALS ON WHEELS SERVICE? OF THE MONTH A new book by Dr Anthony Grenville, the former consultant editor of the AJR The AJR offers a kosher Meals on Wheels Journal, will look at the relationship service delivered to your door once a week. between Britain’s Jewish refugees and their new homeland, from the refugees’ The meals are freshly cooked every week perspective. by Kosher to Go. They are then frozen prior to delivery. Encounters with Albion was The cost is £7.00 for a three-course meal commissioned by the AJR to help fill (soup, main course, dessert) what is seen as an important literary gap. plus a £1 delivery fee. While much has been written about British attitudes to the Jewish refugees Our aim is to bring good food to your door Hundreds gathered in Manchester from Hitler who fled to this country after without the worry of shopping or cooking. last month in the latest rally against 1933, little attention has been paid to the For further details, please call antisemitism. Is the campaign working in ways in which those refugees perceived AJR Head Office on 020 8385 3070. your area? and depicted their (often somewhat reluctant) hosts.

From their impressions on arrival, through the tumultuous events of World War II Mazel tov and mass internment, and on into the long period of integration after 1945, Edith Anthony Grenville expertly traces the development of refugee responses to Earlier this year AJR member their new homeland. Drawing on a Edith Poulsen celebrated her wide range of novels, autobiographies, 100th birthday. Her AJR social memoirs, diaries and letters by Jewish worker Dean Lloyd-Graham refugees, he recreates the course of was delighted to be at her a complex and sometimes fraught party, which took place in Dean Lloyd-Graham relationship, but one that ultimately Walthamstow. with Edith Poulsen arrived at a largely settled resolution.

Edith, who escaped from The book will be launched on 31 Austria with her daughter Edith is the oldest member of Waltham Forest Labour October at the Wiener Library Sylvia, married London cabbie and has played a huge role in working to build (www.wienerlibrary.co.uk/Whats- and historian Charles Poulsen community cohesion. At her party the chairman of On?item=408) and is also available to in 1949. They had over 50 British Muslim Friends of Labour, Shokat Ali, surprised preorder (ISBN 978-1909662941). It will, happy years together before her with with flowers and a special card to accompany of course, be reviewed in the AJR Journal he passed away in 2001. her traditional greeting from HM The Queen. after publication.

3 AJR Journal | October 2018 Northern England on display

Huddersfield – HSFA Director Emma King and Chair Lilian Black Holocaust survivors welcomed to Huddersfield’s new Centre, (l-r) with some of the artefacts Heinz Skyte, Trudie Silman and Arek Hersh

The new permanent public HSFA Chair Lilian Black, whose father Eugene Kindertransport, spoke movingly at the end Black was sent to Auschwitz Birkenau in of the opening of the exhibition about the exhibition at the University of 1944, has been a driving force behind the importance of teaching the subject of the Huddersfield strikes a powerful creation of the Centre. “We are not creating Holocaust for future generations.” this Centre for the past, but for the future,” warning note about the perils says Lilian, stressing the acute relevance of the The opening of the new centre cements of antisemitism and all forms of exhibition to the modern world. “The Centre the AJR’s contribution as one of the leading will provide a wide range of teaching, learning benefactors, reflecting our developing role racial prejudice. Part funded by and research opportunities for schools, as support of Holocaust educational and commemorative projects. the AJR it is based around the students and communities to learn about the Holocaust, explore how it happened and its stories of survivors who made relevance for today.” Meanwhile Huddersfield is not the only destination in the north of England where new lives in the North of England. In addition to a major Heritage Lottery Fund people can learn about the Holocaust. The Award and its AJR grant, the new Centre North Yorkshire market town of Thirsk has Opened to the public last month, the new has received support from the University just opened its first “peace memorial” Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre of Huddersfield, the Pears Foundation, the which celebrates the work of Jed Hall, the was developed in partnership with the Toni Schiff Memorial Fund, plus a number of Quaker owner of the now defunct B Smith’s University by the Leeds-based Holocaust firms and patrons. department store in Thirsk. Hall was Survivors’ Friendship Association (HSFA). awarded a medal by the League of Nations AJR Chief Executive Michael Newman for his humanitarian work after the Armistice Set to become an important destination for attended the official opening event and when he took lorry loads from Thirsk to schools, students and adult visitors from wrote “Congratulations to all those involved Vienna as part of his mission to heal the throughout the North, the centre features in creating the Holocaust Heritage and wounds of war. copious photographs and text panels telling Learning Centre that has opened at the the story of the rise of Hitler, the roots University of Huddersfield. The interactive In Vienna he befriended the family of Oscar of Nazi anti-Semitism and the mounting section, auditorium and well curated panels Schindler, and brought two of Oscar’s sisters persecutions of the 1930s, leading to the comprise a highly impressive resource that back to Thirsk to recuperate. Although no policy of exterminating Europe’s Jews. has the critical backing of the university. one can say for certain what prompted Oscar’s own humanitarian efforts it is likely The vast network of forced labour and death “Seeing the stories of some of our members that one kindness led to another. camps is illustrated and themes explored made me think of the timeliness of this new include the Kindertransport, the mechanics centre. While some are sadly no longer with The Thirsk memorial also commemorates the of the Holocaust, and how the civilian us, their experiences have been captured Quakers role in welcoming 12,000 refugees populations of the Third Reich responded to there in perpetuity. People such as John in the 1930s including, of course, through the atrocity. There are also several examples Chillag, a survivor of Buchenwald, who had the Kindertransport. Local Quakers continue of resistance and humanity. the fate to be in the same iconic picture as to work tirelessly for peace and reconciliation Elie Wiesel taken at liberation. while Nina Hall, a descendent of Jed’s, Touch-screens enable visitors to see and hear became Boutros Boutros Ghali’s Health the testimonies of the survivors who have “Happily, others portrayed there are still Adviser at the United Nations. contributed to the Centre’s memory bank, here. Martin Kapel, who was deported to most of whom are AJR members. Poland from Germany before coming on a Jo Briggs

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FITTING TRIBUTE TO MAJOR FRANK Thank you Fritz

Among the many milestone anniversaries we commemorate this year is the 50th anniversary of the passing of Fritz Bauer, the German prosecutor who brought many Nazis to justice and worked so hard to make sure the world would never forget.

The Duke of Cambridge with the new statue of Frank Foley

A new statue in Stourbridge honours the life of Major Frank Foley, who risked his life to save 10,000 Jews from near- certain death in Europe.

The statue was unveiled by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge in the presence of a large crowd of local dignitaries.

Frank Foley was an MI6 agent who went undercover in Nazi Germany as Bauer, who was from a middle-class prosecutor of the State of Hesse, a time a passport officer and who, at great Stuttgart Jewish family, became Germany’s during which former Nazis still held personal risk, managed to secure visas youngest judge in 1930 at the age of 27. important government positions in the for thousands of Jews to leave Germany He was sent to a concentration camp country. Fully aware of the environment for safety in the UK. He retired to when the Nazis came to power in 1933 and difficulty of the task, yet determined Stourbridge in 1949, never speaking and released nine months later after being to obtain at least a modicum of justice for publicly about his actions before he died coerced into signing a statement pledging those persecuted during the war, Bauer in 1958. obedience to Nazi rule. He fled to Denmark commenced legal proceedings in Frankfurt and eventually escaped to Sweden where against a number of former second and In 1999, he was recognised by Yad he lived out the rest of the war. third tier SS officers and guards who had Vashem as Righteous Among the served at Auschwitz. Nations, and in the same year his story When Bauer returned to his native country was brought to light by author Michael in 1949, he found a West Germany in Bauer’s Auschwitz trials helped to ensure Smith in ‘The Spy who saved 10,000 which many Third Reich values were still that Germany was made to collectively Jews’. admired. Former Nazis held key positions in confront its guilt, and that individuals faced government. The closest aide and national up to their personal involvement in – or security adviser to the then Chancellor, fatal indifference to – the crimes of the then Konrad Adenauer, was Hans Globke, a not-so-distant past. former Nazi government member who helped draw up Nazi race laws. At a ceremony held recently in Frankfurt, President Steinmeier honored Bauer, who Antisemitism was still so prevalent that “barely received support and experienced Bauer hid the fact that he was Jewish to little recognition” in Germany, as an avoid being labelled a traitor who was “enlightener,” a passionate man who “bent on revenge”. West Germany also was not afraid to argue for what he knew still enforced Nazi-era laws outlawing was right. Bauer’s fight for justice and homosexuality and Bauer lived in fear of democracy during the difficult post-war being publicly denounced and ousted from period – when the country was not all that his job because he was gay. interested in mea culpas – has helped to Major Frank Foley shape the public’s understanding of the In 1956 Bauer was appointed chief public atrocities committed during the Holocaust.

5 AJR Journal | October 2018 Letters to the Editor The Editor reserves the right to shorten correspondence submitted for publication.

NOTE FROM EDITOR: The following letter as well as through commemorative and KINDERTRANSPORT INSPIRATION was addressed to the AJR’s Social Work novel events. In response to David Herman’s insights on team: the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport Meanwhile the Berlin/London Bike ride, (September) I would like to add my thanks Dear Mrs. Jones, I am herewith enclosing completed by Michael and Lee Bibring, to Bertha Leverton. the Home Care Scheme claim form. reported in your September issue was a wonderful example of intergenerational That the Kindertransport is such a well- Hoping this time I have got it right. experience. All too often I find the reflective known part of Holocaust history in this Filling in forms is such a plight. stories of contributors extremely interesting country and around the world is due largely My brain is not geared in that direction – but somehow sadly not always connecting to Bertha Leverton’s inspiration, passion Consequently suffers from acute fraction. with the generations which have followed. and talents. From the moment the idea However, I am trying my best. In these nervous and uncertain times I do of holding a 50th year reunion of ‘Kinder’ When all is done I take a little rest. think we need more linking up. dropped into her head as she sat knitting Where would we be without your aid? Yvonne Klemperer, London NW6 a shawl for a new grandchild, she started Into oblivion we would fade….. the whole thing off, calling on one or two NOTE FROM EDITOR: The AJR is keen to close friends to help with the massive Gerty Fagleman, Newcastle-upon-Tyne reach as many descendants of Holocaust task of contacting Kinder worldwide via survivors and refugees as possible. If you advertisements in newspapers, covering have any suggestions as to how we can expenses with her own money. Thereafter, ULTERIOR MOTIVES AT THE GREEN PARK make the AJR Journal – or indeed the she and her dedicated small team devoted HOTEL wider services of the AJR – more relevant their time to creating and nurturing Your wonderfully nostalgic article about for second and third generations please let every aspect of the public profile of the the late Green Park Hotel in Bournemouth us know. Kindertransports as we know them: too omitted one of its main functions – the numerous to list. bringing together of nice young Jewish lads Hanna Nyman, London W1 and lasses every Sunday. SOMETHING MISSING IN BRNO In suggesting that I should have contacted While still in the army I was lured there in the ‘thriving’ Jewish community in Brno IS WAR ESSENTIAL? all ignorance for a long weekend leave by a before going, Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein I wonder if anyone else listening to the plotting aunt and uncle. How I escaped the misunderstands the point of my article. five Reith lectures this year on the subject machinations of a dozen determined Jewish of “War” under the title of “The Mark of mothers unscathed I will never know, but The ways in which civic authorities of a Cain” was also moved by them? for a serving soldier the luxury was sheer town or city choose to remember publicly bliss and remains a happy memory. and commemorate the loss of so many Margaret MacMillan gave these lectures, Hans Eirew, Manchester of their Jewish townsfolk during WW2 broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from five are always revealing. Such reminders are different venues, each encapsulating of course not primarily intended for the aspects of war – starting in the Imperial AJR’S NEXT GENERATION benefit of Jewish visitors, but rather as War Museum in London and ending in I wholeheartedly support Charlotte Balazs’ a statement to both its residents and all a museum in Ottawa, Canada. She is letter in September’s journal about the those who come from outside, Jewish and Canadian herself and has an inspiring importance of the AJR incorporating second otherwise. style of delivery. generation participants into the events which it so thoughtfully arranges for its The mis-sited, neglected and inexplicable The programmes were extremely far- refugee members. Holocaust memorial in Brno speaks reaching, fascinating and thought- volumes: likewise its poor-looking provoking but deeply, deeply disturbing. There was some discussion with Jo Briggs, synagogue, which lacks any identifying MacMillan suggests that war is an editor of the AJR Journal, about this at the sign – or even a mezuzah on its front door essential part of being human and goes recent AJR lunch in Alyth Gardens and how – to identify it as such. There are no street into vivid detail to explore all aspects of it: the journal itself may have to focus more signs anywhere which help the visitor find how it affects humanity, soldiers, civilians emphatically on future generations, if it is these out-of-centre locations. The local and politics to the way we remember, to survive. tourist office staff knew nothing of the commemorate, triumph over it and city’s Jewish sites. The local tourist guide did mourn, including the use we make of art Informal events could possibly be arranged not mention any events relating to WW2. to find beauty in it and especially the use with second or even third generation There remains something missing in Brno. of music both in war and afterwards. No people in mind, meeting over coffee/lunch, David Wirth, London SE21 stone is left unturned.

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War has been most certainly a large part was indeed born in 1890 (not 1980) in That month a group of over a thousand of human history. The capacity to take any Wuppertal. young boys had been assigned to the block and every role in war is there in the human Jo Briggs to be gassed. They begged the Rabbi to make-up of each of us. But I cannot accept come sound the shofar for them so they that it is an essential part, even though it could at least perform the Mitzvah before is a part of our human nature that many POWERFUL WORDS they died. people develop and even enjoy developing We are grateful to Leslie Kleinman BEM and being involved in. Our human nature for sharing the text of a talk he gave over Despite fears for his own safety he agreed, provides us with a vast range of capacities Rosh Hashanah with readers of the AJR begging the Kapo to warn him if the SS to cover all the situations and experiences Journal. Apart from its amusing opening, it were coming. Before sounding the Shofar we are likely to meet in our lives. We can’t contains a powerful message: he cited the verse in Tehilim that refers to and never do develop them all in our the shofar being sounded when the moon lifetime. We take part in choosing which One Shabbos morning, Rabbi is concealed, saying “the Jewish people, capacities we develop, even if we imagine Levy noticed seven-year-old who are compared to the moon, are in a we have no choice. David staring up at the large difficult state. But even then we blow the plaque hanging in the shul lobby. shofar, declaring our faith in G-d. I regard the human race as only half- It was covered with names and civilised as yet. We have come a long way small flags were mounted on “Boys, the Talmud says that even when a from the time of cave-dwellers and we still either side of it. David had been sword is hanging over us we do not stop have a long way to go. A civilised human staring at the plaque for some praying to G-d for salvation.” race would not deliberately kill its own time, so Rabbi Levy walked over members. The quality of a community’s to him and said quietly, “Shabbat Fast forward 74 years. Rosh Hashanah civilisation is best judged by how it shalom, David.” 2018. treats the most vulnerable sections of its members and how responsible individuals “Shabbat shalom, Rabbi,” replied Almost all Jews now live where they are are in protecting those in danger and David. “Rabbi, what is this?” free to practise as Jews by the government actively protesting at injustice. or society around them. Yet, while those Ruth Barnett, London NW6 “Well, David, it’s a memorial to all boys at the mouth of the gas chambers the young men and women who begged to hear the shofar, sadly we have NOTE FROM EDITOR: This year’s Reith died in the service.” thousands of Jews today who don’t know lectures were indeed very thought what it means to be a Jew. provoking. Do you personally think war is Then little David, in a whisper, an essential part of humanity? asked, “Which service, Rosh Friends, those boys entered the gas Hashanah or Yom Kippur?” chambers where every type of Jew was killed. Religious, secular, Chassidic, LABOUR AND ANTISEMITISM Friends, as you know I am a survivor of Ashkenazi and Sephardi. Hitler knew we I cannot agree with the behaviour of the Auschwitz Birkenau. The largest death were all one family. Board of Deputies of British Jews, the camp in world history. A place that Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) and the murdered over 1.2 million of our brothers The shofar is there to wake us up – to Community Security Trust (CST). I feel they and sisters. Men, women and children reflect and improve. To become better and make accusations without quoting any whose only crime was that they were born more focused people. To do what is right! evidence, such as their claim that Jewish as Jews. members of the Labour Party always So this year, as we hear the shofar let us remain under suspicion. In a few moments we are about to blow pay attention to the haunting echo of those the shofar. 74 years ago the world was at shofar blasts in Auschwitz. Let us remember In my experience during 72 years of Labour war. the commitment and last will and testament Party membership the opposite is the case. of those boys. Let us appreciate our Eric Sanders, London SW16 It was Rosh Hashanah 1944. A man by freedom to hear the shofar without any risk the name of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Meisels, an of harm. And more important, understand important Hungarian Rabbi, managed to that this year we will try – harder than ever ERRATA smuggle a Shofar into Auschwitz. – to look for the good in every Jew. Thank you to the reader who called to point out the mistake in our review of A On the first day of Rosh Hashanah he Every Jew is our brother and sister. Lost Inheritance by John Buck Rochart risked his life and went around the camp Auschwitz taught us that lesson – we dare (September). The artist Albert Schaefer-Ast sounding the shofar at the various barracks. not forget it!

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work she had to undertake in order to The historical volume begins with REVIEWS earn enough for her daily sustenance, the chapter dealing with Jewish life but also about the comradeship and joie in Žilina prior to 1918, the year of de vivre she found on joining a Zionist the foundation of the Czechoslovak Youth Group, under the assumed name Republic. The next chapter describes of Renée. Their activities in the Resistance life in Žilina between the two world were primarily to save Jewish children by wars. This is intertwined with a chapter smuggling them across the border into entitled ‘A walk around the town’. The Switzerland. In an act of extreme courage, following chapter deals with the social Ruth describes dressing up as a Gestapo and political realities of the years 1938- officer in order to rescue a Jewish baby 1945 with its hugely tragic outcome. from an orphanage and taking her to a The authors go on to describe the safe house. Being hunted by the Germans role the Jews of Žilina played in the after this heroic act, Ruth writes about resistance to both the Slovak and Nazi her incredibly difficult and hazardous regimes. This theme continues with the escape across the Pyrenees to safety in description of how some members of Spain and finally being given permission the community survived the horrors A GIRL CALLED RENÉE to take a boat leaving for Palestine; for of this period. After the war there By Ruth Uzrad the realisation of her life-long dream to was a new beginning for those who Amazon ISBN 9781976314506 make a new life for herself and help in the survived and the authors describe the creation of the nascent State of Israel. life of the Jewish community under the I hope your readers will forgive me if democratic republic (1945-1948), then this review of a memoir “A Girl Called This book was written from memory, under the ‘socialist’ regime, including Renée” is not entirely objective, as the after a lapse of some 50 years, without the emigrations of 1946 and 1968. author, Ruth Uzrad, was my beloved the help of any written records or dairies. The historical descriptions conclude older sister who passed away in Israel Through the eyes of a teenager, it shows with chapters on Jews in Žilina schools in her 90th year. The memoir was first a different and less well known aspect of and their involvement in sports and published in Hebrew and I had a hand the Holocaust and of those who had to physical culture. In addition to the in correcting and co-editing the English call on amazing depths of inner strength to index and source references there are translation. survive. Once started, this book is hard to short biographical descriptions of some put down. of Žilina Jewish personalities. There are Ruth describes in vivid language her Betty Bloom two indices of names at the end of this early years in Berlin within the embrace volume: names of those buried in the of a very loving and close religious Žilina Jewish cemetery; and the names family, the advent of Nazism in 1933 ŽIDIA V ŽILINE (JEWS IN ŽILINA) of Holocaust victims of Žilina and its which she experienced as a primary 10th volume of the series History of Žilina near surroundings. school girl, the arrest and deportation By Peter Frankl and Pavel Frankl, Edis of our father, in October 1938, press – University of Žilina, 2008 In the second book Peter Frankl together with 17.000 other Polish ISBN 978-80-554-0022-8 expands some thirty or so life stories of nationals which was the precursor to Žilina Jewish personalities, one of which Kristallnacht. ŽIDIA V ŽILINE– OSOBNOSTI (JEWS IN is that of my father. These stories range ŽILINA – PERSONALITIES) from those of international sportsmen, Realising that life in Berlin was by Peter Frankl, Žilina Jewish Religious religious leaders, lawyers, businessmen, becoming precarious for Jews, our Community, Žilina County & EZRA artists, scientists and architects amongst mother took the very brave decision to Foundation others. illegally join us on to a Kindertransport Žilina 2018 leaving for Belgium, without visas or a ISBN 978-80-971287-6-0 The Frankl brothers’ approach to the family to receive us. historical material, literature and witness Žilina, the city in the north west of interviews is both detailed and scholarly. When Belgium was invaded in 1940 Slovakia, has today some 80,000 Both volumes use well researched our hostel of 50 girls, joined a group inhabitants. In the 1930s out of a and referenced source materials, with of 50 Jewish boys to escape to South- population of about 12,000 approximately photographs and printed documents. West France, where we were eventually 14% were Jews, today only a handful As they write in the forward “…we accommodated in a disused Château. remain. These two books are both will publish only verifiable facts and In 1943, after a brief imprisonment in written in Slovak, the first with an English events, nothing else…” and they the Camp de Vernet, Ruth realised that and Hebrew summary; they present an have succeeded in this. These two she had to go underground in order to historically important contribution to volumes are highly readable and form a survive. She describes her loneliness, the memory and understanding of the significant addition to the history of the longing for her family, a normal life role that Jews made to life in Žilina, and Jews of Slovakia. and hunger. She writes about the hard beyond the borders of Slovakia. Michael Schlesinger

8 AJR Journal | October 2018 ART NOTES: by Gloria Tessler

The Mexican artist Frida Khalo suffered from polio as a child and lived and worked in agony, encased in a corset to prevent her spine collapsing, and with a prosthetic leg, after her own was amputated due to gangrene. In the V & A’s exhibition: Frida Khalo: Making Herself Up, the pièce de résistance is a cabaret of colourful Tehuana embroidered waistcoats, blouses and woven shawls

(rebozos). Kahlo with an Olmeca figurine, Coyoacán 1939

The 2004 discovery of Kahlo’s effects, and lived all her life, which became an never been short of exhibitions and this hidden in a sealed room for 50 years international artistic hub, and finally her year alone she features in shows on after her death, revealed a treasure trove death in 1954 at the age of 47 . Mexican Modernism all over the world. of unseen photographs, documents and The iconic portrait of her in a white lace other memorabilia. Her father, Mexican-born photographer, headdress like a Tudor queen with a ruff Guillermo Khalo allowed her to help in and Rivera’s image stamped on her brow But the grand room with the dresses, his dark room, nourishing her creative like a spoken word stands out here. mounted V & A style, is not the sum of spirit. In 1929, at 22 she married Rivera. its parts: there are tiny pots of rouge, He was 41. Theirs was a turbulent union; No doubt she was regarded as powder and paint, medicine bottles, they married, divorced and remarried. subversive. Andre Breton described the prosthetic leg in a high, decorated She went with Rivera to the USA for her as ribbon around a bomb. She was red boot, the ugly corset on which she the first time in 1936, which she called also a muse for other artists. Whether based a self portrait with a classical Gringoland, celebrated with a painting of in her own or other peoples’ paintings, column for a spine. In her diary she her on a plinth waving a flag. her image is blank, non-expressive, drew the amputated leg alongside the surrounded by primary colours. words:” Feet: what do I need them for But the Mexican Revolution of 1910-20 Essentially Frida Khalo was the poster girl if I have wings to fly?” The woman who had lent power to its heritage and for all things Tehuana. abhored Catholicism but loved its drama, culture and she totally embraced compared her severed leg to Christ’s feet Tehuana traditional dress, plaiting her The show runs until November 4. nailed to the cross, and used Catholic hair and braiding flowers into it. She imagery in her work. created her own version of Mexicanidad, with her slight, mannish moustache and There is a magic realism about Khalo, the single eyebrow both emphasising and Annely Juda Fine Art woman who created an image out of her disturbing her beauty. She may have 23 Dering Street own fatalism. She has been likened to become, through the eyes of Madonna, (off New Bond Street) a dead Aztec queen, and there is death who collected her, a totem for the Tel: 020 7629 7578 marked all about her, like a Gabriel feminist movement, but the society she Fax: 020 7491 2139 Garcia Marquez novel: her roller-coaster represented was intensely matriarchal. marriage to the muralist Diego Rivera, CONTEMPORARY the magic of the Blue House (Casa I would have liked to see more of Khalo’s PAINTING AND SCULPTURE Azul) in Mexico City where she grew up primitive and totemic art here. She has

9 AJR Journal | October 2018 Not one, not two, but three remarkable tributes

Monica Bohm lighting candles for her grandparents in Berlin Stolpersteine in Berlin for Monica’s grandparents

In May 2014, my wife Monica It transpired that responsibility for the never knew and her father and his Stolpersteine lay with the family next brother, innocent and carefree, riding and I were due to travel to door. Their 17 year old son’s teacher their bikes in that beautiful road. Berlin for a business conference had, the previous year, given his class a research project on the subject of Galvanised by this event, I turned my and Monica decided that she Holocaust victims in the area and the attention to the possibility of laying Stolpersteine outside the apartment would like to visit the house in boy had discovered that the family next door, Monica’s grandparents, had been block at 60 Klosterneuburgstrasse, Zehlendorff where her father, victims. in the 20th district of Vienna, where my paternal grandparents, Gitl and John Lennard, grew up before The story, in brief, was that, having Manele Böhm, had lived before they the war. She had seen the managed to send their sons to England, were murdered (my grandfather in in 1938 they had fled to Rotterdam Buchenwald and later, my grandmother outside already, but wanted to and illusory safety. However, in 1943 in Minsk). There followed another they were deported from Westerbork to unexpected sequence of events. see inside, so that she could try Auschwitz, where they were murdered. to picture his early life, with his In April 2015, in the course of my In 2012, having discovered these facts, research, I contacted an organisation parents and brother. the young non-Jewish schoolboy next called Steine der Errinnerung (see door persuaded his parents to pay for a Anthony Grenville’s article in the She googled the address at Forststrasse permanent memorial so that whoever March AJR Journal) to find out 31; imagine her surprise when a picture walked past the house should be how this could be done. To my came up showing a pair of Stolpersteine reminded of the dreadful fate met by its amazement they informed me that, by in commemoration of her paternal occupants. A ceremony was organised, a remarkable coincidence, a resident grandparents, Georg and Margarete a leaflet produced with brief biographies of that block was in the advanced Lövy. She immediately wrote to the and a psalm recited, all without our stages of organising the production of address and there followed a rapid and knowledge, because they couldn’t trace a commemorative plaque in memory surprising voyage of discovery which the children or grandchildren, probably of the residents of No.60 who had culminated a week later in a visit to because they had changed their name perished in the Holocaust. They put the house. The occupants allowed us to Lennard. My wife and I lit candles by me in touch with him. He was about to wander round and Monica was able the stones on the pavement one dark to give final instructions for production to fulfil her dream of seeing where her November evening and stood silently of the plaque, which contained the father grew up. trying to picture the grandparents she details of 10 victims who had lived

10 AJR Journal | October 2018 Not one, not two, but three remarkable tributes

Stolpersteine in Berlin for Monica’s grandparents Peter, Jessica & Monica Bohm outside the house in Amersfoort where Commemorative plaques in Vienna for Peter’s grandparents Peter’s aunt Doris lived

there. However, he was unaware of my family, amongst others, including our case, they were the result of devoted grandparents. I was able to provide him aunt Doris Löwendorff, who perished efforts by wonderful, respectful and with their details just in time for them in Auschwitz-Birkenau, aged 19, in dedicated non-Jewish people who to be included. 1944. Through their research, they had no connection with the victims had only just traced my cousin. As concerned, but who were determined Subsequently, in October 2016, my a result, he, my brother and two that the individuals, and what befell brother David and I, accompanied other family members travelled to them, should be remembered. In each by our wives and seven other family Amersfoort the next week to attend case, we were truly humbled by their members made the trip to Vienna to another exceptional ceremony, taking efforts and dedication. At a time of participate in a memorable ceremony, in 11 houses in a beautiful district and such uncertainty and negativity in the organised by Steine der Errinnerung, attended by a large number of locals world, it is inspiring to know that there taking in five separate venues and and relatives. There were printed are so many decent people who are attended by local dignitaries and family biographies and Kaddish was recited determined that the world should never members from as far away as Australia. outside each house by the family or forget what happened in Europe during Life stories were told and we recited otherwise by a local survivor. Doris that terrible period. Kaddish. This was such a moving had latterly lived there with her uncle experience and we would not have and aunt and their children, having One final note – whilst standing outside been able to participate, had it not been fled from Germany, but tragically was the house in Amersfoort, a neighbour for the remarkable turn of events the unable to escape the Nazis. Doris’s emerged with a single crystal glass previous year. We were also invited to younger brother, Michael’s father wrapped in tissue paper. He said that go inside the next door apartment and Werner, was hidden by non-Jewish it had come from his parents, who were able to get an idea of what it was families in Holland and later moved to lived in the same road. Doris’s uncle like inside that of my grandparents. England. Her elder sister, my mother and aunt had given a set of glasses to Ruth, came to Oldham in 1939 as a his parents for safekeeping and return, This was not the end of the series domestic. We never knew our aunt the night before they were taken by of surprises. In March this year, my Doris and now, after all these years, the Nazis and deported. Now, after so first cousin Michael, who lives in there is a tangible memorial to her and, many years, he wanted to return the Manchester, received out of the blue at long last, we were able to pay our remaining glass to its rightful owners! an email from a lady in Amersfoort silent respects. To hold that in my hands and feel the (Holland) informing him that a connection sent an enormous shiver ceremony was scheduled to take place What was most amazing about these down my spine! the following week in Amersfoort, stories was not that the commemoration memorialising five members of our ceremonies took place but that, in each Peter Bohm

11 AJR Journal | October 2018

OUTING TO WESTCLIFF AJR members enjoyed a wonderful day out at Around Westcliff-on-Sea, with a fish and chip lunch and ice cream. Some bravely paddled in the sea whilst others enjoyed the deckchairs. the AJR Susan Harrod

Most of these reports are summaries of KINDER LUNCH much longer reviews which, due to lack Kinder were delighted to hear from James of space, we are unable to include in Bulgin, Head of Content for the new Holocaust their entirety. If you would like further Galleries at the Imperial War Museum. information on the actual event please Susan Harrod contact either the author or the AJR regional co-ordinator. SECOND GENERATION BARBECUE Anthea and Jeff hosted us all in their beautiful EDINBURGH garden where our guest speaker discussed HULL We thoroughly enjoyed Daniel Cainer’s present day historical revisionism which seeks We were all delighted to celebrate delightful show at the Edinburgh Fringe and to erase Polish anti-Jewish complicity in the Olive Rosner’s special birthday and the sun came out in time for us to be able Shoah. She also provided insights about why congratulate Ian Le Boutillier (2nd to sit outside for coffee and to soak up the some Jewish people returned to Poland after Gen) on his Grade 8 piano certificate. Festival atmosphere. WW2. Veronika Keczkes Lilian Bell Elaine Angell

PINNER Nearly 40 members enjoyed a very sunny tea party but withdrew to the shade of our SEPTEMBER GROUP EVENTS hosts’ home for a sing-along to familiar songs. All AJR members are welcome at any of these events; you do not have to be affiliated Henri Obstfeld to that particular group. As the exact timings of these events are often subject to last minute changes we do not include them in the AJR Journal and suggest you contact CONTACTS the relevant regional contact for full details. Ilford 3 October Marcus Ferrar –The Budapest House Pinner 4 October Desert Island Discs – members’ own choices Susan Harrod Events and Outreach Manager Prestwich 8 October Social get-together 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Essex (Westcliff) 9 October Claude Vecht-Wolf The Beatles – Part 1 Wendy Bott Wessex 9 October Helen Banham – The Jews of Winchester Northern Outreach Co-ordinator 07908 156 365 [email protected] Edinburgh 11 October Social get-together Newcastle 14 October Speaker – Nigel Goodrich Agnes Isaacs Edgware 16 October David Barnett: Tea Shops and Corner Houses Northern Outreach Co-ordinator – the Story of Joe Lyons 07908 156 361 [email protected] Radlett 17 October David Barnett: Tea Shops and Corner Houses Ros Hart – the Story of Joe Lyons Southern Outreach Co-ordinator Nottingham 18 October Lunch at the home of Bob & Gerry Norton 07966 969 951 [email protected] Bath Bristol 22 October David Jewell, Foundation of International Development for Family Medicine in Palestine Eva Stellman Southern Outreach Co-ordinator Dundee 23 October V&A Museum in Dundee 07904 489 515 [email protected] Birmingham 24 October Social get-together Didsbury 24 October Social get-together Karen Diamond Southern Outreach Co-ordinator Book Club 24 October Social get-together 07966 631 778 Muswell Hill 25 October Dr Susan Cohen on Eleanor Rathbone [email protected] Glasgow Book Club 25 October Book Club Meeting KT-AJR (Kindertransport) North London 25 October David Barnett – Tea Shops and Corner Houses Susan Harrod – The Story of Joe Lyons 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Leeds CF 29 October Julie Moore – Magistrate Cheshire 30 October Social get-together Child Survivors’ Association-AJR Henri Obstfeld North West London 30 October Neil Taylor of Maccabi GB 020 8954 5298 [email protected] Norwich 30 October Social get-together

12 AJR Journal | October 2018 LOOKING FOR?

The AJR regularly receives messages from members and others looking for people or help in particular subjects. Here are some of the most recent requests – please get in touch directly with the person concerned if you can help in any way.

GERMAN NATIONALITY CLAIMS LISL WOLFF / SCHLOMANN FROM JEWISH GIRLS SCHOOL IN GENESEN, Oliver Marshall is researching the subject ROSTOCK POSEN of German nationality restoration claims Hannah Gau, a student in her final year This photo was taken at the Jewish Girls propelled by the 2016 Brexit referendum at school in Rostock, north east Germany, High School class in Genesen, Posen, result and is keen to interview people is researching the fate of Lisl Schlomann/ in October 1919. John Martin, whose of any generation who have submitted Wolff (mother of Harry Schlomann, aunt Kate Schmalz is standing fifth from a claim (whether pending, successful or deported to Theresienstadt in 1942). the left on the front row, is keen to hear rejected). He would also like to interview from descendants of anyone else in the people who might be eligible but, for Lisl fled to the UK prior to WW2 and photo. whatever reason, have decided not to married George Wolff. [email protected] claim. [email protected] [email protected] ROSALIE HEIMANN SUE SAYER / CRONER / SCHAMJUK Axel Huber and Kathy Miller are FAMILY KALLMANN FROM UPPER David Aprahamian Liddle is keen to hoping to find more information SILESIA contact any friends of his very dear family about Rosalie Heimann, who was born Yvonne Baur is seeking details about the friend, Susanne Sayer, formerly Croner, 2 June 1899 in Bosatz near Ratibor descendants of Dr Erich, Walter, Arnold, formerly Schmajuk, born 28 September and who died 6 December 1997 in Fritz or Kurt Kallmann from Gleiwitz, who 1927, who is now living in a care home. Bournesmouth. all came to England in the 1930s. Her [email protected] or 020 8365 7320 [email protected] father Walter Janik was a family friend. [email protected]

GERDA HOPP FROM BERLIN LEEDS CONTINENTAL FRIENDS Gerda Hopp (born 20 November, At our annual summer party we were joined by members from Hull and Bradford and 1916) was placed with Rebecca Paster’s entertained by the talented pianist and vicar, Roger Quick. Grandparents during the war. Sadly, Barbara Cammerman she ended her life aged just 23 after learning that her father had died in a concentration camp. Rebecca hopes to find out where she is buried. [email protected]

ANDREAS BRAUM Anne Holland has letters belonging to her husband’s grandmother (Mary Artiss) concerning taking in Andreas Braun, born 12 Nov 1930 in Berlin. He was transported in 1939, possibly on the SS Manhattan. She is keen to share them with his descendants. [email protected]

13 AJR Journal | October 2018 Antisemitism and Christianity in Europe

The Labour Party’s row over wrote a pamphlet “Against Jews and in Breslau, now Wroclaw, Edith grew their Lies”, encouraging Christians to up in a large Orthodox Jewish family antisemitism lasted for the whole burn their synagogues. It is clear that where her widowed mother was the antisemitism fermented through centuries sole provider. Edith loved and respected summer and even now continues with Christianity often used as a tool to her mother but became an atheist in her justify hatred of Jews. teens. She studied the new discipline to hit the headlines. But political of ‘phenomenology’, which became a furore over antisemitism is far In the 20th century, Nazi pseudoscience tool in search of spirituality, and then made a definition of ‘Jewish race’ such – unusually for a woman in those days – from new. AJR member Dr. Elena as typical facial features, shape of nose, taught at the University of Freiburg until length of skull. Their theory opened 1918. Rowland shares a potted history the door to systematic persecution and extermination of Jews who, thanks to In 1921 she converted to Christianity of antisemitism in Christian Nazi propaganda, had become broadly and was baptised in the following year. regarded as communists, child killers, She secured a teaching post at St Mary Europe. criminals, parasites and manipulators. At Magdalene School in Germany where the heart of everything were the 1935 her knowledge, intellect and spirituality The first clear examples of antisemitism Nuremberg Laws, stripping German influenced many women. She became a can, of course, be traced back to Jews of their citizenship, forbidding voice of “Catholic feminism”. She gave Alexandria in the 3rd century BCE but sexual relationships between Jews and many lectures throughout Europe until it was not until the birth of Christianity Aryans, and disregarding conversions to 1932 when she was invited to start a that Jews became the object of religious Christianity. new programme for young women at the intolerance and political oppression Institute of Scientific Pedagogy, also in throughout Europe. Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Parelli) was Germany. elected in 1939. Despite the fact that the Jesus’ disciples were Jews but they were Nuremberg Laws directly conflicted with Unfortunately for her she was not keen to attract believers from the non- many of the laws of the Catholic Church registered as an Aryan, so the Nuremberg Jewish world to get approval from the he failed to challenge the Nazis about the Laws prohibited her from holding a Roman Authorities. At first, Christianity atrocities that were by now happening teaching post. In April 1933 she had was a persecuted branch of Judaism but across Europe. Many critics now view written to Pius XI ( predecessor of Pius it later became a dominant religion of Pius XII as a secret Nazi sympathiser; XII) to speak against the rise of National the Roman Empire and helped to fuel the writer John Cornwell dubbed him Socialism and stop this ‘abuse in Christ’s anti-Jewish sentiment. the ‘Hitler Pope’ because of his failure name’ but it is not clear if he even got to openly denounce the treatment of the letter. In Russia in the mid-14th century, Jews. However, others argue that his Jews were blamed for political turmoil, hands were tied, as he was scared of She refused a teaching post in South for the epidemic of Black Death, communism and feared that the Nazis America, where her brother lived, instead forced to live in ghettos, banned from would eventually invade the neutral entering into the Catholic Carmelite certain professions and targeted in Vatican as well. Order in Cologne in 1934. As Sister pogroms. Fleeing from persecution in Teresia Benedicta of the Cross she felt one country, they were unwelcome In fact, despite the Pope’s public secure behind the thick walls of the immigrants in another, waiting to be indifference, the Vatican sheltered Convent and returned to her writings. expelled again. hundreds of Jews and Pius XII intervened to release some arrested Jews. Sadly, After Kristallnacht it became clear that In Spain in 1492, King Ferdinand though, many people did not get this she was no longer safe in Germany so expelled Jews but converts could stay. protection. she fled, together with her sister Rosa, However, they were regarded as a who had converted in 1936, to another Christian with ‘Jewish blood’ who could One high profile Christian who was Carmelite Order in Holland. Of course not be trusted. abandoned by the Church was the Holland was invaded in May 1940 and in philosopher, thinker and active feminist 1941 both sisters were forced to wear the In Germany in 1542 Martin Luther Edith Stein. Born on 12 October 1891 Star of David.

14 AJR Journal | October 2018

Father Jacques Bunel Edith Stein

The maltreatment of Jews was devout Catholic family. a very active intellectual for whom condemned by Dutch clergy in a pastoral the Church kept silent. Their different letter in July 1942. However, in August Despite his studies being interrupted by faiths led them both to end their lives in 1942 the Nazis arrested 1200 Catholics WW1 he became an ordained priest in extraordinary suffering. of Jewish descent, among them Edith 1925 and entered a Carmelite monastery and Rosa. Both sisters were deported to in 1931. Many ordinary men and women Auschwitz and gassed. recognised the dangers of Nazi He was appointed headmaster of The propaganda and antisemitism during On 1 May 1987 Edith Stein was Little School in Avon, where many Jews WWII and they sheltered Jews, thereby proclaimed a martyr of the Roman found shelter, three of them under risking their own lives Catholic Church. In October 1998 she false identities. In January 1944 he was was canonised by Pope John Paul II. betrayed and imprisoned in France and These two martyrs did not believe subsequently transferred to Mauthausen. in propaganda, which brainwashed Many writers have argued that she was Starved and exhausted it was very hard to human minds and stereotyped the Jews murdered because of her race rather keep his faith but he made many friends as enemies of Christianity. They listened than her faith. She had many choices but with whom he shared his bread. to their own inner voices and acted she was an obedient Catholic nun who according to their consciences. followed her vows. The final months in 1945 were the worst and although eventually Mauthasen was Dr. Elena Rowland Many people have questioned the liberated, Father Jacques was too sick. He existence of a God who would allow was taken to the hospital in Linz, Austria, References: such a thing to happen. There is a thin where on 2 June he passed away. 1. The Holocaust: a new history by line between religious expression in Doris Bergen 2008 Judaism and Christianity but a huge His acts of mercy towards Jews and his gap between good and evil. During the betrayal was filmed by Louis Malle 2. Studying the Holocaust, Issues, Holocaust, greed, lust for power and (Goodbye, Children). His suffering, Reading and Documents by Ronnie racial hatred overtook common sense. courage and help to Jews were S. Landen, 1998 Political propaganda manipulated people recognised at a special ceremony in 1985 to do evil things to Jews but there were by Yad Vashem, when he was named 3. Edith Stein, Holiness in the exceptions, when some people put their ‘Righteous among Gentiles’. Twentieth Century by Freda Mary lives at risk to help persecuted Jews to Oben, 1983 survive. Father Jacques had deep-rooted faith with an unshakeable belief in humanity. 4. Johann Gruber & Jacques Bundle, One of them was Father Jacques Bunel, He was a generous and good person Victims of the Nazis by Ethel born 29 January 1900 into a poor, who helped everyone. Edith Stein was Tolansky and Helena Scott, 1999

15 AJR Journal | October 2018 Ferenc Molnar The writer Ferenc Molnar was born Ferenc Neuman in Budapest in 1878. He is known for his plays about the contemporary salon life of Budapest and for his moving short stories as well as for his work on Carousel and other films. He died in 1952 in New York.

Molnar was born into a non-practising His play The Devil is reminiscent of apartment: – a room in the Hotel Imperial Jewish family and was sent to study law Pirandello. It played simultaneously in in Vienna, in the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, in Geneva but as he spent his time in four New York theatres: two in English, the Danieli in Venice, the Adlon in Berlin writing articles for Swiss and Hungarian one in German and one in Yiddish. Of and the Hungaria in Budapest. In 1939 newspapers he did not complete his all his 42 plays Liliom was the most he left for America and lived in the Plaza studies. successful. Puccini asked for the rights Hotel, New York until his death. Darvas to the play but Molnar refused because, also emigrated and often appeared in his He became a reporter for the Budapesti he said, people will always remember plays. Naplo and was often sent on foreign the name of the composer, but will assignments as he spoke French and soon forget the scriptwriter. So how did Molnar was followed to New York by German. He spent little time at home Rogers and Hammerstein end up with the his much younger secretary, Vanda because his sister’s piano playing rights? Molnar went to see their musical Bartha. She too lived in the Plaza but on disturbed his concentration. Instead he Oklahoma which he loved and thus the a different floor. Needless to say, she also worked on the balcony of the famous musical, Carousel was born. Except for became his mistress. Vanda and Darvas New York coffee house in Pest. the ending, the text follows Molnar’s play later became very good friends. virtually word for word. His first novel, The Hungry City, criticised He continued working, although prone to avarice and dealt with antisemitism. His first For a long time he pursued the married periods of depression. With the German play, at the age of 24, was a great success actress, Iren Varsanyi. In spite of confessing occupation of Hungary his help to his and from then on he was never short of her love for Molnar to her husband, he family had to stop. After suffering two funds. As in his other plays, the villain is not would not let her go. A duel followed heart attacks he died of cancer. He is shown without some sympathy. where, luckily, both parties missed. Next buried next to his mistress, Vanda. in line of important women in his life was His first marriage, to Margit Veszi, was the fantastically popular primadonna, On his grave his wife wrote “Sleep now, a disaster. He was unable to change his Sari Fedak, with whom he had a 15-year Liliom”. He was violent towards all the very unusual lifestyle and when she was stormy relationship. During WW1 Molnar women in his life, but in the play Liliom 4 months pregnant, she left him. In this was away as a reporter and, on his return, he attempts to excuse himself. Liliom marriage lie the roots of the violence and friends informed him that Fedak had gets permission to come down from guilt of the character, Liliom. entertained the troops, mostly in her bed. heaven for just one day to see his wife and daughter. Dressed as a beggar, he His novel The Pal Street Boys has as His next inamorata was a beautiful 19- steals a star for his daughter on the way. its subject the bravery, tragedy and year old Jewish actress, Lili Darvas. When She refuses to accept it. He hits her hand death of a small, weak boy amongst his Sari Fedak found out, she gave Molnar an and is sent away. The daughter tells the schoolmates who play at war on derelict ultimatum: either marry me or I will write mother “It didn’t hurt – it was like a kiss”. ground in Budapest. The novel has been a book about you. They duly married, she She then asks her mother, “Did that ever translated into more than 30 languages received a generous yearly sum and soon happen to you?” “Yes, it did” she replies. and is compulsory reading in Japan, Italy agreed to a divorce. Molnar never settled “It reminds me of your father, Liliom”. and Poland. If you have not read it yet, down with Lili Darvas though they did do not wait...... get married; he said they had a 5-room Janos Fisher

16 AJR Journal | October 2018

A CASE OF MISSED COMMUNICATIONS

The August edition of the AJR in that Bay. That information was not Journal contained Mindu Hornick’s passed on. Therefore the RAF attacked and sank all 3 ships with Typhoon fighter moving story of commemorations bombers as part of general strikes on in Hamburg, including one to the shipping in the Baltic, oblivious of what the ships held below deck. Only 350 of victims of the bombing of the Cap the 5,000 KZ prisoners on the Cap Arcona Arcona. survived. Of the 2,800 prisoners on the Thielbeck only 50 were saved. All 2,000 The former liners, the Cap Arcona, the prisoners on the Deutschland were safely Deutschland and the freighter Thielbeck taken off by the motor launch Athen. Poster for SS Arcona in her heyday ended their days as prison ships. German trawlers sent to rescue only the to death on the beach. Information intercepted by Bletchley Park Cap Arcona crew saved 16 sailors, 400 SS- was that the SS leadership, assembled men and 20 SS-women. That maritime disaster and the murders on in Flensburg, tried to escape by ship to the beach took place just one day before Norway. That information was passed on On the evening of 2 May 1945, more the surrender of German troops to Field- to Allied HQ and to the RAF. On prisoners arriving from KZ Stutthof were Marshal Montgomery on Lüneburg Heath 2 May 1945 the Red Cross in Lübeck told loaded into barges and brought to the on 4 May 1945. The SS had planned to the Commander of the British forces that anchored vessels. The Cap Arcona refused sink the ships laden with prisoners anyway, 7,000 to 8,000 prisoners were aboard them, 800 prisoners were returned to the the RAF did it as a result of missed ships in the Bay of Lübeck and the Swedish beach at Neustadt in the morning of 3 communications. and Swiss Red Cross informed British May 1945 where some 500 of them were Intelligence of the presence of prison ships machine-gunned in their barges or beaten Frank Bright

Sisters Sonja Sternberg (left) So near and and Gisela Feldman, yet so far members of Menorah Two sisters, Sonja Sternberg Synagogue, Cheshire. and Gisela Feldman, were PHOTOGRAPH BY recently invited to Hamburg for HOWARD BARLOW the official launch of ‘Captain All the passengers had purchased visas at to leave port and Captain Schroeder Schroeder: die Irrfahrt der St. great expense from the Cuban embassy decided to take a chance and cruise but were shocked when they were refused towards America. Near Florida gun boats Louis’ – a German TV film in entry to Havana: The Cuban president had came out to make sure that nobody which they both took part. declared the visas invalid. A representative tried to swim ashore and so the ship of the American Jewish Joint Distribution was forced to return to Europe. Holland, The St. Louis was a luxury liner which Committee tried to negotiate, offering extra France, Belgium and Britain gave the left Hamburg on 13 May 1939 with money for each passenger, but to no avail. passengers safe haven and the two over 900 passengers who were fleeing The Captain went ashore to see if he could sisters and their mother were fortunate the Nazis. The sisters and their mother help but without success. to be granted visas for Britain as the were among them. other three countries were very soon Canada, on being asked if they could take overrun by the Nazis. The purpose of the film was to highlight any of the refugees, replied: “None is too the bravery and humanity of Captain many”. A telegram to President Roosevelt The gathering in Hamburg was very Schroeder. Many women had brought was ignored; another to Mrs. Roosevelt, emotional as Sonja and Gisela were the their candlesticks and the captain asking that at least the children be saved, only eyewitnesses able to talk about their bravely allowed them to remove the likewise received no reply. experiences on the journey and about the portrait of Hitler from the wall on humanity of Captain Schroeder. His name Shabbath for prayers. After seven days the ship was ordered is recorded at Yad Vashem.

17 AJR Journal | October 2018

LETTER FROM ISRAEL BY DOROTHEA SHEFER-VANSON

CONTROVERSIAL friends and many of my relations. No-one seems to bear this out (4.6 percent as can accuse me of being a supporter of opposed to 3.2). LAW Binyamin Netanyahu and his party, but the significance of the article in ‘Le Figaro’ Under the provisions of the law, the made me stop and think that perhaps the official language of Israel is Hebrew The furore messages I’ve been receiving are one-sided, and the official religion is Judaism. In surrounding to say the least. England, America, France and most other Israel’s Nation- Western democracies there is an official State Law Headed ‘The State of Israel Will Not language and a majority religion (the passed in July Be Binational!’ (my translation, his British monarch is even the head of the by the Knesset exclamation mark), the article, under Anglican church), and no-one accuses has continued the byline of François d’Orcival, asserts them of being undemocratic. If the law to reverberate throughout Israel and that the justification for introducing the safeguards the Jewish character of Israel, beyond, even reaching the pages of the law is to guarantee the future of the like M. d’Orcival, I personally see no French daily, ‘Le Figaro,’ which I read Jewish state. Claiming that the law does harm. while on holiday in France. not contravene the rights of the various minorities living in Israel but merely affirms In the final analysis, there is no getting Since I cannot bear to be completely the Jewish character of Israel, the writer away from the fact that there are at least disconnected from Israel, I make sure to underlines the confrontation between thirty Arab or Muslim countries and only have internet connection while I’m away. national identity and multiculturism that is one Jewish one. And we all know what This may seem somewhat masochistic, increasingly prevalent all over the Western happens when Jews do not have a single but it’s such an intrinsic part of my life. world, adding that political opposition is country that will accept them in their inseparable from demographic evolution. hour of need. Many, though not all, of Thus it was that my news updates while the Muslim countries will not allow Jews in France contained numerous messages The sticking point, according to M. or even anyone who has ever visited condemning the law, claiming that it d’Orcival, is the difference in the birth Israel to set foot on their soil. Israel has was contrary to the values enshrined rates of Arabs and Jews in Israel. Currently, no such policy regarding members of in Israel’s Declaration of Independence Jews account for 75 percent of the other religions. and even racist – all things that are population and Arabs for 18 percent. But anathema to any decent person. Massive the Palestinian Arabs have said more than Sometimes it takes an objective outsider demonstrations were held to oppose the once that the weapon with which they will to reveal the truth of a situation. I am law, and there seemed to be widespread defeat the Jews is their birth-rate, and the grateful to François d’Orcival for enabling condemnation of it, at least among my difference in those of the two populations me to see matters in a different light.

Susi OBITUARY Bechhofer and twin SUSI BECHHOFER sister Lotte Born Munich 17 May 1936, Died Rugby 29 April 2018 aged 3 Rosa, the mother of Susi and her twin, Lotte, was a Jewish domestic servant; their father, Otto, a non-Jewish German, left Munich before they were born. Susi only discovered her true identity when she came to sit an Working and unable to cope with the demands of two babies, exam in 1954 and the teacher told her her real name (the name Rosa gave the children to the local orphanage. In 1939, Susi change had never been legally formalised). However, it would and Lotte were sent to Cardiff on the Kindertransport and be a number of years before she felt able to explore her story. In taken in by a Baptist minister and his wife. the meantime, Susi pursued a career in nursing, married and had a son. Lotte’s death at the age of 35 in 1971 prompted Susi to Susi and Lotte were brought up to believe they were the research their story. Through relatives in New York she learned couple’s biological children; they were renamed Grace and that their mother Rosa had died at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1943. Eunice and raised as Christians. In 1945 Lotte fell seriously ill and Susi was sent to boarding school, ostensibly to spare her Finding out her real identity inspired her to reclaim her the stress of her sister’s illness but actually to prevent her from birth name of Susi Bechhofer and to talk publicly about her hearing local rumours about their background. experiences. Her story is told in her books Rosa’s Child and Rosa.

18 AJR Journal | October 2018

AJR CARD AND GAMES CLUB Monday 8 October 2018 at 1.00pm AJR FILM CLUB at North Western Reform Synagogue, Alyth Gardens, Temple Fortune, London NW11 7EN HAMPSTEAD Bridge, card games, backgammon, scrabble. You decide. Starring Diane Keaton £7.00 per person, inc lunch Booking is essential – when you book please let us know your choice of game. Please either call Ros Hart on 07966 969951 or email [email protected]

JOSEPH PEREIRA Kindertransport

A special interest group of (ex-AJR caretaker over 22 years) The Association of Jewish Refugees is now available for DIY repairs and general maintenance. LUNCH No job too small, on MONDAY 12 November 2018 Wednesday 10 October 2018 very reasonable rates. at 12.30pm At Alyth Gardens Synagogue Please telephone 07966 887 485. at Sha’arei Tsedek North London Reform 12.30pm Synagogue, 120 Oakleigh Road North, The postcode Whetstone, N20 9EZ for Jewish Learning Lunch of smoked salmon bagels, Danish PillarCare pastries and tea or coffee will be served first: Quality support and care at home Based on a true story, Diane Keaton plays an American widow who finds unexpected  Hourly Care from 4 hours – 24 hours love with a man living wild on Hampstead  Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care Heath when they take on the developers We are delighted to be joined by  who want to destroy his home. Convalescent and Personal Health Care Raymond Simmondson,  Compassionate and Affordable Service Chief Executive of JW3 Guaranteed feel good to  Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff make you laugh and cry  Registered with the CQC and UKHCA Call Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 or email [email protected] £8.00 per person inc lunch £7.00 per person. Booking is essential. Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL PILLARCARE Please either call Ros Hart THE BUSINESS CENTRE on 07966 969951 or email 36 GLOUCESTER AVENUE LONDON NW1 7BB WHY NOT CONVERT [email protected] PHONE: 020 7482 2188 YOUR OLD CINE FAX: 020 7900 2308 FILMS www.pillarcare.co.uk AND PUT THEM JACKMAN . ON DVDS FREE OF CHARGE? SILVERMAN switch on electrics Contact Alf Buechler at [email protected] or COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Rewires and all household tel 020 8252 0375 or 07488 774 414 electrical work PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 Mobile: 0795 614 8566 spring grove London’s Most Luxurious Telephone: 020 7209 5532 www.fishburnbooks.com RETIREMENT HOME 214 Finchley Road [email protected] Jonathan Fishburn London NW3 buys and sells Jewish and Hebrew  Entertainment books, ephemera and items of  Activities Jewish interest.  Stress Free Living Books Bought He is a member of the Antiquarian  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine Booksellers Association.  Full En-Suite Facilities Modern and Old Contact Jonathan on Call for more information or a personal tour Eric Levene 020 8455 9139 020 8446 2117 020 8364 3554 / 07855387574 or 020 7794 4455 or 07813 803 889 [email protected] for more information [email protected]

19 AJR Journal | October 2018

CELLIST’S Events and Cellist Frederike Exhibitions RESEARCH Fechner BRITISH REFUGEES POLICY DURING WW2 Roger Kershaw from The National CREATES Archives and Naomi Levy from The Second Generation Network will talk about the shifting policy of British CONCERT internment and deportation of German and Austrian Jewish refugees to the Isle The family of an AJR Trustee exceptional, prompting the idea of a of Man, Canada and Australia between special concert on 22 November at the 1939-40.They would be delighted to see provided the inspiration for a Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s any memorabilia connected to British German cellist and the Wiener Wood. internment during WWII, to chat about after the talk. Library’s special Kristallnacht and Mrs Fechner will be accompanied 9 October, 6.30pm Kindertransport 80th anniversary by Mathias Husmann, a well-known Wiener Library composer, conductor and pianist www.wienerlibrary.co.uk/Whats- memorial concert. whose own mother defied the Nazis by On?item=399 playing music of the banned composer Friederike Fechner, who was born in Mendelssohn on German radio. CAN WE TRUST DEMOCRACY? Hannover, has performed chamber AJR Chief Executive Michael Newman music nationally and internationally. Special guest will be Dame Esther will be part of a panel discussion looking Her interest began when she and her Rantzen, who reunited Czech refugee at whether we can trust democracy husband purchased and renovated a children with Sir Nicholas Winton in the today, in the context of antisemitism in decrepit townhouse in Stralsund on now historic episode of “This is your the age of new populism. Organised by Germany’s Baltic coast. Life”. The Wiener Library holds papers the Centre for German Jewish Studies belonging to Dame Esther’s aunt, Jane at Sussex University, this event will ask Discovering that the house formerly Levy, the first Jewish relief worker to specialists and members of the public to belonged to a Jewish couple, Selma and enter Bergen-Belsen after liberation. grapple with painful questions such as Julius Blach, she began researching their Why now? What is – or is not – new? Is descendants. Through a search notice in 22 November is one day after the 80th a second Holocaust possible, this time in the AJR Journal she was able to contact anniversary of the Parliament debate the Middle East? What can be done to several members of the extended Blach that followed Kristallnacht and led to strengthen democracy and counter anti- family, who met for the first time at a the Kindertransport. Candles will be lit democratic tendencies? moving event at the German Embassy in in honour of families separated by the 1 November 2018 at 7.45pm London earlier this year. terrible events of 1938 and the concert New North London Synagogue is dedicated to the memory of all those www.mynnls.org.uk/event/Sussex18 Among those family members was who suffered through them. one of the AJR’s own Trustees, Gaby KINDERTRANSPORT Glassman, who is a great-granddaughter Tickets for the concert, which will COMMEMORATION of Selma and Julius and who has also feature pieces by Beethoven, Bloch, Lord Alf Dubs and Barbara Winton conducted research into the history of Bruch, Ravel and Mendelssohn alongside invite everyone connected to the the family at the Wiener Library and readings that connect the story of the Kindertransport to the official elsewhere. Blach family with the wider history of commemoration event for its 80th Kristallnacht, the Kindertransport and anniversary, which is being organised by Mrs Fechner’s determination – by the Holocaust, are £30, and are available the Safe Passage movement. crossing borders, overcoming language at www.wienerlibrary.co.uk or 15 November at 3.00pm and cultural barriers, and carefully 020 7636 7247. All proceeds will go Friends Meeting House, London reconstructing the complex family towards collecting, preserving and [email protected] tree – struck Wiener Library staff as sharing evidence of the Holocaust.

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