VOLume 15 NO.3 MARCH 2015 journal The Association of Jewish Refugees

The joys of advertisements istorians and others who study Suschitzky’s bookshop Libris at 38 Boundary in 1968. Its second branch, just off Finchley patterns of consumption have long Road, a mecca for scholars and connoisseurs Road facing the side of what is now Waitrose been aware of the importance of of German books. Well known in its time was John Barnes, opened in 1956 and survived Hadvertisements as rich sources of material; the Blue Danube Club at 153 Finchley Road, into the 21st century. Gideon Reuveni of the Centre for German- where Peter Herz directed Continental-style Refugee businesses in this part of London Jewish Studies at the University of Sussex, for reviews until he returned to his native Vienna catered to their clients’ needs across the example, has published fascinating work on in 1953; the Blue Danube Club was itself board of everyday life. In the sphere of office the Jews of Germany as consumers in the pre- an offshoot of another Kleinkunstbühne, the equipment, A. Breuer of 43 Buckland Crescent Hitler era. As I have myself learnt a great deal small-stage cabaret theatre Das Laterndl (The specialised in the repair and maintenance of about the community of Jewish refugees from Lantern), which had been set up at 69 Eton typewriters, while Ernst Rosenthal of 92 Eton Nazism in Britain from the ads in the back Avenue by the wartime Austrian Centre. Place, Eton College Road, offered ‘photocopies issues of AJR Information, I was intrigued by The distinctively Continental atmosphere in the middle of Hampstead’. The jewellers recent letters to the editor referring to shops of the Finchley Road area was in considerable J. Mount Ltd., of 17 Winchester Road, had owned or managed by refugees on post-war measure food-based. Alongside the refugee- formerly traded as Grubner & Neuman in Finchley Road, Hampstead. Brünn (Brno, Czech Republic). To the information provided Among those in the clothing by Frank Beck and Margarete trade was C. L. Ferber, of 17 Stern, I might for instance add Manor Mansions, Belsize Grove, that Norbert Cohn, the refugee specialising in hand-made lingerie optician at 20 Northways Parade, and blouses; however, the best- was not the only one in the area known of such shops, Madame at the time: the ophthalmic H. Lieberg, ‘the exclusive salon optician A. Otten was initially de corseterie’, was located some located just along Finchley Road, distance away, at 871 Finchley at 3 Regency Parade. Road, in Golders Green. Hampstead in north-west West End Lane, the London was the principal area of main thoroughfare in West settlement of the Jewish refugees Hampstead, played host to a in Britain and it contained large number of refugee shops the greatest concentration of and businesses. A guided tour institutions associated with the These ads appeared in the September 1966 issue of AJR Information some six decades ago might have refugees. These included the started at the Patisserie Weil, at Freud Museum at 20 Maresfield Gardens owned cafés and restaurants were shops that 221 West End Lane, where one could sample (previously Sigmund Freud’s last home); sold food products exotic by the standards of apple strudel, Zwetschenkuchen (plum cakes) Belsize Square Synagogue (previously the post-war Britain: Home Products Stores of or Mandelberg cheesecake. Stepping outside, New Liberal Jewish Congregation); the four 160 Finchley Road (on the corner of Frognal) one would immediately pass a carpenter’s offices occupied by the AJR until it decamped specialised in ‘Continental Delicatessen’, workshop, F. Friedland, at number 227, and a to Stanmore (at 279a Finchley Road, its while the butchers Rabenstein Ltd., of 5 firm of decorators, Brodecor Ltd., run by H. founding address in 1941, from 1943 at 8 Fairhazel Gardens, advertised as ‘Wholesalers W. Oppenheimer, at number 229a (on the Fairfax Mansions, then at 9 Adamson Road, and Retailers of first-class Continental corner of Sumatra Road). Almost opposite, and finally at 1 Hampstead Gate, Frognal); Sausages’. The best known establishment in at number 176, was Mirro Furs Ltd. The and Otto Schiff House at 14 Netherhall this field was that of Richard Mattes, scion manager was A. Spiegel, formerly of Berlin; Gardens, the first of the homes built in of a Rhineland sausage-making family, at German speakers will recognise the pun in London for elderly refugees and jointly 122a Finchley Road; founded in 1947, the name ‘Mirro’, for Spiegel means ‘mirror’ administered by the Central British Fund this expanded under Mattes and his son in German. Further down West End Lane, and the AJR. Werner into Mattessons, a major enterprise at number 108 near West Hampstead tube Commercial enterprises founded by that became a household name in Britain station, was Otto Froehlich, a watchmaker refugees also proliferated in this area, the through the TV ads for its meat products. and jeweller. best known being the Cosmo restaurant The longest-lived refugee business was Just off West End Lane to the east, at 16 and café on Northways Parade. Many of Ackerman’s, at 9 Goldhurst Terrace, which Fawley Road, was a reminder of more long- the others advertised in AJR Information, sold chocolates. Werner Ackermann, a term considerations, Leo Horovitz, a sculptor for example the Dorice, another restaurant would-be actor turned chocolatier, opened and stonemason who advertised ‘memorials popular among refugees, located opposite the his first shop in Kensington High Street; Cosmo at 169a Finchley Road, and Joseph Ackerman’s was awarded the Royal Warrant continued on page 2  journal MARCH 2015

The joys of advertisements  continued Landmark Agreement for Jewish Child Survivors he Claims Conference has reached income or savings criteria and recipients for all cemeteries’; and to the west, at 30 a landmark agreement with the of the Article II Fund can also receive this Dennington Park Road, was the painter and TGerman Finance Ministry to provide lump-sum award. Similarly, there is no interior decorator M. G. Streat. (I am grateful compensation to Jewish child survivors restriction if a person receives the German to Professor Michael Streat for confirming of the Holocaust, defined as Nazi victims Government compensation known as that this was his uncle, the musician Max born on or after 1 January 1928. BEG. Streat, formerly Max Strietzel.) No tour The reparation covers those who Recipients of the Article II Fund should were in concentration camps, in ghettos, have automatically received the short of the area would be complete without a or were for at least 6 months in Nazi- application form. All other applicants mention of the Rosemount boarding house, occupied territory or 12 months in Axis will need to complete the longer form, at 17 Parsifal Road, off Fortune Green Road, countries, in hiding or living under a false which is available from the AJR or which advertised itself as ‘the boarding house identity. Those eligible will receive a one- via the Claims Conference’s website with culture’ and was run by Mrs Rose Peiser, time payment of €2,500 (approximately (www.claimscon.org). mother of the actress Lilli Palmer. £2,000). Only the longer application form Some idea of the sheer number of refugee Unlike the Claims Conference- requires notarisation, which can be done businesses all across Britain can be gained operated Article II Fund, there are no by the AJR. from the ads in two of the AJR’s publications: Britain’s New Citizens: The Story of the Refugees from Germany and Austria (1951) equivalent on the Team Valley industrial estate and Dispersion and Resettlement: The Story of in Gateshead, Loblite Ltd., manufacturers of Visit to Imperial War the Jews from Central Europe (1955), which lighting fittings and electrical accessories. Museum London contained 17 and 25 pages of ads respectively, One of the areas that benefited most Monday 27 April 2015 with up to ten ads per page (not all of them strikingly from refugee enterprise was the from refugee businesses). Firms in the remote region around the Solway Firth in textile trade clustering around the Oxford Cumbria. Among the firms that set up there Circus area in central London included were Marchon Products Ltd., manufacturers Schwarzschild Ochs Ltd., Hertie Ltd., of synthetic detergent raw materials, and the W. Herz Ltd., H. Wertheim Ltd., Strauss large chemical producer Solway Chemicals & Co., Dick & Goldschmidt Ltd. and S. Ltd., both founded by Vienna-born Frank Bischheim & B. E. Beecham Ltd. Simon (Franz) Schon, who was given a life peerage Bischheim was a member of the AJR’s in 1967 for his outstanding contribution to Explore the ground-breaking new executive and his son Richard Beecham was British industry, becoming Baron Schon of First World War Galleries and Whitehaven. Also located far from London a co-founder of Dunbee-Combex, a plastics the Holocaust Exhibition. manufacturer that went on to be one of was O. P. Chocolate Specialities Ltd. (see Britain’s most important toy manufacturers. letter from Mrs A. Rosney in the December Coach travel and lunch included, There was also a large number of refugee 2014 issue of the AJR Journal), which together with a welcoming address by businesses outside London. Some of them, produced Mozart Bon-bons, Pischinger Suzanne Bardgett, Head of Research like Lankro Chemicals Ltd. of Eccles, Torten and its ‘Original Viennese Dessert’ in at the Museum. Lancashire, founded by Dr F. H. Kroch, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. Blackburn in For further details, please contact or Metalastik Ltd. of Leicester, founded Lancashire was home to two firms specialising Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 or by Mac Goldsmith (Max Goldschmidt), in footwear: Newman’s Slippers Ltd. and Dr. at [email protected] were of national importance. Refugee Herbert’s, whose full name was Emsa Works businesses were prominent in what had and Herbert Foot Appliance Ltd. been designated by the pre-war government Among firms known far beyond the as ‘special areas’, unemployment black spots refugee community were Corsets Silhouette, HOLIDAY IN ISRAEL where new industrial estates were established owned by the Lobbenberg family, which during the Great Depression. For example, relocated from London to Shrewsbury when We are delighted to announce that the AJR Western Brush Co. Ltd. was still flourishing war broke out, growing to employ 3,500 is organising a members’ trip to Israel on the Treforest Trading Estate, Pontypridd, employees there, and whose foundation on 11-21 May 2015 (inclusive) Glamorgan, in the 1950s, to judge by an garments included the widely advertised We will be staying at the new ad in Dispersion and Resettlement, as was its line ‘Little X’; Etam (Etablissements Herods Herzliya Hotel Mayer), which dealt in hosiery; and Colibri, FLIGHTS manufacturers of luxury cigarette lighters, Luton-Tel Aviv 09:40/16:40 AJR Chief Executive founded by Julius Lowenthal in Frankfurt Tel Aviv-Heathrow 17:15/20:50 Michael Newman and transformed into an international luxury (note different return airport) Finance Director brand after his son Jack joined the business. David Kaye Price per person sharing a twin-bedded From their premises in Crutched Friars, room on a half-board basis £1,375 Heads of Department Karen Markham Human Resources & Administration London EC3, the wine merchants S. F. & Price for a single room on a half-board Sue Kurlander Social Services O. Hallgarten helped British palates to learn basis £1,950 Carol Hart Community & Volunteer Services to appreciate German fine wines. A number Prices include guided tours and transfers AJR Journal of these enterprises were early refugee success Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor For further information and to register a Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor stories, in contrast to the usual picture of a Andrea Goodmaker Secretarial/Advertisements place, please contact community that was largely penniless until Andrea Goodmaker Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not the tide of post-war economic growth floated on 020 8385 3070 or at necessarily those of the Association of Jewish it up into prosperity. [email protected] Refugees and should not be regarded as such. Anthony Grenville

2 MARCH 2015 journal Exploring ways of commemorating the Holocaust for future generations: A historic intergenerational conference ne third of school 300 people. The aim of the Holocaust and these had influenced students hugely conference was to explore her to carry out family research; Ounderestimate the ways of commemorating Philippe Sands, a Second Generation scale of the Holocaust, the Holocaust for future lawyer specialising in human rights believing that the number generations. and genocide issues, stated that killed was two million or One of two keynote according to his recollections ‘these less, with 10 per cent speakers, Lord Dubs, a things [matters pertaining to the believing that 100,000 former Labour Member Holocaust] were not really talked people were murdered. of Parliament and a Kind about’. Third Generation member These were among the who left Czechoslovakia Hannah Goldstone declared that she preliminary findings on one of Sir Nicholas had picked up her knowledge about of ground-breaking Winton’s trains, lit one of the Holocaust from her grandfather research carried out and Lord Alfred Dubs the Holocaust Memorial Day and that she saw herself as ‘a custodian presented to a Holocaust Trust’s ’70 Candles for 70 of the truth of the Holocaust’ – ‘both Generations Conference earlier this Years’, designed by Sir Anish Kapoor in a heavy responsibility and a necessary year by Professor Stuart Foster, Paul commemoration of the 70th anniversary burden’. Salmons and Ruth-Anne Lenga of the of the liberation of Auschwitz. Referring Those in search of an interesting Institute of Education’s Centre for to current events, particularly in France workshop were spoilt for choice, with Holocaust Education. The Centre had – the murder of four Jews in a Paris 11 to choose from, including themes surveyed over 8,000 pupils and held kosher supermarket – but in Europe in such as ‘Secret Listeners Who Bugged follow-up interviews with over 300 general, Lord Dubs concluded that ‘we the Nazis in WWII’; ‘Anti-Semitism in pupils across all years of secondary are failing’: prejudice was still around Post-Holocaust Europe’; ‘Preserving education in England. us everywhere. and Accessing Our History’; and Most young people, The second keynote ‘Tracing Your Family Back to Before the researchers concluded, speaker, Rabbi Baroness Julia the Holocaust’. appeared mystified why the Neuberger DBE, the daughter Holocaust had happened, of a German refugee who beyond a vague idea of arrived in the UK on a ‘hatred’ and ‘prejudice’. domestic visa, said that her At the same time, less than experience as a ‘half’ Second one-third of pupils who Generation refugee had left had studied the Holocaust her with a ‘very soft spot’ knew what anti-Semitism for refugees and asylum- meant; this figure could be seekers as well as for civil Rabbi Baroness Julia compared to over half who Neuberger DBE liberties and gay rights. Due knew what 'Islamophobia' to her background, she said, ARE YOU TRYING meant and over 90 per cent who she never felt fully secure anywhere. She TO FIND LONG LOST understood the term 'homophobia'. was, however, very proud of Britain’s FAMILY MEMBERS IN This historic one-day inter- reception of immigrants and stressed generational gathering of Holocaust that more should be done to publicise THE UK OR ABROAD? refugees and survivors and their the help given to Jewish refugees from HAS YOUR SEARCH HIT A descendants, co-organised by the Nazis by UK diplomats such as BRICK WALL? OR DO YOU the AJR, the Second Generation Robert Smallbones. JUST NOT KNOW WHERE Network and the Kindertransport At a fascinating Inter-generational TO BEGIN? Association, was held in mid-January Panel, Joanna Millan, a representative of ITV’s Long Lost Family is back for a fifth at University College London’s Institute the First Generation and an AJR Trustee, series taking on the searches which no of Education and attended by some said she had very early memories of the one else can solve and reuniting family members after years spent apart. In Britain today there are literally tens of thousands of people desperate to Kinder who came NORTH WEST LONDON find family members who are missing to the UK via AJR GROUP from their lives: people adopted as Dovercourt babies, estranged from their siblings or Monday 30 March 2015 separated from their family by war or Wednesday 25 March at 12.00 pm social upheaval. (leave to get to Harwich for 11.00 and return after lunch) Two-course lunch If you want help tracing a family £7 payable at the door member, or know someone who does, The Harwich and Dovercourt High please contact us to find out more … School is running a project which is Followed by our guest speaker: Email us at funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Tony Balazs [email protected] Transport and refreshments ‘The Dorice and Other Continental Landmarks’ Alternatively, please write to will be provided. Long Lost Family, Wall to Wall Television, For further details, please contact Booking neccessary. Please call 85 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8TX Hazel on 07966 887 434 Hazel on 07966 887 434 or Or contact us directly: or at [email protected] Esther on 07966 631 778 Call Lisa on 020 7241 9235

3 journal MARCH 2015 MY HUNGARIAN COUSINS think your mum had a boyfriend in she left school with excellent marks and It was here that Gunnar’s position ‘ Sweden.’ moved to the Conservatoire, where she as a civil servant in the foreign office I My mother had just died and my studied viola. On graduation, she found became significant. Could the family wife and I were looking through her flat. no difficulty in pursuing a career as a escape from Hungary to neutral Sweden A sad duty. On the cabinet beside her musician. She joined an orchestra with with his help? Easier said than done. He bed was a small diary with a tartan cover. three other young women and it was a spoke with his boss, an architect and It was filled with addresses and birthdays good and successful one, giving promise merchant called Raoul Wallenberg, who in her neat handwriting. And there it of a lucrative and satisfying vocation. had business interests in Hungary and was: Gunnar Ericson, Sysslomansgatan The orchestra toured Europe, was willing to go to Budapest as Swedish 17, Linköping, Sweden. It was one performing its repertoire of chamber consul and help save the lives of at least of many of her friends music to admiring audiences some of that city’s Jews, who were in I didn’t know. After all, in all the important cities. serious trouble, many having already I had been married and It was in Stockholm that been deported. Gunnar was given the away from her for many it happened, as it was bound job of arranging the details and he was years. to do. A young Swedish civil able to offer Manci’s help. Not many ‘It’s possible, but in servant, Gunnar Ericson, people in Stockholm at the time were any case I should tell all attended the concert and bilingual in Swedish and Hungarian! these people what has he was smitten with the In addition, he suggested that Manci’s happened. I’ll draft a letter beautiful viola player. He father be recruited to help Wallenberg and send it to everyone in looked her up after the with local knowledge when he settled the diary.’ concert and introduced in his post as consul. I did just that. And in himself. To his delight, he Wallenberg worked fiercely on his due course the replies received positive signals. The humanitarian project. With help from arrived. attraction was mutual. various emergency funds, he purchased Gunnar Ericson wasn’t There followed a period houses and furnished them with a boyfriend. He was a during which Gunnar spent Swedish flags and brass plaques marked cousin by marriage and all his money on fares and ‘Swedish Cultural Centre’, ‘Swedish his reply was warm and hotel bills, pursuing his Library’ and so on. He proceeded to informative. We started lovely viola player all over issue Swedish passports to potential to correspond and, as we Europe. It was clear that this victims and installed them in these safe did, the story emerged. was the real thing for both houses. Needless to say, Manci’s family My grandpa Marcus of them and that they would were among the nearly 10,000 people was born in Nitra, a little be marrying and settling eventually saved by this plan. Wallenberg market town outside down in Stockholm. She even risked going to the railway station Bratislava in Slovakia, was prepared to abandon and giving out passports to people in the in 1870. He was one the orchestra and become process of being deported. The Arrow of eight siblings in an an amateur musician – but Cross fascists tried to stop him and fired orthodox Jewish family. what about her parents? shots over his head as a warning. One of His favourite brother Being orthodox Jews, they them later admitted that they hadn’t shot was Nathan. When the would undoubtedly have to kill because they admired his bravery! brothers married they objections. Gunnar grasped Once the family was safely installed found it hard to earn a the nettle and went to in a Swedish safe house, Manci was able living and support their Budapest to negotiate for to sit at her teletype in Stockholm and respective families so they them. It wasn’t easy but exchange messages with her parents took advantage of the love conquers all and they as part of the daily communication resources available in the gained grudging assent for between Wallenberg and his support Austro-Hungarian Empire 1900-style portraits the union. Manci moved team at home. The whole thing was and moved into the big Marcus and Leonora to Stockholm and they tolerated by the Nazis because they towns, where there were (above) married. They established a supported Sweden’s neutrality and more opportunities. Nathan and Bertha home and had two sons and could use their diplomatic credit with Marcus and his wife Manci kept in touch with them to restrict Sweden’s free-trade Leonora moved to Vienna and Nathan her loving family as a dutiful daughter. privileges. and his wife Bertha to Budapest. Nathan She never neglected her music, which Wallenberg’s heroism had a bitter found a responsible and lucrative job continued to be a delight to all of them. reward. Some months later, the as an agent for a timber company and All the while, Europe was in political victorious Soviet army fought its way Marcus and Leonora opened a grocery turmoil. A militaristic, anti-Semitic westwards and evicted the Germans. store near the docks in Vienna. Germany threatened many countries and This selfless humanitarian hero was One brother learnt to speak German, the Budapest and Vienna families were less too much to accept for Stalin, who the other Hungarian. But they kept in than secure. Luckily, Sweden was an oasis, assumed that no one could have so touch in their native Slovak. Each brother having established a credible neutrality, much influence without the support of kept a comfortable home, raised a family which Germany found it convenient to the Americans. Wallenberg was arrested, and earned a living to support it all. honour. Manci was lucky. Then came the accused of being a CIA spy, and sent to Neither neglected his religious duties; Anschluss of Austria, the beginning of the USSR without any formal process. above all, they were practising Jews, in the World War, and eventually even the He disappeared into the Gulag and communities somewhat separated from German invasion of Hungary, which had was never seen again, except for a few their mainly anti-Semitic neighbours. in any case already been in the thrall of unreliable sightings by fellow prisoners Budapest and Vienna were good for the fascist and anti-Semitic Arrow Cross over the next decade. them. Their children grew up healthy organisation. Most of the Austrian family As for my Hungarian family, thanks to and talented. There was musical ability escaped. The Hungarian family was Raoul Wallenberg and the magnanimity in the Budapest family and daughter trapped, with the notable exception of of the Swedish government, they Manci was particularly gifted. As she Manci, safe in Stockholm with Gunnar survived the war. Hence the reference grew up into a beautiful young lady and her Swedish family. continued on page 5 

4 MARCH 2015 journal COMPLETING A PILGRIMAGE: AFTER 73 YEARS, RETURN TO CANFRANC ollowing a surprise contact from a forged visa for France that bought shared her memories of the journey. We the grandson of a French Resistance his release from Buchenwald. At the travelled first to Marseilles but, instead Fleader 73 years after I fled Nazi- outbreak of the war the French arrested of boarding a ship there, we went by occupied France, I returned to the my father as a German national and train to Toulouse. In normal times, this Franco-Spanish border crossing at my sisters and I were admitted to a trip, as well as the next part to Pau, Canfranc for a three-day commemoration, children’s home in a suburb of Paris run near the border, would have taken ‘Historic Days at Canfranc’. Today only a few hours but our journeys were Canfranc is an abandoned train station plagued with delays. We spent a night deep in the Pyrenees in the middle of on benches in a railroad station and nowhere, but during the Second World another night in Pau, where we slept War the station was heavily patrolled by Walking where my two to a bed. the Gestapo as Jews and others fleeing parents had endured the There was one last, unexpected stop the Nazis crossed into Spain and war in France at Oloron. Waiting on the materials from Franco were shipped horrors of the Holocaust was station platform were prisoners from to Germany. for me an unexpected opportunity the nearby concentration camp of When it was opened in 1928 Gurs who were relatives of some Canfranc was the second largest to honour their courage and of the children. Not permitted off station in Europe. The raison the trains, the children leaned out d’être for such a huge station was resourcefulness in their successful of the windows desperately trying that the gauge, the width of the fight to survive Hitler and Nazism. to touch their loved ones and threw tracks in Spain, is not the same as in them the bread they had saved from France. At the border, passengers had I felt I had completed a their breakfast. to change trains and wait for hours while pilgrimage. At the French border, Ruth said goods were moved between French and all the passengers had to disembark Spanish freight cars. and walk across to Canfranc, where The three-story terminal building is we were held up for several hours. 240 meters – more than two football by OSE, a Jewish welfare organisation. Boarding the Spanish cars, we found fields – long. It had customs and With the fall of Paris, we were evacuated hard uncomfortable wooden seats. security offices, shops, restaurants, an to a new OSE home near Limoges in There wasn’t enough of them so the infirmary and apartments. In one of central France. boys climbed up on to the luggage racks these apartments lived Albert LeLay, the In 1941 the US issued visas for a and slept there. chief French customs officer and leader few hundred Jewish children trapped After my talk and the interviews of the French Resistance at Canfranc. in French concentration camps. When with French and Spanish TV and the Under cover of his post, he moved freely the Resistance was unable to smuggle local press, l was taken to the station. between French and Spanish trains, children out of the camps, the visas were International travel ceased in 1970 after a mingling with people travelling between given to the OSE. My elder sister Ruth derailment on the French side destroyed the two countries. His position enabled and I were in the small group that left a bridge which France refused to rebuild. him to pass secret documents and the OSE home at the end of June 1941. The French side of the station is derelict messages between the Resistance and In an hour-long talk to an audience of but much of the Spanish half of the Allied embassies and other anti-Nazis over 100 people as part of the ‘Historic building has been restored to its former in Spain. Aware when Jewish travellers Days’ programme in Canfranc’s school opulent art-deco glory. In Canfranc were in danger, he regularly saved them auditorium, I related this history, which village I was shown a monument erected from arrest by hiding them in secure culminated in the long dangerous train as a tribute to freedom for the oppressed places in the huge station, in the village, journey to Canfranc. In truth, I had no and to human dignity. Importantly for and often in his own apartment. actual memory of crossing the border a place without a Jewish presence, on All this I learned from my hosts: Victor on the way to Lisbon and New York in one side of the four-sided monument Fairen, LeLay’s grandson, Jose Antonio the summer of 1941, which I stressed is carved the single word ‘Shalom’. I Blanco, producer and director of the film repeatedly to the various Spanish ran my fingers over the letters and the about LeLay, Hero of Canfranc, and the officials who had invited me to come. It unremembered event in my life when Mayor of Canfranc. didn’t matter, they said. What counted I was a ten-year-old in Canfranc at last My first journey to Canfranc began was that I was someone who had became real to me. in June 1939, when my mother, my actually escaped the Nazis and made the Then I told Jose Antonio my parents two sisters and I fled Germany to join border crossing during those dangerous had been inmates in Gurs in 1943 our father in Paris. Six months earlier times all those years ago. and he agreed to drive me there. my mother had succeeded in buying My sister Ruth did remember, so I The camp is huge and the grounds are well maintained. There is a single reconstructed barracks, much shorter My Hungarian cousins continued and narrower than the barracks in  Auschwitz. There is also a cemetery with to Gunnar Ericson, Sysslomansgatan 17, remonstrated with them, one of them more than 1,000 identical gravestones Linköping, Sweden, in my mother’s diary. took out a revolver and shot him dead. paid for and maintained by German Except for one member of the family. As far as I know, there was no enquiry or cities that deported thousands of Jews to Shortly after the war was over, one trial. Life was cheap in Budapest in 1945. Gurs in 1940, many of whom died there. of Manci’s brothers, who had been Gunnar and Manci are both dead Walking where my parents had deported before the safe houses were now too, though I was in touch with endured the horrors of the Holocaust available, returned home. He had Gunnar until near the end. I still have was for me an unexpected opportunity survived both Auschwitz and one of email communication with some of to honour their courage and those notorious death marches. One the next generation and I do hope my resourcefulness in their successful fight day, on his way to the dentist, he saw children develop an interest in family to survive Hitler and Nazism. I felt I had two drunken Russian soldiers molesting relations before it’s too late. completed a pilgrimage. a young Hungarian woman. As he Frank Beck Eve Kugler

5 journal MARCH 2015 histories such as that of Dame Steve Shirley and provide links to them. Frank Land, Emeritus Professor, Information Systems and Innovation Group, London School of Economics

TERRORISM IN THE HEART OF PARIS Sir – The French values of liberté, égalité, fraternité have been attacked. The civilised world condemned this attack on free The Editor reserves the right expression, perpetrated by a section of to shorten correspondence people purporting to represent a religion submitted for publication whose extremists strive to rule the world. The murder of French journalists was one of the most horrendous crimes perpetrated by extremist Muslims since the destruction BRITAIN: THE JEWISH CONTRIBUTION of the twin towers and the murder of the Israeli Olympic team members. Sir – I would like to say how impressed generation the very existence of the As if that were not enough, other I was with the Holocaust Generations Holocaust. But this film covers only one tiny terrorists simultaneously besieged a kosher Conference organised by the AJR, the episode in a long and tragic saga, which supermarket, killing four shoppers. Had Second Generation Network and the lasted from 1933 to 1945 – to say nothing it not been for the swift action of the Kindertransport Association earlier of its after-effects. And it shows the Jews police, more could have met an early end. this year. Thoroughly informative and as victims only. To paraphrase Primo Levi: where was God stimulating with so many speakers and Would perhaps the production of a film when Paris happened? And just before topics – it was difficult to know where which conveys to young people especially Shabbat? to go first! the contribution of such popular figures Every Jew in the world must shudder at I found the afternoon session with in the entertainment and musical world this evil deed, as it could happen to any one Professor Stuart Foster, Paul Salmons and as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Danny of us. We must not allow this event to fade Ruth-Anne Lenga particularly professional, Kaye, Leonard Bernstein, Amy Winehouse into oblivion or accept this horrific act as a well prepared and interesting. Especially and the multitude of other popular singers fait accompli but fight it with every fibre in it reconfirmed my impression that so and entertainers begin to bring this point our bodies and every cell in our brains. Had many students, and indeed society home? Many people are not even aware the perpetrators of this dastardly crime not in general, see Holocaust victims as that they were Jewish! How can we bring been allowed to roam freely in the country, just that – victims. There is so little this home to the mass of our people? this evil deed would not have happened! realisation of who these people were Further, I wonder how many people Apologetic Western leaders insist that and of the contribution they made to are aware that Britain would not have had they are not opposed to the terrorists’ German and European culture, science M&S, Tesco, ICI, Shell, Odeon Cinemas, religion but to their deeds! Obviously, the and economy – of the numerous doctors, and so many other organisations. Britain terrorists’ deeds and their words are the teachers, lawyers, entertainers, musicians, would not have been what it is without direct results of the preaching of some scientists, industrialists, retailers and the Jewish contribution. Perhaps one of of their religious leaders, as we have also others who made such an enormous our documentary-makers, preferably non- experienced in this country. Anti-Semitism impact on their respective countries. Jewish, would make a film entitled ‘What is a crime that must not be tolerated! Nor is there much realisation of what Would Britain Have Been Like Without the The worlds’ leaders, gathering in Paris, their children (of whom some 1.5 million Jews?’ recognised the devastating cancer in our were murdered) could have contributed Perhaps some of your members and midst. Their efforts must now be turned, had they been allowed to live their lives readers of the Journal might have some as promised, into a concerted attack on to the full. suggestions? I feel this could be another terrorism to preserve our values. If this were How can we succeed in conveying this weapon in the fight against anti-Semitism to fail, our progeny would not forgive this to society – and I am thinking in terms of and ignorance of who the Jews really are. generation for its reluctance to fight the evil British society in particular? Peter Briess, London NW3 power. Our historians would condemn us I am conscious of the huge number of long after our bones will be all that‘s left of us. books, memoirs, historical biographies Fred Stern, Wembley etc written on this subject in the last CAPTURING THE MEMORIES OF 20 years. I am also aware of the great VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST Sir – No doubt all of us were upset by the contribution made by many documentary Sir – I refer to Colin Rosenstiel’s plea (February, recent massacres in Paris in one of which film-makers, e.g. Lawrence Rees, Rex Letters) to capture the memories of victims Jews were the target. Another upset were Bloomstein, in the past. Doubtless many of the Holocaust and your response to his the statistics published about the growing of the more educated members of our plea, which notes the AJR’s Refugee Voices. anti-Semitism here. These caused many of society are aware. But I wonder how far We could add to this the oral histories us to consider where we might emigrate. down the social spectrum this has really of refugees held in other collections. For It occurs to me that in the obvious choices, filtered? Many plays, films and events on example, the British Library’s collection such as America, Canada or Australia, this subject are supported mainly by us National Life Stories includes the oral history there is also anti-Semitism, even if it is less Jews, who know the story all too well. I of Dame Steve Shirley, who arrived in this prevalent. As for Israel, at our age we would have friends who live in provincial parts country by Kindertransport (http://sounds. only be a burden on the state: few of us of Britain where knowledge of Jews and bl.uk/related-content/TRANSCRIPTS/021T- are multi-millionaires or young enough to the Holocaust is very scant indeed! C1379X0028XX-0000A0.pdf). My own contribute. It was Spielberg’s film Schindler’s history is also included. My advice? Don’t panic but make the List which was responsible for bringing It would be a useful service to our most of the rest of your life. With little effort, home to many of the post-war younger community to identify sources of oral by bombarding the biased media with calls

6 MARCH 2015 journal and letters and attending the occasional that every vote counts, which it cannot do my disgust at these ‘bleeding hearts’, who demonstration, you could – so to speak – at the moment. do not realise that the safety of our Israeli show the flag. And what about the House of Lords? Is it brethren is paramount. I would like to add that I was taken democratic for unelected bishops to be able Seventy years since Auschwitz, remember: aback by the provocative rebuttal that your to influence legislation in a country in which Never again. correspondent Peter Phillips dished out to the majority of the population doesn’t go to If I wanted to read this sort of pathetic Clare Parker in your February issue. No doubt church? Let alone all the other undemocratic nonsense, I would buy the Israel-bashing Peter Phillips knows what he is writing. rules of our parliamentary system. Yes, Guardian. Very disappointed. However, it does not excuse his being rude Britain is ‘more democratic’ than many other (Dr) Marcel Ladenheim, Surbiton, Surrey and condescending. countries but we could be so much ‘more Janos Fisher, Bushey Heath democratic’ with some major changes and MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY OF FATE a written constitution. Sir – In his review of Shlomo Sand’s book THE HISTORY OF OUR PEOPLE And what right has Clare Parker to refer (February), Leslie Baruch Brent sees ‘a certain Sir – Clare Parker accuses me of not knowing to Israel as ‘our land’? I am not a Zionist and, lack of intellectual rigour’ in Sand’s resigning the history of our people. She asks: ‘When having been naturalised in 1947 as a British from being a Jew but not resigning from did Judea become the West Bank?’ citizen, after six years’ service in the British his Israeli citizenship. But if you decide that It was around 1,000 BC that Canaan army I consider Britain ‘my land’. She should you are not a Jew because (a) you are not became the Kingdom of Israel. The not assume that every member of the AJR religious; (b) you do not accept that the justification for occupying it was that God shares her views. Jews are a separate race; and (c) you do had promised it to the Jews. About 80 years Fritz Lustig, Muswell Hill, London not, like Leslie, feel Jewish ‘by sentiment’ later, Israel split into two kingdoms: Judah or experience, I cannot see why you cannot and Israel. In 1922 the League of Nations Sir – I was under the mistaken impression perfectly logically hold on to your citizenship turned the region into two states: Palestine that our magazine, the AJR Journal, of a country in which you have lived since and Transjordan. In 1948 the United Nations especially its readers’ letters columns, was early childhood, with which – despite all divided Palestine into two states: a Jewish produced by ex-refugees for ex-refugees. the criticisms you have of it – you identify one and an Arab one, with Jerusalem under It is now used by longwinded persons as yourself, and which you try to change by an international regime. Transjordan became a chopping block to attack the Jewish state, your actions as a citizen. the West Bank. The Jews agreed and modern no doubt helping Israel’s enemies. Incidentally, I believe that all Jews, Israel was founded, with Ben-Gurion at its May I suggest to those individuals that irrespective of religion or ethnicity, are head. Does Clare Parker not accept the fact they make aliya and so become Israeli members of a community of fate from that the Jews accepted the UN decision? citizens with a vote, taking their soap boxes which you cannot resign even if you wanted I’ll do my best to ‘unconfuse’ Peter with them. Otherwise shut up! to, and Sand’s denial of this is all the more Phillips (January, Letters) in respect of our Ernest G. Kolman, Greenford, Middx odd since he was born in an Austrian camp voting system and a written constitution. of displaced persons – presumably because Under the current British election system Sir – Leslie Brent (February, Letters) has very his mother was Jewish. – ‘first-past-the-post’ – British voters are not succinctly expressed my view and that of Sand could, of course, resign his Israeli proportionally represented in Parliament many others of the Israeli government’s citizenship as an act of protest against what and, since the Second World War, many aggressive policies. The admirable work the Israeli government and the majority of governments have had full control while of Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern its citizens are doing. But that is another representing less than 50 per cent of the Divan Orchestra shows that there is another matter and is not logically incumbent on electorate. way and suggests that peaceful coexistence him, any more than it is logically required of A written constitution customarily can be achieved. The current policies of a British citizen who is bitterly critical of, say, lays down that certain radical changes of the Israeli government create increasing the Iraq war, arms sales to Saudi Arabia, or national importance require a two-thirds numbers of enemies and will never achieve the cruel social policies of the government majority. It would almost certainly have the peace we all desire. to renounce his citizenship in protest. prevented Mrs Thatcher from selling the Hannelore Braunsberg, London NW3 Ralph Blumenau, London W11 30 industries which belonged to the nation to private enterprise. The sell-offs included Sir – As the daughter of German refugees and THE SHOP THAT DEFINITELY EXISTED British Leyland, the British steel industry, our a relatively new subscriber to the Journal, I Sir – I notice that my letter about my mother’s ports, British Air, British Telecom etc, which am sorry that Leslie Baruch Brent feels so wool shop in your December issue gave Harold MacMillan described as ‘selling off isolated in the expression of his distress rise to a little follow-up correspondence. the family silver’. Nor could Mr Major have about the terrible destruction in Gaza carried Margarete Stern doubts the existence of privatised the coal mines. And the current out by the Israeli government last summer. the shop, but I would assure her that it did government could most certainly not have While I have many much-loved relatives in exist, that it was architect-designed in the crippled our National Health Service the way Israel, I am appalled at the destruction and best 1950s style, and that it was at no.19 it has done. suffering that was perpetrated and I know Northways Parade for more than 20 years. Eric Sanders, London W12 how many generations it will take to heal There is a convenience store there now. the damage. The teenage son of the Vogels, who ran Sir – Peter Philips is not only confused, as he For me, the impact of being a member the tailoring shop on Northways Parade himself admits, but apparently he doesn’t of the ‘second generation’ has left me extra- Mrs Stern mentions (they were called the know the difference between our current sensitised to instances of dehumanising Vaughans by the time I knew them), became electoral system – ‘first-past-the-post’ – and others and actions that drive people further a chartered accountant. I was a few years proportional representation. apart. Thank you, Mr Brent, for speaking older and gave him some maths coaching Can a system which enables a minority out – my heart lifted when I read your letter. to help him on his way up. of voters to elect the government of the Judy Sherwood, Matlock, Derbyshire As for Pat Brody’s letter, I was very country and makes it advisable for voters gratified to hear from someone who knew Sir – Oh dear! More anti-Israel letters in in marginal constituencies to use ‘tactical most of my family. your February issue. You seem determined voting’ be called democratic? Not in my Frank Beck, London NW3 view! Proportional representation would to upset and hurt some of your readers. prevent both and would therefore ensure As a Holocaust survivor, I want to express continued on page 16 

7 journal MARCH 2015

moving on to the greatest of artists 300 years in the future. Rubens’s works graced many aristocratic homes, and followers tended to emulate REVIEWS the effect he achieved with raw, free Biographical sketches of 300 ART brushstrokes. In Tiger, Lion and Leopard Kinder Hunt the battle between bearded, turbaned MEMORIES THAT WON’T GO AWAY: men killing ferocious lions and tigers is NOTES A TRIBUTE TO THE CHILDREN OF THE visually striking but completely bloodless KINDERTRANSPORT GLORIA TESSLER – an attempt perhaps to show the Flemish by Michele M. Gold artist’s obsession with muscularity or, at a edited by Marian Lebor, illustrated deeper level, carnality in its most primitive by Gabriella Y. Karin he name Rubens equates with form, expressing less the struggle than the Kolarim International Publishing, fleshy, voluptuous nudes. But, connection between man and beast. 2014, 306 pp. paperback, available at according to the Royal Academy’s Artists of the 18th and 19th centuries amazon.co.uk, currentT exhibition, Rubens and His like Watteau, Renoir and Cézanne were ISBN 978-965-7580-10-6 Legacy: Van Dyck to Cézanne (to preoccupied with salon paintings and, 10 April 2015), his influence stretched while Rubens’s effect on Renoir is obvious, ot another book about the far wider – into landscape, nature, battle, barely a noted painter is left out of his Kindertransport, you may mutter! and into every artist under the sun (well, supposed influences. Turner is said to NMuch research has been done on perhaps not the Sun’s page 3!) who came have been taken by Rubens’s depth of this subject, while the London premiere after him. Really? colour, such as in his many-peopled of The Last Train to Tomorrow, Carl The Royal Academy considers Peter Paul Garden of Love with its cuddly cherubs. Davis’s touching song cycle about Rubens, who lived and worked from the Both Rubens and Van Dyck portrayed a the Kindertransportees, was recently performed in London’s Roundhouse late 16th century, to be the most influential Genoese noblewoman: the former shows under the aegis of the AJR. Well, this of Flemish painters, who made such a her in delicate semi-profile with a dwarf, book is rather different from what has thus accentuating her gone before. cool beauty, while Van Biographical sketches are given Dyck’s depiction of her for some 300 Kinder, together with with her son is more their childhood photographs, and the austere. intention is therefore highly laudable. But the styles couldn’t The author’s mother came to England on be more different. a Kindertransport and her grandparents In a room created by perished in the Holocaust and that Royal Academician prompted her to compile this book. She Jenny Saville, there are moved from the UK to Los Angeles and further responses to her introduction, as well as the preface by Rubens’s influence on Michael Berenbaum, Professor of Jewish 20th- and 21st-century Studies at the American Jewish University art, including Picasso, in Los Angeles, and the foreword by the Francis Bacon and Czech filmmaker Matej Minac, are perhaps Peter Paul Rubens The Garden of Love (1633) ©Museo Nacional Lucian Freud. While better suited to an American readership, Del Prado, Madrid these artists clearly which, I suspect, is less conversant with great mark on the future of painting that influence each other, again I find it the Holocaust and the Kindertransport they include Van Dyck, Watteau, Turner, whimsical to suggest that the work of each than its British counterpart. Delacroix, Manet, Cézanne, Renoir, Klimt of the great painters in the entire exhibition Ms Gold does not explain just how she selected the 300-odd Kinder from and Picasso. The list goes on. The trouble derives from Rubens more than from any the 10,000 who came to this country is that in such a catch-all of an exhibition, other great master. Saville suggests that it’s hard to focus on Rubens himself amid before the war. Was the choice random or Rubens’s influence ‘runs through the entirely dependent on information readily connections that seem at times almost pathways of paintings. Like Warhol he available in Holocaust institutions in the spurious. changed the game of art.’ But physicality USA and the Wiener Library in London? Rubens himself was patronised by is one thing: but what about the essence Although I published my autobiography in the glitterati of his day, including several of what Rubens is saying? 2009 I am not included (naturally I don’t crowned heads of Europe. He developed hold that against her!), nor are many his robust style from studying the great friends of mine. Nor is the now almost Italian masters, whose own influences drew iconic photograph of a group of children, him to paint altarpieces, portraits, idyllic Annely Juda Fine Art myself among them, in the compartment landscapes and the mythological themes 23 Dering Street of a German train after crossing the Dutch popular in his era, as evidenced by his Pan (off New Bond Street) border; we were part of the first transport and Syrinx. Tel: 020 7629 7578 that left Berlin on 1 December 1938. The Royal Academy has named six Fax: 020 7491 2139 My main criticism is that the entries themes under which to place Rubens and for different Kinder vary hugely in length. his future disciples – Poetry, Elegance, CONTEMPORARY Some fill several pages, while many are Power, Lust, Compassion and Violence – confined to two or three sentences, PAINTING AND SCULPTURE beginning with his assistant Van Dyck and merely stating the town of origin and

8 MARCH 2015 journal the date of arrival in the UK, leaving was moved to an OSE (Oeuvre de Secours as a father and as a husband also forms the ultimate fate of the individuals in aux Enfants) children’s home in Creuse, part of the picture, especially in the post- the air. The information is not always where he spent 18 months at school war years. up-to-date, suggesting that it was gleaned and learned the craft of leatherwork. In So who was the public figure Siegi from archives rather than from personal August 1942 the home was raided and Moos? He was born into an assimilated interviews. I was struck by the fact that he was sent to do agricultural work while Jewish family in Munich in 1904, witnessing quite a few children were eventually others were arrested. He was provided the revolutionary struggles there in 1918- reunited with their parents, not always with false papers and told to make his 19 as a boy in his mid-teens and the happily, and by the large number who way to the Spanish border. Instead, he and emergence of the ultra-right in Bavaria moved on to the USA after the war. What some other OSE boys made their way to shortly after. These were presumably also emerges clearly – and we knew this Lyon and tried to cross into Switzerland. formative experiences (though records of already from previous research – is that A Swiss guard sent them back to France, his life are scarce for this period); however, the great majority succeeded in carving where Eric eventually joined the Resistance his own political activity appears to have out a successful career in their new and took part in the liberation of Lyon. On started after he moved to Berlin in 1928, environments and that most married and reaching the German border with the Free by which time he was a young man in brought up children. French Forces, he left and returned to his twenties. Whilst the majority stayed in the Lyon. After further escapades he worked Against the backdrop of the Wall UK or emigrated to the USA, quite a in a camp for Jewish orphans and finally Street crash of the following year, which few finished up in Palestine/Israel and went to Paris, where he met old friends brought misery and instability to the in countries such as Australia, Canada, and his future wife. What heroism! still nascent Weimar Republic, Siegi France, Belgium, Switzerland, South Finally, a very special mention must joined the German Communist Party, the Africa, Sweden and New Zealand. About be made of Gabriella Karin, who came KPD. Records point to his having been 16 came from Prague on one or other of originally from Bratislava and now lives extremely politically active at this time the Nicholas Winton trains and Winton’s in Los Angeles. Her numerous and very and a member of various revolutionary biographical details are set out. Bunce fine line drawings of scenes in many of groups, in particular the Red Front and Court School, the German-Jewish co- the cities from which the Kinder came the Proletarian Freethinkers, as well as educational boarding school brought to give the book a very special dimension. in the field of agitprop theatre. Merilyn England in 1933 by Anna Essinger, who Leslie Baruch Brent Moos provides us with a useful rundown took in some 60 Kindertransport children, of some of the achievements and divisions is barely mentioned and is described as a of the German anti-fascist left in these hostel. Among the Kinder I recognise are immediately pre-National Socialist years, Ruth Barnett, Bertha Leverton, Hermann even though she does run the danger Hirschberger, Martha Blend, Sol Muller here of her readers losing sight of her (a fellow pupil of mine in the Jewish A surprisingly hopeful book central figure, her father. There is one Boys’ Orphanage in Berlin-Pankow who BEATEN BUT NOT DEFEATED: date, however, which draws the political also appeared in that train photograph), SIEGFRIED MOOS, A GERMAN ANTI- and the personal back together again: Werner Krebs and Peter Wegner (both at NAZI WHO SETTLED IN BRITAIN 1 May 1929. For this was the day of the Bunce Court School), Bernd Koschland (no May Day Demonstration that culminated by Merilyn Moos mention of his role in the Kindertranport in a violent police attack on the crowd Chronos Books, 2014, 364 pp., Association, a special interest group and represented a defining moment in paperback, ISBN 978 1 78279 677 0 of the AJR), Otto Deutsch, Bea Green the relationship between Communists (I had no idea that among her other was’, writes Merilyn Moos in her and Social Democrats; it was also the accomplishments she had been an opera ‘ biography of her late father Siegi, day which marked the start of Siegi’s singer), Dorrith Sim (no mention of her I‘brought up without a history’. Once in relationship with his future wife Lotte, book), Frank Meisler (the creator of the exile in England, the erstwhile Communist who, like him, was taking part in the many Kindertransport sculptures), and Siegi Moos endeavoured to put his demonstration. – most intriguingly for me – a sentence German past, his comrades and his lost Following the Nazi assumption of or two about Erich Goldstein, a fellow family members behind him and create power, Siegi initially went underground in pupil at the Pankow orphanage who a totally new life for himself and his Berlin, then fled to France and from there also appears in the train photograph. family. Cut off from her father’s, and to Britain, arriving here in 1934 (Lotte The entry merely states that ‘he became indeed also her mother’s past, the young had preceded him by a few months). In a famous violinist’. He did indeed play the Merilyn had only a few clues to go by: the Britain, Siegi became a member of the fiddle well but he totally disappeared and bottle of wine her otherwise abstemious small group of German comrades who I would love to hear from him! parents opened, for example, on hearing made up the KPD group in British exile. One other point that struck me forcibly of Stalin’s death and some astonishing Indeed, initially he appears to have acted is that although we hear grumbles from information from a researcher concerning as leader of this group, handing over to time to time about the mistreatment of her mother’s one-time affair with a Jürgen Kuczynski in late 1936 or early Kinder in the UK, we were undoubtedly ‘Communist spy. Beaten But Not Defeated 1937. Merilyn Moos supposes that her the lucky ones. Some children were sent represents the author’s efforts to ‘rescue’ father’s withdrawal from the Party in to Belgium, Holland or France and had her father’s life and with it – inevitably – 1937 was the result of Lotte’s return from the most gruelling experiences. Such a her mother’s too, while at the same time the USSR in the autumn of 1936 with a one was Eric Goldfarb. His family split attempting to make sense of it all by first-hand account of the show trials. The up, his sister to the UK and his brother setting their early years, at least, within story of Lotte Moos’s relationship with the to Shanghai. He was sent to France to the context of the political left in Germany. Irish Communist Brian Goold-Verschoyle, the Quincy-sous-Sénart chateau. When The biography focuses, as intended her visit to Moscow to be with him, and the Germans occupied France he and 15 by the author, on the man in the public the disastrous consequences for Goold- other boys were sent to a French boarding sphere, not primarily on the man as she Verschoyle himself has been told before school in Clamart. A few months later he had known him – though of course Siegi continued on page 10 

9 journal MARCH 2015 where they embraced the activities of and the men were interned. REVIEWS cont. from p.9  a local cultural centre. Merilyn Moos Before his mother arrived George sees parallels here between Siegi’s was taken in by two families, the – notably in semi-biographical form in experiences, late in life, of reading his Platts in Clapton and the Stanbrooks Merilyn Moos’s fine novel The Language poetry to radical Hackney audiences in Abbots Langley. On her arrival his of Silence – but it belongs here too, even if and his pre-1933 activities; she points mother worked as a cleaner – quite a only as providing some of the background to similarities between now and then in change for somebody who had enjoyed to Siegi Moos’s rather desperate frame his political engagement. This, coupled a comfortable life in Germany with a of mind, for both personal and political with the fact that father and daughter, nanny, cook and chauffeur. reasons, at this time. By 1938, however, in previously estranged, became reconciled The book follows their fortunes and one way or another, Siegi and Lotte were towards the end of Siegi’s life, turn this their life in Newcastle, where George back together again and would remain into a surprisingly hopeful book, a turn and his wife Eve still live. They have together for the rest of their lives. of events that is anticipated in its title: been involved in many aspects of public There follows the rather remarkable ‘Beaten but not Defeated.’ service, in particular fundraising for story of how Siegi, within the space of Charmian Brinson the Women’s Cancer Detection Society a few years, transformed himself from a and Breast Cancer Research and the revolutionary into a respectable academic founding of the Newcastle Reform at the Oxford Institute of Statistics. Synagogue. Both of them have been Apart from the inevitable period spent in active members of Rotary and George internment (less than three months, in his pays tribute to his wife, who survived case), he worked there until 1947 when, A wonderful gift for brain surgery, which left her with accompanied by Lotte and baby Merilyn, younger members of the aphasia; this has affected her speech he took up a lectureship in Economics family and communication skills but has not at the University of Durham. The year THE BOY FROM BAMBERG: A prevented her leading an active life. 1947 was also that of his naturalisation. PERSONAL TESTIMONY AND These days George concentrates Siegi became a popular lecturer, not BIOGRAPHY OF GÜNTER LÖBL FROM on family, travel and voluntary work. only of undergraduates but also of trade BAMBERG WHO BECAME GEORGE He gives talks about the Holocaust unionists and non-university students in FREDERICK LOBLE MBE JP AS TOLD to schools, religious groups and the the extra-mural department. He published TO GERALD STERN University of the Third Age and has been widely, enjoying all in all a successful edited by Monica Stern née Loble interviewed on local radio and TV. He university career. and Joel Stern and his son-in-law Gerald Stern have Yet, despite their settled circumstances, Published privately, 2014, 212 pp., created a wonderful gift for the younger this was not a happy time for the Moos hardback plus appendices members of the Loble family. family, who lived an exceptionally isolated Laraine Feldman existence. Merilyn Moos, from her child’s his beautifully produced and eye perspective, writes of her parents’ extensively illustrated memoir ‘unintelligible’ paranoia: their fear that Tcontains many photographs and the house was being watched, for ancestral trees. instance, or their habit of smothering The Löbl family was well established in PillarCare the telephone with cushions to prevent Germany with a business manufacturing Quality support and care at home their conversations from being overheard. outdoor electric light fittings and accessories that had been started by Within the household, Siegi tended to be  Hourly Care from 4 hours – 24 hours ensconced in his study working, while George's grandfather. Their trademark  Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care Lotte would shut herself in her bedroom was Hulorit (from Hugo Löbl and the (writing, as it later transpired), both German brand name Bakelit) and their  Convalescent and Personal Health Care parents being largely unapproachable. Bamberg factory was built in 1928. The  Compassionate and Affordable Service The young Merilyn was brought up brand was known throughout Germany  Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff and internationally. It was the first of within a highly restrictive regime which  Registered with the CQC and UKHCA grew sterner the older she became. As several Löbl electrical family businesses, for the family past, this was never, ever the last of which was Loblite Ltd, which Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 mentioned. was sold by George Loble in 1994. PILLARCARE George’s father and uncles had fought THE BUSINESS CENTRE · 36 GLOUCESTER AVENUE · LONDON NW1 7BB In more recent years, however, in PHONE: 020 7482 2188 · FAX: 020 7900 2308 particular after studying her late parents’ for Germany in the First World War www.pillarcare.co.uk MI5 files, the author has come to see only to be victimised by the Nazis in the that her parents’ paranoia was perhaps Second World War. not quite as groundless as she had After Kristallnacht everything previously assumed: the CIA, so she has changed. The business was sold but www.fishburnbooks.com discovered, requested to see Lotte’s MI5 for far less than its value and the Jonathan Fishburn file as late as the 1950s. In addition, she proceeds immediately confiscated. buys and sells has realised that the loss of family in the Günter/George, his parents and several Jewish and Hebrew books, Holocaust – a loss that was never openly other family members managed to leave ephemera and items of acknowledged – caused her parents to Germany, but elderly relatives trapped Jewish interest. there were murdered. The Löbl family walk on ‘emotionally thin ice’ throughout He is a member of the Antiquarian her childhood. But in any case, by the had some connections in England which Booksellers Association. end of their lives together, Siegi’s and helped them both to leave Germany Lotte’s lives had taken a definite turn for and to set up a new business after their Contact Jonathan on arrival. But when war was declared with 020 8455 9139 the better, following Siegi’s retirement or 07813 803 889 and the couple’s move to Hackney, Germany they became ‘enemy aliens’ for more information

10 MARCH 2015 journal

Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration – organised with care and dignity had somewhat low expectations for the Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration held on 27 January at Central Hall IWestminster, for obtaining tickets for it was rather like drawing water out of a stone. In the event, I was deeply impressed by the care and dignity with which the event was organised. The reception for the survivors that preceded the commemoration in the main hall was done thoughtfully and elegantly. The appearance of virtually all the party leaders (thankfully with the exception of UKIP, I think) at some of the small tables laden with sandwiches and biscuits showed how seriously it was taken nationally. It so happened that the Prime Minister, whose Holocaust Memorial Commission was responsible for the event, happened to sit at our table and it was a humbling experience to be sitting next to three camp survivors. The commemoration itself was At the UK national Holocaust Memorial Day brilliantly and movingly staged, with excellent speeches (the Chief Rabbi, the Prime Minister and Prince Charles foremost among commemoration at Central Hall Westminster, Prime them) and appropriately solemn and beautiful music and poetry Minister David Cameron announced that the Government as well as survivor testimonies. To relax after all that with a glass would commit £50 million to the creation of a new (or two) of some very decent wine was the icing on the cake. National Memorial, a world-class Learning Centre and The organisers are to be congratulated on an event that did an Endowment Fund to secure the long-term future of justice to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. We Holocaust education in this country. may not see the like of it again. Leslie Baruch Brent The last of a decade of HMD events HMD IN SCOTLAND at Ivy House Reception he Scottish Commemorative Reception for Holocaust n 23 January I attended a superbly organised and very Memorial Day 2015 was sponsored by Bob Doris MSP at the moving commemoration event at the London Jewish TScottish Parliament in Edinburgh and organised by Interfaith Cultural Centre (LJCC). Scotland and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. O The programme was very carefully and aptly chosen. To Despite the snowy conditions, almost 60 of Scotland’s survivors bring alive the stories of six survivors, representing a perfect and Second Generation members of the AJR attended from range of different experiences, by telling their stories and Glasgow, St Andrews, Dundee, Montrose and Edinburgh. then questioning them in person was most effective and in Among us were survivors of Auschwitz and Theresienstadt, line with the 2015 slogan ‘Keep the Memory Alive’. And to Kindertransportees and others with individual stories of heroic have the grandson of one of them – Simon Lasker-Wallfisch survival. It was by far the largest gathering of AJR members in grandson of Anita Lasker-Wallfisch – providing the musical Scotland for a while and a wonderful opportunity for our members interludes, also so carefully and aptly chosen, was awesome. to meet and chat at the lavish kosher lunch provided. Trudy Gold, as ever, set the scene and made it spell- Speakers included Ela Weisberger, a survivor of Terezin, Humza binding, particularly voicing the paradox of anti-Semitism, Yousaf MSP and Henry Wuga, who spoke about his journey to this currently at perhaps its highest point since 1945, while country on the Kindertransport and lit the specially commissioned Holocaust education has grown in depth and extent since candle. 1991 and Holocaust commemoration since 2001. Lecture What the Mayor of Barnet had to say was memorable and to the point. Impressive was his emphasis on keeping the irst and Second Generation members attended the 15th memory of genocide in general alive, not only to remember Annual Holocaust Lecture, sponsored by the AJR and held but also to act to stop people thinking it was possible to get Fat Glasgow University’s Western Infirmary Lecture Theatre. away with such crimes. MP Mike Freer was also impressive Mary Fulbrook, Professor of German History at University and well chosen for the programme. College London, told a packed audience that only a fraction of the Finally it grieves me sorely that, in the year we commemorate perpetrators of the Holocaust had ever been brought to justice: the 70th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, we are the countless numbers involved made it virtually impossible for all tending to overlook the fact that 2015 is also the centenary of involved to pay for their complicity. Identifying those responsible the Ottoman genocide against its Christians. As Mala Tribich who were working behind the scenes was also a problem. said in response to being asked why she tells her story to Furthermore, she said, there had been no desire among the Allies students: If the murdered are not remembered it would be to bring justice to bear on the German community at large. as if they never existed and the Nazis will have won.‘ Professor Fulbrook also questioned whether or not memorials This magnificent commemoration event at the LJCC makes were the best way of remembering the Holocaust – who were me wonder what is going to be possible next year when, they for, she asked. Members agreed this was one of the best in sadly, we no longer have our LJCC home base in Ivy House. this series of Holocaust lectures. Ruth Barnett Agnes Isaacs

11 journal MARCH 2015 PINNER A Word in My Earphones BOOK CLUB Group Therapy The BBC’s Judi Herman is constantly There was a great deal to be discussed: on the lookout for promising stories mothers-in-law, daughters, sons-in- to incorporate into her broadcasts. law, husbands, boyfriends; the recent Privileged to meet interesting and troubles in Paris; and – eventually – the famous characters in various situations, book itself! The Testament of Mary, a INSIDE she has the extraordinary talent to short novel by Irish writer Colm Tóibín, dramatise these scenarios yet she still proved somewhat controversial for the finds time for acclaimed productions our group but it’s good to challenge. such as Stones of Kolin for her Forthcoming books: The Miniaturist AJR synagogue. Walter Weg by Jessie Burton and The Baroness by Hannah Rothschild. GLASGOW BOOK CLUB Birthdays Esther Rinkoff GLASGOW A True Hero Celebrated in Style e attended the screening We celebrated the birthdays of members Halina Moss and Marion Camrass in of The Forgotten Hero, an BRADFORD The Life and Times style as well as discussing J. K. Rowling’s Wevent sponsored by the of Geoffrey Perry Swiss Embassy. This documentary, The Casual Vacancy, a dramatisation of filmed in Budapest, tells the story of which is due to be shown on TV this Swiss diplomat year. Anthea Berg Carl Lutz, who worked in the HGS Medical Services in WWI Hungarian capital Dr Susan Cohen told us that in WWI from 1942 until nurses played a big role in the care the end of the and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers war and in that and that young women who had no time saved as knowledge of looking after the sick many as 62,000 wanted to do their part by working as Jews by issuing assistants to them. Soon women were (from left, back and front rows) Rudi admitted to medical schools: it was a big Leavor, Stephen Tendlow, Ian Vellins, Schutzbriefe (protective letters) Albert Waxman; Erika Williams, Susi and finding safe houses for them. change for a woman to become a doctor Shafar, Lily Waxman, Bronia Veitch The documentary was of special in the male-dominated profession. an Vellins, our guest speaker, spoke significance for me as I realised that in Hortense Gordon engagingly on the life and times of 1943 my own grandmother had risked ESSEX Winter Warmer Geoffrey Perry, who apprehended her life to obtain a Schutzbrief – a I Larry brought along his own penned the traitor Lord Haw-Haw at the end document my mother Eva takes with paintings of Elvis accompanied by of the war and who died recently. her to schools when talking about her a personally addressed letter from Ian revealed many aspects of this Holocaust experiences. Carl Lutz was the Presley Estate Poems by David talented and successful media man, a true hero. Agnes Isaacs Kwiatkowski. Mersey Beat Poet Adrian who first introduced the concept Henri, a favourite of Esther, made Otto of ‘house’ magazines but remained CAFÉ IMPERIAL Array of Topics laugh. Otto himself recalled looking as a silent about his wartime experiences An array of topics was covered – from 10-year-old for the first star on a Friday until very late in life. the kindness of the Society of Friends night to declare Shabbat – then he Stephen Tendlow to the Jewish refugees and war trials of hadn’t a care in the world about things earlier years to present-day issues such to come in Vienna. Esther Rinkoff as Prince Andrew, footballers and Sasha BRIGHTON 100th Anniversary Film Baron’s new film Grimsby. Our thoughts DIDSBURY CF Animated Esther brought The Sturgeon Queens, were with Vera on the sad loss of Harry Conversation, Good Company, a 52-minute 100th-anniversary film Meyer, who will be much missed by our Delicious Pastries about a Jewish immigrant family who group. Esther Rinkoff Our ‘social’ was a lovely mix of animated set up in New York a smoked and conversation and debate, good company pickled fish business by the name of ILFORD Getting to Know Each Other and delicious Danish pastries. A good Russ and Daughters. Their descendants Our social get-together was a great time was had by all! Wendy Bott successfully developed the business success. It gave us the opportunity to into a chain of delis and restaurants. ST JOHN’S WOOD Firing Questions get to know each other and to learn a This excellent film was narrated by its at Firemen little more about other members’ life customers. Crew Commander of the Red Watch in stories. There was no shortage of chat Ceska Abrahams and everyone enjoyed the company Paddington and three strapping firemen around them. A very pleasant morning. came to our meeting. There were amazing EDGWARE History and Legacy of Meta Roseneil revelations on how one becomes a Concorde fireman and we fired questions at them Peter Lang spoke to us about the PRESTWICH/WHITEFIELD CF before they could even discuss safety history and legacy of this aircraft. When Discussion, Tea and Music issues in the home. When we went out Concorde was ready many airlines We discussed, among other things, the to explore their fire engine, they got an ordered it but on close examination recent atrocities in Paris. Afternoon tea emergency call to the very building next cancelled their orders. Only the followed, accompanied by music by door to the synagogue – there was a British and French airlines committed André Rieu brought along by Ruth and fire at the American School! An exciting themselves to purchasing it. Werner. Wendy Bott morning! Hazel Beiny Felix Winkler

12 MARCH 2015 journal HARROGATE/YORK CF Continental- NORTH WEST LONDON Catching Up Style Afternoon Tea Over a lovely lunch we caught up with We were treated to a Continental-style what we’d all been doing over the past Books Bought afternoon tea courtesy of Suzanne year. We also discussed anything and Modern and Old Ripton: homemade Moroccan orange everything connected with current and cardamon cake followed by blinis affairs. A most enjoyable informal and smoked salmon. We also discussed meeting. David Lang various HMD commemorations of the past week, including those at York WEMBLEY The World of Flowers Eric Levene Minster and Leeds Town Hall, as well A fascinating, informative and beautifully 020 8364 3554 / 07855387574 as the Prime Minister’s Holocaust illustrated talk by Nick Dobson dealing [email protected] Commission Report. Wendy Bott with dahlias, pelargoniums and fuchsias. The usual nice goodies followed. I also purchase ephemera WELWYN GARDEN CITY Lovely Start Avram Schaufeld to the New Year An excellent attendance on a freezing BROMLEY CF The Perfect Antidote January day on which we discussed We met at Liane's home for a delicious everything from the latest movies to lunch provided by Hazel, who also told switch on electrics politics. A lovely start to the new year. us about future AJR events. Debate, Rewires and all household Hazel Beiny reminiscence and the warmth of electrical work companionship made our meeting the RADLETT An Outstanding Fish Meal perfect antidote to winter's chill and We watched the highly entertaining PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 gloom. film The Sturgeon Queens, about the Dorothea Lipton Mobile: 0795 614 8566 100th anniversary of a tiny fish shop and restaurant in New York which was run by an impoverished immigrant from Eastern Europe and is now a celebrated business. When in New York, make sure march GROUP eventS you visit Russ and Daughters for an outstanding fish meal! Fritz Starer Café Imperial 3 March Social Get-together Ealing 3 March Dr Jonathan Oates: ‘Ealing from Saxon Times’ Ilford 4 March Leslie Sommer: ‘Life at the Home Office’ CONTACTS Pinner 5 March Clive Bettington: ‘Great Characters of the Jewish East End’ Hazel Beiny HGS 9 March Prof Michael Spiro: ‘The Story of Chocolate’ Southern Groups Co-ordinator Whitefield 9 March Social 07966 887 434 [email protected] Essex 10 March Susie Barnett: ‘An Old School Reunion’ (Westcliff) Wendy Bott St John’s Wood 10 March Rob Lowe: ‘The History of the Savoy’ Northern Groups Co-ordinator Glasgow 11 March Lunch at Marks Kosher Deli 07908 156 365 [email protected] West Midlands 11 March Annual Concert at Town Hall (Birmingham) Susan Harrod Wessex 12 March tba Groups’ Administrator Brighton 16 March Richard Stanton: Music and Comedy 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Morning Edgware 17 March Mijael Even-David, new Rabbi at Agnes Isaacs Edgware Masorti Scotland and Newcastle Groups Norfolk 17 March Frank Bright: ‘My Life’ Co-ordinator Edinburgh 18 March Social Get-together 07908 156 361 [email protected] Radlett 18 March Esther Rinkoff: ‘Israel Revisited – the Red Coat’ Kathryn Prevezer Glasgow Book Club 19 March Discussion Southern Groups Co-ordinator Kingston and Surrey 23 March Social and Tea 07966 969 951 [email protected] West Midlands 23 March Visit to Blenheim Palace (Birmingham) Esther Rinkoff Bradford 24 March tba Southern Groups Co-ordinator Welwyn GC 24 March Jane Greenfield: ‘Growing Up on a Farm’ 07966 631 778 [email protected] Book Club 25 March Social Get-together KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Wembley 25 March Tony Zendle: ‘Mishmash: A Walk through Jewish Trivia’ Andrea Goodmaker Kensington 26 March Inaugural Meeting 020 8385 3070 [email protected] North London 26 March Prof Michael Spiro: ‘The Story of Chocolate’ Child Survivors Association–AJR North West London 30 March Tony Balazs: ‘The Dorice and Other Henri Obstfeld Continental Landmarks’ 020 8954 5298 [email protected] Oxford 31 March Leslie Sommer: ‘My Career at the Home Office’

13 journal MARCH 2015

family  anouncements Belsize Square Synagogue Deaths Community Care Co-ordinator Gisa Gabriele (Gaby) Low, born Following the retirement of our present post-holder, Hamburg 26.07.1916, died peacefully we are looking to appoint a part-time, suitably in London on 11.01.2015. Much loved qualified professional with relevant experience. Are you, or is someone you aunt of Peter and Annette Woolf, sister to The Community Care Co-ordinator will take know, a Jewish Holocaust Rita Woolf (née Low). responsibility primarily for the welfare needs of our survivor in financial difficulty? members and recruit as well as liaise with our team Hilde Mayer Passed away peacefully of volunteers. in her 99th year. Much loved aunt of Six Point Foundation gives grants to help with Margot and Freddie Haas and great aunt You will need to be able to work independently with all kinds of one-off expenses such as home of Joanna, Carol and Paula. She will also sensitivity and have an understanding of Jewish adaptations, medical bills, travel costs and customs and practices. Hours may be flexible by be sadly missed by her great-great nephews temporary care. and nieces and she was delighted with her arrangement. two great-great-great nephews. She was a For further information/application pack, We help UK-resident Jewish Holocaust lady of independence and great character. contact Lee Taylor on 020 7794 3949 survivors/refugees with less than £10k p.a. Closing date: 6 March 2015 in income (excluding pensions/social security) and less than £32k in assets (excluding primary residence/car). TRANSLATOR REQUIRED For information please contact The Association of Jewish Refugees on 020 8385 3070. To provide digital/word-processed ‘FORCED WALKS’ transcription of around 35 hand-written 15 April 2015 [email protected] family letters (supplied in digital format) www.sixpointfoundation.org.uk from German to English (various writers in 1930s-40s) Please reply to PO Box No 1270 c/o AJR KINDERTRANSPORT LUNCH Wednesday 11 March 2015 at 12.30 pm ‘SUITCASE 1938’ Please join us for our next lunch at A recording of a performance ‘Forced Walks’ is a participatory walking art North West Reform Synagogue, Alyth Gardens, of ‘Suitcase 1938’ is available Finchley Road, London NW11 7EN project led by artists Lorna Brunstein and online free of charge at Richard White. https://www.youtube.com/ HERMAN ROTHMAN watch?v=qwFd1nzFyUc On 15 April 2015, the 70th anniversary of ‘Hitler's Will’ the liberation of Belsen, Lorna and Richard ‘Suitcase 1938’ was performed will make a walk based on the testimony of To book your place at train stations across the a survivor of the Nazi Death Marches. Using please phone Andrea Goodmaker country in the lead-up to the 75th the original route as a guide, the walk will take on 020 8385 3070 anniversary of the arrival of the first place in the UK through a familiar landscape in an area close to their home. Kindertransport at Liverpool Street station on 2 December 1938. Lorna and Richard are inviting others to join them on foot or online or to make their own CLASSIFIED Details of the show, which was walk in their area. Joseph Pereira (ex-AJR caretaker produced and directed by Jane and Documentation of the project and creative over 22 years) is now available for Ros Merkin, can be found at responses to the experience will form the basis DIY repairs and general maintenance. www.suitcase1938.org of an exhibition later in the year. No job too small, very reasonable rates. Please telephone 07966 887 485 For further information, please see . http://forcedwalks.wordpress.com/ If interested, please contact Lorna and WHY NOT TRY AJR’S Richard on [email protected] MEALS ON WHEELS spring grove SERVICE? London’s Most Luxurious The AJR offers a kosher Meals on Wheels RETIREMENT HOME service delivered to your door once a week. 214 Finchley Road London NW3 The meals are freshly cooked every week by Kosher to Go. They are then frozen prior to delivery.  Entertainment JACKMAN .  Activities The cost is £7.00 for a three-course meal  Stress Free Living (soup, main course, desert) plus a £1 SILVERMAN  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine delivery fee.  Full En-Suite Facilities COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Our aim is to bring good food to your door Call for more information or a personal tour without the worry of shopping or cooking. Telephone: 020 7209 5532 020 8446 2117 or 020 7794 4455 For further details, please call [email protected] AJR Head Office on 020 8385 3070. [email protected]

14 MARCH 2015 journal

Obituary ARTS AND EVENTS MARCH DIARY

Mike Nichols, born Berlin 6 November 1931, died Tue 3 ‘My Story: Miriam David’ Miriam E. David, a professor of education at UCL’s New York 19 November 2014 Institute for Education, will speak about he celebrated American film and is recognised as one of the many remarkable the flight of her father’s family from Germany in the late 1930s and discuss theatre director Mike Nichols had Jewish talents who emerged in New how she and her sisters reconstructed the an impressive career which spanned York in the 1960s. Not a writer himself, story from memories and other evidence overT 50 years. Beginning with a trio of throughout his career he depended on, such as AJR slips, photographs and ‘Nazi’ Neil Simon comedies on Broadway in the and collaborated closely with, many of the passports. She will also consider the role the UK played in relation to refugees and mid-1960s, he directed a wide range of new Jewish writers: Neil Simon, Murray their relatives in the war period, specifically plays and films including comedy, drama, Schisgal, Jules Feiffer, Nora Ephron, internment and how her mother became musicals and occasional revivals of such Elaine May and Tony Kushner on Angels ‘stateless’ on marriage to her father in classics as Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, Lillian in America, the Emmy-winning TV series 1941. The audience will have a chance to ask Miriam questions following her talk. Hellman’s The Little Foxes in 2003. At Wiener Library, 11.30 am-12.30 pm. and Arthur Miller’s Death He most famously Refreshments will be served from 11.15 of a Salesman. launched the career of am. There is an optional free tour of the Library and archives at 1 pm. Tel 020 7636 He had his first big Dustin Hoffman, choosing 7247 success in the cinema with the diminutive Jewish and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Thur 5 Professor Rod Kedward: ‘French virtually unknown actor Resistance: Myths, Lives and Videotape’, Woolf? in 1966 followed by to star in The Graduate in Founding Historians Lecture 2015. This The Graduate (1967) and 1967. As Hoffman later illustrated lecture looks at the multiple faces was so closely associated remarked: ‘There is no of representation. At Centre for German– Jewish Studies, University of Sussex, BSMS with the contemporary piece of casting in the Chowen Lecture Theatre, Brighton and American scene that it 20th century that is more Sussex Medical School, 18:30-19:30 comes as a bit of a surprise courageous than putting Fri 13 Eva Schloss MBE, stepdaughter to learn that he was born Mikhail Igor me in the part.’ of Otto Frank and a founder of the Anne Peschkowsky, the son of a Russian-Jewish Although best known around the world Frank Trust, will speak at West London doctor. The family were forced to flee Nazi for his many films, Nichols was most Synagogue dinner, 7.15 pm. £25 members, £35 non-members for a 3-course meal Germany for the US in the late 1930s. (The successful as a multi-award-winning theatre including wine. Tel 020 7535 0275 or name Nichols was adapted by his father director. His later pictures included Carnal online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/wls175 from his Russian patronymic Nicholaevich, Knowledge (1971) starring Jack Nicholson 13-27 March Paintings by Eva's brother shortly after arriving in New York in 1938. and Art Garfunkel and three pictures Heinz recovered after the war will be on display in the Goldsmid Hall alongside Mike and his younger brother joined him starring Meryl Streep: Silkwood (1983) prints of Children's Art Work from soon after.) and Heartburn (1986), scripted by Nora Terezin, courtesy of the Jewish Museum, In fact, Mike’s maternal grandparents Ephron, and Carrie Fisher’s Postcards from Prague. Please contact Jane Gough on 020 7535 0291 or at [email protected] to were both among the leading Jewish the Edge (1990). arrange a viewing. intellectuals in Germany during the early But his most Jewish movie was his 1970 Mon 16 ‘1945 – Envisaging a New years of the 20th century. Grandfather adaptation of Catch-22, Joseph Heller’s World Order’ To commemorate the 70th Gustav Landauer was a famous left-wing brilliant satirical novel set on a small anniversary of the end of the Second World political theorist, activist and pacifist who Mediterranean island during the Second War, the Centre for German-Jewish Studies was murdered by the Freikorps, a right- World War, scripted by Buck Henry is organising a one-day workshop. At Arts A108, University of Sussex, 9:00-18:00 wing militia, in 1919, while his wife, (Zuckerman) with a cast headed by Alan Hedwig Lachmann, was a successful writer Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin Thurs 19 Anthony Kauders (Keele University): ‘Dr Mabuse’s Legacy: A and translator, whose brilliant reworking and Art Garfunkel with Bob Balaban, Jack History of Hypnosis in Twentieth-Century of Oscar Wilde’s Salome for the German Gilford and Marcel Dalio. Germany’. At Centre for German-Jewish stage was adopted by Richard Strauss as Joel Finler Studies, University of Sussex, Arts A, Room the basis for his celebrated opera. Joel Finler is a film historian with a special 108, 16:00-17:30 Having grown up in New York, Mike interest in US and Jewish cinema. To Fri 27 Making Their Mark – The Jews attended the University of Chicago and of Bradford Exhibition at LJCC, tel 020 acquired his first taste of show business as 8457 5000 an actor in cabaret and improvisational Centre for German-Jewish Studies theatre with the Compass Players in tel +44 (0)1273 606755 Chicago. This led to his first success onstage as the co-star of the show which became known as ‘An Evening with Mike Nichols WHY NOT and Elaine May’ and reached Broadway in CONVERT YOUR OLD CINE FILMS the 1960-61season. In Need of a Friendly Voice? Want to chat to someone who cares? AND PUT THEM Soon after, he began directing and Call The Silver Line ON DVDS demonstrated a special talent for working The national helpline for older people FREE OF CHARGE? closely with his actors and an imaginative Any time, day or night Contact Alf Buechler at approach to staging. Beginning with a [email protected] series of Neil Simon plays (Barefoot in the From your landline: 0800 4 70 80 90 or tel 020 8554 5635 Park, The Odd Couple and Plaza Suite), he From your mobile: 0300 4 70 80 90

15 journal MARCH 2015

So where is a Jew going to feel safe? Australia? Even the remote antipodes have had a taste of Muslim terrorism, though on Dorothea Shefer-Vanson a relatively small scale. London? Having just spent a few days there, I wouldn’t want to guarantee anything. The crowded Tube carriages and shopping centres seem to me Where is a Jew to feel safe? to be easy targets for anyone determined o get four million French people out to poke fun at anyone and everyone. What to make a statement by shedding blood onto the streets on a cold Sunday in brought the French out into the streets was – and, if it happens to be Jewish, all the January is quite unusual. In fact, it not the hostage-taking and murder of four better. Wasn’t it a leading figure in the BBC Thas never happened before, and hopefully Jews in a kosher supermarket. who is Jewish who said that he was starting never will again – or at least not for the The French are used to Jews being killed to feel uncomfortable as a Jew in England? kind of reasons it happened this time. simply because they are Jews. Let’s not go Expressing anti-Israel – i.e. what The murder by Muslim terrorists of into the co-operation and collaboration of amounts to anti-Jewish – sentiments cartoonists and journalists in the offices the French government, police and railway is becoming de rigueur on university of Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical system during the Nazi occupation. In campuses in the USA as well as in magazine, aroused feelings of horror, Toulouse not long ago, a rabbi and several European democracies. In the IS-ruled distrust and distaste throughout the children were murdered by a Muslim area of Syria-Iraq, 13 teenage boys were civilised world. The idea of killing for terrorist outside a Jewish school and there executed recently for the crime of watching the sake of ideology, religion or honour was no apparent outcry. Security outside a football game on television. If that didn’t is something that is totally alien to most Jewish institutions was increased for a while bring every football fan in England out normal people and became passé when the but then relaxed. onto the streets, nothing will. European wars of religion ended in 1648 The same happened in Belgium, where It is the apathy of the masses that is with the compromise solution cuius regio, four people were murdered, once again by the most dangerous tool in the hands of eius religio (your ruler’s religion shall be a Muslim terrorist, at the entrance to the the terrorists. Chapeau to the French, who yours). Jewish Museum there. The idea that anyone at least showed that they were prepared Yet here it is, right under our noses, in who wants to can get hold of a deadly to stand up and be counted! As for the the most civilised city of the civilised world. weapon and use it against innocent people rest of the so-called civilised world, if it France is not some ‘shitty little country’ in who happen to be Jewish is an idea that has continues along this road it will eventually a backwater of the Middle East (as Israel returned to haunt the Jewish diaspora in this have no choice but to submit to those was defined by an unnamed American post-Holocaust era. who are prepared to take action, abusing official a few months ago); nor is Paris, the Israel is not without its dangers, as we all the democratic system in order to subvert cradle of the rights of man, a place where know, and it doesn’t take much for a single Western values and going on to kill and just anyone, even a Muslim extremist, can Muslim extremist with a kitchen knife to maim in the name of Allah. get away with murder. wreak havoc on a Tel Aviv bus, as happened Recent signs of a slight change of heart What brought the French out into not long ago. The terrorist was quickly among the over-tolerant governments of the streets en masse was the feeling that overpowered and the injured treated and Europe, and the fact that at least in Israel we their basic rights were being violated, that evacuated to hospitals by teams practised are fighting against this trend both overtly someone was seeking to deprive them of in such activity. That, however, is small and covertly, provide some consolation in the right to speak their minds freely and consolation. these troubling times.

 letters to the editor cont. from p.7

‘FACEBOOK MINYAN’ criticism would be that the togetherness fear of sounding snobby. Anyone who is Sir – I recently went to Budapest before was all organised and not once did we proud of their grammar would never use me travelling on to Vienna as part of the Jewish meet together in one room except to eat. instead of I – it grates grammatically and I Welcome Service to Austria. While on a So, at the end of the last meal together, I agree with her that it sounds uneducated, guided tour round the Budapest synagogue suggested setting up a Facebook group – but which it is. Why would an educated person I learned for the first time about the Neolog I didn’t realise that in order to be registered want to sound uneducated? Judaism movement. What was funny by Facebook, you need ten members. It’s my However, it is easy to work out what was the lady guide’s retelling of the story conjecture that the founder of Facebook, is correct. The rule is to go by what you of Moses’s experience on coming down Mark Zuckerberg, is inwardly searching for would say if you were on your own. It from Mount Sinai: it was only the men minyans even if he doesn’t yet realise his doesn’t change if you are with another who put up the Golden Calf – the women subconscious! person. So it is correct to say ‘I went to the had been away sewing and doing all the Joseph Glasberg, London NW5 library’ but never ‘Me went to the library’. usual household things! Thus the task of If you had gone with another person you punishment of having to go to synagogue SIMPLE REALLY would say ‘Michael and I went to the three times a day was confined to men and Sir – Margarete Stern (December 2014, library’ - which is correct – not ‘Michael that’s why the women don’t have to go …. Letters) says that ‘practically no one knows and me went to the library’ – which is Anyway, on to Vienna with the 2014 for sure when to say I, me or myself’ nor incorrect. Simple. group of survivors: I learned lots but my one does she mind saying me instead of I for Jacqueline Goymour, London NW2

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