AJ R Information
Volume XLVIII No. 6 June 1993
£3 (to non-members)
Don't miss . .. Questioning editorial policy
Schtonk inc p3 Dissent in the Cockpit p4 Of Prejudice and Pride Pensions news - special report pi6 f late several readers have accused the editor pally organised refugee reunions with three native of anti-German prejudice. This is a key issue towns: Baden-Baden, Aachen and Berlin. Oand must be addressed, even if I incline to the The critical letters, nonetheless, keep arriving. 'In view that such criticism arises from a misreading of your eyes Israel can do no wrong and Germany no my actual words. right' said one, and that after a thorough airing of the Hitler - the The December 1991 editorial commenting on the Vanunu controversy in our letter columns. Another home movie post-unification upsurge of xenophobia concluded: critic objects to part of his membership subscription 'There is reasonable hope that Bonn's Europeanism supporting an 'unacceptable editorial policy' and he footage and economic assistance to the Ossies will ultimately demands that the journal 'publish information - not of Hider make rampaging neo-Nazis appear of no greater one-sided views'. He goes on 'In Hesse the great Tand his political consequence than our homegrown lager majority supported the established poUtical parties henchmen recently louts'. In November 1992 I quoted the Frankfurter which have given post-war Germany due recognition screened on Allgemeine verbatim as saying 'if others won't let the as a democratic country'. Channel 4 showed wound of the mass crime heal, (our italics) then If only it were as simple as that! In Hesse on a lower them in glowing almost of necessity generations of Germans will voter turnout than previously, the Republikaner soft pastel shades remain identified with the crimes of their fathers'. My averaged 10% of the vote - far more than previously. instead of the February 1993 editorial ended with a reference to In other words, Schonhuber is on a rising curve and customary harsh Munich staging the country's largest anti-xenophobia the CDU and SPD on gradually declining ones. black-and-white demonstration. In March I wrote 'The Bundesrepub Schonhuber sprang to prominence with his auto of newsreels. An Uk has provided long-term stability through the biography Ich war dabei, exonerating the Waffen SS. insinuating successful operation of the democratic process'. In his election speeches he 'disavows' racism, but niedium for an In addition, in the half-year between June and demands that no non-German ever be given voting already seductive December 1992, we carried lengthy reports of munici- rights in Germany. (NB. M. Balladur, the French message: these Prime Minister, and M. Beregoroy, his predecessor, alleged monsters were, respectively, of Armenian and Ukrainian des were human, cent. As regards citizenship, Germany still operates after all - look ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING the jus sanguinis, the law of blood). at them turning In France the neo-Fascist vote has steadied up, in their Will be held on nationally at 12%. neatly pressed Thursday 10 June 1993, 7.30 p.m. In Germany, pace Hesse, it stands at 10%. Should uniforms, for an at we say vive la differenced Over fifty years ago France arts festival! produced Petain, Italy Mussolini and Germany Hitler. 15 CLEVE ROAD, LONDON NW6 3RL Should the That signified a difference! constraints of AGENDA The lesson of history surely is that, if Germany political Annual Report 1992 shows any signs of relapse, alarm bells should be rung. correctness not I happen to think it behoves AJR Information to be perhaps be Hon. Treasurer's Report Discussion among the bell ringers. I don't believe I am alone in extended from this. Words to images? Election of Executive Committee Nor do I believe that the term 'Information' in our On the other hand, Followed by a talk by Ralph Blumenau entitled 'The University of the 3rd Age'. masthead, devised under totally different conditions such an extension 1941, enjoins abstention from comment, i.e. might be inimical Refreshments will be served after the meeting. m anaemic objectivity, upon editors for all time. Any to the freedom of All questions for the Chair should be submitted to the Administrator at: editor worthy of that name would be too proud to be information, the 1 Hampstead Gate, 1a Frognal, London NWS 6AL a conduit of news without views. At the same time, basis of all true by 3rd June 1993. though, he must be humble enough to give space — and scholarships. D i i not only in the letters column - to contrary views. •H
AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993
Club 43 Profile SOth Anniversary Club 43 was founded in 1943 by mostly Jewish immigrants from the Continent The seven ages of women including scientists, artists, musicians, writers and others interested in cultural scription Department of Lange, Maxwell progress. The Club holds weekly lectures, of and Springer, the chrysalis of the emerging a high standard, on a large variety of Maxwell media empire. From 1956 she was subjects. These are followed by lively the Secretary of the London Office of the discussions. Leo Baeck Institute, giving sterling assist In its first year 15 founder members each ance to the late Robert Weltsch up to (and contributed an Essay to a book called In beyond) his emigration to Israel. Tyrannos. It was written in English to Her spare time activities revolved around demonstate to the English-speaking world the AJR Club where she worked closely that democratic, freedom loving tendencies with Margaret Jacoby. When Hannah have been alive in Germany since the 5th Karminski House opened its hospitable century. doors in the mid-sixties Peter Herz (of Blue During its 50 years of existence the Club Danube Club fame) apostrophised her as has been led by 7 different presidents. The die Seele des Hauses. A more tangible most successful was Hans Jaeger, who honour was the Federal Order of Merit — shaped the character of the club during his for refugee welfare work and services to 23 years of service (1952—1975). His great German-Jewish reconciliation — she knowledge of history and topical events Dora Segall. Photo: Newman. received from the German Ambassador in attracted up to 200 people at a time to his 1984. lectures. ne man in his time plays many By that date Dora had been a widow for Since 1945 many refugees have emigrated I parts, his acts being seven ages' eleven years. She has, however, a sizable to other countries or gone back to Ger wrote the Bard. He did not 'O family in America, and a 'substitute' many. But new members are still joining the know of Dora Segall whose acts exceed daughter - a Kindertransportee she helped Club, which continues in its old traditions Shakespeare's number in the same way that bring over - in the U.K. When I visited her at the Communal Hall, Belsize Square her age exceeds the biblical three-score-and- in her top floor flat I though I'd carry up the Synagogue, every Monday evening at ten; Dora will be ninety next year. mail stuffed into her letter box - but there 8pm. D Born into a liberal Berlin family she was so much that I had difficulty extracting showed an early penchant for the arts but it all. Cheering evidence, I concluded, that her practically-minded mother inisted that Dora keeps her many friendships in good AJR she train as a secretary. Thus equipped she repair. 'Fellowship is life'. Our new address is: ran the office of the German Playwrights' I HAMPSTEAD GATE, and Composers' Association in Weimar D R.G. IA FROGNAL, LONDON NW3 6AL. days. As a hobby she gave well-received poetry recitals, some of them over the radio. Our new phone number is: She met and married a Social Democrat journalist working for the German Broad 071-431 6161 casting Corporation. Our new Fax number is: In 1933 he was briefly imprisoned and she lost her job. Hereafter she worked for PARTNER 071-431 8454 the Reichsvertretung in various capacities; from 1937 she was delegated to tht JUdische in long established English Solicitors Frauenbund where she served under (bi-lingual German) would be happy Hannah Karminski, with whom she became to assist clients with English, German great friends. In 1939 the Segalls came to and Austrian problems. Contact John Denham London where he eventually headed the group of German Social Democrats in Henry Ebner Gallery Britain while Dora worked under the tute lage of Anna Schwab in the Welfare Depart at 50 Mill Lane, West Hampstead ment of the Jewish Refugee Committee. Myers Ebner & Deaner London NW6 1NJ 071-794 2635 Postwar she was Secretary of British Aid 103 Shepherds Bush Road for German Workers, liaising with such London W6 7LP I wish to purchase paintings Labour notables as Fenner Brockway, MP, and drawings by German, Austrian or British Artists, and Victor Gollancz. She also studied for a Telephone 071 602 4631 pre-war or earlier, also Social Science Diploma, which she gained in paintings of Jewish interest. 1947. ALL LEGAL WORK UNDERTAKEN After the reorganisation of Bloomsbury House in 1949 Dora managed the Sub AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993
Judged by any criterion other than victim brouhaha, and again when the end of Schtonk Inc numbers Nazism was worse than Commu Communism pushed refugees and economic nce again we have to say with Karl nism. The latter was a grandchild of the migrants westwards. Marx that when history repeats Enlightenment that had gone to the bad, i.e. Haider warned of swamping by Oitself it does so first as tragedy, and Stalin's means had vitiated Marx's ends. foreigners and initiated an 'Austria First' then as farce. When, in 1940, Chaplin- The former was a Satanic denial of every petition. Liberal elements, alarmed by anti- Hider screamed 'Democracy - schtonk!' in thing the Enlightenment stood for; its foreigner outrages in Germany, countered '^he Great Dictator, he was employing the means and ends were one barbaric whole. by convening a torchlight demonstration on pea-shooter of ridicule against the Nazi Could anyone envisage a 'Nazism with a Heroes' Square (where Hitler had pro luggernaut. Chaplin himself subsequendy human face' analogous to Alexander Dub- claimed the Anschluss 55 years earlier). admitted that if he had known the true cek's (admittedly abordve) experiment in A largely young quarter-of-a-million tragic state of affairs at the nme he would Communism with a human face? Clark- strong audience turned up to clap a pop have made a different film. Charnley suggest that in 1941 Britain might singer's and Chief Rabbi Eisenberg's joint The farce - the sale of the Hider Diaries have struck a Machiavellian deal with a rendition of Hotvenu Schalom Aleichem. and their exposure as forgeries in the 1980s non-ideological Nazi like Goering. More importantly, the Catholic Church - ~ IS the subject matter of the contemporary But could Goering, in fact, be described mindful of Cardinal Innitzer's craven capi German film Schtonk. The film's director, as non-ideological? On andsemidsm the tulation in 1938 - spoke out against the Helmut Died, attributed the massive inter alpha and omega of the Nazi creed, he was 'Austria First' petition. Its call, denounced est m the Diaries not only to greed and certainly rock-solid. In post-Anschluss as clerical meddling in politics by Haider, sensationalism but also to widespread Ger- Vienna he cracked jokes about suicidal Jews was heeded, and the would-be Fiihrer l^an desire for the portrayal of a more who cheated the municipal gas company by garnered under half of the one million human Hitler. inhaling cubic meters of gas they hadn't signatures (out of a five and a half miUion Such an image would, of course, have paid for. strong electorate) he had aimed for. "een a salve to the conscience of older The final proof that Nazism was the The relative failure of the petition Germans whose acquiescence had enabled worse of the two -isms is provided by the brought to the surface simmering discontent the Nazi regime to function so smoothly. different manner of their end. Soviet rule in the party's ranks. Within a week of the There is, as the saying has it, more than collapsed with relatively little blood-letting result five Freedom Party MPs seceded; One way to skin a cat. For instance the in the satellite states, and simply imploded these included last year's presidential candi slackness of Hider can be marginally toned in Russia. Can a similarly implosive and un- date Heide Schmid, and ex-Defence Minis aown by setting him off against Stalin, warlike ending be imagined in connection ter Frischenschlager (notorious since his nose 'body count' was actually greater. with the Third Reich? Of course not. airport handshake for released war criminal "•s is the avenue pursued by Alan Clark No - A. J. P. Taylor just about hit the nail Walter Reder). and Dr Charnley who fault Churchill for on the head when he said that Communism The latter fact indicates that five se a^ing, to put it crudely, helped the greater could only get better and Nazism could only cessionists from Haider's party would ^^" against the lesser one. get worse. hardly be suitable Westminster 'lobby Seen in the wider context, the Clark- n R.G. fodder'. Even so, the separation of Free "arnley thesis is a pernicious fallacy. «ii.iliiM|i.i|i,.i»9J!g|l|l|B|llB!|B!||l||!|l|ll|W^ Marketeers from the Neo-Nazis within the FPO banishes the spectre of 'Hitler's grand son' (Haider's nickname among opponents) Is Haider's party over? entering into his inheritance. n R.G. he Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) COMPANIONS represents the merger of two tenden Tcies. One, straightforwardly Neo- FOR THOSE YOU CARE MOST ABOUT OF LONDON Nazi, wants another Anschluss; the other, from which the party takes its name, Springdene A specialist home care service favours a 'free market' as distinct from the to assist the elderly, people mixed-economy model of the Socialist- A modern nursing home with with disabilities, help during CathoUc government coalition. Under the 26 yrs of excellence in health care to the community. and after illness, childcare leadership of Haider the Neo-Nazis gained Licensed by Barnet area health and household needs. both ascendancy within the party, and authority and recognised by growing support in the country. His core BUPA & PPP. ^i" a service tailored to your Individual needs HYDROTHERAPY & by Companions who care - Please call supporters are war veterans enthused by PHYSIOTHERAPY Haider's glorification of war criminals like cares provided by full time chartered 071-483 0212 physiotherapists for inpatients General Ldhr, who ordered the deportation and outpatients. 071-483 0213 of Salonika's Jews, or SS officer Walter Reder responsible for the Marzabotto SPRINGDENE 55 Oakleigh Park North, Whetstone, London N.20 110 Gloucester Avenue, massacre of a thousand Italian civilians. Primrose HIII, 081-446 2117 SPRINGVIEW 6-10 Crescent Road, Enfield. Our London NWl 8JA The main ingredient of Haider's appeal to a wider electorate is frustration with the completely new purpose built hotel style retirement (Emp Agy) home. All rooms with bathroom en-suite from £305 red-black consensus and, of course, xeno per week. 081-446 2117. phobia. This age-old Austrian disease became virulent during the Waldheim AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993
Reviews Dissent in the Cockpit On this page we carry two conflicting reviews on the play KINDERTRANSPORT - performed by the Soho Theatre Company at the Cockpit Theatre, London i Something special he Pied Piper led the children of Hamelin into the mountain. When Tthey were gone there was only silence jgS^^^^^M^m r.' ^ V^^^B^^Hift" and sadness in the town. In her play Kindertransport Diane Samuels examines the fate of the children led away from their parents and homeland in the late 1930's. \0tL_ Eva, a nine year old only child, comes to a new home in Manchester, where she is protected from the outside world and her own inner fears by the bluff, loving Lil. As the years pass Eva becomes anglicised. She 1 * forgets her Judaism and changes her name to Evelyn. By the time her mother, trauma tised by years in concentration camps, comes to collect her Evelyn is unable to 1 .-;J^^i^. •^^•^•k reach back through time and rekindle her Ruth Mitchell (left) and Sarah Shanson. Photo: Shiela Burnett. feelings. Lil is her mother now. Theatre of untruth Moreover, since Lil is Evelyn's chosen The play, set in the attic of a suburban mother, one would have expected a degree London house in the 1980's, shows how the ust as the application of law does not of affinity between them. In fact they could lives of Eva/Evelyn, her daughter. Faith, and necessarily engender justice, so a piling have come from different planets - with Lil Lil have been, and continue to be, affected up of realistic detail doesn't necessarily by the past. In this case a past which has produce the truth. Kindertransport a maternal Mancunian homebody and J Evelyn a spiky Home Counties neurotic. been hidden and, largely, ignored until abounds with realistic tropes - the mother's Faith finds letters, from a grandmother of purchase of a too-large coat for Eva, Even the symbolism of the ratcatcher whom she had never heard, to Evelyn - heartbreak at departure, panic at the iU- hovering beyond the attic window seems posted from Nazi Germany. organised arrival, language problems, dragged in more for dramatic effect than Flashes of humour and a hopeful ending doomed attempts to bring out the parents, logical consistency. After all, the children notwithstanding this is a powerful and spy scares, the heartache of evacuation - lured by the Pied Piper of Hamelin went into emotional play. The slightly cramped but lacks inner truth. This is sacrificed to the abyss, whereas those who boarded the accommodation at the Cockpit Theatre plot contrivance. Kindertransport found life awaiting them at suits the claustrophobic attic set weU. The Eva's decision to become Evelyn to blot journey's end. performances of the whole cast are excel out the painful past is comprehensible up to D R.G. lent. The young Eva is played by 13 year old a point. What strains credulity to breaking Sarah Shanson with a magnetic self-confi point is that, as part of the process of dence which constantly borders, but never inventing a new identity, she cuts herself off quite crosses the line of, precocity. Nigel from her Holocaust survivor mother whom Hastings, the only male cast member, plays she accuses of having abandoned her. The CLUB 1943 Ratcatcher, the piper who takes voyeuristic playwright asks us to believe that the little Anglo-German Cultural Forum pleasure in the pain of the children and Kindertransportee's sense of abandonment Meetings on Mondays at 8 p.m. haunts the dreams and quiet corners of has raged on unabated in Eva's breast for at the Communal Hall Evelyn's life. He also plays an SS guard, a Belsize Square Synagogue eight years. The act of rejection and resul customs official and an insensitive postman. 51 Belsize Square His presence is large and exuberant in every tant suppression of the truth opens a London NW3 role. Doreen Andrew (Lil), Ruth Mitchell Pandora's Box. Evelyn grows into a highly- strung woman neurotically hunting down June 7th. Dr Erich Vic. (Helga) Suzan Sylvester (Faith) and Eliza Liest aus eigenen Dichtungen. beth Bell (Evelyn) aU do great work indi every speck of dust in her bijou home, and June 14th. No Lecture. Synagogue AGM. vidually and as a team. incapable of establishing an untroubled June 21st. Charmian Brimson &: Although all set in one dreary room relationship with her own daughter. To add Dr Marian Malet will talk about Die Zeitung published in London between Kindertransport fairly rattles along. Upon to the pervasive hysterical recriminations between Evelyn and her (real) mother and 1941 and 1945. leaving the theatre one knows one has seen June 28th. C. Krysler & H. Seelig. something special. To put it in a nutshell: daughter, the audience are also regaled with Zitate aus aller Welt und eigene. Music by Kindertransport is extremely good. her harrowing diatribe against the substi Robert Schumann. D M.N. tute mother Lil. AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993
emerges that Jesus was a Jew. He may have De-constructed Christ been a somewhat anarchically inclined Helmut Rothenberg's figure hasid with a bend towards reviving pro 60th 'anniversary' phetic stances; he was almost certainly ^- N. Wilson, JESUS, Sinclair-Stevenson, 1992. married - what youngish Jew was not? - £15. and the marriage at Cana was probably his elebrating his 60th anniversary of own, with the water-into-wine 'miracle' arriving in England on 3rd April, his is a disturbing work, for Jews symbolising a renewal of the Jewish faith. CHelmut Rothenberg could look almost as much as for Christians, The 'raising from the dead' of Lazarus was back on solid achievements. These relate Twhich contradicts all received mystery play-acting. essentially to two spheres: his professional assumptions. And so it goes on. Herod the Great had work, and his efforts on behalf of fellow- Let me quote from the last paragraph: been dead for four years when he suppos refugees as well as the wider community. Matthew tells us that, his Messianic hopes edly committed infanticide for fear of the ProfessionaUy he founded and built up in ruins, Jesus died with the words of the new-born Messiah; Mary Magdalen was the accountancy practice Blick Rothenberg. Psalmist: My God, my God, why has thou not a prostitute; there was no census during He was also closely involved with two forsaken me? on his lips. Perhaps if he had the reign of Augustus - but six years later pubUc companies: one a multi-product foreseen the whole of Christian history, his and the Romans, who brutally enforced company founded by his friend Peter Black, despair would have been even greater'. It is their peace, certainly did not shift people to a fellow refugee, the other managed by his fhe culmination of a trend of thought which their birthplace to be counted. Conse late brother Henry, who was appointed lays the blame, directly or indirectly, for quently the (synoptic) Gospels of Mark, OBE for his achievements in exports. persecution (including the Holocaust) on Matthew and Luke, which teU the Christ The refugee community's debt of grati we Gospels, on Paul and on the Gentile mas story as every child knows it, cannot be tude to Helmut Rothenberg stretches over Church. historically 'true'. No Bethlehem birth, no half a century - from the late 1930s, when This approach provides a shock. Readers stable. The fourth Gospel, that of John, he helped bring people over to and settle in of Wilson's previous work will know that in ignores this altogether and starts with a Britain, to the early 1990s, when he acted as the past he has pur\'eyed firm Christian treatise on the Logos (the Word), a philo a major fund raiser for updating the AJR's attitudes, some of them not free of border sophical view of Christ which ignores aU welfare facilities. line annsemitism. childishness. In addition Helmut Rothenberg has been But here he deconstructs the foundations Wilson says that given those contradic a benefactor to the wider community by of the Christian faith and de-mythologises tions, one might conclude that there was no virtue of nearly twenty-five years' work for •^he figure of Jesus. Who will recognise him historical Jesus at all. Yet he thinks that the MENCAP, the Royal Society for Mentally as a glutton and a drunkard, a man who pithy utterances in the Parables reveal a Handicapped Children and Adults, of 'Consorts with layabouts, heretics and quis character at variance with the people who which he is now Vice President. A Rothen lings; whose entourage includes a hated tax- purport to record him. He sees him as a true berg Fellowship makes it possible for poten gatherer who works for the Roman occu- Jew of his time, perhaps a sectarian, almost tial leaders and instructors from developing Piers of Judaea ('Saint' Matthew himself), certainly an exorcist and primitive healer, countries to train with MENCAP. (In 1990 as WeU as a guerrilla fighter (Simon Zelotes) who may have been toying with an anti- Helmut Rothenberg was appointed OBE for and the assassin Judas Sicarius (soldiers' Roman revolt and who kept much from his charitable services). Latin for knifeman, known to us as followers — not least from his family with As a music lover he has also supported Iscariot)? whom he quarrelled. opera through funding the Music Prep On the other hand the 'poor fishermen', The latter thought him insane, and were aration Scheme at Glyndebourne, and by the chief disciples, were more likely weU-off not reconciled to him till his death. He endowing prizes for music and art at owners and fishmongers, and Jesus lived himself is not reported as having written Highgate School. ^ith them in a good house in Capernaum anything, and since nothing has ever been It was thus appropriate that the centre (Kvar Nahum). And he had rich and found, it is perfectly possible to interpret all piece of his 60th anniversary-in-England Powerful friends in Jerusalem, members of that he is supposed to have wrought or celebration should have been a special he governing Sanhedrin, such as Niko- spoken as symbolic demonstration of the performance of Mozart's Marriage of •Jemus and Joseph of Arimathea (who prophecies of, say, Daniel or Isaiah. Figaro at the Garrick Club. provided the famous sepulchre). D John Rossall Addressing his guests afterwards, Helmut 1 ou may say that anybody can make up Rothenberg began by recalling his sombre ^fories about the past. That is exactly, alL mood on arrival which he contrasted with eges Wilson, what the Evangelists and HILARY'S AGENCY the contemporary London theatre scene. th.^i r much later editors have done. Wilson Specialists in Long and Short-Term Live-In Care His aim in arranging the party, he said, was so contends that despite the hosriliry of to express gratitude to Britain and to thank RESPITE AND EMERGENCY CARE "e compilers of the Gospels and of the Acts CARE FOR THE ELDERLY friends, specially for kindnesss shown since nd the Epistles to 'the Jews", it nevertheless HOUSEKEEPERS becoming a widower two years ago. RECUPERATION CARE MATERNITY NURSES Helmuth Rothenberg ended by quoting NANNIES AND MOTHER'S HELPS something Robert Morley had said to him — CAR HIRE EMERGENCY MOTHERS Caring and Experienced Staff Available in that very room - about old age: 'One omtortable, air conditioned car with helpful driver. We will be happy to discuss your must never be impatient with fingers grown Airports, stations, coast, etc. Fully insured. requirements clumsy or bladder unreliable. To grow old Tony Burstein 081-204 0567. PLEASE PHONE gracefully is not always easy, to grow old Car 0831 461066. 081-559-1110 ungratefuUy is always unforgivable'. D AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993
continue to lend a lighter touch to AJR Information with his largely topical witti cisms, thereby upholding the tradition of Jewish humour, in the footstep of great TWOFOLD LOSERS MET OFFICE CHEER satirists such as Peter Altenberg, Anton Kuh, .Mfred Polgar, Kurt Tuchoslki, Robert Sir — According to press reports Holocaust Sir - The change of weather to the better on Neumann and many others. survivors and their heirs must pay a hefty Monday 5 April, Erev Pessach, inspired me May God protect us and AJR's circula levy if they want to regain property. This to render the following rhyme from German tion figures from the erudite contributions proposal in a draft law was approved by into English: of Mr Johnson and tutti quanti. Kohl's cabinet and now goes to ParUament. Und ist der Yonteff noch so klein Chigwell, Essex Frederick Rosner In other words not only did we not Die Juden haben Sonnenschein receive rents for the past 50 years — now we have to pay for property that was taken (Even on minor Holy Days Sir — In the April issue Mr Peter W. Johnson away from us. The Jews are warmed by the sun's rays) entreats Mrs Lassman to stop the Editor Woodlands W. Kaczynski printing 'tripe'. I have known Mr Johnson Lynchgate Court Ernest Brown London NWl I for many years but I never suspected him of Friern Park NI2 the lack of a sense of humour which he is ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION evincing in his letter. It seems to me that he LOCATING THE ROOTS would condemn e.g. Christian Morgen- Sir - Unlike Mr Griinewald I have found Sir - I was greatly surprised by G. Schmerl stern's opus in toto. R.G. is a man of many that the Israelis are very appreciative of the ing's astonishing assertion that the roots of hats, as every reader of the AJR Information vital protection their nuclear arsenal gives Hitlerism are to be found in France and will readily affirm, and he wears them all them, and consider that Mr Vanunu must England. Your leading article in February with distinction. be prevented at all cost from divulging correctly traced the roots of the Third Reich So why should he not add a cap and beUs further strategic information he is believed to Luther, Fichte and Wagner. Nothing so as to relax from all the serious writing to hold. I am astonished he is allowed could be more infectious than the latter's and to get some divertimento; we all, I am fortnightly visits from his famUy. The life of rabble-rousing political prose writings sure, would feel better by sharing in this the entire Israeli population is at stake. which greatly inspired Hitler, who claimed divertimento. I for one was overjoyed to Bishops Close G. Schmerling he himself had no forerunner 'with the learn that Jewish Mr Venusberg composed Old Coulsdon, Surrey exception of Wagner. Whoever wishes to the Tannhduser. understand National SociaUst Germany Goldhurst Terrace George J. Fletcher Sir — From the Bar Kochba rebellion until must known Richard Wagner'. Nazi ideol London NW6 the advent of Wingate's night squads in ogy was solidly based on Wagner's Palestine and the Warsaw Ghetto fighters Weltanschauung. we seem to have forgotten our martial CHIEFS AND INDIANS Holland Park Avenue J. Rotter qualities, to the detriment of our people and London Wl I Sir — Venusberg did not write Tannhduser. the comfort of our enemies. The respected historian H. Heine makes it Next time Jews are consigned to another SEDER NIGHT WITH A DIFFERENCE clear that Venusberg was a hotel or board holocaust our enemies may rest assured in ing house: 'Dann zog er in den Venusberg'. Sir - We spent a most enjoyable Seder when the knowledge that they will accompany us The Opera was to celebrate an archetypal nearly 100 members gathered at the Paul on the journey to oblivion. female called Shulamit who changed her BaUnt AJR Day Centre at Cleve Road, Mordechai Vanunu? — A traitor to his name to Afro-Dite to go with her new under the auspices of Cantor Marshall country deserving neither tea nor sympathy. dreadlock hairstyle. Stone. He was humorous, of melodious Oldfield Lane Ernest G. Kolman Your theory is only held by discredited voice and kept the congregation in Festive Greenford, Middx historians according to whom he Spirit and Order throughout with his Germanised his name from Liebenthal to wonderful singing and explanation of the Sir - To talk of a 'nuclear conspiracy of Venusberg. P.S. Full marx for your grepes- religious ritual. Israel's authorities' is stupid! Mordechai de-chine. The food was excellent and added to the Vanunu is a disgrace to Israel and to Aberdare Gardens Ezra Jurmann festive mood created by the wonderful Judaism! He has no conscience whatsoever. London NW6 For Mr Griinewald to tell us that he is atmosphere of - amongst other things - the heartened by dissent from what he calls 'the beautifuUy decorated tables. aggressive militarism, so uncharacteristic of But the bouquet on this occasion must GERMANOPHOBIA our people' is childish. He should restudy surely go to the staff and volunteers, who Sir - You trivialise immense problems his history lessons and thank the good Lord served our meal with the greatest of everywhere. 'Perverters of historical truth' that Israel exists and can defend itself. expertise. is written in the style of the Volkische Unfortunately Israel needs to use a great It was a Seder to be remembered and will Beobachter. We should know that the view part of its scant financial resources to carry us through to next year's festivaL that Churchill should have made peace is maintain an army with modern — including Steffi Steiner very widespread over here. It is, after all, an nuclear — weapons to handle any aggression Anglo-Saxon country. There is a very close from its neighbours. BLACK AND BLUE connection between the two countries. Cleve Road R. J. Weinberg Sir -1 do hope that you will ignore Peter W. Mr Braunsberg is also right: coming NW6 Johnson's comments. Long may the Editor closer socially to English people is difficult AJR INFORi^ATION JUNE 1993
in many ways. Many still have the old almost all the Founding Fathers and antipathy. Are Israelis 'normal'? Mothers — from President Weizmann to Let other people from aU walks of life, Prime Ministers Ben-Gurion and Golda who were in business or the professions, think it was Bialik who said that once the Meir - fitted some nookie into their have a say to make AJR Information more Jews produced criminals and murderers crowded schedules. Of Moshe Dayan it was serious and objective. I like other people they would have a claim even said that he scored as many victories in 'Vincent Court E. J. Freyhan to be considered a normal nation. Accord the bedroom as on the battlefield. Bell Lane, London NW4 ing to recent revelations Israel can advance While Left-Liberals were thus liberty- additional claims to normality. Political life takers. Rightists appeared models of recti Sir - Like Dr Hornung I strongly object to in the world's two stablest democracies - tude — none more than the uxorious Begin — the unjustified anti-German bias of the Britain and America - has for years been till Netanyahu started evening the score. journal. enlivened by sex scandals. The U.K. had But illicit 'straight' sex is not the only '^oy Gardens Peter Prager Profumo, Thorpe, Archer, Ashdown, and offence-giving item among the insults Ilford, Essex Mellor - and the U.S.A. assorted Kennedys, traded by politcal opponents in the Knesset. Gary Hart, Clinton and (posthumously) The 'gay' issue has also surfaced, propelled Sir - It appears that Dr Hornung feels Hoover. to the top of the poUtical agenda by Yael commanded from 'on high' to defend the In Israel till recently the public was more Dayan, MK daughter of the redoubtable vast majority of Germans. likely to be shocked by financial peccadillos Moshe. No stranger to controversy, she He should remember that, in spite of - like Mrs Rabin's dollar account - than outraged the faithful by interpreting the Hitler having stated very clearly in Mein sexual ones. Then, earlier this year, it briefly Biblical quote about David's love for Kampf what he intended to do about the seemed that the bedchamber as weU as the Jonathan surpassing the love of women as German Jews, they voted him into power counting-house could yield secrets deleteri proof of the hero-king's homosexuality. and supported him right up to the time ous to a political career. It was alleged that At the moment Yael Dayan is therefore, when the war went wrong for them. Now Benjamin Netanyahu, the main contender jointly with Shulamit Aloni, the best-hated We have the spectacle of ex-SS Sergeant for the Likud leadership, had committed woman in Israeli public Ufe. The exposure Schonhuber managing to collect a substan adultery. 'Bibi', as he is known to his fans, of politicking females to public opprobium tial amoimt of votes. blamed his chief rival, Moroccan-born is, of course, pace Lady Thatcher, Nancy Carisbrook Road Henry Mortimer David Levy for disseminating this rumour. Reagan and France's Edith Cresson, par for Leicester Levy called the rumour-mongering charge the course in Western democracies. In other libellous. Then Bibi admitted an extra words, now that the Jewish state has not AUSTRIAN PENSIONS marital affair. In time-honoured tradition only produced criminals as indicators of Sir - I wonder why the Kultusgemeinde are his wife stood by him, and he was selected normality, but also ministerial adulterers, pressing for lump sum payments instead of Shamir's successor. This simultaneously female political firebrands and retrospec Austrian pensions? Are they afraid the disappointed North African Likud voters, tively 'outed' monarchs it can really claim to Nazis will come into power again, or do and gave the party a more rightwing stance. belong to the West. they think the very elderly will be able to Political fallout apart, the Netanyahu And if that sets Israel too much apart leave mofe money to their families if they affair has lifted the veil on a hitherto from her Eastern neighbours she can also are paid lump sums? overlooked area of Israeli public life. People point to a homegrown, or even Brooklyn- Anyway, it would have to be a very large in the know revealed that adultery had long based, ayatollah - or two, or three, or four - lurnp sum to yield £50 weekly, after tax! ' been the norm rather than the exception to bridge the gap between the socaUed (The Austrian pension is tax-free, whereas among the political elite. It seems that Morgenland and the Arabian Night.D RG. any interest from investments would be > taxed in this country.) I Not being very elderly and having no ? children, I prefer to have the Austrian BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE GERMAN BOOKS 51 Belsize Square, London, N.W.S pension as it is at present; or wiU the lump We are always buying: sum be forced on everybody in future? God Books, Autographs, Judaica Our communal hall is available for cultural forbid! Please contact '^eton Gardens A. Saville (Mrs) and social functions. Antiquariat Metropolis For details apply to: l-ondon NW4 Leerbachstr. 85 Secretary, Synagogue Office. W-6000 Frankfurt a/M Tel: 0104969559451 Tel: 071-794 3949 REGULAR VISITS TO LONDON Simon P. Rhodes M.Ch.S. STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST D S W BYE Surgery hours: CAMPS GENERAL BUILDING. 8.30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday ilMTERNMENT-P.O.W.- REFURBISHMENT 8.30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday FORCED LABOUR-KZ AND DECORATING Visiting chiropody service available I wish to buy cards, envelopes and folded post- marl w'.^^e:Tiw>^'::mcsimmamma^»f:9:f^:.>.^:^:pm>, AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 More on our plate Sun, sand, sea, smiles, shmooze - and shopping he Paul Balint AJR Day Centre travel lers have been at it again. This time Tthe intrepid crew, captained and navigated by Sylvia Matus and Rene Lee, headed off for a week in sunny Bourne mouth. The success of previous Day Centre trips has ensured that there is always a large turn-out, whatever the occasion, be it an afternoon at the theatre, a weekend at the seaside or a full week's holiday. On Wednesday 12 May a group of 50 Day Centre members boarded the Bourne mouth coach from Cleve Road. It was to be, New head chef Mordechai Pabian and assistant chef Emma Puller in the Cleue Road kitchens. weather notwithstanding, a week full of Photo: Newman. laughter and giggles. The Cumberland Hotel provided an excellent base for the he extra demand created by increased chai is supported by a dedicated staff who party - who were all provided with beauti attendance at the Paul Balint AJR also have to handle the blast-chilling and ful rooms with fuU facilities, en-suite bath TDay Centre and the popularity of the freezing operation for the meals on wheels. rooms, TV, telephones and so on. meals on wheels service has led us to review This new set up will be more economical our catering operation. and improve catering standards. However, Do your own thing Contract caterers have been replaced by you can't please all the members all the time Organised outings were arranged to Exbury our own 'in house' team under the super and constructive comments are always Gardens and to Broadlands, the former vision of Susie Kaufman. Our new head welcome. home of Lord Louis Mountbatten, now chef, Mordechai Fabian, is a graduate of All those who haven't sampled the occupied by Lord Romsey's family, but for Westminster Catering College and has just delights of the AJR Catering Service are the majority of the time the holidaymakers returned from working in a large kosher heartily invited to vist the Day Centre or were encouraged to 'do their own thing'. catering company in South Africa. Morde telephone for meals on wheels. D LL continued on next page Paul Balint AJR Day Centre AJR INFORMATION AJR MEALS ON WHEELS SUMMER SHOW is available on tape A wide variety of high quality kosher frozen food is available, ready made The Connaught Opera, a touring opera and delivered to your door, via the AJR company will be appearing at Cleve Road Please contact Mrs Irene White 081-203 2733 meals on wheels service. The food is on before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. cooked in our own kitchens in Cleve Road, NW6 by our experienced staff. SUNDAY 25 JULY This service is available to those Entrance £3.50, by ticket only. nnnnnnnnnnnnnnn members with mobility problems or For ticket enquiries please phone D n other difficulties. 071-328 0208. n Paul Balint AjR n n Day Centre n The cost for a kosher 3 course meal is £3.00. n n Delivery charge 50p. Payment for meals to n OPEN DAY n be made to the Driver. PAUL BALINT AJR DAY CENTRE n n If you live in North or North West (AJR CLUB) n All members, volunteers n London and wish to take advantage of n and friends are invited to n this service phone Mrs Ruth Finestone Join us on AFTERNOON HIGHLIGHTS n D on 071-328 0208 for details and an D assessment interview. Dance classes for the advanced n Sunday 4th July 1993 and beginners. n at 2.30 p.m. n Meals can still be collected from IS n n Cleve Road on weekdays (Mondays- From 4.3O-S.30 p.m. n Entrance £2 n Thursdays) for £3.00 per meal. June 3, June 17 & July I. n to include refreshments n nnnnnnnnnnnnDDn AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 The choices ranged from shopping trips and 0 Marks the spot Tcolders Green t visits to the cinema to simply relaxing by the pool — while the more adventurous relaxed lthough a map and compass are not in nearby Poole. prerequisites, finding the AJR's new One evening was filled with a dinner- Aoffices can be slightly difficult with dance but, as during the days, freedom of out precise instructions. So here, for those choice was the major ethos ofthe week. For of us without a degree in Geography and a many members of the Day Centre's newly bent for orienteering, are the directions. formed Bridge School this freedom offered Where Frognal meets Finchley Road the opportunit)" to hone their newly found there is a Lloyd's bank. On the opposite skills in the plush surroundings of the corner of Frognal there is a 'Domino's' Cumberland Hotel, with a constant supply pizza parlour. Directly behind the building of tea and cakes. which houses the pizza parlour there is a sloping, asphalted driveway. The drive Simply top top top leads to a cul-de-sac called Hampstead Gate It takes a good deal of meticulous arranging around which twelve new office buildings to ensure that group travel of this type stand. The AJR occupies the first building provides more pleasure than pain. The Day on your left as you enter the close. Centre organisers have gained a great deal Those visitors coming from the direction of expertise over the years and have become of Golders Green will find Frognal on the expert at achieving the right balance left hand side of Finchley Road. between organising entertainment and let Bus routes 13, 113 and 82 aU ply the ting the spirit of adventure flourish. In the Finchley Road. Finchley Road tube station words of one of the returned holiday- is served by the Metropolitan and Jubilee makers: 'Sylvia and Rene are simply top, Unes. Upon leaving the tube station turn left top, top'. And so say all of us. D up the main road. Frognal wiU appear on the right. Pictures from this holiday will appear tn the We hope these instructions will make our I Swiss Cottage •V' July issue. new location plain. D PAUL BALINT AJR Monday 7 The Pleasures of Music - Monday 21 Geoffrey Whitworth & DAY CENTRE Sarah-Jane Dale (Soprano) Jacqueline Johnson Entertain accompanied by Geoffrey On Piano & Cello 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 3RL Whitworth (Piano) Tuesday 22 Ballads Sc Songs Of Love - Tel. 071 328 0208 Tuesday 8 Songs My Mother Taught John Cunningham (Baritone) Me - Sylvia Hartman accompanied by Gael Ford (Soprano) accompanied by (Piano) Open Tuesday and Thursday 9.30 a.m.— Hermione Goldsmith (Piano) Wednesday 23 Three-In-Harmony - Alisa 7 p.m., Monday and Wednesday 9.30 a.m.- with Sergei Bezkorvany Spivack (Soprano) ^•30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.-7 p.m. (Violin) accompanied by Rosa Wednesday 9 Tete a Tete - Jennifer Rice Butwick (Piano) with Harry &: Ian Edwards Sing In CoUins (Violin) Morning Activities - Bridge, kalookie, Harmony With Guitar Thursday 24 The Seven Ages Of England I scrabble, chess, etc., keep fit, discussion Accompaniment - Anne Jacoby (Soprano) I group, choir [Mondays), art class [Tuesdays Thursday 10 Music In Theatre - Kate with piano accompaniment '^nd Thursdays). Taylor (Soprano) Sunday 27 Helena Lieberman, Alan accompanied by Ruth Leber Milford & Malcolm Wald (Piano) Present Influences - Music Afternoon entertainment — Sunday 13 (a) Outing to Syon Park Inspired By Our Heritage (b) Day Centre Open - No Monday 28 An Hour of Music on a June JUNE Entertainment Aftemoon - Sandra Anders Tuesday 1 Duo Kinnor Entertain with Monday 14 Jack Davidoff & Jules Rubin accompanied by Giles a Pot-Pourri of Music — Entertain on Violin & Piano Turner (Piano) Madeleine Whitelaw Tuesday 15 A Pot-Pourri of Songs & Tuesday 29 Two Gentlemen From Spain (Piano) & David Arias - Maureen RusseU & - Miguel Ferrando Richmond (Violin) Ann Kenton-Barker (Baritone) accompanied by Wednesday. (a) Outing to House of accompanied by Geoffrey Gonzalo Barros (Piano) Commons Whitworth (Piano) Wednesday 30 Steven Neugarten & Simon (b) The Orchard Trio - Wednesday 16 The EUerdale Trio - Sarah Haram Entertain on Piano Piano, Flute &i Oboe Down (Piano) - Melanie &C Saxophone Thursday 3 Nikki van der Zyl & Rosa Woodcock (Cello) - Martin Butwick Entertain with Smith (Violin) Michael Liebermann Thursday 17 A Little Light Music - JULY (Tenor) Victoria Cooper (Soprano) Thursday 1 Great Musicians of the Past ^ttnday 6 Summertime Serenade - accompanied by Smart Wild - Presented by Yacov Paul Joanne FeUermann (Piano) Sunday 4 OPEN DAY - Background (Soprano) accompanied by Sunday 20 Enjoy The Joys of Music - Piano Music by Maurice Geoffrey Whitworth (Piano) Debbie O'Brien (Piano) Hermele f,\ giBB^!^^iaatlWBE>:iySHBei»:^!»S»MSB!BBgligH»»WCr«.^«^ AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 FAMILY EVENTS Miscellaneous Private tuition in English and maths Free crash course in Hebrew read for children between six and twelve ing. Five Sundays from June 9, Deaths Electrician City and Guilds quali years. Contact Michael Arton BA 10.30am — 12 noon. New West Abies Mrs Ruth Abies, long-time fied. All domestic work undertaken (Hons), Dip. Ed., M. Phil, on: 081- End Synagogue, call 071-229 2631. Secretary of Self Aid, died in Berlin Y. Steinreich. Tel: 081-455 5262. 203 2733. on April 23, one month before her Manicure and pedicure in the com 88th birthday. fort of your own home. Telephone: Lady required for elderly couple in ADVERTISEMENT RATES NW London area. Should be Orchudesch Fredy Orchudesch 081-455 7582. FAMILY EVENTS mobile, in posession of own car, or passed away peacefully at home, For quality curtains and blinds at First 15 words free of charge, clean driving licence. Approx two E2.00 per 5 words thereafter, aged 84. He lived for his wife, Hedy, realistic prices. Ring for free home hours three times per week. Box No. sons, Robert and Tony, and his estimate - B. Gould 071-289 0246 CLASSIFIED 1246. grandchildren. His memory will live or 081-958 7436. £2,00 per five words. in our hearts forever. Would anyone who knows the BOX NUMBERS Reif Paula (Polly) Reif died peace present whereabouts of Ernst £3,00 extra, fully, aged 90 years. Deeply Michaelis, who came to Britain with mourned by her family and many COOK REQUIRED his father, a physician, in the mid- DISPLAY, SEARCH NOTICES per single column inch friends. Twice per week for small evening thirties, please contact Edward 16 ems (3 columns per page) £8.00 meal - preferably continental. Rosen, 100 McClenaghan Mill 12 ems (4 columns per page) £7.00 CLASSIFIED Golders Green area. Tel Susan Bach: Road, Wynnewood, Pa, 19096, Seeking friendship 081-455 8884 USA. Widow 70s, humanist, interested m SHELTERED FLATS cooking, theatre, art, languages - TO LET Belsize Park area - seeks friends male or female. Box No. 1245. IRENE FASHIONS A few flats still available at formerly of Swiss Cottage. Eleanor Rathbone House Sizes 10 to 50 hips CES TELECOMS Every day we are receiving new spring and summer clothes, e.g. Highgate N6 For telephone extensions, Coats, Suits, Two-Pieces, Trousers, Shirts and Co-ordinates. Details from: Mrs K. Gould, systems, repairs and 'For that special occasion something unusual as always.' AJR, on 071-431 6161 removals at very For an early appointment l Second-hand or new equipment Viewing by appointment only. available. ANTHONY J. NEWTON Phone Nick Perl on: 081-554 9016 or &C0 O f^ (ELECTRICAL • Tn 0831-553556 (mobile). R SOLICITORS . & U. INSTALLATIONS) LIU. 57 Glenham Drive, Cants Hill, 22 Fitzjohns Avenue, Hampstead, NW3 5NB 199b Beisize Road, NW6 Ilford. Essex IG2 6SF. ALL LEGAL WORK UNDERTAKEN 624 2646/328 2646 ALTERATIONS Telephone: 071 435 5351/071 794 9696 Mennbers: E.C.A. OF ANY KIND TO N.I.C.E.I.C. LADIES' FASHIONS I j I also design and make SHELTERED FLAT children's clothes BELSIZE SQUARE Leo Baeck Housing Association JEWISH BOOKS West Hampstead area APARTMENTS 071-328 6571 at 11 Fitzjohns Avenue NW3, near BOUGHT & SOLD 24 BELSIZE SQUARE, N.W.3 Swiss Cottage. Tel: 071-794 4307 or 071-435 2557 Best Prices Paid Bed-sitting room, kitchenette, FOR FAST EFFICIENT FRIDGE OPEN MON-FRI & SUNDAY A.M. bathroom, entrance hall, resident & FREEZER REPAIRS MODERN SELF-CATERING HOLIDAY warden. J. T. BOOKS 7-day service ROOMS, RESIDENT HOUSEKEEPER 13 SENTINEL SQ, BRENT ST NW4 All parts guaranteed MODERATE TERMS. Contact Mr A. Flynn: 081-958 NEAR SWISS COTTAGE STATION 5678 Tel 081-203-6350 J. B. Services (Hon. Administratorn"reasurer) Tel. 081-202 4248 until 9 pm SWITCH ON TORRINGTON HOMES AUDLEY ELECTRICS MRS. PRINGSHEIM, S.R.N., REST HOME DAWSON HOUSE HOTEL MATRON Rewires and all household (Hendon) electrical work. » Free Street Parking in front of ttie Hotel For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent • Full Central Heating • Free Laundry (Licensed by Borough of Barnet) for Elderly Retired Gentlefolk PHONE PAUL: 081-200 3518 ' Single and Double Rooms. » Free Dutcti-Style Continental Breakfast Single and Double Rooms with wash * H/C Basins and CH in all rooms. ' Gardens. TV and reading rooms. basins and central heating. TV lounge 72 CANRELO GARDENS • Nurse on duty 24 hours. and dining-room overlooking lovely C. H. WILSON • Long and short term, including trial garden. Carpenter Near Underground Sta. Finchley Rd, period if required. 24-hour care—long and short term. Painter and Decorator From £250 per week French Polisher Licensed by the Borough of Barnet LONDON, N.W.6 081-445 1244 Otfice hours Antique Furniture Repaired Tel: 071-624 0079 081-455 1335 other times Enquiries 081-202 2773/8967 Tel: 081-452 8324 39 Torrington Park, N.12 Car: 0831 103707 10 AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 Alice Schwab ML M ichael Hasenclever, the Munich m\MM art dealer, has sent me Uberblick m w U1993. As usual the catalogue contains fine specimens of works by the likes of Otto Dix and Georg Gross, but it also represents many artists whose lives were violently interrupted by Hitler. Felix Nussbaum died in Auschwitz; Arthur Segal emigrated to England, achieved success as a painter and died here in 1944. Then there vvas Budapest-born Marcel Ronay, a reci pient of the Austrian Staatspreis fiir Kunst, The Race of the Riderless Horse, Theodore Geric.iult Photo: Courtesy of Musee des Beaux-Arts, Lille. who emigrated to England and did not paint most exponents of the German reahst style never before been seen in England. again, but an exhibition of his work at the of painting. Irene Scheinmann is showing some of her Ben Uri Art Gallery about eight years ago Tradition and Revolution in French Art excellent prints in 'Dynamic Structure and was completely sold out. Leah Grundig and 1700-1800 is the title of an exhibition at Form', a group exhibition at Gagliadi her husband Hans Grundig survived and the National Gallery (until 11 July). It Contemporary Art, 509 Kings Road, lived in East Germany, but Babette Strat- comprises over 100 eighteenth century Chelsea (4-26 June). She is also showing thon van Gelder who was born in Amster French paintings and drawings from the some of her work at the Argile Gallery, 7 dam died in Bergen-Belsen. Then there was Musee des Beaux-Arts, Lille. Included are Blenheim Crescent, Wl 1 (4—21 June) and in Franz Ehrlich, who studied at the Bauhaus works by David, Delacroix, Courbet, the Main Entrance, Leicester Royal Infirm and survived Buchenwald, while Otto Sisely, Gericault, etc, many of which have ary, Leicester (June-August). D Freundlich was murdered in Auschwitz. All the pictures shown in the catalogue are for Prague and Budapest between 27 June and 4 sale; copies can be obtained from Michael SB's Column July. Hasenclever Galerie, Baaderstrasse 56c, Birthdays. Brigitte Helm, one of the 8000 Munchen 5. uality or Quantity. The two alter busiest German film actresses, who starred An exhibition of 83 works bv Georgia natives for an opera house, reper in the Thirties successes Im Geheimdienst O'Keefe (1887-1986) is being held at the Q toire or stagione, have been with Willy Fritsch, and Die Grdfin von Hayward 'Gallen.- (until 27 June). She was debated for many years; are operas Monte Christo with Rudolf Forster, cele an artist of great stature with a clear sense of to be newly produced for a short season, brated her 85th birthday. Josef Meinrad natural form and pervading sensuality. often with international stars, to be re who began his career before World War II The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, placed by other works after a while, or are as a cabaretist at Vienna's 'Literatur am Norwich is showing (until 11 July) Lee they to be included in a yearly repertoire Naschmarkt', subsequently a very popular filler's War. Lee Miller, a staff photogra containing a large number of operas? Lon Burg actor, brilliant in Raimund and Nes pher for Vogue Magazine, became an ac don's Royal Opera House steadfastly troy, is 80 years old. Swedish-born Astrid credited correspondent to the U.S. army and adheres to the first principle: as a conse Varnay, the great Wagnerian soprano who covered the Allied liberation of Europe. She quence during a whole month (December sang nearly all Wagner roles in New York's *as amongst the first to document the final 1992 and January 1993) only one opera, 'Met' and also appeared in London (1948) horrors of Dachau and on 30 April 1945 Verdi's Stiffelio, could be heard. (Ballet and Bayreuth (1951), later moved to cabled her editor 'I implore you to believe performances made up for the lack of music Munich and sang at the Bavarian State "^his is true'. drama.) Continental opera houses generally Opera until her retirement, has just turned The Ben Uri Art Societ}' is showing (until engage an ensemble, consisting of good if 75. •^^ June) works by two young Jewish artists. not top international artists who during a 'Rosalind Jacobs is a keen jazz enthusiast Obituary. It is belatedly learnt that 10 month season have to sing many roles, a Arthur Maria Rabenalt, ex-German film and her sculptures include representations method which offers considerable choice Or Well-known jazz musicians. Louise Korin producer who emigrated to the States, has within a short period. During April this °^»atar is South African born and studied died there at the age of 86. The Austrian year, Hamburg presented 6 operas, ^t the Byam Shaw School in London. She character actor Guido Wieland, banned Deutsche Oper Berlin 7, Dresden 7, Munich ^hibited successfuUv in 1991 at the Ice during the Nazi era on political grounds, a 8, Prague 13, Vienna 15. Which system is *^ouse, Holland Park. member of the 'Josefstadt' ensemble for preferable? The debates continue. Lotte Laserstein, born in Berlin in 1898, over 40 years, who could be seen on ^cently died in Sweden where she had made Jewish Sponsors. Under this heading, a Austrian TV until early this year, has died in ^f home since 1935, having been forced to symposium about the history of Austrian Vienna, aged 87. Marian Anderson, the °se her Berlin studio because of her Jews will be presented by the St Polten American singer who was the first coloured ^iiarter-Jewish origins. She studied under (Lower Austria) Institute for history. This member ofthe 'Met', has died recently, aged rich Wolfsfeld, becoming one of the fore- documentation will be shown in Vienna, 94. D II iP-M^BraMgi^y.-jr«WHawgii^gr{.-i;aTi^^^ J^ AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 A history of the Jews in the German-speaking lands stronger the liberal movement grew. The Jews, of course, supported liberalism; and some Jews took an active part as publicists Part 9: Progress checked, progress resumed for the liberal cause and for Jewish emanci A period of reaction pation. These included the academic Gabriel Riesser, the journalist Ludwig Borne, and the poet Heinrich Heine — the he defeat of Napoleon was a serious represented principally by peasants and latter two perhaps from the relative safety setback for the Jews in Germany. artisans; against the 'godlessness' of the that baptism had given them; but Riesser, in TDynasties ousted by the French and French Revolution it set an idealised Chris fact, protested against the necessity for Jews now restored could not forgive the Jews for tian medievalism (in which hatred of the to be baptized before they could be allowed having joyfully greeted the Revolution Jews had, incidentally, played such an to play a full part in public affairs. which had set them free, but which had important part). The Jews were considered waged war against the German princes. At as aliens in this vdlkisch world. To the old Permanent gains the Congress of Vienna in 1815 Hardenberg charge that, since the Middle Ages, Jewish In 1830 a number of German states — tried to have Jewish emancipation en usurers had exploited the peasant and the Brunswick, Hesse-Cassel, Hanover, and shrined in the Constitution of the new artisan was added the new charge that the Saxony — experienced a dress-rehearsal for German Confederation; but he failed. His Jews supported subversive and anti-Ger the great revolutionary upheaval of 1848. proposed text, that the Jews should enjoy man revolutionaries. The vdlkisch move Their rulers were forced to submit to 'all the rights heretofore accorded them in ment found strong support among the constitutional demands; but once the dis the several states' was amended to read students of the German universities who orders subsided the rulers were able to \ . . by the several states': since only the enlisted in droves in Jahn's nationalistic and withdraw their concessions. As far as the states recreated by the Congress were paramilitary Turnvereine from which Jews Jews were concerned, however, there were deemed to have legitimacy, the rights were excluded. The students were often some permanent gains: the emancipation accorded by the Napoleonic satellite supported and sometimes even inspired by enacted in Brunswick and in Hessen during governments were not recognised, and the their professors, men like Fichte, Friederich the revolution was not revoked. In Prussia, emancipation imposed by the French was Schlegel (married to one of the converted which had been immune from disturbances rescinded. Hardenberg, overruled by the daughters of Moses Mendelssohn!), von in 1830, the government nevertheless reactionaries at home, was not even able to Arnim, and Brentano (who had frequented became sensitive to the mounting pressure make the Emancipation Edict of 1812 Rahel Levin-Varnhagen's salon). And worst from the liberals and began to make reforms applicable to parts of Prussia which had not of all, the mobs followed the lead of the just before the 1848 revolutions broke out: been under her control at the time the edict academics. The year 1819 saw anti-Jewish these included extending the principles of was published: these included not only the riots in Bavaria, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, and the 1812 emancipation edict over the whole recovered Polish provinces but also the new Hamburg, with the rioters reviving the old of the Hohenzollern kingdom. However, territories gained in the Rhineland. crusader cry Hep! Hep! [Hierosylema est the concessions to the constitutionalists perdita) as they pelted Jews in the streets. In many other German states — Saxony, were too few and too late to prevent the Wurttemberg, Hanover - discrimination explosion of 1848. against the Jews was resumed; in some The Jews and Liberalism As always, the fortunes of the Jews rose places even the ghettoes were restored. But the reactionaries were not able to put and fell with the fortunes of the liberal Liibeck expelled all Jews who settled in that the clock back totally. The nationalist constitutionalists. In the first few months, city during the Napoleonic wars; the other movement also had a liberal wing. This these were totally triumphant: all the Ger Hanseatic cities were also especially hostile. wanted to limit the absolutism of the man governments capitulated without a Bavaria continued with the anti-Jewish German princes by parliamentary constitu fight; every ruler was forced to grant a policies which she had never abandoned. In tions and believed that the elected parlia parliamentary constitution and to agree to the Habsburg Empire Joseph II's 1782 Edict mentarians would then vote for a closer the creation of an all-German elected of Toleration had been rescinded by his union of the various states. Many of these National Assembly. In all states, Jews were successor Leopold II as long ago as the early liberal nationalists were members of the given full civic rights, including the right to 1790s. growing bourgeoisie, supporters of the still vote and to hold office. As Jews had played infant industrial revolution in Germany. In an active part in liberal politics, some found Exposed to attack order for commerce to prosper, they wanted themselves elected as deputies at state and at The reactionary princes of Germany all to remove the internal barriers to trade national level. Seven Jews were elected to wanted to protect their sovereignty and within Germany; and, rather like their 20th the National Assembly. The baptized Jew battled against the nationalist movement century descendants, they saw an economic Eduard von Simson was elected its Presi which wanted to submerge the 39 German union [Zollverein) as the first step to a dent, and the practising Jew Gabriel Riesser states in a United Germany. Yet the Jews political union. was elected Vice-President. Since all Ger were as exposed to attack from the populist As hberals, these nationalists on principle man citizens were gaining new rights, wing of this opposition as they were to supported equal rights for Jews; and they Riesser insisted that the new Federal Consti hostile governments policies. The national were also conscious of the valuable role that tution should state explicitly that the Jews ist movement had sprung up in response to the Jews could play in the economic devel enjoyed their new status not as Jews, but as the French domination of Germany under opment of Germany. History was on the Germans. 'We demand not rights and Napoleon. Against French aristocratic cos side of liberalism: even the conservative freedoms', said Leopold Zunz, 'but Right mopolitanism it set up a thoroughly xeno governments needed economic progress; and Freedom'. phobic culture rooted in the German Volk, and the more they allowed it to happen, the The victories of 1848 were squandered as 12 AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 the nationalists fell out with each other over achieving security of status in Germany; and in the 1860s they slowly began to areas in which people of different national and a great wave of emigration began. It accommodate parts of the liberal pro ities lived side by side. Bohemia, for ex was not only the relatively small number of gramme, including those parts which ample, was claimed by its German-speaking politically active Jews who sought a new life related to Jewish emancipation. The Grand- niinority as part of Germany and by its in America, but many poor Jews did like Duchy of Baden gave the Jews completely Czech-speaking people as an autonomous wise (as did many poor Germans, Italians equal rights in 1862. But the most signifi region of the Habsburg Empire. The Jews of and Scandinavians at this period) because cant gains came with Bismarck's unification Bohemia spoke German (or Yiddish); they the industries of these countries were not of Germany. After the Austro-Prussian War supported the claims of the German developed enough to absorb the huge popu of 1866 the North German states were National Assembly and were exposed, first lation increase in Europe at that time — and grouped together in a Federation under to attacks from the Czechs and then to the Jewish population was growing at an Prussian leadership; and the Constitution renewed persecution by the Habsburgs even faster rate than did that of the non- for that Federation in 1867 removed all when these, taking advantage of the div Jews. Jews from the German-speaking lands restrictions from its Jewish citizens. In the ision of their opponents, were able to were to play an important part in the history same year the weakened Habsburgs had to reassert their power to crush the autonomist of the United States; but their fortunes make concessions to liberal parliamen- movement in Bohemia. In Germany also cannot be followed in these articles. tarianism, and these included the granting conservatives were able to recover most of of emancipation throughout the Austro- the ground they had lost. By May 1849 the Liberal programme Hungarian Empire, too. When, after the National Assembly at Frankfurt and the Relatively limited though the absorptive Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 the South assemblies of the various states of Germany capacity of German industry was in the was united with the North in the German had been dissolved and the constitutions 1850s, the growth of that industry was all Empire, the provisions in the 1867 Consti which had embodied Jewish emancipation the same unstoppable. In Germany as tution which related to the Jews were were revoked. In Bavaria the old repressive elsewhere that meant also the continuing repeated in the Imperial Constitution; and laws were reenacted, and other states also growth of a hberal middle class. The the long march to freedom and equality for tried to put the clock back. conservative governments had learnt from the Jews in all the German-speaking lands The result was huge disappointment, the 1848 revolutions that crude repression had at last reached its goal. which led many Jews to give up hope of ever merely stoked up an explosive opposition; D Ralph Blumenau LANDAU, BAKER & CO Chartered Accountants GERMAN BOOKS Registered Auditors Albany House, 324/326 Regent Street, BOUGHT London W1R5AA Company Audits, Individuals and Partnership Accounts and Taxation A. W. MYTZE Wages; Acquisitions Systems and other specialist work 1 The Riding, London NWll. Initial free consultation. Competitive Fees. Telephone: 071 636 2727 Fax: 071 436 0727 j^^^ Retirement by the sea COMPENSATION CLAIMS ^^FQ Come to sunny Hove COMPANIONS GERMANY ^®^ Are you finding it hard to cope Under a new Agreement regular hardship flf^^ alone . . .? For a happy and secure OF LONDON payments will be made to victims of the retirement start a nev^ life at Marigold Holocaust who were hitherto unable to House, a small, friendly kosher home apply for or received only inadequate A specialist home care service compensation payments. close to the sea, synagogue and shops. to assist the elderly, people with disabilities, help during Claims may be filed by persecutees who Happy atmosphere in homely and after illness, childcare were held in concentration camps for at least six months. Those who were confined surroundings, 24 hour personal care, and household needs. in ghettos or lived in hiding for at least good kosher food, special diets, level For a service tailored to your individual needs eighteen months are also entitled to claim. ground, bus stop outside, one hour from by Companions who care - Please call On instructions our Office will assist you to central London. prepare your Application and pursue the 071-483 0212 matter with the authorities. Long-term, convalescence, holiday stays 071-483 0213 For further information please contact: from £200 per week. 110 Gloucester Avenue, ICS—Claims Primrose Hill, Marigold House Residential Care 146-154 Kilburn High Road London NWl 8JA London NW6 4JD Home, 72 New Church Road, Hove, (Emp Agy) East Sussex. Tel: Mrs Jacqui Clewes Tel: 071-328 7251 (Ext. 107) I 0273 778759-771957 Fax: 071-624 5002 13 »st«!KWTiim'!Kwssf'f!mm\ >;• J•^J? - AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 Strange destination teachers and artists. Under a fifth are industrial workers and craftsmen. Search Notices Up till now only about one in six has found a job; two fifths are unemployed, and Hilde Herzog-Hepner came to London from or 40 years the two outstanding facts Danzig in 1935/6. Married medical doctor about post-Holocaust German Jewry the rest are studying or re-training. The Herzog. Worl 14 AJR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 Grief encounter encounter was Ilona Kuphal, the US-resi Obituary dent daughter of an ex-SS officer. She ixteen men and women, half of them revealed amid tears that she had tried to U.S. visitors, recently met in the small prevent her own daughter meeting the Walter Zander SGerman town of Neuenburg, Baden. grandparents, lest they corrupt her with The visitors were all children of Holocaust their evil creed. Erfurt-born AJR member Walter Zander, survivors - and the others offspring of Nazi A Wehrmacht officer's daughter told of who died aged 94, deservedly received murderers. (Also present was a Harvard how, when she announced that she intended obituaries in the national press. A Classics psychiatrist, who, being neither Jewish or to participate in the meeting, her parents graduate from Jena, viola player under German, could act as mutually trusted warned her not to 'drag the family name in Nikisch (conductor of the Leipzig Gewand intermediary.) the mud'. Similarly a Jewish participant was haus), and recipient of the Iron Cross in the Both groups of participants shared dif warned off the journey by parents who Great War, he followed his father into the fuse feelings of guilt, though for drastically insisted that Germans were not the sort of legal profession. different reasons. The Germans felt vicar people one could either talk to or shake by After emigration he set up a printing ious guilt on behalf of parents who either the hand. She had replied 'My trauma is business, which he somehow combined denied or repressed their own. The guilt rooted in Germany; there is nowhere else I with the academic study of economics and feelings of the Jews stemmed from a privi can overcome it'. finance. Walter Zander found his true leged upbringing compared to what their Mirabile dictu, the encounter ended with vocation, however, on becoming secretary parents had gone through; survivors' chil the participants embracing one another. of the British Friends of the Hebrew Univer dren also often feel incapable of living up to The first to do so were Helga and Alan. sity in Jerusalem in 1948. He realised even the high-pitched expectations - for pro Helga's father had been responsible for the •n Israel's birth-hour how much the Jewish fessional success and idyllic family life — extermination of Jews in a part of Russia state would need foreign cultural contacts, their parents have of them. which claimed Alan's entire family, except and worked steadily towards forging close The encounter aimed to undertake a his father, as victims. links abroad. unique form of group therapy. Under the As they left Neuenburg all the partici As a scholar at the Middle East Centre of psychiatrist's guidance the children both of pants hoped that in consequence of their St. Anthony's College, Oxford, he was also victims and of culprits brought their prob meeting the burden of guilt that had hith the author of important studies on how to lems into the open by 'talking through' their erto shadowed their lives would be easier to reconcile the interests of Israel with the personal traumas. The initiator of the bear. D rights of the Palestinians, and with the existence of the Christian Holy Places, n The views expressed in AJR OPEN DAYS Information are the editor 's- and IN THE OSHA HOMES not necessarily those of the Association. Leo Baeck House Sunday 20 June 3.00 p.m. Entrance £2 Israel's Osmond House Very finest Wines Sunday IS July 2.30 p.m. Entrance £2 BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE SHIPPED BY Balint House 51 BELSIZE SQUARE, NW3 Sunday 15 August HOUSE OF 3.00 p.m. We offer a traditional style of Entrance £2 (Children £ I) religious service with Cantor, HALLGARTEN Choir and organ Heinrich Stahl House Sunday 22 August YARDEN and GAMLA 3.00 p.m. F^urther details can be obtained from Entrance £2 (Children £1) our synagogue secretary AVAILABLE NOW All entrance prices include Telephone 071-794-3949 Please write or phone for refreshments full information Minister: Rabbi Rodney J. Mariner Cantor: Rev Lawrence H. Fine DALLOW ROAD Clara Nehab House Regular services: Friday evenings at 6.30 pm, LUTON BEDS i Saturday mornings at 10 am LU11UR OPEN DAY Sunday 25 July, 3.00pm Religion school: Sundays at 10 am to 1 pm 0582 22538 I Space donated by Pafra Limited Entrance £2 (incl refreshments) 15 <*^'«i»«^-'^<'''''s^i^siBf?mmfmi:s!mimmsmsiiirs "•WW ^ AjR INFORMATION JUNE 1993 Special report However, if no contribution was made position to offer legal advice, which should Pensions news prior to emigration, Ersatzzeiten cannot be be obtained from a suitably qualified legal, credited. This is another reason for the or other, advisor. D n our February 1993 issue we reported rejection of the applications. on the rejection by the German Federal The refusal of the BfA to allow voluntary This article is an abstract from a very I Pension Office [Bundesversicherungsan contributions resulting in pensions may be detailed report by Dr F. E. Falk. We are stalt fiir Angestellte, BfA for short) of examined by the court, but a final decision indebted to Dr Falk for his hard tvork in applications made by Nazi victims resident may not be expected for some considerable researching this complex issue on our in this country to make voluntary^ contribu time. behalf. A copy ofthe complete report can be tions towards a German old-age pension. obtained from the reception desk at the AJR We subsequently made enquiries of the BfA, German Nationality Offices. pointing out apparent inconsistencies and In this connection the BfA has advised taking up the case of the applicants. A that under a provision of the German lengthy reply has now been received. constitution Nazi persecutees, who were The BfA explains that, after examination, originally German nationals, can reacquire it had concluded that the decision of the German nationality. We understand that European Court in the Ronfeld case (which the procedure for this is quite simple. Once MAKING A WILL? had previously been believed to enable the German nationality has been reacquired, Nazi victims to make voluntary contribu even if dual nationality is maintained, a Remember the tions) did not establish such an entitlement. person will be entitled to make voluntary AJR CHARITABLE TRUST contributions, provided at least one such The pension applications had to be (Registered Charity No. 211239) rejected. It is a condition of the EC law has been made before the age of 65 has been which applies that in order to make volun reached. tary contributions a German contribution However, under an EC regulation, British omething none of us should avoid must first have been made [Vorbeitrag) by insurance contributions paid prior to age 65 is making a will and keeping it up non-German nationals resident in EC can for this purpose be treated as equivalent Sto date. We all know that we countries. to German contributions. cannot take our worldly posessions Generally, Nazi victims can be credited Any member interested in reacquiring with us but we can - at least - see that with Ersatzzeiten i.e. credits for notional, German nationality should send a stamped what we leave behind goes where it will not actual, contributions for the time from addressed envelope to the AJR office within be needed, do some real good and be emigration, due to persecution, to 31 the next ten days, when further information appreciated. December 1949, which normally satisfy the on this point can be provided. However, we requirement for 60 contribution credits. would remind members that AJR is not in a Time marches on, and demands on the facilities provided by our Association are growing more and more urgent. In order to keep pace with these demands Are you recovering from an illness or about to we are constantly updating our well- have an operation? established social work departments and introducing new services. Many of our former refugees have found their connection with the AJR a rewarding one. Over the last 50 years legacies have enabled the AJR to significantly improve the quality of life of many members who look to us for practical and emotional support. If you have already made a will, it is Why not recuperate at quite easy to add a codicil. If not, contact Lydia Lassman at the AJR office who will be pleased to advise you (Que'T^n Q/i^iede on the formalities. Alternatively, con tact your solicitor. NURSING HOME Whatever amount you leave to the AJR 31 Totteridge Common, London N20 it will be well received, carefully applied LONDON'S PREMIER CONVALESCENT HOME and remembered with gratitude. ® 081-959 4221 - FAX: 081-959 4223 Published by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain, 1 Hampstead Gate, 1A Frognal, London NW3 Telephone 071-431 6161 Fax: 071-431 8454 Printed in Great Britain by Black Bear Press Limited, Cambridge